September 2021 - Amazon AWS

Chief Editor

B. Singh (Ex. IES)CMD, MADE EASY Group

Editor

Aniruddh Pratap Singh

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the au-

thors and do not necessarily reflect policy or position of CURRENT AFFAIRS Magazine

or MADE EASY Publications. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the

author/ authors. The MADE EASY assumes no responsibility for views and opinions ex-

pressed nor does it vouch for any claims made in the advertisements published in the

Magazine. While painstaking effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and authentic-

ity of the informations published in the Magazine, neither Publisher, Editor or any of its

employee does not accept any claim for compensation, if any data is wrong, abbreviated,

cancelled, omitted or inserted incorrect.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy-

ing, recording or otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher.

MADE EASY Publications has taken due care in collecting the

data before publishing this book. Inspite of this, if any inaccuracy

or printing error occurs then Made Easy Publications owes no

responsibility. Made Easy Publications will be grateful if you could

point out any such error. Your suggestions will be appreciated.

© All rights reserved by MADE EASY PUBLICATIONS. No part of

this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form without the

written permission from the publisher.

© Copyright 2021

MADE EASY Publications

Corporate Office: 44-A/4, Kalu Sarai, New Delhi-110016Visit us at: www.madeeasypublications.org 011-45124660, 8860378007E-mail: [email protected]

Publications

September, 2021

Current AffairsAn initiative of Group

B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY

The September 2021 Issue of the Next IAS Current Affairs Magazine (hereafter called ‘The Magazine’), covers news events from

1st August 2021 to 31st August 2021 (hereafter called ‘Coverage Period’). The Magazine has comprehensive coverage of all the topics from current affairs neatly categorized into major sections like Economy, International Issues, Polity & Governance, and so on.

This issue of the magazine has an in-depth analysis of issues such as ‘75th independence Day of India: 'National First, Always First’, ‘Resurgence

Any suggestion for further improvement of the Magazine is welcome and may be

e-mailed to [email protected] NEXTIAS

Message to the Readers

of Taliban: Changing Geopolitics of South Asia’ and ‘India and Industrial Revolution 4.0: An Evolutionary Change’,. The Magazine also covers the issues of ‘e-Rupi Digital Payment Solution Launched’ and many other issues which have become relevant in the coverage period.

The Magazine is designed for the needs of the students who are preparing for UPSC Civil Services Examinations. However, it is also helpful for Engineering Services Examinations, Banking Examinations and other government or Public Sector Enterprises examinations

Cur

rent

Aff

airs

NEXT IAS

75th independence Day of India: 'National first, always first' .................7

Resurgence of Taliban: Changing Geopolitics of South Asia .............. 12

India and industrial Revolution 4.0: An evolutionary change............ 16

e-Rupi Digital Payment solution launched .............................................. 19

Skyglow and Light Pollution ......................................................................... 20

Fossil Fuel and Policy Dilemma .................................................................... 21

Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 ..................................................... 23

Tribunal Reforms Bill 2021 ............................................................................. 24

Oxfam’s Report on Net Zero Climate Targets ......................................... 26

Marital Rape in India ....................................................................................... 27

National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) ............................ 29

National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) ...................................................... 31

All Minority Schools under RTE: NCPCR Survey ...................................... 33

Revised Samagra Shiksha Scheme.............................................................. 34

Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) .............................................. 35

Payment Operators can’t Outsource Core Management Functions 36

Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) ............................................................ 36

G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 2.0) ............................................... 37

Public Sector Units Freed from 25% Public Shareholding Norm ...... 38

RBI-Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) ......................................................... 39

SAMRIDH Scheme ............................................................................................ 39

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) ........... 40

Sovereign Right to Taxation .......................................................................... 41

Ubharte Sitare Programme (USP) ................................................................ 42

Colombo Security Conclave .......................................................................... 43

Provincial Status to Gilgit Baltistan ............................................................. 44

India-Bangladesh: Freight Trains Restored ............................................... 45

Permanent Forum of People of African Descent .................................... 46

United Nation’s Security Council ................................................................. 47

China to Require Foreign Vessels to Report in ‘Territorial Waters’..... 48

UN Bans British Stamps in Chagos Island ................................................. 49

Sea Trials of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ ......................... 51

Ladakh Removed Inner Line Permit (ILP).................................................. 51

Al-Mohed Al-Hindi Exercise .......................................................................... 52

Talisman Sabre Exercise ................................................................................. 52

Zayed Talwar Exercise ..................................................................................... 53

Exercise Konkan ................................................................................................ 54

Indigenously Developed Powders from unused Scrape Materials... 54

Malabar Exercise ............................................................................................... 55

ICGS Vigraha ....................................................................................................... 55

Collegium Recommends Nine Judges for Supreme Court ................. 57

Continuation of Fast Track Special Courts till 2023 ............................... 58

The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 59

Analysis of FPI Schemes for Rural Areas .................................................... 59

Extending Pardoning Powers of the Governor ....................................... 61

Preventive Detention only to Maintain Public Order............................ 62

States can’t Clear MPs, MLAs in Cases without High Court Nod ....... 63

Vehicle Scrapping Policy ................................................................................ 64

Adoption (First Amendment) Regulation, 2021 ..................................... 66

AIDP Scheme and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana .......................................... 66

Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP Early Warnings ............................................ 67

National Food and Nutrition Campaign ................................................... 69

Operation Blue Freedom ............................................................................... 69

PM Daksh Scheme ............................................................................................ 70

New Geospatial Planning Portal: Yuktdhara ............................................ 71

PM-KUSUM and Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II ............................ 72

Quality of Life for Elderly Index ................................................................... 73

Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas Campaign .......................................................... 74

SUJALAM Campaign ........................................................................................ 75

Training for Augmenting Productivity and Services (TAPAS) ............. 76

Tag Garuda ......................................................................................................... 77

Slender Loris and Kadavur Reserve Forest ............................................... 78

Single use Plastic .............................................................................................. 79

Carbon Border Tax ............................................................................................ 80

Contents

NEXT IAS

Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis ................................. 80

India may see more Climate-Induced Disasters: I PCC Report (Part 1 of AR6) ............................................................................ 81

Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) ................................................................................. 82

Minervarya Pentali: New Frog Species Discovered in the Western Ghats ................................................................................................... 83

Japanese Quail Farming: Livelihood means for Koraput’s Tribal Residents.............................................................................. 83

Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle .............................................................................. 84

Algee .................................................................................................................... 84

Hurricane Ida in US .......................................................................................... 85

World Free from Leaded Petrol .................................................................... 85

World Biofuel Day: Webinar by GEF-MNRE-UNIDO ............................... 86

INDIGAU: India’s First Cattle Genomic Chip ............................................. 87

Takeaways from GSLV-F10 Failure ............................................................... 88

Impact of Food Fortification ......................................................................... 89

World's Second-Largest Refurbished Gene Bank Inaugurated in India ...................................................................................................................... 90

UNWGIC ............................................................................................................... 90

ISRO Finds Hydroxyl & Water Molecules on Lunar Surface ................. 91

South Africa Grants World’s First Patent to an Artificial Intelligence System ........................................................................ 92

India-UK Collaborated for a Study on Ashwagandha ........................... 93

Guidelines to Provide Framework for Sharing Biological Data .......... 94

Covishield-Covaxin Mix .................................................................................. 94

Draft Indian Satellite Navigation Policy-2021 ......................................... 95

Forum for Decarbonizing Transport’ in India .......................................... 96

India to Add 35 More Earthquake Observatories................................... 97

Indian Astrophysicists Spot Rare Merger of Three Black Holes ......... 98

Ethics and Climate Change .........................................................................100

79 years of Quit India Movement ..............................................................102

150 Years of Abanindranath Tagore .........................................................102

National Council on Science Museums to set up a New Science Centre .......................................................................................103

Halam Tribes ....................................................................................................103

Pingali Venkavya .............................................................................................104

SarlaThakral ......................................................................................................104

Rana Punja Bhill ..............................................................................................105

Moplah Rebellion ...........................................................................................106

Ranjit Singh’s Statue Vandalised at Lahore Fort ...................................106

New Projects in Somnath ............................................................................107

Narayankoti Temple (Uttarakhand) ..........................................................107

An Ancient Dravidian Language Link with the Indus Valley Civilization ................................................................................108

Sree Narayana Guru’s Jayanti ......................................................................109

PM Dedicates a Complex of Jallianwala Bagh Smarak .......................109

Umlingla Pass: World’s Highest Motor Able Road ................................111

Plastic-Mixed Handmade Paper gets Patent .........................................111

World’s First Bio-Bank in Ayurveda at AIIA .............................................112

Dragon Fruit Exported for the First Time to London and Bahrain ....112

E-Prisoner Project ...........................................................................................112

Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia ...............113

Four Indian sites get Ramsar Recognition ..............................................113

India First Bio-Bank for Heart Failure Research .....................................113

Marburg Virus ..................................................................................................113

International Youth Day 2021 .....................................................................114

Launch of Ujjwala 2.0 ....................................................................................114

Navroz ................................................................................................................114

Parliamentary Committee on Official Language ..................................115

Pensilungpa Glacier .......................................................................................115

Pulichintala Dam Washes Away .................................................................115

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Renamed after Major Dhyan Chand .......................................................................................116

Smart Anganwadi Project: Kerala ..............................................................117

Son Chiraiya .....................................................................................................117

World Lion Day 2021 .....................................................................................117

Global Manufacturing Risk Index, 2021 ..................................................117

What is the Incel Movement? .....................................................................118

National Handicraft Awards ........................................................................118

Multiple Choice Questions .................................................................................. 119

Subjective Questions ............................................................................................ 128

NEXT IAS

5An initiative of Group


Current AffairsEdition: September, 2021

In-Depth

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

About:• ‘Nation First, Always First’ was the theme of India’s 75th

Independence Day celebrations.

• During his 1.5 hour-long address, Prime Minister touched on

a wide range of subjects including economy, infrastructure,

Atma Nirbhar Bharat, and social welfare schemes launched

in the past few years.

• The Prime Minister also laid out his vision for the next 25 years

(Amrit Kaal) and what his government is going to do in the

near future.

India aims to make the next 25 years (when India will

hit a century of independence) a glorious one with “new

thresholds, aspirations and dreams”.

Also, the new phrase was coined - “Sabka Saath,

Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas” (With all,

development for all, the trust of all, the striving of all).

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS

‘Gati Shakti’ - National Master Plan• Prime Minister Modi said that along with modern infrastructure,

there is a need for adopting a holistic and integrated approach

in infrastructure construction.

• Hence, the National Master Plan of Prime Minister ‘Gati

Shakti’ worth 100 lakh crores rupees will be launched to lay

the foundation of holistic Infrastructure that will lead to an

integrated and holistic pathway to our economy.

Gati, the Hindi word for speed, aims to boost economic

growth (Shakti) through infrastructure building.

• Gati shakti is aimed at easier inter-connectivity between road,

rail, air and waterways to reduce travel time and enhance

industrial productivity.

It is thus considered to be the government's integrated

approach to developing modern railways, roadways,

waterways and airways.

According to the PM, the Gatishakti plan will become the

basis of India's rejuvenation to manufacture world-class

products using new-age technology and cutting-edge

innovation.

• Gait shakti will help provide new employment opportunities for

lakhs of youth and fulfill the dreams of crores of countrymen.

• Need of this scheme?

Currently, there is no coordination between our means of

transport.

Gati Shakti will thus break the silos, and will remove all

these obstacles.

This will reduce the travel time for the common man and

the productivity of our industry will also increase.

Government’s other Initiatives and investments in infrastructure sector:

• Under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) for FY 2019-

25, projects have been identified to construct, refurbish,

strengthen, and expand roads networks, housing, urban

development, railways, conventional power, renewable

energy, and irrigation. Key programs will focus on highways

and railways.

• Sagarmala Program for port development – For port

infrastructure, since its launch, the Sagarmala Program

(2015-2035) has identified more than 574 projects worth INR

6.01 trillion across areas of port modernization and new port

development, port connectivity enhancement, port-linked

industrialization, and coastal community development.

• National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development

(NaBFID) - In March 2021, the Parliament passed a bill to

set up the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and

Development (NaBFID) to fund infrastructure projects in

India.

Road Ahead:

• The infrastructure sector has become the biggest focus area

for the Government of India. India plans to spend US$ 1.4

trillion on infrastructure during 2019-23 to have a sustainable

development of the country.

• The Government has suggested investment of Rs. 5,000,000

crore (US$ 750 billion) for railways infrastructure from 2018-

30.

• India and Japan have joined hands for infrastructure

development in India's Northeast states and are also setting

up an India-Japan Coordination Forum for Development of

Northeast to undertake strategic infrastructure projects for

the region.

In-DepthArticle 75TH INDEPENDENCE

DAY OF INDIA: 'NATIONAL FIRST, ALWAYS FIRST'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 75th Independence Day.

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

75 VANDE BHARAT TRAINS• PM Modi said that India has decided to celebrate ‘Azadi ka

Amrit Mahotsav' for 75 weeks.

• During these 75 weeks, 75 Vande Bharat trains will connect

every corner of the country.

• The PM also highlighted various transport schemes of the

government.

He appreciated the pace at which new airports are being

built in the country and the UDAN scheme connecting

remote areas.

• He said that a new history of connectivity is being written in

the northeast, and announced that the work to connect the

state capitals in the region with rail services will be completed

soon.

• After this announcement, the Railways has decided to

operate 102 Vande Bharat trains by March 2024.

At present, railways runs two Vande Bharats; Delhi-

Varanasi-Delhi and Delhi-Katra-Delhi.

VANDE BHARAT TRAIN (TRAIN 18)

• It is India’s first indigenously built, fully air-conditioned,

engineless semi-high speed train.

• It was rolled out by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai

with the name Train 18.

• It was later named Vande Bharat Express.

• It is capable of running at a speed of up to 160 kmph

(design speed 180km/hr) and referred to as a successor

to the around 30-year-old Shatabdi Express.

• Luxurious features

• Modern air-conditioned coaches

• Touch free automatic doors inside the passengers

compartment

GPS-enabled passenger information system, showing

train speed, location, time to reach destination etc.

Onboard uninterrupted Wifi and infotainment system.

• The train is designed in such a way that passengers can

have a look at the driver’s cabin and also has disabled-

friendly toilets.

• A mini pantry is instituted in each coach of the train and has

state-of-the-art equipment for better heating of food and

chilling of cold drinks and juices.

• Unique feature - Executive chair car seats which can be

rotated 180 degrees to face fellow passengers and can

be aligned in the direction of travel.

INDIA’S OTHER CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS• Industrial and freight corridor projects – The Industrial Corridor Projects, part of the National

Industrial Corridor program, aligns with the development

of industrial cities and improving inter-city connectivity

so that they can compete with top global investment

destinations.

The government has also established a Special Purpose

Vehicle for construction, operation, and maintenance of

dedicated freight corridors under the Dedicated Freight

Corridor (DFC) program that aims to decongest the existing

rail network by constructing dedicated tracks for goods trains.

Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) program involves the

construction of six freight corridors traversing the entire

country.

Currently, the Western DFC connecting Haryana and

Maharashtra and the Eastern DFC connecting Punjab

and West Bengal are under construction. The combined

length of the Western and Eastern DFCs is approximately

2,843 km.

North-South (Delhi-Tamil Nadu), East-West (West Bengal-

Maharashtra), East-South (West Bengal-Andhra Pradesh)

and South-South (Tamil Nadu-Goa) DFCs are being

planned.

• Bharatmala project was launched in 2017 to construct around

65,000 kms of national highways in two phases.

Bharatmala project current status 2021 - While the National

Highways Authority of India (NHAI) planned to build this

entire road network by 2022, work on the Bharatmala project

Phase 1 is likely to be delayed by four years, owing to land

acquisition issues, cost overruns and the multiple waves of

the Coronavirus pandemic.

Fortified Rice:• PM Modi said that his government's priority was to provide

nutrition to every poor person of the country.

• He said malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients in poor

women and poor children poses major obstacles in their

development.

• Hence, it has been decided that the government will fortify

the rice given to the poor under its various schemes.

Be it the rice available at the ration shop, the rice provided

to the children in the mid-day meal, or the rice available

through every scheme, it shall be fortified by the year 2024.

Hence, in an ambitious attempt to combat chronic

anaemia and under-nutrition, the Union food ministry is

planning to distribute fortified rice through the Integrated

Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and the Mid -Day

Meal Scheme (MMS) from 2021-22 with a special focus

on 112 ‘aspirational’ districts.

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

• Rice is the fifth item to get the government’s fortification push after salt, edible oil, milk and wheat.

MALNUTRITION A HUGE CONCERN

• India ranks 94th among 107 nations on the Global Hunger Index, which classifies the country as having a “serious” level of hunger.

• According to the 2016 National Family Health Survey-4, which provides the latest data on health and nutrition, 38.4% of children in the country were stunted (low height for age) and 21% were wasted (low weight for height).

FORTIFICATION

• Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such

as iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D to staple foods such as

rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content and

provide public health benefits at minimal cost.

• These nutrients may or may not have been originally present

in the food before processing.

• Fortification has a distinct edge over supplements when it

comes to combating micronutrient deficiency.

It has minimal effects on taste and cooking properties

while at the same time adding multiple nutrients to cure

multiple deficiencies.

It also has minimal behaviour change, unlike supplements.

BIOFORTIFICATION

• Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding or modern biotechnology.

• Biofortification differs from conventional fortification in that biofortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth rather than through manual means during processing of the crops.

• The efficacy of bio-fortification, though a potentially promising long-term strategy, is yet to be ascertained.

Some Challenges:• Currently, there are only 15,000 tonnes of these kernels

available per year in the country.

• To cover PDS, anganwadis and mid-day meals in the 112 aspirational districts, annual supply capacity would need to be increased to about 1.3 lakh tonnes.

• To cover PDS across the country, 3.5 lakh tonnes of fortified kernels would be needed.

Hence, FCI has been rightly asked to invest in equipping rice mills with the blending machines needed to mix the kernels into normal rice.

• Since the fortified kernels look and taste the same as normal rice grains, there is also an urgent need for quality control testing and monitoring to ensure consumers are not taken for a ride.

• Also, the biggest challenge will be creating awareness about the benefits of fortified foods to ensure uptake.

SAINIK SCHOOLS FOR GIRLS• PM announced Sainik Schools for girls. He said he used to

get lakhs of messages from girls that they also wanted to study in the Sainik Schools.

• A pilot project was done in the Sainik School of Mizoram two and half years ago by giving admission to Indian daughters which was largely successful.

• Hence, the Doors of the Sainik schools are now opened for girls.

SAINIK SCHOOLS

• Sainik schools are residential schools run by the Sainik

Schools Society which is under the administrative control

of the Ministry of Defence.

• Aim - The aim of establishing Sainik schools was to

prepare the students from an early age for their entry into

the Indian armed forces.

• Vision - To offer quality education to the children of rural

masses and to develop qualities of body, mind and

character which will enable the young boys to become

good and useful citizens and eventually be a feeder to

National Defence Academy.

• Admissions - For admissions at Sainik Schools, candidates

must appear for the All India Sainik Schools Entrance

Exams (AISSEE) 2021-22, which is conducted by the

National Testing Agency (NTA).

The entrance exam is held for admissions to classes 6

and 9 only.

To be eligible to apply for the exam, one must be an

Indian citizen.

They must be between 10-12 years, as on March 31

of the year they wish to take admissions for class 6

admissions and must have cleared or are appearing

for the class 5 exam.

For class 9, candidates must be between 13-15 years,

as of March 31 for the year, and must have cleared the

class 8 exam.

Students will need to pass the AISSEE exam followed

by a medical examination round to get shortlisted for

the final interview round.

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

• For class 11, the basis of admission is marks scored in

class 10 board exams.

• These residential schools are affiliated with the Central

Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

• Reservation

Seats are reserved for children of serving Defence

personnel and concessions are given to children of

Government officials.

67% seats are reserved for students who are from the

home state of a Sainik School.

There is reservation also on the basis of Scheduled

Castes (15%), Scheduled Tribes (7.5%), Other

Backward Classes (27%) and for wards of current and

former servicemen (25%).

• The first Sainik School was started in Satara in 1961.

It was founded by Yashwantrao Chavan, the then Chief

Minister of Maharashtra, and was inaugurated by the

then Defence Minister of India, V K Krishna Menon.

At present, there are a total of 33 Sainik Schools in

India.

• The fee for a student per academic year is around Rs

1,27,500.

NATIONAL HYDROGEN MISSION• Prime Minister Modi announced the setting up of the National

Hydrogen Mission and said Green Hydrogen is the future of

the world.

• He said that we have to make India a Global Hub for Green

Hydrogen Production and Export in the 'Amrit Kaal'.

• It will not only help India to make a new progress in the field

of energy self-reliance but will also become a new inspiration

for Clean Energy Transition all over the world.

• The National Hydrogen Mission and the green hydrogen

sector will also give India a quantum jump in meeting our

climate targets.

• Recent push to Hydrogen mission

Earlier in Feb 2021, the government had allocated Rs.

1,500 crores for renewable-energy development and

Hydrogen Energy Mission.

Also, the government plans to implement the Green

Hydrogen Consumption Obligation (GHCO) in fertilizer

production and petroleum refining, similar to what was

done with renewable purchase obligations (RPO).

RPOs require electricity distribution companies to buy

a fixed amount of renewable energy to cut reliance on

fossil fuels.

Hydrogen as fuel:• Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier, which has the

potential to address several energy sector related challenges.

• It has the potential to substitute the conventional fuels and reduce the CO2 related emissions significantly at the point of use.

• Further, if green hydrogen is used as fuel, then there is capability to decarbonize the entire value chain, enabling reduced emissions and climate change threats.

• Hydrogen can provide linkages between energy supply and demand, in both a centralized or decentralized manner, thereby enhancing the overall energy system flexibility.

• This low carbon energy source can be connected to sectors like transport and buildings and even the steel and cement industry.

GREEN HYDROGEN

• Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water i.e., splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Electrolysis is done using an electrolyzer powered by electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

Recently, US-based renewable energy company Ohmium International, through its Indian subsidiary, started India’s first green hydrogen electrolyser manufacturing unit at Bengaluru.

• Green hydrogen has specific advantages. Its generation gives only water and water vapour as

by-products. Hence, it is a clean burning molecule, which can

decarbonise a range of sectors including iron and steel, chemicals, and transportation.

Renewable energy that cannot be stored or used by the grid can be channelled to produce hydrogen.

Other Types of Hydrogen:

• Grey Hydrogen It constitutes India's bulk production and is extracted

from hydrocarbons (fossil fuels, natural gas) It gives CO2 as by product.

• Blue Hydrogen It is also sourced from fossil fuels. However, emissions/by-products (CO, CO2) are

captured and stored. Thus, it is better than grey hydrogen.

Some Hydrogen Energy Initiatives Running in India:

• Hydrogen is already used extensively in India in the chemical and petrochemical sectors

It is mainly used as an industrial feedstock in the creation of ammonia-based fertilisers.

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

• India is a participant, one among 16 nations or groupings, in the Mission Innovation Renewable and Clean Hydrogen Challenge.

• India is a part of 'Hydrogen Valley Platform' that looks to create an integrated hydrogen ecosystem covering production, storage, distribution and end use.

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has seen hydrogen as an area of strategic interest since at least 2006, when the first Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Roadmap was launched (MNRE, 2006).

• More recently, in 2016, MNRE published a report laying out a comprehensive plan for increasing R&D activity.

This included significant funding for different electrolyser technologies and their integration with renewable electricity sources, which has strong potential in India given the cost and availability of renewable electricity.

E-COMMERCE PLATFORM FOR SELF-HELP GROUPS• PM announced an e-commerce platform for self-help groups,

• He said more than eight crore women in the villages are associated with Self-Help Groups and they design top-end products.

• Hence, the government will now create an e-commerce platform to ensure a huge market in the country and abroad for their products.

• It is believed that when the country is moving forward with the mantra of being vocal for local, this digital platform will connect the products of women self-help groups with people in far flung areas of the country as well as abroad and it will have far-reaching consequences.

Steps taken to achieve it• The commerce ministry is working to build an Open Network

for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform to democratize digital commerce, moving it from a platform-centric model to an open-network.

ONDC aims to enable buyers and sellers to be digitally visible and transact through an open network, no matter what platform or application they use.

ONDC is expected to empower merchants and consumers by breaking silos to form a single network to drive innovation and scale, transforming all businesses from retail goods, food to mobility.

• The government has laid over 5.3 lakh kilometre Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) under Bharatnet project and around 1.5 lakh gram panchayats (GPs) have been made service ready on OFC media.

• The recently drafted new e-commerce rules which have provisions of ban on flash sales; prevention of ‘misleading’ ads potentially on pricing, quality, guarantee; listing the details of country of origin (CoO) etc. will also help provide women self help groups a level playing field.

SELF-HELP GROUPS (SHGS)

• The Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are voluntary associations of 15-20 people formed to attain a collective goal.

• It is a small economically homogeneous affinity group of the rural poor voluntarily coming together to save small amounts regularly.

The savings are then deposited in common fund to meet member emergency needs and to provide collateral free loans decided by the group.

• Origin: The origin of the self-help group can be traced from Grameen bank of Bangladesh, which was founded by Mohamed Yunus.

The absence of institutional credits available in the rural area led to the establishment of SHGs.

SHGs were started and formed in 1975.

• Indian implementation - In India NABARD initiated SHGs in 1986-1987 in a modified form.

It aimed to alleviate the poverty and empower the women

In 1991-92 Nabard started promoting self-help groups on a large scale. And it was the real take off point for the SHGs movement.

In 1993, the Reserve Bank of India also allowed SHGs to open saving accounts in banks' facility of availing bank services was a major boost to the movement.NEXT IA

S




In-Depth

About:• The Taliban stormed across the country, capturing all major

cities in a matter of days, as Afghan security forces trained and equipped by the U.S. and its allies melted away.

• The Taliban took some areas from government by force. In other areas, the Afghan National Army withdrew without a shot being fired.

Although renewed clashes had been going on for several weeks, from 6 August the Taliban made a more rapid advance across the country, as they took control of provincial cities.

• The US administration had planned to pull-out all-American forces by this Sept. 11, the anniversary of the attacks, which were coordinated from Afghanistan.

However later the date was shifted to 31st August 2021.

• Earlier, President Donald Trump had made its troop withdrawal by May 1 conditional — on Taliban taking steps to prevent al-Qaeda or any other group from sheltering in Afghanistan, and agreeing to a dialogue on power sharing with the Afghan government.

President Biden plan had no such conditions.

Journey of Taliban:• The Taliban, which means “students” in the Pashto language,

emerged in 1994 around the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. It was one of the factions fighting a civil war for control of

the country following the withdrawal of the Soviet Union and subsequent collapse of the government.

• It originally drew members from so-called “mujahideen” fighters who, with support from the United States, repelled Soviet forces in the 1980s.

• Within the space of two years, the Taliban had gained sole control over most of the country, proclaiming an Islamic emirate in 1996 with a harsh interpretation of Islamic law. Other mujahideen groups retreated to the north of the country.

Only four countries, including neighbor Pakistan, recognized the Taliban government when it was in power. The vast majority of other countries, along with the United Nations, instead recognized a group holding provinces to the north of Kabul as the rightful government-in-waiting.

• Following the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States by Al-Qaeda, US-backed forces in the north swept into Kabul in November under the cover of heavy US airstrikes.

• The Taliban melted away into remote areas, where it began a 20-year-long insurgency against the Afghan government and its Western allies.

• The Taliban’s founder and original leader was Mullah Mohammad Omar, who went into hiding after the Taliban was toppled.

So secretive were his whereabouts that his death, in 2013, was only confirmed two years later by his son.

Why Taliban won so easily?• Corruption in Afghan Government: There was widespread

corruption in Afghanistan’s defense and interior ministries where funds, ammunition and food deliveries were stolen before reaching the soldiers on the ground.

The ammunition and other equipment were sold on the black market, eventually ending up in the Taliban’s hands.

Some commanders embezzled money by submitting fund requests for the salaries of “ghost soldiers” – i.e. soldiers who had not actually signed up for the military.

ANDSF (Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) personnel were kept unpaid and retained on duty without permission to leave and see their families for months.

The ANDSF had one of the highest desertion and casualty rates in the world. According to one estimate, the ANDSF’s per month attrition rate was 5,000 while the recruitment rate was 300 to 500.

In-DepthArticle

RESURGENCE OF TALIBAN: CHANGING GEOPOLITICS OF SOUTH ASIA

The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. was set to complete its troop withdrawal.

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

PANJSHIR RESISTANCE

• Amrullah Saleh, vice president under the now absent Ashraf Ghani, and Ahmad Massoud, son of the legendary ‘Lion of Panjshir’ Ahmad Shah Massoud, have joined hands to put up a resistance against the Taliban as the group returns to power in Afghanistan.

• Saleh has said they will prevent the country’s conversion into “Talibanistan" while the junior Massoud has appealed for support from the international community against the “terrorist" takeover of the country.

• Located in the Hindukush mountains and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the Panjshir Valley provides a natural redoubt for the Panjshir resistance, also known as the National Resistance Front (NRF) of Afghanistan and the Second Resistance.

• Low morale of the Afghan army: The embezzlement and corruption undermined morale within the ranks of the army.

The integrity of senior leadership is pivotal in military affairs to win the troops’ respect and loyalty. For unpaid soldiers, the lavish lifestyles of their commanders were often too much to swallow.

Hence, instead of fighting and dying, they preferred to save their lives by surrendering to the Taliban under its amnesty offers.

• No ideological cohesion: There was also no ideological cohesion within the army or a sense of national duty and belonging. In fact, there was significant mistrust towards the country’s political leadership.

Conspiracy theories about a secret deal between the Afghan government and the Taliban were rife among Afghan troops. This environment of doubt and suspicion further undermined Afghan soldiers’ resolve to resist the advance of the ideologically cohesive Taliban, whose fighters were driven by a desire to establish an Islamic emirate and drive out foreign troops they saw as occupiers.

• Political interference: Continuous political interference and reshuffling of office holders as high as interior and defense ministers, governors and police chiefs also affected the ANDSF’s battlefield performance.

The military chief of staff is the centre of gravity of his organization and if he is changed consistently, it adversely affects the organization.

• Taliban’s smart strategy: Taliban’s smart military strategy of taking control of major border crossings, main highways and besieging the big cities crippled Kabul’s ability to send reinforcements and supplies.

Many army units were cut off from the rest of the country and thus were forced to either flee across the border neighboring countries or to dissolve.

• Dependence on NATO and US forces: Despite receiving years of training and billions of dollars worth of equipment, the ANDSF never developed the capacity to stand on its own.

It was entirely dependent on the US and NATO troops to protect urban areas. Once these forces began to withdraw, there was no barrier to stop the advance of the Taliban and the weaknesses and incompetence that was covered up by foreign military presence quickly came to the fore.

UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (UNSC) RESOLUTION 2593

• The UN Security Council, under India's Presidency, adopted a strong resolution demanding that territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists and that it expects the Taliban will adhere to commitments made by it regarding the safe and orderly departure from the country of Afghans and all foreign nationals.

• The Security Council adopted the resolution sponsored by France, UK and the US with 13 members voting in favour, none against and permanent, veto-wielding members Russia and China abstaining.

• This was the first resolution adopted by the powerful 15-nation Council on the situation in Afghanistan following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban.

Pakistan’s role vis-à-vis Taliban:• Pakistan played a prominent role in the birth of Taliban in 1994,

it supported Taliban’s first takeover of Afghanistan in 1996.

Pakistan also sheltered the fighters and leaders of Taliban

in the aftermath of the post-9/11 US invasion, even as it

claimed to be supporting the US in the “war on terror”.

Pakistan provided safe havens to Taliban from virtually the

start of the US “war on terror” in 2001.

The US was aware of this, but because its need for Pakistan

as a logistics back end for the war in Afghanistan was

greater, it did not push the Pakistan military sufficiently to

act against this safe haven.

• The political leadership of the Taliban camped in the

Balochistan capital of Quetta, the Federally Administered

Tribal Areas in general.

• South and North Waziristan became the revolving door for

fighters of Afghan Taliban, and its associated group the

Haqqani Network, along with al-Qaeda and a gaggle of other

jihadists, who crossed in and out of Afghanistan at will under

the benevolent gaze of the Pakistan Army.

• In the recent fighting that took Taliban all the way to Kabul,

the same safe havens in Pakistan were used to launch their

attacks in Afghanistan.

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

• The Indian security establishment has held that fighters of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, a pet jihadist group of the Pakistan military, fought alongside the Taliban against US and NATO soldiers from at least 2017 onwards.

Why Pakistan harbored Taliban:• Strategic Depth in Afghanistan: A Taliban regime in Kabul

and its umbilical connection with Pakistan would ensure the Pakistan military a free pass over Afghanistan, territory that it has coveted for “strategic depth” in its enmity with India, while ensuring Pakistan agency over Afghan routes into Central Asia.

Since 2001, Indian involvement in development activities in Afghanistan, and its increased diplomatic presence, was a finger in the eye of the Pakistani establishment, which alleged “encirclement” by India.

In response to Pakistan’s denial of a land route to India for trade with Afghanistan, New Delhi began developing the Chabahar port in Iran, planned with a planned trade corridor via rail to the Iranian border with Afghanistan at Zaranj, with the India-built Zaranj-Delaram highway providing connections to the heart of Afghanistan.

This route too may close now.

• Pakistan’s fear of demand of Pashtunistan: The Taliban were an Islamist weapon against Pashtun identity and nationalism, which had taken a life of its own around the time of India’s independence and the formation of Pakistan.

The Taliban describe themselves as a “Pashtun nationalist force”, the true and political representative of the majority ethnic group in Afghanistan, but their extremist Islamist beliefs and their continuing links with al-Qaeda (as documented in a UN report earlier this year) and other global and regional jihadist groups make that claim questionable.

Impact of Taliban’s rise to power on regional players:• Regional Power Vacuum Created: An axis of regional powers

such as China, Pakistan, Russia, and the Taliban, has already

started filling this power vacuum, shaping, thereby, the

contours of the region’s geopolitics based on their individual

and common interest.

• China: While countries like the U.S., U.K. and India have been

rushing to evacuate diplomats and citizens from Afghanistan,

China decided to keep its embassy in Kabul open.

China will be in a strong position to seek the Taliban’s

cooperation for its two main interests in Afghanistan: a

secure environment for Chinese infrastructure projects,

and the isolation of Uyghur militants.

A new phase of great power rivalry between Washington

and Beijing could be tested in the Afghan theatre, as the

Chinese seek commitments from the Taliban to keep its

border areas in the Wakhan corridor free from Islamist

support to separatist Uighurs in the Xinjiang province,

in exchange for Chinese recognition of the Taliban and

economic aid to Afghanistan.

• Russia: Like China, Russia kept its embassy in Kabul open,

but will reportedly move some of its personnel.

Russia’s immediate priorities would be to limit the risk of

spillover fighting or the movement of organized extremist

groups into the Central Asian states along Afghanistan’s

northern border.

• Iran: Iran’s aim will be to stem the flood of refugees and drugs

and prevent harm to the Hazaras in Afghanistan.

The Hazaras, who are mostly Shiite Muslims, are the third-

largest ethnic group in mostly Sunni Afghanistan. In the

past, the Taliban singled them out for persecution.

• After the last US military aircraft flew out of Kabul to mark

the end of its 20-year war in Afghanistan, India made its first

official contact with the Taliban when its ambassador to Qatar

met the head of the Taliban political office in Doha Tuesday.

Announcing the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs, in

a statement, said: “Today, Ambassador of India to Qatar,

Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai,

the Head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha. The meeting

took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request

of the Taliban side.”

• Discussions focused on safety, security and early return

of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan. The travel of

Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit India

also came up.

• Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s

soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and

terrorism in any manner. The Taliban representative assured

the Ambassador that these issues would be positively

addressed.

• The meeting in Doha followed Stanekzai’s statements over

the weekend. He said India is “very important for this

subcontinent” and his group wants to continue Afghanistan’s

“cultural”, “economic”, “political” and “trade ties” with India

“like in the past”.

INDIA-TALIBAN TALKSNEXT IAS




In-Depth

The Iranian state “will probably mobilize more armed

forces to the border and prepare for a number of

contingencies, all of which may distract Iran from the Arab

world in the short term,”

• Sri Lanka: Following the end of the civil war in 2009, Sri

Lanka witnessed simmering tensions between its Muslim and

Buddhist communities. This has contributed to violence on

multiple occasions, such as in 2009, 2014, 2017, and 2018,

and had furthered radicalization and violent retaliation from

fundamentalist jihadist groups such as the National Tohweed

Jamath (NTJ) – the organization responsible for the 2019

Easter bombings

The seeds of fundamentalism in Sri Lanka, and its

transnational linkages with mainland India, will further

be exploited by the Taliban, al-Qaida, and Pakistani

organizations after the Taliban gains full control of

Afghanistan.

How India will be impacted?• Security Concerns: Now, the linkage between Pakistan’s ISI

and Taliban is out in open, it is highly likely that Pakistan may

use Afghan land for training Jihadist to carry out attacks in

India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir region.

With the Taliban taking over Kabul, it is just a matter of

time before terror groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba

and the Jaish-e-Mohammad get a free pass.

Taliban in the past had played a key role as interlocutors

during the IC 814 hijack in December 1999.

• Threat to Indian investment: After the US routed Taliban out

of Kabul, India has invested US$ 3bn in infrastructure and

development projects, including Parliament building, Dam,

highways, etc. Taliban’s return to power might threaten these

projects.

• Disconnect with Central Asia: In the absence of direct route to

Central Asia via Pakistan, India had been using Afghanistan

to connect to Central Asia for trade. Taliban might put a

check on that.

• Refugee Crisis: Scared of the Taliban regime and its

authoritarian rule, many Afghans have been fleeing the

nation. It is possible that many of the refugees might land up

on Indian soil.

• Trade with Taliban: Trade relations with the Taliban may be

strained at best as trade may be routed through Karachi

and Gwadar. India’s investment in the Chabahar Port may

become unviable. India had invested in the port to bypass

Pakistan and this move will most probably backfire.

• Anti-QUAD alliance: With the US departure from the region,

all the anti US forces viz. China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and

Taliban may group up, and India may be left out of the table.

• Defunct SAARC: Pakistan is already playing a spoiler in the

South Asian regional association. Afghanistan which was an

active participant in SAARC, under Taliban’s rule might follow

Pakistan way.

Challenges and Way Forward for India in Afghanistan:• Evacuation of Indian nationals and minorities: It becomes

India’s first priority. India has been successful in evacuating

all its officials from Afghanistan. However, India also has

the moral responsibility to make sure that all the religious

minorities who want to leave Afghanistan, viz. Hindus, Sikhs.

Etc are helped in a proper manner.

• Helping Afghans who want to leave: Hundreds of Afghan

nationals, many of them allied to the previous Ghani

government are seeking to leave the country, and have

applied for visas from the Indian Embassy in Kabul. Among

them are those with links to India, who have studied or trained

here, or with families in India, or those who could face reprisal

attacks from Taliban militia.

India has started issuing e-Visas for all the Afghans who

are interested in leaving Afghanistan and come to India.

• Recognizing the Taliban regime: The decision is particularly

difficult for India, which was closely allied to the Afghan

government, and helped build democratic and constitutional

processes there, and sees the treatment of women and

minorities as integral to those processes. Recognising a

Taliban regime, giving it global legitimacy will be a difficult

step for India.

• Strategic patience: It is suggested that India should have a

“wait and watch “policy towards Taliban. If Taliban adheres

to its promises of respecting human rights and not allowing

Afghan soil to be used for anti-India activities, India can think

of going ahead diplomatically with the Taliban.

Conclusion:• There is no end-game in Afghanistan. A new ‘Great Game’

is just starting. India needs to show strategic patience. It is

a matter of time before things open up for India once again.

Perhaps if the Taliban prove they are not medieval monsters

but only deeply conservative, India could open up to them.

Or they will make an outreach to India to balance Pakistan.

Alternatively, there could be resistance to Taliban from

around the region, which again will open up new options

for India. For now, however, India must prepare for the long

game.

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

About:• The virtual seminar was organized by Central Manufacturing

Technology Institute (CMTI) Bangalore, under the SAMARTH

Udyog Bharat 4.0 Platform of Ministry of Heavy Industries.

CMTI is a Research & Development organisation under

the aegis of the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

It focuses on providing ‘Technology Solutions’ to the

manufacturing sector and assisting technological growth

in the country.

• The objective of webinar was to listen from the experts of

the Samarth Udyog Centres on the indigenous technology

developments & the ways for collaborations in domain of

Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0.

Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hub (SAMARTH) Udyog Bharat 4.0:• Industry 4.0 Initiative - SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0 is an

Industry 4.0 initiative of Department of Heavy Industry, under

its scheme on Enhancement of Competitiveness in Indian

Capital Goods Sector.

The scheme on ‘Enhancement of competitiveness in the

Indian Capital Goods Sector’ was notified in November,

2014 to encourage technology development and

infrastructure creation.

• Raise awareness through Udyog centres - The initiative

aims to raise awareness about Industry 4.0 among the

Indian manufacturing industry through experiential and

demonstration centres called Samarth Udyog centres.

• Create eco system by 2025 - It aims to facilitate and create eco

system for propagation of Industry 4.0 set of technologies

in every Indian manufacturing by 2025, be it MNC, large,

medium or small-scale Indian company.

Industry 4.0:• It refers to the fourth industrial revolution, which is the cyber-

physical transformation of manufacturing.

• Smart factory through cyber physical production systems: It has

been defined as “a name for the current trend of automation

and data exchange” in manufacturing technologies,

including cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things,

cloud computing and cognitive computing and creating the

smart factory.

• Here the objective is that the machines talk to other machines and products and information is processed and distributed in real time resulting in profound changes to the entire industrial ecosystem.

• Industry 4.0 is already influencing sectors like manufacturing, supply chain management, construction, shipping etc. and shall impact all the aspects of our day-to-day activities.

• It is truly considered to be a disruptive technology.

Benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution:• Government and citizens engagement The Fourth Industrial Revolution brings new ways for

citizens to engage with their governments.

New technologies such as digital analytics, the Internet of Things, and blockchain can provide citizens with new tools to improve accountability and reduce corruption in

governments.

In-DepthArticle

A webinar was organized to celebrate the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav which has. This has led to the

enhanced focus towards Industry 4.0

INDIA AND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 4.0: AN EVOLUTIONARY CHANGE

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

Simultaneously, these technologies give governments

new powers for exerting control over populations and

digital infrastructure for public welfare.

The emergency of new and innovative technologies helps

better undertake better security, surveillance and search

and rescue operations.

• Businesses – Fourth Industrial revolution will lead to

increased productivity,

efficiency and quality in processes,

greater safety for workers by reducing jobs in dangerous

environments,

enhanced decision making with data-based tools,

improved competitiveness by developing customised

products that satisfy consumers' needs, etc.

• Creation of new jobs and skills Increasing automation and the widespread adoption of AI

in the workplace have resulted in many jobs becoming

outdated, but, simultaneously, the adoption of these

technologies has resulted in the creation of new job

categories.

It is believed that jobs of the future will come with titles

such as “Driverless Car Engineer,” “Big Data Analyst,”

“Drone Instructor,” and “Robot Coordinator”.

New categories of jobs created by Industry 4.0 Revolution

will also require new skills which include basic digital

literacy as well as soft skills, like creativity, that machines

are unable to easily replicate.

New technologies will also lead to the change in the

nature of work and lead to growth of remote and virtual

work and the gig economy.

• Environment – Industry 4.0 revolution presents numerous opportunities

for addressing the planet’s environmental issues, including climate change, ocean health, and water security.

For instance, potential AI applications for addressing climate change include using machine learning to match energy demand and energy generation in real-time.

This can decrease unpredictability in power supply while increasing the efficiency and balancing of renewable energy.

Negative impacts of Fourth Industrial Revolution:• Issues of privacy and security of individuals - The growing use

of the Internet of Things and cloud technology during industry 4.0 increases the risk of security breaches and leads to loss of control over personal data.

• Employment loss - The deep impact of Industry 4.0 on employment due to the advancements in automotive and robotic technology is one of the biggest drawbacks.

A McKinsey Global report confirmed that up to 800 million jobs will have disappeared by 2030 as a result of automation.

• Social inequality and disharmony - The potential loss of employment due to industry 4.0 can create inequality among people economically as well as socially.

Thus, social fragmentation, political polarization and lack of trust in institutions are inevitable.

It may also lead to rise in gender gap as only 24% of the IT and communication sector workforce is female as per World Economic Forum which forms the basis of Industry 4.0.

• Climate change - Massive industrialization, rapid development in technologies, increased urbanization, excessive deforestation, limitless resource depletion, desertification, rapid population growth, water scarcity, food insecurity etc. are hampering the natural environmental balance of earth.

• Mental Health - Competitive environment of Fourth Industrial Revolution, sometimes, leads to emotional frustration as well as affect mental balance. This may lead to suicidal tendency, anxiety, insomnia and other neurological diseases.

India and Industry 4.0:• India is currently the second-most sought-after manufacturing

destination globally, driven mainly by cost competitiveness in the Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2021.

• India also has the third largest startup ecosystem in the world.

• India’s National Manufacturing Policy (NMP) has been promulgated which aims at enhancing the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25%.

• Thus, keeping in mind the necessity of fourth industrial revolution to ensure Indian industries growth and make it a manufacturing hub, India has taken several initiatives to tap industry 4.0 potential.

India’s initiatives towards 4th Industrial Revolution:• WEF centre - In 2018, the World Economic Forum setup its

Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in India to work in collaboration with the Government of India.

NEXT IAS




In-Depth

The National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog

is the designated nodal agency to interact with the

World Economic Forum for elaborating the new policy

frameworks for emerging technologies.

• PPP Model - The GoI has already made the enabling

policy framework and set up incentives for infrastructure

development on a PPP (Public Private Partnership) model.

• Samarth Udyog Bharat 4.0 is the India’s initiative to push

for Industry 4.0 implementation with an aim to propagate

technological solutions to Indian manufacturing units by 2025

through steps like awareness programme, training, demo

centers etc.

• Green Energy Corridors - The Indian government has created

Green Energy Corridors to bring in more renewable energies,

to make smart grids that will support the variable input of

renewable energies and create storage.

• India is also promoting initiatives like STEM (Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning, 5G

trials and Digital India to tap Industry 4.0.

• In spite of these initiatives, India still faces several challenges

that hinder the growth of fourth Industrial revolution.

Challenges India faces in execution of Industry 4.0:• Lack of Adequate physical and digital Infrastructure - Despite

continuous effort of the government, India still lacks basic

infrastructure such as roads and electricity. Additionally,

India’s telecommunication network still suffers from low data

speeds and unstable connection.

• Cyber Security - According to KPMG in India’s Cybercrime

Survey Report 2017, 79 per cent of corporations in India have

acknowledged cyber security as one of the top-five business

risks.

Apart from cyber security, the regulatory environment

pertaining to data privacy would also need to be

strengthened.

• High Cost of Digital Technologies- Building the factory of the

future having an entirely connected system could require

significant capital outlay.

Getting access to digital technologies for MSMEs, that

forms the base of Indian manufacturing sector, remains a

challenge due to the high cost of these technologies.

• Leadership Skill Gap- India faces a lack of business leaders

ready for the Industry 4.0 era, which could hinder the

country’s attempts for widespread adoption.

• Workforce Skill Gap- India’s current workforce lacks skill and

expertise in new age technologies such as data analytics,

additive manufacturing and IoT.

• Regulation - Government is still faced with the challenge of

finding the best ways of regulating emerging technology

companies. This is especially true as majority of the

companies operate on global level.

The recent conflict between global digital companies in

wake of India’s IT rules 2021 is a testimony to it.

Way Forward:• Robust national security architecture – India needs to develop

a robust national security architecture and build aggressive

cyber capabilities to secure sensitive data from all types of

external and internal threats. This is the first and foremost

requirement.

• Continuous Upskilling to remain competitive - In order to

reduce the risk exposure of employees to automation, India

needs to invest in education and training for people of all ages

so as to be able to be better adapted to new technologies

and digitization.

• Reduce social inequality - Government may increase their

tax revenue and social security contributions by high skilled

people whose earnings (income and wealth) will increase

due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and apply a tax relief

for workers whose income will be reduced to reduce social

inequality and unrest.

• Address Gender Gap - Government must work in the direction

of addressing the gender gap by emphasizing to the female

creative thinking and encouraging their active participation to

the innovation processes through IT and STEM programs that

will help them to become more competitive in labor market

and will promote their social mobility.

• Expand social security benefits - Adoption of the universal

basic income (UBI) to protect the income of people that are

hit by unemployment and providing equal access to high-

quality education and equal opportunities to people who do

not have the financial ability for training and re-training are

some of the steps.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• e-RUPI is a prepaid UPI e-voucher that can be redeemed

either through a QR code or an SMS string by the intended beneficiary.

The only requirement is for the beneficiary’s mobile phone number. It does not require even the bank account details.

• Contactless digital prepaid gift-voucher: It is a cashless and contactless digital prepaid gift-voucher that will be redeemable at specific accepting centres without any credit or debit card, a mobile app or internet banking.

It is a person and purpose-specific seamless digital one-time payment mechanism.

For example, if the e-RUPI has been sent to the beneficiary to avail vaccination, it can be used at the vaccination centre only to get the vaccine.

Being pre-paid in nature, it assures timely payment to the service provider.

It also ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed.

• No physical interface required: It will connect the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers in a digital manner without any physical interface.

• Issuing mechanism – Banks are the issuing entities. The system has been built by National Payments

Corporation of India (NPCI) on its UPI platform, and has onboarded banks that will be the issuing entities.

It has been developed in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and National Health Authority.

Any corporate or government agency will have to approach the partner banks with the details of specific persons and the purpose for which payments have to be made.

The beneficiaries will be identified using their mobile number and a voucher allocated by a bank to the service provider in the name of a given person would only be delivered to that person.

Uses of e-RUPI:• Government sector - e-RUPI is expected to ensure a leak-

proof delivery of welfare services. It can be used for delivering services under schemes

meant for providing drugs and nutritional support under Mother and Child welfare schemes, TB eradication programmes, drugs & diagnostics under schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, fertiliser subsidies etc.

Currently, the government is using this facility for health services. Later on, it can be used for various other services. Corporates may also use this for giving benefits to their employees and also for CSR programmes.

• The private sector can leverage these digital vouchers as part of their employee welfare and corporate social responsibility programmes.

NATIONAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION OF INDIA (NPCI)

• NPCI is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.

• It is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for creating a robust Payment & Settlement Infrastructure in India.

It intends to provide infrastructure to the entire Banking system in India for physical as well as electronic payment and settlement systems.

• It has been incorporated as a “Not for Profit” Company under the provisions of Section 25 of Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of Companies Act 2013).

• The ten core promoter banks are State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Citibank N. A. and HSBC.

• NPCI is behind several initiatives like RuPay card, UPI, IMPS etc.

Feature Article

e-RUPI DIGITAL PAYMENT SOLUTION LAUNCHED

Indian Prime Minister recently launched an electronic voucher based digital payment system “e-RUPI”.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• The study found that the beetles abandon their sky compass

and rely instead on earthbound artificial lights as beacons.

• Skyglow refers to the brightening of the night sky over

inhabited areas.

• Skyglow is the most visible negative effect of light pollution

where the artificial light scattered in the atmosphere raises

night sky luminance.

• Natural lighting levels are governed by natural celestial

sources, mainly the Moon, natural atmospheric emission

(airglow), the stars and the Milky Way, and zodiacal light.

• Light pollution is alteration of night natural lighting levels

caused by anthropogenic sources of light.

Types of Light Pollution:• Light Trespassing: It occurs when light from one house or

property is improperly controlled and crosses boundaries,

and spills into areas where it is not needed. Trespassing

light interferes with the darkness of other properties or even

brightens the inside of another person’s home.

• Skyglow: It occurs when ambient manmade light floods the

sky, creating a glow that can be almost as bright as dawn

or dusk. This upward directed light reflects on particles in

the sky reducing pristine view of the sky. Sometimes Skyglow

can look red, especially on cloudy nights.

• Glare: It refers to the background light, caused by street

lights and car headlights, which can be so bright that they

can impact a person’s vision in the dark even after the car

has passed. This decreases a person’s nigh-time depth

perception and their ability to discern between different

shadows in the dark.

• Overlighting: Excessive and unnecessary use of light, that be

dimmed.

• Clutter: It refers to excessive groupings of lights that may

generate confusion, distract from obstacles (including those

that they may be intended to illuminate), and potentially

cause accidents. Clutter is particularly noticeable on roads

where the street lights are badly designed, or where brightly

lit advertising surrounds the roadways.

Sources of Light Pollution: Street and vehicles lights, Advertising

billboards, Industrial lights, Sports venues, Low-flying satellites,

such as those launched by the Starlink to beam internet.

INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKY ASSOCIATION (IDA)

It is a recognized authority on light pollution and is the leading organization combating light pollution worldwide. Since 1988, IDA has led a movement to protect night from light pollution.

Effects of Light Pollution:• On Energy and Environment: Light pollution is essentially

waste of energy, where such energy is has been produced by emitting carbon dioxide, burning coal etc.

• On Humans: In humans, increased exposure to light pollution has been linked to altered circadian rhythm, diabetes, mood disorders and an increased risk of breast, prostate, and other cancers.

• On Flora and Fauna: Migratory species getting off course: Normally migratory birds use celestial cues such as the stars to help them navigate, but they may get disoriented by city lights and smash into the glass buildings.

"Insect apocalypse" – the alarming decline of insect populations around the world: This happens as lightbulbs lure and trap moths along with other insects, which often end up being eaten by lurking predators or die from exhaustion.

Photosynthesis cycle in plants, nesting behaviour of turtles, sleeping pattern in fish due to suppressed levels of melatonin, health of coral reefs – all of these are impacted by the light pollution.

Steps to curb the Light Pollution:• Individual/ local level efforts include the following: Switching on the lights that are absolutely needed Using energy efficient bulbs, choosing warm white light

bulbs, adding timers and dimmers Shielding lights by directing them down, thus preventing

light from spilling upwards Avoiding the blue-white light spectrum that increases

glare and also scatters easily in the atmosphere

• Celebrations such as Earth Day i.e. annual lights out, reduce the light pollution significantly.

• Declaration of ‘dark sky reserves’: Under the "international dark sky places" programme run by the International Dark-Sky Association, certain areas in deserts, national parks etc. have been marked as reserves to curb effects of light pollution, especially on wildlife.

• Adoption of light pollution legislation: Slovenia, Puerto Rico, France, Croatia have passed laws to control outdoor lightning and curb light pollution.

Feature Article

SKYGLOW AND LIGHT POLLUTIONA recent study conducted on the nocturnal dung beetle, Scarabaeus satyrus, compared the orientation of the ‘sky

compass’ of this creature under the pristine skies vis-à-vis the light polluted skies.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• In China, 1.2 million people were displaced in the province

of Hainan by what was reported as a “once in a 1,000-year

downpour”.

• In Russia, the Siberian city of Yakutsk, better known for its

sub-zero winter temperatures faced the “worst-ever air

pollution” because of smoke from 200 nearby wildfires.

• In Europe, flash floods killed approximately 200 people in

Germany and Belgium.

• And in North America, city after city was scorched by

unprecedentedly high temperatures.

• These events highlight the consequential implications of the

“fossil fuels” and produces a policy dilemma for India as

its economy is dependent on fossil fuels of which 85% are

imported (especially when India is promoting AtmaNirbhar

Bharat in big way).

Issues plaguing India’s Oil and Gas sector:• Economic trajectory Vs burden on exchequer: on one side

energy demand is conducive to economic growth, thanks

to the its large dependence on import and volatility in

international market prices it causes heavy burden on India's

foreign reserves (Forex).

• Inflation factor: Covid pandemic stagnated domestic

economic activities while inflation is on rise due to increase

in crude oil price internationally making transportation costly

that lead to increase in the prices of goods and services.

Therefore, India's is in the middle of unique situation where

how boost economy while controlling inflation.

• Fossil fuel vs renewable energy: INDC commitments to check

climate change requires investments in renewables energy

resources but its huge dependence on fossils currently,

demands balance between increasing use of renewable

while reducing its dependence of crude oil.

• Storage Capacity: We hold currently strategic reserves equivalent to 12 days of imports. The government has approved plans to increase this buffer to 25 days. By comparison, China, the EU, South Korea, and Japan hold between 70-100 days of reserves.

• Huge import dependence – Indian economy is dependent on fossil fuels and there is no discernible end in sight to this dependence.

India imports approximately 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements and is exposed to the volatility of the

international oil market.

We import major chunk of oil from the Middle East, predominantly Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran. This region faces deep political and social fault lines and there is no knowing when our supply lines might get ruptured.

• Challenges in exploring hydrocarbon reserves – India is sitting on substantial hydrocarbon reserves

but these reserves are not easy to locate and, even when located, are difficult to develop and produce on a commercial basis.

There have been very few substantive commercial discoveries because the bulk of the reserves are in complex geological structures and harsh terrain (Himalayan foothills or deep waters offshore).

• Poor recovery rate - The average oil recovery rate in India is roughly around 28 per cent as compared to 45% global average. This is due to factors like difficult geology, inefficient PSUs and lack of modern technologies.

• Presence of Multiple PSUs – Presence of various PSUs like ONGC, BPCL, IOC, HPCL, and GAIL adds to the “avoidable” costs of intra public sector competition and inefficiencies of “sub scale” operations.

• Structural challenges - Indian oil and gas industry leaders face the twin challenge of responding to the changing environment, while managing their enterprise level shake-up and internal resources, including human resources.

Way Forward:• Rationally rank resources for exploration - India needs

to rationally rank and harness its indigenous petroleum resources by intensifying exploration as a top policy priority.

The rational ranking and emphases on domestic exploration will help the resources earmarked for exploration to be deployed more productively.

• Improve productivity - ONGC needs to allocate increasing resources to improve the productivity of its domestic producing fields.

It can be done by the application of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology which possess very low-risks.

ONGC can shed a part of its equity to get the best technology service partner.

• Build contingency safeguards - There is a need to create strategic reserves equivalent to around 35 days of imports (currently it is 12 days).

It can be done by constructing a cavern in Jamnagar - the

Feature Article

FOSSIL FUEL AND POLICY DILEMMARecent weather extreme events caused by climate change presents India with a policy dilemma on how to

redefine the supply-side priorities when about 85% fossil fuels are still imported.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

entrepôt that receives approximately 60 per cent of our crude oil imports and is well connected through tanks and pipelines to the hinterland refineries.

• Restructure and reorganise the public sector petroleum companies - The upstream assets of BPCL, IOC, HPCL, and GAIL should be consolidated under ONGC.

Also, GAIL should be unbundled into a public utility gas pipeline company (its non-pipeline assets should be allocated to the upstream company and/or one of the downstream entities).

• Long-term focus on clean energy – All stakeholders should not work through the siloed prism of oil and natural gas. They should broaden the aperture and become the progenitor of the energy transition.

The companies should be encouraged to look beyond hydrocarbons to build an “energy” enterprise.

It will provide a focused platform for balancing the shorter-term need to provide secure and affordable hydrocarbons with the medium and longer-term imperative of developing clean energy.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• Retrospective law is made to affect acts or facts occurring, or

rights occurring before it came into force.

• In India, in accordance with constitutional provisions, laws pertaining to taxation and civil liabilities can be made retrospectively.

• Introduction of retrospective taxation in India: Retrospective taxation was introduced in India in 2012 and thus Rs 1.1 trillion was collected through this legislation.

• The amendment aims to end retrospective taxation and refund such collected tax.

• No taxation before ceiling date: The amendment provided that no tax demand should be raised in the future for any indirect transfer of Indian assets if the transaction was before 28 May 2012.

• The law aimed to bring past indirect transfer of Indian assets under the ambit of taxation till cut-off state.

• Provision to refund collected taxes: This taxation policy affected as many as 17 entities, from which Rs 1.1 trillion was collected.

• The amendment proposed to refund all collected taxes in lieu of all cases to be withdrawn by affected entities in international as well as national courts and forums.

• However, there will be no interest added in such refundable amount.

Significance of Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021:• Promoting transparent taxation regime: Retrospective taxation

is against the principle of tax certainty, which damages the reputation of India among international investors such as Vodafone and Cairn. The amendment will promote a transparent taxation regime which will bring significant FDI inflows towards India.

• Promoting Ease of doing business: ‘Paying Taxes’ and ‘Enforcing Contracts’ are two among ten parameters which decide ‘Ease of Doing Business’ index. The amendment will increase India’s rankings in such indices and help in bring foreign investment.

• Uniform global tax regime: Amid globalization, the world is marching towards uniform markets and taxation policies.

• Recently, Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate was proposed by G7 countries.

Way Forward:• Retrospective taxation policies in India were termed as ‘Tax

terrorism’ by many analyst as it was against the principle of certainty and corporate ethics.

• This was often misused in order to harass corporate entities if they were not in favour of ruling government.

• The amendment has ended such tax discrepancies effectively.

Feature Article TAXATION LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021

Recently, government has introduced the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to

scrap the retrospective tax law.

Vodafone Case:

• The retrospective taxation law in the first instance impacted telecom company Vodafone India (Now VI).

• Vodafone was taxed for a 2007 transaction involving its purchase of a 67% stake in Hutchison Whampoa (HUTCH) for $11 billion.

• Supreme Court Judgment: Supreme Court in this case held that Vodafone could not be taxed for a transaction which was done 5 years back.

Cairn India Case:

• This retrospective taxation was also invoked against Cairn Energy for a corporate reorganization done in 2006-07 and its assets were frozen by the authorities. This led to appeal by Cairn India in different international courts.

• A Paris court ruling in favour of Cairn India ordered allowing Cairn Energy to freeze at least 20 Indian properties worth $23 million. It allowed to seize India’s assets in lieu of the award as the government didn’t abide by the tribunal’s decision.

Case Studies: Retrospective Taxation in IndiaNEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• The Bill replaces the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and

Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021 which was quashed

by the Supreme Court.

• Aim: The bill has replaced the existing appellate authorities

and vested those powers in the High Courts.

• Different bodies and domains had different appellate

authorities.

• The bill has diluted these appellate authorities and vests

these powers into Supreme Court.

• Further, the bill has amended the rules related to other

tribunals which will not be diluted.

• Impact on Finance Act, 2017: The bill has amended the Finance

Act, 2017.

The act vests power into central government to notify rules

on qualifications of members, terms and conditions of

their service.

It also provides powers to central government regarding

composition of search and selection committees for 19

tribunals such as Customs, Excise, and Service Tax

Appellate Tribunal.

• Dissolution of eight tribunals: The bill has provided for

dissolution of following tribunals or appellate bodies

proposed by different acts:

The Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) under

Cinematograph Act;

The Intellectual Property Appellate Board under Copyright

Act;

The Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal

under Customs Act;

Patents Act;

Airports Authority of India Act;

Trade Marks Act;

Geographical Indications of Goods (registration and

protection) Act;

Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act and

Control of National Highways (land and traffic) Act.

• Appellate bodies after the passing of bill: Hence, after the

passage of the bill, instead of different appellate tribunals,

existing judicial forums such as a civil court or a High Court

will be appellate body.

• Benefits for existing members: The Bill states that the

Chairpersons and Members of the tribunal being abolished

shall cease to hold office.

• They will be entitled to claim compensation equivalent

to three months’ pay and allowances for their premature

termination.

• Provisions for existing tribunals: The Bill has provided for

uniform pay and rules for the search and selection committees

across tribunals.

• It has also provided for removal of tribunal members under

certain conditions on the recommendation of the Search-

cum-Selection Committee.

• Search-cum-selection Committees: The Bill also proposes to

set up a search-cum-selection committee that will select and

appoint the Chairperson and the Members of the various

tribunals.

The Chairperson and Members of the Tribunals

will be appointed by the central government on the

recommendation of a Search-cum-Selection Committee.

The Committee will consist of:

The Chief Justice of India, or a Supreme Court Judge

nominated by him, as the Chairperson (with casting vote).

Two Secretaries nominated by the central governments.

The sitting or outgoing Chairperson, or a retired Supreme

Court Judge, or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court, and

The Secretary of the Ministry under which the Tribunal is

constituted (with no voting right).

The central government will have to decide on the

recommendations of the committee within 3 months. The

Bill also limits the tenure of the Chairperson of a tribunal to

four years or till he/ she attains the age of seventy years,

whichever is earlier. The members of the tribunal will have

a term of four years or till he or she attains the age of sixty-

seven years, whichever is earlier.

• State Administrative Tribunals: It will have separate search-

cum-selection committees with the Chief Justice of the High

Court of the concerned state, as the Chairman (with a casting

vote).

• Eligibility and Term of Office: The Bill provides for a four-year

term of office (subject to the upper age limit of 70 years for

the Chairperson, and 67 years for members).

Further, it specifies a minimum age requirement of 50

years for appointment of a chairperson or a member.

• Removal of Tribunal Members: It states that the central

government shall, on the recommendation of the Search-cum-

Selection Committee, remove from office any Chairperson or

a Member.

Feature Article

TRIBUNAL REFORMS BILL 2021

Recently, Tribunal Reforms Bill, 2021 was passed by the parliament.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

Current state of functioning of tribunals and related issues:• Discrepancy in Selection Procedure: The selection committees

are responsible for recommending names to the Central government for the purposes of being appointed to a tribunal and are composed of a mix of judicial and executive members.

Executive members are generally from the political background or the ones appointed by the government.

This leads to politicization of the tribunals as a whole.

• Compromising with Independence and transparency: Generally retired judges are appointed in tribunals as judicial members in different tribunals.

These are further reappointed due to their political patronage and hence compromise the independence of the tribunals.

Generally, sitting judges and tribunal chairpersons are likely to give orders favorable to the Central government to appease them for continued or future posting.

• Non-uniformity of service conditions: There is a problem of non-uniformity across tribunals with respect to service conditions, tenure of members, and varying nodal ministries in charge of different tribunals.

These all factors lead to malfunctioning in the management and administration of tribunals.

• Burden on exchequer: As envisaged previously, the tribunals do not necessarily led to faster justice delivery but are also at a considerable expense to the exchequer.

• Vacancies not filled at time: Apart from these eight tribunals, there are 16 other tribunals including the National Green Tribunal, the Armed Forces Appellate Tribunal, and the Debt Recovery Tribunal among others which also suffer from crippling vacancies.

Limitation of transferring powers of tribunals to High Courts:• Over-burdened Judicial system: Currently, India’s judiciary is

overburdened by a large volume of pending cases.

• Further addition of large volume of cases from tribunals will result in inefficiency of judicial system.

• Delay in disposal of cases: Although there are many discrepancies in functioning of tribunals, these are efficiently working across the country.

• The disposal rates of tribunals in comparison to filing of cases per year are overwhelming 94%, which is excellent.

• However, efficiency of High Courts across the country is very less as compared to it.

• The move will hamper justice delivery system as it will delay the disposal of cases in courts.

• Overriding powers of members of Search-cum-Selection Committee: In the Search-cum-Selection Committee for state tribunals, the Bill brings in the Chief Secretary of the state and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission of the concerned state who will have a vote.

• While Secretary or Principal Secretary of the state’s General Administrative Department and the Chief Justice of the High Court, who would head the committee will have no voting right.

TRIBUNALS AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

• Quasi judicial bodies: Tribunals are Quasi-Judicial

constitutional bodies which are setup in accordance with

Article 323-A and 323-B of the Constitution of India.

• Powers and domain: These tribunals are constituted in

order to deal with adjudicating disputes, determining rights

between contesting parties, making an administrative

decision, reviewing an existing administrative decision.

• 42nd Amendment Act: Tribunals were recommended by

Swaran Singh Committee.

In accordance with that, the 42nd Constitution

Amendment Act, 1976 was enacted which added the

two new articles in the Indian Constitution i.e. Article

323-A & 323-B to deal cases by setting up tribunals.

• Article 323-A: It deals with setting up of tribunals for

subjects related to the recruitment and service conditions

of persons engaged in public service. These tribunals are

called administrative tribunals.

• Article 323-B: It deals with setting up of tribunals for

subjects related to Taxation, Industrial and labour, Foreign

exchange, import and export, Land reforms, Food, Ceiling

on urban property, Elections to Parliament and state

legislatures, Rent and tenancy rights.

Way Forward:• Although the recommendations of law commission is the right

way to bring about a series of reforms in working of tribunals in the country but the process is long.

• Hence, transferring the judicial powers of tribunals to respective High Courts will help in efficient justice delivery mechanism.

• To combat the delay and volume of pendency of cases in High Courts, a separate bench dedicated to tribunal cases must be formed.

• Further, reform in judiciary in form of rapid recruitment and efficient disposal of cases will justify this move.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• It warns that "land-hungry" practices to achieve net zero

carbon targets would cause disproportionately adverse effects like higher food prices and more hunger around the world.

• Net-zero is a state in which a country’s emissions are compensated by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the atmosphere. This means that the country is not aiming for zero emissions, but only carbon-neutrality.

• ‘Net zero emissions’ and ‘zero emissions’ do not mean the same thing. Instead, in many cases, net zero targets are a greenwashing exercise that enable business as usual.

• The most recent estimates from the UN suggest that by 2030, emissions are currently likely to be just 0.5% below 2010 levels, compared with the 45% needed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

• About 1.6 billion hectares of new forests would be required to remove world’s excess carbon emissions by 2050, if the climate change challenge is to be tackled only by planting more trees. This amounts to the land as five times the size of India, or the equivalent of all the farmland on the planet.

• Citing data from the IPCC, Oxfam argues that if the current land-based carbon emission removal schemes continue, it could see global food prices up by about 80 percent by 2050.

LAND BASED CARBON REMOVAL METHODS

• Enhancing carbon sequestration in forests

• Afforestation/reforestation

• Enhancing soil carbon

• Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)

• Biochar

Problem with the Net Zero Targets/ Technologies:• Shift focus away from cutting carbon emissions, for example

by rapidly ending the use of coal, oil and gas for electricity and oil for cars.

• Net Zero targets rely on removal of carbon via virtually new unproven, non-scalable technologies and methods.

• These envisage a level of land use that is completely impossible and would lead to mass hunger and displacement of people across the world, as the demand for land, particularly in low and middle-income countries will surge.

Net Zero Commitments Made so Far:• Currently more than 120 countries, including those in the EU,

the USA, China and Japan, have pledged to reach net zero by mid of 21st century.

• There has also been a wave of corporate net zero climate commitments from a range of companies and investors, including British Airways, Mars, Unilever, Citigroup, BlackRock, Shell and BP.

• European Union has a plan called ‘Fit for 55’, and has asked all of its 27 member countries to cut emissions by 55 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030.

Policy Recommendations:• Net zero targets must prioritize ambitious emissions

reductions to align with the goal of limiting warming to below 1.5°C and ensure rapid decarbonization by 2030.

• Companies should disclose and commit to reducing emissions in accordance with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). SBTi requires that companies set targets based on emission reductions through direct action within their own operations and/or their value chains.

• Net zero commitments must be backed by meaningful transparency and disclosure. Reducing emissions cannot be considered a substitute for cutting emissions, and these should be counted separately.

• Land-based climate action must be anchored in food first, rights-based approaches that help to achieve zero hunger and zero emissions. Land rights of communities and Indigenous Peoples should be protected as part of land-based mitigation efforts.

SCIENCE BASED TARGET INITIATIVE (SBTi)

• It is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that sets standards for climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets.

• It defines and promotes best practice in emissions reductions and net-zero targets in line with climate science.

• Provides technical assistance and expert resources to companies who set science-based targets in line with the latest climate science.

Feature ArticleOXFAM’S REPORT ON

NET ZERO CLIMATE TARGETS The Oxfam report titled ‘Tightening the Net’ states that the ‘net zero’ carbon targets that many nations have

proclaimed may be a “dangerous distraction” from the precedence of curbing carbon emissions.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• Domestic violence in India is an entrenched problem, and it

has only been exacerbated in recent years. About 70 per cent of women in India are victims of domestic violence.

• Kerala High Court Judgement: “Marital rape amounts to cruelty and is a ground for divorce” — a two-judge bench of the Kerala High Court has passed a landmark order acknowledging a woman’s autonomous and individual rights in a marriage

The court said an insatiable urge for the wealth and sex of a husband had driven a woman to distress.

In desperation to get a divorce, she has abandoned all her monetary claims.

In a patriarchal society, the“reasonable person” is always a male, who judges the place of a female in the social process.

Therefore, women end up being perceived as baby-making machines where their right to bodily autonomy and reproductive rights are inconceivable and preposterous.

A spouse has a choice not to suffer and law cannot compel a spouse to suffer against his or her wish by denial of divorce by the court.

The framework of divorce law must be with an objective to help individuals make a decision on their own affairs.

This framework must promote a platform at different levels to enable individuals to exercise free choice.

• Other Related Case: The High Court of Chhattisgarh recently decided on a criminal revision petition challenging the charges framed against the applicant husband.

Based on the allegations of his wife, charges were framed by a trial court under Section 376 (rape), Section 377 (carnal intercourse against the order of nature) and Section 498A (cruelty towards wife by husband or his relatives) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The High Court upheld charges under Sections 498A and 377 but discharged the husband under Section 376 on the ground that by virtue of Exception 2 to Section 375 (the definition of rape), sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife (provided she is over the age of 18) would not amount to the offence of rape.

• National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) ‘Crime in India’ 2019 report says that in India, a woman is raped every 16 minutes, and every four minutes, she experiences cruelty at the hands of her in-laws.

• An analysis of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2015-16 data indicates that an estimated 99.1 per cent of sexual

violence cases go unreported and that the average Indian woman is 17 times more likely to face sexual violence from her husband than from others.

Legal Provisions on Marital Rape in India and grounds for its criminalization:• Section 375 of the IPC: The definition of rape codified in

Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) includes all forms of sexual assault involving nonconsensual intercourse with a woman.

• Exception 2 to Section 375: Exception 2 to Section 375 exempts unwilling sexual intercourse between a husband and a wife over fifteen years of age from Section 375’s definition of “rape”.

• As per current law, a wife is presumed to deliver perpetual consent to have sex with her husband after entering into marital relations.

• While unwilling sexual contact between a husband and a wife is recognized as a criminal offense in almost every country of the world, India is one of the thirty-six countries that still have not criminalized marital rape.

• CEDAW: The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”

Section 375 (Exception) of Indian Penal Code is inconsistent with and violative of these principles and Article 1 of CEDAW.

Marital Rape and Violations of Laws:• Violation of Article of 14: Article 14 of the Indian Constitution ensures that “the State

shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”

Although the Constitution guarantees equality to all, Indian criminal law discriminates against female victims who have been raped by their own husbands.

Exception 2 violates the right to equality enshrined in Article 14 insofar as it discriminates against married women by denying them equal protection from rape and sexual harassment.

The Exception creates two classes of women based on their marital status and immunizes actions perpetrated by men against their wives.

Feature Article

MARITAL RAPE IN INDIAIn a landmark judgment, the Kerala High Court held that marital rape is a valid ground for

divorce even though it is not penalised in India.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

Rationality: Exception 2’s distinction between married and unmarried women has no rational relation to the underlying purpose of the statute.

• Defying the Purpose of section 375 of the IPC: Exception 2 frustrates the purpose of Section 375: to protect

women and punish those who engage in the inhumane activity of rape. Exempting husbands from punishment is entirely contradictory to that objective.

Exception 2 encourages husbands to forcefully enter into sexual intercourse with their wives, as they know that their acts are not discouraged or penalized by law.

Exception 2 to Section 375 exempts unwilling sexual intercourse between a husband and a wife over fifteen years of age from Section 375’s definition of “rape” and thus immunizes such acts from prosecution.

• Exception 2 is also a violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Article 21 states that “no person shall be denied of his life and personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law.”

• Additionally, Exception 2 violates Article 21’s right to live a healthy and dignified life. The very existence of Exception 2, which fails to deter husbands from engaging in acts of forced sexual contact with their wives, adversely affects the physical and mental health of women and undermines their ability to live with dignity.

Impact on women’s health: Mental health impacts associated with marital rape and other forms of abuse by partners include depression, anxiety, emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.

Marital rape and violence also undermine children’s health and well-being, both through the psychological impacts of witnessing violence and because it can undermine the ability of mothers to care for themselves and their children.

The JS Verma committee set up in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case and the UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 2013 had recommended that the Indian government should criminalize marital rape.

Arguments Against criminalizing Marital Rape:• Destabilize marriage as an institution: It may create absolutely

anarchy in families and destabilize the institution of marriage and thereby destroy the family platform which upholds family values and helps in sustaining the country.

Indian society believes that marriage is a sacrament

• Misuse of law: It may become an easy tool for harassing the husbands by misusing the law similar to the growing misuse of section 498A (harassment caused to a married woman by her husband and in-laws) of the IPC.

• Awareness is more important: Merely criminalizing marital rape may not stop it as “moral and social awareness” plays a vital role in stopping such an act.

• Diversity in Cultures of the states: India has its unique problems due to various factors like literacy, lack of financial empowerment of the majority of females, the mindset of the society, vast diversity, poverty, etc. and these should be considered carefully before criminalizing marital rape.

• Also, criminal law is in the Concurrent List and implemented by the states and there is a vast diversity in the cultures of these states.

• Law Commission has not recommended: Indian Law Commission and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs after thoroughly examining the matter did not recommend the criminalization of marital rape.

• No violation of Article 21: Non-criminalisation of marital rape is “not a violation” of Article 21 of the Constitution as a wife is not compelled to live with a sexually abusive husband under personal law.

• Implementation issues: Criminalizing marital rape will create serious implementational issues like, If all sexual acts by a man with his wife will qualify to be marital rape, then the judgment as to whether it is a marital rape or not will singularly rest with the wife who cannot always be trusted.

What evidences the courts will rely upon in such circumstances, as there can be no lasting evidence in case of sexual acts between a man and his wife.

Way Forward:• Rape is rape, irrespective of the identity of the perpetrator,

and age of the survivor. A woman who is raped by a stranger, lives with a memory of a horrible attack; a woman who is raped by her husband lives with her rapist.

• Our penal laws, handed down from the British, have by and large remained untouched even after 73 years of independence. But English laws have been amended and marital rape was criminalized way back in 1991.

DOCTRINE OF COVERTURE

• At the time the IPC was drafted in the 1860s, a married woman was not considered an independent legal entity. Rather, she was considered to be the chattel of her husband.

• As a result, she did not possess many of the rights now guaranteed to her as an independent legal entity, including the right to file a complaint against another under her own identity.

• Exception 2, is largely influenced by and derived from this already existing doctrine of merging the woman’s identity with that of her husband.

• Roots: The roots of this doctrine can be traced to British colonial rule in the Victorian era. India was a British colony during the 19th century. All Indian laws enacted at this time were deeply influenced by English laws and Victorian norms.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

• In 1991-92, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the Oil Palm Development Programme under the ‘Technology Mission on Oilseeds and Pulses’.

It was envisaged that the area under oil palm will be expanded in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, and Goa.

• In 1995, the Narasimha Rao government set up the National Research Centre for Oil Palm (now Directorate of Oil Palm Research) in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

• From 2004-05 onwards, the oil palm cultivation scheme was implemented in twelve states as part of the ‘Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm & Maize’.

• For the eleventh five-year plan, the Government of India set up a committee under Dr KL Chadha to re-assess the potential for oil palm cultivation.

Its report was submitted in 2006.

It identified 10 lakh hectares as potential areas for the

cultivation of oil palm

• In 2011-12, Oil Palm Area Expansion was included under the

flagship scheme of UPA – Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

• In 2014-15, the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm

was launched. In 2018-19, it was merged with the National

Food Security Mission.

• In 2015, the union government allowed 100% foreign direct

investment in five plantation crops – coffee, cardamom, palm

oil tree, olive oil tree, and rubber via the automatic route.

• States were advised to declare oil palm as a plantation crop

so that the private sector may be attracted to invest in the

cultivation and processing of oil palm.

Efforts so far in Oil Palm Cultivation

About:• Centrally sponsored Scheme to increase palm oil production - It

is a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme that aims at increasing area and productivity of oil palm for increasing the domestic production of edible oils.

Oil palm produces 10 to 46 times more oil per hectare compared to other oilseed crops and has yield of around 4 tons oil per ha.

• Ensure self-sufficiency in edible oil production: This new mission has been announced to ensure self-sufficiency in edible oil production at a time when India’s dependence on expensive imports has driven retail oil prices to new highs.

• Five-year period financial support: This financial outlay for the National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) will be over a five-year period.

• Support to farmers & expand cultivation of traditional oilseeds too: Under this mission, farmers will get all needed facilities, from quality seeds to technology.

Along with promoting the cultivation of oil palm, this mission will also expand the cultivation of our other traditional oilseed crops.

Significance & Features of NMEO-OP:• Raise production of palm oil by three times: The mission aims

to raise the domestic production of crude palm oil (CPO) by three times to 11 lakh MT by 2025-26 and 16.7 lakh hectares by 2029-30.

At present only 3.70 lakh hectares is under Oil Palm cultivation.

• Reduce dependence on imports & increase farmer’s income: It thus aims to incentivize the production of palm oil for reducing dependence on imports & help farmers cash in on the huge market. It thus strives to make India Atmanirbhar in edible oil production. Currently, around 98% of CPO is being imported into the country.

• Harness domestic edible oil prices & boost Forex reserves: It further envisages to harness domestic edible oil prices, dictated by expensive palm oil imports and boost India’s forex reserves.

• Special emphasis on NE states and A&N Islands: The special emphasis of the scheme will be in India’s north-eastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to the conducive weather conditions in the regions.

• Financial assistance through price and viability formula: Under the scheme, oil palm farmers will be provided financial assistance and will get remuneration under a price and viability formula.

1st major focus: The oil palm farmers produce Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) from which oil is extracted by the industry. Presently the prices of these FFBs are linked to the international CPO prices fluctuations.

For the first time, the Government of India will give a price assurance to the oil palm farmers for the FFBs. This will be known as the Viability Price (VP).

Feature Article

NATIONAL MISSION ON EDIBLE OIL-OIL PALM (NMEO-OP)

The Centre has announced ₹11,000 crore plan for new edible oil mission called National Mission on

Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

Industry is mandated to pay the viability gap funding

of 14.3% of crude palm oil prices. Government will

additionally bear a cost of 2% of the CPO price for the

North-East and Andaman.

There is a sunset clause for the scheme which is 1st

November 2037.

2nd major focus: To substantially increase the assistance

of inputs/interventions. A substantial increase has been

made for planting material for oil palm and this has

increased from Rs 12,000 per ha to Rs.29000 per ha.

• The proposed scheme will subsume the current National

Food Security Mission-Oil Palm programme.

Concerns of Oil Palm Cultivation:• Threat to biodiversity: Oil palm cultivation in India’s north-

eastern States and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands could

lead to destruction of rainforests and native biodiversity.

Palm is an invasive species and hence its impact on

our biodiversity as well as on soil conditions has to be

analysed even if it is grown in non-forest areas.

Also, it can destroy the habitat of endangered wildlife.

• Impact on community ownership of tribal lands: Large scale

oil palm cultivation could detach tribespeople from their

identity linked with the community ownership of land and

“wreak havoc on the social fabric”.

• Unsuitable for small farmers: Oil palm is a water-guzzling,

monoculture crop requiring high levels of investment and

a long gestation period and hence is unsuitable for small

farmers which forms the majority in these regions.

It may thus lead to benefitting of only large farmers and

corporate investors.

Corporates may even lobby for changes in land ceiling

laws that would enable them to go for industrial-scale

plantations rather than sourcing their raw material from

(mostly small) farmers.

• Health concerns: Oil palm requires 300 litres of water per tree

per day, as well as high pesticide use in areas where it is not

a native crop, leading to consumer health concerns.

• Pricing Mechanism: The most critical issue in the cultivation

of oil palm has been the inability of farmers to realise a

remunerative price of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs).

Due to the huge fluctuation of global prices of palm oil, the

farmers are not able to get a fair price.

Also, FFBs of oil palm are highly perishable and need to

be processed within twenty-four hours of harvest.

Way Forward:

NOTE TO READERSThe topic of Oilseed's

Production and Challenges has been covered in the June 2021 edition of our

magazine

• Similar support required for

oilseeds: Similar subsidies

and support are needed to be

extended to oilseeds which are

indigenous to India and suited

for dryland agriculture and can

help achieve self-reliance without

dependence on oil palm.

• Success depends on import duty: The success of the mission

oil palm will also depend on import duty on crude palm oil.

In 2012, CACP in its report Oil Palm: Pricing for Growth,

Efficiency & Equity had recommended that whenever the

import price of crude palm oil falls below $800 per tonne,

the import duty needs to be raised.

In the past, governments have given more attention to

taming inflation than ensuring remunerative prices to

farmers which needs to be changed.

• Consider ecological requirements: There is need to bring

the production of various crops in sync with the ecological

requirements of various regions with careful studies to avoid

any biodiversity damage.

• Tap export markets by producing higher value crops: Also,

complete atmanirbharta need not be a desirable goal for

every agricultural commodity which has to be imported to

meet domestic demand.

In the long run, it will be more prudent to produce higher-

value agricultural and horticultural crops and tap export

markets, rather than aiming to produce the entire domestic

requirement of commodities, which can be purchased

much cheaper in global markets.

PALM OIL

• Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the fruit of oil palm trees. The oil can be derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree in two forms i.e.,

Crude palm oil derived from squeezing the fleshy fruit

Palm kernel oil from crushing the kernel, or the stone in the middle of the fruit.

• Palm oil is there in nearly everything! Almost 50% of the packaged products found in supermarkets consists of palm oil.

• The oil is indisputably versatile and is used extensively not just as edible vegetable oil, but also in the production of detergents, plastics, cosmetics, and biofuels.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• Monetise brownfield infrastructure assets by leasing: Under

the ambitious NMP, the government has identified 13 sectors which will be leased to private investors as the government aims to monetise its brownfield infrastructure assets.

It includes a range of sectors including airports, railways, roads, shipping, gas pipeline among others.

Brownfield projects means investment is already made, but they are underutilized and not fully monetized.

• No ownership transfer: NMP thus aims to unlock value in brownfield projects by engaging the private sector, transferring to them revenue rights and not ownership in the projects, and using the funds so generated for infrastructure creation across the country.

• Currently only infrastructure assets: For now, the government has only included the assets of infrastructure line ministries and CPSEs working in the infrastructure sectors.

Excluded: Monetisation through disinvestment and monetisation of non-core assets have not been included in the NMP.

• Developing body: The pipeline has been developed by NITI Aayog, in consultation with infrastructure line ministries, based on the mandate for ‘Asset Monetisation’ under Union Budget 2021–22.

• In line with disinvestment policy: The plan is in line with India’s strategic divestment policy, under which the government will retain presence in only a few identified areas with the rest tapping the private sector.

• Estimates: NMP estimates aggregate monetisation potential of ₹6 lakh crores through core assets of the central government, over a four-year period, from FY 2022 to FY 2025.

It is thus co-terminus with the balance National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) period of 4 years.

How will government monetise the assets?• Monetisation transaction: In a monetisation transaction, the

government basically transfers revenue rights to private parties for a specified transaction period in return for

Upfront money,

A revenue share, and

Commitment of investments in the assets.

• NMP Design: Tapping institutional capital: The NMP is designed to

unlock the value of investments in brownfield public sector assets by tapping institutional and long-term capital.

Lease for specific period: Hence, government-owned roads, railways, power plants, gas pipelines, airports, ports, warehouses etc. could be leased out for a specified period to non-government entities.

Receive revenue: The government will receive money for the transfer either in the form of an upfront payment or as a revenue share.

Various monetisation models: NMP could be executed through

Structured financing vehicles such as Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).

A range of other monetisation models such as Operate Maintain Transfer (OMT), Toll Operate Transfer (TOT), and Operations, Maintenance & Development (OMD).

Significance & Benefits of NMP:• Realise value from idle assets: NMP helps realise value from

idle assets, without the Centre transferring ownership of public sector assets to private parties for good.

• Free capital stuck in assets with longer period return Suppose the government has invested thousands of

crores in a road project. It may take the government decades to recover its

investment through the annual toll revenues. Instead, the government can recover a good chunk of its

investment by leasing out the right to collect toll for the next 30 years to a private investor.

The government can use this money, in turn, to build fresh infrastructure under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).

• Finance public welfare without raising fiscal deficit – NMP will provide around Rs. 6 lakh crores which will help government fund welfare schemes during this Covid situation while adhering to fiscal discipline.

• Reduces the burden on the government - It is very difficult for the government to operate all the core assets while working on building new infrastructures and also maintaining day-to-day businesses. Hence, NMP will take some burden off from the government.

• Employment generation - NMP will create employment opportunities, thereby enabling high economic growth and seamlessly integrating the rural and semi-urban areas for overall public welfare.

• Make assets profitable - The government is monetizing the assets that are not giving enough returns.

Feature Article NATIONAL MONETISATION PIPELINE (NMP)

The government recently unveiled Rs 6 lakh crore ‘National Monetisation Pipeline’ (MNP)

project over a period of 4 years.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

Private sector managerial and technological capabilities can make those assets profitable which can later be ensured to run in similar manner by the government.

Criticisms of NMP:• Neglects intrinsic “social” value of these assets NMP looks at public utility assets through the narrow lens

of finance only and, thereby, underrates their potential contribution to public welfare.

NMP model seemingly absolves the government from the responsibility to unlock the intrinsic “social” (to include “smart” and “clean”) value of these assets.

• Too high asset valuation will create inequalities, cronyism and corruption:

NMP is designed to attract deep-pocketed financial institutions (PE firms) and industrial conglomerates.

This is because the valuations are so high that very few other entities will have the resources or the risk carrying capacity to respond.

The result will be a deepening of the concentration of capital and existing inequalities if the same groups participate across sectors.

Also, as the allocation of assets to private investors is often subject to political influence, it may lead to cronyism & corruption with NMP favouring those who are close to the government.

• No focus on enhancing productivity – Government before monetisation did not bother to find out

the reasons behind poor management of these assets - bad leadership, inadequate talent within the PSEs, and/or systemic and structural shortcomings?

The exact reasons for inefficiencies would have helped government to define the appropriate steps needed for enhancing their productivity.

For example, if poor leadership was the reason, private sector-led organisational and investment structure would make sense.

However, if the reason is structural impediments, even private sector can do nothing.

For example, in case of gas sector, the inefficiency of GAIL is not the reason for unutilised pipelines.

The factors are the shortage of domestic gas supplies; the regressive taxation system; the relatively uncompetitive price of gas and the perennial tussle between the Centre and state governments over land access.

• High cost for customers – The design of NMP is such that the private sector entity

will have to realise value from the asset.

This may lead to higher pricing and leaner business practices to get high return from that asset, which could lead to a spike in the cost of using that service for

consumers (higher tolls on highways or user charges on airports, for instance).

It may also end up creating monopolies thereby leading to price rise.

• Monetisation to finance fiscal deficit: It has been argued that the money raised may be used to fill the fiscal deficit, instead of using them on infrastructure projects as mentioned.

• May lead to lower private spending: This is because higher government spending to boost economy with the money collected from leased assets will indirectly come from the pockets of the private sector leaving them with reduced finances.

Asset-Specific Challenges:• Lack of identifiable revenues streams in various assets like

railway sector

• Low level of capacity utilisation in gas and petroleum pipeline networks

• Lack of dispute resolution mechanisms for various sectors

• Regulated tariffs in power sector assets

• Low interest among investors in national highways below four lanes.

• The above challenges were clearly highlighted in the slow pace of privatisation in government companies including Air India and BPCL and less-than-encouraging bids in the recently launched PPP initiative in trains.

• It indicates that attracting private investors interest is not that easy which will impact the implementation of NMP.

Way Forward:• Address the systemic structural problems obstructing growth: It

is highly needed otherwise even the private sector will find it difficult to harness the full value of these assets and the transfer of operatorship to them will offer at best a partial palliative.

• Use assets to also generate social value: Private-public investment structures make sense, but they must be modelled to also generate social value. In today’s world, there are no shortcuts to sustainable development.

• Address asset-specific challenges mentioned above: While the government has tried to address these challenges in the NMP framework, execution of the plan remains key to its success.

• Dispute Redressal Mechanism: There is also a need for an efficient dispute resolution mechanism for all sectors to promote healthy private sector participation.

• Tap other avenues to plug the resource gap: Instead of relying mostly on disinvesting ore monetising the national assets, there is need to tap other avenues to plug the resource gap.

This can be done by increasing the tax revenue through improvements in tax compliance and plugging loopholes in tax evasion.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• NCPCR has recently recommended to the government

to bring all such schools, including madrasas, under the purview of the Right to Education and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan campaign.

• Title: The report titled “Impact of Exemption under Article 15 (5) with regards to Article 21A of the Constitution of India on Education of Minority Communities’’ states that it was found that the largest number of out-of-school children – at 1.1 crore – belonged to the Muslim community.

• Aim of the Study: The aim of the study was to assess how the 93rd Amendment, which exempts minority institutions from the otherwise mandatory provisions of Right to Education, has affected children belonging to minority communities and whether there has been a gap.

• Data Regarding the Minority Children in Schools: 74 percent of students in Christian missionary schools

belonged to non-minority communities. Overall, 62.50 per cent of students in such schools belonged to non-minority communities.

Only 8.76 per cent of the students in minority schools belong to socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Giving a religion-wise breakup of the schools, the report says that while Christians comprise 11.54 per cent of India’s minority population, they run 71.96 per cent schools, and Muslims with 69.18 percent minority population run 22.75 per cent of the schools.

Sikhs comprise 9.78 per cent of the minority population and run 1.54 percent schools; Buddhists with 3.83 per cent minority population run 0.48 percent schools; and Jains with 1.9 percent minority population run 1.56 percent of schools.

• The Sachar Committee Report: According to the NCPCR, the Sachar Committee report, which says 4 per cent of Muslim children (15.3 lakh) attend madrasas, has only taken into account the registered madrasas.

• The NCPCR report says that the syllabi of madrasas, that have evolved over centuries, are not uniform, and that being left ignorant of the world around them.

• Surge in the Number of Schools Securing Minority Status: It also says there was a surge in the number of schools securing Minority Status Certificate after the 93rd Amendment in 2006, with more than “85% schools of the total schools securing the certificate in the years 2005-2009”.

A second surge was seen in 2010-14, after the 2012 Society judgment that made Sections 12(1)(c) and 18(3) of the RTE Act, 2009 inapplicable to unaided minority schools.

In 2014, the Pramati judgment made the whole RTE Act inapplicable to minority schools.

• Disproportionate Numbers: The report also gives examples of disproportionate numbers.

For instance, in West Bengal, 92.47% of the minority population is of Muslims and 2.47% are Christians. On the contrary, there are 114 Christian minority schools and only two schools with Muslim minority status.

Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, though the Christian population is less than 1% there are 197 Christian minority schools in the state. This disproportionate number takes away the core objective of establishing minority educational institutions.

Suggestions Made by the Report:• National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

has recommended to the government to bring all such schools, including madrasas, under the purview of Right to Education and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan campaign.

• The NCPCR also backed reservation for students from minority communities in such schools.

• There is a need to review the exemption made under RTE with respect to minority institutions.

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS

• Set Up: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was set up in March 2007 under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, an Act of Parliament (December 2005).

• A Statutory Body: It is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.

• Mandate: The Commission's Mandate is to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• It inquires into complaints relating to a child's right to free and compulsory education under the Right to Education Act, 2009.

• It monitors the implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Feature ArticleALL MINORITY

SCHOOLS UNDER RTE: NCPCR SURVEYA nationwide assessment of minority schools has been done by the National Commission of

Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• An Integrated Scheme: The Samagra Shiksha scheme is an

integrated scheme for school education covering the entire gamut from pre-school to class XII.

It subsumes the three schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).

• Vision: The vision of the Scheme is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education from preschool to senior secondary stage in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for Education.

• The major objectives of the Scheme are:

Provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students

Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education

Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education

Ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions

Promoting Vocationalisation of education

Support States in implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Strengthening and up-gradation of SCERTs/State Institutes of Education and DIET as nodal agencies for teacher training.

• Implementation: The Scheme is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Department through a single State Implementation Society (SIS) at the State/UT level.

• Council: At the National level, there is a Governing Council headed by the Minister of Human Resource Development and a Project Approval Board (PAB) headed by Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy.

• The Two T’s: The main emphasis of the Scheme is on improving quality of school education by focussing on the two T’s – Teacher and Technology.

Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2.0 - What’s New:• Initiative for Girls: Provision incinerator and sanitary pad

vending machines in all girls' hostels, addition of new subjects instead of stream in existing senior secondary schools, and upgrade of all Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas up to class 12 are among the initiatives in the revised scheme.

• Child Centric Interventions: In order to enhance the direct outreach of the scheme, all child centric interventions will be provided directly to the students through DBT mode on

Feature Article

REVISED SAMAGRA SHIKSHA SCHEMECabinet approves continuation of Samagra Shiksha Scheme for School Education from 1st April,

2021 to 31st March, 2026.

an IT based platform over a period of time. The scheme will have an effective convergence architecture with various ministries and developmental agencies of the Centre and state governments.

• Vocational Education: The expansion of vocational education will be done in convergence with the Min istry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and other ministries providing funding for skills. The existing infrastructure of schools and ITIs and polytechnics will be used to ensure optimum utilisation of the facilities, not only for school going children but also for out of school children.

• NISHTHA: Specific training modules will be included under NISHTHA by NCERT to train Secondary teachers and Pri mary teachers. Transport facility has been extended to secondary level at up to Rs 6000 per annum.

• For out of school: For out of school children at 16 to 19 years of age, support will be provided to SC, ST, disabled children, up to Rs 2000 per child per grade to complete their secondary or senior secondary levels thro ugh NIOS/SOS.

• Child Rights: Financial support for State Commission for Protection of Child Rights at Rs 50 per elementary school in the state, for protection of child rights and safety.

• Holistic Progress Card (HPC): Holistic, 360-degree, multi-dimensional report sho w ing progress and uniqueness of each learner in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains will be intro duced in the form of Holistic Progress Card (HPC).

• Sports: Under the scheme, additional sports grants of up to Rs 25,000 will be given to schools in case at least two students of that school win a medal in Khelo India school games at the national level.

• Encouraging Languages: A new component about appointment of language teachers has been added in the scheme- components of training of teachers and bilingual books and teaching learning material added, besides support for salary of teachers.

• Self Defence: Training for 3 months for inculcating self-defence skills under 'Rani Laxmibai Atma Raksha Prashikshan' and amo unt increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 per month. Separate pro vision of stipend for CWSN girls at Rs 200 per month for 10 months, in addition to student component from pre-primary to senior secondary level.

• Child tracking provision: Child tracking provision included for students of government and government aided schools. Support for social audit covering 20% of schools per year so that all schools are covered in a period of five years.

NEXT IAS




Feature Articles

About:• Location: The Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) will

consist of a 6.74 km-long bridge and causeway link between Male and nearby islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

• AFCONS: Indian construction giant AFCONS has been tasked with completing the project. AFCONS is known for its “extreme engineering” projects that also include the Chenab Railway Bridge.

• Fund: The project t is funded by a grant of $100 million and a Line of Credit of $400 million from India.

• Biggest project: It is the biggest infrastructure project in the Maldives and project will use renewable energy.

• Sinamale Bridge: China has earlier built Sinamale Bridge that connects Male with Hulhumale and Hulhule and was completed in 2018. The GMCP project would be bigger than the Sinamale Bridge.

Significance:• Inter-Island Connectivity: This project is significant because

it facilitates inter-island connectivity in the country that would connect Malé with the three neighboring islands.

• With this bridge, transportation and connectivity to the capital city would also improve, opening up an alternative route for transport, which has been a persistent issue for the country’s people.

• It would be in India’s interests to finish the project by 2023, because the India-friendly ruling Maldivian Democratic Party couldn’t win the last Malé council elections. Malé is a major seat because 40% of the population lives there.

• India had also announced 800 million USD Line of Credit to Maldives in December 2018.

Feature Article GREATER MALE CONNECTIVITY PROJECT (GMCP)

AFCONS, an Indian company, has signed a contract for the largest-ever infrastructure project in

Maldives which is part of GMCP

Why these islands?• In the island of Gulhifalhu, a port is at present being built

under the Indian line of credit, the island has been promoted

by the Maldives government as a strategic location for

manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facilities due to

its proximity to the capital city.

• The artificial island of Thilafushi was created and designated

as a landfill in the early 1990s, to receive garbage created

mostly in Malé. Over the past five to six years, the government

began management of waste more effectively by using

modern waste disposal methods instead of the original

landfills.

India-Maldives Relations:• History: India was among the first to recognize the Maldives

after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic

relations with the country.

• On international issues: Maldives had consistently supported

India in multilateral fora, such as the UN, the Commonwealth,

the NAM and the SAARC.

Maldives was one of the first countries to convey its

support for the candidature of Shri Kamalesh Sharma as

the Commonwealth Secretary General.

Maldives also co-sponsored the G-4 draft resolutions

on UN reforms. India has extended support to Maldives

candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security

Council for the term 2019-20.

• During the COVID-19 crisis of 2020: India extended help

to Maldives in the form of financial, material and logistical

support.In April 2020, India provided $150 million currency

swap support to help Maldives mitigate the financial impact

of COVID-19.

• Strategically importance: Despite having the lowest land

area of any Asian country, the Maldives is one of the world's

most geographically separated countries, straddling a

960-kilometer-long undersea ridge that runs north to south

and forms a wall in the centre of the Indian Ocean. Maldives'

geo-strategic importance is defined by its strategic location,

which is significantly greater than its physical size.

• Travel bubble: India and Maldives to operationalize air bubble

to transport people from both sides for employment, tourism,

medical emergencies etc. The Maldives is the first country

with which India has operationalized a travel bubble.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Economy

PAYMENT OPERATORS CAN’T OUTSOURCE CORE MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS

The Reserve Bank of India recently announced the framework for outsourcing payment and settlement-related activities by payment system operators (PSO).

About:• This framework is issued under provisions of Payment and

Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

The Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 provides

for the regulation and supervision of payment systems

in India and designates the RBI as the authority for that

purpose and all related matters.

• Need: The central bank’s fresh guidelines come at a time

when India’s tech ecosystem has seen several high-profile

cyber-attacks such as those at Juspay, Upstox and Mobikwik

over last year targeting customers’ payments data.

There are huge operational risks associated with

outsourcing by payment system operators and

participants of authorised payments systems.

• As pert the new rules, licensed non-bank Payment System

Operators (PSOs), cannot outsource core management

functions, including internal audits, and compliance with KYC

norms to third-party service providers.

Core management functions include management

of payment system operations such as netting and

settlement, transaction management including

reconciliation, reporting and item processing, managing

customer data, risk management, information technology

and information security management etc.

• The objective of the move is to put in place minimum

standards to manage risks in outsourcing of payment and

settlement-related activities including tasks such as on

boarding customers and IT-based services.

• It is applicable to non-bank PSOs insofar as it relates to their

payment and settlement-related activities. It is applicable to

all service providers, whether located in India or abroad.

• Earlier, the RBI has put in place restrictions with respect to

investments in Payments System Operators (PSOs) by new

entities from jurisdictions that have weak measures to deal

with money laundering and terrorist financing activities.

Some other provisions:• The service provider, unless it is a group company of the PSO,

should not be owned or controlled by any director or officer of the PSO or their relatives.

• The PSO will carefully evaluate the need for outsourcing its critical processes and activities and also the selection of service providers based on comprehensive risk assessment.

• To outsource any of its payment and settlement-related activities, the PSO will have a board-approved comprehensive outsourcing policy.

The liability of third-party losses would fall on the relevant board members and senior management of licensed payment operators

• The PSO will also ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information in the custody or possession of the service provider and will immediately notify RBI about any breach of security and leakage of confidential information related to customers.

FINANCIAL INCLUSION INDEX (FI-INDEX)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently introduced the financial inclusion index (FI-Index) to capture the extent of financial inclusion in the country.

About:• Aim: For the first RBI introduced this index in order to capture

extent of financial inclusion in India.

• No Base Year: The FI-Index has been constructed without any ‘base year’ and as such it reflects cumulative efforts of all stakeholders over the years towards financial inclusion.

• The annual FI-Index for the period ended March 2021 stood at 53.9 compared with 43.4 for the period ended March 2017.

• The FI-Index will be published in July every year.

Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index):• Comprehensive Index: The FI-Index has been conceptualised

as a comprehensive index incorporating details of banking, investments, insurance, postal as well as the pension sector in consultation with the Government and respective sectoral regulators.

• Range between 0 and 100: The index captures information on various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value ranging between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 indicates full financial inclusion.

ECONOMY

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Economy

• Three Broad Parameters: The FI-Index comprises of three broad parameters (weights indicated in brackets) viz., Access (35%), Usage (45%), and Quality (20%) with each of these consisting of various dimensions, which are computed based on a number of indicators.

• Responsive: The Index is responsive to ease of access, availability and usage of services, and quality of services, comprising all 97 indicators.

• Unique quality parameter: A unique feature of the Index is the Quality parameter which captures the quality aspect of financial inclusion as reflected by financial literacy, consumer protection, and inequalities and deficiencies in services.

G-SEC ACQUISITION PROGRAMME (G-SAP 2.0)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently conducted an open market purchase of government securities of ₹25,000 crore under the G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 2.0).

About:• Unconditional and structured OMO - G-Sec Acquisition

Programme (G-SAP) is basically an unconditional and a structured open market operation (OMO), of a much larger scale and size.

Commitment to buy - Under G-SAP, RBI commits to a specific amount of open market purchases of government securities irrespective of the market sentiments and hence it’s called unconditional.

• Secondary market GSAP for orderly evolution of yield curve - It is thus a secondary market government securities acquisition programme to enable a stable and orderly evolution of the yield curve amidst comfortable liquidity conditions.

A yield curve is a line that plots yields (interest rates) of bonds having equal credit quality but differing maturity dates.

Bond yield is the return an investor realizes on a bond. The mathematical formula for calculating yield is the annual coupon rate (interest rate promised by the bond issuer) divided by the current market price of the bond.

Movements in yields depend on trends in interest rates, it can result in capital gains or losses for investors.

A rise in bond yields in the market will bring the price of the

bond down.

A drop in bond yield would benefit the investor as the price

of the bond will rise, generating capital gains.

The slope of the yield curve gives an idea of future interest

rate changes and economic activity.

• Under G-SAP 1.0 earlier, RBI had already made the first

purchase of government securities for an aggregate amount

of Rs. 25,000 crores.

How G-SAP is different from Open Market Operations (OMOs)?• It has a distinct character in the sense that it gives out a

particular quantum of bond purchase in the secondary market and thus provides upfront assurance.

Issues:• G-SAP announcement has already led to depreciation of the

rupee (a fall in the value of currency).

• So, critics are pointing to the fact that there is a trade-off between a tumbling rupee and lower borrowing costs/low yields.

• Further, too much liquidity will drive up inflation.

OPEN MARKET OPERATIONS

• Open market operations, or OMOs, are the purchase and sale of G-Secs by the RBI on the Centre’s behalf to streamline money supply and interest rates.

• In case of excess liquidity in the market, RBI issues these securities via auctions to reduce liquidity.

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OR G-SECS

• These are debt instruments issued by the Central Government or the State Governments to borrow money.

• The two key categories are

Treasury bills – Short-term instruments which mature in 91 days, 182 days, or 364 days, and

Dated securities – Long-term instruments, which mature anywhere between 5 years and 40 years.

• In India, the Central Government issues both, treasury bills and bonds or dated securities and the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).

• They are generally considered the safest form of investment because they are backed by the government. So, the risk of default is almost nil and hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments.

However, they are not completely risk free, since they are subject to fluctuations in interest rates.

• Like bank fixed deposits, g-secs are not tax-free.

Significance of G-SAP:• Provides comfort to bond market - It serves as Open Market

Operations (OMO) purchase calendar and thus provides more comfort to the bond market.

• Calm Investors’ nerves and help market participants - The structured purchase program of similar sizes calm investors’ nerves and help market participants to bid better in scheduled auctions and reduce volatility in bond prices.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Economy

• Infusion of liquidity - The buying of G-secs by RBI further leads to infusion of liquidity in market thereby leading to low interest rates and lower yields of bonds.

• The government of India, with its massive borrowing programme (for example, National infrastructure pipeline project), can now breathe a sigh of relief as long-term borrowing costs come down.

• Reduce spread - It thus helps reduce the spread between the repo rate and the 10-year government bond yield.

That, in turn, will help to reduce the aggregate cost of borrowing for the Centre and states in FY22.

PUBLIC SECTOR UNITS FREED FROM 25% PUBLIC SHAREHOLDING NORM

The Finance Ministry has tweaked the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957 to exempt listed public sector companies from the minimum public shareholding (MPS) norm.

About:• Rule 19 A of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules

prescribes that a listed entity must have at least 25 per cent

of public shareholding, that is, anyone other than a promoter.

The public shareholder could be an institution or an

individual.

These rules were amended in 2018 to ask listed public

sector companies to increase the public shareholding to

at least 25 per cent within three years (i.e., 2021).

• Govt can now exempt any listed PSU: The amended rules say

that the “Central government may, in the public interest,

exempt any listed public sector company from any or all

of the provisions of this rule” of increasing minimum public

shareholding to 25 per cent.

Rationale behind the judgement:• Easy to Launch IPO: The framework for the minimum public

shareholding has been revised to make it easier for large companies to launch IPOs.

• The move comes as the government prepares for the initial public offer (IPO) of Life Insurance Corp (LIC) of India, likely to be the biggest listing ever.

Concerns:• The move would affect liquidity in PSU company stocks,

dissuade institutional investors and may even have a bearing on the disinvestment programme.

• Lack of adequate free float will further prevent efficient price discovery and market integrity.

It will thus act as a hurdle in attracting higher foreign capital and will reduce India’s weight in international indices like MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International) and FTSE (Financial Times Stock Exchange).

• Affect Disinvestment programme: This move can also be detrimental at a time the government is planning strategic sales in various PSUs including BPCL, Shipping Corporation, and Air India.

MINIMUM PUBLIC SHAREHOLDING (MPS)

• It is the minimum level of public holding (other than promoters) mandated by SEBI in a company to be maintained on a continuous basis.

Public shareholders could be an individual or financial institutions and they normally buy shares through public offer or secondary markets.

• The mandatory minimum public shareholding was raised to 25% from 10% in FY10.

The timeline for achieving 25 per cent MPS for listed companies was 2013.

However, the timeline for public sector companies i.e., PSUs and public sector banks (PSBs), was extended multiple times closer to the deadline due to lack of efforts from such companies towards compliance.

• Penalty: The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi’s) rules, put in place in October 2017 for better compliance with MPS norms provides following provisions

Stock exchanges can impose a fine of up to Rs 10,000 on companies for each day of non-compliance with the requirement.

They can also ask depositories to freeze the entire shareholding of the promoter and promoter group.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA (SEBI)

• It is a statutory body established in 1992 in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.

• The basic functions of Sebi are to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote and regulate the securities market.

• Board of members - The board consists of a Chairman and several other whole time and part time members.

The chairman is nominated by the union government.

The other members include two members from the finance ministry, one member from Reserve Bank of India and five other members are also nominated by the Centre.

• The headquarters of Sebi is situated in Mumbai and the regional offices are located in Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Economy

Way Forward:• A special exemption can be made only for LIC if it is necessary

and all other PSUs must be asked to comply with MPS norms. The rationale behind the MPS was that a higher public

float ensures that there is lesser price manipulation in the stock.

It is very difficult to achieve so if it works differently for government-owned and private sector company.

• It is time to implement recommendations of various government expert committees who have argued that all listed entities, government or private, should be treated at par on governance standards.

• Separate PSU s Regulations: Instead of having various kinds of exemptions and extensions every now and then, it may be worth considering having completely separate regulations governing listed PSUs. After all, PSUs are audited by the CAG and are answerable to Parliament.

RBI-DIGITAL PAYMENTS INDEX (RBI-DPI)

RBI-Digital Payments Index for March 2021 showed a growth of 30.19 per cent in digital payments since March 2020.

About:• Launch: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had launched a

composite Digital Payments Index (DPI) in January 2021 to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.

It had been constructed with March 2018 as the base period.

RBI, earlier in January had already announced RBI-DPI for March 2019 and March 2020.

The DPI for March 2019 and March 2020 worked out to be 153.47 and 207.84 respectively, indicating appreciable growth.

• Parameters: The RBI-DPI comprises five broad parameters, that enable the measurement of deepening and expansion of digital payments in the country over different time periods

Payment Enablers (weight 25%),

Payment Infrastructure – Demand-side factors and (10%),

Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors (15%),

Payment Performance (45%)

Consumer Centricity (5%)

• Semi Annual Publication: The index will now be published on a semi-annual basis from March 2021 onwards with a lag of four months.

RBI’s Other Publications:• Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS - Quarterly)

• Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH - Quarterly)

• Report on Foreign Exchange Reserves (Half-Yearly)

• Financial Stability Report (Half-Yearly)

• Monetary Policy Report (Half-Yearly)

SAMRIDH SCHEME

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) recently launched SAMRIDH Scheme to help growing startups in India.

About:• Definition - It stands for Start-up Accelerators of MeitY for

Product Innovation, Development and growth (SAMRIDH).

• Aim - It aims to create a conducive platform to Indian Software

Product startups to enhance their products and securing

investments for scaling their business.

• Promote unicorns - It will further enhance the Indian start-up

growth which has seen the emergence of 63 Unicorns and is

now the third largest Unicorn hub globally.

In the venture capital industry, the term unicorn refers to

any privately held startup that reaches the valuation of $1

billion.

• Salient features:

Funding and mentoring: SAMRIDH scheme will pick up

startups that are ready for acceleration stage and will

provide them with funding support, mentorship and a lot

of other support.

300 startups in 3 years: It will focus on accelerating the

300 start-ups by providing customer connect, investor

connect, and international immersion in next three years.

₹40 lakh investment: An investment of up to ₹ 40 lakh

to the start-up based on current valuation and growth

stage of the Start-Up will be provided through selected

accelerators.

Equal matching investment: It will also facilitate equal

matching investment by the accelerator / investor.

• Eligibility criteria for partnering accelerators

Accelerator must have been in the business of incubation

for more than 3 years.

Accelerator must have supported at least 50 startups

Of which at least 10 have received non-public investment

Having targeted accelerator program with an

experience of running at least 3 cohorts with activities

listed as desirable under Samridh

Accelerator must have operations in India with necessary

space and infrastructure to carry out activities of startup.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Economy

• Implementing body - The programme is being implemented by MeitY Start-up Hub (MSH).

MSH acts as a national coordination, facilitation and monitoring centre that integrates all the incubation centres, start-ups and innovation related activities of MeitY.

MSH was launched in 2019.

REMISSION OF DUTIES AND TAXES ON EXPORT PRODUCTS (RODTEP)

Ministry of Commerce recently announced the much-awaited guidelines and tax refund rates for the export boosting RoDTEP scheme.

About:• RoDTEP has replaced the earlier Merchandise Exports from

India Scheme (MEIS). It was done as a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling

stated that MEIS violated the provisions of the global trade body by giving export subsidies for a wide range of goods.

RoDTEP aims to refund to exporters the embedded non-creditable central, state and local levies paid on inputs. These taxes were not being refunded till now.

• In effect since Jan 2021: The RoDTEP scheme came into effect on 1 January 2021, but exporters were unable to benefit from it.

• Over 8500 export items: The scheme, with a budget of ̀ 12,454 crore for FY22, will be available for 8,555 export items in employment-oriented sectors such as marine, agriculture, leather, gems and jewellery, automobiles, plastics, electrical and electronics, and machinery.

• RoSCTL scheme for garment exports: The government has announced a separate Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) scheme for garment exports with a budget outlay of around `6,946 crore for FY22.

• Both RoDTEP and RoSCTL will remain in effect for three years till March 2024.

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme:• Reimbursement of duties & taxes currently not refunded: It

reimburses central, state and local taxes that are not refunded under any other scheme to exporters.

Under existing rules, goods and services tax (GST) and customs duties for inputs required to manufacture export products are either exempted or refunded.

However, certain duties are outside the ambit of GST and are not refunded to exporters, such as value-added tax on transportation fuel, mandi tax and duty on electricity for manufacturing.

• Refunds credited to exporter’s electronic ledger account: The refunds for the taxes paid by exporters under the scheme would be credited to an exporter’s electronic ledger account with the customs, and can be used to pay basic customs duty on imported goods.

Rebates will be issued in the form of a transferable duty credit/electronic scrip (e-scrip).

The electronic ledger will be maintained by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC).

• Transferable: The credits can also be transferred to other importers.

• Rebate claim as percentage of freight value: The rebate will have to be claimed as a percentage of the freight-on-board (FOB) value of exports.

Value cap: Rebates on certain export products will also be subject to value cap per unit of the exported product.

• A monitoring and audit mechanism has been put in place to physically verify the records on a sample basis.

• Ministry: It is implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Sectors excluded from RoDTEP:• Exporters in sectors like iron and steel, mineral products,

pharmaceuticals and chemicals have been kept out of the scheme. Products manufactured in export-oriented units and special economic zones are also not covered.

Difference between MEIS and RoDTEP

MEIS RoDTEP

Additional Incentive on Exports

of goods apart from other

refunds and drawbacks available

on undertaking the said exports.

Refund of duties and taxes

that are currently not being

reimbursed by any other

schemes.

Not compliant with the WTO norms Compliant with the WTO norms.

2% to 5% of freight-on-board

(FOB) value of Exports.

Rates vary between 0.5 % and

4.3%

Issued in the form of physical

transferable scrips (hard copy)

or downloadable.

Issuance in the form of

transferable duty credit/

electronic scrip which will be

maintained in electronic ledger.

Some concerns:• Exporters unhappy with low refund rates: The scheme will give

them much fewer benefits than MEIS.

• Uncovered sectors call for review: Sectors which have not been covered under the scheme have called for a review.

• Issues for sectors which use uncovered sector’s raw materials: Exporters in sectors like engineering and electronics, which use iron and steel as inputs, are unhappy because they can’t claim benefits for their inputs.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Economy

• Low budget means first-come-first-serve: The low budget allocation means rebates may be exhausted on a first-come-first-served basis.

MERCHANDISE EXPORTS FROM INDIA SCHEME (MEIS)

• It was launched in 2015 under Foreign Trade Policy of

India (FTP 2015-20) and aimed to offset infrastructural

inefficiencies and the associated costs of exporting

products produced in India.

It gives special emphasis on those products which

are of India’s export interest and have the capability

to generate employment and enhance India’s

competitiveness in the world market.

• To make India’s products more competitive, the scheme

provides incentive in the form of duty credit scrip to the

exporter to compensate for his loss on payment of duties.

The incentive is paid as percentage of the realized

FOB value (in free foreign exchange) for notified goods

going to notified markets.

SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO TAXATION

Union Finance minister recently said that abolishing retrospective tax provisions through Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 do not dilute India’s sovereign right to tax.

About:• Background: Parliament recently passed the Taxation Laws

(Amendment) Bill, 2021 to do away with the retrospective tax

provision and end all retrospective taxes imposed on indirect

transfer of Indian assets made before May 28, 2012.

• The Bill aims to nullify the regressive 2012 amendment in the

Income Tax Act.

The 2012 amendment had overturned the Supreme

Court’s decision in Vodafone International Holdings v.

Union of India and made the income tax law retroactively

applicable on indirect transfer of Indian assets.

The retroactive amendment resulted in Vodafone and

Cairn Energy suing India before Investor-State Dispute

Settlement (ISDS) tribunals of India-Netherlands and

India-UK. bilateral investment treaties (BITs).

Both the tribunals held that India’s retroactive amendment

of tax laws breached the fair and equitable treatment

provision of the two BITs.

• This 2021 Amendment means that the tax demands made

on companies like Cairn Energy and Vodafone will now be

withdrawn.

Dilution of India’s sovereign right to tax?• Following the amendment, some sections have raised

questions whether India has given up its sovereign right to taxation?

This is because it is believed that since taxation matters are part of sovereign measures, they cannot be challenged before ISDS tribunals.

Also, several ISDS tribunals have recognised the fundamental principle that taxation is an intrinsic element of the state’s sovereign power.

• However, Union Finance Minister had clearly stated that the amendment does not in any manner dilute India’s sovereign right to tax.

WHAT IS THE ‘SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO TAXATION’ IN INDIA?

• In India, the Constitution gives the government the right

to levy taxes on individuals and organisations, but makes

it clear that no one has the right to levy or charge taxes

except by the authority of law.

Any tax being charged has to be backed by a law

passed by the legislature or Parliament (Article 265).

• Three-tier system of taxes: Taxes in India come under a

three-tier system based on the Central, State and local

governments, and the 7th Schedule of the Constitution puts

separate heads of taxation under the Union and State list.

No concurrent power of taxation: There is no separate

head under the Concurrent list, meaning Union and the

States have no concurrent power of taxation.

• Limitation on State’s Sovereignty to tax: The two most used

Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT) provisions to challenge

a state’s taxation measures are expropriation and the fair

and equitable treatment provision.

• The tax should not be discriminatory and it should not be

confiscatory.

• A document on the Ministry of Statistics and Programme

Implementation quotes Tax as:

Tax is a pecuniary burden laid upon individuals or

property owners to support the government; a payment

exacted by legislative authority.

A tax is not a voluntary payment or donation, but an

enforced contribution, exacted pursuant to legislative

authority.

Why the amendments then?• Balance between public interest and investor’s interest: It is

said that amendments have been made to ensure that India’s right to tax in the public interest is balanced with the investor’s interest of legal certainty.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Economy

India takes its tax-related laws seriously and it wants to ensure that there is a consistency in taxation to help prosper businesses.

Scrapping the retrospective levy is believed to provide clarity to investors by removing a major source of ambiguity on taxation laws.

• Being mindful of international law obligations: India also needs to exercise its right to regulate while being mindful of its international law obligations, acting in good faith and in a proportionate manner.

It sends a message to the global investors’ community that “India is a responsible democracy”.

• Right to tax absolutely intact: Hence, India has tried to boost the country’s image for investors while keeping its sovereign right to tax absolutely intact.

UBHARTE SITARE PROGRAMME (USP)

Ministry of Finance recently launched the Ubharte Sitaare Fund (USF) for export-oriented small and mid-sized companies and startups.

About:• Aim: USP aims to identify Indian companies that have the

potential to be future champions in the domestic arena while

catering to global demands and provide them structured

support.

It will identify Indian enterprises with potential advantages

by way of technology, products or processes along with

export potential, but which are currently under performing

or unable to tap their latent potential to grow.

The Programme diagnoses such challenges and provides

support through a mix of structured support covering equity, debt and technical assistance.

It thus aims to encourage MSMEs as they are vital to the

economy in terms of creating jobs, doing innovations and

taking risks.

• The 'Ubharte Sitaare Fund' (USF) has been set up as an

Alternative Investment Fund by Exim Bank and SIDBI to

achieve the objectives of USP.

The fund has a size of Rs 250 crore with a green shoe

option of Rs 250 crore.

The fund will invest by way of equity, and equity-

like products, in export-oriented units, both in the

manufacturing and services sectors.

• Eligibility criteria for selecting companies Unique value - Companies with unique value proposition

in technology, products or processes that match global

requirements.

Acceptable financial strength

Fundamentally strong companies with acceptable

financials, and outward orientation.

Small and mid-sized companies with ability to penetrate

global markets, with an annual turnover of up to approx.

INR 500 crore.

Good business model - Companies with a good business

model, strong management capabilities, and focus on

product quality.

Indicative Sectors - Automobiles and Auto components,

Aerospace, Capital Goods, Chemicals, Defence, Food

Processing, IT & ITeS, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals,

Precision engineering, Textiles and allied sectors.

KEY TERMS

• Green shoe Option: A greenshoe option is an over-

allotment option. In the context of an initial public offering

(IPO), it grants the right to sell investors more shares than

initially planned by the issuer if the demand for a security

issue proves higher than expected.

Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)• In India, alternative investment funds (AIFs) are defined in

Regulation 2(1) (b) of Securities and Exchange Board of

India (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.

• It refers to any privately pooled investment fund, (whether

from Indian or foreign sources), in the form of a trust or

a company or a body corporate or a Limited Liability

Partnership (LLP).

• Hence, in India, AIFs are private funds which are otherwise

not coming under the jurisdiction of any regulatory agency

in India.

• Categories of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)

Category I: Mainly invests in startups, SME's or any

other sector which Govt. considers economically and

socially viable. E.g.- Venture capital funds (Including

Angel Funds), SME Funds, Social Venture Funds,

Infrastructure funds

Category II: These include Alternative Investment

Funds such as private equity funds or debt funds for

which no specific incentives or concessions are given

by the government or any other Regulator.

Category III: Alternative Investment Funds such as

hedge funds or funds which trade with a view to make

short term returns or such other funds which are

open ended and for which no specific incentives or

concessions are given by the government or any other

Regulator.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | International Relations

COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE

Colombo Security Conclave was hosted virtually by Sri Lanka.

About:• The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) was held in early

August in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

• Nations: A meeting of the deputy national security advisors

(DNSAs) from India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives discussed

security cooperation.

The discussion was based on 4 pillars: maritime security,

human trafficking, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity.

• This was the first such meeting of the DNSAs of these three

countries.

• It was held virtually.

• The CSC also involved officials from three observer countries:

Bangladesh, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.

The three observer countries will be elevated to full

members at the next national security advisor-level

meeting scheduled to take place in the Maldives later this

year.

• In addition to the big thematic focus on maritime security, the

countries also discussed shoring up capabilities through joint

exercises involving the navies and coast guards.

• India reportedly extended its full support to strengthen

maritime safety and security in the region.

History of CSC:• The NSA trilateral dialogue began in 2011 but has been in

limbo since 2014.

• The last national security advisor-(NSA) level talks among

India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives were held in November

2020, where a decision was also made to change the name

from “trilateral NSA meeting on maritime security” to the

Colombo Security Conclave.

• The three countries revived the trilateral meeting in 2020

because of the changing Indian Ocean strategic dynamics.

• Mauritius and the Seychelles also attended the 2020 meeting

at the level of senior officials.

• The Colombo Security Conclave now has a Secretariat based

in Colombo and the August meeting was organized by Sri

Lanka.

Reason for CSC 2021:• Growing security concerns around maritime safety and

security, human and drug trafficking, arms trafficking along maritime routes, terrorism and violent extremism, humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), and cybersecurity are some of the common worries for the six countries.

• Recent marine polluting events in the Indian Ocean Region including those of MV Xpress Pearl, MT New Diamond, and MV Wakashio played a big part in the group focusing attention on marine environment issues.

Chinese presence in Indian Ocean: India’s Concern• China has been making enormous efforts in all of the Indian

Ocean countries to establish influence, and such efforts have compelled India to enhance its own outreach in the region.

• China’s presence through ports and projects in the region is significant:

China’s military base in Djibouti as well as its managing of the Gwadar port in Pakistan and the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka are examples of its growing presence close to India waters.

There are even reports that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) could eventually establish a “special naval fleet for the Indian Ocean.”

In addition, China has been sending warships to India’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Andaman Islands.

India’s recent outreach to Indian Ocean countries:• Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh hosted the defense

ministers of the Indian Ocean region in February 2021 on the sidelines of India’s biennial Aero India air show held in Bangalore in early February.

• Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar paid visits to the Maldives and Mauritius in February.

• India and especially the Indian Navy has remained the first responder in any regional disaster.

• The growing subregional framework through the CSC is a further example of the importance of the six countries in India’s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean.

India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown a preference for subregional groupings given the stalemate in regional diplomacy in South Asia.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has not made much headway despite Modi’s push for it in the initial years after he came to power.

INTERNATIONALRELATIONS

NEXT IAS





Way Forward:• India has strong partnerships with each of these countries

bilaterally, but this grouping will aid regional cohesion and collaboration. India has assisted these countries in terms of building up their human and material capacities, especially Mauritius and Seychelles, but the new Conclave can build greater synergies among the six participating countries. While this is India’s vision for the grouping, ultimately it will depend on India’s material capacity to deliver.

PROVINCIAL STATUS TO GILGIT BALTISTAN

Pakistani authorities have finalized a law to award provisional provincial status to strategically located Gilgit-Baltistan.

About:• The draft of the Bill titled ‘26th Constitutional Amendment Bill’

had been prepared and submitted to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The draft Bill has been prepared after careful reading of the Constitution of Pakistan, international laws, the UN resolutions especially those related to a plebiscite on Kashmir, comparative constitutional laws and local legislation.

The stakeholders, including the governments of Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, had been consulted on the proposed constitutional amendment.

• Under the proposed law by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Supreme Appellate Court (SAC) of Gilgit-Baltistan may be abolished and the region’s election commission is likely to be merged with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

• India has clearly conveyed to Pakistan that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of the country by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession.

• India maintains the Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it.

History of Gilgit Baltistan:• It is a chunk of high-altitude territory at the northwestern

corner of Jammu and Kashmir.

• 1935: The Gilgit agency was leased for 60 years by the British from the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir because of its strategic location on the northern borders of British India.

It was administered by the political department in Delhi through a British officer.

The region’s security was the responsibility of a military force called the Gilgit Scouts, which was officered by the British.

• 1947: With impending Independence, the British terminated the lease, and returned the region to the Maharaja on August 1, 1947.

The Maharaja appointed Brigadier Ghansar Singh of the J&K state forces as governor of the region.

Two officers of the Gilgit Scouts, Major W A Brown and Captain A S Mathieson, along with Subedar Major Babar Khan, a relative of the Mir of Hunza, were loaned to the Maharaja at Gilgit.

As soon as Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India on October 31, 1947, Major Brown imprisoned Brigadier Ghansara Singh, and informed his erstwhile British Political Agent, Lt Colonel Roger Bacon, who was then at Peshawar, of the accession of Gilgit to Pakistan.

On November 2 1947, Major Brown officially raised the Pakistani flag at his headquarters, and claimed that he and Mathieson had opted for service with Pakistan.

Two weeks later, a nominee of the Pakistan government, Sardar Mohammed Alam, was appointed the Political Agent, and took possession of the territory.

Events in Gilgit Baltistan Post Independence:• The region was renamed ‘The Northern Areas of Pakistan’, and

put under the direct control of Pakistan.

• In the 1970s, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto abrogated the State Subject Rule — the law that until then protected the local demographic composition — to facilitate Pakistani Sunnis to acquire land and settle there.

This order damaged the social fabric and provoked sectarian feuds that continue to simmer until today.

A majority of the estimated 1.5 million Gilgit Baltistan residents are Shias.

• 2009: The Pakistani government enacted the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order.

After the order the ‘Northern Areas’ came to be known as Gilgit-Baltistan.

The order also replaced the Northern Areas Legislative Council with the Legislative Assembly.

Current status of Gilgit Baltistan before the draft bill:• It has an elected Assembly and a Council headed by the

Prime Minister of Pakistan. Assembly has 24 directly elected members and nine

nominated ones. This Council wields all powers, and controls the resources

and revenues from the region.

• The so-called regional government is under the overall control of the federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan in Islamabad.

• Gilgit-Baltistan or Northern Areas do not find any mention in the Pakistani constitution: it is neither independent, nor does it have provincial status.

NEXT IAS





This helps Pakistan maintain ambiguity about the region, in the way it does with Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

India’s stand on Gilgit Baltistan:• India sees Gilgit-Baltistan as part of Indian territory illegally

occupied by Pakistan.

• The unanimous parliamentary resolution of 1994 had reaffirmed that the region is a “part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession to it in 1947”.

Strategic importance of Gilgit Baltistan:• Gilgit-Baltistan is the northernmost territory administered by

Pakistan, providing the country’s only territorial frontier, and thus a land route, with China, where it meets the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.

• To Gilgit-Baltistan’s west is Afghanistan, to its south is Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and to the east Jammu and Kashmir.

• The plan to grant Gilgit-Baltistan provincial status gathered speed over the last two year.

While some commentary links it to CPEC and Chinese interest, others in Pakistan say the push might have well come from India’s reassertion of its claims after the August 5, 2019 reorgansiation of Jammu & Kashmir.

INDIA-BANGLADESH: FREIGHT TRAINS RESTORED

Bangladesh and India started regular operation of freight trains through the restored Haldibari-Chilahati rail route after over 50 years.

About:• The Haldibari-Chilahati rail link was inaugurated in December

2020 during a virtual meeting between Prime Minister

Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina to bolster

trade relations between the two nations.

• The distance between Haldibari railway station and the

international border is 4.5 kms, while the distance from

Chilhati is about 7.5 kms.

• The first goods train left Dumdim station of Alipurduar

division on 1st August 2021 and reached Chilahati station in

Bangladesh via the Haldibari-Chilahati rail route.

History of Haldibari-Chilahati Rail Route:• After independence, only seven rail routes were operational

between India and Bangladesh (known as east Pakistan

then).

Both nations now aim to revive those old rail links.

• As of now, five links connecting West Bengal with Bangladesh have been made operational, which include Petrapole (India) - Benapole (Bangladesh), Gede (India) - Darshan (Bangladesh), Singhabad (India) - Rohanpur (Bangladesh), Radhikapur (India) - Birol. (Bangladesh) and Haldibari-Chilahati.

• The Haldibari-Chilahati rail link was last operational till 1965. It was part of the broad-gauge main road from Kolkata to

Siliguri during the partition.

Even after partition, trains traveling to Assam and North Bengal continued to travel through the former East Pakistan region.

However, the 1965 war effectively cut off all railway links between India and Bangaldesh.

• Construction of the rail line from Haldibari station to the Bangladesh border began in 2016 and ended in 2017. Indian Railways restored the tracks at a cost of Rs 82 crore.

Importance of the Haldibari-Chilahati Rail Link:• Easy Transit: Haldibari - Chilahati route opened will be

beneficial for transit into Bangladesh from Assam and West Bengal.

• Better Accessibility: This newly opened rail link will enhance rail network accessibility to the main ports, dry ports, and land borders to support the growth in regional trade and to encourage economic and social development of the region.

• Business Growth: Common people and businessman of both the countries will be able to reap the benefit of both goods and passenger traffic, once passenger trains are planned in this route.

A passenger train service, New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri Mitali Express was announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka March 27, 2021, but the service could not be resumed owing to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Tourism: With this new link coming into operation, tourist from Bangladesh will be able to visit places like Darjeeling, Sikkim, Dooars apart from countries like Nepal, Bhutan etc easily.

NEXT IAS





• Economic activities of these South Asian countries will also be benefitted from this new rail link.

Other Transport links between India and Bangladesh:• Kolkata-Agartala Road link: On 2 June 2015, the first trial run

of a direct bus between Kolkata and Agartala ran, a route distance of 500 km, as compared to the 1650 km if it ran through the Chicken's Neck to remain within India.

General service began on 7 June, and the first bus was flagged off by political leaders including Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Bannerjee.

• Kolkata Dhaka Bus: The Govt. sponsored service between Kolkata and Dhaka was launched on 19 June 1999.

The inaugural bus was received in Dhaka by Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh.The inauguration took place just months following the launch of the Delhi-Lahore Bus between Pakistan and India.

Although receiving lesser media attention and fanfare, the bus service has expanded its services to meet higher demand.

• Dhaka-Agartala Bus: The Dhaka-Agartala bus was agreed upon on 11 July 2001 to connect Bangladesh with its eastern neighbour, the Indian state of Tripura, which has a substantial Bengali population and indigenous peoples who have close commercial and cultural links with the people of eastern Bangladesh.

• Other Projects of connectivity between two nations: In March 2021, Maitri Setu–a 1.9 km bridge built over Feni river joining Sabroom in India and Ramgarh in Bangladesh was inaugurated.

• Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT).

• Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement is in pipeline.

PERMANENT FORUM OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT

U.N. created permanent body to address challenges of racism.

About:• New Platform for Afro Descendants: Capping years of

deliberations, the UN General Assembly on 2nd August 2021 established a new platform to improve the lives of Afro-descendants, who have for centuries suffered the ills of racism, racial discrimination and the legacy of enslavement around the globe.

10 Member Body: The 193-member body (UN) unanimously adopted a resolution establishing the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, a 10-member advisory body that will work closely with the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

• The new Forum will serve as a consultation mechanism for people of African descent and other stakeholders, and contribute to the elaboration of a UN declaration – a “first step towards a legally binding instrument” on the promotion and full respect of the rights of people of African descent.

• Further, it will work to identify and analyze best practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives to address issues relevant to people of African descent as highlighted in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which was adopted 20 years ago at a landmark UN summit against racism and discrimination.

• The move comes just days after the Human Rights Council established a panel of experts to investigate systemic racism in policing against people of African descent, and on the heels of a report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), prompted by the police killing of George Floyd in 2020.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

• The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.

• The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. It replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) serves as the Secretariat of the Human Rights Council.

• OHCHR is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

• It is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Composition:• Nominated and Elected Members: The Permanent Forum of

People of African Descent will be made up of five members nominated by Governments and then elected by the General Assembly, and five additional members appointed by the Human Rights Council.

• Objective: It will seek to advance the full political, economic and social inclusion of people of African descent in the societies in which they live – as equal citizens without discrimination, and with equal enjoyment of human rights – and contribute to the elaboration of a UN declaration on the rights of persons of African descent.

NEXT IAS





The Forum will provide expert advice and recommendations to the Human Rights Council, the Assembly’s main committees, and the various UN entities working on issued related to racial discrimination.

UNITED NATION’S SECURITY COUNCIL

India assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

About:• Term: India joined the UNSC in January 2021 for a two-year

term as one of the 10 rotating non-permanent members.

• This is India's eighth term on the UNSC.

• Non-Permanent Member: The August presidency will be India’s first Presidency during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

As part of its new role as president of the UNSC that all 15 members get in rotation, India decided the agenda of the UN’s highest decision-making body whose resolutions and directives are binding on all member states.

India will again preside over the Council in December next year, the last month of its two-year tenure.

• It was a singular honour for India to have been presiding over the Security Council the same month when it celebrated its 75th Independence Day.

Structure of United Nations Security Council:• The council is headquartered at NewYork.

• Composition: There are 15 Council members. Five of these — China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States — are permanent members.

The other 10 are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.

• Responsibility: The UN Charter gives the Security Council primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. The Council may convene at any time, whenever peace is threatened. In contrast to the decisions made by the General Assembly, all Member States are obligated under the UN Charter to carry out the Security Council’s decisions.

The Charter of the United Nations – an international treaty – obligates member states to settle their disputes by peaceful means, in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered. They are to refrain from the threat or use of force against any state, and may bring the dispute before the Security Council.

• Voting in UNSC: Article 27 of the UN Charter states that: Each member of the Security Council shall have one vote.

Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members.

Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members; provided that, in decisions under Chapter VI, and under paragraph 3 of Article 52, a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting.

• Veto: The creators of the United Nations Charter conceived that five countries — China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) [which was succeeded in 1990 by the Russian Federation], the United Kingdom and the United States —, because of their key roles in the establishment of the United Nations, would continue to play important roles in the maintenance of international peace and security.

They were granted the special status of Permanent Member States at the Security Council, along with a special voting power known as the "right to veto". It was agreed by the drafters that if any one of the five permanent members cast a negative vote in the 15-member Security Council, the resolution or decision would not be approved.

How non-permanent members are elected:• In accordance with Article 23 of the Charter, as amended,

which came into force on 31 August 1965, the General Assembly increased the number of non-permanent members of the Security Council from 6 to 10.

• At its eighteenth session, in 1963, the Assembly decided that the non-permanent members of the Council should be elected according to the following pattern:

Five from African and Asian States; One from Eastern European States; Two from Latin American States; Two from Western European and other States.

• In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, the election is held by secret ballot and there are no nominations. Under rule 83 of the rules of procedure, the non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected by a two-thirds majority.

• As stipulated in rule 144 of the rules of procedure, a retiring member is not eligible for immediate re-election.

How does presidency of UNSC rotate?• Each non-permanent member gets the opportunity to operate

as president of the UN Security Council during the two years it is part of the grouping.

• The presidency of UNSC changes hands every month between its members in the English alphabetical order of the member states' names.

• In August, the presidency was passed on from France to India. Similarly, Ireland is slated to take over the presidency from India in September.

NEXT IAS





• India will be in line for the presidency again in December 2022. The country's last term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC was in 2011-12, which was preceded by stints in 1991-92, 1984-85, 1977-78, 1972-73, 1967-68, and 1950-51.

Responsibilities of UNSC President:• Calling meetings of the UN Security Council

• Appealing to parties in a conflict to "exercise restraint"

• Reading statements of the UN Security Council to the press

• Approving provisional agenda (proposed by the secretary-general)

• Presiding at UNSC meetings and deciding questions relating to policy and overseeing any crisis.

Major events during current Presidency of India:• Maritime Security: India began its Presidency with a high-level

signature event on maritime security presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was described as “path-breaking” in many ways since this was the first time the Prime Minister of India chaired the Security Council.

• The event was the first time when there was a comprehensive debate on the holistic concept of maritime security. There was also a presidential statement on maritime security which was also the first such statement on the concept.

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired the two other signature events - on Peacekeeping and Technology on August 18 and the briefing on Islamic State on August 19.

• India also exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UN in support of the 'Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping' initiative and to UN C4ISR Academy.

• India's presidency of the UNSC ended with the first resolution being adopted by the Council on the situation in Afghanistan following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban.

• Under India’s presidency, the UNSC successfully steered the discussions on various peace and security issues that are on its agenda, including Myanmar, Syria, Yemen, and the Middle East Peace Process.

CHINA TO REQUIRE FOREIGN VESSELS TO REPORT IN ‘TERRITORIAL WATERS’

Recently, China has notified new maritime rules warranting a range of vessels “to report their information” when passing through what China sees as its “territorial waters”, starting from September 1.

About:• The new rules are expected to increase tensions if China

strictly enforces them in the disputed South China Sea and the Taiwan straits where the US and its allies have been

conducting naval expeditions, challenging Beijing’s claims to assert the freedom of navigation.

• Reporting: China notified new maritime rules warranting vessels carrying radioactive materials, bulk oil, chemicals and a host of other supplies to report the details of the cargos upon their entry into Chinese waters.

• Those vessels should report the name, call sign, current position and next port of call and estimated time of arrival. The name of shipborne dangerous goods and cargo deadweight are also required in the report.

Challenges:• Beijing claims: Almost all of the 1.3 million square-mile South

China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. China claims all this under a so-called “Nine Dash Line” on its maps.

• Impact on Trade: Over $5 trillion trade passes through the South China Sea, and 55% of India’s trade passes through its waters and the Malacca Straits, according to estimates by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Role of UNCLOS:• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

sought to bridge the interests of parties involved by introducing the innocent passage regime in the territorial sea

of coastal states, creating one of the most important principles of

modern law of the sea.

• However, these new regulation by China are in violation of these UNCLOS Guideline.

• UNCLOS stipulates that innocent passage is “continuous and expeditious”, “so long as it is not prejudicial to the coastal State’s peace, good order, or security”.

NEXT IAS





About UNCLOS:• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

(UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.

• The Convention resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place between 1973 and 1982. UNCLOS replaced the four treaties of the 1958 Convention on the High Seas.

• India became a signatory to the UNCLOS in 1982.

• The convention defines distance of 12 nautical miles from the baseline as Territorial Sea limit and a distance of 200 nautical miles distance as Exclusive Economic Zone limit.

Nine Dash Line:• It is the demarcation line used by the People's Republic of China

(China) for its claims of the major part of the South China Sea.

• The contested area in the South China Sea includes the Paracel

Islands, the Spratly Islands and various other areas including

Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, the Macclesfield Bank

and the Scarborough Shoal. The claim encompasses the area of

Chinese land reclamation known as the "Great Wall of Sand".

When did China start taking this position on SCS?• China laid claim to the SCS back in 1947. It demarcated its

claims with a U-shaped line made up of eleven dashes on a map, covering most of the area.

• The Communist Party, which took over in 1949, removed the Gulf of Tonkin portion in 1953, erasing two of the dashes to make it a nine-dash line.

SOUTH CHINA SEA

• It is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean.

• It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China

(hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese

Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and

northwestern Philippines and in the south by Borneo,

eastern Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands.

• It communicates with the East China Sea via the Taiwan

Strait, the Philippine Sea via the Luzon Strait, the Sulu

Sea via the straits around Palawan (e.g. the Mindoro

and Balabac Strait), the Strait of Malacca via the Strait of

Singapore, and the Java Sea via the Karimata and Bangka

Strait.

• The Gulf of Thailand and the Gulf of Tonkin are also part of

the South China Sea. The shallow waters south of the Riau

Islands are also known as the Natuna Sea.

India’s Stance:• India follows the policy of not involving in disputes between

sovereign nations. India, too, has commercial interest in the region.

• Vietnam has offered India seven oil blocks in its territory of SCS,

a move that didn’t get down well with China.

• India has signed energy deals with Brunei too.

UN BANS BRITISH STAMPS IN CHAGOS ISLAND

Mauritius has welcomed the UN postal agency’s decision to ban British stamps from being used on the Chagos archipelago, calling it a victory for the island nation in its dispute with London.

About:• The vote by the UPU: Universal Postal Union (UPU), a United

Nations agency focusing on the mail sector, follows a longstanding spat between Mauritius and Britain over the Chagos Islands, where London and Washington operate a joint military base.

• Current situation: Now the UPU will stop registering, distributing and transmitting stamps” bearing the words British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), the name given by Britain to the archipelago. All post from the Chagos Islands must now bear stamps from Mauritius.

• US involvement: The US currently uses the largest of the islands - Diego Garcia - for a military air base on what the UK describes as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

Background:• Independence: Although Mauritius became independent in

1968, the Chagos archipelago remained under British control, sparking protests by Chagossians, who accuse London of carrying out an "illegal occupation" and barring them from their homeland.

• Defence purposes: The islands have since been used for defence purposes by the UK and the United States, which established a military base on the island of Diego Garcia. The entire Chagossian population was forcibly removed from the territory between 1967 and 1973, and prevented from returning.

• Since 1975: Mauritius has made a concerted legal effort to secure the archipelago's return to its fold.

• In 2019: The International Court of Justice ruled that Britain should give up control of the islands.

• Later in 2019: The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution recognising that "the Chagos Archipelago forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius" and urged UN agencies "to support the decolonisation of Mauritius".

NEXT IAS





Diego Garcia:• Diego Garcia, a coral atoll, largest and southernmost member

of the Chagos Archipelago, in the central Indian Ocean, is

part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

• Discovered by the Portuguese in the early 16th century, it was

for most of its history a dependency of Mauritius. In 1965 it

was separated from Mauritius as part of the newly created

British Indian Ocean Territory.

• Numerous air operations were launched from Diego Garcia

during the Persian Gulf War (1990–91), U.S.-led strikes on

Afghanistan (2001), and the initial phase (2003) of the Iraq

War.

CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO

• The islands of the Chagos Archipelago were uninhabited until the late 18th century, when the French established copra plantations using slave labour in 1793.

• The islands have been British territory since 1814 when they were ceded to Britain with Mauritius (which then included the Seychelles).

• The islands were constituted as the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965 by an Order in Council under the Royal Prerogative.

• This comprises all the islands of the Chagos Archipelago and until June 1976 also included the islands of Aldabra, Desroches and Farquhar which were then ceded to the Seychelles, of which they are now part.

India’s Stand:• India has supported Mauritius in its quest for the restoration of

sovereignty over the island chain in the Indian Ocean.

• India was among 116 nations to vote in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution that demanded the UK withdraw its “colonial administration” from the Chagos Archipelago unconditionally.

UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION

• Established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874.

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).

• Headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland.

• India joined the UPU on July 1, 1876 and Pakistan on November 10, 1947.

• The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the ratification of the Tenth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).

• It has currently 192 members.

• The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration (CA), the Postal Operations Council (POC) and the International Bureau (IB).

• Functions: It also oversees the Telematics and Express Mail Service (EMS) cooperatives. Each member agrees to the same terms for conducting international postal duties.

• It coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Internal Security

SEA TRIALS OF INDIGENOUS AIRCRAFT CARRIER (IAC) ‘VIKRANT’

India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, to be named INS Vikrant, finally begins sea trials.

About:• India's first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC 1), which is expected

to be inducted into the Indian Navy as INS Vikrant during the first half of 2022, set off for sea trials from Kochi.

• India currently has only one aircraft carrier, the 44,500-tonne INS Vikramaditya, inducted from Russia in 2013.

• It will be christened INS Vikrant after the country’s first aircraft carrier, which was acquired from the UK in 1961 and eventually decommissioned in 1997.

• The 40,000 tonne aircraft carrier was built at Cochin Shipyard at a cost of Rs 23,000 crore.

• The vessel has 75 percent indigenous equipment and is the most complex warship ever built by India.

• After completing sea trials, the Navy will start flight trials of fighter jets and helicopters to be operated from the deck of IAC.

• Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ designed by Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval Design (DND) is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a Public Sector Shipyard under Ministry of Shipping (MoS).

• IAC is a leading example of the nation’s quest for “AtmaNirbhar Bharat” with more than 76% indigenous content.

Specifications:• It has been designed for a crew of around 1700 people,

including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers.

• The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is 262 m long, 62 m at the widest part and height of 59 m including the superstructure.

• The ship has been designed with a very high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation and survivability.

• ‘Vikrant’ has a top speed of around 28 knots and cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles.

Significance:• With the delivery of IAC, India would join a select group of

nations with the capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier, which will be a real testimony to the ‘Make in India’ thrust of the Indian Government.

• This has led to growth in indigenous design and construction capabilities besides development of large number of ancillary industries, with employment opportunities for 2000 CSL personnel and about 12000 employees in ancillary industries.

• Its induction will give a fillip to the sea control capabilities of the Navy in the Indian Ocean Region.

LADAKH REMOVED INNER LINE PERMIT (ILP)

Ladakh Administration removes need for Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals to visit protected areas in Union Territory in order to boost tourism.

About:• No ILP in Ladakh: Ladakh Administration has done away with

the need for an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for all Indian nationals to visit the protected areas of the union territory.

• This includes both domestic tourists and local residents to visit the notified protected areas.

• Stay duration in Ladakh extended: Restriction on the stay of foreign tourists is relaxed from seven days to 15 days in tour circuits of bordering areas of Nyoma, Nubra and other places of Leh and Kargil districts.

• A foreigner is not normally allowed to visit a Protected / Restricted Area unless it is established to the satisfaction of the Government that there are extraordinary reasons to justify such a visit.

• Every foreigner, except a citizen of Bhutan, who desires to enter and stay in a Protected or Restricted Area, is required to obtain a special permit from a competent authority delegated with powers to issue such a special permit to a foreigner, on application in the prescribed form.

Significance:• Rural Tourism: The move helps Indian nationals to move to

Ladakh and the extension of foreigners will boost rural tourism in Ladakh.

Ladakh tourism:• The Ladakh region was opened to tourists in 1947, but the

areas they could visit were limited. For example, tourists were once only allowed to visit PangongTso between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Since then, several regions in Ladakh have been opened up as the situation got better gradually.

INTERNAL SECURITY

NEXT IAS





INNER LINE PERMIT

• Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period.

• It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those states to obtain a permit for entering into the protected state.

• The document is an effort by the government to regulate movement to certain areas located near the international border of India.

• This is an offshoot of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873, which protected Crown’s interest in the tea, oil and elephant trade by prohibiting “British subjects” from entering into these “Protected Areas”.

• The word “British subjects” was replaced by Citizen of India in 1950. Despite the fact that the ILP was originally created by the British to safeguard their commercial interests, it continues to be used in India, officially to protect tribal cultures in northeastern India.

• Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram are the four North-Eastern states that use the system.

PROTECTED AREAS

• Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, all areas falling between the ‘Inner line’, as defined, and the International Border of the State have been declared as ProtectedArea.

• Protected Areas are located in the following States:- Whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Parts of Himachal Pradesh, Parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Whole of Manipur, Whole of Mizoram,Whole of Nagaland Parts of Rajasthan , Whole of Sikkim (partly in Protected Area and partly in Restricted Area) Parts of Uttarakhand.

RESTRICTED AREAS

Under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963, the following areas have been declared as `Restricted’ Areas:

• Andaman & Nicobar Islands - Entire Union Territory

• Sikkim - Part of the State

AL-MOHED AL-HINDI EXERCISE

The Indian Navy recently concluded its first maritime exercise with Saudi Arabian Navy.

About:• First Naval Exercise: India and Saudi Arabia started their

first-ever Naval joint exercise called the Al-Mohed Al-Hindi Exercise.

• The decision on this Bilateral exercise was taken in the Riyadh Summit held in 2019.

• Location: This was held at King Abdul Aziz Naval Base, which is the Headquarters for Saudi Eastern Fleet.

• Indian Navy participated with its indigenously built stealth destroyer Kochi with two integral Sea King helicopters.

• The two navies undertook co-ordinated action against asymmetric threat, replenishment at sea procedures, anti-piracy and boarding operations. Complex and collaborative exercises including weapon targeting drills beyond the horizon were also conducted to enhance synergy and inter-operability between the two navies.

• This will strengthen bilateral cooperation and security in the Indian Ocean region.

Important Military Exercises involving Indian Navy

Name of the Exercise Participating Nations

SLINEX Sri Lanka

Naseem-Al-Bahr Oman

Indra Russia

Malabar Exercise Japan, and the USA

SIMBEX Singapore

AUSINDEX Australia

Samudra Shakti Indonesia

Za’ir-Al-Bahr Qatar

Indo-Thai CORPAT Thailand

IMCOR-19 Myanmar

Bongosagar and IN-BN CORPAT Bangladesh

IBSAMAR South Africa, Brazil

TALISMAN SABRE EXERCISE

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021 officially ends.

About:• It is a biennial, multinational military exercise led by Australia

and the United States.

• Leadership of the exercise switches between Australia and the US every 2 years.

• The exercise focuses on crisis-action planning and contingency response, enhancing both nations’ military capabilities to deal with regional contingencies and the War on Terrorism.

• The exercise is historically held in odd-numbered years starting from 2005, with the ninth iteration taking place in 2021.

NEXT IAS





• Talisman Sabre 2021 was the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australian and the USA and saw the participation of approximately 17,000 military personnel from seven nations on land, air and sea. The other countries include Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and U.K.

• Talisman Sabre involves joint exercises performed by the Australian Defence Force and the United States Military across six locations in northern and central Australia, the Coral Sea, and in Honolulu, Denver, and Suffolk.

Highlights of TS21:• Australia welcomed the Republic of Korea as a participating

nation for the first time.

• Amphibious forces from Australia, United States, Japan and the United Kingdom operated from the same ship (HMAS Canberra) for the first time as an integrated landing force.

• US Space Command deployed to Australia for Exercise Talisman Sabre for the first time. This team exercised important new capabilities in the space domain.

India’s involvement:• Australia is eager for India to participate in its biggest military

exercise ‘Talisman Sabre’ in 2023.

• The group of four nations consisting of India, Australia, Japan and the United States also plans to hold the annual Malabar 2021 naval exercise to Auguste off the coast of Guam. Australia is included in Malabar 2020.

QUADRILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE

• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD, also known as the Quad) is a strategic dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia and India that is maintained by talks between member countries.

• The dialogue was initiated in 2007 by the then Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.

• Aim: The diplomatic and military arrangement was widely viewed as a response to increased Chinese economic and military power, and the Chinese government responded to the Quadrilateral dialogue by issuing formal diplomatic protests to its members.

• In November 2017, India, the United States, Australia, and Japan formed a long-pending "four nation" alliance to develop a new strategy to maintain key shipping lanes in the Indo-Pacific from any impact (especially China).

ZAYED TALWAR EXERCISE

India-UAE Navy undertakes bilateral exercise ‘ZayedTalwar 2021’.

About:• Countries: The Indian Navy took part in a bilateral exercise

with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy off the coast of Abu Dhabi.

• Indian Navy deployed warship INS Kochi and two Sea King MK 42B helicopters. The UAE deployed Baynunah class guided missile corvette, Al Dhafra and an AS-565B Panther helicopter.

• The bilateral naval exercise-- 'ZayedTalwar 2021' was designed to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies.

• As part of the exercise, the ships undertook tactical manoeuvres, over the horizon targeting, search and rescue and electronic warfare, the statement added.

• Helicopters have been extensively used all through the exercise, ranging from search and rescue series to passing of targeting data to ships for simulated missile engagement drills.

INDIA-UAE RELATIONS

• Indians in UAE make up the largest minority ethnic group of roughly 38% of UAE's total residents.

• The UAE is India's top trading partner in the entire West Asia and North Africa region.

• Indian exports to the UAE account for 6% of India's global exports.

• In 2008-09, India emerged as the largest trade partner of the UAE with bilateral trade between the two countries exceeding $44.5 billion.

• In 2018-19, India-UAE bilateral trade grew by over 20% and India's exports to UAE grew by 7% whereas the UAE's exports to India surged by 37% to reach US$29.78 billion.

• India's major export items to UAE include petroleum products; precious metals; stones, gems & jewelry; minerals; food items (cereals, sugar, fruits & vegetables, tea, meat, and seafood); textiles and engineering & machinery products and chemicals.

• India’s major import items from UAE include petroleum and petroleum products; precious metals; stones, gems & jewelry; minerals; chemicals; wood & wood products.

• Oil Trade: UAE was the fifth largest import source of crude oil for India in 2011-12 with import of 15.79 MMT of crude oil.

• The first ever India UAE Joint Air Forces exercise took place in September 2008 at the Al-Dhafra base in Abu Dhabi.

• India has also been a regular participant at the biennial International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi.

NEXT IAS





• On completion of bilateral exercise with Royal Brunei Navy, the ships will head to Guam to participate in exercise MALABAR-21 with the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the United States Navy (USN).

• This will be the second year that the navies of the four countries will be participating in the Malabar exercises.

• Last year, naval ships and personnel from the four countries had participated in the Malabar exercises off the coast of India.

EXERCISE KONKAN

Exercise Konkan 2021 was held between INS Tabar and HMS Westminster in the English Channel.

About:• The English Channel is located between the Isle of Great

Britain’s southern coast and France’s northern coast and separated from the North Sea on the north by the Strait of Dover.

• HMS Westminster: of the Royal Navy took part from Britain’s side.

The exercise included the participation of integral helicopters of the two ships and the Falcon Electronic Warfare aircraft.

• Wide range of exercises: Including co-ordinated anti-submarine procedures, firing drills, combined maritime picture compilation, combat formation maneuvering and replenishment at sea were conducted.

• Bond between two navies: Exercise Konkan 2021 consolidated interoperability and helped cement the strong bonds of friendship between the two navies.

INS Tabar:• It is the third of the Talwar-class frigate of the Indian Navy, which

was commissioned in 2004 in Kaliningrad, Russia.

• Along with her sister ships INS Talwar and INS Trishul, INS Tabar

is assigned to Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command, head-

quartered in Mumbai.

• INS Tabar is a well-equipped warship that has the ability to handle

air/surface/sub-surface missions or defending herself operating

either independently on maritime missions or supporting a larger

naval task force.

• The ship has visited various ports of the Persian Gulf on a goodwill

mission and the visit was highly successful.

• The ship also participated in the International Fleet Review at

Visakhapatnam. It recently visited Port Louis to participate in the

Mauritius National Day celebrations.

OTHER DEFENCE EXERCISES BETWEEN INDIA-UK

• Air Force Exercise- Exercise ‘Indradhanush’

• It is a joint air force exercise conducted by the Royal Air Force and the Indian Air Force. The exercise is tasked to enhance mutual operational understanding between the two air forces via close interaction. The exercise started in 2006 and has held four editions so far.

• Military Exercise- Ajeya Warrior: Ajeya Warrior is a bilateral military exercise between India and the UK. The fifth edition of the Ajeya Warrior exercise took place from 13th to 26th February 2020. The aim of exercise is to conduct training of troops in counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations in both Urban and Semi Urban areas.

INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED POWDERS FROM UNUSED SCRAPE MATERIALS

Indian scientists have for the first time repaired aero-engine components through emerging additive manufacturing or 3D printing technique that can significantly reduce repair costs and overhaul time.

About:• Additive Manufacturing: For the first time, Indian Scientists

have repaired aero-engine components through emerging Additive Manufacturing (AM).

• Indigenously made: The team from the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) has indigenously made powders suitable for the additive manufacturing process called the Directed Energy Deposition process.

• Significance: The process can significantly reduce repair costs and overhaul time (manufacturer’s recommended number of running hours after which a component needs service) of aero-engine components made of Ni (Nickel)-based superalloy.

Thus, the impact of repair and refurbishment technology developed by ARCI can be best realized in the aerospace sector due to expensive materials, manufacturing costs, and stringent quality checks.

• Aero-engine components: They are complex structures to handle and their manufacturing & maintenance requires excellent technologies.

How this will help in the manufacturing of the aero-engine components:• Ni (Nickel)-based superalloy (corrosion-resistant high-

temperature alloys usually used at service temperatures above 500°C) are widely used in aero-engine components.

NEXT IAS





• The alloys have extraordinary properties but are prone to frequent damages due to extreme operational conditions.

• Also, manufacturing defects during the casting or machining process is also a big cause of rejection. And, these usher tons of unused components and aero-engine parts which are scrapped due to minor defects.

• Thus, this is the part where the indigenous powders will come in handy. The powders suitable for the additive manufacturing process using inert gas atomizer available at ARCI, unused scrap material will be melted. Further, utilizing this technique, ARCI is developing the Laser-DED process for the repair of

aero-engine components.

ARCI

• International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) established in the year 1997, is an Autonomous Research and Development Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India with main campus at Hyderabad.

• ARCI's mandate is: Development of High Performance Materials and

Processes for Niche Markets

Demonstration of Technologies at Prototype/pilot scale

Transfer of Technology to Indian Industry

Technological Solutions to industrial and strategic sectors

Human resource development in the advanced materials and associated processes

MALABAR EXERCISE

Malabar Exercise began off the coast of Guam in the Pacific Ocean on August 26.

About:• This is 25th edition of the Malabar Exercise.

• Nations involved: Navies of the four member nations of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the Quad — India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.

• Begin: Malabar is a multilateral war-gaming naval exercise that was started in 1992. It began as a bilateral exercise between the navies of India and the United States.

• Later years: Two more editions of the exercise were carried out in 1995 and 1996, after which there was a break until 2002 in the aftermath of India’s nuclear tests.

• From 2002 onward: The exercise has been conducted every year. Japan and Australia first participated in 2007, and since 2014, India, the US and Japan have participated in the exercise every year.

• In 2020: Australia joined the Malabar Exercise on Other

Exercises with Quad Countries:

Other Exercises:• India- Japan: JIMEX (naval exercise), SHINYUU Maitri (air

force exercise), and Dharma Guardian (military exercise).

• India-US: Yudha Abhyas (Army), Vajra Prahar (Military),

Spitting Cobra, SANGAM, RED FLAG, COPE INDIA.

• India-Australia: AUSINDEX (Maritime), AUSTRA HIND, Pitch

Black.

• Passage Exercises (PASSEX).

• India’s request in order to contain China in the Indo-Pacific

region.

Malabar 21:• 2021: This year’s exercise is hosted by the U.S. Navy and will

take part in two phases.

• The first phase is an opportunity for the four Indo-Pacific

navies to operate together in the Philippines Sea to strengthen

their skills in combined maritime operations, anti-submarine

warfare operations, air warfare operations, live-fire gunnery

events, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations,

and maritime interdiction operations.

QUAD

• It is a strategic dialogue between the United States,

Japan, Australia and India that is maintained by talks

between member countries. The dialogue was initiated

in 2007 by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with the

support of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, Australian

Prime Minister John Howard, and Indian Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh.

• It is often dubbed as an "Asian" or "mini" North Atlantic

Treaty Organization (NATO), and is viewed as a

counterbalance to China's military and economic clout in

the Indo-Pacific region.

ICGS VIGRAHA

Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the L&T built Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ICGS Vigraha into the Indian coast guard.

About:• Place: The ship will be based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra

Pradesh and operate on the eastern seaboard under the Operational and Administrative Control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East).

NEXT IAS





• OPVs: Vigraha is the seventh in the series of offshore patrol

vessels (OPVs)

• Significance: The 100-metre long indigenously designed ship

has been fitted with state of the art navigation system useful

for patrolling the coastal borders.

It is fitted with advanced technology radars, navigation

& communication equipment, sensors and machinery

capable of operating in tropical sea conditions.

In 2018, the Indian Coast Guard commissioned its lead

Vikram-class OPV, ICGS Vikram.

Specifications:• It is about 98 metres long, 15 metres wide, has 3.6 metres

draught, with 2,140 tonnes displacement and a range of

5,000 nautical miles.

• It has been designed and built indigenously by Larsen &

Toubro Ship Building Limited.

• The vessel is armed with a 40/60 Bofors gun and fitted with

two 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote Control Gun with fire control

system.

• The ship is also equipped with integrated bridge system,

integrated platform management system, automated power

management system and high-power external fire-fighting

system.

• The ship is also designed to carry one twin-engine Helicopter

and four high speed boats for boarding operation, search &

rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.

• The ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to contain oil spill at sea.

• It can attain a sustained speed of up to 26 knots.

Offshore Patrol Vehicles:• OPVs are long-range surface ships capable of coastal

and offshore patrolling, policing maritime zones, control & surveillance, anti-smuggling & anti-piracy operations with limited wartime roles.

INDIAN COAST GUARD

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.

• The Indian Coast Guard was formally established on 1 February 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India.

• It operates under the Ministry of Defence.

• The Coast Guard works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Revenue (Customs) and the Central and State police forces.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Polity & Governance

COLLEGIUM RECOMMENDS NINE JUDGES FOR SUPREME COURT

Recently, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended nine names for appointment as apex court judges.

About:• The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended to the

central government nine names for appointment as apex court judges.

• The Collegium was led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana.

• Women Representation: The Collegium has for the first time, in one single resolution, recommended three women judges.

• First Woman CJI: The Collegium has recommended the name of Karnataka High Court judge B.V. Nagarathna.

• She may become India’s first woman Chief Justice of India by 2027 in accordance with precedence rule and seniority in future.

• After Swearing-in of these nine judges, the total strength of the Supreme Court will be 33.

How are judges appointed in different high courts and Supreme Courts?

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES

• Article 124 (2): The article provides that judges of Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India are to be appointed by the President.

• For such appointment, President may consult such number of judges of high courts and Supreme Courts as deemed necessary by him.

• Article 217: In accordance with provision of this article the judges of high courts are appointed.

• It states that judges of High Courts are appointed by the President in consultation with the governor of the state in case of appointment of judges as well as Chief Justice of high court.

• In case of appointment of Chief Justice of High Court, he only consults with governor.

• Collegium System: The judges of Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by a system called ‘Collegium System’.

• For Supreme Court Appointments: Collegium comprises of Chief Justice of India and four other senior most judges of Supreme Court.

• For High Court Appointments: For appointment of judges of High Court, the Collegium comprises of Chief Justice of respective High Court and Four other senior most judges of High Court.

• Evolution of Collegium system: The Collegium system is neither mentioned in the constitution nor brought by an act of parliament but evolved as a practice over long time.

• The Collegium system in current form is the result of evolution due to various judgments of the Supreme Court over time.

• First Judges Case (1981): The judgment provided executive overriding power over Chief Justice of India in appointment of Judges.

It provided that for “cogent reasons” the recommendations of Chief Justice regarding judicial appointments can be refused.

The judgment led to primacy of executive for the next 12 years.

• Second Judge Case (1993): It was the first time ‘Collegium’ was used by the Supreme Court.

The court explained that Chief Justice was not the sole authority who gives opinion/recommendations for appointment of judges of the Supreme Court.

It was an opinion formed by a ‘Collegium’ consisting of CJI and two senior most judges of the Supreme Court.

The court further opined that “Constitution” means “Concurrence”.

• Third Judge case (1998): Under this judgment, Supreme Court expanded the Collegium making it a five-member body having CJI and four senior most judges of the Supreme Court.

Limitations of the Collegium System:• Nepotism: During appointment of judges of the high court and

Supreme Court, nepotism has been observed.

• More often, relatives related to senior judges, senior lawyers enjoying political patronage etc are appointed as judges.

• This has often been viewed as corruption in judiciary which is not healthy for democracy.

• Disrupting ‘Checks and Balances’: Unanimous power of Collegium to recommend judges has led to disruption of ‘Checks and Balances’ which checks power of three organ of democracy.

• Non acceptance of recommendations for appointment by political executive led by President leads to clashes between executive and judiciary.

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

NEXT IAS





• Further, it also delays the appointment of judges.

OVERCOMING THE LIMITATIONS: THE NATIONAL JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

COMMISSION (NJAC) BILL, 2014

• The Bill was introduced in conjunction with the

Constitutional (121st Amendment) Bill, 2014.

• It provided for the procedure to be followed by the NJAC

for recommending persons for appointment of

Chief Justice of India and other Judges of the Supreme Court

(SC), and

Chief Justice and other Judges of High Courts (HC).

• It had recommended a fixed time period to fill the vacancies

and consideration of merits of selected members.

• However, the bill also had provisions for consideration of

opinion of political executive such as Chief Minister of the

state and Prime Minister.

• Struck Down by Supreme Court: The National Judicial

Appointments Commission (NJAC) was struck down by

the five judge bench of Supreme Court by 4-1 in 2015.

• The judgment cited the 99th amendment Act as

unconstitutional.

• It held that the wisdom of appointment of judges could not

be shared with the political-executive.

• It further opined that to safeguard the rights of the citizens

of this country, could only be ensured, by keeping it

absolutely insulated and independent, from the other

organs of governance.

Way Forward:• The 2015 judgment of Supreme Court which struck down

NJAC signified the importance of ‘Collegium System’.

• Shielding judiciary from political executive has been deemed

necessary for ‘Independent Judicial System’ which has been

entrusted to protect rights of the citizens.

• However, the judgment also underlined the need to reform

Collegium System owing to its drawbacks.

• Owing to delay in appointment of judges and large number

of pending cases India must envisage for a large scale

reformation in judiciary.

CONTINUATION OF FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURTS TILL 2023

Recently, union cabinet approved continuation of Fast Track Special Courts till 2023.

About:• The Union Cabinet approved continuation of 1023 Fast Track

Special Court (FTSCs) including 389 exclusive POCSO courts as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for two years (April 2021-March 2023)

• Finance: The expenses incurred on expansion of such courts will be borne by Nirbhaya Fund in case of Central share.

About Fast Track Special Court:• Dedicated Courts: Fast Track Special Courts are dedicated

courts for swift justice for victims of sexual offences and strengthen the deterrence framework for sexual offenders.

• Background: Fast track courts (FTCs) were first recommended by the Eleventh Finance Commission in 2000 "to substantially bring down, if not eliminate, pendency in the district and subordinate courts over the next five years".

• In 2019, the government approved a scheme for setting up 1,023 fast-track special courts (FTSCs) across the country for expeditious disposal of pending rape cases under the Indian penal Code (IPC) and crimes under the POCSO Act.

• Central Sector Scheme: 1,023 fast track special courts (FTSCs) have been proposed to be set up under the Central sector Scheme.

This scheme has been launched in line with the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Till now 597 have been set-up for rape cases and 325 for POCSO cases across 28 states and UTs.

• Coverage: The scheme aims to setup such courts in all states and union territories.

NIRBHAYA FUND

• Nirbhaya Fund has been instituted as a dedicated fund to be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women.

• Nomenclature: The fund derives its name from designated name of victim of one of the horrific incident of gang-rape in India which took place in Delhi.

• Nodal Authority: It is a non-lapsable corpus fund, being administered by Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance.

Significance of the extension of Fast Track Special Courts:• Swift and effective justice: These courts aim to provide swift

and effective justice to victims of sexual offences.

• Further, these courts operate under a time frame to resolve cases related to sexual offences.

• Women Empowerment: Faster judicial process will be able to bring the culprits to justice and help to strengthen the judicial process.

NEXT IAS





• This process will help to secure women and thus aid in

women empowerment.

• Resolving pending cases: Over 240,000 rape and POCSO

cases were pending in courts across India till December

2020.

• Setting up of such courts will help India to reduce these

backlogs.

Way Forward:• “Justice Delayed is justice denied” and it is most common in

rape cases.

• In India, conviction rate of rape cases is only 27.2 %.This is

because of large numbers of false rape cases filed across

India.

• This trend not only raises question on judicial process but all

destroys life and career of men accused of such crimes.

• Hence, special fast track courts will help to restore faith of

citizens in judicial process.

THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED TRIBES) ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021

Recently, the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has been passed by parliament.

About:• Changes brought: The bill modified Part-XVIII of the Schedule

to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 which is

related to the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The bill will only impact the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

• Tribal Population in Arunachal Pradesh: Nearly 64.2% of the

total population of Arunachal Pradesh is Scheduled Tribes

(STs) according to the 2001 Census.

• The state has registered a decadal growth of 28.1% of ST

population in 1991-2001 Census.

• Modifies list of Scheduled Tribes: The Bill seeks to amend the

constitutional list of Scheduled Tribes as recommended by

Arunachal Pradesh.

• Removes Abor tribe: The bill aims to remove the Abor tribe

from the list of STs in the state.

• Inclusion of deailed names of tribe: The Bill also seeks to

include Idu (Mishmi), Mishmi-Kaman (Miju Mishmi), Memba,

Sartang and Sajolang (Miji), Taraon (Digaru Mishmi) and

Monpa in the constitution list in lieu of ‘Mishmi, Idu, Taroan’

and ‘Momba’ respectively.

• In lieu of any Naga tribes, Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa and Wancho

tribes have been included in the list under serial No. 10.

• It has replaced Tai Khamti instead of Khampti at serial no 6 in the list.

• Power of States to identify backward classes: The bill has restored the power of states to identify backward classes.

Significance of the Bill:• Reclassification of sub-groups within schedule Tribes: The bill

has tried to reclassify the sub-groups and corrected names pronounced incorrectly within schedule tribes in order to do away confusion.

• It will help to expedite any process of identification during surveys or official works.

• This confusion created problems while applying for jobs and other interpretations as the identification certificates has name of subgroups which is not mentioned in central list.

• Doing away with colonial era interpretation: Most of the names for tribes in the Schedule were “colonial interpretations”.

• Needed to identify sub-groups and recognize intra-tribe diversity: There is diversity within a single tribe in terms of language or culture.

SCHEDULE TRIBES

• Article 366 (25) of the Constitution refers to Scheduled Tribes as those communities, who are scheduled in accordance with Article 342 of the Constitution.

• Article 342 says that only those communities who have been declared as such by the President through an initial public notification or through a subsequent amending Act of Parliament will be considered to be Scheduled Tribes.

• The list of Scheduled Tribes is State/UT specific and a community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State.

• The Constitution is silent about the criteria for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe. Primitiveness, geographical isolation, shyness and social, educational & economic backwardness are the traits that distinguish Scheduled Tribe communities from other communities.

ANALYSIS OF FPI SCHEMES FOR RURAL AREAS

Different Food Processing Industries schemes (FPI) for rural areas have been implemented by Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

About:• The Ministry of Food Processing industries (MoFPI) has been

implementing Central Sector Umbrella Scheme - Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17.

NEXT IAS





• It aims for overall growth and development of food processing sector, including processing of agro-products to increase the income of the farmers.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY):• It is a Central Sector Umbrella Scheme which envisages

for development of food processing industries across the country.

• Components under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana: There are various sub-schemes under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana.

• These are: Mega Food Park

Schemes for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, creation /Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities,

Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters,

Creation of Backward & Forward linkages

Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure,

Human Resource and Institutions,

Operation Greens

• Mega Food Park: It aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage.

The Mega Food Park Scheme is based on “Cluster” approach.

It envisages creation of state of art support infrastructure in a well-defined agri / horticultural zone for setting up of modern food processing units with well-established supply chain.

Since the launch of the scheme 22 Mega Food Parks are operational till date.

• Schemes for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities: The scheme aims to provide integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities from farm gates to consumers.

• It covers creation of infrastructure facility along the entire supply chain such as:

Pre-cooling, weighing, sorting, grading, waxing facilities at farm level,

Multi product/multi temperature cold storage, CA storage, packing facility, IQF, blast freezing in the distribution hub and

Reefer vans, mobile cooling units for facilitating distribution of horticulture, organic produce, marine, dairy, meat and poultry etc.

• Agro Processing Cluster Scheme: The scheme aims at development of modern infrastructure and common

facilities to encourage group of entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach.

• The scheme aims to link groups of producers/farmers to the processors and markets through well-equipped supply chain with modern infrastructure.

• Each agro processing clusters under the scheme have two basic components i.e.

Basic Enabling Infrastructure Core Infrastructure/ Common facilities (ware houses, cold

storages, IQF, tetra pack, sorting, grading etc.

• At least 5 food processing units in such clusters must have a minimum investment of Rs. 25 crore.

• Scheme for creation of Backward & Forward linkages: The scheme aims to provide effective and seamless backward and forward integration for processed food industry by plugging the gaps in supply chain in terms of availability of raw material and linkages with the market.

• Financial Assistance: Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for setting up of primary processing centers/ collection centers at farm gate and modern retail outlets at the front end along with connectivity through insulated/ refrigerated transport.

• Applicable: The Scheme is applicable to perishable horticulture and non-horticulture produce such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, Ready to Cook Food Products, Honey, Coconut, Spices, Mushroom, Retails Shops for Perishable Food Products etc.

• Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure Scheme: The scheme envisages for the all round development of the food processing sector in the country.

• It aims for various aspect of Total Quality Management (TQM) such as quality control, quality system and quality assurance.

• The scheme ensures that processed agricultural produce meet the stringent parameters prescribed by the food safety regulator.

• Under the scheme, financial assistance has been provided by the government for:

Setting Up/Up-gradation of Quality Control/Food Testing Laboratories

HACCP/ISO Standards/Food Safety/Quality Management Systems.

• Operation Greens Scheme: Initially, the scheme aimed for integrated development of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) value chain but later it was extended to all fruits & vegetables (TOTAL), as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Initially, the extension was limited to six month period from June, 2020.

The scheme aims to protect the growers of fruits and vegetables from making distress sale due to lockdown and reduce the post -harvest losses.

NEXT IAS





Under the scheme 50 % of the cost of Transportation of eligible crops from surplus production cluster to consumption centre.

Further, the scheme also provide 50% subsidy for hiring of appropriate storage facilities for eligible crops.

Significance of Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY):• Ensuring Inclusive Development: PMKSY is not region or state

specific but demand driven. Hence, it covers every agro-economic and agro-

ecological regions of the country.

For Example, under Mega Food Park scheme, marine food parks and millet based food parks have been setup.

• Rural Infrastructure Development: Since agriculture based clusters, forward and backward linkages and storage facilities have been built in rural areas, the scheme also fills the infrastructure gap in rural regions of the country.

Till now, 41 Mega food Parks, 353 Cold Chain projects, 63 Agro-processing Clusters, 292 Food Processing Units, 63 Creation of Backward & Forward Linkages Projects & 6 Operation Green projects have been approved under the Umbrella scheme.

• Increasing export competitiveness: The scheme also has quality assurance component which envisages tp ensure quality of processed agriculture produce and hence increases export competitiveness.

Way Forward:• Initially the scheme was launched in order to achieve the

target of doubling the farmer’s income by 2022.

• The developments under the scheme make it capable to achieve the envisaged feat.

• This will also help to double the agricultural export by 2022.

• Overall, the scheme has till now led to substantial infrastructure development in rural regions of the country and contributed in their economic progress.

EXTENDING PARDONING POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR

Recently, Supreme Court extensively redefined the pardoning power of the governor of a state.

About:• Background: While considering the feasibility of remission

policies in Haryana, the Supreme Court held that the Governor of a State can pardon prisoners serving jail term and waiting for capital punishment.

• Earlier in January 2021, in a case of mercy petition, the SC noted

that the Governor cannot reject the state’s recommendation

but there is no time prescribed to take a decision.

• Conditions for pardoning: Although this pardoning power of

governor has been provided by the constitution but Section

433A dealt with pre-conditions for pardoning.

Section 433-A cannot and does not in any way affect

the constitutional power conferred on the President/

Governor to grant pardon under Articles 72 or 161 of the

Constitution.

This section mandates that a prisoner’s sentence can be

remitted only after 14 years of jail.

The Supreme Court opined that such person can be

pardoned even before they would serve a minimum 14

years of prison sentence.

• Powers of Governor to Override CrPC: The apex court further

added that the Governor’s power to pardon overrides a

provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure Section 433A.

• Sovereign power exercised by state government: The court

observed that although the pardon power is enjoyed by the

governor, it is exercised by the state governor.

Hence, advice of the appropriate government binds the

Head of the State.

It is only constitutional courtesy of the governor to approve

the decision of the government.

Significance of the Judgment:• Beneficial for old-age prisoners: The interpretation of the

pardoning power of the governor will help to pardon old age

prisoners especially those suffering from old age disabilities

and have not completed 14 years of imprisonment.

Such prisoners need effective care and thus can be

released on humanitarian ground.

• Decongesting prisons: Indian prisons have been housing

more inmates than their capacity for decades.

Releasing jail prisoners on the basis of age, disability

and good behavior can help to manage overcrowded

prisons.

Way Forward:• According to a report on prison statistics for 2019 released by

the National Crime Records Bureau, jails of 21 of the Indian

states have been reported to be overcrowded.

• Owing to new social norms which has emerged amid

pandemic it has become important to decongest living

spaces.

• Further, rights enjoyed by jail inmates under Right to Life

must not be compromised in any way.

NEXT IAS





CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS: ARTICLE 161

Constitutional Provisions: Article 161: Pardoning Power of the

Governor

• Article 161 of the constitution mandates a governor to

exercise pardoning power.

• He can grant pardons, reprives, respites and remissions of

punishment or suspend, remit and commute the sentence

of any person convicted of any offence against any law

relating to a matter to which the executive power of the

state extends.

• Pardon: It removes both the sentence and the conviction

and completely absolves the convict from all sentences,

punishments and disqualifications.

• Commutation: It denotes the substitution of one form

of punishment for a lighter form. For example, a death

sentence may be commuted to rigorous imprisonment,

which in turn may be commuted to a simple imprisonment.

• Remission: It implies reducing the period of sentence

without changing its character. For example, a sentence

of rigorous imprisonment for two years may be remitted to

rigorous imprisonment for one year.

• Respite: It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of

one originally awarded due to some special fact, such as

the physical disability of a convict or the pregnancy of a

woman offender.

• Reprieve: It implies a stay of the execution of a sentence

(especially that of death) for a temporary period. Its

purpose is to enable the convict to have time to seek

pardon or commutation from the President.

PREVENTIVE DETENTION ONLY TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER

Recently, Supreme Court has ruled that Preventive detention can only be done if detenu affects or likely to affect public order.

About:• SC Judgement: Supreme Court has ruled that to invoke a

public detention law against someone, it is not enough that his/her actions pose a threat to law and order.

In order to invoke such laws his/her actions must affect the public order.

The Supreme opined it while quashing the detention of a man and opined that there is a thin line which separates ‘Law and Order’ and ‘Public Order’.

Background of the case:• White Collar Crime: The detenu was detained under the

Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986 on the pretext that he was “a habitual fraudster”.

The man was indulged in cheating and criminal breach of trust.

Such crime is termed as ‘White Collar Crime’

After the detenu was successful in obtaining anticipatory bail/bail from the Courts in each of the five FIRs” against him, he was kept in preventive detention by the police.

• Defined ‘Public Order’: The court further added that a liberal meaning cannot be given to the expression public order in the context of preventive detention statute.

• It further stated that preventive detention is necessary only to prevent public disorder.

• It can only be done when facts brought before the court lead to:

A harm to general society,

Danger or alarm or feeling of insecurity among the general public or any section of society

• ‘Public Order’ Vs ‘Law and Order’: The court further opined that indulging in cheating or criminal breach of trust certainly affects ‘law and order’ but before telling that it affects ‘Public Order’, it must affect public at large or a section of public.

Significance of the verdict:• Checking misuse of power by Public Authority: The verdict will

effectively check the misuse of power by the public authority.

• ‘Detention’ or ‘Preventive Detention’ has been widely misused by the police in an illegal manner.

• It has also been used widely by political executive to suppress the voices against the government as well as for detention of political rivals.

• Defined “Public disorder’: The verdict has defined public disorder and differentiated it from ‘Law and Order’.

• This will help in analysis of other detentions of similar type.

Way Forward:• “Preventive Detention” has been the most common political

tool which has been used by the politicians against their rivals.

• This was widely used during the ‘National Emergency’ imposed by Indira Gandhi government in 1975 to curb freedom of expression and movement.

• Further, this type of detention is an integral part of Indian constitution which is contrary to other democracies around the world.

• Hence, the judgment will check he misuse of this provision to a greater extent.

NEXT IAS





Constitutional provisions regarding ‘Preventive Detention’:• Article 22(1) state that any person, who is arrested, cannot be

detained in custody without being informed of the grounds of

any such arrest as soon as possible.

• This fundamental right is available for two types of detentions.

• These are ‘Punitive Detention’ and ‘Preventive Detention’.

• Punitive Detention: Punitive Detention is meant for punitive

action after the detenu is found guilty by the court of law.

• Preventive detention: Preventive detention is basically

detention without any conviction by court of law.

• This type of detention can’t be extended beyond two

months.

• However, the 78th amendment act extended this period or

three months but it was not notified.

• When a person is indulged in disturbing ‘Public Order’, he/

she is detained under it.

Preventive Detention: Landmark Supreme Court Judgments:A.K. Gopalan VS State of Madras:

• Mr. A.K. Gopalan was a communist leader who was detained under the Preventive Detention Act, 1950.

• A writ of Habeus Corpus was filed against his detention by him.

• Validated ‘Preventive Detention’: The court ruled that Section 3 of the Act was justified and as it was valid to provide such discretionary powers to the executive for detention.

• No Infringement of other fundamental rights: The court further stated that the act was consistent with Article 22 of the constitution and there is no infringement of fundamental rights under article 21 and article 19 of the constitution, while implementing article 22.

• The judgment provided that all the rights under articles 19, 21 and 22 must be read separately as codes but not analyzed by inter-mixing them together.

• Mariappan v. The District Collector and Others, the Court held that the aim of detention and its laws is not to punish anyone but to stop certain crimes from being committed.

• In the case of Union of India v. Paul Nanickan and Anr, the Supreme Court said that the reasoning for such detention is based on suspicion or reasonable possibility and not a criminal conviction, which can be justified only by valid proof.

Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India (1978):

• In this case, the Supreme Court reversed its earlier stand that it took in A K Gopalan case.

• The passport of Maneka Gandhi was impounded by the authorities under the provisions of the Passport Act without giving any valid reason.

• The court ruled that Right of Personal Liberty has been covered under article 21 must not be infringed by article 22.

PREVENTIVE DETENTION

STATES CAN’T CLEAR MPS, MLAS IN CASES WITHOUT HIGH COURT NOD

Recently, Supreme court directed that without HC nod states couldn’t clear MPs, MLAs in cases.

About:• Background: While hearing a PIL, Supreme Court has directed

respective states government that no prosecution against a sitting or former MP/MLA shall be withdrawn without the assent of the high court.

• Section 321 of CrPC: Under Section 321 of the CrPC, it is permissible in public interest that state government can direct that prosecution against MPs/MLAs should be withdrawn.

The court cited that such direction is only available in public interest and cannot be done for political consideration.

It further added that such application cannot be made to thwart or stifle the process of law.

• Re-examine previous cases: The Bench has also directed

high courts to examine the withdrawals, whether pending or

disposed of since 16.09.2020, in light of guidelines laid down

by court”.

• Dispose cases against legislators: The supreme court has also

directed high courts for expeditious disposal of pending

cases.

• Check Transfers: The court also opined that judicial officers

presiding over Special Courts or CBI Courts involving

prosecution of MPs or MLAs should not be transferred until

further orders.

Significance of direction of the Supreme Court:• Checking Criminalization of politics: 43% of newly elected

member of parliaments have criminal cases registered against

them.

When parties of such MPs and MLAs come in power, these

cases are easily struck down by the state governments.

NEXT IAS





• Checking misuse of executive power: Recently, the Karnataka state government had decided to withdraw 61 cases, many of which were against elected representatives of the State Legislature.

In Uttarakhand, an application had been filed for withdrawing a murder case against sitting MLA Rajkumar Thukral

Similarly, the Maharashtra government decided to withdraw political cases against activists registered before December 31, 2019.

A public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Karnataka high court which further reversed the move.

The Supreme Court direction will help to initiate such move.

• Reducing political interference in judiciary: By shielding of transfer and posting of judicial officers and judges, the court aims to reduce political interference in judiciary, which aims to impact cases in MP/MLA special courts.

Way Forward:• The Supreme Court’s direction is one among series of reforms

to decriminalize politics in India.

• Before it, twenty one special benches were constituted on its direction to expedite various cases against sitting legislators.

• This judicial process will reflect on electoral reforms in India which aims to decriminalize political system in the country.

VEHICLE SCRAPPING POLICY

Recently, Vehicle Scrapping Policy was launched by the central government.

About:• It was first announced in the Union Budget for 2021-22.

• India will also implement a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based toll collection system and do away with all toll booths within a year.

• Aim: The central government recently launched Vehicle Scrapping Policy to phase out unfit and polluting vehicles in an environment-friendly manner.

The policy aims to realize the sustainable development by creating a viable circular economy and bring value for all stakeholders while being environmentally responsible.

Provisions under the Vehicle Scrapping Policy:• The policy dictates that all automobiles over a certain age

should be off the roads in the interest of better pollution control and safety as per standards set in new vehicles.

• Eligible vehicles: Commercial vehicles over 15 year old and personal vehicles over 20 years old are marked for scrapping under the policy.

• Both diesel and petrol vehicles have been subjected to same

conditions under the policy.

• Fitness Test: Old vehicles will have to pass a fitness test before

re-registration and as per the policy government commercial

vehicles more than 15 years old and private vehicles which

are over 20 years old will be scrapped.

• Cancellation of registration: The policy has clearly stated

that eligible vehicles will be deregistered after the aforesaid

period automatically.

• After it, the owner cannot use them on the road. It is up to the

owner to scrap it or not.

• Realizing circular economy: When a vehicle is scrapped,

apart from metals including iron and steel, many other parts

may emerge that can be refurbished and ploughed back

into use.

• Recycled steel from scrap, even seats and plastic parts,

have value in the scrap economy.

• This will help in improving productivity of the economy in a

broader way.

Fig: Circular Economy for Sustainable Development

• Number of vehicles covered under the policy: According to data with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India has 51 lakh light motor vehicles that are more than 20 years old and 34 lakh over 15 years old.

Around 17 lakhs medium and heavy commercial vehicles are older than 15 years without valid fitness certificates.

• Automated Fitness Centers and scrapping yards: The government has envisaged rules and specifications for setting up of Automated Fitness Centers.

• It has also proposed rules and regulations for scrapping yards.

• Scrappage certificate: The policy has envisaged for scrappage certificates for owners of crapped vehicles.

• These certificates will entitle the owner with something extra, such as a tax rebate, sops, and a discount on the new car.

• The certificate is tradable, which means it can be used by anyone and not necessarily by the owner of the scrapped vehicle.

• As a disincentive, increased re-registration fees would be applicable for vehicles 15 years or older from the initial date

registration.

NEXT IAS





Significance of Vehicle Scrapping Policy:• It will lead to creation for more scrap yards in the country and

effective recovery of waste from old vehicles.

• Creating employment: The policy will help to build up a circular economy which can attract investment worth Rs 10,000 crore and create 35,000 new jobs.

• This will help India to overcome job crisis to a certain extent.

• Dealing with recession of economy: Globally, scrappage policy had yielded in form of boost in demand in the auto manufacturing sector.

• Hence, such policies have been viewed as a tool to deal with economic slowdown in the manufacturing sector and consumption due to recession.

• Sustainable development: The policy realizes the aim of achieving sustainable development ensuring environmental protection.

• This will be due to improved emission standards by doing away pollution emitting vehicles.

• Improving air quality standards: Scrapping of older vehicles will help to improve air quality standards.

• It will also help India to adopt newer technologies with lesser of net zero carbon emissions such as e-vehicles as well as vehicles dependent on ethanol blended petrol by replacing older diesel and petrol vehicles.

Way Forward:• The scrappage policy will help India to achieve sustainable

development goals pertaining to Climate change (Goal 13), Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11) and Responsible Consumption and production (Goal 12) by fulfilling its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) targets.

• Apart from environmental front, it will help India to boost its automobile industry which is adopting innovative cutting edge technologies for mobility.

THE ECONOMICSCan yield between 35,000 & 40,000` `for four-wheelers(after scrappingcost and margins)

` `1 to 1.5lakh for trucks

Up to 15,000`for two-wheelers

ORGANIZEDSCRAPPING

UNORGANIZEDSCRAPPING

M MPRL procures obsoletevehicles and white goods

from individuals, government-facilitated auctions andinsurance rms, among others

In the next step, the items nott for recycling are disassembled

and the remaining metalscrap is shreddedHeavy-duty magnets are utilizedto sort the ferrous metal, such asiron, from the non-ferrous metal,such as aluminium and copperThe ferrous/non-ferrous and otherremaining parts are sold throughe-commerce pootal

A huge market but vehicles aresimply disassembled and aretypically not recycled at sourceare sold to scrap dealers

Some of them are sent to dumpyards

ABANDONED VEHICLESNo dedicated policy to scrapabandoned vehicles yet

Once con scated, such vehiclesnd place at police stations or

open grounds

MAJOR INPUTSIN CARS

Steel About| 65%Aluminium About| 7%Aluminium About| 7%Lead and other material

About| 13%Rubber and Plastics

About| 15%

( Material Recycling Association of India)Source:

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Social Issues

ADOPTION (FIRST AMENDMENT) REGULATION, 2021

The Government of India recently introduced a new clause in the adoption regulations.

About:• According to the new clause, when parents with their adopted

child move abroad within two years of adoption have to intimate Indian diplomatic missions of their departure and arrival at least two weeks in advance.

• Amendment: The new amendments have been made by the Central Adoption Resource Authority and have been notified by the Woman and Child Development Ministry.

• Relevant Section: Under the Adoption (First Amendment) Regulations, 2021, it said that ‘the amendment has been notified in accordance with the relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016)’.

• Duties of Indian Mission: The notification said it shall be the responsibility of the Indian Mission of the country to which the child has moved to perform all the assigned duties under the Adoption Regulations, 2017, in respect to the adopted child.

• Written Communication: The adoptive parents will also have to intimate the Indian diplomatic missions concerned in the country of departure and arrival, at least two weeks in advance through a written communication with their full contact details at the new place and thereafter, as per the new rules.

Reason for Such Amendment:• A grey area got left out in case of Indian children adopted

by parents in India, but who ended up moving abroad later, hence going out of the purview of Indian authorities and also not falling under purview of Indian Missions abroad. Some such cases came to the attention of the authorities recently.

Indian Mission Functions Regarding the Adoption:• Safeguarding Children: It will now be in charge of safeguarding

adopted children whose parents move overseas with the child within two years of adoption.

• Sending Progress Reports: The Indian diplomatic missions presently send progress reports of an adopted child on quarterly basis in the first year and on six-monthly basis in the second year, from the date of arrival of the child in the receiving country.

• Safeguarding children of Indian origin adopted by Non-

Resident Indian: The Missions are also expected to contact the

central authority or other authorities in the receiving countries

to ensure safeguards of children of Indian origin adopted by

Non-Resident Indian or Overseas Citizens of India or foreign

parents.

• In Case of Disruption of Adoption: In case of disruption of

adoption, the foreign missions shall send a report in this

regard at the earliest, and render necessary help and

facilitate the repatriation of the child in case required.

Past Functions of The Indian Mission:• So far, the Indian missions abroad had a role in inter-country

adoption of Indian children limited to children adopted by

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India

(OCI) or foreign parents.

• The Missions had a duty to ensure protection against neglect,

maltreatment, exploitation or abuse of these children.

CENTRAL ADOPTION RESOURCE AUTHORITY

• A statutory body: Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.

• Functions as the nodal body: It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.

• Dealing Inter-Country Adoption: CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003.

• Primarily Dealing Adoption of Orphan: CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children through its associated /recognised adoption agencies.

AIDP SCHEME AND RASHTRIYA VAYOSHRI YOJANA

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment inaugurated a Distribution camp for free distribution of Aids & Assistive devices.

SOCIAL ISSUES

NEXT IAS





About:• The camp has been organised at Block level among the

identified Senior citizens under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) and Divyangjans under ADIP Scheme of Government of India at Bhatinda in Punjab.

• The ADIP Scheme has been in operation since 1981 with the main objective to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhancing their economic potential.

• Assistive devices are given to PwDs with an aim to improve their independent functioning and to arrest the extent of disability and occurrence of secondary disability.

• Certified Devices: The aids and appliances supplied under the Scheme must have due certification.

• The scheme also envisages conduct of corrective surgeries, wherever required, before providing an assistive device.

• Under the Scheme, grants-in-aid are released to various implementing agencies (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO)/National Institutes/Composite Regional Centres/District Disability Rehabilitation Centres/ State Handicapped Development Corporations/ NGOs, etc.) for purchase and distribution of aids and assistive devices.

• The Scheme was last revised w.e.f. 1.4.2014 and further modified and approved for continuation during the remaining period of the 14th Finance Commission i.e., up to 31.3.2020.

Eligibility for AIDP Scheme:• A person with disabilities fulfilling the following conditions

would be eligible for assistance under AIDP Scheme: An Indian Citizen of any age Holds a 40% Disablement Certificate Has monthly income from all sources not exceeding Rs

20000/- per month In case of Dependents, the income of parents/guardians

should not increase Rs 20000/- month. Who have not received assistance during the last three

years for the same purpose from any source. However, for children below 12 years of age, this limit will be one year.

About Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana:• The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has

launched a Central Sector Scheme namely “Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana” (RVY) on 1st April, 2017.

• It is a scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens only belonging to BPL category.

Devices and aids include walking sticks, elbow crutches, walkers/crutches, tripods/quad pods, hearing aids, wheelchairs, artificial dentures and spectacles.

• The expenditure for implementation of the scheme will be met from the "Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund".

• The Scheme will be implemented through the sole implementing agency - Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

• Criteria: The main criteria for the senior citizens to get full benefits of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) scheme is that they must belong to BPL family and should hold a valid BPL card issued by the concerned authority.

RESERVATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

After implementation of Rights to Persons with Disabilities 2016, the categories for disability have increased from 7 to 21 and increased reservation for Divyangjan in government jobs from 3% to 4% and also reservation in higher education is now increased to 5%.

HUNGER HOTSPOTS: FAO-WFP EARLY WARNINGS

Acute hunger may rise in over 20 countries in the coming months, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) have warned.

About:• Hunger Hotspot Report: This has been projected in a new

report called Hunger Hotspots by FAO and WFP.

• Expected Rise: Hunger is expected to rise in 23 global hotspots in the next three months with the highest alerts for “catastrophic" situations in Ethiopia’s embattled Tigray region, southern Madagascar, Yemen, South Sudan and northern Nigeria.

• Ethiopia: Ethiopia at the top of the list, saying the number of people facing starvation and death is expected to rise to 401,000 – the highest number since the 2011 famine in Somalia.

• Madagascar: In southern Madagascar, which has been hit by the worst drought in the past 40 years–14,000 people are expected to be pushed into “catastrophic” acute food insecurity marked by starvation and death by September. And that number is expected to double by the end of the year with 28,000 people needing urgent help.

• Other Countries: Nine other countries also have high numbers of people facing “critical food insecurity” coupled with worsening drivers of hunger – Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Haiti, Honduras, Sudan and Syria.

NEXT IAS





Six countries have been added to the hotspot list since the agencies’ March report – Chad, Colombia, North Korea, Myanmar, Kenya and Nicaragua.

Three other countries also facing acute food insecurity are Somalia, Guatemala and Niger, while Venezuela wasn’t included due to lack of recent data.

Factors Responsible for increasing Food Insecurity:• Conflict or other forms of violence may protract or are

likely to increase in parts of Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Central Sahel, Ethiopia, northern Nigeria, northern Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan and the Sudan.

• COVID-19 will continue to impact numerous countries around the world, leaving them highly vulnerable to economic shocks. Latin America is the region hardest hit by economic decline and will be the slowest to recover.

• Climate extremes and la Niña-driven weather will likely continue in April and May, driving hunger in several parts of the world - from Afghanistan, Madagascar to the Horn of Africa.

• Desert Locust outbreaks in East Africa and on the Red Sea Coast remain of concern. In Southern Africa, in parts of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, African migratory locusts threaten to ravage the summer crops.

• Increasingly constrained access in some countries to help

people in need has been making things worse.

• Humanitarian access is limited in various ways, including

administrative / bureaucratic impediments, movement

restrictions, security constraints and physical constraints

related to the environment.

Action Needed:• The report recommends critical short-term actions in each

hunger hotspot to address existing and future needs.

• These range from scaling up food and nutrition assistance,

distributing drought-tolerant seeds, treating and vaccinating

livestock to rolling out cash-for-work schemes, rehabilitating

water-harvesting structures and increasing income

opportunities for vulnerable communities.

• Agricultural production is possible and essential, especially

where access is constrained and people are even more

reliant on local production.

• FAO and WFP called for US$ 5.5 billion to swiftly scale up actions and avert famine through a combination of humanitarian food assistance, cash and emergency livelihood interventions.

• Established by the United Nations in 1945, the Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a neutral intergovernmental

organization. It strives to provide information and support

sustainable agriculture through legislation and national

strategies, with the goal of alleviating hunger.

• The FAO contributes to international efforts to defeat hunger

and improve local economies by helping its member

countries modernize and improve agriculture, forestry, and

fishery practices.

• Serving 194 member nations, two associate members, and the

European Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization also

aims to be a neutral forum where countries can negotiate

agreements and debate policy. Its headquarters is in Rome,

Italy, and it has offices in more than 130 countries.

• The FAO works to promote public-private partnerships,

improve smallholder agriculture, and develop mechanisms to

monitor, reduce, and warn about hazards to the food chain.

Funding comes from industrialized countries, development

banks, and other sources.

World Food Programme:• World Food Programme (WFP), an organization established

in 1961 by the United Nations (UN) to help alleviate world

hunger.

• Its headquarters are in Rome, Italy.

• In 2020 the World Food Programme (WFP) was awarded

the Nobel Prize for Peace “for its efforts to combat hunger,

for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in

conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force

in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war

and conflict.”

• A member of the UN family, WFP is governed by an Executive

Board consisting of 36 Member States, which provides

intergovernmental support, direction and supervision of

WFP’s activities.

The organization is headed by an Executive Director, who

is appointed jointly by the UN Secretary-General and the

Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization

of the United Nations.

• In India, WFP has moved from providing direct food aid

to providing technical assistance and capacity building

services to the Government of India.

WFP is focusing on enabling the country’s food-based

social safety nets to function more efficiently and

effectively in providing food to their target population.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

NEXT IAS





NATIONAL FOOD AND NUTRITION CAMPAIGN

The Union agriculture Minister launched a national food and nutrition campaign for farmers.

About:• Organised: It is organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural

Research (ICAR).

• The Government has resolved to solve the problem of malnutrition and has also launched several schemes and programs in this direction.

• ICAR Workings: ICAR has been working successfully on which crops should be cultivated and which seeds should be invented for rainfed and other areas.

• Connect: Efforts are also being made to make agriculture and farmers connected with new technology.

• The responsibility of the farmers and the government: to ensure that products should be of better quality,

meet global standards,

farmers should be attracted towards costly crops,

educated youth should be attracted towards agriculture while being environment-friendly.

• International Year of Millets: The year 2023 will be celebrated as the International Year of Millets under the leadership of India.

• Motivating other Farmers: Farmers associated with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) should motivate other farmers for improved farming and ensure participation of all farmers in various schemes including Farmers Producer Organisations (FPO), Agri Infra Fund and increasing the area of organic farming under traditional farming.

THE INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH (ICAR)

• Managing Research and Education: It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture in the entire country under the aegis of DARE, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

• Establishment: Formerly known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in pursuance of the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture.

• Headquarter: The ICAR has its headquarters at New Delhi.

• Institutes and Universities: With 101 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.

OPERATION BLUE FREEDOM

The Government of India has accorded sanction to Team CLAW to lead a team of people with disabilities to scale Siachen Glacier.

About:• This will create a new world record for the largest team of

people with disabilities to scale the world’s highest battlefield Siachen Glacier.

• On August 15, a team of retired special forces personnel, under CLAW Global, will lead a group of differently abled people to attempt a world record by trekking the Siachen Glacier.

• Initially, a team of 20 people with disabilities would be selected to undergo training and three- stage acclimatisation, after which the final expedition team shall be selected.

• A minimum of six people with disabilities shall be part of the final expedition team who will trek from the Siachen Base Camp to Kumar Post.

CLAW Global and Team CLAW:• CLAW Global: CLAW Global was set up in January 2019 by Major Vivek

Jacob, a Para SF officer, who had to hang up his boots following a combat skydive injury after 14 years of service in the Army, with the aim of teaching life skills to adventurers and people with disabilities (PWD).

In September 2020, 'CLAW Global' also signed an MoU with US-based Handicapped SCUBA Association, which has 39 years of experience training people with disabilities in scuba diving and using these skills to rehabilitate persons with disabilities.

• Team CLAW: Team consists of Indian Army Para Commandos and the

Naval Marine Commandos, also known as the MARCOS.

These veterans have multiple specialisations - not just in combat but also in other elite skills such as skydiving, scuba diving, mountaineering, emergency medical response and all-terrain survival amongst others.

CLAW wants to bring people across nationalities, religion, colour, economic status and ability to create a powerful perception of ability and freedom.

Operation Blue Freedom:• It is a social impact venture aimed at rehabilitating people

with disabilities through adaptive adventure sports.

• Launched in 2019, Operation Blue Freedom, aims to change society's perception towards people with disabilities, recognise their capabilities, and enable them to productively contribute to the economy through suitable jobs.

NEXT IAS





• CLAW has trained over 100 people with disabilities in scuba diving as part of its flagship initiative 'Operation Blue Freedom'.

• In October, the team inked an MoU with the Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation, to carry out 'Operation Blue Freedom - Water World Record' in Maldives.

The MoU is aimed at establishing a water world record to be held in February 2021.

It also covers a long-term collaboration between CLAW Global and the Maldivian Integrated Tourism Development Corporation to create rehabilitation ecosystems for people with disabilities in Maldives.

The team has proposed an 'Aqua research, rehabilitation and re-skilling centre' with the noble goal of impacting people with disabilities and helping them become employable in a 'normal' world.

SIACHEN GLACIER

• Siachen Glacier, one of the world’s longest mountain glaciers, lying in the Karakoram Range system of Kashmir near the India–Pakistan border, extending for 44 mi (70 km) from north-northwest to south-southeast.

• It has a number of fast-flowing surface streams and at least 12 medial moraines.

• It is the source for the 50-mi-long Nubra River, a tributary of the Shyok, which is part of the Indus River system.

• The Siachen glacier demarcates central Asia from the Indian subcontinent, and separates Pakistan from China in the region.

• The Saltoro Ridge of the Siachen glacier serves as a divide that prevents direct linking of PoK with China, stopping them from developing geographical military linkages in the area.

• Siachen also serves as a watchtower for India to keep a deep watch on Gilgit and Baltistan regions of Pakistan.

• The entire Siachen Glacier has been under the administration of India since 1984 after secret operation, Operation Meghdoot.One of the key Indian installations in Siachen is named Kumar Base after Indian Army Col Narinder Bull Kumar.

PM DAKSH SCHEME

The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment launched ‘PM-DAKSH’ Portal and ‘PM-DAKSH’ Mobile App.

About:• It is developed by the Ministry of Social Justice and

Empowerment, in collaboration with NeGD.

• A Skill Development Scheme: The PM DAKSH Scheme was

launched to make the skill development schemes accessible

to the target groups.

• Through this portal and app the youth of the target groups will

now be able to avail the benefits of skill development training

programmes more easily.

• Training Programmes: Under this Yojana, eligible target groups

are being provided skill development training programmes

on

Up-skilling/Reskilling

Short Term Training Programme

Long Term Training Programme and

Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP).

• Implementation: The Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta

Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana is being implemented

by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment from the

year 2020-21.

These training programs are being implemented through

Government Training Institutes, Sector Skill Councils

constituted by the Ministry of Skill Development and

Entrepreneurship and other credible institutions.

• Corporations: Under the Ministry of Social Justice and

Empowerment, three Apex Corporations - National Scheduled

Castes Finance and Development Corporation, National

Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation

and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation are functioning.

These Corporations are providing loans at concessional

interest rates to the target groups of backward classes,

scheduled castes and Safai Karamcharis for self-

employment.

They are also providing free training for skill development

of the target groups.

As per the information available, skill development training

has been imparted to 2,73,152 persons of target groups

in the last five years by these three Apex Corporations.

During the year 2021-22, a target has been set to provide

skill development training to approximately 50,000

persons of the target groups through the above three

Apex Corporations.

NEXT IAS





PM DAKSH Portal and Mobile App:• Getting Information: Any person can get all the information

related to skill development training at one place by visiting the ‘PM-DAKSH’ Portal.

With just one click, one can get information about skill development training happening near him/her and he/she can easily register himself/herself for skill training.

• Some of the features of this portal are as follows: Availability of all information related to skill development

at one place for Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Safai Karamcharis.

Facility to register for the training institute and program of their interest.

Facility to upload desired documents related to personal information.

Facility to register the attendance of the trainees through face and eye scanning during the training period.

Monitoring facility through photo and video clip during training etc.

NEW GEOSPATIAL PLANNING PORTAL: YUKTDHARA

The government launched a new geospatial planning portal, 'Yuktdhara', which will help in facilitating new MGNREGA assets.

About:• The portal will be using remote sensing and geographic

information system-based data.

• Derivation: The name Yuktdhara is a combination of two words. The word 'Yukt' is derived from 'Yojanam' (planning) and 'Dhara' indicates flow.

• A Joint Effort: It is a culmination of untiring joint efforts of the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Ministry of Rural development made towards realising a G2G service for rural planning in support of decentralised decision making.

• A repository of Assets: This platform will serve as a repository of assets (geotags) created under various national rural development programmes i.e. MGNREGA, Integrated Watershed Management Programme, Per Drop More Crop programme and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, along with field photographs.

• Integrating thematic Layers: This portal integrates a wide variety of thematic layers, multi-temporal high resolution earth observation data with analysis tools.

• Identification of New Work: Planners will analyse previous assets under various schemes and facilitate identification of new works using online tools. Plans prepared will be evaluated by appropriate authorities under state departments.

• Yuktdhara-based plans: Yuktdhara-based plans will be prepared by grassroot functionaries and verified by appropriate authorities for relevance and resource allocation.

• Yuktdhara GIS planning portal: Yuktdhara GIS planning portal, which has been developed on Bhuvan Platform by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA division, MoRD.

BHUVAN

• Geo-Portal: Bhuvan, is the national Geo-portal developed

and hosted by ISRO comprising Geo Spatial Data,

Services and Tools for Analysis.

• Supports many Applications including Governance: Bhuvan

platform supports many applications that address

Governance and other GeoSpatial applications that

are being used by the Central and State Governments

Departments, Academia and Industry.

• Versatile Features: It has many versatile features, for

Example (1) Visualization of Satellite Imagery and Maps

(2) Analysis (3) Free Data Download and (4) Download

Reports to name a few.

• 2D and 3D Visualisation: The Satellite Imageries are of

multi-sensor, multi-platform and multi-temporal in nature

and can be visualized in 2D and 3D.

MGNREGA

• Launch: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment

Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), also known as Mahatma

Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme

(MGNREGA) is Indian legislation enacted on August 25,

2005.

• Providing Guarantee of Employment: The MGNREGA

provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of

employment in every financial year to adult members

of any rural household willing to do public work-related

unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage.

• Implementation: The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD),

Govt of India is monitoring the entire implementation of

this scheme in association with state governments.

• Aim: This act was introduced with an aim of improving the

purchasing power of the rural people, primarily semi or

unskilled work to people living below poverty line in rural

India.

• Reducing Gap: It attempts to bridge the gap between the

rich and poor in the country. Roughly one-third of the

stipulated work force must be women.

NEXT IAS





PM-KUSUM AND ROOFTOP SOLAR PROGRAMME PHASE-II

The Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, has reviewed the progress of implementation of PM-KUSUM and Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II.

About:• Launch: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam

Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme in 2019 for farmers

for installation of solar pumps and grid connected solar and

other renewable power plants in the country.

• Extending scope: The Union Budget 2020 has extended the

scope for the scheme to allow 20 lakh farmers to set up

standalone solar pumps. Also, 15 lakh farmers will be helped

to solarize their grid-connected agricultural pumps.

• Implementation: State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) of MNRE

will coordinate with States/UTs, Discoms and farmers for

implementation of the scheme.

Benefits of the Scheme:• Source of Income: The scheme will open a stable and

continuous source of income to the rural landowners for a

period of 25 years by utilization of their dry/uncultivable land.

In case cultivated fields are chosen for setting up solar

power projects, the farmers could continue to grow crops

as the solar panels are to be set up above a minimum

height.

• Availability of power: The scheme would ensure that sufficient

local solar/other renewable energy-based power is available

for feeding rural load centres and agriculture pump-set loads,

which require power mostly during the day time.

As these power plants will be located closer to the

agriculture loads or to electrical substations in a

decentralized manner, it will result in reduced Transmission

losses for STUs and Discoms.

• Achieving the RPO Target: The scheme will also help the

Discoms to achieve the RPO target.

• Saving the Expenditure: The solar pumps will save the

expenditure incurred on diesel for running diesel pumps and

provide the farmers a reliable source of irrigation through

solar pumps apart from preventing harmful pollution from

running diesel pumps.

• Benefitting the farmers: In light of the long waiting list for

electric grid connection, this scheme will benefit 17.5 lakh

farmers over a period of four years, without adding to the grid

load.

Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II:• Implementation: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

is implementing Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II to promote rooftop solar (RTS) in the country including in rural areas.

• Subsidy: The MNRE is providing a 40% subsidy for the first 3 kW and 20% subsidy beyond 3 kW and upto 10 kW of solar panel capacity.

• Achieving 40,000 MW power: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister gave its approval for the Phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme for achieving a cumulative capacity of 40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar (RTS) Projects by the year 2022.

• Financial Support: The programme will be implemented with the total central financial support of Rs 11,814 crore.

Objectives of the Programme:• Promoting grid Connection: To promote grid connected RTS

in all consumer segments, viz., residential, institutional, social, Govt., commercial, industrial etc.

• Bringing DISCOMs at forefront: To bring DISCOMs at forefront as key drivers for rapid deployment of RTS.

• Creating Awareness: To create awareness, capacity building, human resource development, etc.

• To promote sustainable business models.

• Creating Additional RTS: To create additional RTS capacity of 38000 MW in the country by 2022 out of which a capacity of 4000 MW in residential sector with Central Financial Assistance and 34000 MW in other sectors by suitably incentivizing DISCOMs.

• Domestic manufacturing of solar cells: To promote domestic manufacturing of solar cells and module.

THE MINISTRY OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (MNRE)

• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal Ministry of the Government of India for all matters relating to new and renewable energy.

• Aim: The broad aim of the Ministry is to develop and deploy new and renewable energy to supplement the energy requirements of the country.

• A Scientific Ministry: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is a Scientific Ministry which has been assigned various subjects/business under the Allocation of Business Rules.

Benefits of the Programme:• Substantial Environmental Impact: The programme will have

a substantial environmental impact in terms of savings of CO2 emission. Considering average energy generation of

NEXT IAS





1.5 million units per MW, It is expected that the addition of 38 GW solar rooftop plants under Phase-II by year 2022 will result in a CO2 emission reduction of about 45.6 tonnes per year.

• Generating Employment: The approval is likely to generate employment opportunities equivalent to 9.39 lakh job years for skilled and unskilled workers for the addition of 38GW capacity under Phase-II of the scheme by the year 2022.

QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ELDERLY INDEX

Quality of Life for Elderly Index was released by the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).

About:• Created By: The Index has been created by the Institute for

Competitiveness at the request of EAC-PM and it sheds light on an issue often not mentioned- problems faced by the elderly.

• Ageing Situation: The report identifies the regional patterns of ageing across Indian States and assesses the overall ageing situation in India. The report presents a deeper insight into how well India is doing to support the well-being of its ageing population.

• Pillars and Sub-Pillars: The Index framework includes four pillars: Financial Well-being, Social Well-being, Health System and Income Security, and eight sub-pillars: Economic Empowerment, Educational Attainment & Employment, Social Status, Physical Security, Basic Health, Psychological Well Being, Social Security and Enabling Environment.

• The policy discourse on old age usually concentrates on fiscal burdens that ageing incurs on an economy, but the index expands the discussion, as it also looks into the aspects of social well-being and provision of health systems as crucial components of old age.

• The index also challenges the notion of the older population being a burden. The study recognizes that the very definition of old age needs review as evolving scientific knowledge and technology can ensure a healthier life in old age and promote active ageing.

• The index also promotes healthy competition among States through fair rankings and highlights the pillars and indicators they can improve. Using this index as a tool, the State governments and the stakeholders can identify the areas they need to work upon to provide their older generation with a comfortable life.

• Need: In India, the old age population is currently 60 million, but the World Health Organization projections estimate it to

rise above 227 million by 2050, and the old-age dependency ratio to increase from 9.8 to 20.3.

• The score card and ranking system of the study enables comparison among the regions, and guides governments towards data-driven policy decisions.

• To ensure a fair comparison, the study divides states into four categories

Aged states (having more than five million Elderly),

Relatively Aged States (having less than five million elderly),

Northeast States and Union Territories.

• The Aged States refer to States with an elderly population of more than 5 million, whereas Relatively Aged States refer to States with an Elderly population of less than 5 million.

Key Highlights from the Report:• Financial Well-being: The Health System pillar observes the

highest national average, 66.97 at an all-India level, followed by 62.34 in Social Well-being. Financial Well-being observes a score of 44.7, which is lowered by the low performance of 21 States across the Education Attainment & Employment pillar, which showcases scope for improvement.

• Income Security: States have performed particularly worse in the Income Security pillar because over half of the States have a score below the national average, i.e., 33.03 in Income Security, which is the lowest across all pillars. These pillar-wise analyses help States assess the state of the elderly population and identify existing gaps that obstruct their growth.

• Aged and Relatively Aged States: Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh are top-scoring regions in Aged and Relatively Aged States, respectively. Chandigarh and Mizoram are top-scoring regions in Union Territory and North-East States category.

THE ECONOMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE PRIME MINISTER

• An Independent Body: Economic Advisory Council to

the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) is an independent body

constituted to give advice on economic and related

issues to the Government of India, specifically to the Prime

Minister.

• Terms of Reference: The Terms of Reference of EAC-PM

include analyzing any issue, economic or otherwise,

referred to it by the Prime Minister and advising him

thereon, addressing issues of macroeconomic importance

and presenting views thereon to the Prime Minister.

These could be either suo-motu or on reference from

the Prime Minister or anyone else.

They also include attending to any other task as may

be desired by the Prime Minister from time to time.

NEXT IAS





Way Forward:• Although India is a young country in comparison to the rest

of the world, the rapid demographic transition warrants immediate attention of policymakers towards the well-being of the elderly today as well as towards strengthening the existing systems to ensure well-being of elderly in the future.

• As India undergoes this demographic transition, the Quality of Life for Elderly Index can guide the country to take preemptive action, respond to the challenges posed as well as bag the opportunities that are presented.

SABKI YOJANA SABKA VIKAS CAMPAIGN

Government launched the ‘Sabki Yojna Sabka Vikas’ campaign for inclusive and holistic preparation of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).

About:• The approval of GPDP for the year 2021-22, well in advance,

will provide Gram Panchayats full year for implementation

and effective monitoring of works.

• Decision: After consultations with the representatives of 16

key ministries, in July 2019, the Union government decided

to start the People's Plan Campaign, also known as “Sabki

Yojana Sabka Vikas” that aims to draw up a development

plan for each Gram Panchayat (GP) in the country.

• Objective: The objectives of ‘Sabki Yojna Sabka Vikas’ broadly

include

strengthening of elected representatives and Self Help

Groups

evidence based assessment of progress made in 2020-21

and proposals for 2021-22 in all 29 subjects of XI Schedule

public disclosure on Schemes, finances etc.

the preparation of inclusive, participatory and evidence

based GPDP for 2021-22 through structured Gram Sabha

involving front line workers/ supervisors of all 29 sectors

of XI schedule.

• Aim: The campaign aimed to help Gram Panchayats (GPs)

in preparation of convergent and holistic GPDP through

identification of sectoral infrastructural gaps in respective

areas.

The States will, thus, be in full readiness for effectively

utilising the resources available with them and other

schematic interventions under GPDP during 2021-22.

• An Effective Strategy: Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas is an effective

strategy for ensuring the preparation of GPDP in a campaign

mode by endeavouring to converge all resources available at

Panchayat level related to 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh

Schedule of the Constitution.

As such no separate allocation has been earmarked for

Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas to States/UTs including State of

Haryana, Assam and Bihar.

The process of creating Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs):• Indicators: It requires each GP being scored on an array of

48 indicators covering various aspects such as health and

sanitation, education, agriculture, housing, roads, drinking

water, electrification, poverty alleviation programmes, social

welfare etc.

• Division of Score: After each GP is scored out of 100 —

with 30 marks for infrastructure, 30 marks for human

development, and 40 marks for economic activity — the

GPs will be ranked.

• Data for the Indicator: The data on the 48 indicators came from

Census 2011 (for physical infrastructure), Socio-Economic

Caste Census 2011 (for Household-level deprivation data),

and a fresh survey started in September 2019 that was

carried out by local facilitators.

• Purpose of the Score: The score for each GP will reflect the

local needs and priorities.

For instance, for a drought-prone area, water conservation

would be accorded the highest priority. Within this ranking,

households suffering the worst deprivations would be

prioritised further.

This entire ranking exercise is meant to identify the gaps

at the GP level, make an assessment of where it stands,

and accordingly plan the interventions.

Way Forward:• Over the last one year, several GPs have improved vastly on

many indicators while some have slipped.

• 2018 data suggest that a majority of the GPs scored between

41 per cent and 50 per cent on a scale of 100, showing

glaring deficiencies.

• Merely 0.1 per cent and 0.6 per cent GPs fell in the high 91-

100 and 81-90 score respectively.

• A comparison of the performance among the larger states

shows that Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, in that

order, were the top scorers, while GPs in Jharkhand were at

the bottom of the pile followed by Assam, Bihar, and Madhya

Pradesh.

• A study of 100 randomly chosen GPs by National Institute

of Rural Development has shown that several reported

improvements while others have slipped down over the past

year. A fresh survey was, therefore, significant.

NEXT IAS





ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Under Article 243 G of Constitution, Panchayats have

been mandated for preparation and implementation of

plans for economic development and social justice.

Thus, Panchayats have a significant role to play in

the effective and efficient implementation of flagship

schemes/programmes on subjects of national

importance for transforming rural India.

With this aim, People’s Plan Campaign titled ‘Sabki

Yojna Sabka Vikas’, for inclusive and holistic

preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plan

(GPDP) was launched from 2nd October, 2020 to 31st

January, 2021 as was done during 2018 and 2019.

The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj

(NIRD&PR):

• NIRD&PR an autonomous organisation under the Union

Ministry of Rural Development, is a premier national centre

of excellence in rural development and Panchayati Raj.

• Recognized internationally as one of the UN-ESCAP

Centres of Excellence, it builds capacities of rural

development functionaries, elected representatives of

PRIs, bankers, NGOs and other stakeholders through

interrelated activities of training, research and consultancy.

• The Institute is located in the historic city of Hyderabad in

Telangana state.

• The NIRD&PR was established in 1958.

• In addition to the main campus at Hyderabad, this Institute

has North-Eastern Regional Centre at Guwahati, Assam to

meet the NE-regional needs.

SUJALAM CAMPAIGN

Jal Shakti Ministry began SUJALAM, a 100 days campaign as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

About:• Creating ODF Villages: The Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched

a ‘100 days campaign’ named SUJALAM to create more

and more Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus villages by

undertaking wastewater management at the village level.

• Creation of 1 million soak pits: The Campaign would help in

the management of the wastewater and in turn, would help

to revive the water bodies through the creation of 1 million

Soak-pits and also other Greywater management activities.

The household or community soak pit is the simplest

solution for grey water management.

• States have their own targets: Although the Central

government does not have any comprehensive estimate of

the total number of soak pits needed countrywide, the States

have been asked to develop their own targets.

• Part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: The campaign started on

August 25, 2021, is part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’

celebrations.

• Boosting the momentum of SBMG Phase-2: It will boost the

momentum of Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin phase-2

activities through community participation and it will increase

awareness about ODF-plus activities.

• Focus Areas of Sujalam Camping:

Construction of 1 million soak pits:

Retrofitting of toilets;

Access to toilets for new households.

SWACHH BHARAT MISSION GRAMEEN PHASE-2

• Aim: The government launched the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), which has a total outlay of ₹1,40,881 crore and is aimed at ensuring effective solid and liquid waste management in every panchayat.

• Sustaining gains of Phase 1: SBM (G) Phase-II will focus on sustaining the gains made in the first phase of the programme in the past five years in terms of toilet access and usage, and will ensure that no one is left behind.

• Effective Waste Management: Phase II will ensure that effective solid and liquid waste management (SLWM) is instituted in every gram panchayat of the country.

NEXT IAS





TRAINING FOR AUGMENTING PRODUCTIVITY AND SERVICES (TAPAS)

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launched an online portal TAPAS (Training for Augmenting Productivity and Services).

About:• The idea was conceptualized at a time when exploring

the online medium for work and education had become

imperative due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

(MoSJE) wanted maximum participation of stakeholders and

volunteers working in the field of social defence for better

training and capacity building.

About TAPAS:• TAPAS is the initiative of National Institute of Social Defence

(NISD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, to

provide access to lectures by subject experts, study material

and more, but in a manner that it supplements the physical

classroom without compromising on the quality of teaching.

• TAPAS is a standard MOOC (Massive Open Online Course)

platform with course material such as filmed lectures and

e-study material.

• It also includes discussion forums to support and encourage

interactions among students and course coordinators.

Objective:• The main objective of introducing the course modules is to

impart training and enhance the knowledge and skills for the

capacity building of the participants.

• It can be taken up by anyone who wishes to enhance his or

her knowledge on the topics and there is no fee for joining.

Courses Offered: • The five basic courses are on Drug (Substance) Abuse

Prevention, Geriatric/Elderly Care, Care and Management

of Dementia, Transgender Issues and on comprehensive

course on Social Defence Issues.

The Quadrant Approach:• The platform has been made with a quadrant approach.

• There will be a virtual class where an expert or a resource

person will give a lecture about the subject with the help of

animated infographics and Powerpoint presentations.

• The participants will be provided with informative material like

articles, case studies and other study material on the related

topic, which can be downloaded for future reference.

• After completing each module, students can assess their

understanding of the subject with the help of a multiple-

choice quiz.

• There is also a discussion forum on the portal on which they

can raise their doubts with the course coordinator.

KEY FACTS

• MOOC (Massive Open Online Course):

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free

online courses available for anyone to enroll.

MOOCs provide an affordable and flexible way to learn

new skills, advance your career and deliver quality

educational experiences at scale.

• National Institute of Social Defence:

The National Institute of Social Defence was set

up originally as the Central Bureau of Correctional

Services in 1961, under the Ministry of Home Affairs,

in pursuance of the recommendations emerging at

various National Forums.

In 1964, the Bureau was transferred to the then

Department of Social Security.

Since 1975, the Institute has been a subordinate office

under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The National Institute of Social Defence has become

an Autonomous Body vide Government of India and is

registered under the Societies Act XXI of 1860 with the

Government of NCT, Delhi.

The National Institute of Social Defence is the nodal

training and research institute in the field of social

defence. Though social defence covers the entire

gamut of activities and programmes for the protection

of society.

At present the agency is focusing on human resource

development in the areas of drug abuse prevention,

welfare of senior citizens and transgenders, beggary

prevention, and other social defence issues.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Environment

TAG GARUDA

Bihar plans GPS trackers for endangered Greater Adjutant Storks.

About:• Bihar has decided to tag endangered greater adjutant storks

(Leptoptilos dubius), locally known as ‘Garuda’, with GPS trackers to monitor their movement as a part of efforts to conserve them.

• Tagging of greater adjutants with GPS trackers will start in the next two to three months. It will help in keeping track of their movements.

The project to tag greater adjutants with GPS trackers has been delayed due to the second wave of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, followed by the lockdown.

Initially, only four birds — including two healthy and two undergoing treatments at rehabilitation centre — will be tagged with GPS tracker on an experimental basis. More birds will be tagged early next year.

• The state government has provided a fund of Rs 53 lakh for this purpose.

• Bombay Natural History Society will help and work along with the state forest, environment and climate change department to start the process of tagging greater adjutant storks with GPS tracker.

• The government agency has been approaching private businessmen of Japan and South Korea for supplying the ring type GPS tracker.

Greater Adjutant Stork in Bihar:• Bhagalpur’s Kadwa Diara floodplains area is the third-most

popular breeding centre for the greater adjutant stork in the world after Assam and Cambodia.

• In the last 14 years, with active support and involvement of the local community, its population has increased to nearly 700 in 2021, from 78 in 2007.

• A rescue and rehabilitation centre had been set up at Sundarban in Bhagalpur.

It was a unique and till now, the only such initiative in the country taken by the government.

A temporary rescue provision had also been set up in the breeding zone for administering first aid to injured birds. When rescued birds recover, they are released in their natural habitat.

GREATER ADJUTANT STORK

• The greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) is a member of the stork family, Ciconiidae. Its genus includes the lesser adjutant of Asia and the marabou stork of Africa.

• Habitat: Once found widely across southern Asia, mainly in India but extending east to Borneo, the greater adjutant is now restricted to a much smaller range with only three breeding populations; two in India, with the largest colony in Assam, a smaller one around Bhagalpur; and another breeding population in Cambodia.

• At present, the global population of the Greater Adjutant Stork is estimated to be roughly not more than 1,500.

• Significance: Garuda is considered the mount of Vishnu, one of the prime Hindu deities.

They help farmers by killing rats and other farm pests.

• Threat: The widespread destruction and degradation of the wetlands that this scavenger bird needs to forage (i.e. search for food) and the loss of its nesting trees, led to a decline.

• Protection Status: IUCN Red List: Endangered

Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule IV

BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY (BNHS)

• BNHS founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research.

Important initiatives:

• National Dragonfly Festival: The festival was started in 2018 in order to inform the public about integral role played by dragonflies in our environment.

The Bombay Natural History Society has been organising the festival since then in association with WWF India, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme and National Biodiversity Board of India.

The "Thumbimahotsavam" is a state butterfly festival of Kerala which is organised as a part of National Dragonfly festival.

• Asian Waterbird Census: The Asian waterbird census is an annual exercise undertaken in India by Bombay Natural History Society in association with Wetlands International, in which enthusiastic birdwatchers count the birds by observing them near their respective breeding grounds.

ENVIRONMENT

NEXT IAS





SLENDER LORIS AND KADAVUR RESERVE FOREST

A conservation dilemma regarding the slender loris is going on that should the Tamil Nadu government declare the Kadavur Reserve Forest a sanctuary for the slender loris or should it implement a proposed species recovery project.

About:• The district forest officer (DFO) of Karur district has recently

submitted a proposal for implementing a species recovery

programme to protect and improve the population of the

endangered slender loris.

• Wildlife activists and other environmentalists say that the area

should be declared a wildlife sanctuary in order to protect the

slender loris and other wild animals.

• But, in reality, if the area is declared as a sanctuary then it

may result in many problems:

Once a sanctuary is formed, the question of declaring the

Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) will arise and all the 18 hamlets

located on the Kadavur hills will be badly affected as they

are located within the ESZ limit.

The local villagers have been involved in protecting and

managing the forest. In return, they harvest forest

products like tamarind, palmyrah leaves, medicinal plants

and certain edible fruits. The considerable increase in

the wildlife population has happened because of the

protection ensured by the locals.

If a sanctuary is formed, such activities will be restricted

and locals would then be deprived of their livelihood.

Most villagers live below the poverty line.

Kadavur Reserve Forest:• The Kadavur hills in central Tamil Nadu’s Karur district are

home to the Kadavur Reserve Forest.

• Previously, the forest was managed by the forest range

officer of the Karur forest range, under the control of the

Tiruchirappalli Forest division.

• The Karur forest division was created in 1997, after the

formation of the Karur revenue district. About 5,450 hectares

have been afforested in the Kadavur Reserve Forest under

the Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project (TAP) programme aided

by the Japanese government.

• Indian bison, spotted deer, mouse deer, slender loris, jackal,

mongoose, black naped hare, wild boar, porcupine, monitor

lizard, pangolin, monkeys, pythons, etc are found in the

forests.

Slender Loris:• Slender loris (Loris tardigradus) is secretive and has

nocturnal habits. It usually travels from the canopy of one tree

to another. But, at times, it also comes down to bushes at the

ground level to feed.

• Habitat: The loris species is found in the adjoining forest areas

on the eastern, southern and western slopes of the Kadavur

hills, which are managed by the Tiruchirappalli and Dindigul

forest divisions respectively.

• Threats:

As it is believed that these animals have some medicinal

properties, they are captured and sold.

There is great demand for keeping these animals as pets,

they are illegally smuggled.

Habitat loss, electrocution of live wires and road accidents

are other threats that have caused its populations to

dwindle.

• Conservation Status:

IUCN: Endangered

ECO SENSITIVE ZONE

• Eco-Sensitive Zones or Ecologically Fragile Areas are

areas within 10 kms around Protected Areas, National

Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

ESZs are notified by MoEFCC, Government of India

under Environment Protection Act 1986.

In case of places with sensitive corridors, connectivity

and ecologically important patches, crucial for

landscape linkage, even area beyond 10 km width can

also be included in the eco-sensitive zone.

• Activities allowed:

Prohibited activities: Commercial mining, saw mills,

industries causing pollution (air, water, soil, noise

etc), establishment of major hydroelectric projects

(HEP), commercial use of wood, Tourism activities like

hot-air balloons over the National Park, discharge of

effluents or any solid waste or production of hazardous

substances.

Regulated activities: Felling of trees, establishment

of hotels and resorts, commercial use of natural

water, erection of electrical cables, drastic change of

agriculture system, e.g. adoption of heavy technology,

pesticides etc, widening of roads.

Permitted activities: Ongoing agricultural or

horticultural practices, rainwater harvesting, organic

farming, use of renewable energy sources, adoption of

green technology for all activities.

NEXT IAS





SINGLE USE PLASTIC

Govt bans single-use plastic from 2022

About:• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate

Change notified Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on August 12, 2021, prohibiting 20 identified single-use plastic items by 2022.

On India’s Independence Day in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to the citizens to make the country free from single-use plastics (SUP) and work towards this mission wholeheartedly.

What is single use plastic (SUP)?• SUP is the plastic designed and produced to be thrown away

after being used only once.

• India has defined SUP as “a plastic commodity intended to be used once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled” in its Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.’’

How the SUP to be phased out were identified?• The identification of single-use plastic items to be phased

out was done on the basis of a report by an expert committee constituted by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), under the direction of the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers on SUP.

• The assessment was conducted by DCPC by comparing two pillars — the utility index of a particular type of SUP and the environmental impact of the same.

Utility Index Parameter (100)

Environmental Impact – Parameters (100)

Hygiene (20) Collectibilty (20)

Product Safety (20) Recyclability (20)

Essentiality (20) Possibility of end-of-life solution (20)

Social Impact (20) Environmental impact of alternate products (20)

Economic impact (20) Littering propensity (20)

• The product that scores low on utility and high on environmental impact should be considered for immediate phase out.

• Methodologically, the 20 items listed for phasing out have followed the protocol. Most of the items listed for phase out are mostly produced by local, small and medium plastic manufacturers, who supply products without branding.

Compostable Plastic:• All the 20 items that are proposed to be phased out are not

applicable to commodities that are made up of compostable plastics.

• This will result in the old lot of 50-micron plastics being pushed into the market under the pretext of being “compostable”.

India does not have an existing labelling mechanism to differentiate fossil-based plastics from the compostable ones.

PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT RULES, 2021

• The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and

use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene

and expanded polystyrene, commodities has been

prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022.

Ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for

balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks,

polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration.

Plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons,

knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around

sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets,

plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.

• With effect from 30th September, 2021, the thickness of

plastic carry bags has been increased from fifty microns

to seventy five microns and to one hundred and twenty

microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022.

This will also allow reuse of plastic carry due to

increase in thickness.

• The plastic packaging waste, which is not covered under

the phase out of identified single use plastic items, shall be

collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable

way through the Extended Producer Responsibility of

the Producer, importer and Brand owner (PIBO), as per

Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

• The State / UT Governments and concerned Central

Ministries/Departments have also been requested to

develop a comprehensive action plan for elimination of

single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic

Waste Management Rules, 2016, and its implementation in

a time bound manner.

• To encourage innovation in development of alternatives

to identified single use plastic items and digital solutions

to plastic waste management, the India Plastic Challenge

– Hackathon 2021, has been organized for students of

Higher Educational Institutions and startups recognized

under Startup India Initiative.

NEXT IAS





CARBON BORDER TAX

Carbon border tax is a tax on carbon emissions attributed to imported goods that have not been carbon-taxed at source. The European union has pushed the reform measure towards making Europe climate adaptive manufacturing.

About:• Why the new tax proposal: The European Union has started asking European

manufacturing units to adapt to climate change regulations and reduce greenhouse emissions. This step has increased the cost of manufacturing and necessitated the need for protection of domestic industry from low cost goods manufactured by developing countries.

A transitional phase from 2023-25 will see importers monitoring and reporting their emissions.

Importers will be required to buy digital certificates representing the tonnage of carbon dioxide emissions embedded in their imported goods.

The new tax proposal is yet to become legal and expected to become applicable after 2026.

The step is to make the EU neutral towards climate change and greenhouse emissions by reducing pollution from domestic manufacturing and disincentivizing high carbon emission imports.

Why India and other developing countries are resisting the move?• The new tax will disincentivize companies outside the European

Union that are exporting to the European Union four carbon

extensive goods: steel, cement, fertilizers and aluminium.

• The move is considered protectionist and may hamper the

global trade prospects.

• Developing countries like India ,China ,South Africa and Russia

have issued a joint statement against the border carbon tax

proposal of Europe considering it as discriminatory and against

the principle of Common but differentiated responsibilities.

• India’s third largest trading partner EU may not remain a

significant market for Indian goods as the cost of goods are

expected to rise once the new tax proposal comes into place.

• The proposal is also not aligned with the global climate

change regime under Rio declaration, which suggests

the policies applicable to developed countries can not be

applied to developing countries.

Way Forward:• India must enter into a bilateral trade agreement with the EU,

that can protect Indian goods entering the European market from any additional taxation.

• The exports from India have relatively low share in high carbon emission goods like cement, fertilizers, Iron and Aluminium. However, it must make the manufacturing climate resilient so as to prevent any future challenge.

• Policy of collective persuasion and negotiation while developing a carbon trading system can be a very effective measure towards the EU’s border carbon tax.

Conclusion:• The new tax regime may be effective towards mobilising

climate adaptive technologies, however it must remain inclusive and should be prevented from becoming a disadvantage for developing countries. The goal can be achieved with the help of institutions such as UNFCCC, which is based on climate change consensus among countries.

CLIMATE CHANGE 2021: THE PHYSICAL SCIENCE BASIS

It has warned that a rise of 1.5°C is inevitable given the current state of affairs and set of climate commitments by the nations.

About:• According to the IPCC report, due to anthropogneic

emissions of GHGs, globally, average surface temperatures

have already risen by 1.09°C between 1850-1900 and 2010-

2019.

• These temperatures may rise up to 1.5 degrees in less than

twenty years (danger limit prescribed in the Paris Climate

Deal) if “immediate” actions are not taken for checking the

emissions.

• Heat waves, droughts, rains will become more frequent. This

year itself, the US and Canada bore the brunt of heat waves,

Germany and China saw devastating floods, while wildfires

raged in Siberia, Greece and Turkey.

• Sea-levels are rising, glaciers are melting; drinking water and

food are going to be scarce.

Do You Know?

• Carbon Budget: A carbon budget is the cumulative

amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions permitted

over a period of time to keep within a certain temperature

threshold.

• Net Zero Emissions: These are achieved when overall

difference between greenhouse gas emissions produced,

and greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the

atmosphere is zero.

NEXT IAS





What Politics Delivers:• Need of the hour: Anthropogenic emissions must become

net-zero and in the interim, cumulative emissions cannot exceed a global carbon budget – of which 300-500 GtCO2 is remaining – to stay within 1.5 degrees

• Climate justice demands that developed countries now take steps to free up carbon space for others.

• ‘Polluter Pays’ principle needs to be followed i.e., the developed countries should pay for the carbon budget they have consumed, than demanding more action from the developing countries.

• According to CEEW, China would consume 87% (if it reached net-zero in 2060) and the US 26% (if it reached net-zero in 2050), of the global carbon space.

• China has announced it will achieve Net Zero before 2060 and the UK has kept 2050 as the target – however India has held that it will not declare the Net Zero target.

• Recently, the Oxfam Report ‘Targeting the Net’ has warned against such targets as these shift focus from the real climate action.

COUNCIL OF ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND WATER (CEEW)

CEEW is a Delhi-based not-for-profit policy research institution working in the areas of resource efficiency and security; water resources; renewable energy; sustainability finance; energy-trade-climate linkages; integrated energy, environment and water plans; and climate geoengineering governance. The think-tank advises the Indian government.

What Economy Demands:• Appropriation of the ever-shrinking carbon budget vis-à-vis

development goals of the developing and the developed countries needs just distribution, and the discourse must shift from energy to economy.

• Financial viability and energy efficiency of power projects based on solar energy, wind energy, biogas, hydrogen and other non-conventional renewable sources is a challenge.

• Sustainable carbon-neutral technologies and projects require optimal diversion of developmental resources, along with policy and regulatory support.

Way Forward:• Immediate reduction in GHS emissions is the need of the

hour.

• Global emissions must turn net-zero by 2050.

• Climate-proofing should be adopted in policies to increase capacities to withstand and adapt to new situation.

• New technology frontiers (green hydrogen), new business models (distributed and digitalised services, for distributed

energy, EV charging, cold chains), new construction materials (low-carbon cement, recycled plastic), new opportunities in the circular economy of minerals, municipal waste and agricultural residue, and new practices for sustainable agriculture and food systems – all of these must be tapped.

INDIA MAY SEE MORE CLIMATE-INDUCED DISASTERS: IPCC REPORT (PART 1 OF AR6)

The recently released report by the IPCC ‘Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis’ – first part of the Assessment Report 6 (AR6), warns that India may see more heat waves, droughts, cyclones, due to the ensuing climate change.

About:• Monsoons will become more erratic, while heat waves will

become frequent

• Events of flash floods, like that happened in Uttarakhand earlier this year, will become more frequent in the Himalayas

• If the global warming exceeds 4°C, India could see about 40% increase in annual precipitation, leading to extreme rainfall events

• Presence of aerosols and particulate matter due to human activity have influenced rainfall events in the Indian subcontinent

• India is and will experience an intensifying of the water cycle which will affect rainfall patterns as well as increased monsoon precipitation

• South-West Monsoon has declined over the past few decades because of the increase of aerosols, but heavy monsoon rainfalls will occur once the aerosols reduce

• Temperature of Indian Ocean waters is rising higher than other areas.

INDIA’S CLIMATE ACTION COMMITMENTS

• In 2015 at the Paris COP21, India committed itself to sourcing 40% of its energy demand from renewable sources as part of its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). It would reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35% from 2005 levels by 2030.

• The stated objective of the 2015 Paris Agreement is to limit temperature increase to within 2°C from pre-industrial times, hopefully within 1.5°C itself.

IPCC and its Reports:• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

is the United Nations body with the mandate to provide

NEXT IAS





policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation options.

• It was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and currently comprises of 195 countries.

• IPCC does not conduct the research itself but undertakes a systematic review of all relevant published literature to provide a comprehensive update on climate, with the help of scientists and expert volunteers

• IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore for contributions to the human understanding of climate change.

• It reports its review in the form of Assessment Reports. So far, five reports have been released completely, with the first one released in 1990 and the fifth in 2014.

• IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report heavily apprised the UNFCCC’s 2015 Paris Agreement.

• The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) is due to be released completely in 2022, the current document i.e., the ‘Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis’ is its first part.

• IPCC has also released several special reports, including the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C, the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios, and the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC).

Climate Change vis-à-vis India:• As per Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW),

75% of India’s districts are now hotspots of extreme weather events. Since 1990, more than 300 such events have resulted in damages exceeding INR 5.6 lakh crore.

• According to IEA, both energy and emission intensities of India’s GDP have declined by more than 20% the past decade.

• Fiscal policy needs to be reoriented to encourage more R&D in India, as we cannot afford to depend on the developed countries for technology transfer.

Highlights of the Recent Report:• The report titled ‘Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science

Basis’ is the first part of Assessment Report 6

• It has stated with unequivocal evidence that the global warming has been caused by human activities

• Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are responsible for approximately 1.1°C of warming since 1850-1900.

• The current Report presents outcomes under various scenarios based on shared economic pathways and change in atmosphere energy balance due to natural and human cause. Below are three scenarios:

Business-as-usual or fossil fuel-based development:

temperatures would rise by 4.4°C (range of 3.3-5.7°C) by

2100.

Net-zero emission by 2060 and negative emissions

thereafter scenario: average global temperature rise

would be 1.4°C (range of 1.0-1.8°C)

Under all growth scenarios: planet’s warming level will

touch 1.5°C i.e., this has become inevitable.

• Average rate of sea-level rise was 1.3 mm per year during

1901-71 but this has increased to 3.7 mm annually during

2006-18.

FLEX FUEL VEHICLES (FFVs)

Recently, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways appealed to the delegation of CEOs of SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) to roll out FFVs, capable of running on 100 percent ethanol and gasoline, in India within a year’s time.

About:• A ‘Flex fuel engine’ is an internal combustion engine that can

run on more than one fuel and also a mixture of fuels.

• FFV engine is capable of automatically adjusting for any

percentage of the blend – typically of petrol and ethanol or

methanol. This is achieved by modifications such as a furl

composition sensor and suitable ECU programming.

• Flex-fuel vehicles are different from bi-fuel vehicles, where

two fuels are stored in separate tanks and the engine runs on

one fuel at a time e.g., CNG, LPG, hydrogen etc.

• FFVs are already running in countries such as Sweden, Brazil,

the USA, and Canada.

SOCIETY OF INDIA AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS (SIAM)

It is a not for profit apex national body representing all major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India. It comprises of private, commercial and two-wheeler automobile manufacturers.

Advantages of Flex Fuel Vehicles• Environmentally sound vehicles as these vehicles burn

cleaner fuel and emit lesser greenhouse gases.

• Use of the most advanced and enhanced technology

• Better burning capacity as the sensor adjust to timing and

fuel injection

• Study findings support that FFVs supply enhanced

horsepower and torque.

NEXT IAS





ETHANOL BLENDED PETROL (EBP) PROGRAMME

• It was launched in India in January 2003, for supply of 5% EBP in 9 States and 4 UTs. In 2006, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas directed the OMCs to sell 5% EBP subject to commercial viability as per BIS specifications, in 20 States and 4 UTs with effect from November 1, 2006.

• EBP Programmes has been extended to whole of India except Union Territories of Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands with effect from 01st April, 2019 wherein OMCs sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10%.

• India has 10% blending target for mixing ethanol with petrol by 2022 & 20% blending target by 2030.

Challenges of Flex Fuel Vehicles:• Availability of flex fuel stations across the country is scarce

• Ethanol raises a vehicle's octane level- resulting in less energy, but being cheaper and clean, ethanol offsets the loss in mileage

• As ethanol deposits dirt and impurities quicker, potentially damaging and corroding the engine

• Diversion of agri-crops for fuel production may pose a challenge to food security.

MINERVARYA PENTALI: NEW FROG SPECIES DISCOVERED IN THE WESTERN GHATS

The new frog species discovered by a team of Delhi University researchers, has been named after the noted plant geneticist and former Vice-Chancellor of Shri Deepak Pental.

About:• It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats

• It has been identified based on multiple criteria, such as external morphology, DNA and calling pattern.

• It belongs to the family Dicroglossidae and genus Minervarya, and is among the smallest known Minervarya frogs, which is why it was overlooked till its discovery.

• These were discovered on wayside vegetation at multiple localities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

• The study findings and description of the species are published in a scientific article titled ‘DNA Barcoding and Systematic Review of Minervaryan Frogs (Dicroglossidae: Minervarya) of Peninsular India: Resolution of a taxonomic conundrum with description of a new species’ in the international journal Asian Herpetological Research.

• This study established the identity and taxonomic status of all known members of the genus Minervarya from the Peninsular India

• The research study was carried out over a period of ten years, using the facilities at the Systematics Lab at DU – which was set up by Shri Deepak Pental.

What is Taxonomic Hierarchy?• Taxonomy is a process of classification by which all living

organisms can be classified into different taxa.

• An organism represents/occupies a place or position in the system of classification. There are many categories/ranks and are generally referred to as taxonomic categories or taxa. All the categories constitute a taxonomic hierarchy.

About the biodiversity hotspot Western Ghats:• Western Ghats include a diversity of ecosystems ranging

from tropical wet evergreen forests to montane grasslands

• Over 5,000 flowering plants, 139 mammals, 508 birds, with at least 325 globally threatened species occur here

• More than half of nearly 230 species of all known Indian amphibian species (~450 species) are found here and over

90% are endemic to this region. At 2695 metres, Mt. Anamudi in Kerala, is the highest peak in the Western Ghats.

• Indian states covered by the Western Ghats include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

• Western Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are often called the Great Escarpment of India

JAPANESE QUAIL FARMING: LIVELIHOOD MEANS FOR KORAPUT’S TRIBAL RESIDENTS

During COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of quail farming has given a ray of hope and better livelihoods to the tribal residents of Koraput, Odisha.

About:• ‘Quail farming’ means, raising quails commercially (like other

poultry birds) for the purpose of profitable eggs and meat

production.

NEXT IAS





• Quail is a small bird that belongs to the pheasant family. They

were first domesticated in Japan in 1595.

• There are two species of quail in India: the black-breasted

quail found in the wild and the brown-coloured Japanese

quail which is bred for meat.

• They were introduced in India in 1974 from California

• In pandemic times, demand for quail meat has increased due

to its immunity boosting qualities.

Advantages of Quail Farming:• Quails grow quickly and quail farming requires small capital

and less labour.

• More profitable than farming poultry as it involves low farming

costs and carries less risks like diseases.

• Suitable for small and marginal farmers as it could be easily

grown in an open space.

• Quail eggs contain comparatively more protein, phosphorus,

iron, vitamin A, B1 and B2. Quail farming can play a vital role

to meet up the demand of food and nutrition.

Quail Framing initiative in Koraput:• Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS)

and MS Swaminathan Foundation procured Japanese quails from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Bhubaneswar.

• Then, the organisations reached out to the SHGs of Badeheguda, Mendhaguda, Bagipada Machara, Sukrigoda villages in March 2021, to help them in quail farming.

• Adivasis or the tribal residents were benefitted from this programme.

SWINHOE’S SOFTSHELL TURTLE

Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Asian Turtle Program of Indo-Myanmar Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have conserved a female turtle.

About:• Scietifically named as Rafetus swinhoei, this turtle is flag ship

species in Veitnam. It is also called as Yangtze giant softshell turtle.

• It is native to Vietnam and China – occuring in the wetlands and large lakes.

• In Vietnma it is locally known as Hoan Kiem turtle, and is a symbol of Vietnam’s independence and prosperity, and people in Hanoi revere it as living God.

• Its existence has been threathened due to hunting for meat and eggs, and due to habitat destruction as well.

• These contribute to the seafloor biosystem by enriching soil nutrients and facilitationg seed dispersion.

CONSERVATION STATUS OF SWINHOE’S SOFTSHELL TURTLE

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

• CITES: Appendix II

ALGEE

A New algal species with ‘umbrella head’ has been discovered from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

About:• The new species has been discovered by a group of botanists

from Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB).

About the new species:• Measuring as small as 20 to 40 mm, the stunning bright green

algae, resembling an umbrella or a mushroom, has grooves

on its cap measuring 15 to 20 mm in diameter.

• It has been named after the imaginary sea mermaid,

Acetabularia jalakanyakae and is very primitive single-cell

organism.

• Acetabularia, the experts say, is highly regenerative in

nature. “Even if one chops off the top portion, this algae can

regrow.

Significance:• “Such single-cell organisms offer great learning

opportunities for molecular biologists to understand the

cellular processes.

• To understand the morphology of this algae, extensive DNA

sequencing was done. Another characteristic about the

newly-discovered species is that its nucleus forms a rhizoid

structure, which facilitates the algae to attach itself to shallow

rocks.

Need for conservation efforts:• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to coral reefs

and are rich in marine biodiversity. Like other islands and

coastal areas around the world, these too face the threat of

sea levels rising due to global warming.

• As it is primarily marine algae, the projected sea level rise

due to global warming is not as much of a direct threat to

its existence. “But due to climate change, the oceans are

warming and there is increasing acidification — both of which

could be harmful.

NEXT IAS





HURRICANE IDA IN US

The powerful Hurricane slammed Louisiana, Other Regions of the US

About:• Ida Hurricane made landfall recently in just west of Grand

Isle, Louisiana.

• It is the fifth strongest hurricane to ever hit the US mainland

with speed of around 240 Km/hr.

• It is defined as Dangerous high-end category 4 hurricane

• It brought along with it life-threatening storm surge,

catastrophic winds and massive flooding.

• Ida was previously deemed "life-threatening", drawing

comparisons to Hurricane Katrina, a 2005 storm that had a

path similar to Ida and killed 1,800 people.

Effects:• More than 95 percent of the Gulf of Mexico's oil production

has been shut down due to this Hurricane.

• The widespread loss of oil supply from one of the US energy

hubs is likely to lift prices.

About Hurricane:• Tropical cyclones are known as ‘Hurricanes’ in the North

Atlantic Ocean and the eastern North Pacific regions.

• Hurricanes are large, swirling storms. They produce winds of

119 kilometers per hour (74 mph) or higher.

Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters and due to warming of the surface, the warm moist air over the ocean rises upwards following which cool air rushes in to fill the void, they too get warm and rise the cycle continues.

As storm systems strengthen into hurricanes, the surface winds move continuously in a circular motion.

Hurricanes are categorized using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which addresses wind speed on a scale from one to five.

WORLD FREE FROM LEADED PETROL

The campaign was led and supported by the UNEP and its Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) in accomplishing the global objective.

About:• The end of leaded petrol follows a 19-year campaign led by

the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners.

• The practice of adding tetraethyl lead to petrol had spread widely to all countries soon after its anti-knock and octane-boosting properties were discovered.

Knocking in an internal-combustion engine is sharp sound caused by premature combustion of part of the compressed air-fuel mixture in the cylinder.

• Developing countries, especially those in Africa and a few in Asia have taken the longest time to eradicate it.

• With Algeria finally stopping its use the complete elimination of leaded automotive fuels worldwide has taken place.

Harmful Impact of Leaded fuel:• Exhaust fumes from vehicles using leaded petrol has been a

significant source of lead exposures.

• The exhaust of leaded petrol affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children.

• It affects the brain, liver, kidneys and bones and can even effect the foetus in pregnant ladies and can also causes heart

disease, stroke etc. Tetraethyl lead is carinogenic in nature and can cause cancer.

• Evidence has mounted to show that lead in petrol damages the catalytic converters thereby leading to damage of emissions control systems of vehicles.

Indian Efforts:• India was among those countries that took early action to

phase out leaded petrol. The process of phase down that had started in 1994, got completed in 2000.

• Initially, low-leaded petrol was introduced in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Madras in 1994, followed by unleaded petrol in 1995. The entire country got low-leaded petrol in 1997.

• The final introduction of unleaded petrol in/the entire country was mandated in April 2000.

Significance:• The end of leaded petrol is expected to support the realization

of multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including good health and well-being (SDG3), clean water (SDG6), clean energy (SDG7), sustainable cities (SDG11), climate action (SDG13) and life on land (SDG15).

NEXT IAS





About PCFV:• In 2002, the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV)

was set up at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

• UNEP hosted the Secretariat with the aim of eliminating leaded petrol globally and provided support to many countries and regional initiatives.

About UNEP:• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is

the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment

• It was established in 1972 and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. The seven broad thematic areas of work: climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental governance, chemicals and waste, resource efficiency, and environment under review.

WORLD BIOFUEL DAY: WEBINAR BY GEF-MNRE-UNIDO

‘Organic Waste Streams for Industrial Renewable Energy Applications in India’ – a joint project of GEF-MNRE-UNIDO launched two initiatives – a Financial Scheme and a GIS Waste Mapping tool during a webinar on the occasion of World Biofuel Day – August 10, 2021

About:• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India (GOI) launched the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded loan interest subvention scheme.

• Developed under the GEF-MNRE-UNIDO project, GIS based inventory tool of organic waste streams was launched.

• Success stories of biomethanation projects in India were presented, along with a panel discussion on biomethanation innovations and business models.

About the Financial Scheme:• It is a GEF-funded loan interest subvention scheme that

provides financial assistance to innovative waste to energy biomethanation projects and business models.

• Such projects are generally capital intensive and financially sensitive to operating costs and revenue.

• These projects depend on waste availability, biogas yield, utilization scale – therefore, seeding costs for such projects are high, creating a need for such financial scheme.

KEY FACTS

• Global Environment Facility (GEF): It was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, and it unites 184 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives.

• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO): UNIDO is the specialized agency of the UN formed in 1966, with headquarters at Vienna, Austria. It promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is its parent organization. UNIDO is also a member of the United Nations Development Group, a coalition of UN entities aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.

About the GIS based tool:• It is a GIS based inventory tool of organic waste streams

developed under the GEF-MNRE-UNIDO project.

• The tool will provide district level estimates of available urban and industrial organic wastes and their energy generation potential across India.

Biomethanation:• It is the process of conversion of organic matter in the waste

(liquid or solid) to biogas and manure by microbial action in the absence of air

• Three main physiological groups of microorganisms are involved: fermenting bacteria, organic acid oxidizing bacteria, and methanogenic archaea.

• Following four stages are involved: Hydrolysis: Breaking of organic matter

Acidogenesis: Formation of various acids such as carboxylic volatile acid, keto acid etc.

Acetogenesis: Acetate, CO2 and H2 formation

Methanogenesis: Release of methane and CO2

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Science & Technology

INDIGAU: INDIA’S FIRST CATTLE GENOMIC CHIP

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology recently released “IndiGau’, India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip.

About:• It is for the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle

breeds like, Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc.

• This indigenous chip has been developed by the concerted efforts of scientists of National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NAIB), Hyderabad, an autonomous institution under the aegis of the Department of Biotechnology, the Ministry of Science and Technology.

• IndiGau is purely indigenous and the largest cattle chip of the world with 11,496 markers (SNPs) more than that placed on 777K Illumina chips of US & UK breeds.

• This chip will have practical utility in the Government's schemes to achieve the goal of conservation of indigenous breeds with better characteristics and help towards doubling of farmers’ income by 2022.

Other Key Points:• Implementation in other Fields: DBT is looking forward to

implement this technology in the field with the help of other agencies like NDDB, DAHDF, ICAR etc.

• Collaborative Agreement: To further the use of this chip in generating phenotypic and genotypic correlations, NIAB has entered into a collaborative agreement with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

• Since NDDB has a well-organized presence in the field for collection of phenotypic records, NIAB and NDDB complement each other to undertake this research for generating information for low density SNP chips for any important trait detection, like high milk yield or heat tolerance etc.

This will eventually help in elite bull selection and improvement of productivity characteristics of Indian cattle.

• NIAB has also entered into a MoU with private industry to generate capability within India for designing and making our own SNP chips.

These may be very low density SNP chips in the beginning and slowly this technology can be further strengthened for bigger chips, making India self-reliant in this field.

Other Government Initiative for Conservation of Cattle:• Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog: The Aayog will aim to conserve, protect and develop

cows and their progeny and include the development and conservation of native breeds.

The commission aims to scale up genetic improvement in "cow resources" to enhance their production.

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): It was launched in December 2014 with an outlay of

Rs 2025 crore for development and conservation of indigenous breeds through selective breeding in the breeding tract and genetic upgradation of nondescript bovine population.

The scheme comprises two components namely National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) and National Mission on Bovine Productivity (NMBP).

• National Dairy Plan-I:

• A World Bank assisted project being implemented in 18 major dairy States covering development and conservation of 12 indigenous breeds of cattle and buffaloes Government has also established three subordinate organizations namely (i) Central Cattle Breeding Farms (CCBFs) (ii) Central Herd Registration Scheme and (iii) Central Frozen Semen Production & Training Institute. These organization are also undertaking development and conservation of indigenous breeds.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NEXT IAS





• The National Livestock Mission (NLM): It commenced from 2014-15.

The Mission is designed to cover all the activities required

to ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in

livestock production systems and capacity building of all

stakeholders.

The Mission will cover everything germane to improvement

of livestock productivity and support projects and

initiatives required for that purpose.

This Mission is formulated with the objective of sustainable

development of livestock sector, focusing on improving

availability of quality feed and fodder. NLM is implemented

in all States including Sikkim.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• National Dairy Development Board (NDDB):

The National Dairy Development Board's (NDDB)

creation is rooted in the conviction that our nation's

socio-economic progress lies largely on the

development of rural India.

The Dairy Board was created to promote, finance

and support producer-owned and controlled

organisations.

• NDDB's programmes and activities seek to strengthen

farmer owned institutions and support national policies

that are favourable to the growth of such institutions.

• Indian Council Of Agriculture and Research (ICAR): The

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is the apex

body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research

and education in agriculture in the entire country under

the aegis of DARE, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers

Welfare.

TAKEAWAYS FROM GSLV-F10 FAILURE

Recently, the GSLV-F10, which was carrying an earth observation satellite EOS-03, deviated from its scheduled trajectory.

About:• Reason for Failure: The first and second stages of the rocket had functioned

normally and detached.

But the upper stage, powered by a cryogenic engine fuelled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen at very low temperatures, failed to ignite.

The rocket lost the power to carry on and its remains, along with that of the satellite.

Impact on Future Missions:• Casting Shadow on Launch Calendar: Instead, the failure has

cast a shadow on the Indian Space Research Organisation’s

(ISRO) launch calendar, which has already been severely

affected by the pandemic.

• Loss of Satellite: Apart from the loss of a crucial satellite, it

is likely to impact the schedule of some big-ticket future

missions as well.

• Impacting Actual Mission: The failure might not directly

impact the schedule of Gaganyaan or Chandrayaan-2. But

it is possible that the GSLV Mk-II rocket is used for some

preparatory flights or to test out some of the technologies

that would be integrated in those two missions, especially

Gaganyaan. In that case, any delay in the schedule of GSLV

Mk-II would impact the actual mission as well.

• Cause of Worry for NISAR: The failure is a big cause of worry for

the NISAR mission, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between

NASA and ISRO for a joint earth-observation satellite.

• Other Missions Affected: Satellites have been planned

for 2020-21, including OCEANSAT-3, GISAT-2, RISAT-

2A, etc. with these missions set to cost an estimated

Rs 701.5 crore.

Earth Observation Satellites (EOS)-3:• EOS-03, a powerful earth observation satellite was supposed

to help in near real-time monitoring of the Indian landmass

that was meant to be used for monitoring of natural disasters

like floods and cyclones, water bodies, crops, vegetation and

forest cover.

• NISAR:

Aim: The NISAR mission aims to measure the Earth’s

changing ecosystems and dynamic surfaces to provide

information about biomass, natural hazards, sea-level rise

and groundwater.

Mapping the Surface of the Earth: It will help researchers

and user agencies to systematically map the surface of

the earth.

Used for Variety of Purposes: ISRO wants to use it for a

variety of purposes including agricultural mapping, and

monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayas, landslide-prone

areas and changes in the coastline.

Collaboration: As part of the collaboration, NASA will

provide one of the synthetic aperture radars (L-band)

while the other (S-band) will come from ISRO. NASA will

also provide communication and control systems while the

launch and related services would be the responsibility of

ISRO.

NEXT IAS





EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE (EOS)

• EOS: Earth observation satellites or Earth remote sensing

satellites are satellites used or designed for Earth

observation (EO) from orbit, including spy satellites

and similar ones intended for non-military uses such as

environmental monitoring, meteorology, cartography, and

others.

• Use: Earth Observation (EO) satellites help us to monitor

and protect our environment, manage our resources,

respond to global humanitarian disasters and enable

sustainable development.

• They provide essential information on a vast number of

areas, including; ocean salinity, ice thickness, crop health,

and air quality.

IMPACT OF FOOD FORTIFICATION

Many individuals and organisations wrote to FSSAI expressing concerns over mandatory fortification of food items.

About:• The central government plans to mandatorily fortify rice and

edible oils with iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12 to tackle anaemia etc.

• Experts warned of the adverse impacts on health and livelihoods of this step in their letter.

• Food Fortification defined as the supplementation of one or more components, regardless of whether it is naturally found in the food, to improve the properties of newly designed functional food products.

• It is a scientifically proven, cost-effective, scalable and sustainable global intervention that addresses the issue of micronutrient deficiencies.

Reasons for objection of this step:• The letter points to recent studies published in the medical

journal Lancet and in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition which show that both anaemia and Vitamin A deficiencies are over diagnosed, meaning that mandatory fortification could lead to hyper-vitaminosis.

• It mentions that the evidence supporting fortification is inconclusive and certainly not adequate before major national policies are rolled out.

• It also notes that many of the studies which FSSAI relies on to promote fortification are sponsored by food companies who would benefit from it, leading to conflicts of interest.

• The letter explains that one major problem with chemical

fortification of foods is that nutrients don’t work in isolation

but need each other for optimal absorption.

• It also said that adding one or two synthetic chemical

vitamins and minerals will not solve the larger problem, and

in undernourished populations can lead to toxicity.

• The letter also argued that mandatory fortification would

harm the vast informal economy of Indian farmers and food

processors including local oil and rice mills, and instead

benefit a small group of multinational corporations.

• Companies have historically engaged in cartelising behaviour

leading to price hikes. European Union has fined these

companies. The letter even asks FSSAI to propose how it will

regulate prices in India.

Problem of under nutrition in India:• Undernourishment in India is caused by monotonous cereal-

based diets with low consumption of vegetables and animal

protein.

• A 2010 study even showed iron fortification causing gut

inflammation and pathogenic gut microbiota profile in

undernourished children.

Way Forward:• Dietary diversity and higher protein consumption are key to

solving under nutrition problem in India, rather than adding a

few synthetic micronutrients which could harm the health of

consumers.

Other Government Fortification Projects:• FSSAI operationalized Food Safety and Standards (Fortification

of Foods) Regulations, 2016 to fortify staples, to reduce the

high burden of micronutrient malnutrition, namely

Wheat Flour and Rice by Iron, Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid

Milk and Edible Oil by Vitamins A and D

Double Fortified Salt through Iodine and Iron

The ‘+F’ logo has been notified for the identification of

fortified foods.

Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods)

Regulations, 2018 and amended regulations were

released to regulate fortification.

• In 2017 National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) launched

a pilot project of milk fortification with Vitamin A and D in

collaboration with the World Bank and Tata Trusts.

About FSSAI:• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has

been established under Food Safety and Standards, 2006

and works under the ambit of the Ministry of Health & Family

Welfare. Its functions are:

NEXT IAS





Framing of regulations to lay down the standards and guidelines of food safety.

Granting food safety license and certification for food businesses.

Laying down procedure and guidelines for laboratories in food businesses.

To provide suggestions to the government in framing the policies.

To collect data regarding contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of a rapid alert system.

Creating an information network across the country about food safety.

WORLD'S SECOND-LARGEST REFURBISHED GENE BANK INAUGURATED IN INDIA

The gene bank is located at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Pusa, New Delhi.

About:• The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

inaugurated the world's second-largest refurbished state-of-the-art National Gene Bank at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Pusa, New Delhi.

• Agri-farmers would be greatly benefited by the new gene bank with state-of-the-art facilities for germplasm.

• National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources is meeting the need of in-situ and ex-situ germplasm conservation through Delhi Headquarters and 10 regional stations in the country.

About Germplasm:• Germplasm is living tissue from which new plants can be

grown.

• It can be a seed or another plant part – a leaf, a piece of stem, pollen or even just a few cells that can be turned into a whole plant.

• It contains the information for a species' genetic makeup, a valuable natural resource of plant diversity.

About Gene Bank:• Genetic banks or Gene banks help farmers and scientists in

conservation of rare plants and animals.

• Researchers or farmers can withdraw samples from these “gene” banks to help rebuild populations of rare plant varieties and animal breeds or to help increase genetic diversity within species.

• Gene banks also preserve cells or organisms that host unusual gene variants — genes with special traits.

• Those genes might later prove useful when some disease epidemic strikes, when the climate changes or when other factors threaten the survival of plants or animals.

• Farmers could use the banked deposits — stored cells or tissues — to restore genetic diversity or to introduce traits from other breeds or varieties.

• Gene banks use low temperatures to stop chemical and biological activity that might break down cells.

UNWGIC

Recently, it was announced that the second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) to be organized by India in October next year.

About:• Date: It will be held in Hyderabad, India, in 2022.

• Organized by: The United Nation Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) organizes the UNWGIC every four years.

• Objective: It is organized with the objectives of enhancing international collaboration among the Member States and relevant stakeholders in Geospatial information management and capacities.

• China: The first UNWGIC was organized by China in October 2018.

• India: India will organize the event as a part of the "AzadiKaAmritMahotsav (Celebration of 75 years of Indian Independence)".

• Theme: The theme of Second UNWGIC is- Geo-enabling the Global Village.

About UN-GGIM:• Formation: IT is an initiative of the United Nations to foster the

global development geospatial information.

• ECOSOC: The United Nations Secretariat was requested to initiate discussion and prepare a report for the approval of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on global coordination of geospatial information management, including the consideration of the possible creation of a United Nations Forum on GGIM.

• Seoul Declaration: In 2011, the ECOSOC forum concluded with the acceptance of the Seoul Declaration on Global Geospatial Information Management (GGIM).

• Objective: It aims at playing a leading role in setting the agenda for the development of global geospatial information and to promote its use to address key global challenges. It provides a forum to liaise and coordinate among Member States, and between Member States and international organizations.

NEXT IAS





• Some UN-GGIM Areas of Work: Development of the global geodetic reference frame

Development of a global map for sustainable development

Geospatial information supporting Sustainable Development and the post 2015 development agenda

Adoption and implementation of standards by the global geospatial information community

Development of a knowledge base for geospatial information

Identification of trends in national institutional arrangements in geospatial information management.

GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES

• It is a term used to describe the range of modern tools contributing to the geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth and human societies.

• An important aspect of a GIS is its ability to assemble the range of geospatial data into a layered set of maps which allow complex themes to be analyzed and then communicated to wider audiences.

• This ‘layering’ is enabled by the fact that all such data includes information on its precise location on the surface of the Earth, hence the term ‘geospatial’.

Types of geospatial technologies:

• Remote Sensing: Imagery and data collected from space- or airborne camera and sensor platforms.

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): A suite of software tools for mapping and analyzing data which is georeferenced (assigned a specific location on the surface of the Earth, otherwise known as geospatial data). GIS can be used to detect geographic patterns in other data, such as disease clusters resulting from toxins, sub-optimal water access, etc.

• Global Positioning System (GPS): A network of U.S. Department of Defense satellites which can give precise coordinate locations to civilian and military users with proper receiving equipment

• Internet Mapping Technologies: Software programs like Google Earth and web features like Microsoft Virtual Earth are changing the way geospatial data is viewed and shared.

Government’s initiatives in the field of Geo-Spatial Sector in India:• SVAMITVA scheme- SVAMITVA (Survey of villages and mapping with

improvised technology in village areas) scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Aim: It aims to provide rural people with the right to document their residential properties so that they can use their property for economic purposes.

Technology: The scheme is for surveying the land parcels in rural inhabited area using Drone technology.

Survey: The survey shall be done across the country in a phase wise manner over the period 2020 -2025.

Type of scheme: The scheme is proposed as a Central Sector scheme with a projected outlay of Rs 79.65 crores for the pilot phase (FY 2020 -21).

• “Sarthi: Web GIS”- It is an advanced form of Geographical Information

System (GIS), where exchange of information between a server and a client can take place with ease through mobile application, desktop application and web browser.

It is developed by the Survey of India.

• Manchitran: National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization (NATMO)

Functions: It functions as a subordinate department under the Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, with its headquarter at Kolkata.

Maps: It has released thematic maps such as the cultural map of India, the climactic map, or the economic map. It is the sole national agency bearing the responsibility of depicting national framework data in the form of thematic maps and atlases to cater the various needs of different sectors.

ISRO FINDS HYDROXYL & WATER MOLECULES ON LUNAR SURFACE

According to research paper published in Current Science Chandrayaan-2 orbiter detected the presence of hydroxyl and water molecules on the surface of the Moon.

About:• Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is active and currently orbiting

the moon. Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO)

indigenous instrument not only detected the unambiguous

presence of hydroxyl (OH) and water molecules (H20) but

also differentiated with precision the two.

• In order to achieve this precision the spacecraft took aid from

Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IIRS).

Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IIRS):• IIRS is a home grown imaging instrument developed by the

Ahmedabad based unit of Space Applications Centre (SAC)

of ISRO.

• It collects information from the Moon’s electromagnetic

spectrum to understand the mineral composition of the lunar

surface with each element possessing a ‘spectral signature’

unique to itself.

NEXT IAS





• It also undertakes volatile mapping of the Moon

• For the first time its spectral range of operation is 0.8 to 5 µm (micrometre), at the high resolution of 20 nm (nanometre). This has helped in enhancing the precision.

Recent Findings:• Presence of widespread lunar hydration was detected.

• The sunlit regions at higher latitudes of the Moon were found to have higher hydroxyl or water molecules, that is enhanced hydration, compared to the large basaltic plain regions where hydroxyl appeared to be dominant, especially at higher surface temperature.

• The findings also strongly suggests that the presence of these correlates with mineralogy and latitudinal location.

Significance:• The discovery is being hailed as significant for future

planetary explorations & future projects on the lunar surface.

• The precise interpretation of hydration features is crucial as it provides significant inputs regarding the geology, geophysics of the mantle in terms of their mineralogy, chemical composition, rheology (the science of flow and deformation of matter) and solar-wind interaction.

• It will serve as an area of interest for countries rushing to the Moon with future plans to build lunar bases.

• The presence of these water molecules and other elements provides an opportunity to piece the puzzle of the mystery – tracing back the origin and evolution.

Reason for these Formations:• Formation of hydroxyl and water molecules on the lunar

surface is due to Space Weathering blended with impact form small meteorite events led to chemical changes that further triggered the formation of reactive hydroxyl molecules or more stable water molecules.

• Solar Weathering is a process of interaction of solar winds with that of the lunar surface.

• Space weathering processes act directly on the lunar surface because the Moon does not have a magnetic field or a thick atmosphere to shield the surface from incoming charged particles and micrometeorites.

• Thus, the exposure of the surface to intense space weathering results in strong physical and chemical alterations or maturation of the regolith, which involves lithification, mechanical comminution, melting, vaporization, formation of agglutinates, ion implantation, and sputtering.

Early Efforts:• Chandrayaan-1, also found similar thing using the Moon

Mineralogy Mapper (M3) but it was made by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and not indigenous.

• Also IIRS, has a higher wavelength and spectral range which permits better accuracy in results.

SOUTH AFRICA GRANTS WORLD’S FIRST PATENT TO AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM

It has received widespread backlash from intellectual property experts.

About:• South African authorities granted patent relating to a “food

container based on fractal geometry.

• The innovation involves interlocking food containers that are easy for robots to grasp and stack.

• The inventor of this system is an artificial system called DABUS.

• DABUS stands for Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience. This system was created by pioneer AI programmer Stephen Thaler.

• DABUS is a particular type of AI often referred to as creativity machines because they are capable of independent and complex functioning.

NEXT IAS





Creativity Machines:• These machines can process and critically analyse data,

learning from it.

• This process is known as machine learning.

• Once the machine learning phase has occurred, the machine is able to autonomously create without human intervention.

• They differ from everyday AI like Siri (the voice assistant of Apple), Alexa (voice assistant of Amazon) etc.

Reaction of other patent offices:

• The patent was filed around the world, including U.S., Europe,

Australia, and South Africa. But only South Africa granted the patent (Australia followed suit a few days later after a court judgment gave the go-ahead).

• The US Patent and Trademark Office and the European Patent Office gave the following reason for rejecting the claim:

Their respective patent laws only provide for human inventors — not AI — as indicated by the use of pronouns such as “him” and “her” in their text.

For the purposes of patent ideas require the element of “mental conception” — something of which only a human mind is capable.

Inventor ship comes with rights, which AI is not legally capable of possessing.

• Significance: This was the start of their push for AI to be recognised as inventors the world over.

• This step has aimed to increase innovation, and views technology as a way to achieve this.

• Global Backlash: This decision of South African authorities received a global backlash me intellectual property experts.

• Critics argued that AI lacks legal standing to qualify as an inventor.

• Many also saw this as an indictment of South Africa’s patent procedures, which currently only consist of a formal examination step.

Way Forward:• AI can perform calculations, analyse data and even generate

novel ideas and systems at a far faster pace, and in greater volume, than human minds.

• In practice, this could mean, for example, that the vaccine for the next pandemic is discovered by a thinking machine.

• Without adequate patent law, where and how AIs are deployed by corporations and individuals could be limited hence hurting the potential benefits which can be derived from it.

• The patent laws need to catch up with the reality of how much thinking and innovating machines now undertake and without this legal clarity on IP and patents, there will always be someone who gets an undue advantage.

Artificial Intelligence:• It is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled

robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.

• The term is frequently applied to the project of developing systems endowed with the intellectual processes characteristic of humans, such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, or learn from past experience.

INDIA-UK COLLABORATED FOR A STUDY ON ASHWAGANDHA

The Ministry of Ayush Collaborated for the first time with foreign institute to conduct clinical trials for efficacy of ‘Ashwagandha’ in covid-19.

About:• All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has signed a Memorandum

of understanding (MoU)with the U.K.'s London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to conduct a study on ‘Ashwagandha’ for promoting recovery from COVID-19.

• It will be performed on 2,000 people in three cities of U.K. namely Leicester, Birmingham and London (Southall and Wembley).

About All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA):• It is an apex autonomous Institute of Ayurveda under the

aegis of the Ministry of Ayush.

• Its focus is on fundamental research of Ayurveda, drug development, standardization, quality control, safety evaluation and scientific validation of Ayurvedic medicine.

About LSHTM:• It is public research university in Bloomsbury

• It is a constituent college of the University of London

About Ashwagandha:• Ashwagandha’ (Withania somnifera), commonly known as

‘Indian winter cherry’, is a traditional Indian herb.

• It boosts energy, reduces stress and makes the immune system stronger.

• This evergreen shrub is native to Africa, Asia, and southern Europe.

• For Covid-19: The positive effects of ‘Ashwagandha’ have been observed in Long COVID.

About the Study:• In this double blind study 1000 participants will be given

Ashwagandha tablets of 500 mg twice a day rest on placebo.

NEXT IAS





• The study had been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and certified by WHO-GMP(Good Manufacturing Practises).

• It is as per the internationally recognised Good Clinical Practices(GCP) guidelines

Successful completion of study will:• Give scientific validity to India’s traditional medicinal system.

• will get Ashwagandha recognised as proven medicinal treatment to prevent infection

Other Studies:• Other studies in India have demonstrated Ashwagandha

efficacy in reducing anxiety and stress, improving muscle strength and reducing symptoms of fatigue in patients treated for chronic conditions.

• It has also been indicated for treating non-restorative sleep, a hallmark of chronic fatigue, for which the trials are currently on-going.

GUIDELINES TO PROVIDE FRAMEWORK FOR SHARING BIOLOGICAL DATA

Biotech-PRIDE (Biotech Promotion of Research and Innovation through Data Exchange) Guidelines will facilitate this.

About:• These guidelines were developed by Department of

Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology.

• These guidelines aim at providing a well-defined framework and guiding principle to facilitate and enable sharing and exchange of biological knowledge, information and data.

• It is specifically applicable to high-throughput, high-volume data generated by research groups across the country.

• They do not deal with generation of biological data per se but create enabling mechanism to share and exchange information and knowledge generated as per the existing laws, rules, regulations and guidelines of the country.

• The guidelines will ensure data sharing benefits viz. maximizing use, avoiding duplication, maximized integration, ownership information, better decision-making and equity of access.

• These guidelines will be helpful to harmonize, synergize and encourage the data sharing for research and analysis in the country and to promote scientific work and foster progress by building on previous work.

• Resultantly, accrual of benefit of public investment for data generation will not be compromised.

• They will be implemented through Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) at Regional Centre for Biotechnology supported by Department of Biotechnology.

• Other existing datasets/ data centres will be bridged to this IBDC which will be called Bio-Grid.

• Bio-Grid will be a National Repository for biological knowledge, information, data and will be responsible for enabling its exchange, developing measures for safety, standards and quality for datasets and establishing detailed modalities for accessing data.

Need and Benefits of it:• India ranks number 4 amongst the top 20 countries

contributing biological databases. India needs its own exclusive database for Indian Research and Solutions.

• Indigenous database will have huge enabling mechanism for exchange and adoption of data by young scientists and researchers for the benefit of Indian Citizen.

COVISHIELD-COVAXIN MIX

Study says that cocktail of Covaxin and Covishield vaccines was not only safe but also gave better immunity against the variant strains of SARS-CoV-2.

About:• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted a

study named Serendipitous COVID-19 vaccine-mix in Uttar Pradesh, India: Safety and immunogenicity assessment of a heterologous regime’

• Under the national immunisation program, 18 individuals inadvertently received Covishield as the first jab and Covaxin as the second.

• The researchers studied the immunological effects of this administrative fiasco.

• It is ‘is a pre-print report and has not been certified by peer review.

• Result: Immunisation with a combination of an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine(Covishield) followed by an inactivated whole virus vaccine [Covaxin] was not only safe but also elicited better immunogenicity.

• Benefits: Such mixed regimens will help to overcome the challenges of shortfall of particular vaccines and remove hesitancy around vaccines in people’s mind that could have genesis in programmatic ‘errors’ especially in settings where multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being used.

• WHO’s caution: World Health Organisation had warned against mixing of vaccines, saying there was very little information on the mix-and-match of vaccines.

NEXT IAS





• It also advised against people mixing and matching vaccines from different manufacturers, calling it a “dangerous trend” since there was little data available about the health impact.

Concerns about the study:• The study does not tell us how the scientists selected the two

groups of people.

• Ideally, they should have sampled the people from the community that had been vaccinated at around the same time as the group set to receive the intervention, and at the same vaccination centre.

• The scientists observed the endpoints – immunological response and adverse events – nine weeks after the first dose.

The sample size of the was small and the participants were put under a short follow up period of only 60-70 days after immunisation with the first dose and baseline serological and immunological data of the participants not available.

• It’s possible that this was too soon. The Covaxin recipients had been vaccinated with two doses given four weeks apart, While the Covishield recipients and the recipients of the heterologous schedule received their two doses six weeks apart.

Concern of WHO:• WHO advised against people mixing and matching vaccines

from different manufacturers, calling it a “dangerous trend” since there was little data available about the health impact.

Studies in other countries:• Mixing the vaccines technically called heterologous prime-

boost vaccination is not a new idea.

• In early April 2021, French public health authorities recommended that people younger than 55 years and who had received a primary dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a second dose of one of the mRNA vaccines – either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.

• In July, authorities in Ontario, Canada, backed a similar proposal for a mixed vaccine schedule.

• Scientists at the University of Oxford had reported a phase-2 study of such a schedule in the Com-COV clinical trial.

DRAFT INDIAN SATELLITE NAVIGATION POLICY-2021

A comprehensive and substantive policy for satellite-based navigation was hosted by Department of Space for public consultation.

About:• Department of Space t recently released draft Indian Satellite

Navigation Policy-2021 (SATNAV Policy-2021).

• It seeks to achieve self-reliance in satellite-based navigation

and augmentation services with an emphasis on assuring

availability & quality, enhancing usage, working towards

progressive evolution of the services and promoting research

& development.

Background:• The rapid development of communication and mobile phone

technology has made users dependent on Position, Velocity,

and Time (PVT) based applications for almost every task that

happens virtually in their lives.

• Over the last few decades, there has been tremendous

growth in the number of applications that depend on these

PVT services, that are provided by space-based navigation

systems.

• Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is a general term

describing a space-based navigation system that provides

positioning, navigation, and precise-time (PNT) services on a

global or regional basis.

• Currently, there are four GNSS:

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based radio

navigation system owned by the USA and operated by the

United States Force.

GLONASS is Russian space-based satellite navigation

system with global coverage freely available to all.

Galileo was created in 2016 by European Space Agency.

BeiDou Navigation Satellite System is owned and

operated by the People’s Republic of China. It consists of

two separate satellite constellations.

In addition to these, there are two regional navigation satellite systems:• NavIC: With the operational name NavIC, the Indian Regional

Navigation Satellite System is an independent regional

navigation satellite system developed by India.

• It provides accurate, precise, and real-time positioning and

services.

• The satellite covers India and a region extending 1,500 km

around.

• QZSS: The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, also known as

Michibiki, is a regional GNSS owned by Japan and operated

by QZS System Service.

• It is a regional time transfer system, enhancing GPS in the

Asia-Oceania regions, with a focus on Japan.

NEXT IAS





Reasons for having such a policy:• The Navigation signals from GNSS are provided for various

free to air (telematics, phone, GIS, mapping etc) as well as strategic purposes

• Keeping in mind need for such secured services exclusively for the Indian strategic community NavIC was operationalized by India.

• Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) augment navigation satellite constellations by providing integrity and correction information via geostationary satellites.

• Government of India has established SBAS system viz., GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation-(GAGAN) for the Indian airspace.

• To make this space based navigation /augmentation system accessible for public good national infrastructure can only be provided by the Government.

• Further, to strengthen Government's initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat, it is essential to ensure continuity of NavIC and GAGAN services.

• To upgrade the system considering the exponential technological advancements.

• To continue having the capability to operate in conjunction with other GNSS/SBAS.

• This all requires a dedicated policy effort from Indian government.

About the Policy:• The policy and its objectives will come into effect once

approved by the Union Cabinet.

• The broad objectives of the policy are: To ensure guaranteed and continuous availability of free-

to-air navigation signals for civilian uses and secured navigation signals for strategic uses.

To ensure guaranteed and continuous availability of Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) for aviation safety in the defined coverage area.

To ensure judicious dissemination of Signal-In-Space (SIS) interface definition and system performance reports for the intended use.

To work towards progressive evolution of navigation signals and expansion of coverage for enhanced use.

To focus on technology development for enhancing the navigation satellite systems.

To work towards compatibility and interoperability of Indian satellite navigation and augmentation signals with other GNSS/SBAS signals.

To promote Indian Industry and academia to carry out research and development activities in the field of satellite navigation based applications with emphasis on societal benefits.

To work towards facilitating global usage of Indian satellite navigation and augmentation systems.

FORUM FOR DECARBONIZING TRANSPORT’ IN INDIA

NITI Aayog and World Resources Institute(WRI), India, jointly launched this forum.

About:• It is a part of part of the Nationally Determined Contributions-

Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA) project.

• This project aims at bringing down the peak level of GHG emissions (transport sector) in Asia (in line with a well below 2-degree pathway), resulting in problems like congestion and air pollution.

• NITI Aayog is the implementing partner for the India component of the project.

About NDC-TIA:• It is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and aims to

facilitate a paradigm shift to zero-emission transport across Asia.

• It is joint programme of seven organisations that will engage China, India, and Vietnam in promoting a comprehensive approach to decarbonizing transport in their respective countries.

• Beyond the three countries, on the regional and global level, the program will maximize impact by reaching out to additional countries in Southeast Asia, sharing lessons learned, increasing discourse on decarbonizing transport and promoting efficient, multi-stakeholder approaches coordinated between government ministries, civil society, and the private sector.

• It is a key element for funding and climate financing commitments of Germany under Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports the initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.

Indian Scenario:• India has a massive and diverse transport sector, which is

also the third most CO2 emitting sector.

• Data from IEA, 2020; Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, 2018 suggests that within the transport sector, road transport contributes to more than 90% of the total CO2 emissions.

NEXT IAS





• The transition to a decarbonisation path for the transport sector in India is essential to achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement for 2050.

Benefits to India:• NITI Aayog has been at the helm of the promotion of Electric

Vehicles(EVs) and sustainable mobility through the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage.

• To leverage and streamline EVs across the country, there is a need is to create a favourable ecosystem for different stakeholders.

• This forum will work in close coordination with all these stakeholders to formulate strategies and develop appropriate business models to accelerate electric mobility in India.

• This forum will also provide a platform to initiate dialogues for the development of uniform policies and help achieve specific results in reducing emissions from the transport sector.

• It will act as the conduit for bringing diverse voices and needs to adopt an integrated approach for greening the transport sector in India.

About World Resorce Institute (WRI):• WRI is a global non-profit organization that works with leaders

in government, business and civil society to research, design, and carry out practical solutions that simultaneously improve people’s lives and ensure nature can thrive.

• They focus on 7 urgent challenges: Food, Forests, Water, Ocean, Cities, Energy and Climate.

• The Indiana chapter of WRI was established in 2011 and works with local and national governments, businesses, and civil society to address India’s development challenges. We identify solutions that are both economically and environmentally sound.

• WRI India combine research, analysis and tools, along with direct engagement with decision-makers, to bring about sustainable change.

INDIA TO ADD 35 MORE EARTHQUAKE OBSERVATORIES

The Minister of Science & Technology announced this in inaugural ceremony of IAGA and IASPEI.

About:• The Minister of Science and Technology recently announced

that India is going to add 35 more Earthquake observatories by the end of this year and 100 more by year 2026.

• This announcement came at the inaugural ceremony of Joint Scientific Assembly of International Association

of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) - International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior (IASPEI).

• Present Scenario: National Centre for Seismology (NCS) is the nodal agency

of the Government of India for monitoring of earthquake activity in the country.

It maintains National Seismological Network of 115 stations (observatories) each having state of art equipment and spreading all across the country.

What are Earthquake observatories?• Earthquake observation stations or observatories have

seismograph installed in them which help detect the intensity as well as the epicentre of earthquakes.

• The seismographs are of various types and frequency responses.

• Significance: Many observatories make provisional estimates of the epicentres of important earthquakes. These estimates provide preliminary information locally about particular earthquakes and serve as first approximations for the calculations subsequently made by large coordinating centres.

Need for such observatories:• Indian subcontinent is considered as one of the world's most

disaster-prone areas in terms of earthquakes, landslides, cyclones, floods, and tsunamis.

• These can help us predict the accurate timing of earthquakes based on past activities. Hence, can help in preventing large scale destruction.

About Earthquake:• An earthquake is a sudden shaking or trembling of the earth

which lasts for a very short time.

• An earthquake happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another.

• The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane.

• The location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicentre.

Earthquakes and India:• India on account of unique geo-physical setting is highly

prone to earthquakes of varying intensities.

• The main cause of earthquakes in Himalayan regions is due to the movement of the Indian plate towards the Eurasian plate.

• Other than natural causes there are man-made causes also like construction of dam, roads in hilly areas, urbanisation etc. which cause earthquakes.

NEXT IAS





• The country has been classified into different zones indicating the intensity of damage or frequency of earthquake occurrences.

• International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) is one of the eight Associations of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG).

• It is a non-governmental body funded through the subscriptions paid to IUGG by its Member Countries.

• It is concerned with the understanding and knowledge that result from studies of the magnetic and electrical properties of Earth's core, mantle and crust, the middle and upper atmosphere, the ionosphere and the magnetosphere, the Sun, the solar wind, the planets and interplanetary bodies.

• International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior (IASPEI) is also one of the eight Associations that comprise the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

• It promotes the study of earthquakes and other seismic sources, the propagation of seismic waves, and the Earth's internal structure, properties, and processes.

INDIAN ASTROPHYSICISTS SPOT RARE MERGER OF THREE BLACK HOLES

The Department of Science and Technology reported that Indian scientists have discovered the merger of three supermassive black holes from galaxies to form a triple Active Galactic Nucleus.

About:• The scientists were observing the merging of two

galaxies named NGC7733 and NGC 7734 in our celestial neighbourhood when they detected unusual emissions from the centre of the latter and a curious movement of a large bright clump within it, having a different velocity than that of NGC7733. Inferring that this was a separate galaxy, the scientists named it NGC7733N.

• The centre of galaxies have supermassive black holes which are several million solar masses in size and are known as Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN).

NEXT IAS





• All three merging black holes were part of galaxies in the Toucan constellation.

• Its brightest star is Alpha Tucanae.

• This constellation contains the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite of the Milky Way Galaxy and one of the nearest galaxies to Earth.

Black Hole:• A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much

that even light cannot get out.

• The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space and this can happen when a star is dying.

• There are four types of black holes: stellar, intermediate, supermassive, and miniature. The most commonly known way a black hole forms are by stellar death.

Collision of Black Holes:• If two galaxies collide, their black hole will also come closer

by transferring the kinetic energy to the surrounding gas.

• The distance between the black holes decreases with time until the separation is around a parsec (3.26 light-years).

• The two black holes are then unable to lose any further kinetic energy to get even closer and merge. This is known as the final parsec problem.

Significance of this study:• The presence of a third black hole can solve the parsec

problem. The dual merging black holes can transfer their energy to the third black hole and merge with each other.

• Multiple accreting black holes (AGN) maybe more common in our universe and especially common in galaxy groups. So the growth of black holes may be driven by such mergers in groups.

• Although this study focuses only on one system, results suggest that small merging groups are ideal laboratories to detect multiple supermassive black holes.

• The use of multiple telescopes and observing bands to carry out his research demonstrated how astrophysics is a truly collaborative science.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Ethics

ETHICS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) declared a "code red for humanity" in a report released recently.

About:• It underlined the fact that it doesn't matter whether there's a

ton of carbon emitted in Congo, or Canada or India, each is

contributing the same to climate change. Climate change not

only threatens our ecosystems, it undermines the foundation

of our fundamental rights, deepens inequalities and creates

new forms of injustice. Thus, discussion on ethical aspects

of climate change and action is not only unavoidable but is

absolutely necessary

Climate Ethics:• Definition: Climate Ethics refers to the academic research

and general discourse on the ethical dimensions of climate

change or global warming, and related themes such as the

climate justice, greenhouse development rights, climate debt

and so on.

• Any action on climate change confronts serious ethical issues

involving redressal of three challenges that only reinforce

one another. These three challenges and related ethical

dimensions are discussed below:

Climate change is truly a global phenomenon:• Known as the Tragedy of Commons, GHGs emitted anywhere

are threat to environment everywhere, regardless of their

source. Though collectively the countries would prefer to limit

the global emission, yet individually they would prefer to emit

GHGs unimpeded.

• Then there are skewed vulnerabilities – countries that have

emitted the least are actually the ones that are most vulnerable

e.g. the developing nations of the African continent. This

adds to both practical and theoretical difficulties to secure

global cooperation.

• GHGs emissions have profoundly intergenerational effects:

Emissions of the most ubiquitous GHG – carbon dioxide –

linger in the atmosphere having negative climate impact over

centuries.

• Intergenerational cooperation is even a bigger challenge than

the tragedy of commons, as the temporal diffusion of global

warming effects diffuses the sense of urgency of action. It is

perfect moral storm that tempts present generations to pass

on the buck to the future in unfair ways.

• Relation between humans and rest of the nature is

underdeveloped theoretically: Climate change raises

questions about the moral value of nonhuman nature, as

to whether humans have obligations to protect nonhuman

animals, unique places, or nature as a whole.

• In addition, the presence of scientific uncertainty and the

potential for catastrophic outcomes put internal pressure

on the standard economic approach to environmental

problems. These make a case for a precautionary approach

in environmental law and policy that bring about political

inertia in developing a robust global regime.

How to allocate emission cuts fairly?• Giving the argument that the developed countries have

emitted more , therefore they should cut more and fast – there

is a consensus that they should shoulder more responsibility

(at least initially).

• Another reason for this consensus is that better outcomes

will be achieved if the global poor are able to meet their

subsistence needs and to move out of poverty through

a larger share of allowable emissions, than if the "luxury

emissions" of wealthier countries are protected.

• However, objections are made as to the fact that the

emissions by the developed countries, at least prior to 1990,

were ignorant of consequences and it would unfair to hold

present generation of developed countries responsible for

past emissions.

• Counter to this, it is to be noted that the present generation of

developed countries does benefit from such emissions of the

past – making them accountable in this equation.

Impacts that are no longer avoidable – “unavoided climate impacts”• Complete reversal of climate change is impossible, as has

been pointed by the recently released first part of the Sixth

Assessment Report by the IPCC. Therefore, focus is required

on the adaptation efforts.

• Assistance of global community is required to help people

affected by sea level rise to migrate to safer locations. Again,

the question here is who to pay how much, by whom?

ETHICS

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Ethics

• Past comes to haunt: Vulnerability to climate impacts is

also affected by previous wrongs, such as the legacy of

colonization, slavery, economic exploitation, and so on. In

such cases, unavoided climate impacts may constitute a

"compound injustice".

• Out-of-the-box ideas: Alternatively, intentional manipulation of

the environment e.g., injecting sulphur into the stratosphere

so as to reflect more incoming solar radiation back to space,

is suggested as means – but such means raise another range

of ethical issues yet to be taken up.

• Individual responsibility: The debate is whether the individuals

limit themselves to steering political discourse or should they

change their personal lifestyle and consumption choices and

develop a set of “green virtues”.

What can be the way ahead?• UNESCO Declaration on Ethical Principles in Relation to Climate

Change: The declaration adopted on 13 November 2017 by

UNESCO establishes a short list of ethical principles to guide

decision-making and policy development in the fight against

climate change at all levels, including local, national, regional

and international levels. The six ethical principles set out by

this Declaration are as follows:

• Prevention of harm: To better anticipate the consequences

of climate change and implement responsible and effective

policies to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including

through low greenhouse gas emissions development and

initiatives to foster climate resilience.

• Precautionary approach: Do not postpone the adoption

of measures to prevent or mitigate the adverse effects of

climate change on the grounds of a lack of definitive scientific

evidence.

• Equity and justice: Respond to climate change in a way that

benefits all, in a spirit of justice and equity. Allow those who

are unjustly affected by climate change (due to insufficient

measures or inadequate policies) to access judicial and

administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy.

• Sustainable development: Adopt new paths for development

that make it possible to sustainably preserve our ecosystems,

while building a more just and responsible society that

is more resilient to climate change. Special attention must

be paid to areas where the humanitarian consequences of

climate change can be dramatic, such as food, energy, water

insecurity, the oceans, desertification, and land degradation

and natural disasters.

• Solidarity: Support, individually and collectively, the people

and groups most vulnerable to climate change and natural

disasters, particularly in the Least Developed Countries

(LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Strengthen timely co-operative action in various areas,

including technology development and transfer, knowledge-

sharing and capacity-building.

• Scientific knowledge and integrity in decision-making:

Strengthen the interface between science and policy to

optimally aid decision-making and the implementation of

relevant long-term strategies, including risk prediction.

Promote the independence of science and widely disseminate

its findings to as many people as possible, for the benefit of

all.

Conclusion:• Considerations of fairness, equity, and justice are a must to

resolve the three major ethical dilemmas complicating the

climate change debate:

how to balance the rights and responsibilities of the

developed and developing world;

how to evaluate geo-engineering schemes designed to

reverse or slow climate change; and

how to assess our responsibility to future generations who

must live with a climate we are shaping today.

• Many different segments of society now recognize that an

effective climate agreement must also have such an ethical

dimension that outlines a principled understanding of the

differing rights and obligations of both developed and

developing countries. A successful example of such approach

is the Montreal Protocol. We owe it to our neighbours on this

small planet, to our descendants, and to all life on Earth – that

we deliver with the maturity of 3.8 billion years of evolutionary

success.NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Culture

79 YEARS OF QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT

India completed 79 years of Quit India Movement also known as August Kranti on 8th August 2021.

About:• Declaration: On August 8, 1942, the Quit India movement was

declared in India by Mahatma Gandhi. It was launched at the Bombay Session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), demanding an end to British rule in India.

• Failure of Cripps Mission: The Britishers offered a Dominion status with minor changes to the Government of India Act 1935. This was completely unacceptable by the Indian leaders; hence the Cripps Mission failed miserably. Mahatma Gandhi then led the Quit India movement, also known as the August Movement, by his firm words like ‘DO or DIE’ at the Gowalia Tank Maidan.

• Begin with: ArunaAsaf Ali also known as the 'Grand Old Lady' of the Independence Movement hosted the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan during the Quit India Movement.

• Arrest: By August 9, many of the eminent leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, AbulKalam Azad and Mahatma Gandhi, were arrested on charges of sedition. Mahatma Gandhi was kept at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune, and later in the Yerawada jail. It was during this time that Kasturba Gandhi died at the Aga Khan Palace.

• Women’s participation: Female leaders like Usha Mehta helped establish an underground radio station, leading to the awakening of the movement.

• Rise of future leaders: This event was followed by an uproar among the people and the emergence of several young leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia, Jai Prakash Narayan, SM Joshi, and others who continued to fuel the fire of the movement throughout India during the period of World War II.

• Phases: First Phase, urban revolt, marked by strikes, boy cott and

picketing, which were quickly suppressed. In the second phase, the focus shifted to the countryside,

which witnessed a major peasant rebellion, marked by destruction of communication sys tems, such as railway tracks and stations, telegraph wires and poles, attacks on government buildings or any other visible symbol of colo-nial authority.

The last phase witnessed the formation of national governments or parallel governments in isolated pockets (Ballia, Tamluk, Satara etc.)

• Non-supporters: Muslim League, the Communist Party of India

and the Hindu Mahasabha did not support the movement.

The Indian bureaucracy also did not support the movement.

Many Congress leaders like C Rajagopalachari resigned from

the provincial assembly because they did not approve of

Mahatma Gandhi's ideas. The Britishers were supported by

the Princely States, British Indian Army, Indian Civil Services,

Viceroy’s Council (which had Indians in the majority), All India

Muslim League, Indian Imperial Police.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 1942?

• India had been preparing to launch such a huge movement

since Congress leader Hasrat Mohani in 1921 coined the

term of PoornaSwaraj.

• The Cripps Mission granted Dominion status to India after

the WW II. Despite the promise of “the earliest possible

realisation of self-government in India”, the offer Cripps

made was not ‘freedom’.

• Also, the draft mentioned the provision of dividing India

and partition of the nation was not acceptable to the

Congress.

• When Gandhi realised that the need of the hour was to

fight tooth and nail to gain India’s freedom, on August 8,

1942, the CWC passed the historic resolution presented

by Gandhi and heralded the Quit India Movement.

150 YEARS OF ABANINDRANATH TAGORE

Abanindranath Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary was commemorated on 7th August 2021.

About:• Birth: He was born in Jorasanko in Kolkata in 1871.

• Celebrations: The celebration, titled Abanindranath at 150:

Bichitra Revisited, has been organised jointly by Victoria

Memorial Hall, Kolkata, and DAG. Online workshops and

talks paying tributes to the leading light of the Bengal School

of Art have been hosted. The spirit of Bichitra studio, formed

by Abanindranath and his brothers on the south verandah of

Jorasanko with the backing of Rabindranath Tagore, has also

been honoured during this festival.

• Relation: He was nephew of Rabindranath Tagore and a

decade younger to him.

CULTURE

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Culture

• Role: He helped shape modern Indian art and was the creator of the iconic ‘Bharat Mata’ painting. He is considered to be the first major exponent of an artistic idiom that sought to modernise the Mughal and the Rajput styles in order to counter the influence of Western models of art under the colonial regime.

• Contribution: His unique interpretation of swadeshi themes created a new awakening and heralded a revival of Indian art. He first created the ‘Indian School of Oriental Art’ and later went on to establish Bengal school of art. He devoted himself to serve the cause of Bengal Renaissance with his brilliant brush.

• Inspiration: Inspired by the thoughts and nationalist ideas of exceptional personalities like Ernest Benfield Havel and the spiritual dynamo Sister Nivedita, Abanindranath brought the welcome change the Indian Art field was yearning for.

• Style of work: His works on one hand reflected the glorious legacy and magnificent brilliance of the Rajput and Mughal miniatures whereas his pastel works and sketches show how he had assimilated the skills of the Western masters with his own to create an inimitable style of his own.

• Later works: In his later works, he began to incorporate Chinese and Japanese calligraphy traditions into his style.

• Books: Most of his literary works are written for children. His notable works are- ‘BudoAngla’, ‘KhirerPutul’, ‘Rajkahini’ and Arabian Nights series.

• Famous Paintings: Bharat Mata, The Passing of Shah Jahan (1900), My Mother (1912–13), Fairyland illustration (1913), Journey’s End (circa 1913).

• Collection: The Victoria Memorial is the custodian of the Rabindra Bharati Society Collection, the artist’s largest collection.

BENGAL SCHOOL OF ART

• It was an art movement and a style of Indian painting that

originated in Bengal, primarily Kolkata and Shantiniketan,

and flourished throughout the Indian subcontinent, during

the British Raj in the early 20th century.

• It is also called the Renaissance School or the Revivalist

School, as it represented the first modern movement of

Indian art.

• It was promoted and supported by British arts

administrators like E. B. Havell, the principal of the

Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata.

• Among the other renowned artists of this style of

painting are Amit Sarkar, Ajoy Ghosh, Sankarlal Aich,

Amal Chaklader, Narendranath De Sarkar, Sukti Subhra

Pradhan and Ratan Acharya.

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON SCIENCE MUSEUMS TO SET UP A NEW SCIENCE CENTRE

NCSM of Culture Ministry has taken up 14 projects for setting up new Science Centres under SPoCS Scheme.

About:• Organization: National Council of Science Museums (NCSM),

is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

• Role: It has developed a chain of science museums and science centers throughout the Country including Science Cities through Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) for portraying the growth of science and technology and their application in industry and human welfare, with a view to develop scientific attitude and temper.

• Establishment: It was established in 1978 based on the recommendations of Taskforce formed by the Planning Commission.

• Headquarters: It is headquartered in Kolkata.

• Museums/Centers: Presently NCSM administers and manages 25 science museums/centers spread across the country and is the “world’s largest network of science centers and museums that functions under a single administrative umbrella” with an annual reach of about 15 million people.

OTHER PROJECTS OF NCSM

• NCSM had earlier collaborated with Google Arts & Culture for ‘Once upon a Try’: Epic journeys of invention and discovery.

• This is the largest online exhibition of inventions and discoveries in history, aiming to explore the greatest inventions and discoveries of mankind through interactive online exhibitions.

• Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) programme: It is primarily engaged in popularizing Science and Technology through a network of science centres and Mobile Science Exhibitions (MSE) units that visit rural schools.

• It is NCSM's longest and largest outreach program.

HALAM TRIBES

Over 700 Halam people return to Tripura after fleeing violence.

About:• People from the Haramya tribe who fled to Assam after clashes

with the Bru refugees in northern Tripura have returned to their village Damcherra in the northern region of Tripura.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Culture

• The exodus occurred after local indigenous residents and Mizoram Bru refugees of a makeshift camp clashed over alleged encroachment of farmland.

Bru or Reang is a community indigenous to Northeast India, living mostly in Tripura, Mizoram and Assam. In Tripura, they are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.

In Mizoram, they have been targeted by groups that do not consider them indigenous to the state.

• At least 700 people of Halam sub-tribes were displaced after rioters torched several houses at Damcherra area of north Tripura district.

• Local leaders of different political parties, village elders and Bru refugee representatives extended help to restore peace and amity between ethnic groups.

• Meanwhile Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance or the TIPRA which is governing the Tribal Autonomous District Council has called for ‘peace and unity among the State’s 19 tribal clans’.

Halam Sub-Tribes:• The name Halam was coined by the Tipra Maharaja.

• Halams live in typical "Tong Ghar" specially made of bamboo and Chan grass. Apart from plain land cultivation they still practice Jhum cultivation and depend on both the activities beside other substitute works.

• Halam communities (categorised as a scheduled tribe in Tripura) belong to the Kuki-Chin tribes of Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group.

• As per 2011 Census, their total population is 57,210 and distributed throughout the State.

• They are native to the state of Tripura and Assam, Mizoram in India.

The language spoken by all the families of Halam community is known as Riam Chong.

These are very educated tribes in state.

PINGALI VENKAVYA

143rd birth anniversary of freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya was celebrated on 2nd of August.

About:• Birth: born on August 2, 1876, near Machilipatnam in Andhra

Pradesh.

• He is also known as ‘Jhanda Venkaiah’.

• Role: A freedom fighter and the designer of the flag on which the Indian national flag is based. He was a staunch Gandhian, educationist, agriculturist, geologist, linguist, and writer.

• Education: After finishing high school in Madras, he went

to Cambridge University. He was fond of geology and

agriculture.

• Venkayya’s Flag design: The flag he designed was known as

Swaraj Flag. It consisted of red and green bands symbolizing

two main communities- Hindus and Muslims. The flag helped

in unity and inspired the spirit of independence.

• Flag enthusiast: Venkayya was a flag enthusiast who also

wrote a booklet titled "The Indian Flag" in 1916, which featured

24 flag designs.

• Recognition: He was posthumously honored for his

contribution to the Indian freedom struggle with a postage

stamp in 2009. The AIR Vijaywada was renamed after him in

2015 by the then Urban Development Minister, M. Venkaiah

Naidu.

• Death: He died on July 4, 1963.

HISTORY ABOUT THE FLAG

• Gandhi’s advice: Mahatma Gandhi advised to add a white

band over green color with a Charkha design. The white

represents peace and other communities living in India,

and the spinning wheel symbolizes the progress of the

country.

• Flag Committee: Although the first tricolor flag was not

officially accepted by the All India Congress Committee

(AICC), it began to be hoisted on all Congress occasions.

Later the Flag Committee was set up in 1931.

• Congress Working Committee (CWC): CWC came up with a

new tricolor which was called the Purna Swaraj. The flag

replaced the red color with saffron.

• Significance: It implied that color represents quality, not

community; saffron represents courage and sacrifice,

white represents truth and peace, and green represents

faith and strength. Charkha represents the welfare of the

masses.

SARLATHAKRAL

Google doodle honours SarlaThukral, first Indian woman to fly an aircraft.

About:• Birth: She was born on 8 August, 1914.

• Career: Delhi-born Sarla was fiercely ambitious who got an aviation pilot license in 1936 when she was just 21. When Sarla took her first flight, she was not just married but also a mother of a four-year-old daughter.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Culture

• India's first lady pilot: At a time when aviation was only about men, Sarla entered the cockpit of a Gypsy Moth and made a history as India's first lady pilot. Sarla flew solo for the first time wearing traditional attire.

• Accomplishment: Sarla obtained her 'A' license after accumulating over 1000 hours of flying.

• End of Career: She was then looking for the group B license which would've authorized her to fly as a commercial pilot. While working to get this license, World War II broke out and civil training was suspended. This was a speed-breaker in her career. Later, during her training in Jodhpur in 1939, her husband died in a crash. She was widowed at 24. That's when she abandoned her plans to become a commercial pilot.

• Second innings: She returned to Lahore to join the Mayo School of Arts and got a diploma in fine arts. After the partition, she moved to Delhi with her two daughters. She successfully took up jewelry making, saree designing, painting and designing for the National School of Drama in her later years. One of her clients was Vijayalaxmi Pandit.

• Death: She died on 15 March 2008.

RANA PUNJA BHILL

After the Amagarh fort dispute, this is the second issue in Rajasthan within a month when Adivasi groups and Hindu outfits are at odds over tribal history.

About:• Dispute: On the occasion of World Tribal Day on August 9,

when members of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Mahasabha gathered near a statue of Rana Punja Bhil in Udaipur, they objected to a flag hoisted on it.

• Tribal leaders have alleged that a saffron flag was put up by the BJP and Sangh Parivar on the statue, which is against the culture and identity of the community.

• About Rana Punja Bhil: Contemporary: He was a contemporary of 16th century

ruler of Mewar, Maharana Pratap.

Battles: Punja is considered to be a significant character who bolstered the strength of Pratap during his battles with Mughal emperor Akbar.

• Battle of Haldighati: According to Al Badayuni, who witnessed the battle, around 400 Bhil archers were led by Punja.

• Rana Punja Award: It is a state award. This award is instituted to honour works of permanent value to society by a person of tribal origin in commemoration of the mutual trust and continued association between the Bhil tribesmen and the House of Mewar.

About Bhil Community:• Largest tribal group: The Bhil are one of the largest tribal

groups and are listed as indigenous people of the states

of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and

Rajasthan, as well as in Tripura in far-eastern India, and on

the border with Bangladesh.

• Language: Most Bhils now speak the language of the region

they reside in, such as Marathi, Gujarati or a Bhili language

dialect.

• Origin: Bhil is derived from the word billa or billu which means

bow in the Dravidian lexis.

• Scheduled tribes: They are classified as scheduled tribes in

Rajasthan.

• Place in Mythology: The name Bhil is also mentioned in the

great epic - Mahabharata and Ramayana. The Bhil women

offered ber to Lord Rama, when he was wandering through

the jungles of Dhandaka, searching Sita.

• Culture: Bhil women wear traditional saris and the Bhil men

wear loose long frock along with pyjama. The peasants wear

turbans. Bhils also wear brass ornaments.

• Importance: They are excellent archers and their weapon is

bow made of bamboo. Earlier they were the great hunters.

They now practice agriculture as the source of livelihood.

• Tradition: The Bhils are talented in the sculptured work. They

make beautiful horses, elephants, tigers, deities out of clay.

• Religion: Religion practices among the Bhils differ from place

to place. Most of them worship local deities. Some of the

worship Tiger God called 'vaghdev'.

• Festival: The Baneshwar fair is the main festival celebrated

among the Bhils.

THE BATTLE OF HALDIGHATI

• It was fought on 18 June 1576 between the armies of

Maharana Pratap, the Rana of Mewar, and the Mughal

emperor Akbar’s forces, led by Man Singh I of Amber.

• Haldighati is a region in the Aravalli mountain range, which

links Rajsamand and Pali districts in Rajasthan.

• In Rajasthan, almost all major kings had accepted the

Mughal dynasty except Udai Singh, the father of Maharana

Pratap.

• To demonstrate his authority, Akbar laid siege to

Chittorgarh in October 1567. The Rajputs were surrounded

and besieged by the Mughals.

• Akbar led a sustained campaign against the Rana, and

soon, Goganda, Udaipur, and Kumbhalgarh were all

under his control.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Culture

MOPLAH REBELLION

Madhav, a member of the National Executive Committee of RSS, spoke at an event held at Kozhikode in remembrance of the victims of the violence during the 1921 rebellion in Kerala.

About:• Malabar Rebellion: Also called as the Mappila or Moplah

Rebellion by the British, happened from August 20, 1921 to 1922

in the Malabar region of Kerala.

• Peasant Revolt: The rebellion is primarily a peasant revolt against the colonial government.

• Mappila Muslim: Mappilas are member of the Muslim community found predominantly in Kerala and Lakshadweep Islands.

• Leader: It was an armed revolt, led by Variyamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji.

• Other important leaders: Ali Musliyar, Sithi Koya Thangal, M. P. Narayana Menon, Chembrasery Thangal, K. Moideenkutti Haji, Kappad Krishnan Nair, Konnara Thangal, Pandiyatt Narayanan Nambeesan, and Mozhikunnath Brahmadathan Nambudiripad.

Reasons for the Revolt:• British colonial rule: It started as a resistance against the

British colonial rule in Malabar region of Kerala.

• New Tenancy Laws: After the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799 in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, Malabar had come under British authority as part of the Madras Presidency.

The British had introduced new tenancy laws that tremendously favoured the landlords known as Janmis and instituted a far more exploitative system for peasants than before.

The new laws deprived the peasants of all guaranteed rights to the land, share in the produce they earlier got and in effect rendered them landless.

• Against Feudal system: The public rebellion was also a reaction to the existing feudal system, which was dominated by Hindu elites.

• Against Hindus: To garner their support, the British placed upper caste Hindus in positions of authority, which caused the protests to turn against the Hindus.

The Revolt:• The uprising: During the uprising, the rebels also attacked

various symbols and institutions of the colonial state, such as telegraph lines, train stations, courts and post offices.

• Background: In support of the restoration of the caliphate in Turkey, the Khilafat Movement began in India in 1919. It was allied with the Indian National Congress (INC).

• In the initial stages, the movement had the support of Mahatma Gandhi and other Indian nationalist leaders, but as it turned violent they distanced themselves from it.

• By the end of 1921, the rebellion was crushed by the British who had raised a special battalion, the Malabar Special Force for the riot.

RANJIT SINGH’S STATUE VANDALISED AT LAHORE FORT

The statue of Sikh empire founder Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Lahore Fort was vandalised, the third time since it was installed in 2019, inviting sharp reaction from India.

About:• Growing intolerance: It was allegedly vandalised by a member

of the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a religious organization.

• According to MEA, such attacks on the cultural heritage of minority communities in Pakistan highlight the growing intolerance.

• The statue: The nine feet tall statue, made of cold bronze, shows the regal Sikh emperor sitting on a horse, sword in hand, complete in Sikh attire.

• About Maharaja Ranjit Singh: Birth: Born on 13 November 1780; he was popularly

known as Sher-e-Punjab or "Lion of Punjab". Coronation: Proclaimed himself Maharaja of the Sikh

empire on 12 April 1801 after his conquest of Lahore.

• Rule: He was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century.

• Empire and Invasion: He successfully absorbed and united the Sikh misls and took over other local kingdoms to create the Sikh Empire. He repeatedly defeated invasions by outside armies, particularly those arriving from Afghanistan, and established friendly relations with the British.

• Contribution: His reign introduced reforms, modernization, investment into infrastructure, and general prosperity.

• Khalsa army: His Khalsa army and government included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Europeans.

• Modernization of Army: He reorganised responsibility and set performance standards in logistical efficiency in troop deployment, manoeuvre, and marksmanship.

He reformed the staffing to emphasise steady fire over cavalry and guerrilla warfare, improved the equipment and methods of war.

He paid the members of the standing army from treasury, instead of the Mughal method of paying an army with local feudal levies.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Culture

• Governance: He allowed men from different religions and races to serve in his army and his government in various positions of authority. He appointed a French General to modernize his army.

• Legacy: His legacy includes a period of Sikh cultural and artistic renaissance, including the rebuilding of the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar and Hazur Sahib Nanded, Maharashtra under his sponsorship.

• Death: He died on 27 June 1839; was succeeded by his son Kharak Singh.

• Annexation: His Empire did not last long after his death. The British annexed the Sikh Empire in 1849 as a result of the Second Anglo-Sikh War.

NEW PROJECTS IN SOMNATH

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects in Gujarat’s Somnath on, August 20, via video conferencing.

About:• Projects: Somnath Promenade, Somnath Exhibition Centre,

and the reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath are among the projects that were inaugurated.

• PM Modi is also the incumbent chairman of Shree Somnath Trust (SKT), the religious trust which manages and maintains the Somnath temple complex, one of the most important places of worship for Hindus in the country.

• The 1.48 kilometre-long Somnath Promenade is developed under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme, costing over Rs 47 cr.

• The Shree Parvati Temple has also been proposed to be constructed with a total outlay of Rs 30 crore.

• The reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath was completed by the Somnath Trust at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore. This temple is also referred to as the Ahilyabai Temple since it was built by Queen Ahilyabai of Indore, after she found the old temple in ruins.

About Somnath Temple:• Location: It is located in Veraval in Saurashtra on the western

coast of Gujarat, and is believed to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.

• Style of Architecture: Reconstructed several times in the past, the present mandir was reconstructed in the Chaulukya style of Hindu temple architecture and completed in May 1951.

• Specifications: This style of architecture is also known as “Kailash Mahameru Prasad" style and reflects the skill of the Sompura Salats, one of Gujarat's master masons. The

temple's śikhara, or main spire, is 15 metres in height, and it has an 8.2-metre-tall flag pole at the top.

• Landmass: The temple is situated at such a place that there is no land in a straight line between Somnath seashore until Antarctica. The only land mass nearest this longitude is the set of Kerguelen Islands, which are uninhabited and form part of the French Southern and Antarctic Islands.

PRASHAD SCHEME

• The Government of India launched the PRASAD scheme in the year 2014-2015 under the Ministry of Tourism.

• This scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the religious stourism experience.

• The Ministry of Tourism has set up a Mission Directorate for implementing the PRASAD scheme. The Mission Directorate identifies projects in the identified cities and coordinates with the states/UTs and other stakeholders to implement this scheme.

• The Central Government provides 100% funding for the project components undertaken for public funding. This scheme seeks to leverage the voluntary funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for improved sustainability of the projects under this scheme.

Cities identified under PRASAD Scheme:

• Amritsar (Punjab)

• Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)

• Mathura (UP)

• Ajmer (Rajasthan)

• Varanasi (UP)

• Gaya (Bihar)

• Kamakhya (Assam)

• Dwarka (Gujrat)

• Puri (Odisha)

• Amravati (Andhra Pradesh)

• Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu)

• Velankanni (Tamil Nadu)

NARAYANKOTI TEMPLE (UTTARAKHAND)

Uttrakhand’s Narayankoti Temple has been included under the Centre's Adopt a Heritage project.

About:• Location: The Narayankoti Temple is a group of ancient

temples located about two kilometers from Guptkashi on the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund highway.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Culture

• Significance: It’s the only place in the country where temples of all the nine planets – Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Sun, Moon, Rahu and Ketu – are present. Devotees come here for the peace of planetary worship and fasting.

• Mythological Importance: It is a group of temples dedicated to Lakshmi Narayana which is associated with Pandavas.

The mention of this temple group is also found in Kedarkhand.

It is the exact location where Lord Krishna showed his one crore Narayana forms to the Pandavas when they were morose for not been able to meet Lord Shiva.

• Built: The temple group is said to have been built before the 9th century AD. From time to time, due to the impact of disasters and lack of care, now there are only 29 temples, whereas in the past there were 360 temples in groups.

• Other temples: The place also includes other temples of Laxminarayana, Veerbhadra and SatyanarayanaBhagwan. The temple group complex has a stone tank called VirabhadraKund or Brahmakund.

‘Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’ Scheme:• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration

with the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India. It was launched in September 2017 on World Tourism Day.

• Aim: It aims at ensuring quality & inclusive provision of amenities and facilities across heritage, natural, & tourist sites through active participation of private and public sector organizations and individuals. These organizations would be known as “Monument Mitras” for their collaboration initiative.

• Implementation: The project began with 93 ASI monuments and has

extended to heritage, natural and tourist sites across India.

These sites are classified into various categories based on visibility and footfall.

The 'Monument Mitras' would take up the sites of varied visibility and footfall as a package, based on their viability, and through CSR.

The Monument Mitras are selected by the ‘oversight and vision committee,’ co-chaired by the Tourism Secretary and the Culture Secretary, on the basis of the bidder’s ‘vision’ for development of all amenities at the heritage site.

There is no financial bid involved.

• Approach: Based on the number of visitors and visibility, heritage sites / monuments are classified in green, blue and orange. For example, the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal are green monuments, while Kotla Firoz Shah (Delhi) is orange.

AN ANCIENT DRAVIDIAN LANGUAGE LINK WITH THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

A new research paper published in the peer-reviewed journal of the Springer Nature Group has provided some interesting new insight on the linguistic culture of the Harappans.

About:• Research: The paper traced their language roots to proto-

Dravidian, which is the ancestral language of all the modern

Dravidian languages.

• The paper suggested that speakers of ancestral Dravidian

languages had a greater historic presence in northern India

including the Indus Valley region from where they migrated.

• The study found that the Akkadian (language spoken in

ancient Mesopotamia) word for elephant- ‘pīru’/‘pīri’ and their

variations, as well as the old Persian word for ivory, ‘pīrus’

possibly had roots in the Indus Valley.

• The paper concluded that the basic vocabulary items of a

significant population of the Indus Valley Civilisation must

have been proto-Dravidian, or that ancestral Dravidian

languages must have been spoken in the Indus Valley region.

Other Findings:• The paper titled ‘The formation of human population in

South and Central Asia’ suggested that after the decline of

the Indus Valley Civilisation, groups from north and north

western India speaking a proto-Dravidian language moved

south and east.

• It has been noted that Dravidian group languages, despite

being spoken mainly in southern India “also have scattered

representations in India’s North-Western (Brahui), North-

Eastern (Kurux, Malto), and Central (e.g., Kolami, Naiki, Parji,

Ollari, Gadaba) parts

About Indus Valley Civilization:• Indus Valley: Also called Indus valley civilization or Harappan

civilization, it is the earliest known urban culture of the Indian

subcontinent.

• Dates back to: The nuclear dates of the civilization appear

to be about 2500–1700 BCE, though the southern sites may

have lasted later into the 2nd millennium BCE.

• Discovery: The civilization was first identified in 1921 at

Harappa in the Punjab region and then in 1922 at Mohenjo-

daro (Mohenjodaro), near the Indus River in the Sindh (Sind)

region. Both sites are in present-day Pakistan, in Punjab and

Sindh provinces, respectively.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Culture

• World Heritage site: The ruins of Mohenjo-daro were

designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.

• Specifications: It is known for its urban planning, baked brick

houses, elaborate drainage systems, water supply systems,

large and new techniques in handicraft.

SREE NARAYANA GURU’S JAYANTI

PM Modi pays tributes to SreeNarayana Guru on his 167th Jayanti and remembered his teaching that “provides strength to millions”.

About:• Birth: He was born on 22nd August, 1856, in a village near

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• Significance: He was a philosopher, spiritual leader and

social reformer in India. He led a reform movement against

the injustice in the caste-ridden society of Kerala in order to

promote spiritual enlightenment and social equality.

• Social Caste: He was born into an Ezhava caste and was

considered ‘avarna’ in an era when people from backward

communities faced social injustice in the caste-ridden Kerala

society.

• Education: He was taught the basics of the Tamil and Sanskrit

languages and traditional subjects such as Siddharupam,

Balaprobhodhanam and Amarakosam.

He was intensely drawn to worship at the local temples

and composed hymns and several devotional songs.

Even as a child he expressed strong aversion toward the

caste discrimination that existed in the society.

He learned Vedas, Upanishads, literature, logical rhetoric

of Sanskrit, Hatha Yoga and other philosophies.

• Life and Enlightenment: He moved to the wilderness of

Maruthwamala were he established a hermitage and lived

a secluded life immersed in meditative thought and yoga.

This austere life, in which he subjected himself to extreme

sustenance rituals, is considered as the point at which

Narayana Guru is believed to have attained a state of

Enlightenment. This secluded life culminated in the attaining

of enlightenment by Sree Narayana Guru.

• Death: He passed away in 1928.

Contributions:• Establishment of temples and educational institutions: In the year 1912 he built the Sharada Devi Temple at

Sivagiri.

In 1913, he founded the Advaita Ashram at Aluva. This was an important event in his spiritual quest. This Ashram

was dedicated to a great principle – Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra (all men are equal in the eyes of God).

He started a Sanskrit school in Varkala and poor boys and orphans were given free education regardless of their caste.

• His philosophy: He gave the famous slogan “One Caste, One Religion,

One God for All” (OruJathi, OruMatham, OruDaivam, Manushyanu).

• He stressed the need for a Brahma Vidyalaya for a comparative study of different religious faiths.

• The Guru worked hard as a social educationist and condemned discrimination in the name of caste, creed and religion.

• Education was one of his primary concerns by which, he believed, that one could uplift his/her quality of life.

• His works: In his renowned work Atmopadesa Satakam, which

consists of one hundred verses of self-instruction, the Guru proposes his philosophy of egalitarianism, written in Malayalam around 1897.

He propagated the ideals of compassion and religious tolerance and one of his noted works, Anukampadasakam, extols various religious figures such as Krishna, The Buddha,

AdiShankara, Jesus Christ.

He furthered the non-dualistic philosophy of Adi Sankara by bringing it into practice by adding the concepts of social equality and universal brotherhood.

The Sivagiri pilgrimage was established in 1924 to promote the virtues of cleanliness, education, devotion, agriculture, handicrafts, and trade.

• National movement: He provided the impetus for Vaikom Satyagraha, which was an agitation by the lower caste against

untouchability in Hindu society of Travancore. The protest also

influenced the Temple Entry Proclamation of 1936.

PM DEDICATES A COMPLEX OF JALLIANWALA BAGH SMARAK

PM Modi virtually inaugurated the Jallianwala Bagh memorial complex in Amritsar to the nation.

About:• Four museum galleries have been established through

adaptive reuse of redundant and under-utilized buildings.

• They showcase the historical value of events that unfolded in Punjab during that period, with the fusion of audio-visual technology, including projection mapping and 3D representation, as well as art and sculptural installations.

NEXT IAS




In-Shorts | Culture

Jallianwala Bagh Massacare:• Date: on the fateful day of Baisakhi on April 13, 1919, the

British forces had fired indiscriminately on a large and peaceful gathering of protesters, killing over 1,000 people and wounding hundreds of them.

Situation before the incident:• WW-I: During World War I (1914–18) the British government of

India enacted a series of repressive emergency powers that were intended to combat subversive activities.

• The Montagu-Chelmsford Report: Presented to the British Parliament in 1918, did in fact recommend limited local self-government.

• Rowlatt Act: Instead, however, the government of India passed what became known as the Rowlatt Acts in early 1919, which essentially extended the repressive wartime measures.

• General strike: The acts were met by widespread anger and discontent among Indians, notably in the Punjab region. Gandhi in early April called for a one-day general strike throughout the country.

• Gathering: On 13th April 1919, a crowd of at least 10,000 men, women and children gathered in Jallianwala Bagh to request the release of Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal.

• Dyer: A force of several dozen troops commanded by Brig. Gen. Reginald Edward Harry Dyer was given the task of restoring order. Among the measures taken was a ban on public gatherings.

The incident:• It is not clear how many people there were protesters who

were defying the ban on public meetings and how many had come to the city from the surrounding region to celebrate Baisakhi, a spring festival. Dyer and his soldiers arrived and sealed off the exit.

• Without warning, the troops opened fire on the crowd, reportedly shooting hundreds of rounds until they ran out of ammunition.

Post- Massacre:• Martial Law: The shooting was followed by the proclamation

of martial law in the Punjab that included public floggings and other humiliations.

• Rabindranath Tagore: The Bengali poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore renounced the knighthood that he had received in 1915.

• Satyagraha: Gandhiji began organizing his first large-scale and sustained nonviolent protest (satyagraha) campaign, the noncooperation movement (1920–22), which thrust him to prominence in the Indian nationalist struggle.

• Kaiser-i-Hind: Mahatma Gandhi gave up the title of Kaiser-i-Hind, bestowed by the British for his work during the Boer War (South African War, 1899-1902).

HUNTER COMMISSION

• On October 14, 1919, the Disorders Inquiry Committee was formed to inquire about the massacre. It later came to be known as the Hunter Commission.

• The Hunter Commission was directed to announce their verdict on the justifiability, or otherwise, of the steps taken by the government.

• The Committee indicated the massacre as one of the darkest episodes of the British Administration. The Commission in 1920 censured Dyer for his actions.

• The Commander-in-Chief directed Brigadier-General Dyer to resign from his appointment as Brigade Commander and informed him that he would receive no further employment in India as mentioned in the letter by Montagu to his Excellency.

NEXT IAS




Factoids

UMLINGLA PASS: WORLD’S HIGHEST MOTOR ABLE ROAD

BRO constructs highest motorable road in the world in Eastern Ladakh.

About:• Height: The road at Umlingla Pass constructed at an altitude

of 19,300 ft.

• Record: Betters previous record of a road in Bolivia at 18,953 ft. connecting to its volcano Uturuncu.

ARAVALI BIODIVERSITY PARK

• The park, contains ecologically restored and semi-arid land vegetation.

• The natural vegetation of the park falls within the Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest (including Anogeissus pendula and Boswellia forest edaphic sub-types) and Northern Tropical Thorn Forest types recognised by Champion and Seth.

• The park has over 300 species of native plants, including a large number of arid region lithophytes.

• Over 185 bird species are reported from the park, which is an eBird hotspot.

• Black Top road: Umlingla Pass now connected with a Black Top Road

• Objective: To enhance socio-economic condition & promote tourism in Ladakh.

PLASTIC-MIXED HANDMADE PAPER GETS PATENT

Recently, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has secured Patent registration for its innovative Plastic-mixed Handmade Paper developed to reduce plastic menace from nature.

About:• Certificate: The patent certificate was issued to KVIC’s

Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute (KNHPI), Jaipur, on 2nd August 2021, by the Controller of Patent, Intellectual Property of India.

• Handmade paper: The idea of developing plastic-mixed handmade paper was invented in September 2018, and in just two months, i.e. in November 2018, the project was executed by the team of scientists at KNHPI.

• Under: The plastic-mixed handmade paper was developed under Project REPLAN (Reducing Plastic from Nature).

FACTOIDS

NEXT IAS




Factoids

• Project: This is the first of its kind project in India, where plastic waste is de-structured, degraded, diluted and used with paper pulp while making handmade paper and thus reduces plastic waste from nature.

WORLD’S FIRST BIO-BANK IN AYURVEDA AT AIIA

Ayush Minister has recently assured all help for establishing the first Bio-Bank of the world in Ayurveda at All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi.

About:• AIIA is a public Ayurveda medicine and research institution

located in New Delhi.

• Established: It was established in 2015.

• Ministry: It is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of AYUSH.

• Courses: The institute would offer postgraduate and doctoral courses in various disciplines of Ayurveda and will focus on fundamental research of Ayurveda, drug development, standardization, quality control, safety evaluation and scientific validation of Ayurveda medicine.

DRAGON FRUIT EXPORTED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO LONDON AND BAHRAIN

In a major boost to exports of exotic fruit, consignments sourced from farmers of Gujarat & West Bengal, have been exported for the first time to London, United Kingdom & Kingdom of Bahrain

About:• Refer: In India, dragon fruit is also referred to as Kamalam.

• Background: Production of ‘dragon fruit’ commenced in India in early 1990s and it was grown as home gardens.

• Varieties: There are three main varieties of dragon fruit: white flesh with pink skin, red flesh with pink skin, and white flesh with yellow skin.

However, the red and white flesh is typically being relished by the consumers.

• City: At present, dragon fruit is grown mostly in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. West Bengal is new to taking up cultivation of this exotic fruit.

• Scientific name: Scientifically referred to as Hylocereusundatus, the ‘dragon fruit’ is grown in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, the USA and Vietnam and these countries are the major competitors for Indian Dragon Fruit.

• Requirement: The cultivation of dragon fruit requires less water and can be grown in various kinds of soils. The fruit contains fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

• Benefits: It can help in repairing the cell damage caused by oxidative stress and reduce inflammation, and also improve the digestive system.

Since the fruit has spikes and petals resembling lotus, it is referred to as ‘Kamalam’.

APEDA

• It was established under the APEDA Act of 1985.

• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export

Development Authority (APEDA) is an apex body under

the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• APEDA promotes exports of agricultural & processed food

products by providing assistance to the exporters under

various components such as Infrastructure Development,

Quality Development and Market Development.

• Apart from this the Department of Commerce also

supports exports through various schemes like Trade

Infrastructure for Export Scheme, Market Access

Initiative etc.

E-PRISONER PROJECT

The Department of Home Affairs (MHA) provided financial assistance of Rs. 99.49 crores went to the United States and the Union Territories (UTs) for the E-Prisons Project.

About:• Scope: The scope of this project is to computerize and

integrate all the activities related to prison and prisoner

management in the jail.

• Application: This application suite provides vital information

about the inmates, lodged in the prisons, in real time

environment to the prison officials and other entities, involved

in Criminal Justice System.

• Developed by: EPrisons application suite has been developed

by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics &

IT (MeitY).

• It has 3 items:

E-Prison Management Information System (MIS): Used in

prisons to perform their day-to-day operations.

Portal Information Portal National: It is a citizen portal that

shows statistics on the various prisons in the country.

Kara Bazaar: An exhibition site for products made in

various prisons around the country by inmates.

NEXT IAS




Factoids

FORUM OF THE ELECTION MANAGEMENT BODIES OF SOUTH ASIA

About:• 11th Annual meeting of the Forum of the Election Management

Bodies of south Asia (FEMBoSA) for the year 2021 was inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner of India.

• Meeting: The meeting in Virtual mode was hosted by the Election Commission of Bhutan. Along with India, delegations from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka participated in the day-long meeting.

• Theme: “Use of Technology in Elections”.

• Thimphu Resolution: It was unanimously adopted by the FEMBoSA members at this meeting to extend the tenure of the chairmanship to two years during the current pandemic situation.

• Objectives of the forum: Promote contact among the EMBs of the SAARC countries.

Share experiences with a view to learning from each other. Cooperate with one another in enhancing the capabilities

of the EMBs towards conducting free and fair elections.

RELATED INFORMATION

• FEMBoSA was established at the 3rd Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies(EMBs) of SAARC Countries in 2012.

• Aim: To increase mutual cooperation in respect to the common interests of the SAARC’s EMBs.

• Member Countries: The Forum has eight Member Election Management Bodies from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The Election Commission of India is the current Chair of the Forum.

• Meeting: The annual FEMBoSA meeting is held by rotation among the members.

FOUR INDIAN SITES GET RAMSAR RECOGNITION

Recently, four more Indian sites - two each from Haryana and Gujarat - have been recognised as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

About:• According to the latest statistics from Wetlands International

South Asia, about 30% of India's natural swamps have been lost over the past three decades. In particular, the loss of wetlands is most prevalent in urban areas.

• Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest wetland in Haryana is a human-made freshwater wetland.

• Sultanpur National Park from Haryana supports more than 220 species of resident, winter migratory and local migratory water birds at critical stages of their life cycles.

• Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat lies on the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320 bird species can be found here.

• Wadhwana Wetland from Gujarat is internationally important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to migratory water birds, including over 80 species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway.

• These wetlands are home to endangered bird species like Egyptian Vulture, Saker Falcon, Sociable Lapwing, and the near threatened Dalmatian Pelican.

• With this, the number of Ramsar sites in India are 46.

INDIA FIRST BIO-BANK FOR HEART FAILURE RESEARCH

The country's first National Heart Failure Bio bank (NHFB) has been opened at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Kerala.

About:• Resource: Bio banks are important resources that contain

a collection of high-quality human organ samples that can be used to understand cellular mechanisms and improve diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of heart failure.

• Samples: Bio samples include blood, serum, tissue samples obtained during open heart surgery and peripheral blood mononuclear cell cells (PBMCs) and genomic DNA collected from heart failure patients.

• Committee: The work of the bio bank is overseen by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and a member from ICMR.

• Research centre: With heart failure emerging as a major health problem in India, ICMR has launched the National Centre for Advanced Research and Excellence in Heart Failure (CARE-HF) at SCTIMST to expand research into the field.

• Project: The Heart Failure Bio Bank is one of the highlights of the project, with a budget of 85 Lakhs for the development of art galleries.

MARBURG VIRUS

Guinea have confirmed one death from Marburg virus.

About:• Formal Name: Marburg virus disease(MVD) was formerly

known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever.

NEXT IAS




Factoids

• Type of Fever: The virus causes haemorrhagic fever and belongs to the same family (Filoviridae family) as Ebola virus.

• First Case: The virus was initially detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany; and in Belgrade, Serbia.

• Symptoms: The common symptoms of a virus are fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain and gingival haemorrhage.

• Transmission: Marburg is transmitted to people from fruit bats. The virus spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of the patient, surfaces and materials

• Fatality Rate: The case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks, depending on virus strain and case management.

• Treatment: There are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for the virus yet. Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2021

The International Youth Day was observed on 12th August to recognise and bring attention to the problems faced by the youth.

About:• International Youth Day recognises and celebrates the

contributions of youth around the world.

• Objective: International Youth Day is celebrated to recognise the efforts of the world's youth in enhancing global society and to draw attention regarding cultural and legal surrounding youngsters.

• Aims: The day promotes ways to engage youngsters in making positive contributions to their communities.

• Theme 2021: The theme of International Youth Day 2021 is "Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health". The theme highlights the success of such a global effort that will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people or youth.

• Theme 2020: The theme of International Youth Day 2020 was "Youth Engagement for Global Action". According to the UN, the theme focuses on the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national, and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes.

• History: In 1999, the United Nations decided to commemorate International Youth Day every year on this day.

It was based on a recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon to the UN General Assembly.

The first International Youth Day was observed on 12th August, 2000.

LAUNCH OF UJJWALA 2.0

The Prime Minister, launched Ujjwala 2.0 (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana - PMUY) by handing over LPG connections, at Mahoba Uttar Pradesh.

About:• Background: This scheme was launched in 2016 from Ballia

in UP, from the land of Mangal Pandey, the pioneer of the freedom struggle.

• Scheme: The Prime Minister launched the Ujjwala 2.0 scheme by giving new LPG connections to 1,000 women in the state. Under Ujjwala Yojana 2.0, one crore poor families will be given LPG connections free of cost.

• Provisions: Under this scheme, the beneficiaries will not only get deposit-free LPG connection but also free of cost first refill and hotplate.

• Inclusion: In April 2018 the scheme was expanded to include women beneficiaries from seven more categories: SC/ST, PMAY, AAY, Most backward classes, tea garden, forest dwellers, Islands. Also, the target was revised to eight crores LPG connections. This target was achieved in August 2019, seven months ahead of the target date.

• Units: Many schemes have been launched for clean energy. Process for establishing units for making compressed biogas from sugarcane waste, CBG plants is going on in 70 districts of the state. Plants are coming up in Budaun and Gorakhpur for making biofuel from ‘parali’.

NAVROZ

The Vice President greeted the people on the eve of Parsi New Year, Navroz.

About:• Time: Across the world, Navroz is celebrated at the time of the

vernal equinox (marking the start of spring) in the Northern Hemisphere.

• Celebration: Although celebrated worldwide in March, Navroz arrives 200 days later in India and is celebrated in August as Parsis here follows Shahenshahi's countless calendar year.

• Name of calender: In India, Navroz is also known as Jamshed-i-Navroz, after the Persian King, Jamshed. King Jamshed is said to have created the Shahenshahi calendar.

• Festival: Interestingly, in India, people celebrate twice a year - first according to the Iranian calendar and secondly according to the Shahenshahi calendar followed by locals and Pakistanis. The festival takes place between July and August.

NEXT IAS




Factoids

• Culture: The culture is maintained by Iranian and Zoroastrian peoples around the world.

• UNESCO list: Navroj was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of India in 2009.This desirable list is made up of those intangible heritage objects that help to highlight the diversity of cultural heritage and create awareness of its significance.

TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR FESTIVALS IN INDIA

Chaitra Shukla Pratipada:

• It marks the beginning of the new year of the Vikram Samvat also known as the Vedic (Hindu) calendar.

• Vikram Samvat is based on the day when the emperor Vikramaditya defeated Sakas, invaded Ujjain and called for a new era

Navreh:

• It is the lunar New Year that is celebrated in Kashmir. It falls on the very first day of the Chaitra Navratras.

Sajibu Cheiraoba:

• It is celebrated by Meiteis (an ethnic group in Manipur) which is observed on the first day of Manipur lunar month Shajibu, which falls in the month of April every year.

Losoong:

• Losoong also known as Namsoong is the Sikkimese New Year.

• It is usually the time when the farmers rejoice and celebrate their harvest.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The Union Home Minister has chaired the 36th meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language.

About:• The Parliamentary Committee on Official Language was set up

in 1976 under section 4 of the Official Languages Act,1963.

• Mandate: The Committee shall review the progress made in the use of Hindi for the Official purposes of the Union and submit a report to the President making recommendations. The President shall then lay the report before each House of Parliament and send it to all the State Governments.

• Composition: The Committee comprises 30 members of Parliament, 20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.

• Chairman: The Chairman of the Committee is elected by the members of the Committee. As a convention, the Union Home Minister has been elected as Chairman of the Committee from time to time.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF INDIA

• Hindi in Devanagari script is declared as the Official Language of the Union under Article 343(1).

• While adopting and framing of Constitution, it was envisaged that English will continue to be used for executive, judicial and legal purposes for an initial period of 15 years i.e. till 1965.

• Later, the Official Languages Act, 1963, a constitutional amendment allowed for the continuation of English with Hindi for indefinitely until legislation decides to change it.

• Besides, it was also provided that President may authorize the use of Hindi language for some specific purposes.

PENSILUNGPA GLACIER

A recent study found that Pensilungpa Glacier in Ladakh's Zanskar Valley is backing down.

About:• Studies: Studies have shown that backslides have increased

in temperature and humidity during the winter.

• Significance: The study also points to the significant impact of debris cover on the large balance and regression of frost loss, especially in summer.

• Trend: In addition, weight loss balance data for the past 3 years (2016-2019) showed a negative trend.

• WIHG is an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

• Zanskar Valley It is a semi-arid region that separates Zanskar from

Ladakh.

Marbal Pass, Zojila Pass in the extreme northwest of Zanskar range are two notable passes in the region.

Many rivers start in different branches of this range flow northward, and join the great Indus River. These rivers include Hanle River, Khurna River, Zanskar River, Suru River (Indus), and Shingo River.

PULICHINTALA DAM WASHES AWAY

In view of the heavy outflows from Pulichintala, a high alert has been sounded in the villages in Guntur and the Krishna district along the course of the river.

About:• Project: Pulichintala Project is a multipurpose project serving

irrigation needs, hydro power generation and flood control.

NEXT IAS




Factoids

• Facility: It is a crucial irrigation facility for farmers of four coastal districts of West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam.

• Located: It is located in Pulichintala village in Guntur district near the Krishna River, between Vykuntapuram barrage near Amravati and the Nagarjuna Sagar dam.

DAMS IN INDIA

India has 4,407 large dams, the third highest number in the world after China (23,841) and the USA (9,263).

• Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand is the highest dam in India built on Bhagirathi River.

• Hirakud Dam in Odisha built on river Mahanadi is the longest dam of India.

• Kallanai Dam in Tamil Nadu is the oldest dam of India. It is built on the Kaveri River and is about 2000 years old.

RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD RENAMED AFTER MAJOR DHYAN CHAND

Recently The highest sporting honour in the country which was named after the former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi has been rechristened in the honour of Hockey wizard Dhyan Chand.

About:• Background: It was instituted in 1991-92 and was named

after the former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi. The first recipient of the Khel Ratna Award was Chess Vishwanathan Anand.

• List of winners: The other winners of the award include Sachin Tendulkar, Leander Paes, Dhanraj Pillay, Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand, Mary Kom, Arjun Bobby George, Rani Rampal.

• Honour: The highest sports honour now renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award comes with a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakhs.

About Major Dhyanchand:• About: Major Dhyan Chand who was also known as The

Wizard was a field hockey player. He played International Hockey from 1926 to 1949 and scored over 400 goals in his career.

• Birth: Dhyan Chand was born in Allahabad and was part of the Olympic teams that won Gold Medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936.

• Award: Apart from the Khel Ratna Award, India's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports is also known as Major Dhyan Chand Award. The National Stadium in Delhi was also renamed in 2002 as Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

NEXT IAS




Factoids

SMART ANGANWADI PROJECT: KERALA

The government of Kerala is all set to have “smart” anganwadis with better amenities.

About:• Initiative: It is an initiative of Government of Kerala for

improving the service delivered at Anganwadi Centre for

overall physical and mental development of children.

• Scheme: Under this scheme, the Department of Women and

Child Development has granted 48 anganwadis of the states

to construct its new buildings.

• Space: It provides space for class rooms, dining hall, kitchen,

store room, creative zone, and indoor and outdoor play area.

• Funds: The funds have been provided by the State Government

and Local Self Government Department Institutions.

• Under: The smart anganwadis are being designed and

constructed under the Integrated Child Development Scheme

(ICDS).

SON CHIRAIYA

A brand and logo for marketing of urban Self-Help Group (SHG) products has been launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

About:• DAY – NULM: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban

Livelihoods Mission (DAY–NULM), under the aegis of

MoHUA, has focussed on equipping the urban poor women

with adequate skills and opportunities, and to enable them to

promote sustainable micro enterprises.

• SHGs: Over 5.7 lakh SHGs have been formed across various

States/UTs with almost 60 lakh members.

• Activities: Many of these SHGs are engaged in livelihood

activities, producing goods such as handicrafts, textiles,

toys, eatables and so on.

• These were being sold primarily in local neighbourhood

markets and often faced barriers in achieving visibility and

wide market access.

• Challenges: To overcome these challenges, the Ministry

entered into Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with

leading e-Commerce Portals viz. Amazon and Flipkart, with

an underlying narrative of women empowerment.

• Online training: Innovative methods of online training for

SHGs have been ensured to enable them to smoothly operate

on e-portals.

• Initiative: This initiative will certainly prove as a step towards

increased visibility and global access for the products made

by urban SHG women.

• Logo: With this logo, the Ministry expects to link many

more such SHG members, with a variety of professionally

packaged, hand-craft.

WORLD LION DAY 2021

Every year on the 10th of August World Lion Day is celebrated annually throughout the world to raise awareness about the conservation of lions.

About:• The lion is an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.

• The 5 biggest cats are found mostly in India, including the

Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian leopard, Clouded Leopard, and

Snow leopard.

• India is also recorded as the highest lion population with an

increase of 29 percent from 2015 to 2020.

• Significance: Lions maintain the ecological balance and

ensure the protection of natural forests and help in the

conservation of biodiversity.

• Status in India: India is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion,

who inhabit the protected territory of Sasan-Gir National Park

(Gujarat).

According to the data from 2020, there are 674 lions in

India, which were 523 in 2015.

• History: The day has been celebrated across the world

since 2013. The day was co-founded by Dereck and Beverly

Joubert of the Big Cat Initiative and National Geographic in a

partnership.

• Major objectives:

To raise awareness about the plight of the lion & other

issues that the species faces in the wild.

To find ways to protect its natural habitat and for creating

more such habitats like national parks.

To educate people who live near wild cats on the dangers

and how to protect themselves.

• Threats: Trophy hunting and Loss of natural habitat.

GLOBAL MANUFACTURING RISK INDEX, 2021

India has emerged as a global manufacturing hub and effectively surpassed the United States to become the world’s second most desired manufacturing destination.

NEXT IAS




Factoids

About:• Released by: The report is released by Cushman & Wakefield,

a global commercial real estate services firm.

• The report assesses the most advantageous locations for global manufacturing among 47 countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific (APAC).

• Parameters for rank Determining: The rankings in the report are determined based on four key parameters:

the country’s capability to restart manufacturing,

business environment (availability of talent/labor, access to markets),

operating costs, and

the risks (political, economic and environmental).

• Rankings: China remained at the first position. The US is at third position, followed by Canada, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Lithuania, Thailand, Malaysia and Poland.

• India has been placed at second raking. India outranked US to get the second rank.

WHAT IS THE INCEL MOVEMENT?

The movement came into the spotlight yet again in the UK’s Plymouth, where a 22-year-old man named Jake Davidson shot dead five people, including a toddler, in what is widely being called the worst incident of its kind in British history since 2010.

About:• It is a dangerous online subculture comprising men who

identify as ‘involuntary celibates’ and regularly express deeply misogynistic views about women.

• Incels: They are a largely online community of men who describe themselves as “involuntary celibates.

• Viewpoint: Men who are part of this movement harbor a deep resentment towards both women and other men who are sexually active.

The blame women for their own lack of sexual and social status.

While views tend to vary, some believe that sex is their right — something that is owed to them by virtue of them being males.

Red Pill & Black Pill Mentality:• The ‘black pill’ theory: It is often associated with incels,

promotes the defeatist idea that your fate is sealed at birth and no matter what changes you try to make, your sexual capital cannot be altered.

• ‘Red pillers’: They believe the world is biased toward women, and see feminism as female supremacy. They believe there is a systemic bias in favor of women.

NATIONAL HANDICRAFT AWARDS

Two women from Sabang in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district have been given the National Handicraft Award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the development of crafts, Madur Floor Mats.

About: Madur Floor Mats• Madur was a unique household tradition in West Bengal.

• Madhurkathi was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry in April 2018.

• Madurkathi is a rhizome-based plant (Cyperus tegetum or Cyperus pangorei) found abundantly in the alluvial tracts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur.

About National Handicraft Award:• National Handicraft Award are the highest award aims to give

recognition for encouragement to outstanding crafts persons

to maintain excellence in craftsmanship and keep alive our

old tradition.

• Awards Schemes for Handicrafts Artisans:

• The Handicrafts Award namely Shilp Guru Award, National

Award and National Merit Certificates are amongst the

highest Award for the Handicrafts artisans of the Country

• Category of Awards:

Shilp Guru Award

National Award

National Merit Certificate

NEXT IAS




Test Yourself

1. What is the correct order of taxonomic hierarchy?

(a) Domain > Class > Family > Order > Genus > Species

(b) Class> Domain > Family > Order > Genus > Species

(c) Order > Domain > Class > Family > Genus > Species

(d) Domain > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species

2. With regard to Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle, choose the correct statement:

(a) It is a critically endangered species as per the IUCN Red List

(b) It has become extinct in the wild

(c) It is hunted for its softshell

(d) It is native to Myanmar and Vietnam

3. The phenomenon of Skyglow is associated with:

(a) Light reflected from the celestial bodies

(b) Low flying satellites

(c) Man-made lights in urban landscapes

(d) All of the above

4. With regard to the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme in India, chose the correct statements:

1. It was launched in 2006

2. It envisages to provide 10% EBP by 2025 across India

3. Its target is to achieve 20% EBP supply by 2030

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only

(c) 3 only (d) 1 and 3

5. With regard to quail farming, choose the correct statement:

(a) It is more profitable than poultry framing as it carries lesser input cost

(b) It is possible only in winters

(c) Quail eggs cannot be used for human consumption, though quail meat is highly beneficial

(d) None of the above statements is correct

6. Which of the following statements are correct with regard to the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi)?

1. It is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

2. It sets standards for climate action in the public as well as private sector


(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None

7. Consider the following statements with reference to e-Rupi Digital Payment system

1. It is a QR code or SMS string-based e-Voucher, which is delivered to the mobile of the beneficiaries.

2. The mobile number which receives this e-voucher must be linked to a bank account to ensure the cashless nature of it.

3. It can be gifted from one person to another and is interoperable between different types of services.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

8. Consider the following statements with reference to RBI-Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI Index)

1. It was launched in March 2018 to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.

2. It is now published on a semi-annual basis with a lag of four months.



(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

9. Consider the following statements with reference to Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norms

1. The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules prescribes that a listed entity must have at least 25 per cent of public shareholding.

2. Stock exchanges can impose fine on companies for each day of non-compliance with the MSP requirement.

3. Recently the central government amended Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules and gave itself power to exempt any listed public sector company from any or all of the provisions of these rules.


(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

10. Consider the following statements regarding National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

1. It was launched in 2018 to increase production of palm oil by threefold by 2025-2026.

2. It puts special emphasis on India’s north-eastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to the conducive weather conditions in the regions.

3. For the first time under this scheme, the Government of India gives a price assurance to the oil palm farmers.



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

11. Consider the following statements with reference to General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Act, 2021

1. It removes the provision of 51% shareholding of the central government in the public insurers.

2. It holds even a director who is not a whole-time director responsible for acts of omission and commission by the insurer.

3. It allows the Centre to relinquish control of a public insurer from a given date.



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Multiple Choice Questions

Test Yourself

NEXT IAS




Test Yourself

12. Consider the following statements regarding Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index)

1. It has been launched in 2021 to capture the extent of financial inclusion in the country.

2. It has been launched with base year 2017 and will be published annually.

3. A unique feature of the Index is the Quality parameter which captures the quality aspect of financial inclusion



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

13. Consider the following statements regarding Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme

1. It aims to refund to exporters only those central, state and local taxes that are not refunded under any other scheme.

2. It issues rebates only in the form of a transferable duty credit/ electronic scrip (e-scrip) and not physical scrips.

3. It also provides rebate for sectors like iron and steel, mineral products, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.


(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 only

(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 3 only

14. Consider the following statements regarding G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP)

1. It is a secondary market government securities acquisition programme to enable a stable and orderly evolution of the bond yield curve.

2. It differs from open market operations in the sense that it gives out a particular quantum of bond purchase and thus provides upfront assurance.




15. Consider the following statements regarding SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0

1. It is an Industry 4.0 initiative of Department of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Heavy Industries.

2. It has been launched under scheme on Enhancement of Competitiveness in Indian Capital Goods Sector.



(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the above

16. Gati Shakti scheme recently in news aims at

(a) Easier inter-connectivity between road, rail, air and waterways

(b) Promotion of women SHGs on E-commerce

(c) Promoting Girls admissions in Sainik Schools

(d) None of the above

17. Consider the following statements regarding Vande Bharat Train

1. It is India’s first indigenously built, fully air-conditioned, engineless semi-high speed train.

2. It is capable of running at a speed of up to 160 kmph (design speed 180 km/hr) and referred to as a successor to the around 30-year-old Shatabdi Express.

3. Executive chair car seats of the train can be rotated 180 degrees to face fellow passengers and can be aligned in the direction of travel.



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

18. Consider the following statements regarding Sainik schools

1. These are residential schools run under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.

2. The first Sainik School was started in 1961 when V K Krishna Menon was the defence minister.




19. Consider the following statements regarding National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP)

1. It aims to unlock value in greenfield projects by engaging the private sector and transferring to them revenue rights.

2. The pipeline has been developed by NITI Aayog, in consultation with infrastructure line ministries.




20. Consider the following statements regarding SAMRIDH Scheme

1. It aims to create a conducive platform for Indian Software Product startups to enhance their products and securing investments.

2. It mandates that the partnering accelerator must have been in the business of incubation for more than 3 years.

3. It is being implemented by Ministry of Commerce.



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

21. Consider the following statements regarding Ubharte sitare Programme (USP)

1. It aims to provide structured support to Indian companies that have the potential to be future champions in the domestic arena while catering to global demands

2. 'Ubharte Sitaare Fund' (USF) has been launched under it with a size of 250 crores.




22. With respect to Genome sequencing, consider the following statements:

1. It can be used to find changes in areas of the genome.

2. It enabled the world to rapidly identify SARS-CoV-2 and develop diagnostic tests for it.

3. Its continued use can supports the monitoring of the disease’s spread

Which of the following is/are correct?


(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

23. With respect to Food Fortification, consider the following statements:

1. There has been no evidence at all that fortifying food causes any adverse impact on human health

2. Mandatory food fortification of staple diet sources is seen as the only solution to India’s malnourishment problem.

NEXT IAS




Test Yourself

3. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has operationalized Regulations for fortification of food.

Which of the following is/are NOT correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

24. With respect to National Gene Bank, consider the following statements: 1. It was established in 1996 at the National Bureau of Plant

Genetic Resources (NBPGR) New Delhi2. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources is meeting the

need of in-situ germoplasm conservation of country. 3. After refurbishing it is world's second-largest Gene Bank

Which of the following is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 , 2 and 3

25. With respect to grating patent to Artificially Intelligent system, consider the following statements: 1. Australia became the first patent office to grant patent to an

AI system. 2. DABUS (Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of

Unified Sentience) became the first AI to get patent for its innovation for food containers.

3. It is also credited with inventing the cross-bristle toothbrush design but was not granted patent for it.

Which of the following is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2 and 3 only

26. With respect to recent finding by Chandrayaan-2, consider the following statements: 1. It has for the first time detected presence of water and

hydroxyl molecules. 2. ISRO’s indigenous Imaging Infrared Spectrometer is

credited for differentiating these molecules with precision. 3. Formation of these molecules is majorly attributed to Solar

weathering blended with other factors. Which of the following is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 , 2 and 3

27. With respect to traditional Indian herbAshwagandha”, consider the following statements: 1. This shrub is a native to India only. 2. Its efficacy in reducing anxiety and stress, improving muscle

strength and reducing symptoms of fatigue in patients treated for chronic conditions has been demonstrated.

3. It is easily accessible as over the counter nutritional supplement in UK.

Which of the following is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1 , 2 and 3

28. Consider the following statements, with respect to recent guidelines introduced by centre to provide framework for sharing biological data: 1. These guidelines were developed by Department of

Biotechnology (DBT) under Ministry of Environment and Forest.

2. They deal with generation of biological data per as well as creation of enabling mechanism to share and exchange information and knowledge generated through it.

3. National Bio-Grid will be the National Repository for biological knowledge, information, data and will be responsible for enabling its exchange.



(c) 3 only (d) 1 , 2 and 3

29. With respect to Covid-19 vaccines, consider the following statements:

1. India is the only country to conduct a study on mixing of Covid vaccines.

2. Under this study immunisation with a combination of an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine named Covaxin followed by an inactivated whole virus vaccine named Covishield was studied.

3. The study found that this mix and match is not only safe but also elicited better immunogenicity

Which of the following is/are NOT correct?


(c) 3 only (d) 2 and 3

30. With respect to Global Satellite Navigation System, consider the following statements:

1. They provides positioning, navigation, and precise-time (PNT) services on a global or regional basis

2. The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, also known as Michibiki is a global GNSS owned by Japan.

3. India’s NavIC is a regional GNSS which was established keeping in mind the strategic need of India.



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 , 2 and 3

31. With respect to Hurricanes, consider the following statements:

1. Tropical cyclones are known as ‘Hurricanes’ in the North Atlantic Ocean and the eastern North Pacific

2. Cold ocean waters provide the energy a storm needs to become a hurricane

3. The fall of recent Hurricane Ida can cause rise in prices of Oil.



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

32. Consider the following factors:

1. Urbanisation

2. Unscientific construction activities

3. Occurrence of fault

Which of the above is/are causative agents for earthquake?


(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

33. With respect to Black holes, consider the following statements:

1. They are formed when a star is born.

2. When two or more galaxies come closer there black hole can also come together and collide.

3. Active Galactic Nuclei accrete matter so they often have a glow around them which can be observed using light spectroscopy



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

NEXT IAS




Test Yourself

34. Consider the following sustainable development goals:

1. SDG -3 2. SDG-7

3. SDG-11

The objectives of which of above are fulfilled by eliminating leaded petrol?


(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 , 2 and 3

35. With respect to Nationally Determined Contributions –Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA), consider the following statements:

1. It aims to promote a comprehensive approach to decarbonize transport in India, Sri Lanka, and China.

2. It will allow India and other partner countries to achieve accountable long-term targets by making a sectoral contribution through various interventions, coordinated with a large number of stakeholders in the domain.

3. On behalf of the Government of India, NITI Aayog will be the implementing partner.



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 , 2 and 3

36. With reference to Food and Agriculture Organisation, consider the following statements:

1. It strives to provide information and support sustainable agriculture through legislation and national strategies, with the goal of alleviating hunger.

2. Fundings to FAO comes from industrialized countries, development banks.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?



37. With reference to World Food Programme, consider the following statements:

1. It was established in 1961 by the OECD to help alleviate world hunger.

2. In 2020 the World Food Programme (WFP) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

3. WFP is governed by an Executive Board consisting of 36 Member States.



(c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

38. Which of the following are subsumed under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan:

1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)

2. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)

3. Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

39. With reference to Section 375 of IPC, consider the following statements:

1. Exception 2 to Section 375 exempts unwilling sexual intercourse between a husband and a wife over fifteen years of age from Section 375’s definition ofrape”.

2. It is against the Doctrine of Coverture.




40. Which of the following initiatives of Government of India are related to skill development:

1. PMKVY 2. Udaan Scheme

3. SANKALP 4. PM-DAKSH



(c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

41. With reference to National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, consider the following statements:

1. It is an autonomous organisation under the Union Ministry of Rural Development.

2. It is also recognized internationally as one of the UN-ESCAP Centres of Excellence.

3. It is was established in 1958.



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

42. With reference to Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, consider the following statements:

1. It is a Central Sector scheme launched by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.

2. It is a scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens only belonging to BPL category.

3. The scheme will be implemented by State Governments.



(c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

43. With reference to Siachen Glacier, consider the following statements:

1. It is lying in Karakoram Range system of Kashmir near India-Pakistan Border

2. It is source to Shyok river.




44. With reference to National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, consider the following statements:

1. It is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development.

2. It inquires into complaints relating to a child's right to free and compulsory education under the Right to Education Act, 2009.

3. It monitors the implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

45. With reference to Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, consider the following statements:

1. It is an independent body constituted to give advice on economic and related issues to the Government of India.

2. These advices could be either suo-motu or on reference from the Prime Minister or anyone else.

NEXT IAS




Test Yourself




46. With reference to National Institute of Social Defence, consider the following statements:

1. It was set up originally as the Central Bureau of Correctional Services in 1961, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

2. It is an autonomous body vide Government of India and is registered under the Societies Act XXI of 1860.




47. With reference to Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II, consider the following statements:

1. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II.

2. It aims to bring DISCOMs at forefront as key drivers for rapid deployment of RTS.

3. The MNRE is providing a 40% subsidy for the first 3 kW and 20% subsidy beyond 3 kW and upto 10 kW of solar panel capacity.



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

48. With reference to Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), consider the following statements:

1. It is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women & Child Development.

2. It is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, 1993.

3. It included a new clause in the adoption regulations, according to which when parents with their adopted child move abroad within two years of adoption have to intimate Indian diplomatic missions of their departure and arrival at least two weeks in advance.



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

49. With reference to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), consider the following statements:

1. It provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household.

2. It attempts to bridge the gap between the rich and poor in the country.

3. Roughly half of the stipulated work force must be women.



(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

50. With reference to Bhuvan Portal, consider the following statements:

1. It is the national Geo-portal developed and hosted by ISRO.

2. It comprises Geo Spatial Data, Services and Tools for Analysis.


(a) 1 only (b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

51. With reference to SUJALAM CAMPAIGN, consider the following statements:1. It was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development.2. The Campaign would help in the management of the

wastewater.3. The campaign started on August 25, 2021, is part of the

‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrationsWhich of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only(c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

52. With reference to Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin phase-2, consider the following statements:1. It is aimed at ensuring effective solid and liquid waste

management in every panchayat.2. It has a total outlay of ₹1,40,881 crore and will focus

on sustaining the gains made in the first phase of the programme in the past five years in terms of toilet access and usage.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 only (b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

53. With reference to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), consider the following statements:1. It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing

research and education in agriculture.2. It is under the aegis of DARE, Ministry of Agriculture and

Farmers Welfare.3. It was established in 1952 as a registered society under

the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

54. With reference to GLOBAL MANUFACTURING RISK INDEX, 2021, consider the following statements:1. The report is released by World Economic Forum.2. It assesses the most advantageous locations for global

manufacturing among 47 countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific (APAC).

3. USA remained at the first position.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

55. Which of the following is/are related to Art and Craft:1. Guru Shishya Parampara 2. Shilpgram3. Octave 4. Shilp Guru AwardSelect the correct answer using the code(s) given below?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only(c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4"

56. With reference to Madur Floor Mats, consider the following statements:1. It was a unique household tradition in West Bengal. 2. It has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag3. Madurkathi is a rhizome-based plant.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

NEXT IAS




Test Yourself

57. With reference to Al-Mohed Al-Hindi Exercise, consider the following statements:

1. It is the first-ever Naval joint exercise between India and Iran.

2. It was held at was held at King Abdul Aziz Naval Base.




58. With reference to Military Exercises involving Indian Navy, consider the following pairs:

1. Indra : Russia

2. Naseem-Al-Bahr : Saudi Arabia

3. Samudra Shakti : Indonesia

Select the correct answer using the code(s) given below:


(c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

59. With reference to ancient history, the term ‘pīru’/‘pīri’, is related to which of the following?

(a) Temple shrine (b) Bullock carts

(c) Ivory (d) Manuscript"

60. Which of the following cities are identified under the PRASAD scheme?

1. Dwarka 2. Gaya

3. Kamakhya



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

61. With reference to Somnath temple, consider the following statements:

1. It is believed to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.

2. The present mandir was reconstructed in the Chaulukya style of Hindu temple architecture.

3. This style of architecture is also known as “Kailash Mahameru Prasad"" style



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

62. With reference to Indian Coast Guard, consider the following statements:

1. It is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India.

2. The Indian Coast Guard was formally established in 1952.

3. The Coast Guard works in close cooperation with the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Revenue (Customs).



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

63. With reference to Malabar Exercise, consider the following statements:

1. It involves the navies of the four member nations of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

2. It was started in 1992.




64. With reference to International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), consider the following statements:

1. It was established in 1997.

2. It is an Autonomous Research and Development Centre of Ministry of Earth Sciences.

3. Its aim include Development of High Performance Materials and Processes for Niche Markets.



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

65. With reference to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), consider the following statements:

1. It is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.

2. India became a signatory to the UNCLOS in 1982.

3. The convention defines distance of 24 nautical miles from the baseline as Territorial Sea limit.



(c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

66. The term Nine Das Line is the demarcation line used by the People's Republic of China (China) for its claims of the major part of which of the following?

(a) South China Sea (b) Sea of Japan

(c) Yellow Sea (d) East China Sea"

67. The islands of Chagos has been in news recently, It is part of which of the following Indian Ocean Country?

(a) Comoros (b) Seychelles

(c) Mauritius (d) Maldives

68. Gulhifalhu port is located in which of the following countries?

(a) Maldives (b) Srilanka

(c) Seychelles (d) Yemen

69. With reference to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, consider the following statements:

1. He was popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab or ""Lion of Punjab"".

2. He successfully absorbed and united the Sikh misls and took over other local kingdoms to create the Sikh Empire.

3. His reign introduced reforms, modernization, investment into infrastructure, and general prosperity.



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

70. With reference to Shree Narayana Guru, consider the following statements:

1. He was a philosopher, spiritual leader and social reformer in India.

2. He led a reform movement against the injustice in the caste-ridden society of Assam.

3. He propagated the ideals of compassion and religious tolerance and one of his noted works, Anukampadasakam.



(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

NEXT IAS




Test Yourself

71. With reference to the incident of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, consider the following statements:1. The shooting was followed by the proclamation of martial

law in the Punjab.2. The Bengali poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore

renounced the knighthood that he had received in 1915.3. Mahatma Gandhi gave up the title of Kaiser-i-Hind.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

72. With reference to Hunter Commission, consider the following statements:1. Also known as the Disorders Inquiry Committee was

formed to inquire about the Jallianwala massacre.2. The Hunter Commission in 1920 censured Dyer for his

actions.3. The Commander-in-Chief directed Brigadier-General Dyer

to resign from his appointment.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

73. With reference to Moplah rebellion, consider the following statements:1. Also called as the Mappila or Moplah Rebellion by the

British, happened from August 20, 1921 to 1922 in the Malabar region of Kerala.

2. It was an unarmed revolt, led by Variyamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji.

3. It started as a resistance against the British colonial rule in Malabar region of Kerala.


74. With reference to 'Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’ scheme, consider the following statements:1. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration

with the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India.

2. It aims at ensuring quality & inclusive provision of amenities and facilities across heritage, natural, & tourist sites.


75. With reference to Narayankoti Temples, consider the following statements:1. It is a group of ancient temples located in Uttarakhand.2. It’s the only place in the country where temples of all the

nine planets are present.3. The temple group complex has a stone tank called

VirabhadraKund or Brahmakund.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

76. With reference to the Battle of Haldighati, consider the following statements:1. It was fought on 18 June 1576 between the armies of

Maharana Pratap, the Rana of Mewar, and the Mughal emperor Akbar’s forces, led by Man Singh I of Amber.

2. Haldighati is a region in the Aravalli mountain range, which links Rajsamand and Pali districts in Rajasthan.


77. With reference to Bhil community, consider the following statements:1. The Bhil are one of the largest tribal groups and are listed

as indigenous people of the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, as well as in Tripura.

2. The name Bhil is also mentioned in the great epic - Mahabharata and Ramayana.

3. They are excellent archers and their weapon is bow made of bamboo.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 ony (d) 1, 2 and 3

78. With reference to India-UAE Relations, consider the following statements:1. Indians in UAE make up the largest minority ethnic group

of roughly 38% of UAE's total residents.2. India's major export items to UAE include petroleum

products; precious metals; stones, gems & jewelry; minerals; food items.

3. UAE was the largest import source of crude oil for India in 2011-12 with import of 15.79 MMT of crude oil.


79. Exercise Talisman Sabre is a biennial, multinational military exercise between:(a) India and Australia (b) United States and Australia(c) Japan and Australia (d) India and Japan"

80. With reference to Inner Line Permit (ILP), consider the following statements:1. It is obligatory for Foreign citizens from outside to obtain a

permit for entering into the protected state.2. This is an offshoot of the Bengal Eastern Frontier

Regulations, 1873.3. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram use

the system.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

81. With reference to SarlaThukral, consider the following statements:1. She was the first Indian woman to fly an aircraft.2. Delhi-born Sarla was fiercely ambitious who got an aviation

pilot license in 1936 when she was just 21.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 only (b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

82. With reference to Pingali Venkavya, consider the following statements:1. He was a freedom fighter and the designer of the flag on

which the Indian national flag is based.

2. The flag he designed was known as Swaraj Flag.




NEXT IAS




Test Yourself

83. With reference to National Council on Science Museums, consider the following statements:1. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of

Culture, Govt. of India.2. It was established in 1978 based on the recommendations

of Taskforce formed by the Planning Commission.3. NCSM is the world’s largest network of science centers

and museums that functions under a single administrative umbrella.


84. With reference to Halam Sub-tribes, consider the following statements:1. Halams live in typical "Tong Ghar"" specially made of

bamboo and Chan grass.2. Halam communities belong to the Kuki-Chin tribes of

Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group.3. They are native to the state of Tripura and Assam, Mizoram

in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

85. With reference to Bengal School of Art, consider the following statements:1. It is also called the Renaissance School or the Revivalist

School, as it represented the first modern movement of Indian art.

2. It was promoted and supported by British arts administrators like E. B. Havell, the principal of the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata.

3. Among the other renowned artists of this style of painting are Amit Sarkar, Ajoy Ghosh, Sankarlal Aich, Amal Chaklader, etc.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

86. With reference to Abanindranath Tagore, consider the following statements:1. He helped shape modern Indian art and was the creator of

the iconic ‘Bharat Mata’ painting.2. He first created the ‘Indian School of Oriental Art’ and later

went on to establish Bengal school of art.3. His works on one hand reflected the glorious legacy and

magnificent brilliance of the Rajput and Mughal miniatures.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 and 3 only"

87. With reference to Quit India Movement, consider the following statements:1. It was launched at the Bombay Session of the All India

Congress Committee (AICC), demanding an end to British rule in India.

2. ArunaAsaf Ali also known as the 'Grand Old Lady' of the Independence Movement hosted the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan during the Quit India Movement.

3. Female leaders like Usha Mehta helped establish an underground radio station, leading to the awakening of the movement.


(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

88. With reference to Vehicle Scrapping Policy, consider the following statements:1. It dictates that all automobiles over a certain age should be

off the roads in the interest of better pollution control and safety

2. Commercial vehicles over 15 year old and personal vehicles over 20 years old are marked for scrapping under the policy.

3. Both diesel and petrol vehicles have been subjected to same conditions under the policy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 3(c) 2 only (d) 1 and 2 only"

89. With reference to Tribunal Reforms Bill, 2021, consider the following statements:1. The bill has replaced the existing appellate authorities and

vested those powers in the Supreme Court.2. The bill has amended the Finance Act, 2017.3. The bill has provided for dissolution of tribunals under

Patents Act.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

90. With reference to Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, consider the following statements:1. The amendment provided that no tax demand should be

raised in the future for any indirect transfer of Indian assets if the transaction was before 28 May 2012.

2. The law aimed to bring past indirect transfer of Indian assets under the ambit of taxation till cut-off state.


91. With reference to cases against legislators, consider the following statements:1. Supreme court directed that without HC nod states couldn’t

clear MPs, MLAs in cases.2. The court also opined that judicial officers presiding over

Special Courts or CBI Courts involving prosecution of MPs or MLAs should not be transferred until further orders.


92. With reference to Preventive Detention, consider the following statements:1. Preventive detention can only be done if detenu affects or

likely to affect public order.2. Indulging in cheating or criminal breach of trust certainly

affects ‘law and order’ but before telling that it affects ‘Public Order’, it must affect public at large or a section of public.

3. Preventive detention is an integral part of Indian constitution which is contrary to other democracies around the world.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 and 3 only"

NEXT IAS




Test Yourself

93. With reference to Pardoning power of the governor of a state, consider the following statements:1. Supreme Court held that the Governor of a State can

pardon prisoners serving jail term and waiting for capital punishment.

2. Governor’s power to pardon does not override the provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure Section 433A.


94. With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), consider the following statements:1. It is a Central Sector Umbrella Scheme which envisages

for development of food processing industries across the country.

2. Its components include Creation of Backward & Forward linkages Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, Human Resource and Institutions, Operation Greens.

3. The scheme aims at development of modern infrastructure and common facilities to encourage group of entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach.


95. With reference to Operation Greens Scheme, consider the following statements:1. The scheme aimed for integrated development of all fruits

& vegetables (TOTAL), as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

2. The scheme aims to protect the growers of fruits and vegetables from making distress sale due to lockdown and reduce the post -harvest losses.

3. Under the scheme Entire cost of Transportation of eligible crops from surplus production cluster to consumption is borne by centre.


96. With reference to provisions related to Schedule Tribes in Indian Constitution, consider the following statements:1. Article 366 (25) of the Constitution refers to Scheduled

Tribes as those communities, who are scheduled in accordance with Article 342 of the Constitution.

2. The list of Scheduled Tribes is State/UT specific and a community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State.

3. The Constitution provides detailed criteria for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe.


97. With reference to Apoointment of Judges of High courts and Supreme courts, consider the following statements:1. For Supreme Court Appointments, Collegium comprises of

Chief Justice of India and four other senior most judges of Supreme Court.

2. Judges of High Courts are appointed by the President in consultation with the governor of the state in case of appointment of judges as well as Chief Justice of high court.

3. The Collegium system is neither mentioned in the constitution nor brought by an act of parliament.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only(c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

98. With reference to Nirbhaya Fund, consider the following statements:1. Nirbhaya Fund has been instituted as a dedicated fund to

be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women.

2. It is a non-lapsable corpus fund, being administered by Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance.


99. With reference to Fast Track Special Court, consider the following statements:1. They are dedicated courts for swift justice for victims of

sexual offences and strengthen the deterrence framework for sexual offenders.

2. Fast track courts (FTCs) were first recommended by the Eleventh Finance Commission in 2000

3. 1,023 fast track special courts (FTSCs) have been proposed to be set up under the Central sector Scheme.


100. Accretion disk, a term sometimes seen in news, is related to (a) Black Hole (b) Asteroid(c) Meteors (d) Comets

ANSWER KEY 1. (d) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (a) 6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (b) 9. (d) 10. (c) 11. (d) 12. (b) 13. (a) 14. (c) 15. (c) 16. (a) 17. (d) 18. (c) 19. (b) 20. (a) 21. (c) 22. (d) 23. (a) 24. (c) 25. (b) 26. (b) 27. (c) 28. (c) 29. (b) 30. (c) 31. (c) 32. (d) 33. (b) 34. (d) 35. (b) 36. (c) 37. (b) 38. (a) 39. (a) 40. (d) 41. (d) 42. (c) 43. (a) 44. (d) 45. (c) 46. (b) 47. (d) 48. (d) 49. (b) 50. (c) 51. (b) 52. (c) 53. (a) 54. (b) 55. (d) 56. (d) 57. (b) 58. (b) 59. (c) 60. (d) 61. (d) 62. (a) 63. (c) 64. (b) 65. (c) 66. (a) 67. (c) 68. (a) 69. (d) 70. (a) 71. (d) 72. (d) 73. (a) 74. (c) 75. (d) 76. (c) 77. (d) 78. (a) 79. (b) 80. (b) 81. (c) 82. (c) 83. (d) 84. (d) 85. (d) 86. (c) 87. (d) 88. (b) 89. (b) 90. (c) 91. (c) 92. (c) 93. (b) 94. (c) 95. (a) 96. (a) 97. (d) 98. (c) 99. (d) 100. (a)

NEXT IAS




Test Yourself

GS Paper-I

1. Discuss the role played by the Western Ghats vis-à-vis

the effect of monsoon on the western Indian Peninsula.

How does this explain the high biodiversity found in the

Western Ghats? 10

2. Climate extreme events are now greater than war and

biological events in number and cause more economic

losses. Analyze. 10

3. Feminism is the notion that each individual should be free

to develop their own talents and not be held back by man-

made barriers. Discuss 10

4. Differentiate between tropical and temperate cyclones.

Discuss the mechanism of their formation and How they

are distributed over the globe. 10

5. Jallianwallah Bagh incident was the Massacre that Led

to the End of the British Empire. The events at Jallianwala

Bagh, in the Indian city of Amritsar, marked the beginning

of the resistance against colonial governance. Critically

Analyze. 10

GS Paper-II

6. Evaluate some of the important announcements made

by Indian prime minister on 75th Independence day

highlighting India’s vision for next 25 years (Amrit Kaal).

10

7. What are the key features of MGNREGA? Discuss how it

has helped in reducing Poverty in India. 10

8. China seems to have completed its String of Pearls around

India with control over Gwadar port in Pakistan. Is India

doing its bit to counter this move by China? 10

9. What are the constitutional provisions related to pardoning

powers of President? Discuss how the pardoning power of

Governor are different from that of the President. 10

10. Preventive detention laws practically sacrifice due process

interests at the altar of crime control. Do you agree with

this statement? Explain. 15

11. Real democratic freedom is impossible without economic

equality. Analyze. 15

12. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

(NCPCR) is the apex body for upholding, monitoring

and facilitating child rights in the country. Discuss its

importance and various steps taken by the commission

for the betterment of Child rights in India. 15

GS Paper-III

13. Light pollution is depriving the humanity of its connection

with the darkness. In this context, discuss the impact of

light pollution and suggest ways to address this issue.

15

14. What do you mean by carbon neutrality? Discuss its role

in achieving Paris Agreement goals vis-à-vis Sustainable

Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger. 15

15. Examine the challenges that plague the Indian oil and

natural gas sector and suggest some measures to

overcome them. 15

16. India’s sovereign right to tax is absolutely intact. Examine

in the wake of recent amendments in Taxation laws to

abolish retrospective taxes. 15

17. What do you understand by Industry 4.0? Examine the

necessity of fourth industrial revolution to ensure Indian

industries growth and make India a manufacturing hub.

15

18. List down the salient features of the recently launched

National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP). Also, examine

the challenges in its implementation and suggest way

forward. 15

19. For decades, the services industry powered India’s

growth and tempered unemployment in the world’s

second-most populous nation. The coronavirus pandemic

is now leading to calls for an urgent rebalancing of the

economy toward manufacturing. Discuss. 15

20. India’s employment crisis calls for more government

expenditure in education, adequate training. Discuss 15

Subjective Questions

NEXT IAS

September 2021 - Amazon AWS

Documents

Transcript of September 2021 - Amazon AWS