Nov 3, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - BRI and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

 ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests GS-2: India and its neighbourhood Context: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation that “connectivity projects should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and respect international law”, a reference to the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). What is China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI)? It was launched in 2013. It is a multi-billion-dollar initiative that aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes. It involves development and investment initiatives that would stretch from Asia to Europe and beyond. More than 100 countries have signed agreements with China to cooperate in BRI projects like railways, ports, highways and other infrastructure. It was announced by the Chinese President Xi Jinping-led regime in 2013. It encompassed five kinds of activities: Policy coordination Trade promotion Physical connectivity Renminbi internationalisation People to people contacts. Routes of BRI: New Silk Road Economic Belt: It encompasses trade and investment hubs to the north of China; by reaching out to Eurasia including a link via Myanmar to India. Maritime Silk Road (MSR): It begins via the South China Sea going towards Indo-China, South-East Asia and then around the Indian Ocean thus reaching Africa and Europe. Why is Belt & Road Initiative important for China? Stated Official Benefits China continues to pitch BRBI as project for regional development involving Infrastructure development to enhance transnational and cross-regional connectivity as a priority area for cooperation. Economic and trade cooperation among BRIcountries. Cooperation and exchanges in cultural, social and other fields. Advantages of OBOR for China The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most emblematic of China’s economic and industrial might, as of its ambitions for global, political and strategic influence. As infrastructure spending at home became less sustainable, China has shifted the emphasis to boost the global competitiveness of domestic businesses.  It will help China in developing its western region, ensuring safe navigation over sea It will also help China in improving strategic and economic relations with neighbouring and far-west countries. China wants to create a new regional order and replace the American-led liberal international order.  It will help China secure access to energy and mineral supplies allowing China to overcome the “Malacca Dilemma” (USA dominated Malacca strait though which majority of Chinese trade passes) through access to maritime facilities in the Indian Ocean, granting it an important strategic advantage. The large infrastructure investments in the least developed and developing countries have enabled China to leverage its influence around the world, potentially altering the established rules of the global order and challenging western powers BRI will strengthen China’s presence in the Eurasian region and puts it in a commanding position over Asia’s heartland. What are the criticisms of BRI? BRI is also being seen as a part of China’s debt trap policy, wherein China intentionally extends excessive credit to another country with the intention of extracting economic or political concessions from the debtor country. Connectivity and infrastructure development are need of the hour for much of Asia, which lacks both finances required to develop them and the much need capacity to develop them. But Chinese overcapacity may override host countries’ development priorities in project selection. Local elites may corner the “spoils” from new projects, thereby exacerbating social tensions. There are serious concerns regarding the contracts and jobs since the majority of them will be given to Chinese firms and people. Hence, there have been protests by people in several countries over the implementation of BRI. The different levels of development and the poor governance conditions of countries along the BRI may affect infrastructure development, trade and investment in those regions. Moreover, the political instability in the increasing number of countries like Syria, Yemen, Sudan, etc. along BRI poses serious security issues for BRI. China has many sovereignty-related disputes with neighbouring countries such as India which makes them uncooperative with the BRI development. Furthermore, the potential ecological and environmental consequences, particularly in developing countries along the BRI, makes the project undesirable for many countries. What is China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)? The CPEC is bilateral project between Pakistan and China, intended to promote connectivity across Pakistan with a network of highways, railways, and pipelines accompanied by energy, industrial, and other infrastructure development projects linking the Western part of China to the Gwadar Port in Balochistan, Pakistan running some 3000 km from Xinjiang to Balochistan via Khunjerab Pass in the Northern Parts of Pakistan. It will pave the way for China to access the Middle East and Africa from Gwadar Port, enabling China to access the Indian Ocean and in return China will support development projects in Pakistan to overcome the latter’s energy crises and stabilizing its faltering economy. CPEC is a part of BRI. What are the issues with CPEC? China’s insistence on establishing the CPEC project through PoK is seen by India as infringing its sovereignty. China is building roads and infrastructure in the disputed territory of Gilgit-Balistan, which is under Pakistan’s control but which India claims as a part of Jammu and Kashmir. CPEC Passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Baluchistan, both of which are home to a long-running insurgency where it faces terrorism and security risks. CPEC would hamper India’s strategic interests in the South Asian region and can aid Pakistan’s legitimacy in the Kashmir dispute too. Also, attempts to extend CPEC to Afghanistan may undermine India’s position as economic, security and strategic partner of Afghanistan. Along with China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) and CPEC, China is also developing the China-Nepal Economic Corridor (CNEC) which will link Tibet to Nepal. The endpoints of the project will touch the boundaries of the Gangetic plain. Thus three corridors signify the economic as well as strategic rise of China in the Indian subcontinent. CPEC project’s lack of transparency and accountability is a cause of concern, as it may be skewed in favour of China economically and strategically. The project may undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty as its foreign policy may be dictated by China, complicating the already estranged relations and create political instability in the South Asia; What is the current status of the CPEC in terms of projects completed or abandoned? China and Pakistan have been relatively careful about this — there haven’t been really major projects abandoned. There are “big ticket” projects that have moved ahead much more slowly than planned — such as a number of those at Gwadar — or still haven’t been finalised, such as the major railway line upgrade known as ML-1. In fact, the two sides have become somewhat more transparent about what has and hasn’t happened. The shorthand version is: a lot of the energy projects were completed; some of the road projects have been completed, others not; the special economic zones were pared down to a smaller number than originally envisaged and have moved very slowly; most of the projects around Gwadar are far from completion. How did the slowdown happen — Pakistan made the project proposals, China invested the money, so what happened at the Pakistan end? Some of the energy projects were promoted very actively by the previous government and could be realised pretty quickly — the coal-fired power stations, in particular. Quite a lot did move ahead — $25 billion is no small sum — but there’s just a sense of disappointment that the whole venture adds up to less than what either side had hoped. The special economic zones ran into obstacles quite quickly from Pakistani businesses who were concerned that China would be given special benefits that would disadvantage domestic firms. There have been issues around land allocations. There have been issues around how much financing the Pakistani side would put in for certain projects, with the Chinese side often insisting that they have skin in the game. There were uncertainties about the economic feasibility of some of the larger projects — hydro-electric dams and railways, most notably. Gwadar is just very difficult as a location, in logistical and security terms. Now security threats are creating major problems too. These are only a few items on a long list of reasons why some parts moved forward quickly and others didn’t. But Pakistan’s overall financial situation was deteriorating by 2018, and combined with the political uncertainties for China, civil-military contention over control of CPEC, and the subsequent Chinese disputes with the government under Imran Khan, CPEC never really found its feet again. Main Practice Question: What is Belt and Road Initiative? What are India’s objections to it? Note: Write answer his question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Nov 3, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 3rd November 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – International Relations Context: External Affairs Minister made a reference to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Present Status of the CPEC: A lot of the energy projects were completed. Some of the road projects have been completed, others not; The special economic zones were pared down to a smaller number than originally envisaged and have moved very slowly; Most of the projects around Gwadar are far from completion. There’s just been nothing significantly new agreed over the last few years from the much bigger package that was under negotiation. There were uncertainties about the economic feasibility of some of the larger projects — hydro-electric dams and railways. Gwadar is just very difficult as a location, in logistical and security terms. The current total that both sides cite is $25 billion, and it was $19 billion five years ago Source: Indian Express Status of women in Qatar Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – International Relations Mains – Ethics Case study Context: The emirate has for years sat near the bottom of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, which tracks gaps between women and men in employment, education, health and politics. About Wahhabism: Wahhabism is an Arabian form of Salafism, the movement within Islam aimed at its “purification” and the return to the Islam of the Prophet Mohammed and the three successive generations of followers. Its two major points of reference are the Koran and the Sunnah. The latter consists of hadiths – stories not included in the Koran – describing how the Prophet and the four righteous caliphs dealt with issues in the public and private spheres. These, together with the Koran, form the basis of Sharia law. Wahhabi Muslims call themselves muwahhidun (proponents of the oneness of God). They insist in every aspect of life on strict adherence to Sharia. Present status of women in Qatar: It’s a traditional society that traces its roots to the interior of the Arabian Peninsula, where an ultraconservative form of Islam known as Wahhabism originated. The Qatari legal system, based on Islamic law or Shariah, hinders women’s advancement. Rights and Freedom: Qatar’s constitution enshrines equality among citizens. But the Qatari legal system discriminates against women when it comes to their freedom of movement and issues of marriage, child custody and inheritance. Under Shariah law, for example, women can inherit property, but daughters receive half as much as sons. Men can easily divorce their wives, while women must apply to courts from a narrow list of acceptable grounds. Men can marry up to four wives without issue, while women must obtain approval from a male guardian to get married at any age. Qatari women under the age of 25 also must secure a male guardian’s permission to leave the country. There is no government office dedicated to women’s rights. Politics: There are female cabinet ministers. But female candidates did not win a single seat in the legislative elections for the 45-member council. Workforce Laws guarantee the right to equal pay for Qatari women and men. There is no law prohibiting gender discrimination in the workplace. Laws ban women from jobs broadly defined as dangerous or inappropriate. Women also must seek permission from a male guardian to work in the government and special institutions. Source: Indian Express Charminar Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – History and Art and Culture Context: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi unfurls National Flag at Charminar. About Charminar: Charminar was built by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591. It was built in honour of his wife, Bhagmati. As per a popular belief, Charminar was built to acknowledge the elimination of the plague which had affected the entire city immensely during that era. The four pillars are also said to be dedicated to the first four caliphs of Islam. An Iranian architect Mir Momin Astrawadi, who had settled in Hyderabad, designed Charminar. The architectural design of Charminar is inspired from the Shia “tazias”. These Tazias were built in the memory of Hussain, who was the son in law of Prophet Muhammad and had lost his life in the battle of Karbala. Charminar has been built with granite and lime mortar and pulverised marble. On the top floor of Charminar there is a mosque which is believed to be the oldest mosque of Hyderabad city. The Charminar is situated on the east bank of Musi River. It is listed as an archaeological and architectural treasure on the official list of monuments prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India. Charminar, along with the Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad: the Golconda Fort, and the Qutb Shahi Tombs, were included in the “tentative list” of UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monument was submitted by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO on September 10, 2010. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements: The first Mongol invasion of India happened during the reign of Jalal-ud-din Khalji. During the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji, one Mongol assault marched up to Delhi and besieged the city. Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq temporarily lost portions of north-west of his kingdom to Mongols. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  (2022) 1 and 2 2 only 1 and 3 3 only Q.2) With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct? The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad state. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of the Vijayanagara empire. Rohilkhand kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani. Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1 and 2 2 only 2 and 3 3 only Coronary Artery Disease Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In news: A study conducted by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital has said that Indians have an increased risk of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) because of their smaller body surface area and not just a smaller diameter of arteries. It was based on observational impact on 250 patients. 51 per cent respondents were hypertensive, 18 per cent were diabetic, four per cent were smokers, 28 per cent were dyslipidemic and 26 per cent had a family history of heart disease. Findings: This study was done to estimate the size of normal coronary arteries in the Indian population, index it to BSA, and see if there is any significant difference when compared to the Caucasian population. There has been an assumption that Asians, and particularly Indians, have increased risk of atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in arteries) because of their small coronary artery diameter. However, from our observational study, it is proved that the coronary artery dimensions in the Indian population are not small, the risk is due to their small Body Surface Area. Thus, the rationale for small dimensions of arteries being a risk factor for CAD is not valid in the Indian population. The mean vessel diameter for males was significantly larger than those for females but when indexed to the Body Surface Area, these values were not significant. The study might also provide some insight into the use of diameters indexed to BSA as a cut off for deciding the need for re-vascularisation (a procedure that can restore blood flow in blocked arteries or veins). Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) In the context of hereditary diseases, consider the following statements: (2021) Passing on mitochondrial diseases from parent to child can be prevented by mitochondrial replacement therapy either before or after in vitro fertilization of egg. A child inherits mitochondrial diseases entirely from mother and not from father. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Chinese Space Station Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In news: China’s third and final module called Mengtian docked with its permanent space station called Tiangong to further a more than decade-long effort to maintain a constant crewed presence in orbit, as its competition with the U.S. grows increasingly fierce. 3 astronauts arrived for a six-month stay on board, during which they will complete the station’s assembly, conduct space walks and carry out additional experiments. About Mengtian: Mengtian is the third and final module which was blasted into space from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on the southern island province of Hainan. Mengtian, or “Celestial Dream,” joins Wentian as the second laboratory module for the station, collectively known as Tiangong, or “Celestial Palace.” Both are connected to the Tianhe core module where the crew lives and works. Like its predecessors, Mengtian was launched aboard a Long March-5B carrier rocket, a member of China’s most powerful family of launch vehicles. Mengtian weighs in at about 23 tons, is 17.9 meters (58.7 feet) long and has a diameter of 4.2 meters (13.8 feet). It will provide space for science experiments in zero gravity, an airlock for exposure to the vacuum of space, and a small robotic arm to support extravehicular payloads. The already orbiting 23-ton Wentian, or “quest for the heavens” laboratory is designed for science and biology experiments and is heavier than any other single-module spacecraft currently in space. Following Mengtian’s arrival, an additional uncrewed Tianzhou cargo craft is due to dock with the station. About Tiangong: It is currently populated by a crew of two male and one female astronauts. In all, the station will have about 110 cubic meters (3,880 cubic feet) of pressurized interior space, including the 32 cubic meters (1,130 cubic feet). China’s crewed space program is officially three decades old this year, with the Mengtian launch being its 25th mission. But it truly got underway in 2003, when China became only the third country after the U.S. and Russia to put a human into space using its own resources. The permanent Chinese station will weigh about 66 tons — a fraction of the size of the International Space Station, which launched its first module in 1998 and weighs around 465 tons. With a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, Tiangong could one day find itself the only space station still running, if the International Space Station adheres to its 30-year operating plan. Other missions: Prior to launching the Tianhe module, China’s Manned Space Program launched a pair of single-module stations that it crewed briefly as test platforms. Next year, China plans to launch the Xuntian space telescope, which, while not a part of Tiangong, will orbit in sequence with the station and can dock occasionally with it for maintenance. China has also chalked up successes with uncrewed missions, and its lunar exploration program generated media buzz last year when its Yutu 2 rover sent back pictures of a rock. The rover is the first to be placed on the far side of the moon. China’s Chang’e 5 probe returned lunar rocks to Earth for the first time since the 1970s in December 2000 and another Chinese rover is searching for evidence of life on Mars. China is collaborating with the European Space Agency on experiments aboard Mengtian, and is cooperating with France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Pakistan and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) on a range of projects from aerospace medicine to microgravity physics. China is also reportedly developing a highly secret space plane. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2016) The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 HARIT Aaykar initiative Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: The Income Tax Department participated enthusiastically in the Government of India’s month-long Special Campaign for Swachhata. 31st October marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and is also observed as the National Unity Day. About: The HARIT Aaykar (Hariyali Achievement Resolution by Income Tax) initiative is launched by the Income Tax Department.  Under this initiative, the Department resolves to increase the green cover by planting trees and creating micro-forests in and around Income Tax Department’s buildings and other public areas. Source: PIB Amendments to IT Rules, 2021 Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has notified amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021). About: India in 2021, replaced its decade old regulations on SMIs with the IT Rules, 2021 Aim: Placing obligations on social media intermediaries (SMIs) to ensure an open, safe and trusted internet. Empowering users of social media platforms through a robust grievance redressal mechanism that can effectively and efficiently address their concerns. Given the multitudinous nature of the problem of SMIs— the centrality of SMIs in shaping public discourse, the impact of their governance on the right to freedom of speech and expression, the magnitude of information they host and the constant technological innovations that impact their governance — it is important for governments to update their regulatory framework to face emergent challenges. Objectives of the amendment: First, there was a need to ensure that the interests and constitutional rights of netizens are not being contravened by big tech platforms Second, to strengthen the grievance redressal framework in the Rules Third, that compliance with these should not impact early stage Indian start-ups. Categories of amendment: placing additional obligations on the SMIs to ensure better protection of user interests appellate mechanism for grievance redressal Additional obligations on the SMIs: To ensure that its users are in compliance with the relevant rules of the platform. The “rules and regulations, privacy policy and user agreement” are available in all languages listed in the eighth schedule of the Constitution. To “make reasonable” efforts to prevent prohibited content being hosted on its platform and to police and moderate content. To “respect all the rights accorded to the citizens under the Constitution, including in the articles 14, 19 and 21”. To remove information or a communication link in relation to the six prohibited categories of content as and when a complaint arises within 72 hours to contain the spread of the content. To “take all reasonable measures to ensure accessibility of its services to users along with reasonable expectation of due diligence, privacy and transparency” and to strengthen inclusion in the SMI ecosystem such as allowing for participation by persons with disabilities and diverse linguistic backgrounds. Concerns: SMIs are unclear of the extent of measures they are now expected to undertake and users are apprehensive that the increased power of the SMIs would allow them to trample on freedom of speech and expression. The wide interpretation to which this obligation is open to by different courts, could translate to disparate duties on the SMIs. Frequent alterations to design and practices of the platform, that may result from a case-to-case based application of this obligation, could result in heavy compliance costs for them. First, as evidenced by the transparency reports of SMIs, such as Facebook and Twitter, there is no common understanding of what is meant by resolution of the complaint. For example, Facebook records only mention the number of reports where “appropriate tools” have been provided. These “appropriate tools” could just mean the automated replies pointing out the tools available on the platform that have been sent to the complainants. Twitter records outline the number of URLs against which action has been taken after the receipt of a complaint. The number of user complaints continue to be quite low when compared to the content against which the platform acts proactively or is obligated to remove due to governmental or court orders. This may be because users are either not aware of this facility or find it futile to approach the platform for complaint resolutions or in case where action has been taken, there is no way to assess whether the complainant has been satisfied with the resolution of the complaint. Moreover, the extant framework does not provide for any recourse if the complainant is dissatisfied with the grievance officer’s order. Possibly, the only course available to the complainant is to challenge the order under the writ jurisdiction of the High Courts or Supreme Court. This is not efficacious given that it can be a resource and time intensive process. Prior to the IT Rules, 2021, platforms followed their own mechanisms and timelines for resolving user complaints. Grievance Appellate Committees (GAC): The IT Rules uniformed this by mandating that all social media platforms should have a grievance officer who would acknowledge the receipt of a complaint within 24 hours and dispose it within 15 days. The committee is styled as a three-member council out of which one member will be a government officer (holding the post ex officio) while the other two members will be independent representatives. Users can file a complaint against the order of the grievance officer within 30 days. Importantly, the GAC is required to adopt an online dispute resolution mechanism which will make it more accessible to the users. Interestingly, it is unclear whether the user have to approach the grievance appellate committee before approaching the court as the institution of the GAC would not bar the user from approaching the court directly against the order of the grievance officer. While this makes the in-house grievance redressal more accountable and appellate mechanism more accessible to users, appointments being made by the central government could lead to apprehensions of bias in content moderation. Further, the IT Rules, 2021 do not provide any explicit power to the GAC to enforce its orders. Lastly, if users can approach both the courts and the GAC parallelly, it could lead to conflicting decisions often undermining the impartiality and merit of one institution or the other. Source:   The Hindu The lightning ‘disaster’ Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 (Disaster and disaster management) Context: According to the ‘Annual Lightning Report 2020-2021’, India has experienced an increasing loss of human lives, property, and livelihoods due to the rising frequency and intensity of lightning and thunderstorms. As per the report, India witnessed 18.5 million lightning strikes between April 2020 and March 2021, marking 34 percent more strikes than the previous year. Madhya Pradesh experienced the highest number of lightning-related deaths (162), followed by Maharashtra (121), Gujarat (72), Bihar (70), Rajasthan (49), and Chhattisgarh (40). About Lightning: Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere between clouds, the air, or the ground. In the early stages of development, air acts as an insulator between the positive and negative charges in the cloud and between the cloud and the ground. When the opposite charges build up enough, this insulating capacity of the air breaks down and there is a rapid discharge of electricity that is known as lightning. The flash of lightning temporarily equalizes the charged regions in the atmosphere until the opposite charges build up again. Lightning can occur between opposite charges within the thunderstorm cloud (intra-cloud lightning) or between opposite charges in the cloud and on the ground (cloud-to-ground lightning). Major Causes lightning: Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground, or within the clouds themselves. During a storm, colliding particles of rain, ice, or snow inside storm clouds increase the imbalance between storm clouds and the ground, and often negatively charge the lower reaches of storm clouds. Objects on the ground, like steeples, trees, and the Earth itself, become positively charged creating an imbalance that nature seeks to remedy by passing current between the two charges. This heat causes surrounding air to rapidly expand and vibrate, which creates the pealing thunder heard a short time after seeing a lightning flash. When the positive and negative charges grow large enough, a giant spark – lightning – occurs between the two charges within the cloud. Most lightning happens inside a cloud, but sometimes it happens between the cloud and the ground. A build-up of positive charge builds up on the ground beneath the cloud, attracted to the negative charge in the bottom of the cloud and the ground’s positive charge concentrates around anything that sticks up – trees, lightning conductors and even people. The positive charge from the ground connects with the negative charge from the clouds and a spark of lightning strikes. Impacts of lightning: Tragic tolls due to lightning strikes: Between 1972 and 2019, around 90,632 people were killed due to lightning strikes, followed by floods and rain (77,724), heatwaves (34,925), landslides (26,980), cold waves (26,167), cyclones (23,315). Besides the loss of human life, lightning adversely impacts the agriculture, aviation, power, and communication sectors. Impact on rural areas: Mainly, rural and forest areas are the most vulnerable due to lighting because of the presence of water bodies and tall trees and almost 96 percent of deaths occurred in rural areas due to lightning compared to the urban area. Regarding deaths due to lightning, the population in rural areas is more vulnerable than in urban areas. Impact on farmers: Frequent lightning strikes adversely affect small and marginal farmers. Around 77 percent of farmers are killed due to lightning as they work in agricultural fields during the Kharif cropping season in the monsoon period. Impact on tribal population: The Annual Lightning Report 2020-2021 has confirmed that 60-70 percent of deaths occurred in tribal populations due to lightning in Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and other states. Issues related to mitigation of lightning related casualties: There is no national-level policy to tackle lightning fatalities except for providing a lump-sum ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased person. The Odisha government provides 4 lakh per deceased person to the next of kin from SDRF. Other State governments provide lump sum Ex-gratia to the deceased person’s family. These policies are not adequate to minimise deaths due to lightning. Way Forward: Inclusion of lightning as a natural disaster: The Centre should include lightning as a “natural disaster” to minimise lightning-related deaths. This would help States prepare long-term mitigation through coordinated efforts with local agencies and reconstruction activities to build disaster-resilient infrastructure. Hazard Mapping and targeted public interventions: In addition, some critical measures where public intervention is an absolute necessity include mapping vulnerable populations with potential lightning hotspots, improving early warning systems, and installing lightning detection systems in the local areas. Frequency database of lightning strikes: Moreover, the government should prepare a database related to the frequency of lightning strikes, gender-wise lightning deaths, and occupation-wise fatalities at the district, state and central levels for devising an action plan against lightning strikes. These targeted public interventions can reduce human casualties due to lightning. Training and community awareness programs: More than 70 percent of deaths from lightning occurred amongst people standing under tall trees; therefore, training and community awareness programs are essential measures to minimise deaths due to lightning. Source:  The Hindu Suspension Bridges Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Governance) and GS 3 (Infrastructure) Context: Recently, a pedestrian-only suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat’s Morbi killing over 100 people. The bridge is owned by Morbi municipality and maintenance and operations are outsourced to a trust owned by private company Oreva. This 19th century bridge, which had been reopened a few days ago after repairs spanning six months, reportedly had over 400 people on it when it collapsed. Although the weight limit is not known, a few pre-incident videos seem to suggest the bridge was swaying, possibly because of the large crowd on it. Suspension Bridge: A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. The basic structural components of a suspension bridge system include Stiffening girders. Two or more main suspension cables. Towers and anchorages for cables at either end of the bridge. The main cables are suspended between the towers and are connected to the anchorage or the bridge itself. The vertical suspenders carry the weight of the deck and the commuter load on it. The Golden Gate Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge in the US are examples of suspension bridges. India’s longest single-lane motorable suspension bridge — the 725-metre Dobra-Chanti suspension bridge built over the Tehri Lake — was inaugurated in November 2020. Working of Suspension Bridge: The design ensures that the load on the suspension cables is transferred to the towers at the two ends, which transfer them further by vertical compression to the ground by way of the anchorage cables. All of this balancing has to happen within the permissible weight restrictions for the bridge, given that the deck is hanging in air, supported by the two sets of cables. Given that the most important load bearing members are the main suspension cables, the entire cross-section of the main cable is the mainstay of carrying the load and ensuring that buckling does not happen. The efficient working is subject to two preconditions: There must be no overloading. And there should not be any excessive swaying. Role of vertical support: The job of the vertical cables in a suspension bridge is to transfer the weight of the deck, by tension, to the twin suspension cables. These cables run horizontally between the two anchorages on either end, which, in turn, transfer the tension to the towers and, through them, to the ground by way of cables whose ends are anchored. Possible reasons for the Morbi bridge collapse: Although an investigation into the accident is pending, the visuals and purported footage prior to the incident suggest that both the conditions of efficient working were possibly tested. However, the bridge collapse is unusual from a structural engineering point of view. Usually in such incidents one or two suspension cables give way, and the bridge breaks and hangs before the rest of the structure collapses. In the present case the vertical cables seem to have snapped entirely from the deck at one end of the bridge, sending part of the unsuspended deck and those on it plunging into the river. Most or all the suspension cables were weak or corroded. This is possible considering that this was a very old bridge which was recently repaired. During the recent repairs, the original wooden deck had possibly been replaced with an aluminum deck. It could have involved rewiring the mechanism connecting the vertical cables with the deck. Possibility of likely altering the basic structure of the bridge that had endured for well over a century. The load from the pedestrians: There was overcrowding but there is no information whether capacity was exceeded. Need of suspension bridge: Bridges can be of different types including arch bridges, beam bridges, cantilever bridges, truss bridges and tied-arch bridges. While beam bridges are among the simplest and oldest bridges, the reason for the enduring design of the suspension bridge is The supporting cables running horizontally between the two far-flung anchorages provide the counterweight and effectively pass on the entire tensional force to the anchorages. As a result, suspension bridges can easily cross distances of well over 2,000 metres, beyond the scope of other bridge designs. Way Forward: Although suspension bridges are built using an old, robust technology; overloading and excessive swaying present risks for such structures to fail. There is a need to put a multi-layered safety check mechanism in place for such infrastructure structures to avoid such tragic incidents in future. MUST READ: Machchu River Source:   Indian Express NRIs Voting Rights Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Governance) Context: Recently, the Union government told the Supreme Court (SC) that it was considering ways to facilitate non-resident Indians (NRI), especially migrant labourers, to cast their votes remotely. Present Status of Voting for Overseas Citizens: After the passing of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2010: NRIs who had stayed abroad beyond six months have been able to vote, but only in person at the polling station where they have been enrolled as an overseas elector. However, only a very low proportion of overseas residents actually registered or turned up to vote. The provision of having to visit the polling booth in person has discouraged eligible voters from exercising their mandate. The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 was amended in 2016: To allow service voters to use the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS). Under this system, postal ballots are sent electronically to registered service voters. The service voter can then register their mandate on the ballot and send it back via ordinary mail. The ECI proposed to extend this facility to overseas voters as well. In the case of overseas voters: Their address mentioned in the passport is taken as the place of ordinary residence and chosen as the constituency for the overseas voter to enrol in. Supreme Court’s Stand: Making the postal ballot facility available to soldiers serving in far-flung areas across the country was different from affording the same facility to someone who had chosen to reside abroad. However, migrant labourers would often find it beyond their limited means to fly in just to cast their vote. The government was aware of the issue and had even introduced a Bill to amend the Representation of the People Act to allow overseas Indians to vote by proxy. The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill had however lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha. Supreme Court recommended Committee (2013): On Court’s notice in February 2013, the Election Commission had constituted a committee “to look into the matter with regard to ways and means to facilitate voting for non-resident Indians and migrant workers”. The committee thereafter submitted its report. The central government had accepted the recommendations made by the Election Commission and then introduced a Bill in 2018 in Lok Sabha to amend Section 60 of Representation of People Act, 1951. Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill of 2017: The intended amendment was to enable the overseas electors to appoint a proxy to cast vote on behalf of such electors. The Bill had proposed the removal of an “unreasonable restriction” posed by Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act requiring overseas electors to be physically present in their electoral constituencies to cast their votes. The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha. However, the same was not introduced in Rajya Sabha and as a result, the Bill itself lapsed. Thereafter, there hasn’t been any development on the front. Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) as Alternative: The ETPBS method allowed for greater turnout among service voters in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. With increasing mobility of citizens across countries for reasons related to work, the postal ballot method has been recognised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (an intergovernmental organization that works to support democratic processes and institutions) as a means to allow overseas voters to exercise their right, subject to certain conditions normally related to the time spent abroad or the work carried out abroad. A postal ballot mechanism that allows for proper authentication of the ballot at designated consular/embassy offices and an effective postal system should ease this process for NRIs, but rules must be clearly framed for eligibility on the basis of time spent away from the country. Significance of giving NRIs Voting Rights: Allowing NRIs to vote from abroad may see expatriates emerge as a decisive force in the country’s electoral politics. NRI voters could be empowered better by amending the law. Purpose is to see that persons living outside India and migrant labourers are still part of the entire electoral process and every facility shall be extended which will also ensure the confidentiality of the election. Way Forward: Government should consider the option of digital voting. The authorities concerned should take a call considering various factors, and come to the best result satisfying most stakeholders. About Non-Resident Indians (NRIs): Overseas Indians, officially known as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are people of Indian birth or ancestry who live outside the Republic of India. Every year 2.5 million (25 lakhs) Indians migrate overseas, which is the highest annual number of migrants in the world. If an individual has been in India for a minimum 182 days in the previous financial year is deemed to be a Resident of India. Anyone who does not meet the conditions will be considered as an NRI for the previous financial year. In simple terms, an Indian citizen residing outside India for a combined total of at least 183 days in a financial year is considered to be an NRI. NRIs are eligible to vote, and only the income that they have earned in India is taxable in India. Therefore, any income earned outside India is not taxable in India. They are entitled to all benefits as available to Indian citizens subject to notifications issued by the Government from time to time. They don’t require a visa for visiting India. They can adopt children in India, appear in competitive exams, purchase or sale of immovable property barring agricultural land and farmhouses, and pursue professions such as doctors, lawyers, architects, and chartered accountants. They have parity with Indian nationals in the matter of domestic air fares, entry fees to monuments and public places. They are exempted from registration with the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) for any length of stay in India. Foreigners visiting India who hold long-term visas (more than 180 days) are required to register their presence in India with the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Fundamental Rights guaranteed by Articles 14, 20, 21, 21A, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 are available to all persons whether citizens or foreigners. The Fundamental Rights guaranteed by Articles 15, 16, 19, 29, and 30 are available only to citizens of India and NRIs. In case an NRI wishes to take up foreign citizenship, he/she will have to give up Indian citizenship as the Indian constitution does not allow dual citizenship. A person cannot hold Indian as well as foreign citizenship simultaneously. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to India, consider the following statements: There is only one citizenship and one domicile. A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State. A foreigner once granted citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2021) 1 only 2 only 1 and 3 2 and 3 Russia-Ukraine war Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 International Relations Lessons from Cuba: In October 1962, when the United States discovered that the Soviet Union had moved nuclear missiles to Cuba, U.S. President John F. Kennedy ordered a naval quarantine of Cuba, thus blocking access for Soviet ships. While most members of the executive committee of his National Security Council favoured airstrikes on Cuba targeting the Soviet missiles, Kennedy stuck to quarantine, which was also one of the recommendations of the committee. At the same time, he opened a back channel to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Khrushchev reciprocated to Kennedy’s message, which he saw as a “call for help”, and both leaders pulled their countries back from the brink of a nuclear war. Context: The world has seen several military conflicts since the Cuban missile crisis. There have been wars across continents. Both the former Soviet Union and the U.S. had launched interventions, invasions and proxy conflicts in weaker countries. But a 1962-like scenario, where two nuclear superpowers came eyeball to eyeball never happened — until the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis. The Ukraine war is a textbook example where the parties involved are treating each other with matching hostility — a dangerous slope — sharply escalating the conflict. It looks like a complex polycentric conflict where, inside Ukrainian territory, Russia’s nuclear-armed forces are battling high-performing Ukrainian troops that are directly assisted, in terms of money, weapons and fighters, by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the trans-Atlantic nuclear alliance. Comparison with the past: Besides fears of the existing conflict escalating into a direct Russia-NATO war, there are similarities and dissimilarities between the Cuban missile crisis and the Ukraine war. Khrushchev secretly moved the nuclear missiles to Cuba after the failed Central Intelligence Agency-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of the island in 1961, where the guerrillas, under the command of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, had overthrown a pro-American military dictatorship in 1959. Later, the Soviets claimed that the missiles were for defensive purposes, but the U.S. found the presence of nuclear missiles in an island 145 km off the coast of Florida as a security threat. Put simply, the U.S. would not accept any challenge to its hegemony in the western hemisphere, its immediate periphery. Firstly, the origins of the Ukraine crisis can be traced to NATO’s eastward expansion. NATO took in more countries and pushed its borders towards Russia’s periphery, both the group’s leadership and the new members emphasised that they were a defensive alliance and did not pose any threat to Moscow. They also argued that the former Soviet allies and the (newly born) republics were independent entities that could take sovereign decisions on whether they should join any military alliance or not. Yet, like Kennedy and his national security team did not accept the Soviet argument that the Cuban missiles were for defensive purposes, or that Cuba was an independent country which could take sovereign decisions on whether it should host Soviet missiles or not, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his team did not buy NATO’s similar arguments. Secondly, the Cuban missile crisis was a crisis that was resolved before it actually slid into war, whereas in the case of Ukraine, a full-scale war began on February 24 with the Russian invasion, which makes the crisis even more complex and demands more urgent calls for enhanced diplomatic efforts. The spiral model: A spiral model is one where parties treat each other with matching hostility, sharply escalating an existing conflict. One way to look at conflicts is to take a moral, normative view of them. Putin is the aggressor, who has violated international laws and norms by invading Ukraine and annexing its territories. However, this normative absolutism is not consistent with the past and present of American foreign policy. The U.S. itself has violated UN norms several times in its interventions abroad and it had no moral qualms in recognising its ally Israel’s illegal annexation of Syria’s Golan Heights or recognising the disputed Jerusalem, half of which has been illegally annexed by Israel, as its capital. A more realistic explanation is that Washington sees an opportunity in the Ukraine war to weaken Russia by continuing to arm Ukraine. As per this narrative, Russian failure in Ukraine could have political consequences, including challenges to Mr. Putin’s hold on power. So, escalation becomes a policy of choice. The Russians, on the other side, see the U.S. as the main force behind Ukraine, before and after the war began. Types of escalations: Dirty bomb: A nuclear bomb that releases large quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. “kamikaze” drones: also called suicide drones, are designed to detonate on contact with the target. Phosphorus bombs: can cause smoke, illumination and incendiary munitions. Kinzhal missiles: hypersonic missiles used by Russia that can travel at more than five times the speed of sound. 9K720 Iskander ballistic missile: These short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) are leading the Russian attacks in Ukraine and can hit targets 500 kilometres away. Vacuum bombs: called thermobaric weapons are filled with explosive and chemical mix and suck in the oxygen from the surrounding the air to generate a powerful explosion which causes supersonic blast waves on explosion. Cluster bombs: scatter small bomblets over a wide area, which can result into a significant number of casualties. Javelin missiles: US-made anti-tank missiles used by Ukraine that guides itself to the target after launch (“fire and forget” system), allowing the gunner to take cover and avoid counterfire, or load a new missile. Way forward: Unless the leaders break the spiral, the conflict will keep deteriorating. To break the spiral, the parties will have to first look beyond their personalist view of the conflict and try to understand the structural conditions which their rivals operate from. This would allow the leaders to empathise with their rivals, irrespective of their moral positions (what Realists call strategic empathy), and take difficult decisions to make peace. Kennedy and Khrushchev had shown strategic empathy to understand the predicament both leaders were in, and they could make difficult choices. But Mr. Putin and Mr. Biden are in their own silos, blaming each other and blindly pursuing their goals through force, while Ukraine is on fire. The sooner they come out of it, the better for the world. MUST READ  Lessons from Cuban Missile Crisis Source:  The Hindu Baba’s Explainer – BRI and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) BRI and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Syllabus GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests GS-2: India and its neighbourhood Context: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation that “connectivity projects should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and respect international law”, a reference to the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Read Complete Details on BRI and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) ‘HARIT Aaykar initiative’ has been launched by The Income Tax department Ministry of Tribal Affairs National Cadet Corps Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) Q.2) With reference to Tiangong space station, consider the following statements: It weighs about 66 tons while the International Space Station weighs around 465 tons. Mengtian is the second module to the space station, followed by Wentian. China became the fourth country to put a human into space. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 2 only 1 only 1, 2, and 3 Q.3) With reference to Charminar in Hyderabad, consider the following statements: It was built by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591. It is situated on the east bank of Musi River. It has been built with granite and lime mortar and pulverised marble Which of the above statements are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1 2 and 3 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’3rd November 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st ANSWERS FOR 2nd November – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – c Q.2) – c Q.3) – b table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Nov 3, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 3rd November 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) – CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don’t forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today’s test 🙂After completing the 5 questions, click on ‘View Questions’ to check your score, time taken, and solutions.To take the Test Click Here

Nov 2, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd November 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Coronal Holes Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Context: Recently, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory caught the Sun “smiling.” Seen in ultraviolet light, these dark patches on the Sun are known as coronal holes and are regions where fast solar wind gushes out into space. About Coronal holes: These are regions on the sun’s surface from where fast solar wind gushes out into space. Because they contain little solar material, they have lower temperatures and thus appear much darker than their surroundings. Here, the magnetic field is open to interplanetary space, sending solar material out in a high-speed stream of solar wind. Coronal holes can last between a few weeks to months. They can last much longer during solar minimum – a period of time when activity on the Sun is substantially diminished These coronal holes are important to understand the space environment around the earth. While it is unclear what causes coronal holes, they correlate to areas on the sun where magnetic fields soar up and away, without looping back down to the surface as they do elsewhere. Geomagnetic Storm: Geomagnetic storms relate to earth’s magnetosphere – the space around a planet that is influenced by its magnetic field. When a high-speed solar stream arrives at the earth, in certain circumstances it can allow energetic solar wind particles to hit the atmosphere over the poles. Such geomagnetic storms cause a major disturbance of the magnetosphere as there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding earth. In cases of a strong solar wind reaching the earth, the resulting geomagnetic storm can cause changes in the ionosphere, part of the earth’s upper atmosphere. Radio and GPS signals travel through this layer of the atmosphere, and so communications can get disrupted. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment Context: Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) has demanded a ban on using aceclofenac in cattle after a new study showed that the drug metabolises into diclofenac in water buffaloes — as it does in cows.   NSAIDS as a major threat to vultures in India: The rampant use of the three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) threatens to undo the Centre’s two decades of work to arrest the dwindling vulture population in the wild. The three drugs—aceclofenac, ketoprofen and nimesulide—were introduced as alternatives to diclofenac, that India banned in 2006 for animal use because it caused widespread vulture deaths. The country’s vulture population crashed from over 40,000 in 2003 to 18,645 in 2015, as per the last vulture census conducted by intergovernmental body Bird Life International. India’s vulture conservation action plan for 2020-25 recommends a ban on the veterinary use of the three drugs. India is also a signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species’ Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures, which recognises NSAIDS as a major threat to vultures in India. The vulture action plan recommends meloxicam over diclofenac. Tolfenamic acid is the other safe option. About Aceclofenac: It is used for the relief of pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. IVRI and its collaborators conducted the study and found that aceclofenac was rapidly converted to diclofenac while injecting the same water buffaloes. Such metabolisms pose a threat to vulture populations in the country. Diclofenac : Anti-inflammatory drug was banned for veterinary use by the Government of India in 2006. It was found to be the main cause of a dramatic decline (99 per cent) of the vulture population across Asia. The drug caused accidental poisoning in raptors after they fed on carcasses of cattle injected with it. Aceclofenac in water buffaloes poses the same threat to vultures as it is a pro-drug of diclofenac. Vulture Action Plan 2020-2025 also mentions the drug as toxic, asking the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) to ban its veterinary use — along with other drugs like nimesulide and ketoprofen. MUST READ: Vulture Conservation in India Source: DownToEarth Previous Year Question Q.1) “Triclosan” considered harmful when exposed to high levels for a long time, is most likely present in which of the following? (2021) Food preservatives Fruit ripening substances reused plastic containers Toiletries Deinococcus Radiodurans/ Conan the Bacterium Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Context: Recently, researchers simulated the harsh ionising radiation on Mars in a new study where they found that ancient bacteria could potentially survive close to the surface of the planet much longer than previously thought. A new study shatters that record, finding the hearty bacterium could survive 280 million years if buried. This means evidence of life could still be dormant and buried below Mars’ surface. About Deinococcus Radiodurans: Many of the terrestrial microorganisms proved that they might be able to survive on Mars, but one particular microbe called Deinococcus Radiodurans seemed particularly well-suited to living on the planet. The researchers nicknamed the bacteria “Conan the bacterium” for its ability to survive massive amounts of radiation while frozen. This means that scientists might even find bacteria and bacteria remains when the first samples from Mars come back to our planet. To understand whether any life forms could survive the harsh climatic conditions on Mars, the research team exposed six different terrestrial bacteria and fungi under conditions similar to life on the red planet. They did this by freezing the microbes and hitting them with gamma rays and protons. Source: Indian Express UP’s Bioenergy Policy 2022 Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment In news: Uttar Pradesh recently launched its Bioenergy Policy 2022 to boost bio-economy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. About the policy: The policy highlights four bioenergy constituents: Compressed biogas (CBG), ethanol, biodiesel and bio-coal, a carbon-neutral fuel from biomass waste. It sets a highly ambitious target to generate 1,000 tonnes per day (TPD) of CBG, 4,000 tonnes per day of bio-coal and 2,000 kilolitre per day of bioethanol and biodiesel by 2026-27. Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) is the nodal agency for implementing this scheme across the state. The scheme provides a subsidy of Rs 75 lakh per tonne of CBG, Rs 75,000 per tonne of bio-coal and Rs 3 lakh per kilolitre of biodiesel, with a cap of Rs 20 crores. Units can use this subsidy for plant and machinery, infrastructure, construction, power supply, and transmission system-related works, excluding administrative building and land costs. Each tehsil in the state is to have at least one bioenergy plant, which means a minimum of 350 bioenergy units across UP. A 10 TPD capacity CBG plant generally requires 10 acres of land for installation and 25 acres for feedstock storage. A 100 TPD capacity bio-coal plant needs two acres of land and a 100 kilolitre per day biodiesel plant needs 1.5 acres of land. The scheme was established to boost agricultural mechanization in the nation and increase inclusivity. Key takeaways: Electricity tariffs and tax exemptions: 100 per cent electricity charge waiver for ten years Stamp duty and sale deed registration fees waiver no development charges Land on non-transferable lease @Re 1 per acre for a maximum of 30 years A 5 km approach road connecting it with the main highway will be constructed, if an investor infuses Rs 50 crores or more in a bioenergy plant. Incentives on equipment Subsidy under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme. 30 per cent subsidy (max Rs 20 lakh) on purchasing equipment North-eastern states, the subsidy is 100 per cent, going up to a maximum of Rs 1.25 lakh per user. UPNEDA’s Bioenergy Online portal for single window clearance for easy application and improved transparency. directly file and monitor the progress of their applications. build pressure on the district officials to clear bioenergy project-related regulatory clearances in a time-bound manner Coordination among state departments to help potential investors facilitate necessary approvals from the district magistrate’s office. collaborate with other state departments to receive relevant data for sanctioning future realistic projects better marketing of products A district-level committee will ensure that bioenergy plants remain economically viable and every investor gets a level playing field Manage feedstock supply chain and ensure right costing and convince farmers of a unanimous price of the feedstock with a long-term contract and ensure that the payments are transferred within 15 days. Challenges: Firstly, a continuous and long-term feedstock supply below a fixed price is needed to ensure the right functioning and healthy economic factors for the bioenergy plant. Secondly, oil marketing companies shall refrain from procuring the CBG on a best endeavours’ basis as it leads to financial instability for the manufacturer when his product is left unsold Lastly, despite having the same fuel characteristics, there is a large disparity in the CBG and CNG procuring prices that needs to be addressed. Source: Down to Earth Previous Year Question Q.1) According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (2020) Cassava Damaged wheat grains Groundnut seeds Horse gram Rotten potatoes Sugar beet Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1, 2, 5 and 6 only 1, 3, 4 and 6 only 2, 3, 4 and 5 only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 PARAKH assessment Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In news: Three global educational non-profits — Educational Testing Services (ETS), American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) —have expressed interest in helping to set up India’s first national school-level examination and assessment regulator. The organisations approached the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), for selecting consulting services to set up the proposed regulator PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), which is envisaged as an instrument for “establishing comparative measures and equivalence” among school examination boards and promoting collaboration among them. About: ETS is internationally recognised for conducting TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and GRE (Graduate Record Examination), which are gateways to higher education in top institutes worldwide. AIR and ACER are leading names in research on behavioural and social science domains and learning assessment studies. ACER, which is based in Australia, has an Indian wing. It is primarily known for conducting a set of benchmark tests for learning assessment in English, Mathematics and Science for classes III-X. AIR carried a study in the US on racial disparities and economic mobility among others in 1960s. While the NCERT is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, PARAKH will be a constituent body of the council. The consulting firm will initially be selected on a three-year-contract, which will be renewed each year based on its performance, states the RFP. NCERT will develop and validate standards of assessment for all school stages and curricular areas of school education, based on NEP 2020. It will provide technical guidelines and inputs for boards to design, develop, and implement state-wide systems for measuring student learning aligned with state and national curricular standards Significance of PARAKH: Function as a standard-setting body for student assessment and evaluation for all school boards across the country. Address the issue of disparities in scores of students affiliated to different boards. Conduct future rounds of National Achievement Surveys (NAS) on learning  outcomes and review all aspects of the design and conduct of the NAS exercises and identify areas for improvement. Incorporate international evidence to strengthen assessment systems in India to meet Covid-19 and other pandemic situations. Manage India’s participation in international assessments like the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), or Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Source: Indian Express Invasive Species Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment In News: An invasive species, Senna spectabilis, an exotic tree, has taken over between 800 and 1,200 hectares of the buffer zones of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) especially the Singara and Masinagudi forest ranges, as well as in Kargudi range in the core area of the reserve. About: Introduced as an ornamental species and for use as firewood from South and Central America or for paper-making, the species has become highly invasive in the Sigur plateau in both the core and buffer zones of the MTR. It has bright yellow flowers and has a negative effect on local biodiversity, crowding out native species and limiting food availability for wildlife. Forest Department is formulating a 10-year-plan to systematically remove Lantana camara, the other major weed that poses a threat to biodiversity in both the core and buffer zones of the Tiger Reserve. 5 major invasive species of Nilgiris are: Senna spectabilis Lantana camara wattle Eucalyptus Pine Eucalyptus and Pine, though exotic, do not spread as quickly as the other species and are considered easier to manage Funds raised from the removal of the species will be used in eco-restoration to help bring back native species. Invasive species: Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and other organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health. They regenerate at an alarming speed and threaten to edge out the indigenous flora Concerns: The thick foliage arrests the growth of other indigenous species of trees and grass, and causes food shortage for the wildlife population, especially herbivores, during summer. Moreover, wildlife would not feed on the leaves of the tree as it was not palatable for them Some of the invasive plants have a toxic impact on the landscape after remaining underwater. Some weeds have herbal properties, but their toxicity outweighs their utility. For instance, wild boars love to gorge on the succulent rootlets of the Leea macrophylla or ‘kukura thengia’ that is fast clogging the patrolling paths and grasslands. Examples of Invasive Animal species: Indian Bullfrog – Andaman and Nicobar Papaya Mealy Bug – Assam Amazon sailfin catfish – West Bengal Cannibal Snail / Rosy wolf snail – Indian Ocean African apple snail – Andaman and Nicobar Examples of Invasive species: Ipomoea (Ipomoea carnea) Mimosa (Mimosa himalaica) Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus) is believed to have come to India as contaminants in a consignment of wheat imported from the U.S. in the 1950s Lantana (Lantana camara) was brought by the British as ornamental plants from South America two centuries ago. Bombax ceiba (locally called Semul) Largestroemia speciosa (locally called ejhar) Cestrum diurnum or day-blooming jasmine of West Indies origin; otherwise a source of vitamin D3. Once the modalities are finalised, this weed can be turned into a commercial crop for the people in the vicinity of Kaziranga. Pharmaceutical companies need tonnes of dry leaves of this plant periodically Cane is a commercial plant that is threatening to be an invasive plant in Kaziranga. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR): Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu state at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1st Biosphere Reserve in India) along with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the West Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) in the North Mukurthi National Park Silent Valley in the South. Flora: The Reserve has tall grasses, commonly referred to as ‘Elephant Grass’. Bamboo of the giant variety, valuable timber species like Teak, Rosewood, etc. There are several species of endemic flora. Fauna: Flagship Species: Tiger and Asian Elephant. Other Tiger Reserves in Tamil Nadu Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve? (2019) Neyyar, ldl Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Purchasing Manager’s Index Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy In News: India’s manufacturing industry remained robust and expanded at a faster pace indicating a strong improvement in the health of the sector. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 55.3 in October from 55.1 in September Predictions of better sales and marketing efforts were among the reasons cited for upbeat projections. About: Business volumes rose and led to the hiring of extra workers Manufacturing employment rose Factory orders increased. Rise in input purchasing Capacities were again expanded to accommodate for improving sales. Consumer goods was the best-performing category. The overall rate of cost inflation was the second-weakest for two years. A modest increase in input lead times. About PMI: PMI or a Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is an indicator of business activity — both in the manufacturing and services sectors. It is a survey-based measures that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of some key business variables from the month before. It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is constructed. The index is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers in a panel of around 400 manufacturers. The PMI is derived from a series of qualitative questions. Executives from a reasonably big sample, running into hundreds of firms, are asked whether key indicators such as output, new orders, business expectations and employment were stronger than the month before and are asked to rate them A figure above 50 denotes expansion in business activity. Anything below 50 denotes contraction. Higher the difference from this mid-point greater the expansion or contraction. The rate of expansion can also be judged by comparing the PMI with that of the previous month data. If the figure is higher than the previous month’s then the economy is expanding at a faster rate. If it is lower than the previous month then it is growing at a lower rate. The PMI is usually released at the start of the month, much before most of the official data on industrial output, manufacturing and GDP growth becomes available. It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity and of industrial output Central banks of many countries also use the index to help make decisions on interest rates. The PMI also gives an indication of corporate earnings and is closely watched by investors as well as the bond markets. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q1.)  In India, in the overall Index of Industrial Production, the Indices of Eight Core Industries have a combined weight of 37.90%. Which of the following are among those Eight Core Industries? (2012) Cement Fertilizers Natural Gas Refinery products Textiles Select the correct answer using the codes given below 1 and 5 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Q.2) In the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight? (2015) Coal production Electricity generation Fertilizer production Steel production Q.3) India’s ranking in the ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’ is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following has declared that ranking? (2016) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) World Economic Forum World Bank World Trade Organization (WTO) Technology in the aid of Farming Community Open in new window Syllabus  Mains – GS 3 (Economy) and Science and Technology Context: The Prime Minister highlighted that the initiatives like Kisan Rail, DBT transfers, Soil Health Cards, e-NAM, and neem coating of urea, have integrated and scaled-up technology in agriculture during the PM Kisan Samman Sammelan which was held recently. He also highlighted drones are another such revolutionary technology to add to farmers’ prosperity and dignity. As per the latest report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), drones have the potential to be the harbinger of the “technology-led transformation” of Indian agriculture. In India’s $600 billion agriculture sector, they are currently used for pesticide and nutrient application, mapping water spread area, sampling water, mapping macrophyte infestation, etc. About Drone or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: An unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system, which includes a ground-based controller and a system of communications with the UAV additionally. Drones have been divided into five categories based on their weight (existing rules)- Nano: Less than or equal to 250 grams Micro: From 250 grams to 2 kg Small: From 2 kg to 25 kg, Medium: From 25 kg to 150 kg, Large: Greater than 150 kg. Revolutionising Indian agriculture with aid of Drones: Precision agriculture: As per WEF, drone usage could reduce the cost of application by 20 percent and also mitigate health hazards of manual work, thereby promoting precision agriculture. Drones enable data collection and resource-efficient nutrient application. This data facilitates crop production forecast and evidence-based planning. With drones, government initiatives like Per Drop More Crop will improve, and water use inefficiency in irrigation will decline. Agri-research will become “highly customized and localised” with drones. Streamlining of schemes: Drones’ data integrated with GIS and Google Earth satellite images will eventually streamline schemes like PMFBY by aiding crop-cutting experiments, crop-loss estimation, insurance determination, and dispute resolution. Better cropping patterns: The government can announce relief packages for farmers in time, leading to better sowing, irrigation, and harvesting cycles. Capturing backward and forward linkages: With objective and standardized data on crop quality, food processing industries will procure from farmers at better prices. Agri-exports will also increase with technology-supporting compliance with global standards. Challenges before Indian Farming community: Eighty five percent of the Indian farmers are small and marginal landholders and the drones cost between ₹1 lakh and ₹10 lakh. The drone acquisition will increase the cost of cultivation by 45 percent despite productivity gains. To address this, FPOs and custom hiring centres should be encouraged to buy and loan them to the farmers for a nominal fee. The government provides subsidies in the range of 40-60 percent for the cost of drones. As per an ICAR report, India faces challenges due to weather dependency of drones, improper internet connectivity across farms, unskilled end user, and potential for misuse. Government of India Initiatives to promote drone technology: The Indian arm of the Swiss-based firm launched a drone yatra to cover 10,000 km across 13 States from Mancher near Pune in Maharashtra. A few firms such as Unnati, an Agri-tech start-up platform, have launched drone services. The firm plans to spray 20,000 acres of land by the end of 2022 and increase drones’ spray capacity by 4 times next year. The Indian Government is popularizing the use of drones by offering various financial assistance to purchase drones for demonstrations. Drone purchases by Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) are given 40 percent assistance. The Centre is providing ₹6,000 per hectare as a contingency fund to farmers to hire drones from CHCs. The central government notified the Drone Rules 2021 with the following features: Abolish the need for various approvals, including certificate of conformance, certificate of maintenance, import clearance, acceptance of existing drones, operator permits, authorisation of R&D organisation and student remote pilot license. It shall be developed as a user-friendly single-window system. There will be minimal human interface and most permissions will be self-generated. The draft rules reduced the airport perimeter from 45 km to 12 km. The rules state that no flight permissions would be required to fly upto 400 feet in green zones and up to 200 feet in the area between 8 and 12 km from the airport perimeter. No pilot license would be needed for micro drones for non-commercial use, nano drones and for R&D organisations. There would be no restriction on drone operations by foreign-owned companies registered in India. The Ministry will also facilitate the development of drone corridors for cargo deliveries and a drone promotion council will be set up to facilitate a business-friendly regulatory regime. The draft rule also provides for safety features such as real-time tracking beacon, and geo-fencing, which are expected to be notified in the future and a six-month lead time will be provided for compliance. Coverage of drones under Drone Rules, 2021 increased from 300 kg to 500 kg. This will also cover drone taxis. Way Forward: The need is to scale up drone use in the agriculture sector from the present 10,000 aerial vehicles. Civil military engagement should be promoted to realise gains from the cross-industry application of drones. Consultations may be held with experienced strategic partners like Israel where AI-enabled drones are used for mapping plots, assessing crop damage, and even plucking only ripe apples. A dedicated research fund and a ‘sandbox’ or ‘green microcosm’ should be provided to the private players. Thus, use of drones in agriculture will revolutionise farm operations and empower our farmers, especially the smallholders with information and applications that will help them enhance their yields and income in the long run and help the Indian agriculture sector make a huge leap. Source:                  The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following activities : Spraying pesticides on a crop field Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones ? (2020) 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Fake News on social media Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Governance) Context: Recently, Election Management Bodies (EMBs) expressed their expectation from social media sites to proactively flag fake news. For propagating fake news, the Indian government has recently shut down some YouTube news channels and other social media accounts. This is the first time action has been taken against Indian YouTube-based news providers since the notification of the new Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021. This reflects the extent of the fake news menace and the threat it poses to the Indian democracy. What is fake news? Fake news is a kind of yellow journalism that comprises intentional misinformation or hoaxes distributed through conventional print, broadcasting news media, or Internet-based social media. Fake news is intentionally written in order to gain financially or politically through sensationalist, exaggerated, or false headlines for capturing the attention of the people. Causes of the spread of fake news: Internet: Everyone with an internet connection and a social media presence is now a content generator. Free internet service has provided access to everyone to post whatever they want and hence created a trend of fake news spreading like wildfire. Not checking authenticity: Everyone is in a hurry to like/share/comment instead of checking the authenticity of the news. Lack of regulator: in social media platforms like we have in print or television media. Emotions: are trumping reasons when it comes to sharing news. For example, the idea of nation-building is trumping the truth when it comes to sharing stories that have nationalistic messages like India’s progress, Hindu power, and revival of lost Hindu glory without any attempt at fact-checking. Consequences of fake news: Political: Targeting a specific organization or person with an intent to either glorify or bring malice to it. Political parties try to get political benefits by polarizing the voter’s mind. For example, a news channel was established just to support the accused in Jessica Lal’s Murder Case. Another example is the extensive use of social media in influencing public opinion in the last US Presidential election. Economic: Hoaxes of GPS chips in the Rs 2,000 note after the demonetization initiative of the government through both media and WhatsApp messages led to widespread confusion among holders of the new note. Fake news has also been used to deceive illiterate people financially. Example- Chit fund schemes introduced the concept of online fraud through spam emails. Society: It affects the spirit of common brotherhood and increases intolerance in the country. Example: Spreading fake photos to bring about communal clashes in the country/region. 2012 mass exodus of North-Eastern people from Bangalore on false online threats. Security: Media companies tend to get easy viewership by means of promoting sensational news. For example: branding foreign prisoners as spies or terrorists without valid proof. Another example is the fake news circulation in the Kashmir valley showing shocking attacks on the Army and inhumane repression of civilians. Nation’s reputation: The portrayal of India as an unsafe place for women by international media has created a false image of the nation. Personal reputation: Fake news results in harassment and threatening of innocent people and damages their reputations. It can also result in deaths. For example, rumours about child lifters and cattle thieves led to mob attacks and deaths across India. Faith in media: Fake news reduced people’s belief in social, print, and electronic media = affecting the benefits of these media. Challenges with preventing fake news on social media? User-generated content: It is unreasonable to put the blame on the social media platforms for the fake news menace. Because the platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. are not generating the content, but by the users themselves cannot hold all of them responsible. So rather than forcing a solution on technology providers alone, the centre needs to address the consumer end as well and adopt a collaborative way to tackle the menace of fake news. Privacy rights: Security requirements should also consider the rights of millions of genuine users as traceability would undermine the end-to-end encryption, and weaken consumer privacy and cybersecurity. Need for high encryption: Data leaks at Facebook and Uber in the recent past have shown that the encryption has to be so high. The welfare of Indians: It could actually affect the welfare of Indian digital users. For instance, WhatsApp is crucial for rural people to cheaply connect with their family members far away and also send pictures of their products to clients all over India. Jurisdiction issues: As WhatsApp users converse outside Indian boundaries, the storage of foreign users’ data could come with its own jurisdiction issues. Tackling fake news on social media: Digital Literacy: An effective approach to deal with fake news is to improve digital literacy i.e., the ability to identify real news from fake news. Government, media, and technology should work together to improve the overall digital literacy in India. Policy: The government needs to come up with an effective policy framework to control fake news on social media platforms. Ombudsman: should be created to deal with the credibility of news sources and also ensure facts are reported. An Independent agency: should be established to verify the data being circulated on social and other media. Innovative approaches: With the utilization of metadata (data about data) and human content moderation, WhatsApp could prevent fake news, and misinformation and even punish bad actors, without breaking end-to-end encryption. When a message is reported and identified as fake, it should be permanently tagged if someone tries to circulate it months later, it should only be transmitted with a statutory warning. Police machinery: The state police machinery should be strengthened to catch anyone responsible for spreading fake messages. Hefty fines: Similar to Germany, India should also impose hefty fines on social media companies if they constantly fail to remove illegal content from their platforms. Internal mechanisms: Print and Electronic media should have an internal ombudsman to verify incidents, facts, and figures. Role of NGOs: and other civil society organisations in spreading awareness about the ill effects of fake news. Legal remedies to tackle fake news: Indian Broadcast Foundation (IBF) The Press Council of India IPC Sections 153A and 295 Broadcasting Content Complaint Council (BCCC) Defamation Suit The Information Technology (IT) Act Contempt of Court laws The Constitution of India Way Forward: Policy-makers: Although the policy-makers’ steps and regulations are in the right direction; the existing loopholes need to be filled. All the stakeholders– lawmakers, online intermediaries, and citizens have a collective responsibility to curb fake news. Lawmakers: While lawmakers can keep amending the laws, the citizens’ duty lies to gain awareness about media literacy. Online intermediaries: On the other hand, tech platforms need to ensure the use of a sophisticated algorithm to present the public with correct, accurate, and truthful information. Citizens: The responsibility lies equally among the general public to educate with the necessary information to critically analyze information and then make deductive conclusions. Source:   The Hindu Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 1 Education, GS2 Governance Context: ECCE is enshrined in the Indian Constitution (article 21-A) to provide free and compulsory education for all children up to 14 years of age. Yet, its implementation remains tentative for many reasons, primary of which is the absence of a clear government guideline regarding which Ministry is tasked with policymaking and implementation. Evolution: In 1986, the government announced a National Policy of Education (NPE), which viewed ECCE as an important input. In 2002, the government passed the 86th Constitutional Amendment, comprising two insertions:  Article 21-A which made the Right to Education (RTE) of a child between six to 14 years, a fundamental right; and Article 51A(k) that assigned the “fundamental duty” of educating a child to their parent or guardian. Additionally, the old Article 45 was substituted by a new one through the same Constitutional amendment which introduced the concept of ECCE and provided for a directive to the State to bring into effect the mandate of providing ECCE to children up to 6 years of age. It is mandated under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009. In 2020 the Ministry of Education (MoE) released the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which rekindles the aspirations for ECCE. RTE Act 2009: The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 (or the RTE Act) was enacted in 2009 and its primary objective is a verbatim reiteration of the aim of Article 21 of the Constitution. It imposed an enforceable duty or legislative mandate upon the respective Central and State governments to provide ECCE under section 11, as provided for under non-enforceable Article 45 of the Constitution. The Preamble of the RTE Bill refers to Article 45 as one of the components of the RTE Act. In turn, this created a corresponding enforceable right of the citizens to demand ECCE in the law, as a matter of statutory right. Governing Ministry issues: RTE Act provide for rulemaking powers of the Union government as well as the appropriate Ministry for the implementation of the law. The Ministries can administer and act only on the subject matters specifically allocated to them. The matter of “elementary education” has been allocated to the MoE through the Department of School Education and Literacy. However, there is no mention in the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961 about the MoE being tasked to provide ECCE. It clearly shows that ECCE is not an allocated business of the MoE. Indeed, ECCE is a subject matter that relates to the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) through the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and the deployment of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) that implements it. Concerns: Multitude of services related to early childhood care (i.e., health, nutrition, and immunisation, among others), the component of education has often been given low priority across the country Duplicity: Neither the MoWCD nor the MoE has a clear demarcation of each other’s subject matters and have passed the responsibility of ECCE to the other. ECCE in India has long suffered from scarce funding—in 2020-21, the public expenditure on early childhood care and education was a mere 0.1 percent of GDP. ICDS is poorly governed and implemented such as deficiency in the number of AWCs and in the infrastructure and skilled workforce of the centres that are striving to remain operational. There is no fund allocation to MoWCD specifically for ECCE that requires to be reviewed by CAG. Non-recognition of MoWCD’s role for ECCE under the RTE Act, no budgetary allocation Budgetary allocation for the RTE Act is taken from the Samagra Siksha Scheme – which is an umbrella program for school education extending from pre-school to grade 12 that focuses on school effectiveness, access, and learning outcomes. According to MoWCD, ICDS has four pillars: early childhood care education and development; care and nutrition counselling; health services; community mobilisation awareness, advocacy and information; and education and communication. The Ministry’s own data shows that there has been no significant spending on the first component, i.e. ECCE. Failure of the government to implement the letter and spirit of Section 11 of the RTE in relation to ECCE (the Bombay High Court, in Dr. Jagannath S/o Shamrao Patil v. Union of India & Ors) Suggestions: NEP 2020 outlines the following strategies: strengthening and expansion of AWCs co-location of AWCs in primary schools co-location of pre-primary grades in existing primary schools increased standalone pre-primary schools Recognise which Ministry has been allocated to provide for ECCE the responsibilities of pre-school education or ECE can be undertaken by the MoE but the overall charge of ECCE should be retained with the MoWCD. An important distinction also needs to be clarified between legislation and policy. NEP 2020 is a policy document and mostly directional or aspirational in nature. In order to operationalise the spirit of the policy, legislative changes are needed to both the RTE Act as well as the business conduct rules. Recognise and popularise the concept of ECCE being a vital part of the RTE Act including budgetary allocation specifically for ECCE, repeal of overlapping and diverging schemes including SSS as well as ICDS. It will create justiciability: i.e., the right of an aggrieved person to approach Court(s) while holding concerned ministry accountable for its inactions, ineffective implementation, and non-compliances in providing ECCE. Way forward: The National Education Policy 2020 has come at the right time and provides a beacon of hope that adequate attention will henceforth be paid to ECCE. However, NEP remains essentially an aspirational policy, and not an enforceable legislation. For substantive changes to happen in the domain of ECCE, the country’s lawmakers need to step up and, first, revisit Section 11 of the RTE Act considering the increased advocacy for ECCE. It is also crucial to understand that while ECCE adopts a more holistic approach to the overall development of younger children, the mandate and expertise of delivering education lies with the MoE and not MoWCD. This would need to be adequately translated into practice, not just through laws but also through adequate financing and standardised policies. Source: Orf Online Baba’s Explainer – Russia’s suspension of grain deal Russia's suspension of grain deal Syllabus GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Context: Russia has suspended its part of the deal allowing Ukraine to ship grain from its Black Sea ports safely amid a monthslong war, and it appears that the remaining partners are now left to take their chances. Russia halted its role in the Black Sea deal for an “indefinite term” because it said it could not “guarantee safety of civilian ships” travelling under the pact after an attack on its Black Sea fleet. Ukraine said a dozen ships had sailed despite initially reporting that more than 200 vessels, many loaded and ready to travel, were stuck after Russia’s recent announcement. Read Complete Details on Russia’s suspension of grain deal Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) The ‘Purchasing Manager’s Index’ is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following prepares the same? Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Office of Economic Advisor S&P Global India The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) Q.2) With reference to Uttar Pradesh’s Bioenergy Policy 2022 , consider the following statements: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal agency for implementing this scheme. It, among other things will also provide leased land at Rs. 1 per acre It aims to boost agricultural mechanization. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2, and 3 Q.3) With reference to India’s Biodiversity, Papaya Mealy Bug, Rosy wolf , Bombax ceiba are Native plant species Invasive animal species Native animal species Invasive plant species Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’2nd November 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st ANSWERS FOR 1st November – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – c Q.2) – b Q.3) – a table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Nov 2, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Russia's suspension of grain deal

 ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Context: Russia has suspended its part of the deal allowing Ukraine to ship grain from its Black Sea ports safely amid a monthslong war, and it appears that the remaining partners are now left to take their chances. Russia halted its role in the Black Sea deal for an “indefinite term” because it said it could not “guarantee safety of civilian ships” travelling under the pact after an attack on its Black Sea fleet. Ukraine said a dozen ships had sailed despite initially reporting that more than 200 vessels, many loaded and ready to travel, were stuck after Russia’s recent announcement. What is the Black Sea Grain Initiative? Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain exporters and normally contributes around 45 million tonnes of grain to the global market every year. However, since Russia invaded Ukraine, exports of grain, food and fertilizers from both countries have been significantly hit. The disruption in supplies resulted in rising prices and added to the burden of an already existing food crisis in some countries. In a bid to address this crisis and ensure the smooth movement of supplies amidst the ongoing war, the United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative on 22 July 2022. The Black Sea Grain Initiative allowed Ukraine to export its grain, food and fertilizer including ammonia to the world via a safe maritime corridor that has three key ports in the country: Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi. The deal was implemented after a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was established at the signing ceremony. The committee comprises senior representatives from the Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine as well as the UN. The JCC issued procedures to be a part of the initiative and according to these, ships and vessels that wish to participate will have to undergo an inspection in Istanbul to ensure that they are empty of cargo. Following the inspection, they can sail through the corridor and reach Ukraine ports to load goods. To ensure the safe passage of vessels, JCC monitors them round the clock. On their return journey, the vessels have to go through another round of inspection in Istanbul. What has the deal achieved? Glimmer of Hope of Peaceful Settlement: The grain initiative has been a rare example of cooperation between Ukraine and Russia since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Ensured Global Food Security: Before the grain deal was brokered, the US and Europe accused Russia of starving vulnerable parts of the world by denying exports. With global markets tight, poorer countries will have to pay more to import grain. The deal has allowed more than 9 million tons of grain in 397 ships to safely leave Ukrainian ports. This has helped avert food crisis in poorer countries. Helped Tackle Commodity Inflation: The grain agreement has brought down global food prices by about 15 per cent from their peak in March 2022, according to the UN. UN secretary-general had urged Russia and Ukraine to renew the deal when it expires on 19 November. What has Vladimir Putin said? Since the deal, Russian President Vladimir Putin has alleged that most of the exported grain was going to Europe instead of the world’s hungriest nations. UN humanitarian chief said 23 per cent of the total cargo exported from Ukraine under the grain deal has gone to lower- or lower-middle-income countries and 49 per cent of all wheat shipments have gone to such nations. Ukraine has said more than 5 million tons have been exported to African and Asian nations, with 190,000 tons of wheat sent to countries that are getting relief from the UN World Food Program. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure were carried out in retaliation to a drone attack on the Russian fleet which he blamed on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the said attack and has denied using the maritime corridor for military purposes. What happens now? NATO and the European Union have urged Russia to reconsider its decision. U.S. President Joe Biden called Russia’s move “purely outrageous” and said it would increase starvation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Moscow of weaponising food. Ukraine said 40,000 tonnes of wheat had been loaded onto a ship for the U.N. Food Program and intended for Ethiopia which is said was “on the brink of starvation” and, like Yemen and Somalia, facing “catastrophic” food shortages. US has called for a strong response from the United Nations and Group of 20 (G20) major economies to what it called Russia’s nonsensical move on the grain deal, saying that the move threatened large-scale famine in Africa and Asia. However, Russia snapped back, saying the U.S. response was “outrageous”. Instead, Russia has offered to supply up to 500,000 tons of grain “to the poorest countries free of charge in the next four months.” The Russian Defence Ministry stressed that Russia is not withdrawing but suspending the grain agreement. While sanctions on Russia don’t affect its grain exports and a parallel wartime deal was meant to clear the way for Russia’s food and fertilizer shipments, some businesses have been concerned. Developing nations will have to find new grain suppliers and pay more from countries such as the US, Argentina and Australia, where dry conditions or rain are posing problems What else affects food supply? Scepticism amongst traders: There were doubts that Russia’s decision will have a lasting impact on the price and supply of corn and grain. Commodity traders were sceptical that the deal would last, and that’s why corn prices have gone up, not down, since the arrangement was reached in July. Grim situation in US market: Grain markets also are focused on other issues, including low water levels in the Mississippi River that slow the export of US farm products, a disappointing corn crop in the American West and the threat of a US rail strike. Low rainfall in parts of Africa: After four failed rainy seasons in the Horn of Africa, millions of people are hungry and millions of livestock that are a critical source of food and wealth are dying. The latest setback in Ukrainian exports is another layer of stress. Lack of Alternatives in Poorer Africa: In poorer North African and Middle Eastern countries where bread is a critical part of people’s diets, there may not be alternative staples like rice in Asia or sorghum elsewhere in Africa. Currency Crisis: In Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi personally visited wheat farms when the harvest started this spring. But an economic crunch has made it more difficult to buy imported wheat, as Egypt’s currency has reached an all-time low against the US dollar. Main Practice Question: What Russia’s suspension of grain deal could mean for the world’s fight against hunger? Note: Write answer his question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Nov 2, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2nd November 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) – CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don’t forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today’s test 🙂After completing the 5 questions, click on ‘View Questions’ to check your score, time taken, and solutions.To take the Test Click Here

Nov 1, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st November 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Banana Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography Context: A science writer writes in BBC that the banana tree is equated to Lord Brihaspati (Jupiter) for fertility and bounty. Thus, bananas are considered sacred. About Banana: Agro-climatic requirements: Banana, basically a tropical crop, grows well in a temperature range of 15ºC – 35ºC with relative humidity of 75-85%. Deep, rich loamy soil with pH between 6.5 – 7.5 is most preferred for banana cultivation. Saline solid, calcareous soils are not suitable for banana cultivation. There are some 12-15 varieties of bananas in India. Largely in the peninsular southern coastal region, namely in parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Bengal, and in the Northeastern areas of the country such as Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The central and northern regions – Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab also grow the plant but neither in such variety nor in numbers. India produces about 29 million tonne of banana every year, and next is China with 11 million. Nutritive value Bananas have 10-20 mg of calcium, 36 mg of sodium, 34 mg of magnesium and 30-50 mg of phosphorous per 100 g of edible material. All these make bananas highly nutritious. Its peel is of use as a ‘biochar,’ which is used both as a fertilizer and to generate electricity. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that’s made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes (also called biomass) in a controlled process called pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is the heating of an organic material, such as biomass, in the absence of oxygen. Banana production in India state wise: S.no Banana producing state Share % 1 Andhra Pradesh 16.27 2 Maharashtra 13.69 3 Gujarat 14.54 4 Tamil Nadu 10.42 5 Uttar Pradesh 10.31 6 Karnataka 7.57 7 Madhya Pradesh 5.96 8 Bihar 4.54 9 West Bengal 3.90 10 Kerala 3.64  Banana production in the world: Asian banana production accounts for about 54% of the entire production. India and China have been the world’s biggest banana producers accounting for over 40% of the world’s total banana production. Most bananas produced in India and China are consumed domestically, whereas the Philippines supplies bananas to the international markets. Ecuador is the world’s largest banana exporter. Banana season in India: Banana season in India prevails throughout the year. On the other hand, banana arrivals begin to increase in April and peak between August and October. Bananas, primarily tropical crops, thrive in temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius and relative humidity levels of 75% to 85%. The planted crop is ready for harvest 12-15 months after planting, and the primary harvesting season of bananas is from September to April. Banana season throughout the year: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Assam and Tripura. September-November season: Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Questions Q.1) With reference to the “Tea Board” in India, consider the following statements: The Tea Board is a statutory body. It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru. The Board has overseas offices at Dubai and Moscow. Which of the statements given above are correct?  (2022) 1 and 3 2 and 4 3 and 4 1 and 4 OneWeb Satellites Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Context: Describing the simultaneous placement of 36 OneWeb satellites in space recently as a major feat, Prime Minister of India said that,  the move would strengthen digital connectivity across the whole country. About OneWeb: It is a global communications network, powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities. OneWeb has teamed up with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of national space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to facilitate the launch. OneWeb Constellation Summary: OneWeb Constellation operates in a LEO Polar Orbit Satellites are arranged in 12 rings (Orbital planes) with 49 satellites in each plane. Each satellite completes a full trip around the earth every 109 minutes. The earth is rotating underneath satellites, so they will always be flying over new locations on the ground. MUST READ: NewSpace India pvt ltd Source:  The Hindu Supreme court on patriarchal 2-finger test Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In news: The Supreme Court again called for a ban on the two-finger test in rape cases and to remove it from the syllabus of medical education. A 2013 SC order had noted in a similar tone. Evidence of a victim’s sexual history is not material to case. About: The two-finger test is an invasive, unscientific and regressive practice used in rape cases to gauge whether a person is sexually active or a virgin. The practice is also known as per-vaginal examination in medical jargon and is not only conducted on rape survivors but also otherwise. This test has no scientific value because the absence of the hymen and laxity of the vaginal orifice may occur for reasons unrelated to sex. The practice questions a woman’s character and is ‘patriarchal’ and ‘sexist’. It not only re-traumatised and re-victimised women, but was based on an incorrect assumption that a sexually active woman cannot be raped. It violates the right of rape survivors to privacy, physical and mental integrity and dignity. Thus, this test, even if the report is affirmative, cannot ipso facto, be given rise to presumption of consent. This came on the heels of the December 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case, after which the Union health ministry updated the proforma for medical examination of rape victims to remove the  two-finger test. A rape test kit, detailing tools required to collect evidence of sexual assault according to WHO guidelines, was prepared but failed to make any impact. In the absence of these kits, the two-finger test continued as is. The latest order creates the connection which was missing till now. Now medical text books will have to  keep pace with legal changes and that will benefit young doctors and society at large. Indian Evidence Act: Originally passed in India by the Imperial Legislative Council in 1872, during the British Raj. When India gained independence on 15 August 1947, the Act continued to be in force throughout the Republic of India. It contains a set of rules and allied issues governing admissibility of evidence in the Indian courts of law. This Act is divided into three parts: Part 1 deals with relevancy of the facts Part 2 deals with facts which need not be proved, oral evidence, documentary evidence. Part 3 deals with burden of proof, estoppel, witnesses and their examination Under Section 155(4) of the Indian Evidence Act, a rape survivor’s past sexual history used to be acceptable. The rape accused could state that the rape survivor was of immoral character and claim that she consented to the sexual acts. This section was removed in 2003 after recommendations in the Law Commission of India’s 172nd report. In 2013, the JS Verma Committee, created after the Nirbhaya gangrape case 2012, suggested that a past relationship between the accused and the victim should be inapt while deciding whether the victim consented. Source: Down To Earth Miya Museum Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In news: Miya Museum, a private centre, showcasing the culture and heritage of Bengali-speaking or Bengal-origin Muslims in Assam, was sealed 2 days after its inauguration. The action was taken as a house allotted under the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana-Gramin scheme was converted into a museum in violation of the rules. About: The genesis of the controversy lies in the politics of polarisation in Assam fuelled by the fear of a demographic invasion by the so-called “illegal immigrants” from Bangladesh. The migrant Muslims form the bulk of Assam’s Muslims accounting for more than 34% of the State’s 3.3 crore people. The BJP has allegedly been pitting Assamese Muslims, considered ‘khilonjia’ (indigenous), against the Bengali-speaking Muslims and had approved the awarding of special status to five groups of indigenous Muslims; in line with the BJP’s vow to protect the ‘bhumiputras’ (sons of the soil) from illegal immigrants. The word ‘Miya’ is used pejoratively against the Bengali-speaking Muslims and was thus seen as a bid to assert the ‘Miya’ identity and by default, intimidation to the current dispensation. The Bengal-origin Muslim community began promoting ‘Miya’ culture as a counter-campaign against the exercise to update the National Register of Citizens in Assam Source:  The Hindu Basic Structure Doctrine Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity In News: The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a PIL challenging changes made to the right to freedom of speech and expression by the first amendment to the Constitution in 1951, with the petitioner contending that the amendment damages the basic structure doctrine. The plea urged the court to declare Section 3 (1)(a) and 3 (2) of the First Amendment “beyond the amending power of Parliament” and void since the “same damage the basic or essential features of the Constitution and destroy its basic structure”. About: Section 3(1) of the 1951 Amending Act substituted original Clause (2) of Article 19 – dealing with reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) – with a new Clause (2), which contained “two objectionable insertions” allowing restrictions also “in the interest of public order” and “in relation to incitement to an offence” and omitted the expression “tends to overthrow the State. The two insertions protect Sections 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code “from the vice of unconstitutionality”. The two questionable expressions inserted unduly abridge the fundamental right under Article 19 and damages democracy and republicanism and supremacy of the Constitution. The amendment also neglects national security by dropping the expression ‘tends to overthrow the State’ by radicalism, terrorism and religious fundamentalism. First Amendment: Passed in 1951 by the then Provisional Parliament headed by Jawaharlal Nehru. It amended articles 15, 19, 85, 87, 174, 176, 341, 342, 372 and 376. It inserted articles 31A and 31B and Ninth Schedule to protect the land reform and other laws present in it from the judicial review. It placed reasonable restrictions on fundamental rights and added three more grounds of restrictions on freedom of speech such as public order, friendly relations with foreign states and incitement to an offence. MUST READ  Doctrine of basic structure Source:  Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2020) The Constitution of India defines its ‘basic structure’ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy. The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 only Neither 1 nor 2 Sardar Patel Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Modern history In News: Personnel of the CRPF 151 battalion at Kaliveru in Charla mandal organised bike and cycle rallies in connection with the “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” (National Unity Day) National Unity Day marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31. Sardar Patel: First Home Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister of India He earned the title of “Sardar” by women of Bardoli after spearheading a no-tax campaign by peasants there. The Iron Man of India was the chief architect of India’s steel frame — the civil services and is remembered as “patron saint of India’s civil servants”. Headed following Committees of the Constituent Assembly: Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights. Committee on Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas. Provincial Constitution ‘Bismarck of India’ following his role in unifying the princely states. He was the President of INC 1931 session in Karachi. Toured during the Kheda campaign (1918) which was a success, supported Gandhi in Non-cooperation Movement (1920), was arrested during the Dandi Salt March (1930). He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991. His birth anniversary is observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) since 2014. Statue of Unity: The Statue of Unity is built in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Sadhu Hill. Standing at 182 meters in the middle of river Narmada at Kevadia in Gujarat’s Narmada district, the Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world– much taller than the 153 metre Spring Temple Buddha in China and almost twice the size of the Statue of Liberty in New York. One can have a view of the Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges, which also form the point where Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra meet. Visitors can also get a distant view of the 12-km-long Garudeshwar Reservoir which is located downstream from the Narmada dam. Man Behind the Statue: Shri Ram Vanji Sutar, the 93-year-old sculptor. In January 2020, it was added to the ‘Eight Wonders’ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). MUST READ  Role of Sardar Patel in Uniting the Nation Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q1.)  What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to organize a satyagraha on behalf of the peasants of Kheda? (2011) The Administration did not suspend the land revenue collection in spite of a drought. The Administration proposed to introduce Permanent Settlement in Gujarat. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 The Technology and the Water Conservation Open in new window Syllabus Mains – Environment and Conservation Context: With increasing urbanisation and dwindling of natural resources, it has become very important to increase the water sector’s sustainability and resilience i.e., being water smart, creating more with what we have, and wasting less. Innovation and emerging technology in all spheres must be utilised for ensuring water efficiency, safety, quality, and access. Water Insecurity As A Real Challenge To Human And Environmental Security:: Although access to clean water is one of the largest hurdles, insecurity also stems from a range of issues, including dwindling groundwater, stress on water bodies, unsustainable development and theft, amongst others. Changes in the climate and ecosystems are added causes and effects of water insecurity. About a third of the global population lives without access to clean water and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 set a high bar to ensure safe and affordable drinking water for all by the end of the decade. It will not be easy, especially in Asia, where approximately 300 million people in the region do not have access to safe drinking water, and close to 80 percent of wastewater generated by cities is discharged untreated into water bodies. These goals can be met through a better understanding of how water plays a pivotal role not only in human, food, and health security, but also in protecting ecosystems, growth ambitions, energy needs, and mitigating climate change. Technology in the aid of growing water insecurity: The emerging technology and the evolution of the fourth industrial revolution can aid the growing water insecurity if the world is cognizant of following two key aspects: Overdependence on technology cannot and should not replace human responsibility on how water is seen, understood and used as there is no substitute for education to ensure that the world is no longer wasteful. Ensuring any emerging technology, innovation, and science is used mindfully with smart policies and global governance systems in place that provides security as well as safeguarding the water itself. Emerging technology can be effectively utilised and optimised to make access to water and managing water systems more efficiently while aiding in smarter predictions and forecasting. There are numerous ways to harness technology, innovation, and the drive to create and aid water solutions that can ultimately also prevent conflict over shared resources. From space to smart infra, science has proven that efficiency is possible. From low-cost desalination to hand-held purifying filters, technology has revolutionised access to clean drinking water and improved livelihoods across the globe. Technology has also aided in enabling better infrastructure, reducing loss, and creating a more secure environment. AI and machine learning can map and predict potential risks, and early warning tools can aid in tracking water supplies, the effects of changes in the weather patterns, and potential disruptions that can occur. Industrial Revolution 4.0 and management of water resources: The emerging fourth industrial revolution offers untapped possibilities on understanding water. In 2021, a joint satellite mission between NASA and France, the Surface Ocean Topography Mission, was launched to use radar technology to provide a global survey of Earth’s water. The satellite will study lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and the oceans, potentially adding a wealth of knowledge to previously unknown data to understand, measure, and manage our water resources. Such knowledge is not only about understanding the waters better, but it is also incredibly useful in understanding the effects of development on resources and the more nuanced effects of changes in weather and climate, ultimately feeding into better policy making. Case Study of Smart Metering: It uses IoT sensors installed at critical junctures along infrastructure to alert users on water levels, quality, theft, and leakages. Primarily used in large scale systems, these can be introduced at the household and community level, including new housing complexes that are being built in growing cities across India. Not only can such a system create better awareness and understanding on domestic use patterns to allow for better policy making, it also ensures that the citizen has a role and responsibility in the sustainability of water cycles. Management of water resources with cutting edge innovations: Innovation in this space is countless, from water ATMs to fit-for-purpose wastewater solutions to underwater drones with sensors for pipes and drains. In Bhubaneshwar, researchers at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research are using burnt red clay to treat raw water and make it potable; and in central India, low cost fit-for-purpose wastewater solutions developed by ECOSOFTT are being used to treat pollution in the Narmada River. Challenges: There are limitations and challenges to the extensive use of technology including: regulatory frameworks lack of skill the inability of existing infrastructure to support such innovation financial obstacles high energy consumption New environmental and water-related technology and the use of AI or machines are met with suspicion and are seen as a challenge to cultural traditions, especially if local communities are not suitably sensitised. There are added risks that come with the use of technology, such as cyberattacks that are used as threats on critical infrastructure, utilities and businesses, affecting consumers and causing significant financial loss. ‘Hacktivism’ is a growing concern and interconnected grids, dams, treatment plants, and other infrastructures all become vulnerable. Way Forward: As the dangerous trio of climate change, unsustainable development, and dwindling water resources hinder human and environmental security, the trio of science, emerging technology, and innovation need to be brought closer together in the water sector. Better public-private partnerships with substantial investment allows for targeted forecasting and tools that can predict potential conflict zones. A transformation in thought, analysis, and implementation is necessary to be able to counter known and, more importantly, some of the unknown risks and effects of a warming planet. A wider approach is needed with upgraded infrastructure, a range of new technical skills, new governance frameworks, education, and effective management. These are not insurmountable challenges and can be overcome through political will, forward-looking institutions and policies, and significant public-private partnerships. Working with companies and people that bring the best of innovation in technology, artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), robotics, and new frontiers in computing can help in better management of the growing water insecurity. However, with the merging and blurring of these two spaces, the extent of the world’s dependency on technology should not distract from behaviour and patterns of use. Source:  ORF Need for the Regulation of Black magic/Superstition in India Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Governance) Context: In the aftermath of the alleged human sacrifice of two women in Kerala, the state has stressed the need for a new legislation to curb such superstitious practices and urged strict implementation of the existing laws in this regard. About Superstition: It is an irrational belief related to “ignorance or fear and characterized by obsessive reverence for omens, charms, etc” or “reverence for the supernatural”. The term ‘Superstition’ has been taken from the Latin word ‘Superstitio’, which indicates extreme fear of the god. Superstitions are not country, religion, culture, community, region, caste, or class-specific, it is widespread and found in every corner of the world. Presently there exists no nationwide legislation to deal with superstitious practices, black magic, or human sacrifice in particular. Over recent decades, around 800 women in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha have been killed for practising witchcraft. Arguments in favour of need of the law : The IPC is not equipped to deal with crimes on account of black magic and other superstitious practices. Certain practices like throwing children on thorns, parading women naked, etc harm others and can’t be allowed in the name of religion. Arguments against regulation of superstition: Enacting special laws for each set of crimes is no solution and makes the problem worse. An anti-superstition law may seem necessary, but it cannot take cognisance of all realities. The domain of such a law is to curb superstition, associated primarily with religious and occult practices. Almost everything associated with any religion can be considered superstitious for the simple fact that there is no scientific rationale behind the same. No scientific data: Going to a temple, a mosque, or a church can be termed superstitious because there is no scientific data to support the fact that such a practice yields any good. Such practices can’t be curbed because they don’t harm anyone. The fundamental tenets of a liberal democracy give us the freedoms of conscience and to believe in things even when science and rationality don’t support them. The substantive legal framework of our country is sufficiently adequate to address such crimes. For instance, throwing a child on thorns is an offence under Sections 307 and 323 of the IPC. Similarly, parading a woman naked can also be addressed specifically by Section 354B of the IPC. These superstitions can be addressed by amendments in the Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act. Major Challenges  before framing laws for the regulation: Violation of fundamental rights: Witch-hunting and broader superstition related crimes violate basic fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14, 15, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. Violation of various conventions: Such acts also violate several provisions of various international legislations to which India is a signatory, such as the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948’, ‘International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966’, and ‘Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979’. Bad implementation: Law and order is a state subject, so States are free to enact specific criminal laws. In the same way, States are also free to make amendments to Union laws. Lack of effective governance: If the executive is serious about curbing such practices, active implementation and enforcement of existing laws need to be made more effective. Certainty of punishment: Studies in criminology have established that certainty of punishment curbs the rate of crime and not the type or the quantum of punishment. Bad implementation: We already have a reputation of having good laws but bad implementation. In legal parlance, it is known as ‘over-criminalisation’ — more laws but less ‘rule of law’. Religions are aware that faith is vulnerable to improper use: stories of fake sadhus and deceitful sanyasis have long been around. Related Laws: Eight states in India have witch-hunting legislations so far. These include Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan, Assam, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The state of Bihar emerged the pioneer in enacting a law to deal with superstitious practices in 1999. The Prevention of Witch Practices Act was amongst the first in India to address witchcraft and inhumane rituals. The state of Maharashtra followed in 2013 to enact the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, which banned the practice of human sacrifice in the state. Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2015: This Act would be applied along with Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. This Bill was turned into Act almost after 3 years that the Assembly had passed it. The state of Karnataka too affected a controversial anti-superstition law in 2017 known as the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act. Kerala Prevention of Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill’ in 2019 which called for imprisonment of up to seven years for convicts and up to Rs 50,000 fine along with the punishments for offenses under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). But it failed as it was not introduced, discussed, or passed in the state legislative assembly. Way Forward/ Suggestions: Need of sensitisation: Every superstition cannot be removed by the force of law. For that, a mental sensitisation is necessary. The anti-superstition law also makes it possible to curtail activities of so-called godmen before they become too powerful. Accessible criminal justice: The enforcement machinery needs a major overhaul to make criminal justice more accessible. Article 51A (h) of the Indian Constitution makes it a fundamental duty for Indian citizens to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform. Provisions under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act of 1954 also aim to tackle the debilitating impact of various superstitious activities prevalent in India. Source:   The Hindu Air Pollution Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 (Environment) Context: As the winter approaches the public discourse in India shifts towards air pollution in Indian metros, with a focus on Delhi. Various studies estimate that a significant chunk of Indians would die early due to air pollution and many will have to set aside a large part of their health budget to take care of diseases arising due to air pollution. About Air Pollution: Air pollution is the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or materials. Different types of air pollutants include– Gases: such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane, carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons. Particulates: both organic and inorganic. Biological molecules. Impact of Air Pollution: It may cause diseases, allergies and even death in humans. It can cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and food crops. Can lead to climate change and may damage the natural environment Ozone depletion or habitat degradation Built hazardous environments (for example, acid rain). Productivity losses and degraded quality of life caused by air pollution are estimated to cost the world economy $5 trillion per year. Economic Impact of Air pollution: The rising impact of air pollution leads to increased government health expenditure in two ways- Reimbursement of costs incurred by people with insurance cover under Ayushman Bharat. Expenditure occurred in government/public hospitals for treatment of diseases due to air pollution.   About Nano particles: Nanoparticles (NPs) are tiny particles which range from 1nm to 100nm in size. Due to their ultrafine size, they can be suspended in the atmosphere for a long time and can travel longer distances. Nanoparticles are hard to detect They possess very little mass but are many in number. Therefore, the current mass-based, ambient air quality regulations for particulate matter are ineffective in dealing with nanoparticle concentrations in cities. Source of Nanoparticles: They are arising from both natural and man-made processes: Soil erosion Dust storms Burning of unprocessed fuel. Industrial, and mechanical processes. Nanoparticles as pollutants: There are pollutants which are more harmful than PM10/PM2.5 in the case of air pollution which are not talked about much. The common discourse about air pollution in India Centres on mean concentration of particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5. This is because the Central Pollution Control Board has the facility to monitor only PM2.5/PM10 pollutants in Delhi or elsewhere. As a result, it is evident that we are underestimating the deleterious effects of air pollution by a big margin. The gravity of Nanoparticle pollution is huge: Inhalation is the most common route through which people get exposed to nanoparticles. Ingestions and dermal contact of engineered nanoparticles are also popular transmission mechanisms. Inhaled particles can enter the blood circulation from where they can be carried to different organs such as the heart, kidney and liver. Occupational exposure to these toxic elements can increase the risk of lung cancer. Suggestive evidence shows that nanoparticles accumulated in the vascular sites can clot blood vessels, increasing the likelihood of heart attack and stroke. For patients with pre-existing heart or pulmonary conditions, the situation can get worse when exposed to elevated particle concentrations. Infant mortality, neonatal complications, and birth defects are also likely to increase with ever-increasing concentrations of matters smaller than 10 µm. Measures needed to improve air quality: Improving public transport and limiting the number of polluting vehicles on the road. Introducing less polluting fuel and strict emission regulations. Improved efficiency for thermal power plants and industries. Increased use of clean renewable energy and moving from diesel generators to rooftop solar. Promote electric vehicles and invest in electric vehicle infrastructure. Removing dust from roads and regulating construction activities need to be stressed. Stopping biomass burning and using biomass from agriculture to generate Biogas etc. Various stakeholders role to counter Air pollution: WHO’s 4 Pillar Strategy: WHO adopted a resolution (2015) to address the adverse health effects of air pollution. This 4-pillar strategy calls for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution. Those four pillars are: Expanding the knowledge base Monitoring and reporting Global leadership and coordination Institutional capacity strengthening Initiatives by the Government of India and Various state government’s: Constitution of Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas. The introduction of BS-VI vehicles and push for electric vehicles (EVs). Subsidy to farmers for buying Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) which is a machine mounted on a tractor that cuts and uproots the stubble, in order to reduce stubble burning. Implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) It is a set of curbs triggered in phases as the air quality deteriorates, which is typical of the October-November period. Development of the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for public information under the aegis of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Construction of the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways to reduce vehicular pollution. Way ahead: Immediate need for extensive research related to the toxic effects of nanoparticles on human health. Include protection against the nanoparticles in addition to PM10/PM2.5 in face masks. There should be a mechanism in place to record the extent of air pollution arising from nanoparticles and the risk arising from the same. There is a need for the government to raise awareness on the dangers of nanoparticles. Monitoring stations should try to measure the nanoparticles; without quantifiable statistics, we cannot highlight the dangers involved. Nanoparticles are more deleterious pollutants than the recognized pollutants and the chemically reactive nature of nanoparticles makes the risk assessment highly uncertain. Therefore, this calls for an interdisciplinary research team of scientists, health professionals, and epidemiological researchers to be convinced of the scientific composition, transmission and exclusive effects of nanoparticles on human health. Source:  The Hindu Previous Year Questions Q.1) In the Guidelines, statements: context of WHO consider the Air Quality following The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 ug/m³ and annual mean of PM 2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³. In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather. PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma. Which of the statements given above are correct?  (2022) 1, 3 and 4 only 1 and 4 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1 and 2 only Digital Public Infrastructure Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS3 Science and Technology, GS2 Governance Context: Rapidly worsening impacts of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing war in Ukraine have resulted in a cycle of crises in which many countries are experiencing devastating effects on healthcare systems, education, and food security. The pandemic has delayed achieving the SDGs, upturned our societies, and deepened socioeconomic divisions. Investing in sustainable technologies can make the difference in how we address challenges now and in the future. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): DPI refers to solutions and systems that enable the effective provision of essential society-wide functions and services in the public and private sectors. This includes digital forms of ID and verification, civil registration, payment (digital transactions and money transfers), data exchange, and information systems. They are open source, customisable, and localisable. Vendor lock-in means being locked into long-term contracts with limited flexibility and large, sometimes unexpected, fees; lack of customisation to local context; inability to integrate citizens into governance and decision-making; and centralising the market around only a few companies. Benefits: increase resilience, avoid vendor lock-in, leverage existing solutions and adapt them to local needs, support interoperability between different platforms and solutions and have ability to respond swiftly and effectively to global crises. It allows countries to retain strategic control over their digitalisation processes, ensure digital cooperation and strengthen long-term capacity. For example, many African countries that had strong DPI prior to the COVID-19 in response to the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis, is now providing essential services to citizens despite the breakdown of physical infrastructure as a consequence of the war in Ukraine. Digital Public Goods (DPGs): DPGs are open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards, and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable laws and best practices, do no harm by design, and help attain the SDGs. DPGs are needed to accelerate the DPI agenda. DPI may include implementations of multiple proprietary and/or open-source solutions, including digital public goods (DPGs). For example, Estonia co-funds the DPG X-Road—open-source software that provides unified and secure data exchange between organisations and improves service delivery for citizens—and shares vendor training and certification approaches with Finland and Iceland. Estonia’s approach to DPGs has become a key component of its digital diplomacy and digital foreign policy work. In 2022, UN Development Programme and the Digital Public Goods Alliance, countries from around the world committed to sharing DPGs and best practices for the implementation of DPI. Funders also committed US$295 million to advance inclusive digital public infrastructure with DPGs. DPI Application: Government benefits like cash transfers are supported by foundational DPI. MOSIP has been used for pandemic-related subsidy payments It is an open-source identity platform that can then be used to access a wide variety of government and private services. MOSIP allows national identity systems to be context-specific and based on local laws and decisions MOSIP is representative of the adoptable, interoperable, and transparent qualities of DPGs Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates’ Foundation, Tata Trust, Omidyar Networks, and NORAD, Adopted by the Philippines, Morocco, and Togo, and piloted in Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and Guinea. Suggestions for G20: Committing to open data access Digital solutions are most effective when powered by relevant and high-quality data. Jamaica opted to use CommCare, a DPG, deployed offline first as a mobile application, and used to track and support clients before, during, and after they are vaccinated. The G20 can help technologies like CommCare and DIVOC achieve global reach and become an integral part of a country’s DPI. Encourage inclusive private and public collaboration Taking an open and inclusive approach to DPI can stimulate entrepreneurship, innovation, and productive competition, but the private sector should also take a proactive role in producing and contributing to DPI. Uganda’s UGHub allows government services to act as a single unified system, easing access to e-services, breaking down silos, lessening the administrative burden on citizens and coordination and integration with the private sector and international organisations Increase public sector support and funding for joint DPI Close coordination with all sectors (private, public, and civil society) can help avoid fragmentation and duplication while harnessing the cooperation and ongoing dialogue needed to address global challenges. DPI that is open, accessible, and cross-sectorally enabling can help mitigate the costs of climate change such as more than US$100 billion per year as per G20’s ‘Investing in Climate Change Mitigation’ report. Set the global norms and standards to protect people DPI can expose citizens to risks such as privacy violations, data-driven behavioural manipulation, identity theft and fraud, and exclusion from essential public services. A 2021 report by the Digital Public Goods Alliance outlined a vision for DPI that safeguards inclusion, trust, competition, security, and privacy, public value and private empowerment Way forward: Digital public infrastructure can unlock value by breaking down data silos creating shared technology infrastructure encouraging private sector participation delivering innovative solutions DPI must be implemented inclusively with safeguards which can contribute to a country’s resilience in the face of crisis. Sharing of DPGs and DPIs must be made the general norm to ensure global digital cooperation and ensure thought leadership and research The G20 can play a pivotal role in stewarding inclusive approaches to digital transformation, directing international development cooperation, and strengthening multilateralism towards a new future for free, inclusive, innovative, and open DPI to transform the lives of the people and for the larger global good. Source: Orf  Online Baba’s Explainer – The amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 The amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 Syllabus GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  GS-3: Awareness in the field of IT Context: The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has notified amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021) on October 28. In June 2022, MeitY had put out a draft of the amendments and solicited feedback from the relevant stakeholders. The draft generated considerable discussion and comment on the regulation of social media in India. Read Complete Details on The amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following statements regarding Indian Evidence Act: It was originally passed in India by the Imperial Legislative Council in 1872, during the British Raj. It contains a set of rules and allied issues governing admissibility of evidence in the Indian courts of law Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) With reference to Vallabhbhai Patel, consider the following statements: He is referred to as “Punjab Kesari” He served as the first Indian municipal commissioner of Ahmedabad. He was the elected president of 1928 session of INC. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2, and 3 Q.3) Under whose prime ministerialship, the Ninth Schedule was inserted into the Constitution of India through first constitutional amendment? Jawaharlal Nehru Indira Gandhi Gulzarilal Nanda Lal Bahadur Shastri Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’1st November 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st ANSWERS FOR 31st October – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – b Q.2) – c Q.3) – d table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Nov 1, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - The amendments to the IT Rules, 2021

 ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  GS-3: Awareness in the field of IT Context: The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has notified amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021) on October 28. In June 2022, MeitY had put out a draft of the amendments and solicited feedback from the relevant stakeholders. The draft generated considerable discussion and comment on the regulation of social media in India. What are the IT Rules, 2021? World over, governments are grappling with the issue of regulating social media intermediaries (SMIs). The need for shaping social media intermediaries is necessitated because of — Centrality of SMIs in shaping public discourse, Impact of their governance on the right to freedom of speech and expression, Magnitude of information SMIs host Constant technological innovations that impact their governance — In a bid to keep up with these issues, India in 2021, replaced its decade old regulations on SMIs with the IT Rules, 2021 that were primarily aimed at placing obligations on SMIs to ensure an open, safe and trusted internet. However, the 2021 rules was not without defects which has thus necessitated the recent amendment The stated objectives of the recent 2022 amendments were three-fold. First, there was a need to ensure that the interests and constitutional rights of netizens are not being contravened by big tech platforms Second, to strengthen the grievance redressal framework in the Rules, Third, that compliance with these should not impact early stage Indian start-ups. This translated into a set of proposed amendments that can be broadly classified into two categories. The first category involved placing additional obligations on the SMIs to ensure better protection of user interests while the second category involved the institution of an appellate mechanism for grievance redressal. What are the key changes in the rules? Key changes effected in the rules are as under: Currently, intermediaries are only required to inform users about not uploading certain categories of harmful/unlawful content. These amendments impose a legal obligation on intermediaries to take reasonable efforts to prevent users from uploading such content. For effective communication of the rules and regulations of the intermediary, it is important that the communication is done in regional Indian languages as well. The grounds in rules have been rationalized by removing the words ‘defamatory’ and ‘libellous’. Whether any content is defamatory or libellous will be determined through judicial review. Some of the content categories (that can be moderated) have been rephrased to deal particularly with misinformation, and content that could incite violence between different religious/caste groups. The amendment requires intermediaries to respect the rights guaranteed to users under the Constitution including in the articles 14, 19 and 21, including a reasonable expectation of due diligence, privacy and transparency. Grievance Appellate Committee(s) will be established to allow users to appeal against the inaction of, or decisions taken by intermediaries on user complaints. However, users will always have the right to approach courts for any remedy. What are the newly-introduced Grievance Appellate Committees? The cornerstone of empowering users of social media platforms is to design a robust grievance redressal mechanism that can effectively and efficiently address their concerns. Prior to the IT Rules, 2021, platforms followed their own mechanisms and timelines for resolving user complaints. The IT Rules uniformed this by mandating that all social media platforms should have a grievance officer who would acknowledge the receipt of a complaint within 24 hours and dispose it within 15 days. However, the performance of the current grievance redressal mechanism has been sub-optimal. First, as evidenced by the transparency reports of SMIs, such as Facebook and Twitter, there is no common understanding of what is meant by resolution of the complaint. For example, Facebook records only mention the number of reports where “appropriate tools” have been provided. These “appropriate tools” could just mean the automated replies pointing out the tools available on the platform that have been sent to the complainants. As opposed to this format, Twitter records outline the number of URLs against which action has been taken after the receipt of a complaint. Furthermore, transparency reports show that the number of user complaints continue to be quite low when compared to the content against which the platform acts proactively or is obligated to remove due to governmental or court orders. This may be because users are either not aware of this facility or find it futile to approach the platform for complaint resolution. It might also be because, even in cases where action has been taken on the content, there is no way to assess whether the complainant has been satisfied with the resolution of the complaint. Moreover, the present framework does not provide for any recourse if the complainant is dissatisfied with the grievance officer’s order. Possibly, the only course available to the complainant is to challenge the order under the writ jurisdiction of the High Courts or Supreme Court. This is not efficacious given that it can be a resource and time intensive process. To remedy this, the government has instituted Grievance Appellate Committees (GAC). The committee is styled as a three-member council out of which one member will be a government officer (holding the post ex officio) while the other two members will be independent representatives. Users can file a complaint against the order of the grievance officer within 30 days. Importantly, the GAC is required to adopt an online dispute resolution mechanism which will make it more accessible to the users. What are the merits of the new rules? The new provision regarding legal obligation to ensure compliance with rules will ensure that the intermediary’s obligation is not a mere formality. This is because SMIs are now required to “make reasonable” efforts to prevent prohibited content being hosted on its platform by the users. To a large extent, this enhances the responsibility and the power of SMIs to police and moderate content on their platforms. Given the importance of SMIs in public discourse and the implications of their actions on the fundamental rights of citizens, the horizontal application of fundamental rights is laudable. SMIs are now obligated to remove information or a communication link in relation to the six prohibited categories of content as and when a complaint arises. They have to remove such information within 72 hours of the complaint being made. Given the virality with which content spreads, this is an important step to contain the spread of the content. Ensuring “accessibility” may obligate SMIs to strengthen inclusion in the SMI ecosystem such as allowing for participation by persons with disabilities and diverse linguistic backgrounds The in-house grievance redressal of SMIs will be now more accountable and appellate mechanism more accessible to user What are the concerns expressed against new rules? The legal obligation regarding compliance of rules provision been met with skepticism by both the platforms and the users given the subjective nature of speech and the magnitude of the information hosted by these platforms. While the SMIs are unclear of the extent of measures they are now expected to undertake, users are apprehensive that the increased power of the SMIs would allow them to trample on freedom of speech and expression. New rules could result in heavy compliance costs for them. Appointments being made by the central government in Grievance Appellate Committees (GAC) could lead to apprehensions of bias in content moderation. If users can approach both the courts and the GAC parallelly, it could lead to conflicting decisions often undermining the impartiality and merit of one institution or the other. Main Practice Question: Due to growing clout of Social media in our lives, governments across the world have updated their regulatory framework for governing social media intermediaries. In this context, critically analyse the recent amendments to IT rules, 2021. Note: Write answer his question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Nov 1, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - GM Crops and their regulation

 ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-3: Issues of food security; Technology missions  GS-3: Science & Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors Context: On October 18, the Environment Ministry’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) cleared the proposal for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) mustard. The GEAC had previously cleared the proposal in 2017, but it was vetoed by the ministry and the committee was told to conduct more studies on the GM crop. The recent GEAC’s recommendation will again go to the Environment Ministry for approval. The latest GEAC approval allows for the environmental release of two varieties of genetically engineered mustard for developing new parental lines and hybrids under the supervision of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). What is GEAC? The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), is responsible for the assessment of proposals related to the release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment, including experimental field trials. GEAC or people authorised by it have the power to take punitive actions under the Environment Protection Act. GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above. The members include experts from other ministries as well as institutions such as the ICAR, ICMR, CCMB, etc. Other functions of the GEAC are as follows: It is responsible for the appraisal of activities that involve the large scale use of hazardous microbes and recombinants in research and industrial production from the point of view of the environment. The body also looks into proposals regarding the use of living modified organism that comes in the risk category III and above in the import/manufacture of recombinant pharma products, or where the end-product of the recombinant pharma product is a modified living organism. The approval of the GEAC is mandatory before genetically modified organisms and products derived from them can be used commercially. What are genetically modified crops? A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any living organism whose genetic material has been modified to include certain desirable techniques. Genetic modification has previously been used for the large-scale production of insulin, vaccines, and more. In crops, genetic modification involves the manipulation of DNA instead of using controlled pollination— the conventional method to improve crops— to alter certain characteristics of the crop. Soyabean, maize, cotton, and canola with herbicide tolerance and insect resistance are the most widely grown GM crops around the world. Other common genetically modified characteristics include virus resistance, drought resistance, and fruit and tuber quality. To genetically modify a crop, the gene of interest is identified and isolated from the host organism. It is then incorporated into the DNA of the crop to be grown. The performance of the GM crop is tested under strict laboratory and field conditions. What are the benefits of GM Products? Increased crop yields. Reduced costs for food or drug production. Reduced need for pesticides. Enhanced nutrient composition. Resistance to pests and disease. Greater food security and medical benefits to the world’s growing population. Increase the yield of animals for milk and meat production. Decrease susceptibility to disease in animals. Allowing plants to grow in conditions where they might not otherwise flourish. Increased shelf life and hence there is less fear of foods getting spoiled quickly. What are some of the concerns of GM Crops? Health: They can have harmful effects on the human body. It is believed that consumption of these genetically engineered foods can cause the development of diseases which are immune to antibiotics. Ecological Balance: The capability of the GMO to escape and potentially introduce the engineered genes into wild populations thus disturbing the fragile ecological balance. The reduction in the spectrum of other plants including loss of biodiversity Environment: This GM method can cause damage to other organisms that thrive in the environment and can create ecological imbalances. There is associated risks of “tampering with Mother Nature”. Danger of Permanence: Genetic changes will become permanent and irreversible with times, and undesirable and uncontrolled mutations can occur. Sustainability: The evolution of resistant pests and weeds termed superbugs and superweeds is another problem. Resistance can evolve whenever selective pressure is strong enough. This can cause the evolution of resistant insects in a few years and nullify the effects of the transgenic. Geopolitics: With the increase of GM Products, developing countries would start depending more on industrial countries because it is likely that food production would be controlled by developed countries in the time to come. Religious: Many religious and cultural communities are against such foods because they see it as an unnatural way of producing foods. Many people are also not comfortable with the idea of transferring animal genes into plants and vice versa. Awareness and Labeling: Manufacturers do not mention on the label that foods are developed by genetic manipulation because they think that this would affect their business, which is not a good practice. What are GM crops in India? Indian farmers started cultivating Bt cotton, a pest-resistant, genetically modified version of cotton, in 2002-03. Bt modification is a type of genetic modification where the Bt gene obtained from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is introduced into the target crop – in this case, cotton. Bt cotton is resistant to bollworm, a pest that destroys cotton plants. By 2014, around 96% of the area under cotton cultivation in India was Bt cotton, making India the fourth-largest cultivator of GM crops by acreage and the second largest producer of cotton. BT Brinjal: Mahyco jointly developed Bt Brinjal with the Dharwad University of Agricultural Sciences and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Even though GEAC 2007 had recommended the commercial release of Bt Brinjal, the initiative was blocked in 2010. What is the regulatory framework in India? Strict regulations are in place to control threats to animal health, human safety, and biodiversity at large during the processes of development, cultivation and transboundary movement of GM crops. Acts and rules that regulate GM crops in India include: Environment Protection Act, 1986 (EPA) Biological Diversity Act, 2002 Plant Quarantine Order, 2003 GM policy under Foreign Trade Policy Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 Drugs and Cosmetics Rule (8th Amendment), 1988 Broadly, the rules cover: All activities related to research and development of GMOs Field and clinical trials of GMOs Deliberate or unintentional release of GMOs Import, export, and manufacture of GMOs What is GM mustard? Mustard is one of India’s most important winter crops which is sown between mid-October and late November. The Indian mustard (B. juncea) is a member of the Brassicaceae family. Mustard is cultivated by around 6 million farmers in around 6.5-7 million hectares of land across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. A hybrid crop is produced by the cross-breeding of two genetically different varieties that can be even from the same species. The first-generation (F1) offspring produced with this technique usually have higher yields than existing varieties. This hybridisation is difficult in mustard as its flowers have both female (pistil) and male (stamen) reproductive organs, which makes the plant self-pollinating. Thus developing hybrids for mustard has its limits. However, Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH -11) was developed by a team of scientists at Delhi University led by former vice-chancellor and genetics professor Deepak Pental under a government-funded project. Scientists crossed a popular Indian mustard variety ‘Varuna’ (the barnase line) with an East European ‘Early Heera-2’ mutant (barstar) to develop DMH-11. The new hybrid mustard DMH-11 has been developed that contains two alien genes isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens The first gene (‘barnase’) codes for a protein that impairs pollen production and renders the plant into which it is incorporated male-sterile. This plant is then crossed with a fertile parental line containing, in turn, the second ‘barstar’ gene that blocks the action of the barnase gene. The resultant F1 progeny is both high-yielding and also capable of producing seed/ grain, thanks to the barstar gene in the second fertile line. DMH-11 is claimed to have shown an average 28% yield increase in contained field trials carried out by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). What were the concerns that delayed GEAC’s approval? Third Gene and implication on labour The first is the presence of a third ‘bar’ gene, which makes GM mustard plants tolerant to the spraying of glufosinate ammonium, a chemical used for killing weeds. This is alleges to cause displacement of manual labour engaged in weeding by promoting use of chemical herbicides. Counter argument: The DMH-11 developers, however, say that bar is only a marker gene. It is used to identify those plants that have been genetically modified — the non-GM ones cannot withstand application of the herbicide — and necessary for large-scale seed production. Implication on honeybees population The second concern is over GM mustard threatening or undermining the population of honey bees. Mustard flowers are a source of nectar for honey bees and many other pollinator insects. Counter argument: However, the GEAC has cited the report of an expert committee which stated that it seems unlikely that the bar, barnase and barstar system will pose an adverse impact on honey bees and other pollinators”. GEAC has recommended field demonstration studies with respect to the effect of GM mustard on honey bees and other pollinators” post the environmental release, “to generate scientific evidence in Indian agro-climatic situation and as a precautionary mechanism”. What are the new recommendations of GEAC? In this case, it has recommended the environmental release of DMH-11 “for its seed production and testing…prior to commercial release”. In other words, it has given the green signal for commercial cultivation by farmers, with production of seed material being the first step. GEAC has also recommended the environmental release of DMH-11’s parental lines (carrying the barnase and barstar genes) for them to be used to develop new hybrids. Such hybrids could give even higher yields than DHM-11. The approval is limited to a period of four years, renewable for two years at a time based on a compliance report. The compelling motive here could be India’s spiraling edible oil import bill. The country produces only 8.5-9 million tonnes (mt) of edible oil annually, while importing 14-14.5 mt costing nearly $19 billion. However, it remains to be seen if the central government will accept the GEAC’s recommendations. Main Practice Question:  Do you think the recent recommendation by genetic engineering appraisal committee regarding genetically modified mustard is fraught with risks? Critically comment. Note: Write answer his question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Nov 1, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 1st November 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) – CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don’t forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today’s test 🙂After completing the 5 questions, click on ‘View Questions’ to check your score, time taken, and solutions.To take the Test Click Here