Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Time’s Come To Draw New Lines
• Sushil Kumar Modi writes: Judges should declare their assets, too
• “The World Bank must reform- Overhauls to multilateral development banks could be a lasting legacy of India’s G20 presidency”
• “Decoding the President’s speech-Words matter, especially when used by the highest constitutional authority of the country”
• “The BRICS test for India’s multipolarity rhetoric”

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Time’s Come To Draw New Lines

News– Ranjan Gogoi, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, put forth the notion that the concept of the basic structure is subject to debate.

What are some facts about basic structure?

The Kesavananda Bharati judgment was delivered by a 13-member constitutional bench in 1973. It introduced the concept of “basic structure”.

The bench said that there are some things in the Constitution that even Parliament cannot change.

What are issues with the basic structure?

Lack of clarity– There is a question regarding the extent to which SC can interpret the concept of the “basic structure.” The judiciary has not yet provided clear guidance on this matter.

Varying perspectives among judges– As per Ranjan Gogoi, the concept of the basic structure is subject to debate.

The current Chief Justice had expressed that the basic structure serves as the “North Star” guiding jurisprudence.

 Historical perspective– When the Kesavananda verdict was delivered in April 1973, it carried a narrow majority of 7-6. The panel of 13 judges produced a total of 11 separate opinions.

The consensus was shaped by the then Chief Justice, SM Sikri. He presented a six-point “majority view” in open court. However, four of the judges declined to do so.

The second proposition stated that “Article 368 does not empower Parliament to modify the fundamental structure or framework of the Constitution.”

The concept of the basic structure did not organically arise from this judgment. Its frequent use to justify judicial interventions is questionable unless the entire idea is thoroughly examined by another constitutional bench.

Political backdrop– Indira Gandhi held considerable power. She wants amendments that would enhance the authority of the executive in pursuing its social agenda.

The judiciary was divided between progressive and conservative factions, and some believed that curbing executive power was imperative.

Extraordinary circumstances can lead to flawed laws. The notion of the basic structure was a product of its era. It warrants a reevaluation and clarification in the context of our times.

Other issues– Certain common-sense “basic” features have been disregarded by the judiciary. A fundamental aspect of the Constitution should involve checks and balances.

There are questions regarding the Supreme Court having authority to exclusively appoint all judges to the higher judiciary.

A dissenting judge in the NJAC case, Justice J Chelameswar, argued that the independence of the judiciary isn’t compromised simply because the Chief Justice isn’t the primary influencer in judicial appointments.

There is assumption that the concept of the basic structure was derived from the thoughts of the constituent assembly that drafted the Constitution.

However, the chapter on fundamental duties was not part of the original Constitution. This was added in 1976 as Article 51A.

A provision introduced a quarter century after the initial Constitution was classified as an element of the basic structure.

Sushil Kumar Modi writes: Judges should declare their assets, too

News– The article deals with the issues of declaration of assets by judges of Supreme Courts and High Courts.

What are various provisions related to declaration of assets by public officials?

All public officials in India are obligated to submit an annual declaration of their assets, using various forms and methods.

The terms of employment and the Conduct Rules for Civil Servants specify the compulsory submission of annual property declarations for their immovable assets.

Other constitutional authorities, such as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, adhere to their Code of Ethics by posting their most recent asset declarations on their website.

Members of the Council of Ministers also disclose their assets in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Ministers issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Members of Parliament are mandated to provide details of their assets and liabilities within 90 days of taking their oath of office.

What is the stand of the judiciary on declaration of assets by judges?

Regarding the judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, there is no provision for officially disclosing their financial holdings.

In 1997, the Supreme Court adopted a resolution called “The Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” was adopted. This resolution stipulates that judges must declare their assets and debts upon assuming office and subsequently at the beginning of each year.

In 2009, a full bench of the Supreme Court decided to make judges’ asset declarations public by posting them on the apex court’s website. The same bench changed its stance, deciding that asset declarations would be posted on the website voluntarily.

Currently, the Supreme Court’s website shows that only 55 judges have uploaded their asset declarations. Concerning high courts, only five have made this information available on their websites.

What are some facts about the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010?

This bill aimed to establish a legal framework for investigating individual complaints against judges of the high courts and Supreme Court and recommending appropriate actions.

It also aimed to facilitate the declaration of judges’ assets and debts and establish standards of conduct for them. The bill was meant to replace the Judges Inquiry Act of 1968 while preserving its fundamental aspects.

Way forward-

The Supreme Court has taken the stance that the public has the right to be informed about the assets of individuals contesting elections as Members of Parliament or Members of Legislative Assemblies.

Judges also serve as public officials. It is reasonable for litigants to have access to such fundamental information about them. This approach would foster trust and confidence in the judicial system among those involved in legal proceedings.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice extensively discussed it.

The Committee suggested that the government should introduce appropriate legislation to enforce the mandatory submission of property reports by judges of the Supreme Court and high courts on an annual basis.

This can be achieved by introducing necessary amendments to existing acts—namely, the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act of 1958 and the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act of 1954.

Alternatively, an entirely new legislation addressing this matter could be introduced.

Another option is for the Supreme Court collegium to establish a suitable mechanism that would require judges of the Supreme Court and high courts to compulsorily disclose their annual reports on immovable properties.

“The World Bank must reform- Overhauls to multilateral development banks could be a lasting legacy of India’s G20 presidency”

News: In this article, author discusses the need for reforms in the World Bank Group (WBG) to better support low and middle-income countries, enhance its role as a knowledge provider, and improve its advisory services.

What are the major roles of the WBG?

Financier: Provides loans to low and middle-income countries. Like, assisting countries with developmental needs.

Knowledge Bank: Produces and shares information and research. Like, publishing the “Doing Business index”.

Trusted Advisor: Offers policy advice based on global best practices. Such as, sharing cross-country experiences to aid policy decisions in developing countries.

Why is there a need for reforms in the WBG?

The need for reforms in the WBG arises due to:

Debt Distress in LICs: Despite owing half their external debt to MDBs, low-income countries (LICs) are considered in debt distress. Like, questions arise about the accuracy of debt sustainability assessments by multilateral development banks (MDBs).

Incentive Structure Issues: There’s a potential conflict of interest, where WBG staff are rewarded for new lending, possibly leading to biased debt sustainability assessments.

Volatile Support for MICs: Middle-income countries (MICs), while having market access, are susceptible to rapid changes in capital flows. For instances, MICs often experience capital flow reversals due to global sentiment shifts.

Knowledge Impact: Despite allocating a significant budget to knowledge dissemination, its impact has been limited. For example, While WBG releases multiple growth forecasts for India, it doesn’t significantly address India’s low female labor force participation or its lagging manufacturing sector.

Lack of Local Engagement: WBG’s current advisory model lacks intense local engagement and updated country-specific knowledge.

Redundancy: The WBG often duplicates efforts that other institutions, like the IMF, already handle. Like, multiple growth forecasts for India with no superior accuracy.

Operational Mode: The WBG has remained in remote mode post-pandemic, unlike its client countries, affecting its efficiency and relevance.

What should be done?

Enhance Financial Support:

For LICs, the WBG should focus on building resilience and state capacity. Addressing LICs’ debt distress through comprehensive assessments, factoring in challenges like climate risks, is vital.

For MICs, the introduction of financial tools such as guarantees or swap lines can stabilize their economies, given MICs’ susceptibility to capital reversals from global shifts.

Revamp Knowledge Delivery:

An independent review of the WBG’s knowledge outputs, like the often-criticized “Doing Business index,” is necessary. Additionally, the WBG should ensure its reports are more accessible and aligned with pressing issues, such as key challenges faced by countries like India.

Improve Advisory Services:

The WBG needs to incorporate international expertise into its advisory services, offering member nations informed policy advice. Simultaneously, collaborating with local institutions will provide value while optimizing resource use.

Adjust Operational Model:

Mirroring its client nations, a return to in-person operations by the WBG is crucial. This would boost engagement and responsiveness across its various offices, including places like New Delhi.

“Decoding the President’s speech-Words matter, especially when used by the highest constitutional authority of the country”

News: In this article author discusses President Droupadi Murmu’s Independence Day speech, emphasizing the Constitution’s importance, India’s history, and the significance of specific word choices in reflecting the nation’s ideological debates.

What did President Droupadi Murmu emphasize?

President Droupadi Murmu, in her Independence Day address, underlined the Constitution as India’s guiding document. She stressed the nation’s dedication to remain a constitutional democracy.

The President also highlighted the importance of harmony with nature, female empowerment, and the transformative power of education, drawing from her personal experience as a teacher.

She acknowledged India’s economic achievements while pointing out that there’s more to be done to fulfill the dreams of the freedom fighters.

What’s the debate around identity?

President Murmu emphasized the identity of being an “Indian citizen” as paramount, even though Indians have multiple identities like caste, language, and profession.

Interestingly, she didn’t mention religion as an identity, using the term “creed” instead. In Hindi, she used “panth” instead of the more common “dharma”.

Why do word choices matter?

The choice of terms becomes crucial in the backdrop of ongoing ideological debates. For instance, the Constitution uses terms like “religion” and “faith,” translated in Hindi as “dharma.” The author suggests that such word choices by the President, the nation’s highest authority, are consequential. They can be indicative of broader ideological stances and should align with the Constitution’s language.

“The BRICS test for India’s multipolarity rhetoric”

News: The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit is being held in South Africa.

What is the importance of BRICS?

BRICS got stronger due to global changes in world politics and problems within the United Nations. BRICS holds broader global representation than UNSC and G-7. 

Global institutions have failed to bring global governance because they lack representation. BRICS steps in to fill this gap. Around 40 countries want to join BRICS reflects Global South’s discontent with their global status.

Hence, amid global uncertainty, countries seeking recognition could use BRICS to shape geopolitics.

However, BRICS and SCO might not lead to fully democratic global governance due to conflicts and hierarchies. But they could start discussions for creating more inclusive global governance.

Where does India stand in the global order?

India’s current geopolitical decisions lack clarity. India’s position of being part of multiple groups like the Quad, G-20, G-7, BRICS, SCO, and the global South simultaneously, raises questions about its stand.

India joined non-Western groups due to undemocratic post-World War II institutions like IMF and UNSC. But India isn’t against the U.S./West.

India is connected to BRICS, SCO, and the global South due to its development, geography and history. However, China’s dominance in these groups creates issues for India.

While India’s trajectory aligns with G-20, G-7, and the Quad, gaining significant influence in these powerful forums is tough.

Hence, India is caught between an emerging geopolitical divide where both sides acknowledge India’s interests but India doesn’t entirely align with either. This makes it more challenging for India to maintain equilibrium.

What are the challenges with India?

India wants a world with many powerful countries working together in new ways. But it needs to be careful that its actions don’t make China even stronger.

While it’s good to create new groups and promote de-dollarization, these changes could also help China become more powerful.

China’s size, economy, the Belt and Road Initiative, and diplomacy will likely shape groups like BRICS, which could be challenging for India due to its own limitations.

When India works to make non-western groups and systems stronger, it unintentionally aids China’s revisionist agenda.

Hence, India needs to balance two main objectives: advocating for a fair and inclusive global governance system while safeguarding its own interests. 

It’s also essential for India to limit China’s dominance in non-western groups, but also avoid isolating other global South nations who might support China’s push to expand these forums.

BRICS now has five nations, and even with more joining, China’s influence might still stay strong. India joined BRICS for economic growth, but if it becomes political, India might get involved in unexpected issues, especially with China.

What lies ahead?

India faces the challenge of finding its place in both non-western forums like BRICS and SCO while limiting China’s influence. It also needs to balance Western demands and maintain its position in groups like UNSC and G-7.

India’s relations with the US and the West grew due to China’s actions and Indo-Pacific trade importance. While India joined BRICS for its gains, China’s role complicates matters. Hence, India should be cautious about too much involvement in BRICS.

GS Paper 3

Express View on Luna-25: After the crash-landing

News– Recently, Russian spacecraft Luna-25 was crash-landed on the moon.

Over the past four years, attempts to land spacecraft on the moon have been made by four distinct nations — Israel, India, Japan, and Russia. Each of these attempts met with failure during the final stages of landing or just prior to it.

How have lunar missions transformed in this century?

“Luna-25” mission should not be misconstrued as a continuation of the Luna series of lunar probes that were launched by the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.

The contemporary wave of lunar missions differs significantly from those undertaken half a century ago.

Modern technology and materials are utilized, along with new types of propellants. Even the objectives and incentives driving these missions have evolved substantially.

Lunar exploration at the start of this century focussed initially on Orbiter missions.

How will this incident impact future space missions and Chandrayaan-3?

Setbacks are not unfamiliar to space agencies. Every nation engaged in space exploration has faced failures and challenges. These setbacks have served as opportunities for learning and growth.

The unsuccessful Luna-25 mission has in fact paved the way for Chandrayaan-3 to potentially become the first spacecraft to successfully land in the polar region of the moon.

ISRO is likely experiencing its own sense of apprehension for the landing attempt of Chandrayaan-3.

It has undergone substantial safety enhancements to prevent a repeat of the previous mishap. However, there remains a lack of assurance or complacency until the test is successfully passed.

How to fix holes in the financial safety net

News– The article explains the evolution of the global financial system and challenges faced by current financial architecture. It also explains the future of the global financial system.

How has the global financial system evolved until 2011?

The period before World War I was characterised by unrestricted movement of capital and fixed exchange rates tied to the gold standard. The gold standard’s success depended on cooperation between major global economic powers.

Following the interwar era, the gold standard was replaced by the post-1940s Bretton Woods system. The Bretton Woods conference led to the establishment of three significant international financial institutions: the IMF, World Bank, and later, GATT and WTO.

Until the 1970s, the International Monetary Fund managed the global financial safety net (GFSN) through the Bretton Woods system. It was  characterised by semi-fixed exchange rates and controlled capital movements.

However, this system collapsed in the early 1970s. There were doubts about the sustainability of the US dollar’s convertibility into gold at a fixed exchange rate and concerns about the availability of sufficient gold to match the increasing supply of US dollars.

This collapse gave rise to the present framework of flexible exchange rates disconnected from gold, and relatively unrestricted capital accounts.

The 1980s and 1990s were marked by frequent instances of balance of payments crises and macroeconomic instability in numerous emerging markets and developing economies.

The open capital accounts in these economies led to volatility in capital flows. It contributed to an escalation in the frequency and severity of financial crises.

From 1970 to 2011, there were a total of 147 systemic banking crises, 218 currency crises, and 66 sovereign debt crises, primarily occurring in EMDEs.

During this time, the IMF remained the sole but largely ineffective observer of the Global Financial Safety Net. Substantial transformations have since occurred.

The most significant event of the late 1990s was the Asian financial crisis. Many of the countries affected by this crisis felt that the conditionalities imposed by the IMF were too onerous, which led many to increase their foreign exchange reserves as self-insurance.

Ten ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, and South Korea (ASEAN+3) founded the Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI) in 2000. In 2010, it became the “Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation” (CMIM).

The already existing ASEAN swap arrangements were expanded to facilitate bilateral currency swaps among all ASEAN +3 countries.

How has the global financial system transformed after the global financial crisis of 2008-09?

The 2008-09 North Atlantic Financial Crisis led to innovations in the Global Financial Safety Net. The US Federal Reserve set up bilateral swap lines with the major central banks in advanced economies along with a few emerging market economies.

For euro-area countries, the European Financial Stability Facility was created as a temporary crisis solution in 2010. It became the European Stability Mechanism in 2012, with a lending capacity of Euros 500 billion.

A global network of bilateral swap lines has proliferated. The number of  bilateral swap lines has increased from only a few in 2007 to 91 at the end of 2020. It amounts to a total of about USD 1.9 trillion.

There are now seven regional financial arrangements with total potential resources available of almost USD 800 billion.

What are issues related to the global financial system?

During the Covid crisis, the IMF lent USD 118 billion to 22 countries in the western hemisphere; USD 25 billion to 40 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The above data illustrates that when more developed countries suffer from crises, the magnitudes of loans to them are much larger than similar crises in emerging economies.

There has also been a perception that the conditionalities accompanying IMF programmes to advanced economies are less stringent than in emerging economies

There has been a growing dissatisfaction with the distribution of quotas and voice in IMF governance with the increasing economic size of emerging economies

The economic weight of emerging economies do not reflect adequately in the voting, quota, and governance structure of the IMF.

What will be the future shape of the global financial system?

The 16th review of quotas is currently ongoing. Many observers believe that there is little chance of the major member countries agreeing to the increased quota of emerging economies.

Without significant governance reform in the IMF being unlikely, its relative importance and effectiveness could get progressively eroded.

Thus, the GFSN of the future is likely to be a combination of different regional financial arrangements, bilateral swap lines, increasing foreign exchange reserves, and the IMF.

What are the options for India among transformations in the global financial safety net?

India is currently not part of any regional financial arrangements. In case of any macroeconomic and external crisis, it will have to rely on its bilateral swap lines, particularly with Japan, and the IMF.

India should consider approaching the “Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation” for potential membership.

The pursuit of prudent macroeconomic policies encompassing fiscal, monetary, financial and development policies since the early 1990s, is the best financial safety net that India should aspire for.

It should also continue to build adequate foreign exchange reserves for its self-insurance.

It should be particularly careful in opening the capital account, especially to volatile debt inflows into its bond market.

“On smartphone manufacturing in India”

News: The article discusses a debate between former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on the effectiveness of the Indian government’s production- linked incentive (PLI) scheme in promoting genuine manufacturing versus just assembly in the electronics sector, especially in mobile phone production.

What is government’s production- linked incentive (PLI) scheme?

Read hear: About the PLI Scheme

What are Raghuram Rajan’s arguments?

Program’s Efficacy: The Central government scheme isn’t turning India into a self-reliant manufacturing giant.

Dependency on Imports: While there’s a decrease in imports of assembled mobile phones, the imports of mobile components (like screens, batteries, and circuit boards) surged between FY21 and FY23.

Assembly vs. Manufacturing: Companies are largely just assembling phones in India using imported components rather than manufacturing them fully here. The end result is merely a ‘Made in India’ label.

Job Quality: The kind of jobs created through this scheme are low-level assembly jobs which don’t pay well.

Economic Impact: Such assembly work doesn’t produce the strong economic multiplier effect genuine manufacturing would offer.

Net Exports Concern: Even if only 60% of component imports are for mobile production, the import value would still surpass the export value.

What is the Minister’s response?

Use of Imports: Not all imported components (screens, batteries) are for mobile phones. They could be for other products like monitors and electric vehicles.

PLI Coverage: Only 22% of mobile phone production in India benefits from the PLI scheme.

Value Addition: While the current value added in India for mobile manufacturing is low, it’s expected to rise as the broader supply chain establishes in India.

Future Outlook: The PLI scheme’s long-term benefits, such as job creation and establishing India in manufacturing, will take time to become evident.

Conclusion

The debate centers on the PLI scheme’s true impact on Indian manufacturing. While Raghuram Rajan argues that it fosters low-value assembly over genuine manufacturing, Minister Chandrasekhar believes its long-term benefits will soon be evident. The real cost is the potential missed opportunities in other sectors like education when investing heavily in the PLI scheme.

“What are the concerns about drilling in the North Sea?”

News: The U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak approved new offshore fossil fuel drilling in the North Sea, despite environmental concerns and the global push against climate change, raising questions about the U.K.’s commitment to climate change targets.

About history of drilling in North Sea.

The North Sea is between England, Scotland, and Europe.

The 1958 Geneva Convention allowed countries to explore their continental shelves.

The U.K.’s Continental Shelf Act started in 1964.

British Petroleum (BP) got the first licence in 1964.

BP found gas in 1965 and oil in 1970 in the North Sea.

Many companies joined exploration by the 1980s.

Production peaked in 1999 with 1,37,099 thousand tonnes.

By 2022, production reduced to 38,037 thousand tonnes.

What are the concerns about drilling in the North Sea?

Environmental Impact: Drilling in the North Sea intensifies the global threat of climate change. Activities associated with such drilling can lead to the warming of oceans, which, in turn, contributes to rising sea levels.

Risk to Marine Life: Offshore drilling has direct detrimental effects on marine biodiversity. Coral reefs, shellfish, and broader marine ecosystems are also at risk due to the increased acidity in the waters. This acidic condition arises when carbon pollution from drilling activities settles into the oceans.

Climate Commitments: The Climate Change Committee(CCC), in its 2023 report, highlighted that the U.K. is not adequately prepared for the implications of climate change. This report was based on evaluations from the Second National Adaptation Programme, spanning from 2018-2023, which showed a significant lack of preparation in climate adaptation.

Global Agreements: The CCC report shows the U.K. lacks adequate climate risk preparation. The Climate Action Tracker claims the U.K. isn’t meeting Paris Agreement standards, and new drilling plans exceed the recommended 1.5°C temperature rise limit.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

What are Acoustic Side Channel Attacks and how is AI used to increase its accuracy?

Source: The post is based on the article “What are Acoustic Side Channel Attacks and how is AI used to increase its accuracy?”  published in The Hindu on 21st August 2023.

What is the News?

A research paper titled “A Practical Deep Learning-Based Acoustic Side Channel Attack on Keyboards” has shown how accurate Acoustic Side Channel Attacks (ASCA) can be when advanced deep learning models are used to recognize laptop keystrokes.

What are Side Channel Attacks(SCA’s)?

Side Channel Attacks(SCAs) are a method of hacking a cryptographic algorithm based on the analysis of auxiliary systems used in the encryption method.

These can be performed using a collection of signals emitted by devices including electromagnetic waves, power consumption, mobile sensors as well as sound from keyboards and printers to target devices. 

Once collected, these signals are used to interpret signals that can be then used to compromise the security of a device.

What are Acoustic Side Channel Attacks(ASCA)?

Acoustic Side Channel Attacks(ASCA) uses the sound of clicks generated by a keyboard to analyze keystrokes and interpret what is being typed to leak sensitive information. 

These attacks are particularly dangerous as the acoustic sounds from a keyboard are not only readily available but also because their misuse is underestimated by users.

The use of laptops has increased the scope of ASCAs as laptop models have the same keyboard making it easier for AI-enabled deep learning models to pick up and interpret the acoustics.

What does the study say about Acoustic Side Channel Attacks(ASCA)?

The study has found that the advancement of AI and deep learning has heightened the risks associated with ASCAs.

For instance, it found that when the AI model was made to recognise keystrokes using audio captured through a smartphone microphone, it was able to achieve 95% accuracy.

The study emphasizes that users can adopt defence strategies such as altering typing techniques, using touch-based typing, employing stronger passwords with varied cases and avoiding easily predictable phrases to mitigate the threat of ASCAs.

Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying will receive 25 million USD grant under Pandemic Fund for strengthening Animal Health System of India

Source: The post is based on the article “Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying will receive 25 million USD grant under Pandemic Fund for strengthening Animal Health System of India”  published in PIB on 21st August 2023.

What is the News?

The G20 Pandemic Fund has granted $25 million to India’s Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying to aid pandemic preparedness and response.

What is the G20 Pandemic Fund?

The G20 Pandemic Fund was established under Indonesia’s G20 Presidency.

Purpose: To finance critical investments to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities at national, regional, and global levels, focusing on low- and middle-income countries.

Hosted by: The fund is hosted by the World Bank with WHO as technical lead.

How does the Pandemic Fund work?

The pandemic Fund secures money from donors to be distributed to low and middle-income countries for various purposes. 

This includes disease surveillance, capacity building for critical health workforce, establishment of laboratories and emergency communication.

An intermediary agent will distribute these funds and also implement projects. These implementing agencies include regional development banks such as Asia Development Bank, African Development Bank, and other international organizations.

The World Bank, WHO and a governing body consisting of countries, philanthropic foundations and civil society organizations manage the pandemic fund collectively.

Membership within the governing body includes both donors and recipients to ensure inclusiveness and maintain equal decision-making power between states.

India, ASEAN agree to review goods trade pact by 2025 to fix ‘asymmetry’

Source: The post is based on the article “India, ASEAN agree to review goods trade pact by 2025 to fix asymmetry”  published in The Hindu on 22nd August 2023.

What is the News?

India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) have agreed to conclude the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement(AITIGA) by 2025.

What is ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)?

ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement is a trade deal signed in 2009.

The agreement covers trade in physical goods and products. It does not apply to trade in services. 

ASEAN and India signed a separate ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement in 2014.Along with ASEAN-India Investment Agreement, the three agreements collectively form the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area.

Why is there a need to review the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement(AITIGA)?

Trade Deficit: In 2022-23, India’s exports to ASEAN increased to $44 billion from $42.32 billion in 2021-22.

– However, imports grew faster as it jumped to $87.57 billion in 2022-23 against $68 billion a year ago.

– The trade deficit widened to $43.57 billion in the last financial year, from $25.76 billion in 2021-22. It was just $5 billion in 2010-11.

– In this context, India’s Commerce and Industry minister had said the trade agreement with ASEAN was an “ill-conceived” agreement and unfair to the Indian industry.

Other concerns of India: India has been worried about the routing of goods from third countries in India through ASEAN countries members by taking the duty advantages of the agreement.

Chandrayaan-3 | ISRO releases images of the far side area of the moon

Source: The post is based on the article “Chandrayaan-3 | ISRO releases images of the far side area of the moon”  published in The Hindu on 22nd August 2023.

What is the News?

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released images of the far side of the Moon.

The images were captured by the Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera (LHDAC) which is onboard the Chandrayaan-3 Lander.

What is the Far Side of the Moon?

The far side is also known as the dark side area of the moon as it is always hidden from the earth. 

Why is it called Far Side of the Moon?

Over billions of years, Earth’s gravitational pull has brought the Moon’s spin into sync with its orbit. 

It takes exactly 28 days for the Moon to complete one rotation, and the same time to make one orbit around Earth. This leads to a phenomenon called “tidal locking”. 

With the Moon’s rotation and orbit keeping it forever in step with the Earth, only one part of it is visible from Earth at any time. The unseen part is called “far side of the Moon” also known as the dark side area of the moon. 

Note: The term “dark side” can be misleading because it doesn’t necessarily mean that this side is always in darkness. It experiences day and night like the near side but is not visible to us from Earth. 

What is the significance of Far Side of the Moon?

Because the far side of the Moon is shielded from radio transmissions from the Earth, it is considered a good location for placing radio telescopes for use by astronomers.

Hangul population in J&K sees uptick, wildlife dept elated

Source: The post is based on the article “Hangul population in J&K sees uptick, wildlife dept elated”  published in Hindustan Times on 19th August 2023.

What is the News?

Hangul, the unique Kashmir stag and the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a slight increase in its population after a period of two years.

What is Hangul?

Hangul is the state animal of Jammu & Kashmir. It is subspecies of Central Asian red deer endemic to Kashmir and surrounding areas.

The last viable population of Hangul in the Indian sub-continent exists only in the protected Dachigam National Park, a vast mountainous 141 sq km sanctuary on the outskirts of Srinagar.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I

Census: A population census of Hangul species is conducted every two years.

Threats: Habitat fragmentation and poaching, livestock grazing, predation, ecological threats and disturbed corridors and landscapes.

What is the population of Hangul according to the latest census?

The population of Hangul species has increased to 289 in 2023 from 261 in 2021, a 10% increase.

The major factors which led to stabilization of the population of the Hangul are: One is the protection of its habitat in the form of Dachigam and another is the restricting of human movement inside the core area of the park to almost zero.

India-USA announces 1st Joint Call for proposal under MeitY-NSF research collaboration

Source: The post is based on the article “India-USA announces 1st Joint Call for proposal under MeitY-NSF research collaboration”  published in PIB on 21st August 2023.

What is the News?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) has announced its 1st Joint Call for proposals under the MeitY- National Science Foundation (NSF) research collaboration.

What is the National Science Foundation (NSF)?

The National Science Foundation is an independent agency of the US government that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering.

Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health.

What is the MeitY- National Science Foundation (NSF) research collaboration?

MeitY-National Science Foundation (NSF) has signed an Implementation Arrangement (IA) on Research Collaboration in May 2023. 

This MeitY – NSF collaborative research opportunity focuses specifically upon discoveries and innovations in areas of mutual interest such as semiconductor research, next generation communication systems, cyber-security, sustainability and green technologies and intelligent transportation systems.

Through this research agency partnership, U.S. researchers may receive funding from NSF and India researchers may receive funding from MeitY.

SC panel flags loss of essential documents of people in Manipur

Source: The post is based on the article “SC panel flags loss of essential documents of people in Manipur”  published in The Hindu on 22nd August 2023.

What is the News?

A committee led by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal appointed by the Supreme Court has submitted three reports regarding the situation in Manipur following recent violence.

About the committee on Manipur Violence:

The Supreme Court had set up a committee comprising three woman judges — J&K High Court’s former Chief Justice Gita Mittal, Bombay High Court’s retired judge Shalini Phansalkar Joshi and Delhi High Court’s former judge Asha Menon.

It had tasked the committee with collecting information related to violence against women in Manipur as well as monitoring the conditions at relief camps and deciding on compensation to victims. 

The committee has been entrusted with the payment of compensation and helping the victims of violence.

It has been mandated to submit its updated status report on a fortnightly basis directly to the Supreme Court.

What are the three reports submitted by the committee on Manipur?

The first report highlighted the loss of documents of Manipur citizens in the riots.This report calls for assistance in reconstruction of important documents such as Aadhaar cards etc for such citizens.

The second report called for the Manipur Victim Compensation scheme to be improved and updated bearing in mind the NALSA scheme.

— For instance, the Manipur Victim Compensation Scheme states that if benefits under other schemes have been received by a victim, no benefit shall be provided to such a person under the Manipur Victim Scheme.

The third report proposed the appointment of domain experts to facilitate its functioning.

Gondia, Gadchiroli to host Maha’s 1st elephant reserve

Source: The post is based on the article “Gondia, Gadchiroli to host Maha’s 1st elephant reserve”  published in TOI on 22nd August 2023,

What is the News?

The Maharashtra state wildlife department has proposed creating the Navegaon Elephant Reserve in an area in Gondia and Gadchiroli districts.

This move aims to conserve wild elephants in the region, where around 23-25 elephants have been residing.

What is the significance of this proposal?

At present, there are 33 elephant reserves in the country. If approved, Navegaon Elephant Reserve  could become the 34th elephant reserve in India and the 5th largest in terms of area.

Elephant Conservation in India:

Elephant has been recognised as a national heritage animal of India.

India has the largest population of Asian elephants with nearly 30,000 wild and about 3,600 captive ones.

Government of India had launched Project Elephant in 1991-92. The project was intended to provide financial and technical support to the elephant range states for the protection of elephants, their habitats, and corridors and address the issue of human-animal conflict. It also sought to promote the welfare of captive elephants.

IUCN Red List: Endangered 

CITES: Appendix I

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

Concerns: According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA) 1972, a ‘protected area’ can be one of a ‘national park’, a ‘wildlife sanctuary’, a ‘conservation reserve’ or a ‘community reserve’.

– Hence, in the eyes of the law, an elephant reserve is no different from forest land or revenue land. 

– The activities that are prohibited in protected areas – including mining, oil- and gas-drilling, dams, etc. – are permissible in an elephant reserve.

ICSSR to develop Indianised research methodology tools

Source: The post is based on the article “ICSSR to develop Indianised research methodology tools”  published in The Hindu on 22nd August 2023.

What is the News?

The Indian Council of Social Science Research(ICSSR) will soon announce the results of the research award proposals it had invited to study the impact of various schemes and public policy initiatives of the Union government.

About 500 researchers will get funding for the studies based on fieldwork focused on a specific geographical region.

What is the study conducted by ICSSR on the impact of the various government schemes?

The Indian Council of Social Science Research had recently given a special call for short term research proposals to assess the reach and socioeconomic impact of 31 government schemes, including Ujjwala Yojana, Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, New Education Policy, Mudra Yojana and Start up India among others.

Purpose behind the research: The idea behind this research is to independently assess the impact of various government schemes and to understand the bottlenecks being seen in their implementation at the ground level.

– For example, take the Ujjawala scheme.It will be important to assess how it has impacted the life of women. What is the continuity of the usage cylinders distributed under the scheme and if there are any bottlenecks. 

– Similarly, in the Mudra scheme of financial inclusion, we have some government data, but it would be interesting to actually go to the ground and assess its impact on entrepreneurs.

Funding: Each selected project will be funded up to ₹6 lakh. For collaborative projects, the funding is fixed at up to ₹30 lakh.

Eligibility: Research scholars from recognised institutions, civil servants, officers from defence services and other professionals with social science perspective having not less than 20 years of regular service will be eligible to apply,

UP, Gujarat among top 5 states in new investments; Kerala, Assam at bottom

Source: The post is based on the article “UP, Gujarat among top 5 states in new investments; Kerala, Assam at bottom” published in Indian Express on 20th August 2023.

What is the News?

According to a study by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), five states accounted for more than half of the total bank-assisted investment proposals made during the year 2022-23.

What are the key findings of the RBI study?

Overall investment plans shot up by 79.50% with a capital outlay of around 3.5 lakh- the highest since 2014-15.

– Significantly, this rise in new investments has happened at a time when the RBI hiked the repo rate.

– Pick-up in investments is largely due to the capital expenditure plans of the government.

State wise distribution of investments: Five states accounted for more than half of the total bank-assisted investment proposals made during the year 2022-23

– These five states are- Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

– On the other hand, Kerala, Goa and Assam were at the bottom of the table in getting the lowest number of new investments.

Sectors which received investment: The investment in green field (new) projects accounted for the largest share of 93.1% in the total cost of projects financed by banks and Financial institutions(FIs) during 2022-23.

– Infrastructure sector comprising power, telecom, ports and airports, storage and water management, special economic zone (SEZ), industrial, biotech and IT park, and roads & bridges, remained the major sector accounting for 60% share in the total cost of projects during 2022-23.

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