Context: Recently, a World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel has ruled against India’s sugar export subsidy and domestic support to sugarcane growers in a dispute filed by Australia, Brazil and Guatemala. 

• India has said that it will appeal against the verdict.

Background of this dispute

• The dispute dates back to 2019, when three major sugar exporting nations - Brazil, Guatemala and Australia challenged some of India’s policies for the sugar sector at the WTO.
• The complainants alleged that the domestic support given by India to cane farmers exceeded the limit set by the WTO.
• They also said that India provided prohibited export subsidies to mills.
• After a series of inquiries, the panel circulated its report to members, although it has not yet been adopted.

Note: India is the world’s largest sugar producer after Brazil exporting a record 7.1 million tonnes of sugar in 2020-2021

What are the findings of the WTO dispute panel?

• The panel observed that for five consecutive sugar seasons, (2014-15 to 2018-19), India provided non-exempt product-specific domestic support to sugarcane producers in excess of the permitted level of 10% of the total value of sugarcane production.
• The panel also found that the challenged schemes are export subsidies within the meaning of Article 9.1(a) of the Agreement on Agriculture.

Article 9.1(a) applies to 'direct subsidies', including 'direct subsidies' granted in the form of payments-in-kind.

• It has observed that, under the challenged schemes, India has provided subsidies based on the export performance which is inconsistent with The Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement).
• As a result, the panel found that India was acting inconsistently with its obligations under the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).
• It has recommended India to bring the measures at issue into conformity with the WTO agreements.
• SCM Agreement of WTO addresses the topics of multilateral disciplines regulating the provision of subsidies, and the use of countervailing measures to offset injury caused by subsidized imports.

What is India’s response to the ruling?

• The Commerce Ministry denied the findings of the panel as erroneous and completely unacceptable to India.
• India feels that the panel has evaded key issues which it was obliged to determine and termed the panel’s findings lack logic and rationale.
• India believes that its measures are consistent with its obligations under the WTO agreements.
• Also, India has initiated all measures necessary to protect its interests and to file an appeal at the WTO against the report to protect the interests of its farmers.

What will be the impact of the WTO panel’s findings on sugar sector?

• The Indian government is not extending any assistance for sugar exports this season (October 2021-September 2022) because of the high global sugar prices, lower production and supply issues.
• The Commerce Ministry has said that there will be no impact of the WTO panel’s findings on sugar on any of India’s existing and ongoing policy measures in the sugar sector.

Context: Recently, Union cabinet approved a budget of Rs 76,000 crore for a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for semiconductor and display board production in the country. 
Need

• In the current geopolitical scenario, trusted sources of semiconductors and displays hold strategic importance and are key to the security of critical information infrastructure.
• The supply has been disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many production centres to close intermittently.

Key Points

• Under this, Incentives have been lined up for companies engaged in silicon semiconductor fabs, display fabs, compound semiconductors, silicon photonics, sensors fabs, semiconductor packaging and semiconductor design.
• The government is looking at least two greenfield semiconductor fabs and two display fabs in the country, while at least 15 units of Compound Semiconductors and Semiconductor Packaging are expected to be established with government support under this scheme.
• Under Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, support will be provided to 100 domestic companies of semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design.
• The DLI scheme will offer incentive of up to 50 per cent of eligible expenditure and product deployment linked incentive of 6-4 per cent on net sales for five years.
• An independent 'India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)' will be set up to drive the long-term strategies for developing a sustainable semiconductors and display ecosystem in the country.
• The new mission will be led by global experts in semiconductor and display industry, and will act as the nodal agency for efficient and smooth implementation of the scheme.
• India is looking to push electronics manufacturing to USD 300 billion in coming six years from USD 75 billion now, and semiconductor chips are a crucial part of that ecosystem.
• The scheme charts out a plan for skilling and training of 85,000 high-quality engineers, and works out a roadmap for next 20 years.

Key Importance of Semiconductor Scheme

• It aim to boost semiconductor and display manufacturing in the country in an bid to position India as a global hub for hi-tech production, and attract large chip makers.
• It would contribute significantly towards achieving $5 trillion dollar economy and $5 trillion GDP (gross domestic product) by 2025.
• The programme will usher in a new era in electronics manufacturing by providing a globally competitive incentive package to companies in semiconductors and display manufacturing as well as design
• The move would further India's ambitions to be self-reliant in electronics manufacturing, bring massive investments and result in 35,000 specialised jobs apart from indirect employment for one lakh people.
• The semiconductor scheme also comes at a time when the world is witnessing a severe crunch of semiconductors, a key component used in cars to electronic devices. 

Context: Recently, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) was inaugurated an internet-based platform called ‘VIHANGAM’ integrated with a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).

About VIHANGAM

• It is an internet-based platform integrated with RPAS.
• In addition to VIHANGAM, the system consists of a Ground Control Station (GCS), internet lease line of 40 Mbps.
• The system enables real-time transmission of aerial video of mining activities from mines to internet platform which can be accessed through VIHANGAM portal by authorized personnel only having ID and password.
• It has been deployed at two opencast mines of MCL namely Bhubaneswari and Lingaraj initially on trial basis.

About Technology in Coal Mining

• The Ministry of Coal has launched Unlocking Transparency by Third Party Assessment of Mined Coal(UTTAM) Application for coal quality monitoring.
• Online Coal Clearances System to provide a single window access to its investors to submit online applications for all the permissions / clearances and approvals granted by Ministry of Coal.
• The Saral Eindhan Vitaran Application (Seva), a mobile app. developed by Coal India Ltd, would lead to rationalisation of coal linkages and reduction in power prices, Grahak Sadak Koyla Vitaran App, to achieve transparency in despatch operations and keeps track of all the activities from issuance of Sale Order to physical delivery of coal by road.
• PARIVESH application for online submission and monitoring of the proposals for seeking Environment, Forest, Wildlife and Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) Clearances from Central, State and district level authorities.

Context: Recently, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to put in place a prompt corrective action (PCA) framework for troubled non-banking finance companies to restore their financial health.
What is the PCA framework?

• Prompt Corrective Action Framework refers to the central bank’s watchlist of weak banks.
• The regulator imposes restrictions like curbs on lending on such banks.
• The PCA Framework applies only to commercial banks and does not cover cooperative banks and non-banking financial companies.

When was PCA introduced?

• The RBI’s PCA Framework was introduced in December 2002 as a structured early intervention mechanism along the lines of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s PCA framework.
• The last PCA Framework was issued by the RBI on April 13, 2017, and implemented with respect to banks’ financials as of March 31, 2017.

Objective: Prompt Corrective Action or PCA is a framework under which financial institutions with weak financial metrics are put under watch by the RBI.

• Until now, the RBI had imposed PCA only on banks. This is the first time PCA framework is extended to NBFCs.
• The move comes in the wake of large NBFCs such as IL&FS, DHFL, SREI Group and Reliance Capital getting into financial trouble over the last few years.

Applicability: The PCA framework for NBFCs comes into effect from October 1, 2022, based on their financial position on or after March 31, 2022.

• The framework will apply to all deposit-taking NBFCs, excluding government companies, and all non-deposit taking NBFCs in the middle, upper and top layers.

Implications - This is a welcome move as it will stop bad lenders from going worse rather than brushing the issue aside.

• Safer NBFCs will translate to a safer overall financial system.
• The PCA framework for NBFCs will be reviewed after 3 years.

What are the tracking indicators?
The central bank will track three indicators

• Capital To Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR): It is bank's available capital expressed as a percentage of a bank's risk-weighted credit exposures.
• Tier I leverage ratio: It is the relationship between a banking organization's core capital and its total assets.
• Net Non-Performing Assets (NNPAS) Including Non-Performing Investments (NPIS). NPA are loans for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of over 90 days

In the case of core investment companies (CICs), the RBI will track

• Adjusted Net Worth/Aggregate Risk Weighted Assets.
• Leverage Ratio
• NNPAs, including NPIs.

A breach in any of the three risk thresholds under the above mentioned indicators could result in invocation of PCA.
Significance of PCA

• The financial health of a bank: Essentially PCA helps RBI monitor key performance indicators of banks, and taking corrective measures, to restore the financial health of a bank.
• Averting a crisis: PCA is intended to help alert the regulator as well as investors and depositors if a bank is heading for trouble. The idea is to head off problems before they attain crisis proportions.

Context: Recently, Central government has highlighted the significance of increase in bank deposit insurance cover, in case of problems occurring such as closure, from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. PM Modi is to address the nation on Bank Deposit Insurance.

Deposit Insurance Programme

• The bank savings are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) Act providing full coverage to around 98 per cent of bank accounts.
• Earlier, account holders had to wait for years till the liquidation or restructuring of a distressed lender to get their deposits that are insured against default.
• Last year, the government raised the insurance amount to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 1 lakh.
• Prior to that, the DICGC had revised the deposit insurance cover to Rs 1 lakh on May 1, 1993 — raising it from Rs 30,000, which had been the cover from 1980 onward.

What are new changes?

• Earlier, out of the amount deposited in the bank, only Rs 50,000 was guaranteed, which was then raised to Rs 1 lakh.
• Understanding the concern of the poor, understanding the concern of the middle class, we increased this amount to Rs 5 lakh.
• If a bank is weak or is even about to go bankrupt, depositors will get their money of up to Rs five lakhs within 90 days.

Significance of the scheme

• Earlier account holders could not access their own money for up to 8-10 years after financial stress at banks.
• The new changes would give confidence to depositors and strengthen the banking and financial system.
• Now, depositors can get insurance money within 90 days, without waiting for the eventual liquidation of the distressed banks.

Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) does not include the following types of deposits:

• Deposits of foreign governments.
• Deposits of central/state governments.
• Inter-bank deposits.
• Deposits of the state land development banks with the state co-operative bank.
• Any amount due on account of any deposit received outside India.
• Any amount specifically exempted by the DICGC with previous approval of RBI.

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE - Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”, which includes a sub-scheme - ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’.
Key Fearures

• It is a merged scheme of Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the Act of begging scheme and the Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons Scheme.
• This scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging. 
• It is a new Scheme after the merger of existing Schemes for Beggars and Transgenders.
• The Scheme is formulated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Scheme provides for the use of the existing shelter homes available with the State/UT Governments and Urban local bodies for rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of Begging.
• In case of non-availability of existing shelter homes, new dedicated shelter homes are to be set up by the implementing agencies.
• The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counseling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on. Persons engaged in the act of Begging are to be covered under the scheme. 
• The scheme provides for the use of the existing shelter homes available with the State/UT Governments and Urban local bodies for rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of Begging.
• In case of the non-availability of existing shelter homes, new dedicated shelter homes are to be set up by the implementing agencies.
• Total funds allocated for the scheme for next five years, are attached in Annexure. 
• Scheme is to be implemented on pan-India basis.

Context: Recent partnership of SBI with Adani Capital under the RBI’s Co-lending framework has drawn criticism from Opposition party politicians.

• Reason for criticism: This will only benefit the private firm more by taking unfair advantage of a SBI which has extensive reach and expertise.

About Co-Lending Model (CLM)

• Co-lending or co-origination is a set-up where banks and non-banks (NBFCs) enter into an arrangement for the joint contribution of credit for priority sector lending.
• It was formulated by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2018.
• Aim: To improve the flow of credit to the unserved and underserved segment of the economy at an affordable cost.
• Under this arrangement, both banks and Non-Banking Financial Corporations (NBFCs) share the risk in a ratio of 80:20.
• It expands lending in priority sectors including rural areas, renewable energy and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

How do they work?

• In a Co-lending model, two lender firms come together to disburse loans.
• Here, NBFCS facilitate the origination and collection of housing loans while banks leverage their balance sheet strength to house the majority of the loan.
• Banks will lend to NBFCs, and NBFCs will pass it on to the priority sectors.
• NBFCs act as the single point of interface for the customers and a tripartite agreement is done between the customers, banks and NBFCs.
• The agreement should contain the features of the arrangement and the roles and responsibilities of NBFCs and banks.
• The ultimate borrower would be charged an all-inclusive interest rate.
• Upon maturity, the repayment or recovery of interest is shared by the bank and NBFC in proportion to their share of credit and interest.

Key Challenges

• Ground-level executions: Though Banks and NBFCs both are open for tie-ups, there are challenges in execution at ground level.
• Tech integrations: IT integration of systems is difficult as both banks and NBFCs operate on different systems, different underwriting processes and parameters.
• Preference for term loans: Most of the mid-sized well-rated NBFCs opt for term loans over entering into co-lending models

Benefits of Co-Lending

• It will ensure delivery of credit to the unserved and underserved, thereby addressing the credit gap.
• This is possible as banks have lower cost of funds and NBFCs have greater reach beyond tier-2 centres.
• It can be an opportunity for digital lending start-ups and mid-size NBFCs, to establish their strength of distribution with bank’s funds.
• It allows banks to expand their customer base as NBFCs have access in tier-3 and tier 4 cities.
• Tier 3 cities are those cities with a population between 20,000 to 49,999
• Tier 4 cities are those cities with a population between 10,000 to 19,999
• The model can fulfil the credit requirements of the priority sector segments.
• Banks can connect with the underserved farming segment of the country and further contribute towards the growth of India’s farm economy.

Criticism
Increased risk for the Banks

• 80 % of the risk will be with the banks.
• NBFCs are required to retain at least a 20 % share of individual loans on their books.

Limitations of the Bank
The terms of the agreement provide for the banks

• to either mandatorily take their share of the individual loans originated by the NBFCs on their books, or
• to retain the discretion to reject certain loans after due diligence prior to taking them on their books.

Greater role for NBFC

• The RBI guidelines provide for the NBFCs to be the single point of interface for customers.
• NBFC decides the borrower, while the banks fund the major chunk of the loan.
• NBFCs have more opportunities on the lending side through direct co-lending arrangements.

Context: Emission of methane is a big concern as it is a greenhouse gas having 25-28 times harmful effect than carbon dioxide.

• Recently, India has co-chaired along with Canada the Global Methane Initiative leadership meet held virtually.

Need to focus on Methane

• The emission of methane is a big concern as it is a greenhouse gas having 25-28 times harmful effect than carbon dioxide.
• According to the UN, 25 % of the warming that the world is experiencing today is because of methane.
• Methane is the second-most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, after carbon dioxide.
• According to IPCC, methane accounts for about half of the 1.0 degrees Celsius net rise in global average temperature since the pre-industrial era.

About Methane

• Methane is a greenhouse gas, which is also a component of natural gas.
• There are various sources of methane including human and natural sources.
• The anthropogenic sources are responsible for 60 per cent of global methane emissions.
• It includes landfills, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial processes.
• The oil and gas sectors are among the largest contributors to human sources of methane.
• These emissions come primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, decomposition in landfills and the agriculture sector.

Global Methane Initiative (GMI)

• GMI is a voluntary Government and an informal international partnership having members from 45 countries including the United States and Canada.
• The forum has been created to achieve global reduction in anthropogenic methane emission through partnership among developed and developing countries having economies in transition.
• The forum was created in 2004 and India is one of the members since its inception and has taken up Vice-Chairmanship for the first time in the Steering Leadership along with USA.
• National governments are encouraged to join GMI as Partner Countries, while other non-State organizations may join GMI’s extensive Project Network.

Focus areas
The initiative currently focuses on five sectors, which are known sources of anthropogenic methane emissions:

• Agriculture
• Coal mining
• Municipal solid waste
• Municipal wastewater
• Oil and gas systems

Context: In a remote part of Australia, a steel vault about the size of a school bus will record the Earth’s warming weather patterns,  a project to create an archive on climate change.

• Australian scientists and artists are going to make black box of the planet to hold the world accountable for their actions by creating a black box of the planet. 

About Earth’s Black Box

• The vault, known as Earth’s Black Box, will be constructed in Tasmania, an Australian island state off the south coast. 
• The storage drives inside Earth’s Black Box are designed to last for around 30 to 50 years.
• It will be made with 3-inch thick steel and covered with solar panels and operate much like a plane’s flight recorder, which records an aircraft’s final moments before crashing.
• It will listen to what we say and do.  The box will act as an indestructible and independent ledger of the 'health' of our planet.
• It will create an archive that could be critical to piecing together the missteps, its creators say, should humanity be destroyed by climate change.

?Types of Data Collection by the Box

• Two different types of data will be collected and stored inside the monolith.
• It will collect climate-change-related data like land and sea temperature measurements, species extinction, energy consumption, human population, ocean acidification, and atmospheric CO2 levels.
• It will collect contextual data, like newspaper headlines and trending stories, key news stories and social media posts.

Reason for choosing the Tasmania

• Tasmania was chosen for its relative geopolitical and environmental safety, and the monolith will be designed to be resilient against threats including cyclones, earthquakes and, with its sloped walls, attacks by vandals.

Significance

• Black box will actually help in preventing a major climate change catastrophe.
• Climate change is one of the gravest threats humanity faces and is exacerbating economic and health inequalities, increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters and threatening the world’s food supply.
• The box would be designed “to hold our leaders to account" if civilization does crash, this box will survive with a completely objective data story.”

Other Initiative like this

• The project is not alone in its attempt to jolt human beings out of what the creators suggest is short-term thinking about global warming. 
• It is not the first to try to salvage pieces of human civilization for posterity. 
• Scientists have built repositories for everything from essential food crops to glacier ice to frozen animal embryos, some of them already extinct. 
• Others have tried to hide our nuclear waste so that future generations can avoid the deathly toxic material.

Context: Recently, India voted against a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) linking climate to security.

• The objective of the draft was to examine how terrorism and security risks could be linked to climate change.

Reasons cited by India

• Deviation from UNFCCC: The draft was an attempt to shift climate talks from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to the Security Council and a “step backward” for collective action on the issue.
• Evasion of responsibility: The attempt to discuss climate action and climate justice issues at the UNSC was “motivated by a desire to evade responsibility in the appropriate forum.”
• Veto hegemony over Climate Action: Countries are attempting to bring climate talks to the UNSC so that decisions could be taken without consensus or the involvement of most developing countries.
• Historic pollutants: Many of the UNSC members were the primary contributors to climate change due to historical emissions.
• Overtly ambitious targets: Indian officials had said at the conclusion of COP26 that India alone would need a trillion dollars by 2030 to achieve its climate ambitions.

Significance of UNFCCC

• The UN already has a specialized agency, the UNFCCC, for discussing all matters related to climate change.
• The parties to the UNFCCC — over 190 countries — meet several times every year, including at a two-week year-ending conference like the one at Glasgow, to work on a global approach to combat climate change.
• It is this process that has given rise to the Paris Agreement, and its predecessor the Kyoto Protocol, the international instrument that is designed to respond to the climate change crisis.

Arguments in favor of UNSC in climate talks

• Preventing conflicts: The UNSC exists primarily to prevent conflicts and maintain global peace.
• International security: A few EU countries, led by Germany, have been pushing for a role for UNSC in climate change discussions citing international security dimensions.
• Climate-led conflicts: Climate change-induced food or water shortage, loss of habitat or livelihood, or migration can exacerbate existing conflicts or even create new ones.
• UN Peacekeeping: This can have implications for the UN field missions that are deployed across the world in peacekeeping efforts.

Issues with UNSC

• Veto by Russia and China: These two permanent members have always been opposed to the move to bring climate change on the Security Council agenda.
• Lack of expertise: The opposing countries claim that the UNSC does not have the expertise as compared to UNFCCC.
• Lack of consensus: Unlike UNFCCC, where decisions are taken by consensus of all the 190-plus countries, the UNSC would enable climate change decision-making by a handful of developed countries.

India is in highlight again

• This was the second time that India went against the tide to block a climate change-related proposal that it did not agree with.
• At the Glasgow COP, India had forced a last-minute amendment in the final draft agreement to ensure that a provision calling for “phase-out” of coal was changed to “phase-down”.

Additional Information
About UN Security Council

• UNSC is one of the six main organs of the UN.
• The first session was held in 17 January 1946, London.
• Headquarters: New York, US.
• Aim:Maintaining international peace and security.
• It consists of 15 members; five permanent and 10 non-permanent members.
• The five permanent members are the US, UK, Russia, China and France.
• Every year five non-permanent members are elected for a tenure of two years.

Context: Recently, Haiderpur wetland in Uttar Pradesh recognised as Ramsar Site and become 47th Ramsar site of India.
Key Points

• India has designated the Haiderpur wetland, which is about 10 km from Bijnor, as the country's 47th Ramsar site and 2,463rd Ramsar site internationally. 
• Located within the boundaries of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, this Wetland of International Importance is human-made wetland covering an area of 6,908 hectares and was formed in 1984 after the construction of the Madhya Ganga Barrage on the floodplains of Ganga. 
• Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation. 
• They are, in fact, are a major source of water and our main supply of freshwater comes from an array of wetlands which help soak rainfall and recharge groundwater. 
• Haiderpur Wetland provides habitat for numerous animal and plant species, including more than 30 species of plants, over 300 species of birds, including 102 waterbirds, more than 40 fish and more than 10 mammal species. 
• This diverse habitat supports more than 15 globally threatened species, such as the critically endangered gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and the endangered hog deer (Axis porcinus), black-bellied tern (Sterna acuticauda), steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) and gold mahseer (Tor putitora).
• Haiderpur Wetland also helps to support the livelihoods of the local communities and contributes to the maintenance of hydrological regimes and to hazard reduction. 
• It is used for recreation and tourism, and scientific and educational activities also associated with the Site.

Ramsar sites

• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.
• Ramsar sites are wetlands considered to be of international importance.
• It recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.
• Aim: To develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem.
• It defines wetland as areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, Permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres”.

Three pillars of the Convention

• Ensuring the conservation and wise use of wetlands it has designated as Wetlands of International Importance,
• Including as far as possible the wise use of all wetlands in national environmental planning,
• Consulting with other Parties about implementation of the Convention, especially in regard to transboundary wetlands, shared water systems, and shared species.

Ramsar sites in India

Montreux Record

• It is a register of wetland sites on the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance where changes in ecological character have occurred or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
• It is maintained as part of the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance.
• At present Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan and Loktak Lake, Manipur are the two Indian sites listed under it.

Context: Radioactive pollution of water is newly emerging but is of grave concern for water pollution and human health.
About Radioactivity

• Radioactivity is the phenomenon of spontaneous emission of particles or waves from the unstable nuclei of some elements.
• There are three types of radioactive emissions: Alpha, Beta and Gamma.
• Alpha particles are positively charged He atoms, beta particles are negatively charged electrons and gamma rays are neutral electromagnetic radiations.
• Radioactive elements are naturally found in the earth’s crust.

Radioactive contamination of Water

• Natural: Percolation of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) from the soil sediments to the aquifer causes groundwater contamination.
• Man-made: Anthropogenic sources of such pollution include- nuclear weapon investigation, nuclear calamities, nuclear powerhouses and dumping of radioactive waste.

Various contaminant elements

• Uranium, thorium and actinium are three NORM series that contaminate water resources.
• A number of radionuclides are found in surface and subsurface waters, among which 3H, 14C, 40K, 210Pb, 210Po, 222Rn, 226Ra, 228Ra, 232Th and 234,235,238U are common.
• Strontium-90, Caesium-137, etc are also formed by nuclear reactors, along with numerous unnecessary radioisotopes wastes.
• 40K and 7Be are the most commonly found radioactive elements in the sludge generated in sewage treatment plants.
• Nuclear reactors produce radioisotopes (Cobalt-60, Iridium-192, etc) that hand out as sources of gamma radiation in radiotherapy and numerous industrial appliances.

Oceanic sources

• Oceans and seas are the natural repositories of naturally occurring uranium. It is found in the form of uranyl carbonate ion.
• A significant concentration of uranium is supposed to be found in the greater salinity of the marine water.
• 40K (Radioactive Potassium) is also found in considerable concentration in the marine environment.

Measuring radioactive pollution

• Radioactivity is measured in Becquerel (SI unit) or in Curie.
• Energy absorbed per unit mass is measured by Gray, while the unit Sievert measures the quantity of radiation absorbed by human tissues.
• A small amount of radiation is found in all types of water but the extended amount of radiation is harmful to human health.
• Radioactivity in drinking water can be determined by a gross alpha test.

Hazards of such pollution

• Radioactive elements have an effect on the environment and can cause a risk to human healthiness if inhaled, injected or exposed.
• Human tissues absorb radiation through polluted water and foodstuff, which can cause serious health risks.
• High doses of radiation can cause acute radiation syndrome or cutaneous radiation injury.
• Exposure to radiation causes various disorders in human physiology, including cancer, leukaemia, genetic mutations, osteonecrosis, cataracts and chromosomal disruption.

Context: Recently, data on illegal wildlife crime in India was made public by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.

• The data was made available on the basis of cases registered by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and State Forest and Police Authorities.

Current scenario of wild life trafficking in India

• 2054 cases were registered and 3,836 accused were arrested for killing or illegal trafficking of wild animals between 2018 and 2020.
• 601 cases were registered and 1231 arrests in 2020.

Illegal wildlife trafficking in India

• Illegal wildlife trade is one of the largest forms of transnational organized crime.
• It is the illegal practice of exchanging animals and plants for personal gain.

Causes

• Lack of adequate legislation to prohibit illegal trading.
• The fines range from ten thousand rupees to twenty-five thousand rupees, with seven to ten years of imprisonment.
• Due to inadequate prosecution, the majority of the poachers are acquitted.
• The conviction of a poacher for three years was seen as a rare sentence in India.

Harvesting

• It is the practice of eliminating a species that has become overpopulated to restore ecological equilibrium.
• The majority of animals are wind up on the black market.

Transferring of Illegal trade items into legal markets

• The majority of illegally trafficked wildlife is marketed in legal markets.
• It leads to an increase in demand resulting in more poaching.

Huge money on offer

• Illegally sold goods command a high price on European marketplaces
• Vicious loop of greed has been a constant fuel for the poaching industry.

Undocumented species

• Thousands of undocumented species are sold legally on the international market.
• The diverse demand and usage
• It is used in medicines and to make a carpet and rug.
• Majority of illegally obtained parts are meant for the international market and has no direct demand in India.

Operations by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)

• Save Kurma: It aim to focus on the poaching, transportation and illegal trade of live turtles and tortoises.
• Operation Turtshield: It aim to tackle the illegal trade of live turtles.
• Operation Soft gold: It aim to tackle illegal trade in Shahtoosh shawls (made from Chiru wool).
• Operation Lesknow: It aim to gain attention towards the illegal wildlife trade.
• Operation Clean Art: It aim to drag attention towards illegal wildlife trade in Mongoose hair brushes.
• Operation Birbil: It aim to curb illegal trade in wild cat and wild bird species
• Operation Wildnet: It aim to focus on increasing illegal wildlife trade over internet using social media platforms.
• Operation Freefly: It aim to focus on illegal trade of live birds.
• Operation Wetmark: It aim to ensure prohibition of sale of meat of wild animals in wet markets across the country.

Context: Prime Minister will address a National Summit on Agro and Food Processing.At this summit, the Prime Minister will spread basic knowledge about Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF).
About Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)

• ZBNF is a technique of farming developed by Padma awardee Subhash Palekar of Maharashtra.
• It aims to help farmers bring down input costs by shifting away from agricultural chemicals and relying instead on natural inputs, mainly an admixture of urine and dung of native Indian cows.
• At the heart of ZBNF is the idea that nearly 98% of nutrients needed by crops are CO2, nitrogen, water and sun which are available naturally and free of cost. The remaining nutrients need to be absorbed from the soil.
• Hence, they are converted from non-available to available form through the action of microorganisms and an admixture of cow dung and urine.
• However, the technique has not been scientifically validated and there is no evidence to show if it yields added any value for farmers.

Benefits of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)

• As both a social and environmental programme, it aims to ensure that farming – particularly smallholder farming – is economically viable by enhancing farm biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• It reduces farmers’ costs through eliminating external inputs and using in-situ resources to rejuvenate soils, whilst simultaneously increasing incomes, and restoring ecosystem health through diverse, multi-layered cropping systems.
• Cow dung from local cows has proven to be a miraculous cure to revive the fertility and nutrient value of soil. One gram of cow dung is believed to have anywhere between 300 to 500 crore beneficial micro-organisms. These micro-organisms decompose the dried biomass on the soil and convert it into ready-to-use nutrients for plants.
• Zero budget natural farming requires only 10 per cent water and 10 per cent electricity than what is required under chemical and organic farming. ZBNF may improve the potential of crops to adapt to and be produced for evolving climatic conditions.

Four wheels of ZBNF to be implemented in practically
The “four wheels” of ZBNF are ‘Jiwamrita’, ‘Bijamrita’, ‘Mulching’ and ‘Waaphasa’, says Palekar, a Padma Shri awardee.

• Jiwamritais a fermented mixture of cow dung and urine (of desi breeds), jaggery, pulses flour, water and soil from the farm bund. This isn’t a fertiliser, but just a source of some 500 crore micro-organisms that can convert all the necessary “non-available” nutrients into “available” form.
• Bijamritais a mix of desi cow dung and urine, water, bund soil and lime that is used as a seed treatment solution prior to sowing.
• Mulching, or covering the plants with a layer of dried straw or fallen leaves, is meant to conserve soil moisture and keep the temperature around the roots at 25-32 degrees Celsius, which allows the microorganisms to do their job.
• Waaphasa, or providing water to maintain the required moisture-air balance, also achieves the same objective.

Criticism to the ZBNF claims

• ZBNF is not zero budget methodology of farming. There are several costs such as cows maintenance cost, paid up cost for electricity and pumps, labour etc.
• Lack of independent studies: There are no independent studies to validate the claims that ZBNF plots have a higher yield than non-ZBNF plots. 
• Indian soils are poor in organic matter and several other micronutrients varying as per the type of soil. ZBNF insists on one blanket solution for all the problems of Indian soils. This cannot solve region specific soil problems.
• As per Subhash Palekar, 98.5% of the nutrients that plants need are obtained from air, water and sunlight and only 1.5% is from the soil. Thus, ZBNF takes an irrational position on the nutrient requirements of plants. 
• Creates cultural chauvinism: The spiritual nature of agriculture promoted by ZBNF is baseless and just creates cultural chauvinism.

Road Ahead
There is a host of structural marketing issues which needs to be addressed first before aiming to achieve the ambitious goal of ZBNF. For example:

• Strengthening of agricultural market infrastructure.
• Extending the procurement mechanism to all foodgrain and non-foodgrain crops to all States.
• Implementation of price deficiency payment system for selected crops.
• Fixing minimum support prices (MSP) in consonance with the cost of cultivation.
• Abolishing minimum export price for agricultural commodities.
• Enacting legislation on ‘right to sell at MSP’ needs immediate attention.
• MGNREGS must also be linked with farm work in order to reduce the cost of cultivation which has escalated at a faster pace over the past few years.

Context: An international group of researchers looking at a number of aspects of tropical forests has found that the potential for regrowth is substantial if they are left untouched by humans for about 20 years.

Key Findings

• Study finds natural regrowth yields better results than human plantings and offers hope for climate recovery
• The regrow can be achieved by the natural process of secondary succession. 
• The study was conducted using a technique called chronosequence on 12 specific criteria such as soil, plant function, ecosystem structure, and biodiversity.
• A chronosequence describes a set of ecological sites that share similar attributes but represent different ages.
• It could play an important role in climate-breakdown mitigation and provide actionable advice on how to act next. 
• They also suggest that it is not too late to undo the damage that humanity has done through catastrophic climate change over the last few decades.
• This idea of natural regeneration is frequently disregarded in favour of tree plantations, but according to Poorter, the former yields better results than restoration plantings. 
• “Compared to planting new trees, it performs way better in terms of biodiversity, climate change mitigation and recovering nutrients.”
• The findings could be crucial for climate mitigation action in the future.

Ecological succession

• It is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Types of Succession
Primary succession

• It is the series of community changes that occur in an entirely new habitat that has never been colonized before.
• For example, a newly quarried rock face or dunes.

Secondary succession

• It is the series of community changes that take place in a previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat.
• For example, after felling trees in a woodland, land clearance or a fire.

Stages of Ecological Succession
Nudation

• The process of succession begins with the formation of a bare area or nudation.
• The reasons involve, such as oleanic eruption, landslide, flooding, erosion, deposition, fire, disease, or other catastrophic agency.
• New lifeless bare areas are also created by man, for example, walls, stone quarrying, burning, digging, flooding large land areas under reservoirs, etc.

Invasion

• The invasion is the arrival of the reproductive bodies or propagules of various organisms and their settlement in the new or bare area.
• Hants are the first invaders (pioneers) in any area because the animals depend on them for food.

Competition and reaction

• Numbers of individuals of a species increase due to multiplication and all aggregate at the limited place, the competition for space and nutrition is started among them.
• Individuals of a species also compete with individuals of other species that may enter the area.

Stabilization or climax

• Stabilization is the stage when the final terminal community becomes more or less stabilized for a longer period and it can maintain itself in the equilibrium or steady-state with the climate of that area.
• This last serai stage is mature, self-maintaining, self-reproducing through development stages, and relatively permanent.
• The vegetation is tolerant of the environmental conditions it imposed upon itself.

Context: Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
Key Highlights

• Outlay of Rs. 93,068 crores, including Rs.37,454 crore central assistance to states would be given.
• Benefits to about 22 lakh farmers.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

• It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Launched: 2015
• Implementing Agency: Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Development

Aim

• To provide assured irrigation to cultivated areas.
• To reduce wastage of water and improve water-use efficiency.

Objective

• To achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level.
• Expand the cultivable area under assured irrigation.
• Improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water.
• Enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies (More crop per drop)
• Enhance the recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices by exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal wastewater for peri-urban agriculture
• Ensure the integrated development of rainfed areas using the watershed approach towards the soil and water conservation, regeneration of groundwater, arresting runoff etc.
• Promote extension activities relating to water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment for farmers and grass root level field functionaries.

Scheme components
Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)

• Implementation: Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Aim: It provides financial support to irrigation projects.

Features

• Irrigation potential creation targeted is 13.88 lakh hectare.
• Tribal and drought prone areas have been relaxed.

Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP)

• Implementation: Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Objectives

• Creating and rejuvenating traditional water storage systems.
• Improvement in water management and distribution system for water bodies.

Aim: To enhance physical access on the farm and expansion of cultivable area.
Features

• Enhancement of central assistance from 25% to 60% in general area.
• 1.52 lakh hectare in ground water irrigation under suitable block.
• 4.5 lakh hectare irrigation through surface minor irrigation and rejuvenation of water bodies.

Sub-Components

• Command Area Development (CAD)
• Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI)
• Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies
• Ground Water Development
• Watershed Development

Implementation: Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development

• Aim:To regenerate ground water.

Features

• It focuses on development of rainfed areas towards soil and water conservation.
• It promotes extension activities related to water harvesting and management.
• To envisage completion of sanctioned projects covering 49.5 lakh hectare rainfed/ degraded lands.
• Development of spring sheds has been included.

Per Drop More Crop

• Implementation: Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

Objectives

• Promoting efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices.
• Construction of micro irrigation structures.
• Extension activities for promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures.

Context: Recently, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has awarded a standalone fuel-cell based Green Hydrogen Microgrid Project at Simhadri in Andhra Pradesh, informed the Ministry of Power.
Key Project highlights

• It is India’s first Green Hydrogen based Energy Storage Project.
• It would be a precursor to large scale hydrogen energy storage projects.
• It would be useful for studying and deploying multiple microgrids in various off grid and strategic locations of the country.
• The hydrogen would be produced using the advanced 240 kW Solid Oxide Electrolyser.
• It is a unique project for India and project configuration is designed in-house by NTPC.

Significance

• According to the Power Ministry, this will be India's first green hydrogen-based energy storage project and one of the world's largest.
• It is a unique project for India and would open doors for decarbonising the far-off regions of the country like Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir etc., hitherto dependent on diesel generators,".
• The project is in-line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming carbon neutral by 2070 and making Ladakh a carbon-neutral territory.

?Green hydrogen

• It is hydrogen that is produced using renewable energy through electrolysis.
• It has significantly lower carbon emissions than grey hydrogen.

Methods to produce green hydrogen

• Electrolysis of water
• Steam reforming of biomethane
• Pyro-reforming of glycerine of renewable origin

With electrolysis

• Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water using electricity generated from low-carbon sources.
• If the electricity comes from renewable sources such as wind, solar or hydro, then the hydrogen is effectively green.

Steam reforming of biomethane

• In steam-methane reforming, methane reacts with steam under 3–25 bar pressure (1 bar = 14.5 psi) in the presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and a relatively small amount of carbon dioxide.

Uses

• Fuel-cell vehicles
• Alternative fuels
• Energy storage
• Heating
• Replacing existing hydrogen feedstocks

Context: According to a report by the World Bank, India accounts the highest in the world in terms of global death in road accidents.
Key highlights of the Report

• India tops the world in road crash deaths and injuries.
• It accounts for 11 % of the global death in road accidents.
• It accounts for 4.5 lakh road crashes per annum, in which 1.5 lakh people die.
• It has 1 percent of the world's vehicles, witnessing 53 road crashes every hour; killing 1 person every 4 minutes.

Major causes of Accidents

• Vehicle design and condition
• Road engineering, speeding
• Drunken driving/ consumption of alcohol and drugs
• Driving on the wrong side
• Jumping the red light
• Use of mobile phones.

Impact on Road Accident on Economy
World Bank Estimates

• The road crash fatality rate is three times higher in low-income countries compared to high-income countries especially in India.
• The crash costs at Rs 5.96 lakh crore or 3.14 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
• The road crash and serious injury cost estimate at 7.5 per cent of India's GDP or Rs 12.9 lakh crore for 2016.
• Vulnerable road users are forced to share space with other less vulnerable road users, the income level of an individual has a direct bearing on the mode of transport used.
• This in turn further determines the level of risk faced by a particular road user.
• Daily wage workers and workers employed as casual labourers in informal activities are more vulnerable compared to workers engaged in regular activities.

The Ministry Estimates

• The socio-economic costs of road crashes are Rs 1,47,114 crore in India, equivalent to 0.77 per cent of the country's GDP.
• At the individual level, road crash injuries and deaths impose a severe financial burden and push entire households into poverty and the already poor into debt.
• 76.2 per cent of people killed in road crashes are in their prime working-age, 18-45 years.

Government Initiatives to prevent Road Accidents
Education

• The Ministry implements a scheme for undertaking publicity measures and awareness campaigns on road safety to create awareness among road users through the electronic media, print media, NGOs etc.
• Observance of National Road Safety Month/Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.

Road Engineering

• High priority to identification and rectification of accident-prone spots on national highways.
• Guidelines for pedestrian facilities on national highways for persons with disabilities have been issued.

Vehicle Engineering

• Safety standards for automobiles have been improved including airbags, antilock-braking system (ABS), tyres, crash test, etc.
• Scheme for setting up one model inspection & certification centre in each State/UT with Central assistance for testing the fitness of vehicles.

Emergency Care

• The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides a scheme for the cashless treatment of victims of the accident during the golden hour.
• The National Highways Authority of India has made provisions for ambulances at all toll plazas on the completed corridor of National Highways.

Key Suggestion

• India needs to aim for safe and sustainable road systems: Research and development have proved that a range of interventions exists to prevent crashes and injury.
• Rules in books to be implemented: India has many good intentions, rules and statutes on its books but the gap between what is known to be effective and what is actually practised on the ground is often wide.
• Periodic fitness certification: Periodic fitness certification for all motorised vehicles, universalisation of road signs and enforcement of law and safety regulations are crucial.
• Zero tolerance towards underage drivers: We should have zero tolerance for underage drivers. India needs to consider severe penalties for violations; cumulative penalties for recurrent infringements should result in temporary withdrawal of licences or a permanent ban on driving.

Context: Recently, NITI Aayog released comprehensive report on current status on Country level- secondary and tertiary level emergency and injury care in India.
Objectives

• To assess the prevailing status of emergency and trauma care at government and private hospital settings of India.
• To bring out the existing gaps and provide a framework for further improvement and the needed policy directions.

Data Set

• 100 tertiary and secondary level hospitals in 29 States and 2 Union Territories from 5 regions of India was conducted.

Salient Findings of the study
Ambulance Services

• Even though 91% of hospitals had in-house ambulances, trained paramedics needed to assist ambulance services were present only in 34%.

Physical Infrastructure

• The number of beds available at Emergency Departments accounted for only 3-5% of total hospital beds.

Human Resource

• Most of the hospitals lacked presence of general doctors, specialists and nursing staff dedicated for Emergency Departments.

Essential Medicines

• Only 9% of all hospitals, fulfilled the criteria to have the complete list of all recommended emergency medicines 24*7 in the emergency departments.

Patient disposition time

• The patient disposition time for the sickest group (Red zone) was high at Government Medical Colleges (90 Minutes) vis-à-vis Private Hospital (15 minutes).

The reasons for this delay amongst others were due to

• High patient load
• Lack of in-house specialists in the emergency department.
• Need for multiple cross referrals, with an overarching lack of a dedicated department for emergency services.
• There was lack facilities such as presence of Police/ private security guards, to mitigate violence episodes between relatives of the care-seekers and health care providers.
• Financing: None of the Hospitals had funds dedicated for emergency care services.

Key Recommendations

• Develop a robust integrated emergency care service system which can comprehensively address all medical and surgical emergencies inclusive of trauma-related care.
• Develop standardize protocols and SOPs for emergency care to have a common optimal nation-wide policy.
• Strengthen the prevailing pre-hospital services such that a world-class ambulance services are made available 24*7.
• Create adequate space for emergency care systems at the prevailing health facilities.
• Systems to ensure efficient handling of medical care during disasters need to be ensured at all hospitals.
• Upgrade all the prevailing emergency care services to meet the standardized norms, with efforts made to accredit all the existing emergency departments.
• Create standalone Central/ State level efficient funding mechanisms to ensure continuous upgradation of emergency related issues at all hospitals.
• Develop mechanisms to ensure free treatment for emergency care services for all citizens covering the minimal required period for early stabilization.

Context: India started working on strategies to normalize its relations with neighbouring countries. Now, India has been reclaiming some of the ground, it had lost to China.
Major shift from the earlier policies

• The government made sincere efforts to win not only the neighbouring governments but also their people, 
• The government ignored unjustified advice from television anchors.

How did India start building its relationship with neighbouring countries?

• Nepal: 2015 was the worst year for India- Nepal relations as issues related to the Nepalese constitution, economic blockade strained their relations. China, although initially, got some benefit from it, but its policies of dominance also bring some tensions between China- Nepal relation.

How India is winning back Nepal’s confidence?

• India- Nepal started working out to build their relations. To ensure no tensions arise over Kalapani, Nepal is considering a methodology of conducting its 12th national census in that region without a trespass of territory. 
• Recently, Baba Ramdev, inaugurated the Patanjali TV station, dedicated to yoga in Nepal.

How India is winning back Sri Lanka’s confidence? 

• Sri Lanka turned to India for help and not China when its foreign exchanges ran low. 
• For the first time in history, the Indian Army has signed an agreement to become a sister battalion of a unit in the Sri Lankan Army’s Gajaba Regiment, which is also the president’s regiment. 
• Also, the project to build West Container Terminal goes to the Adani group.

Road Ahead

• Understanding India’s efforts in bringing positive changes with its neighbouring countries is always bear fruits to counter Chinese hegemony and maintained the polarity in South Asia.

Context: Recently, a demand has been raised in Parliament by ruling party MP from Ladakh has that the region be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to safeguard land, employment, and cultural identity of the local population.

Background

• Earlier, The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 was introduced to bifurcate the State into two separate union territories of Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature), and Ladakh (without legislature). 

Why does Ladakh want to be part of the Sixth Schedule?

• Local aspirations: There was much enthusiasm initially, mostly in Leh, after the repeal of Art. 370 which created two new UTs.
• Negligence in erstwhile J&K state: Buddhist-dominated Leh district had long demanded UT status because it felt neglected by the erstwhile state government.
• Denial of Legislature: The enthusiasm waned as it was understood that while the UT of J&K would have a legislature, the UT of Ladakh would not.
• Inadequate representation: The administration of the region is now completely in the hands of bureaucrats with only 1 MP.
• New domicile criteria: The changed domicile policy in Jammu and Kashmir has raised fears in the region about its own land, employment, demography, and cultural identity.
• Statehood demands: A coalition of social, religious, and political representatives in Leh and Kargil has demanded full statehood for Ladakh.

Cultural significance of Ladakh

• Ladakh is historically perceived as a cosmopolitan region with centuries of multiple cultural settings.
• It was an Asian pivot – the people here traversed diverse cultural boundaries and engaged with ideas.

Can Ladakh be included in Sixth Schedule?

• NCST Recommends: In September 2019, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes recommended the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule.
• Distinct culture: It was predominantly tribal (more than 97%), people from other parts of the country had been restricted from purchasing or acquiring land there, and its distinct cultural heritage needed preservation.

Legal hurdles

• Fifth schedule as an alternative: The Constitution is very clear, Sixth Schedule is for the Northeast. For tribal areas in the rest of the country, there is the Fifth Schedule.
• Exclusive provision for NE: Notably, no region outside the Northeast has been included in the Sixth Schedule.
• Requires Constitutional Amendment: It remains the prerogative of the government. For this, a constitutional amendment is required.

Government’s response in this regard

• The Centre woke up to the anxieties of the region when, a year after the abrogation of Article 370, when all political parties announced a boycott of the LAHDC-Leh elections.
• The political factions in Ladakh were promised “Sixth Schedule-like” protections by the Home Minister.
• The MHA has in Jan announced that a committee under then MoS Home G Kishan Reddy would be formed to address the issues related to language of Ladakh, culture of Ladakh and conservation of land in Ladakh.
• It had assured representatives of Kargil and Leh that the government was committed to look into their concerns.

Road Ahead

• Inclusion in the sixth schedule will help in democratic devolution of powers in the region and will also enhance the transfer of funds for speedy development of the region.

Context: There has been growing advocacy for the integration of duty with rights. On Constitution Day last month, many Union Ministers used the occasion to underline this proposal.

• The question of rights(FR) blending with duties requires careful consideration. The duties here mean the ideals that were written into the constitution as Fundamental Duties (FD), Article 51A.

Issues with the proposal

• This suggestion is plainly in the teeth of the Constitution’s text, language, and history.
• To the framers of the Constitution, the very idea of deliberating over whether these rights ought to be provisional, and on whether these rights ought to be made subject to the performance of some alien duty, was against the republic’s vision.

Imposing duties a legislative prerogative: The Constitution’s framers saw the placing of mandates on individual responsibilities as nothing more than a legislative prerogative.

• For example, the legislature could impose a duty on individuals to pay a tax on their income, and this duty could be enforced in a variety of ways.
• If the tax imposed and the sanctions prescribed were reasonable, the obligations placed on the citizen will be constitutionally valid.
• In this manner, Parliament and the State legislatures have imposed a plethora of duties — duties to care for the elderly and for children; duties to pay tolls and levies; duties against causing harm to others; duties to treat the environment with care, the list is endless.

Against Constitution: What is critical, though, is that these laws cannot make a person’s fundamental right contingent on the performance of a duty that they impose.

• A legislation that does so will violate the Constitution.

About the opinions of blending FR and FD

• One opinion is that the blending should create a balance between fundamental duties and rights.
• Another view is that citizens should converge fundamental duties and rights. It is clear that when a person holds rights, s/he is owed an obligation by the duty holder, but the government’s view is different.

What was the view held by the constituent assembly?

• The emphasis on dignity was important, and it guaranteed basic human rights like equality, autonomy, liberty, and others. The idea of contingent rights was considered repugnant.
• But rights were not made absolute, and part III of the constitution also contained limitations of the rights. Any curtailment of rights would thus need legislative sanction and should be reasonable as per the constitution.

How did fundamental duties evolve?

• They were not present in the original form of the constitution. They were added after the Swaran Singh Committee recommendations through the 42nd constitutional amendment and Article 51A.
• It encouraged citizens to cherish noble ideas, uphold and protect the sovereignty of India among other provisions.

What do rights come with duty mean?

• It is a basic proposition that all rights come with duties.
• But those duties are quite distinct from the meaning ascribed to them in the popular discourse.
• When a person holds a right, she is owed an obligation by a duty-bearer.
• For example, when citizens are promised a right against discrimination, the government is obliged to ensure that it treats everybody with equal care and concern.
• Similarly, the guarantee of a right to freedom of speech enjoins the state to refrain from interfering with that liberty.

Integrating rights with duties

• Proponents of integration of duty with rights aim to treat otherwise non-binding obligations — the “fundamental duties” as Article 51A describes them on a par with, if not superior to, the various fundamental rights that the Constitution guarantees.
• In an inversion of the well-known dictum, they see duties, and not rights, as trumps.
• On Constitution Day last month, many Union Ministers used the occasion to underline this proposal.
• The government puts forward an idea that our rights ought to be made conditional on the performance of a set of extraneous obligations.

Road Ahead

• To balance them, one should discuss the nature of duties that rights create. For example, the right to freedom of expression requires the state to work towards creating an equal society where each person can express herself freely.

Context: Recently, a controversy has erupted in Kerala over the reappointment of a person as the Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University, with Governor saying he approved the decision against his “better judgment” as Chancellor.
Role of Governors in State Universities

• In most cases, the Governor of the state is the ex-officio chancellor of the universities in that state.
• Its powers and functions as the Chancellor are laid out in the statutes that govern the universities under a particular state government.
• Their role in appointing the Vice-Chancellors has often triggered disputes with the political executive.

A disputed case

• In Kerala’s case, the Governor’s official portal asserts that while as Governor he functions with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
• While acting as Chancellor he acts independently of the Council of Ministers and takes his own decisions on all University matters.
• In marked contrast, the website of Rajasthan’s Raj Bhawan states that the “Governor appoints the Vice-Chancellor on the advice/ in consultation with the State Government”.

What about Central Universities?

• Under the Central Universities Act, 2009, and other statutes, the President of India shall be the Visitor of a central university.
• With their role limited to presiding over convocations, Chancellors in central universities are titular heads, who are appointed by the President in his capacity as Visitor.
• The VCs too are appointed by the Visitor from panels of names picked by search and selection committees formed by the Union government.
• The Act adds that the President, as Visitor, shall have the right to authorize inspections of academic and non-academic aspects of the universities and also to institute inquiries.

Context: Recently, Union Home Ministry (MHA) has informed the Lok Sabha that 11 States and one Union Territory have boundary disputes between them and “occasional protests and incidents of violence are reported from some of the disputed border areas”.
Key Points

• There are boundary disputes arising out of demarcation of boundaries and claims and counter claims over territories between Andhra Pradesh-Odisha, Haryana-Himachal Pradesh, UT of Ladakh-Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra-Karnataka, Assam-Arunachal Pradesh, Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Meghalaya, Assam-Mizoram.

Possible Reason

• There are disputes arising out of the demarcation of boundaries and claims and counterclaims over territories.
• Occasional protests and incidents of violence are reported from some of the disputed border areas.

Approach of the Central Government 

• Union government has consistently been that inter-State disputes can be resolved only with the cooperation of the State Governments concerned and that the Central Government acts only as a facilitator for amicable settlement of the dispute in the spirit of mutual understanding.

Major Inter state boundary disputes include

A) Karnataka-Maharashtra

• The Belgaum district is arguably part of one of the biggest inter-state border disputes in India.
• The district has a large Marathi and Kannada-speaking populations and has been at the centre of a dispute for a long time.
• The area came under Karnataka in 1956 when states were reorganized and till then it was under the Bombay presidency.

B) Assam-Mizoram

• The border dispute between Assam and Mizoram is a legacy of two British-era notifications of 1875 and 1933, when Mizoram was called Lushai Hills, a district in Assam.
• The 1875 notification differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar and the other demarcated boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur.
• While Mizoram became a state only in 1987 following years of insurgency, it still insists on the boundary decided in 1875.
• Assam, on the other hand, wants the boundary demarcated in 1986 (based on the 1933 notification).
• In that case, entire Mizoram was part of Assam before the Independence,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on July 27.
• Mizoram says the 1986 agreement is not acceptable as the Mizo civil society was not consulted at that time.

C) Haryana-Himachal Pradesh

• The Parwanoo region has had the spotlight over the border dispute between the two states.
• It is next to the Panchkula district of Haryana and the state has claimed parts of the land in Himachal Pradesh as its own.

D) Himachal Pradesh-Ladakh

• Himachal and Ladakh lay claim to Sarchu, an area on the route between Leh and Manali.
• It is considered a major point where travellers stop when travelling between the two cities.
• Sarchu is in between Himachal’s Lahul and Spiti district and Leh district in Ladakh.

E) Arunachal Pradesh-Assam

• Arunachal’s grievance is that the re-organisation of North Eastern states unilaterally transferred several forested tracts in the plains that had traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities to Assam.
• After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal.
• Assam contested this and the matter is before the Supreme Court.

F) Meghalaya-Assam

• The problem between Assam and Meghalaya started when the latter challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act of 1971, which gave Blocks I and II of the Mikir Hills or present-day Karbi Anglong district to Assam.
• Meghalaya contends that both these blocks formed part of the erstwhile United Khasi and Jaintia Hills district when it was notified in 1835.
• Meghalaya bases its case on survey maps of 1872 and 1929 and certain notifications of 1878 and 1951, while Assam wants to go by the rejected recommendations of the Churachand Committee.

G) Assam-Nagaland

• The longest-running border dispute in the North East is between Assam and Nagaland, which began soon after Nagaland became a state in 1963.
• The Nagaland State Act of 1962 had defined the state’s borders according to a 1925 notification when Naga Hills and Tuensang Area (NHTA) were integrated into a new administrative unit.
• Nagaland, however, does not accept the boundary delineation and has demanded that the new state should also have all Naga-dominated areas in North Cachar and Nagaon districts.
• Since Nagaland did not accept its notified borders, tensions between Assam and Nagaland flared up soon after the latter was formed, resulting in the first border clashes in 1965.
• This was followed by major clashes between the two states along the border in 1968, 1979, 1985, 2007, 2014 and 2021.

Key Solutions to these disputes

• Boundary disputes between the states can be settled by using satellite mapping of the actual border locations.
• Reviving the Inter-state council can be an option for resolution of an Inter-state dispute.
• Under Article 263 of the Constitution, the Inter-state council is expected to inquire and advise on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination.
• Similarly, Zonal councils need to be revived to discuss the matters of common concern to states in each zone—matters relating to social and economic planning, border disputes, inter-state transport, etc.
• India is the epitome of unity in diversity. However, in order to strengthen this unity furthermore, both the centre and state governments, need to imbibe the ethos of cooperative federalism.

Context: Recently, Chief Justice of India promised to take up the demand for more women judges with the Supreme Court Collegium.

• The collegium has recommended 68 names for appointment in total across 12 high courts.

Current Scenario of women in judiciary in India

• The Supreme Court currently has the highest number of women judges.
• Out of the sanctioned strength of 34 judges, the Supreme Court has four women judges.
• Out of 677 sitting judges in both the Supreme Court and high courts, only 81 are women.
• This makes the representation of women judges in the total working strength to 12%.
• Among the 25 high courts, only Madras high court has women judges in double digits.
• Out of the working strength of 58 judges, the Madras HC has 13 women, which is more than 22% representation.
• High courts of Manipur, Meghalaya, Bihar, Tripura and Uttarakhand do not have even a single woman judge.
• The sanctioned strength of judges across 25 high courts in India is 1,098.
• 465 posts were vacant as of September 1.

Impact of having women in Judiciary

• Women judges enhance the legitimacy of courts.
• They contribute far more to justice than improving its appearance: they also contribute significantly to the quality of decision-making.
• They bring those lived experiences to their judicial actions, that tend toward a more comprehensive and empathetic perspective.
• Adjudication is enhanced by preventing ill-considered or improper decisions, by elucidating how laws and rulings can be based on gender stereotypes etc.

Key Suggestions
Gender-Neutral Parenting

• There is need to change the patriarchal mindsets of Indian society.
• There is need to promote gender-neutral parenting so that future generations free themselves from the bonds of patriarchy.

Overhauling the Judicial Selection Procedure

• There is a need for the reformation of the judicial selection procedure and ensure fair representation of women in the Indian Judiciary.
• A more diverse judiciary would increase public confidence and instil greater support from its citizens.

Reservation Quota for Women

• There must be a minimum 33% reservation quota for women in the judiciary.
• It will ensure equal representation of women and also provide a fair opportunity to reach higher levels in the profession.

Context: Recently, Union Law Minister replied in Parliament that there is no proposal to scrap sedition charges from the Indian Penal Code.

What is being debated about it?

• Liberals and rights activists have been demanding the scrapping of Section 124A.
• It is argued that the provision is “overbroad”, i.e., it defines the offence in wide terms threatening the liberty of citizens.

The Law Commission has also called for a reconsideration of the section.

• It has pointed that Britain abolished it more than a decade ago and raised the question of whether a provision introduced by the British to put down the freedom struggle should continue to be law in India.
• Some argue that a presumption of constitutionality does not apply to pre-constitutional laws as those laws have been made by foreign legislature or bodies.

Judicial View on Sedition Law

• Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana delivered a stinging rebuke to the government in open court regarding the stifling impact of “colonial law,” which restricts ordinary people’s liberties.

The CJI likened the use of the sedition charge (Section 124A of the IPC) to a carpenter being handed a tool “to cut a piece of wood and he uses it to chop the entire forest altogether.”

• The Chief Justice questioned why a democracy required a legislation that had been used by the British to arrest Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal answered in court to the CJI’s oral observations, stating there was no need to strike down Section 124A.

• The court has already requested a formal response from the government by giving notice on a petition to quash Section 124A submitted by Major General S.G. Vombatkere (retd.).
• A petition filed by renowned journalist Arun Shourie and the NGO Common Cause, both represented by counsel Prashant Bhushan, contends that Section 124A lacks even a “presumption of legality.”

Significance of Remark

• The CJI’s remarks in court show that the top court has taken judicial note of the State’s abuse of the sedition provision.
• The observations were made by the CJI throughout the court’s sessions.
• Though not part of a formal order or verdict, oral observations made during a court hearing reflect the constitutional court’s train of thought.
• Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in the Shreya Singhal case called for the repeal of ambiguous rules that stifle free expression and limit personal liberty.

What is its origin?
Colonial past: Sedition was introduced in the penal code in 1870, a decade after the Indian Penal Code came into force.

• It was a colonial law directed against strong criticism of the British administration.

Putting curb on Freedom fighters: Its most famous victims included Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi.

• Gandhiji called it “the prince among the political sections of the IPC designed to suppress the liberty of the citizen”.

Is it constitutionally valid?

• Violative of FRs: Two high courts had found it unconstitutional after Independence, as it violated the freedom of speech and expression.
• Reasonable restrictions: The Constitution was amended to include ‘public order’ as one of the ‘reasonable restrictions’ on which free speech could be abridged by law.
• Kedar Nath Case: Thereafter, the Supreme Court, in Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar (1962) upheld its validity.

Road Ahead

• The time is long past when the mere criticism of governments was sufficient to constitute sedition. The right to utter honest and reasonable criticism is a source of strength to a community rather than a weakness, the CJI has recorded.

Context: Recently, Union Cabinet has approved the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) in Criminal Matters between India and Poland.

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT)

• It is an agreement between two or more countries for the purpose of gathering and exchanging information in an effort to enforce public or criminal laws.
• A mutual legal assistance request is commonly used to formally interrogate a suspect in a criminal case, when the suspect resides in a foreign country.

This assistance may take the form of

• Examining and identifying people, places and things
• Custodial transfers
• Providing assistance with the immobilization of the instruments of criminal activity.

Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
Objective

• To enhance capability and effectiveness of both countries in investigation and prosecution of crimes, including crimes related to terrorism.

Significance of this treaty

• It will increase effectiveness of India in tackling criminal activities involving Poland. 
• Once in operation, the Treaty will be instrumental in gaining better inputs and insights in the modus operandi of organized criminals and terrorists. 
• These in turn can be used to fine tune policy decisions in the field of internal security.

India and Poland Relations
Agreements
India and Poland have agreement on:

• Protocol on Amending the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes and Income (2013)
• Agreement on Exemption from Visa Requirement for Holders of Diplomatic Passports (2015)
• Agreement on Cooperation in Agriculture and Allied Sectors (2017)
• Cooperation in the Area of Coal Mining (2019).

Economic & commercial Relations

• Poland is India’s largest trade partner and export destination in the Central European region.
• India’s export to Poland contributed to 0.48% of overall India’s export.
• 0.15% of India’s import was covered by Poland in 2019.

Investment

• Indian investments in Poland are valued at over US$3 billion.
• Total Polish investment in India is estimated at US$ 672 million.

Cultural Relations

• A Hindi Chair is in place at the University of Warsaw.
• The Indology Department of the Oriental Institute at the University of Warsaw is the largest center for Indian studies in Central Europe.
• Study of Indian languages, literature, culture and Indology is pursued at the Polish Universities.
• Polish Post issued a Commemorative Stamp on the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhiji.

Consular Relations

• Visas: Poland had been included in e-visa scheme with effect from August 2015.

Context: Recently at the Summit for Democracy convened by U.S. President, the Prime Minister of India stated that democracies should jointly deal with social media and crypto currencies.
Background

• These come amid a tussle between the government and social media firms on multiple issues including content and freedom of speech.

PM remarks at the first Summit for Democracy

• Technology’s ability to affect democracy positively or negatively, “technology companies should contribute to preserving open and democratic societies”.
• Today’s assembly provides a timely platform for furthering cooperation among democracies. 
• India would be happy to share its expertise in holding free and fair elections, and in enhancing transparency in all areas of governance through innovative digital solutions. 
• Cryptocurrencies have come under increased scrutiny in India, with the government recently unveiling plans for strict regulation.

He said, "We must also jointly shape global norms for emerging technologies like social media and cryptocurrencies, so that they are used to empower democracy, not to undermine it.”

• It is important that all democratic nations work together on this and ensure it does not end up in the wrong hands, which can spoil our youth.
• Stating that elected republican city-states such as Licchavi and Shakya flourished in India as far as 2,500 years back, Modi said: “This very democratic spirit and ethos had made ancient India one of the most prosperous.
• “Centuries of colonial rule could not suppress the democratic spirit of the Indian people. It again found full expression with India’s independence, and led to an unparalleled story in democratic nation-building over the last 75 years.”

At last, It is a story of unprecedented socio-economic inclusion in all spheres. 

• It is a story of constant improvements in health, education, and human well-being at an unimaginable scale. 
• The India story has one clear message to the world. That democracy can deliver, that democracy has delivered, and that democracy will continue to deliver.

About Democracy

• Democracy is a government of the people, for the people, and by the people.
• The term ‘democracy’ comes from the Greek word demokratia which means “rule of the people”.
• It was coined from two words: demos that means“people” and kratos which refers to “power”.
• In a democracy the power rests with the people.

Indian Democracy

• India is recognized for having the largest democracy in the world.
• India achieved the status of being a democratic nation post its independence in 1947.
• The citizens of India were given the right to vote and to elect their leaders.
• Indian Constitution guarantees its citizens the right to vote irrespective of their caste, color, creed, religion, and gender.
• It has five democratic principles – sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, and republic.

In India democracy is of two types
Direct

• It refers to a form of government wherein citizens take part in the administration of the government.
• Government policies are decided by the people themselves.
• Whole community forms legislature.

Indirect

• The representatives elected by the people exercise the supreme power.
• Representatives of the winning party forms government and are a part of legislature.
• This type of democracy is known as representative democracy.

It is of two kinds–parliamentary and presidential.

• The Indian Constitution provides representative parliamentary democracy in which the executive is responsible to the legislature for all its policies and actions.

Role of Citizens in a Democracy
Participation

• In a democratic nation, the citizen’s role is to take part in public life.
• The most common role of a citizen is to exercise its right to vote.
• To exercise this power, a citizen must be aware of the different political parties, their candidates, their propaganda, etc.

Accountability

• Citizens have to make efforts to make the system of democracy responsible and responsive.
• The citizens must make the Parliamentarians, Members of State Legislature, and their representatives in Panchayati Raj and Municipal Institutions accountable for their actions.
• The Right to Information Act, 2005 has been enacted to enable citizens to play their role effectively.

Fulfilling Obligations

• Every citizen should have a realization that they have many more obligations to fulfill other than voting.
• Democracy is a system where citizens have various freedoms but never absolute.
• It is based on the principle of “with rights comes obligations.”

Challenges of Indian Democracy
1. Illiteracy

• Illiteracy has been a challenge because both the education level of people and the socio-economic development of a nation play a vital role in a democratic nation.
• At the time of independence, the literacy rate of India was almost dismal, and the female literacy rate was negligible.
• Due to these conditions, citizens were not be able to play their part effectively and exercise their right to vote meaningfully.

2. Poverty

• India inherited the state of poverty since the colonial rule of the Britishers.
• Till date, some people live below the poverty line in the country.
• Poverty in India still exists because of various reasons such as unemployment and under-employment.

3. Gender Discrimination

• Although gender equality is a basic principle of democracy in India, it still exists on every small step.
• The Constitution guarantees equal treatment to all citizens, irrespective of their gender.
• It guarantees the Fundamental Rights, as well as Directive Principles of State Policy.

4. Communalism

• Communalism is an ideology which states that society is divided into religious communities whose interests differ and at times even opposed to each other.
• Communalism is a setback to the Indian democracy as it acts as an offense to secularism.

5. Regionalism

• India is a nation with diversities of religions, languages, tribes, cultures, and communities.
• Due to such diversities, imbalances occur in the development process and lead to regional disparities, the democracy of the country is suffering.

6. Corruption

• Corruption is a major problem in India as it has its roots in every field be it land, health, education, property, industry, agriculture etc.
• It exists at all levels of politics, bureaucracy, government, and corporate.

7. Casteism

• Casteism is a differentiation made between individuals based on birth.
• In India, the caste system originated on the arrival of Aryans and continues in some parts of the country.
• The system brought practices like untouchability which continues despite being banned.
• Due to this system, the lower caste people even today are deprived of basic education, social benefits, etc.

8. Political Violence

• Violence is of various forms namely, communal, caste, political, etc.
• Whenever a political party loses elections, its party members begin engaging themselves in violence.
• It is a threat to the democracy as it leads to aggressive competition for political power and the victim is always the general public.

Context: Recently, the South Korea’s President announced a formal end to the Korean War.

• Similar declaration in an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, calling on the belligerents to "come together and declare that the war on the Korean Peninsula is over." 
• Doing so would allow the two Koreas "to make irreversible progress in denuclearization and usher in an era of complete peace.

Current Scenario

• It comes amid repeated test launches of what Pyongyang has described as "advanced" new missiles and intelligence reports that North Korea continues to develop nuclear warheads at its Yongbyon atomic facility.

Impact of this annoncement as per Expert

• It carries significant political and security risks for Korea and the wider region as it creates a false sense of security and permits North Korea to make demands, such as the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the peninsula and the abolition of the U.N. Command.

How did it end?

• Technically, the Korean War did not end.
• The fighting stopped when North Korea, China and the United States reached an armistice in 1953.
• But South Korea did not agree to the armistice, and no formal peace treaty was ever signed.
• Since 1953 there has been an uneasy coexistence between North and South Korea.

Korean War
History

• The Korean peninsula was ruled by the Joseon Dynasty from 1392 to 1897.
• By signing the treaty of Shimonoseki, Japan formed the Korean Empire after defeating China in the Sino- Japanese war of 1895.
• Korea was effectively under the rule of the Japanese during the World War II and after the fall of Japan, Korean War started.

Causes

• The present-day Korean conflict is born primarily from the seeds sown during Cold War – between USSR and USA.
• Korea was occupied by the United States and the Soviet Union at the end of World War II.
• The United States proposed temporarily dividing the country along the 38th Parallel as a way to maintain its influence on the peninsula, which bordered Russia.
• In 1948, the American-backed, anti-communist southern administration declared itself the Republic of Korea.
• Soon after, the Soviet-backed, communist northern administration, based in Pyongyang, declared itself the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Who were the combatants?

• The war pitted South Korea and the United States, fighting under the auspices of the United Nations, against North Korea and China.
• The Soviet Union supported North Korea at the beginning of the war, giving it arms, tanks and strategic advice.
• But China soon emerged as its most important ally, sending soldiers to fight in Korea as a way to keep the conflict away from its border.

Context: Recently, the UN General Assembly has conferred Observer Status to the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Expected benefits of granting observer Status to ISA

• The granting of Observer Status to ISA in the General Assembly would help provide for regular and well-defined cooperation between the Alliance and the United Nations that would benefit global energy growth and development.
• It would help ISA to expand its network through setting up a trans-national grid -- One Sun One Work One Grid (OSOWOG).

About International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• The ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilise efforts against climate change through the deployment of solar energy solutions. 
• It was presented by the leaders of the two countries at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris in 2015.
• ISA is the nodal agency for implementing One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), which seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others.
• The Headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being set up in Gurugram.
• The Assembly is the apex decision-making body of the ISA. It meets annually at the Ministerial level at the seat of the ISA.
• Membership: A total of 80 countries have signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement and 101 countries have only signed the agreement.
• United States of America has become the 101st member country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Solar Energy Initiatives of India

• National Solar Mission (a part of National Action Plan on Climate Change): To establish India as a global leader in solar energy, by creating the policy conditions for its diffusion across the country as quickly as possible.
• INDC’s target: It targets installing 100 GW grid-connected solar power plants by the year 2022.
• This is in line with India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) target to achieve about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources and to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% from 2005 level by 2030.

International Solar Alliance (ISA) and One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)

• Government Schemes: Such as Solar Park Scheme, Canal bank & Canal top Scheme, Bundling Scheme, Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme etc.
• First Green Hydrogen Mobility project: National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) Renewable Energy Ltd (REL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Territory of Ladakh to set up the country’s first Green Hydrogen Mobility project.
• Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy (like Solar, Wind) and has a lower carbon footprint.

Context: India successfully launched Supersonic Missile Assisted Torpedo System (SMAT) from Abdul Kalam island, formerly known as Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Key Points

• The test comes just days after the DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully flight-tested the indigenously designed and developed helicopter launched Stand-off Anti-Tank (SANT) missile from Pokhran range.
• This was the third in the series of indigenous stand-off weapons to be tested in recent times, after the Long-Range Bomb and Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), further strengthening the arsenal of the Indian Air Force.

About the SMART system

• The system is a next-generation missile-based standoff torpedo delivery system. During the test, the full range capability of the missile was successfully demonstrated. 
• The missile is equipped with a state-of-the-art millimetre wave (MMW) seeker which provides high precision strike capability from a safe distance.
• The system has been designed to enhance anti-submarine warfare capability far beyond the conventional range of the torpedo.
• This was a textbook launch, where the entire trajectory was monitored by the electro-optic telemetry system, various range radars including the downrange instrumentation and downrange ships. 
• The missile carried a torpedo, parachute delivery system and release mechanisms.
• This canister-based missile system consists of advanced technologies like two-stage solid propulsion, electro-mechanical actuators and precision inertial navigation. 
• The missile is launched from a ground mobile launcher and it can cover a range of distances.
• The SMART system will help India enhance its anti-submarine warfare capability.

Context: Recently, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a new mission named Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE).

About IXPE

• IXPE observatory is a joint effort of NASA and the Italian Space Agency.
• The mission will study “the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe – supernova remnants, supermassive black holes, and dozens of other high-energy objects.”
• The mission’s primary length is two years and the observatory will be at 600 kilometers altitude, orbiting around Earth’s equator.
• IXPE is expected to study about 40 celestial objects in its first year in space.

What are the instruments onboard?

• IXPE carries three state-of-the-art space telescopes.
• Each of the three identical telescopes hosts one light-weight X-ray mirror and one detector unit.
• These will help observe polarized X-rays from neutron stars and supermassive black holes.
• By measuring the polarization of these X-rays, we can study where the light came from and understand the geometry and inner workings of the light source.
• This new mission will complement other X-ray telescopes such as the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency’s X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton.

Why is it important?
The mission will help scientists answer questions such as:

• How do black holes spin?
• Was the black hole at the center of the Milky Way actively feeding on surrounding material in the past?
• How do pulsars shine so brightly in X-rays?
• What powers the jets of energetic particles that are ejected from the region around the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies?

Context: Over the last few weeks,there have been continuous protests in Gwadar, Balochistan against mega development plans of the port city as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Background

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): With the announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2015, Gwadar has been showcased as the gateway to a new era of Chinese investments meant to change the fate of both Pakistan and the region as a whole.

• It is a part of China’s ambitious One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative to link China with Europe.
• The CPEC project would link Pakistan's southern Gwadar port in Balochistan on the Arabian Sea to China's western Xinjiang region.
• It also includes plans to create road, rail and oil pipeline links to improve connectivity between China and the Middle East.
• Gwadar: A small port town on the coastline of the Arabian Sea in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, has been in news since then.
• Billion-dollar projects: China has spent billions of dollars on building the port town, opening a 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant, and building an international airport at the cost of $230 million, alongside other projects that come under the CPEC umbrella.
• Ignorance of the local demand: The authorities have continued to ignore the basic demands of the locals.
• Balochistan has the lowest access to drinking water, electricity, and even gas that is the main resource of the region.
• They still don’t have basic necessities, despite the influx of billions of dollars in Chinese investment.

Issues

• The marginalisation of the local people: They are arguing that not only are they being excluded, but their present livelihood has also been endangered.
• Deep-sea trawlers: The main means of livelihood for people in the region is fishing. They have become jobless.
• No political support: Locals expressed anger and disappointment that Pakistani government officials were not supporting their case and giving statements in favour of the Chinese fishermen, and demanded that the licences be cancelled.
• Strategically important project: The port development at Gwadar is perhaps the single most strategically important project of the CPEC, and Chinese involvement there predates the CPEC by at least a decade.
• Security check posts: One of the protesters’ demands is a reduction in the number of checkpoints which are due to the increased security presence meant to secure Chinese projects.

Significance of the protest

• Participation of women: Despite the severe conservatism of Balochistan, women protesters have come out in large numbers.
• Jamaat-e-Islami group: Another significant aspect of the protest is that it is led by a Jamat-e-Islami leader. The JI has traditionally been an ally of Pakistan’s military establishment.

Concerns of India and West

• Dual-purpose port for use by the Chinese Navy: India has been concerned that Gwadar, which gives China strategic access to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, is not just being developed as a trade entrepot but as a dual-purpose port for use by the Chinese Navy.
• Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region: It is intended to expand Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region alongside Kyaukpyu in Myanmar and Hambantota in Sri Lanka.
• Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK): India has protested to China over the CPEC as it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
• The USA is concerned too: With vital military interests in West Asia, the US too is concerned about the Chinese presence in Gwadar.
• Secret Chinese military base: The recent discovery of a secret Chinese military base in the UAE can only heighten the concerns.

Road Ahead

• More local employment: More people from Gwadar should be employed by the Chinese company developing the port.

End to trawler mafia regime: The government should crackdown on foreign “trawler mafia” who are stripping the Gwadar Sea of its marine resources.  

• Gwadar fishermen had given up their fishing spots for the development of the port after assurances that it would greatly improve their economic condition.Their existing condition was only worsening because of the unequal competition with the Chinese fishing vessels, which were also harming the ecosystem.

Context: Recently, a new vulnerability named Log4Shell is being touted as one of the worst cybersecurity flaws to have been discovered.
Background

• It was detected last week in widely used open-source logging software Apache Log4J, is now being exploited by attackers to target organizations all over the world, including India.

About Log4Shell vulnerability

• It is a flaw in one of the most widely used server software. It is a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability, which means attackers can use it to remotely execute arbitrary code on a server and steal data.
• It is a vulnerability in a logging library that is used by almost every big company in the world, including Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc., Google LLC, and more.
• Logging libraries allow developers to monitor their applications and catch bugs. The vulnerability has been given a 10/10, the highest severity rating for such vulnerabilities. However, Log4Shell doesn’t affect users directly.

Why it is a serious issue?

• About 41% of corporate networks in India have already faced an attempted exploit. Indian companies are not more vulnerable than their western counterparts because they use Java-based applications.

Indian companies are at high risk because of their weak security posture, especially the smaller companies that may not have the know-how or resources to detect and fix the issue quickly.

• Firstly, its exploitation could allow hackers to control Java-based web servers and launch what are called ‘remote code execution’ (RCE) attacks.
• Secondly, since this library is present everywhere across applications, the vulnerability could allow the attacker full control of the affected server.
• Thirdly, successful exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to disclosure of sensitive information, addition or modification of data, or Denial of Service (DoS).

Is the vulnerability being exploited by hackers?

• Security firm Checkpoint Research said it had documented 846,000 attacks on corporations in the first 72 hours of the “outbreak”.
• And 41% of corporate networks in India had faced an attempted exploit.
• Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Cisco Systems Inc. say their programs and applications have been affected.
• In the future, serious threat actors will try to exploit this vulnerability to attack a whole range of high value targets such as banks, state security and critical infrastructure.

How does one protect against Log4Shell?

• For Minecraft players: They have to ensure that they are on the newest client of the game that consists of a fix for the issue.
• For corporations: A patch was issued for the vulnerability on 13th December, and technology teams will have to ensure that this is incorporated in their systems.

Context: National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched an online resource center under the ‘We Think Digital’programme”. The programme is run collaboratively by the NCW, Facebook, and Cyber Peace Foundation.

About ‘We Think Digital’ Programme

• The programme was launched by Facebook in partnership with the National Commission for Women (NCW) and Cyber Peace Foundation.
• Under this, Facebook will provide digital literacy training to 1 lakh women across seven states (Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Bihar).
• As part of the program, the company will partner with agencies from both government and civil society to design learning modules to equip people with skills, including the ability to think critically about what they see online, report harmful content and how to communicate respectfully.

How would the online resource center help women?

• It aims to help women in distress on issues related to online safety like cyberbullying, cyberstalking, financial fraud, etc.
• It will help women the safe usage of technology and will also help them to be safe from online threats.
• It will act as a source of information and support for online presence.

How would the online resource center work?

• The center will provide information on cyber security in the form of posters, awareness videos, quizzes, and self-learning modules.
• It will include lessons with tips for safe usage and reporting and redressal of cybercrimes. The users can also find byte-sized information on various topics of cyber security on the website.
• It will provide information on the step-by-step process of reporting on cyber-crime issues including reporting on social media platforms.

Context: Recently, Delimitation commission for J&K is meeting for redrawing the boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir.
Delimitation Commission for J&K

• In March 2020, six months after the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, the Delimitation Commission was constituted.
• The commission has five MPs from Jammu and Kashmir as associate members.
• Their recommendations are, however, not binding on the commission.

What is delimitation?

• Delimitation means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province having a legislative body.
• This exercise is carried out by a Delimitation Commission, whose orders have the force of law and cannot be questioned before any court.

Constitutional provisions

• Article 82: This provides the Parliament with the authority to enact a Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Article 170: This provides for the States to get divided into territorial constituencies as per the Delimitation Act after every Census.
• The Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission once the Act is in force.

Why delimitation
To ensure uniformity

• between the different states,
• between the different constituencies in the same state.

Delimitation commission of India

• The Delimitation commission or Boundary commission of India is a commission established by the Government of India under the provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act.
• The main task of the commission is redrawing the boundaries of the various assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies based on a recent census.
• The representation from each State is not changed during this exercise.
• However, the number of SC and ST seats in a state are changed in accordance with the census.
• Delimitation commissions have been set up four times in the past — 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002 — under Delimitation Commission Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
• Following the 84th amendment to the Constitution, in 2002, Delimitation is to be done in 2026 if not postponed.
• The base year will be 2021 population. However, the population control policy will be kept in center of this.

Members

• The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.

It has three members

• Chairperson: A serving or retired judge of the Supreme Court
• Chief Election Commissioner or the Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC
• State Election Commissioner as ex-officio members

Reason for skipping delimitation after 1981 and 1991 Censuses

• As per constitution, the ratio between the number of Lok Sabha seats in a state and the population of the state is, as far as practicable, the same for all states.
• Although unintended, this meant that states that took little interest in population control could end up with more seats in Parliament, while the southern states that promoted family planning could end up with fewer seats.
• Amid these concerns, the Constitution was amended in 1976 to suspend delimitation until 2001.

Reason for suspending till 2026

• 84th Amendment to the Constitution extended the freeze on the number of seats until 2026, by when the country was projected to achieve a uniform population growth rate.

Context: Recently, the proposal to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 was cleared by the Union Cabinet based on the recommendations of a task force headed by Jaya Jaitley.
Minimum Age for Marriage in India

• Personal laws of various religions that deal with marriage have their own standards, often reflecting custom.
• For Hindus, The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 sets 18 years as the minimum age for the bride and 21 years as the minimum age for the groom.
• In Islam, the marriage of a minor who has attained puberty is considered valid.
• Now, the govt will have to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, the Special Marriage Act and personal laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

Reasons behind the decision

• Gender-neutrality: With this decision, the government will be bringing the age of marriage for both men and women at par.
• Motherhood complexities: An early age of marriage, and consequent early pregnancies, also have impacts on nutritional levels of mothers and their children, and their overall health and mental wellbeing.
• Mother and Child Mortality: It also has an impact on Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate.
• Women empowerment: The decision would empower women who are cut off from access to education and livelihood due to an early marriage.
• Protection from abuse: This will essentially outlaw premature girls marriages and prevent the abuse of minors.
• Education: Women have societal pressure to get married early and have children. Domestic responsibilities often take over the lives of women and they are unable to pursue higher education.
• Health issues: Study shows that women who get married before 18 years of age are likely to deal with unwanted pregnancies and are a greater risk of having complications during her pregnancy such as premature babies, retarded growth, prolonged labour and also miscarriage.

Status of Child marriages in India

• It is important to break the cycle of early marriages in families as even in urban areas, women are married off as soon as they turn 18 and their dream to pursue further education and build their career is often crushed.
• According to the Global Childhood Report released by UK-based NGO Save the Children, in India even today child marriage prevalence is higher in rural areas as compared to urban areas as these figures are 14.1% and 6.9% for rural and urban areas respectively for age group 15-19 years.
• Although India’s maternal mortality ratio has improved to 113 in 2016-18 from 130 in 2014-2016, it is still far below the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of 70 deaths per 1,00,000 live births.

What is the Jaya Jaitly Committee?

• In June 2020, the Ministry of WCD set up a task force to look into the correlation between the age of marriage with issues of women’s nutrition, prevalence of anemia, IMR, MMR and other social indices.
• The committee was to look at the feasibility of increasing the age of marriage and its implication on women and child health, as well as how to increase access to education for women.

Key recommendations

• The committee has recommended the age of marriage be increased to 21 years, on the basis of feedback they received from young adults from 16 universities across the country.
• The committee also asked the government to look into increasing access to schools and colleges for girls, including their transportation to these institutes from far-flung areas.
• Skill and business training has also been recommended, as has sex education in schools.
• The committee said these deliveries must come first, as, unless they are implemented and women are empowered, the law will not be as effective.

Criticism of the move

• Illegal marriages: Such legislation would push a large portion of the population into illegal marriages leading to non-institutional births.
• Ineffectiveness of existing laws: Decrease in child marriages has not been because of the existing law but because of an increase in girls’ education and employment opportunities.
• Unnecessary coercion: The law would end up being coercive, and in particular negatively impact marginalized communities, such as the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, making them law-breakers.

Road Ahead

• Marriage is based on cultural norms and practice. The first law regulating the minimum age of marriage was the Sarda Act or the Child Marriage Restraint enacted in 1929 which was a dead letter and never implemented to protect the sentiments of various communities.
• However, post-independence an amendment was made under the Act in 1978 increasing the age of marriage to 18 years for women and 21 for men.
• Till the present day, this law has been in force, although it is weak in its implementation as child marriages are still prevalent in India.
• Increasing the legal age for marriage is a must, even legally as it should get us out of the stereotype mindset that women are more mature than men of the same age and therefore can be allowed to marry sooner.

Context: In a virtual address at the Global Technology Summit 2021, India's External Affairs Minister said mastering the key domains of technology has now become an expression of power and influence in a world that is more globalised and technology driven.

• He further held that, to foster tech growth, nations must seek more start-ups, supply chains and jobs to be created internally.

About Global Technology Summit 2021

• It is being organised from 14 to 16 December, 2021.
• The theme of the summit is "Global Meets Local".
• the theme aims to look at the changing nature of technology and geopolitics.
• The summit is associated with assessing global effects, and consider the emerging problems.
• The summit is being organised in a hybrid format.
• It invites industry experts, policymakers, scholars, scientists and other stakeholders from across the world to deliberate on three sub-themes. 

These sub-themes are:

1. The Future of Technology: Resilience and Partnerships; 
2. Technology & Innovation: Roadmap to Sustainability and Inclusion; and 
3. Glocalizing Emerging Technologies: Building Digital Capabilities.

Apart from above these year's theme points out to global supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic.

• The summit focuses on national strategies towards globalizing technological systems that balance concerns of national sovereignity with those of global efficiency and innovation.

Context: As per recent study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-Mahamana Center of Excellence in Climate Change Research, BHU said that Climate Change makes children vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Key findings of the study

• Climate change driven by anthropogenic activities is challenging the gains in public health.
• India, particularly, ranks high in the list of climate-vulnerable countries in the world.
• Globally, it is estimated that children are to bear most of the burden of disease due to climate change.
• The higher risk associated with children is due to the combination of physiological vulnerability as well as the risk of exposure.

Climate parameters like temperature, humidity, rainfall, solar radiation, and wind speed were significantly associated with the infectious diseases.

• Disease like gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, vector-borne diseases, skin diseases in children are common.
• Climate parameters accounted for 9-18% of the total infectious disease cases.
• Non-climate parameters account for the rest.
• Upper respiratory tract infection (mostly cold and flu) and gastrointestinal infections (mainly diarrhea) constitute 78% of the disease burden.
• Due to socio-economic condition and modified climatic conditions, children are also suffering from stunting, wasting, and underweight conditions.

Context: Recently, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended to the Centre and states/UTs for delinking the relief package to the victim of bonded labour from the outcome of criminal proceedings to avoid delay.
Key Points

• In an advisory, the Commission pitched for de-hyphenating the two issues on justification that the victim has no control nor is associated in the trial.
• The Commission has asked for implementation of its recommendations and the action taken report within 90 days.
• As regards the prevalence of bonded labour, it said that the focus of the state- and district-level functionaries should not be limited to brick kilns alone but also in domains where bonded labour system has manifested itself in newer forms like in construction industry, shopping malls, call centres, massage parlours, etc.
• "The newer forms of bonded labour need to be identified for providing relief to them as per the existing Act and scheme," the Commission underlined in the advisory.
• It  has asked the state governments and UTs to identify households in extreme vulnerable conditions so as to prevent any instance of bonded labour by providing them with free ration, health care and other social security cover to the vulnerable and the marginalised communities.
• Also, the authorities concerned have been recommended to invoke the provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989), if a bonded labour belongs to those communities in addition to invoking the provisions the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act to give him relief.
• The registration of informal workers on e-Shram portal has also been asked to be simplified besides the process of creation and recoupment of corpus funds thereof.