9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – August 29, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

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• PIN code @50 years
• The concerns around Aadhaar-Voter ID linkage
• Clean and clear: Government, Twitter must reassure the public that user data has not been compromised
• Privacy Protection has been far too long to wait
• A neglected contributor to the country’s crisis of public health

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• James Webb telescope: Light on dark matter
• How to make in India–and protect economy from supply shocks
• New regulations for the Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs): Reforming ratings
• Fallty towers: Lesson from the Supertech demolition: reduce the risk borne by homebuyers, improve Rera

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Revisiting the S. Subramaniam Balaji vs Tamil Nadu judgment
• There will be at least one Constitution Bench in the Supreme Court throughout the year: CJI U.U. Lalit
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) – National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completes eight years of successful implementation
• Here’s the data on India’s ‘missing baby girls’ and the likely consequences
• F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter jet: Competition heats up for naval fighter deal ahead of Vikrant’s commissioning
• Reduce production of sugar and diversify agriculture towards energy and power sectors: Union Minister
• Exercise Vajra Prahar: India, US joint special forces exercise concludes in Himachal Pradesh
• Union Minister says, ‘Waste to Wealth’ is emerging as a new avenue for StartUp in India
• Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Participates in Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar Campaign

Mains Oriented Articles

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PIN code @50 years

News: India Post introduced a six-digit Postal Index Number (PIN) code on August 15, 1972. The idea was to give a unique identity to all physical addresses of the country in terms of the delivery jurisdiction of the post offices.

It is time to analyse the system’s progress in achieving its purpose in the last 50 years.

Postal code in other countries

The postal code is known differently in different countries. For example, postcode, zip code, etc. It is an alpha-numeric or numeric number that is included in the postal address for easy identification of the sorting district and the addressee’s delivery post office.

The codes were introduced nationwide in Germany in the year 1944, Singapore (1950), Argentina (1958), the U.S. (1963), Switzerland (1964), India (1972), and the U.K. (1974).

The Universal Postal Union says that 160 countries of the world have so far introduced postal codes.

Postal code in India

The PIN code helps in taking a piece of mail to the addressee’s post office. The delivery jurisdiction of the post office is normally divided into beats and there is a postman assigned to each beat.

What are the advantages of the postal code?

a) The postal code revolutionised the system of manual postal sorting as the sorters are not required to keep in memory the locations of thousands of post offices.

b) PIN-coded mails in India started improving after the introduction of computerised billing by utility service providers and the launching of KYC norms by banks, where providing complete and accurate addresses is mandatory.

c) Though the code was originally designed to help postal operations, today it is used by couriers, e-commerce players and various other service providers as a means of locational identification of a person.

What are the concerns surrounding the postal code?

The government made efforts to educate the citizens to write the PIN code of the addressee in the mail. Even after five decades, a) a substantial volume of mail in India is not PIN-coded, b) beat sorting at the post office is done manually in India.

The code may not be operationally relevant in the new role of a post office. This includes, 1) Personal mail has almost vanished after the revolution of mobile telephony in the last two decades, 2) The postal system at present transport only documents and e-commerce parcels, but it is facing stiff competition from couriers.

What should be done to improve the postal code system?

Integrating the beat code with the six-digit PIN code: This can facilitate the PIN code not only identifying the addressee’s post office but also the concerned beat.

Improve connectivity with postman: The post office makes the mobile number of the delivery person of the beat available. This can facilitate citizens to leave instructions regarding their convenience in taking delivery.

The utilisation of machines: The letter sorting machines, flat sorting machines (handling packets) and parcel sorting machines have a tremendous capacity for sorting in a day. This has to be utilised effectively.

Centralise the parcel delivery centres and mechanise the beats: The logistic system associated with the e-commerce parcels is intrinsically different from that of handling personal mails. The postman does not need a vehicle for delivery of fewer e-commerce parcels. This should be done with centralised parcel delivery centres.

The concerns around Aadhaar-Voter ID linkage

News: Recently, the Election Commission (EC) has been organizing a campaign to promote the linkage of Voter ID and Aadhaar. As a result, the block level officers (BLOs) have been asking individuals to link their Aadhaar with their Voter IDs, failing which their Voter IDs could be cancelled.

Is the Aadhaar-Voter ID linkage mandatory?

Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 which was inserted through the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 requires the citizens already enrolled, to furnish their Aadhaar numbers.

Rule 26B, added to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 requires “every person whose name is listed in the roll to voluntarily intimate his Aadhaar number to the registration officer”.

However, Form 6B issued under the new Rule 26B does not give the impression of voluntariness in linkage. It mandates that the voter should either submit their Aadhaar number or any other listed document if the voter is “not able to furnish their Aadhaar number because they do not have an Aadhaar number”.

Why do state and private sectors use Aadhaar for verification and authentication?

First, at the end of 2021, 99.7% of the adult Indian population had an Aadhaar card. This coverage exceeds that of any other officially valid document such as a driver’s licence, ration cards, PAN cards etc.

Second, Aadhaar allows for biometric authentication. Therefore, Aadhaar-based authentication and verification is considered more reliable, quicker and cost-efficient when compared to other IDs.

What are the benefits and concerns associated with the Aadhaar-Voter ID linkage?

Why mandatory Aadhaar-Voter ID linkage is an issue?

As per the Puttaswamy judgment, the Court observed that the mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts fell afoul of the test of proportionality, as it deprived a person of their right to property for non-linkage.

In Lal Babu Hussein (1995), the SC had held that the Right to vote cannot be disallowed by insisting only on four proofs of identity, i.e., voters can rely on any other proof of identity and obtain the right to vote.

What are the operational difficulties in Aadhaar-Voter ID linkage? 

First, the preference to Aadhaar for the purposes of determining voters is puzzling as Aadhaar is only a proof of residence and not a proof of citizenship.

Second, as per the Unique Identification Authority of India in 2018, Aadhaar based biometric authentication had a 12% error rate.

Third, linking of the two databases of electoral rolls and Aadhaar could lead to the linkage of Aadhaar’s “demographic” information with voter ID information. Therefore, it can lead to some sort of state surveillance and violation of the right to privacy. Therefore, any other officially valid document should be used to verify or authenticate the identity of the voter in India.

What should be done?

There should be a data protection law that pacifies concerns about the unauthorised processing of personal data held by the government.

In the meantime, the government should clarify by making a correction in Form 6B that the linking is not mandatory.

Clean and clear: Government, Twitter must reassure the public that user data has not been compromised

News: Last Month, the whistle-blower Peiter ‘Mudge’ Zatko, a cybersecurity expert, disclosed to the U.S. government agencies and congressional committees that there were deficiencies in the working of Twitter.

What is the relevance of this Whistleblowing for India?

In this whistle-blower’s disclosure, it has come to the notice that the Indian government forced Twitter to hire a specific individual(s) who were government agents. Due to Twitter’s basic architectural flaws, they got access to the platform’s user data and vast amounts of Twitter’s sensitive data.

However, it is not clear whether the agent referred here is the grievance officer that social media networks operating in India are required to recruit, as per the new laws framed in 2021.

How this will impact free speech?

In recent years, the Government of India has been part of efforts to block its critics on social platforms. Therefore, unfettered access to sensitive user data on the social media platform can kill free speech.

What should be done?

The Government of India as well as Twitter must come up with an official response to the recent disclosure.

Further, the Government of India should also assure everyone that it is indeed batting for the individual’s rights of free speech and privacy.

Privacy Protection has been far too long to wait

News: This article discusses the issues associated with the facial recognition system and the efforts taken by the Supreme Court to address privacy issues.

The Internet Freedom Foundation filed a series of Right To Information (RTI) appeals to ask for details on facial recognition technology being used in our public spaces.

The reply to RTI shows that 124 such systems are currently in use across India. Many such closed-circuit cameras are deployed at airports, railway stations, and public thoroughfares.

What are the issues with Facial Recognition Technology and similar systems?

This facial recognition is being done in the absence of data protection laws.

The consent of citizens is also not taken before using this system.

All around the world, there is discomfort over the use of facial recognition system because it is unreliable and there is a threat of misuse of this system.

Some cities in the US have banned its use, and there are similar demands in the EU.

It is against the SC ruling in the Puttaswamy case, which upheld the right to privacy as a fundamental right.

What are the other similar concerns?

A recent circular issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India has created confusion among the public. The circular recommended citizens to not give out photocopies of Aadhar cards.

SC panel report on the use of Pegasus spyware by the Government was kept private and remained inconclusive. There was also a lack of clarity over allegations of military-grade spyware used against Indian journalists, politicians, judges, etc.

The lawmakers in India are letting people as well Constitution down by not putting invasive surveillance tech to the test of our right to privacy.

A neglected contributor to the country’s crisis of public health

News: This article discusses the reasons and concerns associated with malnutrition in India and poor public health services.

What are the reasons behind the high rates of child malnutrition in India?

The study of recent research has found that it is not poverty but the low social status of women that was responsible for India’s poor record on nutrition.

Studies have highlighted that gender equality plays a significant role in tackling malnutrition.

Why has India failed to improve the basic social and well-being indicators of its population?

Caste system

The dual principles of purity and pollution of caste have very serious implications on public sanitation. A certain caste excluded from society is considered ritually impure, and they are forced into sanitation work.

Therefore, even the most progressive and scientific-minded individuals who are socialized in caste do not define existing manual scavenging in our society as their enemy.

However, due to the lack of mutual trust and fellowship in society, the caste system affects the elite classes also. The elite classes cannot help themselves in bringing sanitation revolution and eliminating communicable diseases, getting open spaces, clean air, etc.

The covid pandemic also made a realization to the elite classes it is impossible to completely insulate themselves from the larger society.

Gender inequality

B.R. Ambedkar argued that control over women was central to maintaining caste purity. Even today, women have limited control over decisions regarding their choices in marriage or childbirth.

Violence against women has taken various forms. Honor killings are equally associated with caste/clan as they are associated with gender.

India has one of the lowest female labor force participation rates in the world. The New York City Board of Health declared racism a ‘public health crisis, and India stands in a similar situation.

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James Webb telescope: Light on dark matter

News: In 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope was commissioned into space to probe the universe. It has replaced the Hubble Space Telescope.

About the James Webb Space Telescope

What are the previous findings on space science?

In 1543, the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus professed that the Earth is not at the centre of the universe. Earth is just another planet revolving around the Sun. Although, at present, the broad contours of the universe are fairly well established, but details are still missing:

(a) At the “beginning” of time, all the energy was concentrated in a primeval fireball of extremely high temperature and density.

(b) Thereafter, the universe started expanding, due to a massive explosion, which is termed the Big Bang about 14 billion years ago.

(3) In the last few decades, it has been established that most of the universe is a combination of a mysterious kind of matter called dark matter and an even more mysterious unknown substance called dark energy.

What is the importance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)?

It provides a unique opportunity to fill the gaps in knowledge with the help of understanding the electromagnetic radiation waves, emitted from cosmic objects.

Due to the expansion of the universe, electromagnetic radiation waves are stretched. In other words, visible light could be stretched into the longer infrared part of the spectrum. The JWST will study this Infrared radiation. Further, these radiations have the advantage of passing through dust clouds more easily than visible light.

The JWST will give an insight into how the first stars and galaxies formed from the primaeval soup of matter and radiation.

It will also allow us to compare the earliest galaxies (those that are furthest) to those that we observe today in our own cosmic neighbourhood.

Since it operates in the infrared, it can see through the dust clouds that obscure regions where star and planet formation is taking place.

The Webb produces a huge amount of spectroscopic data which can help reveal the chemical composition of the region producing the radiation. Studying the chemical composition of exo-planets would also determine whether life as we know it is possible in these extra-terrestrial worlds.

What are some important JWST observations made so far?

In July, the JWST released its first images of galaxies that might date back to almost 13 billion years ago. For Example, the cosmic cliffs of the Carina nebula, the Cartwheel galaxy, and Stephan’s quintet.

It has also provided an analysis of the atmosphere and indicated the presence of water in a giant gas planet orbiting a star about a thousand light years away.

Over its lifetime, the JWST would provide us with a powerful window to help us understand the cosmos better and comprehensively.

How to make in India–and protect economy from supply shocks

News: In the last few weeks, there has been a global decline in commodity prices. Such a trend of decline in India’s domestic inflation rates was also seen. In India, the Wholesale Price Index has fallen from a peak of 16.6% in May to 13.9% in July 2022.

Background

Globally, inflation had reached levels not seen in decades. Initially, it was due to a boom in demand during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as global supply chain disruption due to lockdowns. Later, it was due to the Ukraine war, and the consequent rise in prices of oil and food grains.

What are the challenges?

The global supply chain disruption remains an important challenge in the future ahead. For example, according to IHS Markit, the global semiconductor industry is facing acute supply shortages. The shortage in semiconductors is at six times high. This shortage can have multiplier effects on other sectors like automobile companies.

What are the causes of supply chain disruption during the Covid and the Ukraine War?

Backward, forward linkages: Now, the global production of goods works in ‘fragment due to falling transport costs, information technology improvements and falling barriers to global trade. This fragmentation is part of the global value chains (GVCs). For example, the developed west has done ‘off-shoring’ of production to countries such as China, Vietnam and India, having lower labour costs.

This changed the dynamics of how the trade worked. Therefore, a shutdown in one country will disrupt production in another country and supply in another country.

Case of India’s participation in the global value chain and vulnerability

Export Pattern: Since the 1990s, India’s trading pattern shows a pattern common to emerging markets. In its export basket, the share of finished consumer goods has risen by about five percentage points, while the share of intermediate goods and raw materials has fallen.

Import Pattern: India is importing more intermediate goods than before. This shows that the bulk of its processing happens somewhere along the middle of the value chain, rather than at the beginning, or towards the tail end where assembly happens.

This means India is affected by shocks to the global value chain for a product, and this can affect production in countries further up the value chain. Therefore, India is prone to global supply chain shocks.

What should be done?

Make India less vulnerable to ‘global supply shocks: India should carry out reforms to immune itself from the problems present in the underlying structure of the global economy.

The government must focus on the idea of ‘reshoring’ key inputs like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme aimed at developing a domestic manufacturing base in a range of key sectors.

Prioritize sectors: These should be those sectors that are the most affected by the non-availability of critical imports and would impact the rest of the economy significantly. For example, basic metals, fabricated metals, chemicals and non-metallic minerals

Therefore, the focus must be on the inputs or critical inputs used in these sectors. Further, diversify existing imports of inputs among a number of countries to reduce vulnerability to external shocks.

New regulations for the Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs): Reforming ratings

News: Last week, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) released a circular modifying the credit-rating system in ways that would aid in transparency.

The changes would be applicable to already listed debt securities, and also to those proposed to be listed.

What are these new regulations for the Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs)?

(1) Criteria for “sharp rating actions”: It would refer to a drop of three notches or more in two consecutive rating releases. The CRAs must standardise the methodology for “sharp rating action”. Further, these changes will be applicable from the first half of the Financial Year 2022-23

(2) CRAs will highlight non-cooperating issuers, which refers to non-submission of quarterly financial results within prescribed timelines, non-disclosure of current and past operational details about CAPEX plans, debt obligations and repayment details, among others, and any other issue felt appropriate by a CRA.

(3) CRAs should frame detailed policy regarding methodology to assess the non-availability of information from non-cooperative issuers. CRAs should also consider the steps to be taken under various scenarios of non-cooperation. CRAs should follow a uniform practice of tagging such ratings within 7 days of 3 consecutive months of non-submission of the no-default statement (NDS). The changes related to not cooperating will come into force by March 31, 2023

(4) CRAs have been empowered to put in place a framework for rating withdrawal of perpetual debt securities. If a CRAs withdraws any credit rating, a CRA should mention the reasons for withdrawal and will also have to assign a final credit rating to such security, in its press release, except where there are no outstanding obligations, or the company is being merged or wound up.

All the new measures or regulations of Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs) would aid in transparency and improve borrower compliance with CRAs.

Fallty towers: Lesson from the Supertech demolition: reduce the risk borne by homebuyers, improve Rera

News: This article discusses the issues associated with real estate in India and about Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.

The demolition of Supertech Twin Towers in Noida cheered many, and it was the news that was seen throughout the media.

What are the issues with real estate?

Indian households hold about 77% of total assets in real estate. It’s the largest single investment most families make.

This makes homebuyers, disproportionately, vulnerable to real estate sector risk.

The tripartite agreement between builder, bank, and buyer requires the buyer to pay a part of the project cost in advance. The bank covers the residual cost and the builder underwrites EMIs, till possession is handed over.

There are a number of cases in this tripartite agreement where builders default and banks chase the hapless buyer despite the agreement detailing the obligations of all sides.

In one such case, the Delhi high court this year ordered interim protection to buyers against threat of action by banks. But there are many such cases.

Despite e-governance initiatives, there is hardly any change on the ground.

So, any meaningful reform has to address the spread of risks among stakeholders.

What is the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016?

It was enacted in 2016.

The advantages of RERA are:

• It brings about the standardization of contracts.
• It reduces the information asymmetry between buyers and other stakeholders by making relevant information public.
• It also minimizes misuse of advance payments made by buyers.

What are the issues associated with RERA?

It can’t address older problems like that of the Supertech towers.

It cannot resolve the issue of corruption at the level of urban bodies.

It also suffers from the general weakness in state capacity as each state needs to establish a regulatory body.

However, RERA is the best available solution today. It will require state governments to invest in enhancing its capacity because a better system will benefit the buyers.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Revisiting the S. Subramaniam Balaji vs Tamil Nadu judgment

Source: The post is based on the article “Revisiting the S. Subramaniam Balaji vs Tamil Nadu judgment” published in The Hindu on 28th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has decided to reconsider the S. Subramaniam Balaji vs Tamil Nadu 2013 judgment which held that promises in the election manifesto do not constitute a “corrupt practice” under the poll law.

What is Subramaniam Balaji vs Tamil Nadu judgment?

Background: In the 2006 Tamil Nadu elections, the DMK party released its election manifesto announcing a scheme of free distribution of colour television sets (CTVs) to each and every household if the party was voted to power. The party won the elections, and it distributed TV sets across the State.

Similarly, in the 2011 elections, AIADMK also announced its election manifesto with free gifts to “equalise” the gifts offered by the DMK

Against this, Balaji, a resident of Tamil Nadu, challenged the schemes introduced by the parties in the Supreme Court.

What were the arguments put up by the petitioners?

The petitioner argued that the promises of free distribution of non-essential commodities in an election manifesto amount to electoral bribe under Section 123 of the RP Act. 

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has a duty to examine expenditures even before they are deployed. 

The distribution of goods to certain sections of people was violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.

What was the judgment of the Supreme Court?

The court held that promises by a political party cannot constitute a ‘corrupt practice’ on its part. 

This is because only an individual candidate, not his party, can commit a ‘corrupt practice’ under the RP Act by promising free gifts.

However, the court agreed that freebies create an uneven playing field. It had asked the Election Commission of India to consult political parties and issue guidelines on the election manifesto and make it a part of the Model Code of Conduct.

Why is the Supreme Court reconsidering this judgment?

The Supreme Court has said that freebies may create a situation wherein the State government cannot provide basic amenities due to a lack of funds and the State is pushed towards imminent bankruptcy.

Hence, a transparent debate before the three-judge Bench should be held on whether an enforceable judicial order can stop political parties from promising and distributing ‘irrational freebies’. 

Significance: This revisit by the Supreme Court on its earlier judgment is unique as the court is exploring whether judicial parameters can be set on a purely political act of promising freebies.

There will be at least one Constitution Bench in the Supreme Court throughout the year: CJI U.U. Lalit

Source: The post is based on the article “There will be at least one Constitution Bench in the Supreme Court throughout the year: CJI U.U. Lalit” published in The Hindu on 26th August 2022.

What is the News?

Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, 49th Chief Justice of India (CJI), assured there will be at least one Constitution Bench functioning throughout the year in the Supreme Court.

What is a Constitution Bench?

A Constitution Bench is a bench of the Supreme Court having five or more judges on it.

These benches are not a routine phenomenon. They are set up on an ad hoc basis as and when the need arises. 

Note: A vast majority of cases before the Supreme Court are heard and decided by a bench of two judges (called a Division Bench), and sometimes by three. 

What are the circumstances in which the Constitution Bench is constituted?

Firstly, Article 145(3): It says that the minimum number of Judges who are to sit for the purpose of deciding any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution or for the purpose of hearing any reference under Article 143 shall be five.

Secondly, the President of India has sought the Supreme Court’s opinion on a question of fact or law under Article 143 of the Constitution [again links to Article 145(3)]. 

Thirdly, two or more three-judge benches of the Supreme Court have delivered conflicting judgments on the same point of law, thus warranting a definitive pronouncement by a larger bench.

Note: As of August 1,2022, the Supreme Court’s records show that there are 342 five-judge bench cases, fifteen seven-judge bench cases and 135 nine-judge cases pending before the Court.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) – National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completes eight years of successful implementation

Source: The post is based on the article “Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) – National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completes eight years of successful implementation” published in PIB on 28th August 2022.

What is the News?

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana(PMJDY) has completed eight years of successful implementation.

What is Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana(PMJDY)?

Click Here to read

Jan Dhan Darshak App: It is a citizen-centric mobile application launched for locating banking touchpoints such as bank branches, ATMs, Bank Mitras, Post Offices, etc. in the country. 

– This app is also being used for identifying villages which are not served by banking touchpoints within 5 km. These identified villages are then allocated to various banks by concerned SLBCs for the opening of banking outlets. 

What are the key achievements of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana(PMJDY)?

PMJDY accounts: As of August 2022, the number of total PMJDY Accounts is 46.25 crore; 55.59% (25.71 crores) Jan-Dhan account holders are women and 66.79% (30.89 crores) Jan Dhan accounts are in rural and semi-urban areas.

Operative PMJDY accounts: As per current RBI guidelines, a PMJDY account is treated as inoperative if there are no customer-induced transactions in the account for over a period of two years. In August 2022, out of a total of 46.25 crore PMJDY accounts, 37.57 crores (81.2%) are operative.

Zero Balance accounts: Currently, only 8.2% of PMJDY accounts are zero balance accounts.

Deposit per PMJDY account: Deposit per account has gone up by over 71%. This is an indication of increased usage of accounts and inculcation of saving habits among account holders.

Here’s the data on India’s ‘missing baby girls’ and the likely consequences

Source: The post is based on the article “Here’s the data on India’s ‘missing baby girls’ and the likely consequences” published in Business Standard on 29th August 2022.

What is the News?

Pew Research Center has released a report titled ‘India’s sex ratio at birth begins to normalise’.

What are the key findings of the report?

Sex Ratio at birth: India’s sex ratio has normalised slightly. It has come down from 111 boys per 100 girls in 2011 to 108 boys per 100 girls in 2019-21.

– Note: The natural sex ratio at birth is about 105 boys per 100 girls. 

Missing Girls: The “son bias” is on a decline in India and the average annual number of “baby girls missing” in India fell from approx. 4.8 lakh in 2010 to 4.1 lakh in 2019.

– Note: Missing females refers to how many births would have occurred during the time if there were no female selective abortions.

What is the impact of female abortions on society?

Aborting females may have consequences that reverberate beyond the families making the choice. 

International research shows that societies with high rates of sex-selective abortions typically suffer within a couple of decades from a shortage of marriageable women and a surplus of men seeking brides.

This can trigger a variety of other social problems, such as increases in sex-related violence and crimes and the trafficking of women.

Note: The United Nations in 2016 projected there is a 7% excess of marriageable men in India; it projected the share of extra marriageable males could reach 16% by 2040, well above the 5% norm.

F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter jet: Competition heats up for naval fighter deal ahead of Vikrant’s commissioning

Source: The post is based on the article “F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter jet: Competition heats up for naval fighter deal ahead of Vikrant’s commissioning” published in Hindustan Times on 25th August 2022.

What is the News?

Ahead of India commissioning its first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, the US aviation major Boeing has proposed the Indian Navy to choose its F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter jet.

What is IAC Vikrant?

Click Here to read

What is the F/A-18 Super Hornet?

F/A-18 Super Hornet is a premier frontline naval fighter jet. It is the newest and most advanced tactical aircraft in the US Navy inventory. 

Purpose: It has been designed as a carrier-based fighter for high-loading, high-stress operations and requires minimal support equipment.

Why is the F/A-18 Super Hornet compatible with IAC Vikrant?

It has been designed and built for carrier operations and is fully compliant with INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant aircraft carrier. For instance:

– It will be able to operate on the deck, in the hangar and on the lifts of the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers.

– The Super Hornet’s Precision Landing Mode software is specially designed to reduce pilot workload while landing on the Indian Navy’s Vikramaditya carrier by maintaining the proper glide slope and proper approach speeds.

– It comes in single-seater (E-Variant) and two-seater variants (F-Variant), and both variants are carrier compatible to perform the full range of combat missions and can fully operate from the carrier deck. Furthermore, the twin-seat fighter can also be used as a trainer.

Reduce production of sugar and diversify agriculture towards energy and power sectors: Union Minister

Source: The post is based on the article “Reduce production of sugar and diversify agriculture towards energy and power sectors: Union Minister” published in PIB on 27th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Union Minister has said that India needs to reduce the production of sugar and diversify agriculture towards the energy and power sectors.

Note: Agriculture employs 65% to 70% of our population. But our agricultural growth rate is only 12%-13%. 

Overproduction of Sugar

Over-production of sugar is a problem for the economy. For instance, this year, India’s requirement was 280 lakh tonnes of sugar. However, the production was more than 360 lakh tonnes.

The drought in Brazil affected sugar production there and hence Indian sugar was in demand globally.  

But this situation will not remain the same next year and this overproduction will be detrimental to farmers as it would bring the price of the crops down thus causing losses to the farmers.

What is the solution then to reduce the overproduction of sugar?

In order to find a permanent solution to address the problem of excess sugar, the government is encouraging sugar mills to divert excess sugarcane to ethanol.

This would not only reduce India’s import dependency on crude oil, and promote ethanol as a fuel which is indigenous & non-polluting, but will also enhance the income of sugarcane farmers.

Exercise Vajra Prahar: India, US joint special forces exercise concludes in Himachal Pradesh

Source: The post is based on the article “Exercise Vajra Prahar: India, US joint special forces exercise concludes in Himachal Pradesh” published in PIB on 28th August 2022.

What is the News?

The 13th edition of India-USA Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2022 culminated at Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh.

What is Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR?

Exercise Vajra Prahar is a Special Forces joint military training exercise between India and US. 

Aim: To share the best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics as also to improve interoperability between the Special Forces of both nations.

The exercise takes place alternately in India and the US since 2010.

What are the other exercises between India and the US?

Yudh Abhyas: Military exercise.

Tiger Triumph: Tri-service military exercise.

Cope India: Bilateral Air Force exercise.

Union Minister says, ‘Waste to Wealth’ is emerging as a new avenue for StartUp in India

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister says, ‘Waste to Wealth’ is emerging as a new avenue for StartUp in India” published in PIB on 27th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Union Minister has said that “Waste to Wealth” is emerging as a new avenue for StartUp in India.

Waste Generation in India

Waste generation in urban areas of India will be 0.7 kg per person per day in 2025, approximately four to six times higher than in 1999. 

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India currently generates 62 million tons of waste (both recyclable and non–recyclable) every year, with an average annual growth rate of 4%. Solid waste, plastic waste and E-waste are the principal waste materials.

Initiatives to tackle Waste Generation in India

The Government of India has undertaken multiple large-scale national initiatives such as ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, ‘National Water Mission’ and ‘Waste to Wealth Mission” as a part of its commitment to effective waste & pollution management in India.

What are Union Minister’s views on Waste to Wealth?

Waste to wealth methodology serves the dual purpose of not only keeping the environment clean but also creating wealth out of elements which otherwise pollute the environment.

But there is a need to create awareness about several waste products which can generate income without much effort.

In this regard he referred to steps such as: Use of cooking oil from the kitchen could be sold off at the rate of around Rs.20 per litre to the industry which had the technology to convert it into alternative fuel. 

– Similarly, Fly Ash produced through the combustion of coal could be utilized for making bricks for construction etc. 

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Participates in Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar Campaign

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Participates in Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar Campaign” published in PIB on 27th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Union Environment Minister participated in the ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ campaign, which aims at promoting environmental sustainability.

What is Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar/Clean Coast, Safe Sea Campaign?

Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar/Clean Coast, Safe Sea Campaign is a 75-day citizen-led initiative aimed at improving coastal and ocean health via community action. 

The campaign began on July 5, 2022, and will culminate on 17th September 2022 – International Coastal Clean-up Day. 

Objective: To alter and save the environment through behaviour change.

Goals: The campaign’s three overarching goals are: 1) Consume Responsibly 2) Separate waste at home and 3) Dispose of waste responsibly.

Nodal Ministry: The campaign is spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other institutions. 

Features: The campaign is being taken at 75 beaches along the coastline with average of 75 volunteers for every kilometre of the coastline. National conferences and workshops on the conservation of the Coastal Ecosystem, marine environment, safe beaches, and waste management are also being conducted.