Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• Don’t pretend not to see caste
• The key to India’s hunger challenge

GS Paper 2

• “Criminal law Bills renaming is needless meddling
• The Katchatheevu controversy
• Express View on Saudi and Iran: Welcome detente
• Crafting safe Generative AI systems
• End the death penalty: Its basis has collapsed

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Don’t pretend not to see caste

News: In this article, the author discusses the deep-rooted casteism in India. There is a need to acknowledge and address it for genuine inclusivity. Article also highlights the struggles of Dalits, the importance of representation beyond reservations, and the significance of embracing and celebrating Dalit history in the Indian independence movement.

What are the incidents that show casteism is still present in India?

Denial of Caste: Many claims to live in a casteless society, but incidents like discrimination against lower-caste individuals indicate its absence. Darshan Solanki’s suicide, children beaten over drinking water, and men shot for riding horses suggest caste-based violence are some examples.

Reservation Debates: Discussions about reservations on social media show underlying biases against reserved categories.

Professional Bias: Some avoid doctors with lower-caste surnames, suspecting them of lacking merit.

Dalit Representation: Dalits still struggle for representation in cultural and intellectual spaces, indicating systemic barriers.

What is the importance of De-casteing in India?

Genuine Inclusivity: Acknowledging casteism is crucial for creating an inclusive society where everyone is treated equally.

Dalit Struggles: Without addressing caste, the struggles and discrimination faced by Dalits continue.

Fair representation: De-casting ensures fair representation of all communities in premier institutions, media, and cultural spaces.

Trust Building: Addressing caste issues is vital for building trust among various communities.

Enriches national history: Recognizing Dalit contributions to the Indian independence movement enriches national history.

Progress and Unity: Overcoming caste barriers is essential for India’s unified progress and realizing the vision of “sabka vishwas”.

How can De-casteing be achieved?

Acceptance: Firstly, acknowledge the presence and impact of casteism in society, instead of denying or overlooking it.

Education: Educate younger generations about the importance of seeing beyond caste and the value of inclusivity.

Representation beyond reservations: Push for Dalit representation in cultural institutions, intellectual spaces, and media, beyond just reserved seats in politics.

Celebrate Dalit History: Embrace and highlight the contributions of Dalits in the Indian independence movement and other spheres.

Promote Allies: Encourage individuals from privileged castes to become allies, supporting marginalized communities in various spaces.

Build Trust: Address and work on the distrust Dalits might feel towards the upper segments of society, fostering unity.

Policies Emphasizing Inclusion: Formulate policies that emphasize diversity, inclusion, and equity, ensuring nobody is left behind.

The key to India’s hunger challenge

News: In this article author discusses India’s progress in reducing poverty, highlighting achievements since 1991. They mention the growth in foreign reserves and food production, but also point out challenges like malnutrition in children and the impacts of climate change. The author suggests focusing on women’s education and investing in agricultural research for a better future.

How has India been able to reduce poverty?

Government Efforts: Indian government lifted 135 million people out of poverty from 2015-16 to 2019-21.

Economic Shift: Post-1991 reforms transitioned India from state-controlled to a market-oriented economy, boosting growth.

Rise in Foreign Reserves: Reserves increased from $1.4 billion in 1991 to around $600 billion, stabilizing the economy.

Green Revolution: Transformed India into the largest rice exporter.

White Revolution: Positioned India as the top milk producer with 222 MT production.

Cotton Production: Introduction of Bt cotton in 2002 made India the biggest cotton producer.

Together, these measures and achievements have contributed to a significant reduction in poverty.

What challenges are present in poverty alleviation efforts?

Challenges in India’s poverty alleviation efforts include:

Persistent Malnutrition: NFHS-5 (2019-21) showed 32% of children are underweight, 35% stunted, and 19% wasted.

Climate Change: Increases risks to food systems, which can impact poverty alleviation. Extreme weather events like heat waves and flash floods are concerning.

Low Women Participation: Only 30% of women were part of the labor force in 2021-22, indicating untapped potential.

Education Gaps: For effective poverty alleviation, women’s education beyond the 12th grade is vital, but many don’t have this opportunity.

Agricultural Challenges: Need for increased investment in research to ensure sustainable and nutritious food growth to support poverty reduction.

What should be done?

Empower Women in Tech: Train women in 15,000 self-help groups to fly drones for agricultural purposes.

Strengthen Agricultural Research: Double or triple R&D expenditures in agriculture for sustainable growth and nutritious food.

Tackle Malnutrition: Address the high percentages of underweight, stunted, and wasted children through targeted interventions.

Ditch Outdated Policies: Move away from export controls and stocking limits, which are remnants of older economic strategies.

Collaborate with Leading Institutions: Engage top institutions like Punjab Agriculture University for ushering in a new era of sustainable and nutritious agriculture.

Prioritize Women in Workforce: Boost the women’s participation rate in the labor force by providing skill formation and higher education opportunities.

GS Paper 2

“Criminal law Bills renaming is needless meddling

News: In this article, the author criticizes the renaming of three legal bills in Hindi. He argues that it’s a push towards majoritarianism, ignores linguistic diversity, and goes against constitutional provisions that require laws to be in English.

About the renaming of three bills.

Indian Penal Code: Renamed as “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita”.

Code of Criminal Procedure: Now called “Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita”.

Indian Evidence Act: Changed to “Bharatiya Sakshya Bill”.

What are the major criticisms of renaming legal bills in Hindi?

Unfamiliarity for Many: More than half of India’s citizens and a significant majority of its legal practitioners find the Hindi names of the legal bills unfamiliar.

Constitutional Concerns: Article 348 of the Constitution requires that authoritative texts of all Acts be in English, so naming bills in Hindi challenges this provision.

Ignoring Linguistic Diversity: Historical protests, particularly in the 1960s, have shown strong resistance to imposing Hindi as the sole official language.

Perceived Majoritarianism: The push for Hindi may undermine other significant languages like Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu.

Importance of English in Legal Context: English remains the primary language of India’s courts, and legal statutes and precedents are primarily written in it, ensuring clarity in legal matters.

Potential Political Motive: There is a growing perception that the move towards Hindi might be driven by certain political motivations.

What should be done?

Reconsider Renaming: Revert the bills to their original English names to maintain familiarity and continuity.

Constitutional Compliance: Ensure the names align with Article 348, which requires laws to have English as the authoritative text.

Stakeholder Consultation: Engage with legal practitioners and the public, especially in non-Hindi speaking regions, before making linguistic changes.

Respect Linguistic Diversity: Acknowledge the significance of languages like Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu, to prevent feelings of majoritarianism.

Committee Review: The bills should possibly be reviewed by the Committee for Law and Justice, not just the Home Affairs Committee.

The Katchatheevu controversy

News: Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister M. K. Stalin restarted discussions about Katchatheevu, a barren islet near Rameswaram. He called to reclaim the islet from Sri Lanka as it would permanently resolve issues for local fishermen.

He said that even though fishermen were set free after being caught by Sri Lanka, their boats and fishing nets, essential to their livelihoods, were not given back.

When did Katchatheevu become a part of Sri Lanka?

In June 1974, India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Sirim R.D. Bandaranaike signed an agreement to establish the boundary between the two countries from Palk Strait to Adam’s Bridge.

The boundary was determined by historical evidence and international legal principles, placing Katchatheevu within Sri Lanka’s territory.

How important is Kachatheevu?

Both countries’ fishermen have historically used the islet for fishing.

However, the March 1976 pact specified that fishermen must not fish in the historic waters, territorial sea, or exclusive zones of either country without permission from Sri Lanka or India.

Some political groups and Tamil Nadu fishermen view Katchatheevu’s reclamation as a remedy for illegal maritime boundary crossings.

However, fishermen in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province believe this would worsen their problems, given Tamil Nadu fishermen’s use of bottom trawling on their territorial waters.

What led to the talks between India and Sri Lanka over Kachatheevu?

Sri Lanka claimed Kachatheevu due to Portuguese rule from 1505-1658 CE, while India argued it was under the control of the former Raja of Ramnad.

However, in a July 1974 Lok Sabha debate, External Affairs Minister Swaran Singh explained that the decision to include Kachatheevu as part of Sri Lanka resulted from extensive research into historical and other records concerning the islet.

Since then, there have been multiple instances where political leaders have resurfaced the issue of Katchatheevu. Over the past 15 years, both Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi have brought the issue before the Supreme Court.

How has the Centre responded regarding the issue?

In August 2013, India told the Supreme Court that the issue of reclaiming Kachchatheevu from Sri Lanka didn’t exist, as no Indian land was given to Sri Lanka.

They said it was a historical dispute between British India and Ceylon, settled by the 1974 and 1976 agreements.

In December 2022, the government mentioned to the Rajya Sabha that Katchatheevu is on Sri Lanka’s side of the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line.

Express View on Saudi and Iran: Welcome detente

News– Recently, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian’s visit to Saudi Arabia had traveled to Riyadh to offer condolences on the death of King Abdullah.

What is the historical trajectory of the relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia?

The relationship has faced challenges primarily due to their contest for leadership within the region. Iran was led by Shia leadership and Saudi Arabia by Sunni leadership.

Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, suspicions about each other’s motives have persisted. Iran accused Saudi Arabia of providing support to Baghdad during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88). Saudi Arabia was alleged to have backed insurgents against the Iran-affiliated President Bashar al-Assad in the ongoing Syrian civil war since 2011. The Iranian nuclear program further intensified these suspicions.

Tensions escalated in 2016 when Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shia cleric. It triggered Iranian protesters to attack the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

Diplomatic relations had been severed in 1987-88 when hostilities between the regional rivals reached a peak due to clashes in Mecca involving Iranian pilgrims and attacks on the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

Why Stability in relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia holds immense significance for India?

Over 8 million Indians are residing in the West Asian and Gulf regions.

India’s energy security depends on the strength of its connections with the two primary suppliers of crude oil.

India has maintained strong affiliations with both Riyadh and Tehran. Naturally, Delhi will closely monitor these developments due to their implications for its national interests.

Crafting safe Generative AI systems

News– The article explains the potential of generative AI and risks related to it. It also explains the importance of identity assurance framework to deal with the risk associated with generative AI.

What is the potential of generative AI?

Generative AI has the potential to unleash significant technological and societal transformations. Utilization of Large Language Models alone is projected to contribute between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy.

Example is Jugalbandi Chatbo. It aims to function as a universal translator in rural India. It receives queries in local languages, and then presents these responses to users in their native tongue.

This has the capacity to democratize access to information and enhance the economic well-being of millions of individuals.

What are risks related to generative AI?

AI-powered tools enable malicious actors to craft synthetic entities. These cannot be distinguished from humans online, using speech, text, and video formats.

These bad actors can manipulate identities. They can launch a range of harmful actions such as spreading misinformation, disinformation, engaging in security breaches, perpetrating fraud, propagating hate speech, and public shaming.

In the United States, an AI-generated image depicting the Pentagon ablaze caused turmoil in equity markets.

Fake users on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, disseminating strong political opinions, have exacerbated online political polarization.

AI-generated voices have been cloned and utilized to bypass authentication measures for banking customers.

An individual in Belgium was reportedly driven to suicide after interactions with a Large Language Model. Additionally, recent elections in Turkey were marred by AI-generated deepfakes.

The risk of malicious actors exploiting Generative AI for purposes of misinformation and influencing election outcomes is steadily on the rise.

What is the potential solution to risks related to generative AI?

Regulation alone is insufficient. A broader perspective must be taken into account to enhance Internet safety and reliability.

There is a need for an identity assurance framework. This framework ensures trust among interacting parties by verifying the authenticity of entities involved.

What are some facts about the identity assurance framework?

The core principles of this framework involve its inclusion of various emerging credential types worldwide. It does not have exclusive reliance on any single technology or standard.

Digital wallets are important. They offer selective disclosure and protect users from governmental or corporate surveillance. This identity assurance framework would encompass humans, bots, and businesses.

At present, more than 50 countries are engaged in initiatives to develop or issue digital identity credentials. India, with Aadhaar, holds a leading position in implementing online identity assurance safeguards.

The European Union is in the process of establishing a new identity standard that will also support online identity assurance.

The concept of identity assurance is intertwined with the issue of information integrity. Information integrity guarantees that the accessed content is genuine and originates from the purported source.

This credibility is founded upon three pillars. Firstly, source validation ensures the verification of the information’s origin, publisher, or individual. Secondly, content integrity guarantees that the information remains unaltered.

Lastly, information validity can be achieved through automated fact-checking and crowd-sourced reviews.

Identity assurance faces dilemmas like balancing privacy and surveillance, civil liberties and security, and anonymity and accountability.

Information integrity raises questions about censorship and the timeless query of ‘who defines the truth?’

End the death penalty: Its basis has collapsed

News– The article deals with the issue of the death penalty.

What are arguments against the death penalty?

The potency of the death penalty has diminished as human rights became codified both legally and socially. Fear has yielded ground to civil considerations.

Today, the efficacy of this punishment as a deterrent is uncertain. Research has revealed only tenuous connections between crime rates and executions.

The associated costs remain substantial. Taking a life is irreversible, and there is risk of a wrongful conviction. No justice system can ensure complete accuracy in assigning guilt, regardless of intention. Imperfections are inevitable.

Under the norms established by the Supreme Court, this penalty is reserved for “rarest of rare” cases. Although this provision holds value in its intent to decrease executions, It does not succeed in lessening the significant moral burden on our conscience.

Some argue that abolition of the death penalty can lead to unintended consequences.

If executions were abolished, there might be a rise in police encounters due to pressure to maintain law and order.

Lenient laws might result in more aggressive policing on the ground. Severe penalties could help curb vigilante actions.

This argument is flawed. It assumes that it’s acceptable for the rule of law to be influenced by societal conditions. It is disregarding its supremacy in principle. It overlooks the potential for police reforms.

Research indicates that isolating convicts in prison achieves the intended objective of our judicial system. Eliminating the death penalty from our legal framework is unlikely to lead to a surge in severe violations.

GS Paper 3

Dollar Today, Rupee Tomorrow

News: In this article author discusses the challenges and implications of making the Indian rupee an international currency, comparing it to dominant currencies like the U.S. dollar. They argue that India should focus on economic growth and trade expansion, rather than rushing to internationalize the rupee.

What are the functions of a currency such as the rupee?

The functions of a currency like the rupee are:

Medium of Exchange: Used to buy and sell products within India.

Unit of Account: Prices of products are set in rupees.

Store of Value: People save and hold rupees for future use.

Example: When both a buyer and seller in India transact, they use the rupee for payment and set the product’s price in rupees.

What is the role of international currencies?

The role of international currencies includes:

Medium of Exchange: Used for global trade between different countries.

Example: Over 80% of global trade transactions between 1999 and 2019 used the U.S. dollar.

Unit of Account: Sets prices for international transactions.

Example: Most world trade prices are in dollars or euros.

Store of Value: Held by central banks as reserves.

Example: Central banks hold 60% of their reserves in the U.S. dollar.

Dominance in Finance: 60% of international banking deposits and loans are in dollars.

What are the challenges of making the Indian rupee an international currency?

Small World Trade Share: India contributes less than 2.5% to global merchandise trade and less than 4% to world services trade. Most transactions use the dollar.

Limited Financial Transactions: India’s global financial transaction share is even smaller. Its corporate bond market is young, and public banks dominate.

Lack of Full Convertibility: India hasn’t fully adopted capital account convertibility, limiting the rupee’s use in global financial transactions.

Foreign Exchange Reserves: The Reserve Bank of India holds about $600 billion in foreign currencies, primarily for rupee stability. Other countries might not store large rupee reserves.

What should be done?

Focus on Growth: Prioritize expanding the economy, trade, and foreign investment.

Avoid Premature Changes: Don’t rush to make the rupee fully convertible just to speed up its internationalization.

Natural Progression: Let rupee internationalization follow as India’s economic stature grows.

Prioritize Stability: Ensure the rupee’s stability without compromising major objectives.

When VVIPs Leave – on the issue of beautification of cities during VVIP visits

News: The author discusses how cities in India temporarily improve infrastructure for G20 meetings, which highlights the year-round poor conditions. He also emphasizes the need for local government power and genuine urban development instead of superficial enhancements.

Why is the temporary beautification of cities problematic?

Highlights Year-Round Neglect: Temporary touch-ups showcase the usual poor conditions.

Seen as VVIP Appeasement: In Mumbai, hiding slums and filling potholes are perceived as prioritizing VIP visitors over regular citizens.

Wasted Resources: Money is spent on short-term fixes rather than lasting solutions.

Skews Priorities: Focuses on cosmetic changes instead of essential infrastructure.

Quick Deterioration: Pune’s post-G20 beautified areas returned to their neglected state within a week.

Disconnect with Citizens: People feel alienated when improvements are temporary and not genuinely for their benefit

What are the major issues with urban infrastructure in India?

Lagging Behind Neighbors: Indian cities fall behind not just Western but also many Asian cities in infrastructure.

Focus on Showiness: New flyovers get priority over essential facilities like sewage treatment.

Frequent Flooding: Last year, Bengaluru’s tech parks flooded due to poor drainage.

Lack of Local Governance Power: Despite constitutional recognition, municipal revenue hasn’t significantly grown since 1946-47.

Stagnant Municipal Revenue: RBI report shows no significant growth in municipal revenue from 1946-47.

Gene-edited mustard: Less pungent, more useful

News: Oilseeds provide oil for cooking and protein-rich meals for animals. Rapeseed-mustard is a key Indian oilseed, constituting 42.6% of oil production and 30.3% of meal production.

However, its high glucosinolate levels create pungent taste and odor in its products, making the oil less preferred by consumers and the meal unpalatable for the livestock.

What alternative is being adopted by the scientists for the rapeseed-mustard?

Scientists are trying to breed rapeseed-mustard along the lines of canola quality by lowering glucosinolate levels. This will help in reducing the pungent taste and odor of the oil and meal.

However, these low-glucosinolate mustard lines face issues in large-scale farming due to vulnerability to pests and diseases. Because glucosinolates also shield crops like mustard against pests and pathogens.

While lowering glucosinolates benefits oil and meals, it compromises the plant’s overall defense. Therefore, novel breeding research plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges.

How does novel research breeding help in addressing these challenges?

Novel breeding research involves glucosinolate production in leaves and pod walls, transported to seeds via glucosinolate transporter (GTR) genes. GTR1 and GTR2 classes encompass 12 genes responsible for this process.

For example, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing was used to modify 10 out of 12 GTR genes in ‘Varuna’ Indian mustard.

Targeted gene editing of the Varuna mustard variety resulted in seed glucosinolate levels below the 30-ppm of the canola-quality limit. Whereas other parts like leaves and pod walls had notably higher glucosinolates.

This low-seed, high-leaf glucosinolate edited lines demonstrated defense responses better than the wild-type mustard, due to the high glucosinolate concentration in leaves and pod walls.

Whereas the low glucosinolate levels in seeds will reduce the pungent taste and odor in the oil and meals, making it useful for both animals and humans.

What are the characteristics of this new GTR genes-edited mustard?

The new GTR genes-edited mustard lines are transgene-free, meaning they are not genetically modified (GM) and lack foreign genes found in Bt cotton or GM hybrid mustard.

The low-seed high-leaf glucosinolate mustard lines are genome edited (GE), different from GM or transgenic plants. The final GE lines also do not possess the Cas9 protein and are devoid of transgenes.

Moreover, in India, strict rules governed by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment oversee GM crop cultivation.

But in March 2022, a new rule was introduced by the Ministry stating that GM plants without added foreign DNA don’t require GEAC approval for field tests or commercial sale.

This change means that clearance is now only required from an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC).

What is the way ahead?

India imports a substantial amount of edible oils, covering over 60% of consumption.

Therefore, it’s crucial to boost domestic oilseed production through breeding for improved yields, pest resistance, and quality, to curb foreign exchange outflow.

Pilot fatigue in India, a wake-up call for airlines

News– In the past weeks, there have been reports of some Indian pilots who passed away due to cardiac arrest. One of them was a pilot of Indian origin flying for an airline in West Asia.

What are issues related to pilots in India?

Airlines and the aviation regulatory body in India does not comprehend the significance of fatigue and inadequate sleep.

India has some of the most inadequate regulations concerning Flight and Duty Time Limitations and rest intervals.

Proficiency evaluations are manipulated and training often reduced to a mere formality.

Airlines around the globe impose a minimum cumulative cockpit experience requirement for both pilots. Indian airlines do not fulfil these criteria.

Flying crew in India get one day off in a week and just their annual leave. ‘Safe airlines’ worldwide provide at least two days off every week and proper rest periods between flights for the body clock to unwind.

The fatal accident at Mangaluru and Kozhikode (August 2020) had identified another important factor. The pilots were taking medications. Self-medication becomes a norm. Without many being aware of side-effects, these can induce other conditions.

What are the contributing factors behind the aircraft accidents?

Crew duty time cannot be standardized for all situations. Human fatigue varies throughout the day, with the circadian low affecting the period from midnight to sunrise.  The number of landings during a pilot’s duty duration contributes to fatigue.

Over 60 years ago, a scientific study demonstrated that stress levels during landing approaches can elevate heart rates to over 240 beats per minute.

This triggers the adrenal glands and leads to significant sugar depletion in the body. This  has identified this as a contributing factor towards accidents.

Accidents have been linked to sleep deprivation and momentary micro-sleep episodes lasting between five to 15 seconds during the approach and landing phases.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

What is RBI’s new pilot for frictionless credit?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is RBI’s new pilot for frictionless credit?”  published in The Hindu on 21st August 2023.

What is the News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a pilot project in the form of a “Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit”.

The project seeks to give digital information to lenders to expedite access to credit or loans.

What is Frictionless credit?

Frictionless credit is a borrowing approach that seeks to streamline the lending process for consumers.

Unlike the traditional credit systems, where individuals need to go through extensive paperwork, credit checks and lengthy approval procedures, frictionless credit promises a smoother and faster experience.

Why Frictionless credit needed?

Before granting a loan, there’s a crucial process called credit appraisal. This process assesses the borrower’s ability to repay the loan and stick to the loan agreement. It’s especially important for banks because it affects their interest income and balance sheet.

RBI has noticed that the information needed for this process is scattered among different entities like governments, banks, credit agencies, and digital identity authorities. This separation creates hindrances in frictionless and timely delivery of rule-based lending.

To solve this, a new platform called “Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit” is being developed by Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI. This platform aims to make the lending process smooth and quick. 

As a step towards this, a pilot project for digitizing Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans under ₹1.6 lakh was started in 2022.It tests a fully digital lending process without paperwork, even allowing loans to be given at people’s doorsteps.

What are the expected benefits of this platform?

Getting formal loans often involves multiple visits to the bank and lots of paperwork. This adds to the lender’s operational expenses, which can then be passed on to borrowers. According to an RBI survey, processing farm loans used to take two to four weeks and cost about 6% of the loan amount.

This platform will help in making this lending process smooth and quick. It will help in reducing costs, speed up the loan process, and make it scalable.

Ministry of Tourism launches a wedding tourism campaign to unlock the potential of India’s huge wedding industry

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Tourism launches a wedding tourism campaign to unlock the potential of India’s huge wedding industry”  published in PIB on 19th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Ministry of Tourism has launched a Wedding Tourism Campaign to showcase India as a premier wedding destination globally. This campaign was launched as part of Incredible India Initiative.

The campaign aims to establish India as the foremost choice for couples seeking an extraordinary wedding experience while bolstering the growth of the wedding industry and overall tourism in India.

What is the Incredible India campaign?

Incredible India campaign was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2002 to promote tourism in India to other countries’ populations. 

The purpose of the campaign was to make a brand out of India that depicted its history, diversity, religious beliefs, and spirituality, all in all, it showed India as the melting pot of cultures that it was and is to this date.

In 2017, ‘Incredible India 2.0’ campaign was launched.It marks a shift from generic promotions undertaken across the world to market-specific promotional plans and content creation.  

The campaign focuses on digital and social media and the promotion of Niche tourism products, including yoga, wellness, luxury, cuisine and wildlife.

Gabon announces $500 million debt-for-nature swap deal for marine conservation

Source: The post is based on the article “Gabon announces $500 million debt-for-nature swap deal for marine conservation”  published in Down To Earth on 18th August 2023.

What is the News?

Gabon has announced a $500 million debt-for-nature swap. 

In Africa, it is the largest such deal signed by any country to refinance its debt and conserve marine resources.

What is Debt-for-nature swap?

Debt-for-nature swaps allow heavily indebted developing countries to seek help from financial institutions in the developed world with paying off their debt if they agree to spend on conservation of natural resources.

Usually banks in developed countries buy the debts of such countries and replace them with new loans which mature later. These have lower interest rates.

How do debt-for-nature swaps work?

A debt-for-nature swap can be multi-party or bilateral.

The most common form of multi-party debt-for-nature deal is when a third-party institution – usually an international non-governmental organization such as Conservation International – buys part of a country’s external debt from the institution that had bought it initially often at a discount. That organization then agrees to let the debtor country pay the debt off by investing a certain amount of local currency – usually significantly less than the face value of the original debt – in a biodiversity conservation plan.

In a bilateral deal, a country which owns some of another country’s debt agrees to discount it in exchange for the debtor country investing an agreed amount in a conservation plan.This frees the indebted country from having to pay off some of its debt and it can instead invest its own resources to preserve its biodiversity.

What is the significance of Gabon’s debt for nature swap?

Gabon’s debt for nature swap is the world’s second-largest debt-for-nature swap.

In May 2023, the world’s first and largest debt swap to conserve oceans was signed by Ecuador.

How debt for nature swap could help South Asia?

The debt crisis in the Global South has raised the need for new solutions, and one promising approach is debt-for-nature swaps.

These swaps are seen as important because developing countries face two interconnected challenges. Firstly, they need to borrow money from international creditors to support their development plans. Secondly, they must adapt to the growing impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.

South Asia, in particular, faces significant challenges in this regard. Sri Lanka is still grappling with the consequences of poor financial management. Pakistan’s economy, burdened with debt, is struggling to recover from the 2022 floods.

The Maldives, Nepal, and Bangladesh are all dealing with rising food and housing costs, while India’s economic growth has slowed considerably.

Pacific islands face risk of drowning as sea levels rising faster than expected

Source: The post is based on the article “Pacific islands face risk of drowning as sea levels rising faster than expected”  published in India Today on 18th August 2023.

What is the News?

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released a report titled “State of Climate in the South-West Pacific, 2022”. 

What are the key findings of the report?

Rising Sea Levels: The report has issued a warning about rising sea levels in the Pacific Islands. They report that sea levels in this region are increasing at a rate of about 4 mm per year, which is slightly higher than the global average. 

– This poses a significant threat to low-lying islands like Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands, as it could lead to destructive floods, damaging agricultural lands and habitable areas.

Marine Heatwaves: The report highlights the occurrence of long-lasting marine heatwaves in the area northeast of Australia and south of Papua New Guinea. These heat waves have had adverse effects on marine life and the livelihoods of local communities.

Disasters: The number of disasters reported in the region in 2022 decreased by around 39 per cent compared to 2021.

– The region reported 35 natural hazards compared to 57 in 2021, but the overall economic damages were 53% more than the loss in 2021.

– Nearly 98% of the economic loss has been due to floods. The economic losses associated with flooding in 2022 were more than four times the average over the past 20 years (2002-2021).

India announces definition of Green Hydrogen

Source: The post is based on the article “India announces definition of Green Hydrogen”  published in PIB on 19th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has notified the green hydrogen standard for India.

What is the definition of Green Hydrogen given by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy?

Green hydrogen is the hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources, either via electrolysis or biomass conversion. 

The definition also encompasses green energy preserved in energy storage systems. 

What are the emission thresholds that must be met in order for hydrogen produced to be classified as ‘Green’?

The emission thresholds for production of hydrogen to be classified as ‘green’ are: Green hydrogen having a well-to-gate emission of not more than two kg carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per kg hydrogen(H2).

The well-to-gate emission includes water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, drying and compression of hydrogen. 

The scope of these standards encompasses both electrolysis-based and biomass-based hydrogen production methods.

Who will certify Green Hydrogen projects?

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power will be the nodal authority for accreditation of agencies for the monitoring, verification and certification for green hydrogen production projects.

Luna 25, Russia’s first lunar mission in 47 years, crashes into the moon

Source: The post is based on the article “Luna 25, Russia’s first lunar mission in 47 years, crashes into the moon”  published in The Hindu on 21st August 2023.

What is the News?

Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft has crashed on the Moon’s surface after it went into an uncontrolled orbit.

What is Luna 25?

Click Here to read

Why did Luna 25 crash?

Luna 25 was supposed to land in the moon’s south pole region, where scientists believe there might be valuable frozen water and precious elements.

But the spacecraft went into an uncontrolled orbit. As a result, the spacecraft moved unpredictably and ultimately collided with the moon’s surface.

What are the implications of the failure of Luna 25 for Russia?

Luna 25 was Russia’s first mission to the Moon since 1976, when it was part of the Soviet Union.

Only three governments have managed successful moon landings: the Soviet Union, the U.S., and China.

The failure of Luna 25  underscores the decline of Russia’s space power status, from a time when it was the first country to launch an artificial satellite and launched the first human, both to earth orbit.

Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Suriname in the field of the regulation of medicines

Source: The post is based on the article “Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Suriname in the field of the regulation of medicines”  published in PIB on 16th August 2023.

What is the News?

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission(IPC) and the Ministry of Health of Suriname, aiming to recognize the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as a standard for medicines in Suriname.

What is the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission(IPC)?

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

IPC is created to set standards of drugs in the country. Its basic function is to regularly update the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases prevailing in this region. 

It publishes official documents for improving Quality of Medicines by way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). 

It further promotes rational use of generic medicines by publishing National Formulary of India.

It also provides IP Reference Substances (IPRS) which act as a fingerprint for identification of an article under test and its purity as prescribed in IP.

What are the benefits of International recognition of the Indian pharmacopeia Standards?

Firstly, it would boost the export of Indian pharmaceutical products to these countries as it would remove double regulation, duplication in testing and post importation checks. Indian drug exporters would thus gain a competitive edge and trade would become more remunerative.

Secondly, importing nations would gain access to quality Indian medical products at affordable prices.

Thirdly, manufacturers in importing countries would have better scope for development of generic medicines contributing to availability of affordable medicines to their citizens.

The following today’s current affairs articles have been covered in 7 PM Explained section of the day:

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