9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – December 15th, 2021

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Hospitals should rationalize their pandemic protocols
• NDPS Act: a drafting error, its implications, and an amendment
• “Bonded labour, child labour-Manual scavenging in India is far from being eradicated”
• “Losing the art of critical thinking and ” and “That CBSE question and what it says about our time”
• “Justice truly done-An enlightened SC ruling reminds us of how little attention mental disability gets in India”

GS Paper 3

• Boosting agrifood life sciences is key to India’s agricultural future
• We need a renewed conversation on economic inequality in India
• On Algorithmic trading/Algos: Regulate, don’t stifle
• The NMP is hardly the panacea for growth in India
• India’s drone companies are soaring in these 4 sectors
• SafetyNet.co.in: Gig work’s inevitable & indispensable. But social security for such workers is essential
• Needed: repeal of AFSPA, not regret
• “Mainstreaming climate resilience through MGNREGS: Learning from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai”

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• PSUs with high liabilities may face IBC-based closure
• Boost India capacity to secure its borders: Incoming US envoy
• Rajya Sabha passes Bills setting maximum 5-year tenure for CBI, ED chiefs
• OSCAR 1’s winning performance
• SC approves widening of three Char Dham highways
• India loses WTO dispute over sugar subsidies; set to file an appeal
• Progress Achieved in National Leprosy Eradication Programme
• Great Indian Bustard (GIB): Bustard order will hit green pledge, SC told
• 6th India Water Impact Summit Concludes
• Less than $1: How WHO thinks that can save 7 million lives
• RBI brings NBFCs under prompt corrective action framework
• Explained: Why India, Russia blocked move to take climate change to UNSC
• Land water resources are at a breaking point-Report

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Hospitals should rationalize their pandemic protocols

News: Hospitals often adopt restrictive ICU visitor policies with visiting time of merely 15 minutes to max 2 hours in rare cases. This has to change for the betterment of Patient and Hospitals.

Reasons behind the restrictive ICU visitor policy

1) Decrease the risk of infections 2) Disturbance in the patient’s rest 3) Interference in the clinical tasks. 4) Increase in the workload of hospital staff to manage guests.

Why there is a need to increase the visitation hours?

First, The ICU ambiance with constant lights, equipment noise, etc often results in delirium among ICU patients, which can raise their risk of death. With loved ones near to them and more caregiving by the family, led to a decrease in the anxiety and trust deficit with the medical team. Lancet study, reveals that in-person or virtual family visitation reduced the risk of delirium in patients by 27%.

Second, Studies show that ICU with expanded visitation hours has not seen an increase in hospital-acquired infection rates. Various campaigns like Better together and ICU Liberation campaign, launched in North America to urge hospitals to allow loved ones at the bedside round the clock.

What policies should the hospitals adopt?

During the pandemic time, most of the ICUs completely banned the visitor’s entry owing to an increase in the risk of infections. Seropositivity Survey also suggests that up to 2/3rd of the population has been exposed to the covid virus.

But, hospitals need to understand that family and loved ones are not really visitors, but valuable partners in patient care. So, there is a need to ease the restrictions in the ICU visitation timings.

NDPS Act: a drafting error, its implications, and an amendment

News: Recently, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed by Lok Sabha.

About the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill

The 2021 Bill amends the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and seeks to rectify a drafting “anomaly” created by a 2014 amendment. The bill amend Section 27A and change Section 2(viii)a mentioned in that section to Section 2(viii)b.

About the 2014 amendment

Section 27A of the NDPS Act, 1985, prescribes the punishment for financing illicit traffic and harbouring offenders. Before 2014, Section 2(viii)a contained a catalogue of offences for which the punishment is prescribed in Section 27A.

In 2014, an amendment was made to the NDPS Act to allow for better medical access to narcotic drugs.

-In Section 2(viii)a the amendment defined “essential drugs”. The amendment shifted the offences earlier under Section 2(viii)a to Section 2(viii)b.

-Under Section 9, it allowed the manufacture, possession, transport, import inter-State, export inter-State, sale, purchase, consumption and use of essential narcotic drugs.

What were the error and its outcome?

The 2014 amendment failed to amend Section 27A from changing Section 2(viii)a mentioned in that section to Section 2(viii)b. This made Section 27A inoperable since 2014.

In 2016, an accused had sought bail in West Tripura in Agartala, citing this omission in drafting. The district judge then referred the legal question to the High Court.

The government had argued that the drafting error cannot be grounds to seek bail and must be overlooked. The court agreed with the government. But the court said the reading could not be applied retrospectively, as this would violate Article 20(1).

What is the issue with the recent amendment bill?

Earlier, the government brought in an ordinance to rectify the drafting error. But the recent bill mentioned, “It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of May 2014”. Thus, the amendment makes the law retrospective. The government clarified that the retrospective application is permitted in “clarificatory amendments.”

But the bill is criticised for introducing a substantive sentencing provision in criminal law that has been given retrospective effect by a legislative declaration, 2. Making penal provisions retrospective will lead to more constitutional questions.

What are the other issues missed out by the bill?

Failed to decriminalize marijuana: There are many benefits associated with Marijuana. For instance, 1. Multiple sclerosis patients could benefit from therapeutic drugs derived from marijuana. 2. It may also help control pain, seizures and other afflictions, 3. Its commercial cultivation could offer more than medicinal value.

Further, the Global Commission on Drugs, a panel of leaders and thinkers, called for countries to regulate rather than ban cannabis (and narcotics). So, India should decriminalise Marijuana.

“Bonded labour, child labour-Manual scavenging in India is far from being eradicated”

News: Government has recently said in Lok Sabha that it has achieved the target of abolishing manual scavenging. 

What are the issues with these claims? 

Bonded labour: There are large number of manual scavengers who are even employed as bonded labourers in the states like Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tripura and Bihar, UP. 

Child Labour: Manual scavenging is one of the largest employers of children in India just like the agricultural sector. However, the point of concern here is that 97 percent of all these children belong to scheduled castes, engaged in direct scavenging; cleaning railway track, septic tank cleaning. 

This is very dangerous as sanitation workers below 16 are also twice more susceptible to be forced to work from time to time as manual scavengers. 

Covid pandemic impact: Since the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic struck construction of dry latrines has been very rampant specially in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. 

These new constructions, being out of surveillance radar, become the hotbed for illegal practices like Child labour and forced labour.  

What corrective steps need to be taken 

1) Categorization-Government needs to distinguish between “manual scavenging (which is a caste-based practice of people cleaning human excreta by hand) and the practice of cleaning sewers and septic tanks. So that proper rehabilitation measures can be provided to them. 

2) Proper Implementation of existing laws and schemes –Even after Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation act PEMSR Act, 2013 there are more than 1.4 million dry latrines in India. 

More than 1.5 million manual scavengers are still not identified under it. In case any casualty, their families will not even get proper compensation. 

To solve this government may use identified manual scavenger to recognise other unidentified manual scavengers living in their settlement areas. 

Over 40 per cent of the manual scavengers have not received any form of one-time cash assistance (OTCA) under Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS). 

3) New initiatives –Government needs to see how the problem of manual scavengers working forcefully as bonded labour can be tackled through new labour code. 

Read- NHRC recommends measures against manual scavenging 

“Losing the art of critical thinking and ” and “That CBSE question and what it says about our time”

News: Recently CBSE has to face some opposition regarding some of the question that appeared in its Board question Paper.  

What were these instances 

• CBSE had to issue an apology for one of its sociology exam question. The question read “The unprecedented scale and spread of anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002 took place under which government?”. 

• Another instance where an English comprehension passage of class 10th exam has come under criticism. It faced such backlash because it conveyed a message in support of Patriarchal mindset. 

What can be learned from these incidents? 

1) Educationists and curriculum designers need to acknowledge the importance of emancipatory education. 

Emancipatory education is an approach that goes beyond the transfer of knowledge, questioning the dominant structure of socioeconomic and political situation. 

This will enable students to think critically and reflect on the issue of National and International significance. 

2) Making education value neutral doesn’t mean accepting the status quo- Education is about asking difficult questions and striving for a just social order. 

For example- A student shouldn’t just memorise preamble but also be able to reflect upon the meaning of its ideals in real time. 

3)If students are allowed to reflect freely upon ideas from different thinkers, cultures, it will enable them to build their own thought processes.  

It shouldn’t prepare children with a thinking that is appropriate for a post truth society. 

Post truth society (Relating to an environment in which facts are viewed as irrelevant, or less important than personal beliefs and opinions, and emotional appeals are used to influence public opinion). 

“Justice truly done-An enlightened SC ruling reminds us of how little attention mental disability gets in India”

News 

Supreme court has recently allowed an advocate who has bipolar disorder to take charge as a judicial officer. This decision came after a long legal battle and scrutiny by medical and judicial experts. 

This kind of hearing is not possible in every case. Thus people with mental disabilities may suffer from discrimination and loss of opportunity. 

What is the status of awareness and help available to people with mental health issues?  

The lack of psychological help in the country makes situation worse, (Eleven of 12 surveyed states couldn’t meet the requirement of one psychiatrist per 1 lakh population; availability of clinical psychologists was even lower).  

These figures are worrisome considering that 2020 saw a 10% rise in suicides from 2019. 

GS Paper 3

Boosting agrifood life sciences is key to India’s agricultural future

News: Innovations in Agrifood life sciences in India remain deeply neglected by venture capital investors and even entrepreneurs.

For instance, globally, $6 billion was invested in agrifood life sciences startups in 2020, while India raised slightly over $10 million.

India is becoming a global outlier, with the US, Israel, Europe, and China all building unicorn startups in this sector.

Agrifood life sciences is the reverse salient in Indian agritech and will ultimately hold back the transformation of Indian agriculture and food systems until it is addressed.

What is Agrifood life sciences?

It encompasses four broad categories:

i). Agricultural (Ag) biotechnology: it includes, on-farm inputs for crop and animal agriculture, including genetics, microbiome, breeding, and animal health.

ii). Novel farming systems: It includes indoor farms, RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) aquaculture, insect protein, and algae production

iii). Bioenergy and biomaterials: It includes agri waste processing, biomaterials production, and feedstock technology

iv). Innovative foods: It includes various forms of alternative proteins (plant-based, fermented, and cell-based), functional foods, and other novel ingredients.

How investing in Agrifood life sciences will benefit India?

– Critical innovations in synthetic biology, chemistry, and biotechnology are very vital for the future of Indian agriculture and food systems.

– Innovations in Agrifood life sciences can play a critical role in tackling both climate mitigation and climate adaptation/resilience (securing a future for India’s farmers).

– Create opportunities to completely reinvent agricultural value chains. For instance, India’s millets and pulses can be transformed into innovative plant-based proteins to meet global demand.

– It will help to replace unsustainable animal and aquaculture feed ingredients like fishmeal with insect protein, creating a circular economy at scale.

– Biological substitutes can be developed for traditional chemical fertilisers and pesticides, improving human and planetary health simultaneously.

What is the root cause for the stagnation in India’s Agrifood life sciences ecosystem?

Regulatory challenges: for example, ban on new transgenic traits in seeds.

Lack of talent: Because life science talent in India continues to migrate abroad.

Capital availability: venture capitals are reluctant to invest in Agrifood life sciences.

Inadequate infrastructure – for example, lack of wet laboratories and other critical infrastructure for synthetic biology.

Opposition to exclusive technology licensing discourages Universities and institutes (including CSIR and ICAR) to commercialise their intellectual property.

What is the way forward?

– Life sciences research and development infrastructure needs to be made available to entrepreneurs.

– Life sciences talent in the NRI community should be actively recruited to return to India and build the ecosystem here, as founders and senior leaders.

–Venture investors of every stage need to step forward with funding to turn these dreams into our new reality.

We need a renewed conversation on economic inequality in India

News: Gaps of income and wealth have worsened after liberalization, causing various ramifications, including political ones.

A response is clearly necessary.

What are the stats to substantiate that the wealth gap in India is increasing?

World Inequality Report Data – Read here

What are the implications?

Unequal growth: The top 10% of our population has benefited more from economic reforms than the population as a whole.

Widening gap between the rich and the poor: Wealth gaps are self-reinforcing because rich people use their greater resources to expand their powers. They also influence the political system to their advantage and give greater privileges to their children.

Lack of equal opportunities: This can be seen in the fact that our labour force participation rate has been falling over the years. This means that many individuals who can’t find a job when they enter the workforce or even otherwise, simply stop looking for one. Further, this has impacted women much more than men. Data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy shows that the female labour participation rate (FLPR) stood at 9.3% as of November 2021

How the income and wealth inequality in India is having political ramifications?

Demands are being made by land-owning castes across the country to be classified under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category so that they are eligible for reservations in government jobs and educational institutes.

In 2019, the central government introduced a 10% reservation in government jobs for economically weaker sections.

In 2019, the Centre also decided to provide income support to land-owning farming households by paying them ₹6,000 a year, under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.

What is the way forward?

Long-term: The best way to reduce inequality is an environment where more enterprises can thrive and create jobs. This is ultimately likely to reduce inequality, at least at the household level, with more women working.

Short term: Direct support of the population through income support schemes or subsidies. This means both direct and indirect taxes are likely to remain high or possibly even go up.

On Algorithmic trading/Algos: Regulate, don’t stifle

News: In a consultation paper last week, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) proposed regulating retail or third-party algorithmic trading (algos).

What is algorithmic trading/Algos?

Algos are programmes that automatically monitor price-volume action and make trades without human intervention, buying and selling when pre-set instructions are triggered by price moves.

By the National Stock Exchange’s estimate, about 14% of the trading volume (and around 45 per cent of the trading value) is algo-driven.

What are the risks involved in algorithmic trading/ Algos?

Algos can place the user at greater risk. This is partly due to the lack of human intervention, and partly because they can be programmed to make simultaneous trades of different markets. It could spiral into a huge market-wide risk owing to lack of circuit filters.

The famous “Black Monday” crash of Wall Street on October 19, 1987, occurred because algos sold heavily without human intervention.

Why SEBI wants to regulate retail or third-party algorithmic trading?

Firstly, the regulator believes these modes of trading are risky and there is little understanding of how they function.

Secondly, it can be misused for systematic market manipulation as well as to lure the retail investors by guaranteeing them higher returns

Thirdly, the potential loss from a failed algo strategy may be huge.

What are the proposed regulatory changes?

– SEBI has proposed to treat all orders based on the Application Programming Interface (API) as algo-driven. Further, such orders should be tagged with an ID unique to the brokerage.

– Brokers should perform a sequence of stringent checks on any API-based trades to ascertain if these are algos.

– It has also stated 3rd-party algo providers could be treated as investment advisors and that two-factor authentication (which implies human intervention) be put in place.

What are the issues in the proposed regulatory changes?

– It would impact retail traders and brokerages in terms of the cost of compliance.

– It would retard the use of API-based technology, which smoothens trading processes for all investors.

– SEBI already has many robust checks in place to ensure adequate margins are collected. It has circuit filters to halt trading if there is an extreme price move.

What is the way forward?

Major retail brokerages estimate around one in 2,000 clients uses algos. This can be tackled by adequate margining.

Imposing high costs of compliance under the assumption that every API user is an algo trader would punish every investor.

The NMP is hardly the panacea for growth in India

News: Govt. unveiled the National Monetisation Programme (NMP) in August 2021. Under NMP, ₹6 trillion is expected to be raised by leasing core assets of the Central government over the course of four years (FY2022 to FY2025).

But, a more critical area towards which policymakers must pay attention is the investigation of the key reasons and processes behind the transformation of profit-making public sector assets into inefficient and sick businesses.

Otherwise, India may find itself in a vicious cycle of creating new assets and then monetising the same when they become liabilities for the Government at a later stage.

How many CPSUs are there?

Going by the annual report (2020-2021) of the Department of Public Enterprises:

– There are 256 operationally-run central public sector undertakings (CPSUs), employing about one million people.

– Out of these, 96 have been conferred the Ratna status.

What are the reasons behind decline of PSUs?

The primary reasons for the failure of public sector enterprises are:

– Cost overruns: In some cases, project completion time is exceeded, leading to elevated project cost or the project itself becoming unviable by the time of completion.

– Overcapitalisation: Optimum input-output ratio is seldom observed in a majority of government infrastructural projects, leading to their overcapitalisation.

– A reluctance to implement labour reforms

– A lack of inter-ministerial/departmental coordination

– poor decision-making, ineffective governance and excessive government control

What steps has the Govt taken to strengthen the public sector businesses?

Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity was launched recently. It aims to achieve seamless planning and coordinated execution of infrastructure projects in a timely manner.

The Department of Public Enterprises has initiated revamping of the performance monitoring system of CPSEs to make them more transparent, objective and forward-looking, based on sectoral indices/benchmarks.

The Economic Survey highlights the Govt’s initiatives as part of the Atmanirbhar Abhiyaan in order to boost domestic production in the steel sector and protecting industry from unfair trade through measures like imposition of anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty on the products.

What is the way forward?

As per the Economic Survey 2020-21, Govt needs to revamp the corporate governance structure of public sector businesses.

This will enhance their operational autonomy with strong governance practices, including listing on the stock exchange for greater transparency and accountability.

India’s drone companies are soaring in these 4 sectors

News: India’s latest drone rules have given a new life to operations in mining, energy, infrastructure and land records. Door-to-door drone delivery as a daily convenience may still be a bit in the future.

While drone delivery pilots have become bigger, commercial applications at a wider scale is yet to happen.

What are some recent events indicating a renewed activity in drone sector in India?

Medicine from the Sky: Telangana Govt, in partnership with NITI Aayog, World Economic Forum and Apollo Hospitals, organised a mega pilot ‘Medicine from the Sky’. Under this, several drone companies conducted more than 350 flights covering 850 Km over 45 days.

Swiggy, along with ANRA Technologies, conducted 100 hours of trials of food package delivery via drones in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in June 2021.

Svamitva scheme: In April 2021, the Centre launched a scheme called Svamitva to map land parcels in rural areas using drones. So far drone surveys have been completed in more than 85,000 villages.

What are the reasons behind an increased activity in drone tech in India?

New Drone Rules: A large part of this optimism is driven by new Drone Rules that were notified on 25^th Aug 2021. They made things simpler.

– Now one can do test flights without any approval in green zones below 400 ft.

– Perimeter of the yellow zone has been reduced from 45 Km to 12 Km around airports & clear demarcation for red zones has made a large part of the country a green zone.

Other policy changes:

– On 3^rd Nov, Mineral Conservation and Development (Amendment) Rules, 2021, were notified by the ministry. They mandate drone survey images for leases having an annual excavation plan of 1 million tonne or more or leased area of 50 hectares or more.

– In June, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) made mandatory use of drones for monthly video recording of National Highway projects during all stages of development, construction, operation and maintenance.

What are the areas in which drone tech has developed over time?

The use of visual line of sight (VLOS) drone operations, where the remote pilot maintains continuous, unaided visual contact with the aircraft, has seen growth.

VLOS operations allow surveillance and mapping and surveying that have applications in mining, construction, energy, urban development and land records. For these operations, drones, derive their value proposition from high-accuracy data collection.

Companies are now also offering drone-as-a-service.

Agriculture sector: Drone companies are also working with farmer producer organisations to help them consolidate their operations.

How can drone tech help with rural healthcare?

Rural healthcare: Beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) solutions, which are flights beyond the visual range, can help address various rural healthcare because lower air and population densities in the countryside minimises operational risks.

For instance, a paradox that the health industry faces in remote areas is access versus wastage – Without stock supplies, lives are lost and with stocking, a lot of wastage happens. Faster and cheaper two-way last-mile connectivity between rural primary health centres and district supply hub and diagnostic centres can be the solution here.

What is the way forward?

– To help growth of the drone delivery industry, pricing has to be competitive with that of the general procurement system of the government.

– Also, delivering only emergency supplies may not allow companies to reach commercial viability. They may have to cross-subsidize that with routine healthcare delivery.

– Integration with the larger healthcare system requires training the local health personnel to safely load and unload payloads.

– Base infrastructure such as drone ports and corridors is needed in cities.

SafetyNet.co.in: Gig work’s inevitable & indispensable. But social security for such workers is essential

News: The Supreme Court has agreed to take up a PIL seeking social security benefits for gig and platform workers. The case is likely to have a far-reaching effect on India’s labour market

It will also be closely followed globally as Indian gig workers face issues similar to those faced by their counterparts in rich countries.

What is the legal status of a gig worker in India?

The Code on Social Security, 2020, for the first time gave a legal identity to the term gig worker.

It described gig work as a work arrangement outside the traditional employer-employee relationship. It said gig workers were entitled to a social security fund.

What are the problems faced by the gig workers?

An ILO report in 2021, which surveyed around 12,000 gig workers globally, irregularity of work and lack of social protection were two main issues faced by gig workers. For instance: Many countries classified gig work as “essential” during the first wave of Covid-induced lockdowns. Yet, they were often cut out of benefits extended to other frontline workers.

– On the positive side, gig work expanded opportunities for people otherwise excluded in traditional work areas.

What are the global developments around which the current PIL is based upon?

The current PIL has a global context, reflected in three developments in economies with a higher standard of protection:

– In 2020, California in a ballot allowed platforms to classify gig workers as independent contractors, which meant that they were kept out of obligatory benefits.

– The UK’s Supreme Court ruled that Uber must treat its drivers as workers and not self-employed.

– And recently, the EU drafted a bill that presumes at least some of the bloc’s gig workers are employees and not contractors. It can potentially cover up to 10% of the 28 million workers.

What is the way forward?

Govt needs to frame rules in a way that finds the balance between the flexibility of the gig economy and getting platforms to make a contribution to the social security fund.

Needed: repeal of AFSPA, not regret

News: The death of innocent civilians by security officers in Nagaland caused outrage of repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Incidents where security personals get punished under the AFSPA

There is one incident where security personal were involved in the killing of innocent 5 young men just on the suspicion that they were involved in the killing of the general manager of the Assam Frontier Tea Limited.

Following this, the Gauhati High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry, which indicted the Army personnel of murder of the five youths. Then, the army had to court-martial its 7 security personals and sentence them to life imprisonment.

Why the demand for repeal is justified?

Kaka Iralu in his book Nagaland and India: The Blood and the Tears, documents the extra-judicial killings and the suffering of the common people under the Draconian provisions of the AFSPA. Since the first invoking of AFSPA in the Naga Hills district of Assam, there have been several instances where innocents get killed like:

1995: 9 innocent civilians were killed by Central Reserve Police Force personnel in front of the RIMS hospital in Imphal.

2000: 10 civilians were gunned down by the 8th Assam Rifles at Malom Leikai following a blast at Imphal’s Tulihal Airport. This incident prompted Irom Sharmila to begin her hunger strike.

2004: Group of women launched a nude protest in front of the Assam Rifles Headquarters after Thangjam Manorama was allegedly tortured and killed by security personnel. This incident forced the then PM Manmohan Singh to think about the AFSPA provision and change it into a “more humane law”.

What are the committees and Supreme Court judgments? 

SC laid down guidelines for the use of AFSPA. It held that “there is no concept of absolute immunity from trial by a criminal court.”

What should be the way forward?

“Mainstreaming climate resilience through MGNREGS: Learning from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai”

News 

Tiruvannamalai a district in Tamil Nadu has set a record for creating more than thousands of farm ponds in 30 days by leveraging the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). This will also help the recently launched state climate mission in Tamil Nadu. 

What is the initiative  

This initiative focused on water conservation and building green infrastructure through interventions like creating mini-forests, pastureland development, rejuvenating the relevance of common property resources, etc. 

This example demonstrates the value of using existing mechanisms, an inclusive approach to facilitate climate resilience. 

How this will help in climate change mitigation and adaptation 

1) It will ensure adequate supply of water for agricultural and domestic purposes throughout the year. This will recharge local wells and other water bodies and contribute to water sustainability during non-monsoon periods. 

2) It will create assets that would make the local communities more resilient to imminent climate disasters. 

3)Enhanced agricultural production (increase in crop area, crop diversity and crop yield) and improved socio-economic conditions. 

How MGNREGA can be used for tackling climate change? 

Bulk of work undertaken in MGNREGA relates to water conservation and harvesting, irrigation, afforestation and rural connectivity. This can be used to build climate resilience Infrastructure. 

How this initiative can be implemented elsewhere? 

1) Convergence of both top-down and bottom-up processes-key stakeholders from various government departments, professional technical and experts should be involved. 

Example – Technology like Geographic information system was used in Tiruvannamalai and technical staff at the village panchayat level was trained to analyze spatial and non-spatial data. 

2) Converting the complex scientific information into data that could be understood and acted upon by village departments. 

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

PSUs with high liabilities may face IBC-based closure

Source: This post is based on the article “PSUs with high liabilities may face IBC-based closure” published in TOI on 15^th Dec 2021.

What is the news?

The government has unveiled a new public sector companies’ policy for non-strategic sectors so that the department of public enterprises (DPE) can drive the privatisation or closure of state-run firms.

In cases where the liabilities are “exorbitantly high”, the government has indicated its willingness to go for the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) route as well.

What are the key points of the policy?

The policy clearly states that in cases where a director or the head of a PSU fails to cooperate, the government will have the right to replace him or her with a joint secretary rank from the department concerned.

The plan will be beneficial to several companies which the government had proposed to sell but has not been able to find buyers for the last several years.

DPE has been entrusted with preparing the list of companies that would be taken up for closure and disinvestment in consultation with the administrative ministry, Niti Aayog, Dipam and the expenditure department.

DPE will also drive the closure process once CCEA clears it, which will include the extent of receivables and the budgetary support required to clear statutory and other dues, including those to employees.

The latest move is to be implemented for PSUs in sectors other than atomic energy, space, defence, transport, telecommunications, energy & minerals and financial services.

About Department of Public Enterprise (DPE)

The Department of Public Enterprises is the nodal department for all the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

It formulates policies pertaining to CPSEs, and collects and maintains information in the form of a Public Enterprises Survey on several areas in respect of CPSEs.

Department of Public Enterprises is headed by Secretary to the Government of India

– The Estimates Committee of 3rd Lok Sabha (1962-67) stressed the need for setting up a centralized coordinating unit, which could also make continuous appraisal of the performance of public enterprises. This led to the setting up of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in 1965.

– In May 1990, it was made a full-fledged Department, known as the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). Presently, it is part of the Ministry of Finance.

Boost India capacity to secure its borders: Incoming US envoy

Source: This post is based on the article “Boost India capacity to secure its borders: Incoming US envoy” published in Indian Express on 15^th Dec,2021.

What is the news?

Eric Garcetti, US President nominee for next envoy to India, has said that he intends to increase US efforts to strengthen India’s capacity to secure its borders.

What are the key statements given by the upcoming US Envoy to India?

On India’s geographical Position: India is situated in a tough neighbourhood. Hence, US will make all efforts to strengthen India’s capacity to secure its borders, defend its sovereignty and deter aggression.

The efforts will be made through information sharing, counterterrorism coordination, joint freedom of navigation patrols and military exercises and sales of our best defence technologies.

On Climate Change: The US will work closely with India to support a similarly bold approach to promoting green energy through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and through the Agenda 2030 Climate and Clean Energy Partnership.

On imposing CAATSA or waiving sanctions on India for the S-400 missile system deal with Russia: He said that he would advocate for the continued diversification (moving away from Russia) of India’s weapons programme and bring up the threats to US security systems if such diversification did not occur.

Rajya Sabha passes Bills setting maximum 5-year tenure for CBI, ED chiefs

Source: This post is based on the article “Rajya Sabha passes Bills setting maximum 5-year tenure for CBI, ED chiefs” published in Indian Express on 15^th Dec 2021.

What is the news?

Parliament has passed the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

The Bill extends the tenure of the chiefs of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate to a maximum of five years from the earlier minimum period of two years.

What are the arguments in support of the Bill?

Firstly, rather than extending, the amendments were actually fixing the upper limit of the tenure of the chiefs.

Secondly, India has among the shortest tenures globally for an investigative agency head. Hence, that’s why the bill was needed.

What are the concerns associated with the ordinances?

– Read here: Extension of terms of CBI, ED chiefs by ordinance goes against SC verdicts

OSCAR 1’s winning performance

Source: This post is based on the article “OSCAR 1’s winning performance” published in The Hindu on 12^th Dec,2021.

What is the news?

12^th Dec 2021 marked the launch date of the first amateur radio satellite called OSCAR 1.

Background

Sputnik 1 was launched successfully by the Soviet Union in 1957. This marked the beginning of the space age. 

Not willing to be left lagging behind, the U.S. launched their own satellite, Explorer 1 in 1958.

Barely four years after that, OSCAR-1(Orbiting Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio) satellite was launched in December, 1961.

About OSCAR-1 Satellite

OSCAR 1 is the first amateur radio satellite launched by Project OSCAR. It was launched into low Earth orbit (LEO).

This satellite was the world’s first non-governmental satellite.

It was also the first satellite constructed by a collection of private individuals.

The satellite lasted for around 22 days, and transmitted the letters “HI” in Morse code. These letters were chosen in particular over other possibilities because the letters “HI” was and still remains – an internationally recognised friendly greeting between radio amateurs. 

Significance: The success of OSCAR 1 not only showed that radio amateurs and private individuals could design, construct, and track reliable operational satellites but also that they could coordinate with government launch agencies to get the work done. 

SC approves widening of three Char Dham highways

Source: This post is based on the following articles

– “SC approves widening of three Char Dham highways” published in The Hindu on 15^th Dec 2021.

– “Char Dham Roads: SC accepts border security concerns, allows widening of 3 hill stretches” published in Indian Express on 15^th Dec 2021.

– “SC cites national security, allows Char Dham project” published in TOI ^on 15^th Dec 2021.

What is the news?

The Supreme Court has allowed the Centre to widen the three Himalayan Highways which form part of the Char dham Pariyojna Project.

What has the Supreme Court done?

The Supreme Court has modified its earlier 2020 order which had directed the centre to not widen the three Himalayan Highways (Rishikesh to Mana, Rishikesh to Gangotri and Tanakpur to Pithoragarh) based on environmental concerns.

Now, the Court has allowed the Centre to broaden the three highways based on strategic and security needs, but ordered strict implementation of environment protection measures. 

Moreover, the court also appointed an oversight committee under Former Supreme Court Judge AK Sikhri to ensure environmental measures are taken care of while implementing the Project.

In doing this, the court has sought what is called a “delicate balance” between environmental considerations and security needs.

What were the strategic reasons for allowing the widening of Highways?

The Government of India has sought the widening of the three highways as widening them will enable speedy deployment of men, machinery and armament by the armed forces on the India-China Borders.

India loses WTO dispute over sugar subsidies; set to file an appeal

Source: This post is based on the following articles 

“India loses WTO dispute over sugar subsidies; set to file an appeal” published in Business Standard on 15^th Dec 2021.

“No impact of WTO Panel’s findings on Sugar on any of India’s existing and ongoing policy measures in the sugar sector” published in PIB on 14^th Dec 2021.

“India to challenge ‘erroneous’ WTO ruling on sugar subsidy” published in Livemint on 14^th Dec 2021.

What is the news?

India has lost the dispute over subsidies of sugar exports at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The dispute settlement panel has ruled against India on a complaint filed by Brazil, Australia, and Guatemala.

What is the issue?

In 2019, Brazil, Australia and Guatemala had filed parallel complaints at the WTO alleging that India has exceeded its WTO commitments on domestic support and export subsidies to sugar.

The countries have also argued that India has exceeded its de minimis obligations on numerous occasions over the past number of years. One program alone, the Fair & Remunerative Price (FRP) provides up to 93% support. 

Moreover, India also provides prohibited export subsidies by incentivizing sugar exports through financial support to the sector.

What did the WTO Dispute Panel rule?

The WTO Dispute Panel ruled in favour of Brazil, Australia and Guatemala. It has asked India to withdraw its prohibited subsidies within 120 days from the adoption of its report.

How has India responded?

India has said that the support was largely given to small and marginal farmers and was in accordance with its commitments at the WTO.

Will this ruling impact India?

There would be no immediate impact of WTO Panel’s findings on Sugar on any of India’s existing and ongoing policy measures in the sugar sector.

This is because India is set to file an appeal against the WTO Dispute panel decision at the WTO Appellate Body, and lack of a functional appellate body at the WTO means a final decision on the matter is unlikely anytime soon.

Progress Achieved in National Leprosy Eradication Programme

Source: This post is based on the article “Progress Achieved in National Leprosy Eradication Programme” published in the PIB on 14th December 2021.

What is the news?

Recently, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare tabled the progress report of Leprosy in the Rajya Sabha. According to that, India has achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem defined as less than 1 case per 10,000 populations, at the National level.

What is Leprosy?

Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease is a chronic neuromuscular disorder. It is caused by several strains of Mycobacterium leprae. It has a long incubation period, which makes detection difficult. Leprosy can be cured with Multi-Drug Therapy(MDT).

What is National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)?

It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM). It aims at eliminating leprosy in each of the districts by 2030. Strategies for Leprosy elimination include early case detection; complete treatment of detected cases, and containing the onset of disease in close contacts of the index cases (persons diagnosed with leprosy).

Major initiatives under Leprosy Eradication

– Active Case Detection and Regular Surveillance (ACDRS): It is conducted in both rural and urban areas in order to ensure detection of leprosy cases on a regular basis and at an early stage in order to prevent Grade II disabilities.

– Convergence of leprosy screening under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) for screening of children (0-18 years) and under Ayushman Bharat for screening of people above 30 years of age.

– Focused Leprosy Campaign (FLC) in low endemic districts for case detection. Also, special plans for Hard-to-Reach areas for early case detection and treatment on time.

– NIKUSTH, real-time leprosy reporting software implemented across India. Also, Joint Monitoring and Investigation Group (JMIG) has been formed.

– Provision of certification and award for encouraging the district health functionaries for achieving the leprosy elimination.

– Various services are provided under the Disability Prevention and Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR) programme, i.e., reaction management, provision of Microcellular Rubber (MCR) footwear, Aids & Appliances, self-care kits, etc.

– Reconstructive Surgeries (RCS) are conducted at District Hospitals/Medical Colleges/ Central Leprosy Institutes, and welfare allowance @ Rs 8000 is paid to each patient undergoing RCS.

Great Indian Bustard (GIB): Bustard order will hit green pledge, SC told

Source: This post is based on the article “Bustard order will hit green pledge, SC told” published in the Times of India on 15th December 2021.

What is the news?

Earlier, the Supreme Court asked the Center to put underground power transmission cables in vast areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat for the protection of endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). But recently Centre has sought modification of the Supreme Court’s order.

Why does the Centre seek modifications?

The centre cited a recent report of a technical group comprising experts from the transmission and power sector and members from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and said the following challenges in implementing the SC order.

Cost intensive and Technically not possible: Undergrounding medium/ low voltage lines over a large area will lead to a high cost. The total cost of underground cables will take up to Rs 12 crore a km, but the aim could be achieved by installing firefly bird diverters.

For instance, bird diverters in the Gwalior-Jaipur line by Power Grid Corporation protect Indian Vulture and Egyptian Vulture. Similarly, bird diverters in the Bhuj-Banaskantha line protect Flamingos and Cranes.

Challenges to India’s international commitment: India has set a target to achieve installed renewable energy capacity (excluding large hydro) of 175 GW by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030. The area sought to be debarred by SC order in Rajasthan and Gujarat is 80,688 sq km.

The area being debarred is bigger than many states of India, and also contains a very large proportion of the total solar and wind energy potential of the country and, in particular, has very high solar irradiance. So, debarring the whole area will impact India’s international commitments.

Whereas the GIBs dwell in only 1% of this area, and the present habitat of GIBs is protected by enclosures that occupy only 1% of the above 80,688 sq km.

Adverse direct impact on environment: So far, only a minuscule 3% of the estimated potential of around 263 GW renewable energy of this area has been tapped. If the remaining potential stays untapped, then India will need an additional 93,000 MW of coal-fired capacity to replace the unutilised renewable energy.

So implementing the SC order will have adverse implications for the power sector in India and energy transition away from fossil fuels.

Other challenges: Implementing the SC order would lead to a huge delay in commissioning of already awarded and under-construction renewable energy projects in these states, which otherwise would get commissioned in the next couple of years.

6th India Water Impact Summit Concludes

Source: This post is based on the article “6th India Water Impact Summit Concludes” published in PIB on 14th Dec 2021.

What is the News?

The 6th Edition of the India Water Impact Summit has concluded.

What is the India Water Impact Summit?

Organized by: National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG) along with the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies(c-Ganga).

Aim: To enlighten the participants on the complexities and peculiarities as well as the scales of managing the rivers across the basin.  

Theme: “River Resources Allocation: Planning and Management at the Regional Level”

What are the key highlights of the summit?

Launched a Leather Trade Information Portal: It is a unique digital portal developed by Namami Gange and Solidaridad. This portal is a solution-oriented tool that will help the tanneries to self-assess their environmental performance.

Note: Tanning is the process of treating skins and hides of animals to produce leather. A tannery is a place where the skins are processed.

An MoU was signed between C-Ganga and the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) for the development of a sludge management framework.  

Other key Facts Mentioned in the Article

What is the Ganga River Basin Management Plan(GRMP)?

This plan for Ganga is prepared by the consortium of seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) (Kanpur, Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Kharagpur, Guwahati and Roorkee). 

Objective: To take comprehensive measures for restoration of the wholesomeness of the Ganga ecosystem and improvement of its ecological health, with due regard to the issue of competing water uses in the river basin. 

The wholesomeness of the river can be grasped in terms of four defining concepts: “Aviral Dhara” (Continuous Flow”), “Nirmal Dhara”(“Unpolluted Flow”), Geologic Entity, and Ecological Entity.

Less than $1: How WHO thinks that can save 7 million lives

Source: This post is based on the article “Less than $1: How WHO thinks that can save 7 million lives” published in Down To Earth on 14th Dec 2021.

What is the News?

The World Health Organization(WHO) has released a report titled “Saving lives, spending less: the case for investing in non-communicable diseases”.

What are the key findings of the report?

Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and stroke kill 41 million people annually and damage the health of millions more. 

85% of all premature deaths caused by NCDs occur in low- and middle-income countries.

These conditions often strike when people are in their most productive years, with more than 15 million people dying prematurely between the ages of 30 and 69 each year.

The major risk factors that contribute to these diseases are tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity.

In addition to ending lives prematurely, NCDs cause lasting social and economic harm to individuals, their families, communities and countries. 

What can be done then?

In 2017, the World Health Assembly endorsed a package of 16 affordable, cost-effective and evidence-based NCD interventions. These are known as the NCD Best Buys. 

They focus on addressing the major NCD risk factors – tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, unhealthy diets and inadequate physical activity – and management of priority disease areas – cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cervical cancer. 

Investing just $0.84 per person per year in NCD Best Buys interventions could save close to seven million lives, avoid 10 million cases of heart disease, stroke and add a total of 50 million years of healthy life by 2030 in low and lower-middle-income countries.

RBI brings NBFCs under prompt corrective action framework

Source: This post is based on the following articles 

• “RBI brings NBFCs under prompt corrective action framework” published in Indian Express on 15th December 2021.
• “RBI will rein in fragile NBFCs to avert busts” published in Livemint on 14th December 2021.

What is the News?

Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has introduced a Prompt Corrective Action(PCA) framework for large non-banking financial companies(NBFCs).

What is the need for this PCA Framework for NBFCs?

The PCA Framework for NBFCs has been brought after four big finance firms — IL&FS, DHFL, SREI and Reliance Capital — which collected public funds through fixed deposits and non-convertible debentures collapsed in the last three years despite the tight monitoring in the financial sector. They collectively owe over Rs 1 lakh crore to investors.

What is the PCA Framework for NBFCs?

The PCA framework for NBFCs will come into effect on October 1,2022 on the basis of their financial position on or after March 31. 

The objective of the framework is to enable supervisory intervention at the appropriate time and require the supervised entity to initiate and implement remedial measures in a timely manner, to restore its financial health

The framework will be applicable to all deposit-taking non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), all non-deposit taking NBFCs in the middle, upper and top layers including investment and credit companies, core investment companies, infrastructure debt funds, infrastructure finance companies and microfinance institutions.

However, it has excluded NBFCs not accepting/not intending to accept public funds, primary dealers and housing finance companies along with government-owned ones.

What are the indicators based on which PCA will be invoked for NBFC?

The central bank will track three indicators — capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR), Tier I ratio and net non-performing assets (NNPAs) including non-performing investments (NPIs).

In the case of core investment companies (CICs), the RBI will track adjusted net worth/aggregate risk-weighted assets, leverage ratio and NNPAs, including NPIs.

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

What will happen once the PCA is invoked for an NBFC?

Based on the risk threshold, the RBI may prescribe mandatory corrective actions such as restriction on dividend distribution/remittance of profits, requiring promoters /shareholders to infuse equity and reducing leverage.

The RBI can also restrict the issuance of guarantees or take other contingent liabilities on behalf of group companies(only for CICs).

Further, the central bank may also restrict branch expansion, impose curbs on capital expenditure other than for technological up-gradation within board-approved limits and restrict/ directly reduce variable operating costs.

Explained: Why India, Russia blocked move to take climate change to UNSC

Source: This post is based on the article “Explained: Why India, Russia blocked move to take climate change to UNSC” published in Indian Express on 15th Dec,2021.

What is the News?

A Resolution to authorise the UN Security Council to deliberate on climate change-related issues was rejected after Russia vetoed it and India voted against it.

What was the resolution about?

The resolution was sponsored by Ireland and Niger.

The resolution sought to create a formal space in the UN Security Council for discussions on climate change and its implications on international security.

It has also called for the UN Secretary-General to submit a report on security aspects of climate change in the next two years and appoint a special envoy for climate security. 

Further, it asked UN field missions to regularly report on climate change assessments in their areas of operation and take the help of climate experts in carrying out their routine functions.

Click Here to read more about this resolution

Which is the current UN Agency to discuss climate change-related issues?

The UN already has a specialised agency named UN Framework Convention on Climate Change or UNFCCC for discussing all matters related to climate change. 

The parties to the UNFCCC meet several times every year, including at a two-week year-ending conference like the one at Glasgow, to work on a global approach to combat climate change.

On the other hand, the UN Security Council(UNSC) exists primarily to prevent conflicts and maintain global peace.

However, UNSC and its secretariat have hosted a few debates and informal discussions on the subject of Climate Change in the past.

Why has India and Russia opposed the resolution?

India: India said that UNFCCC must remain the appropriate forum for addressing all climate change-related issues and claim the Security Council does not have the expertise to do so. They have also pointed out that unlike UNFCCC, where decisions are taken by consensus, the UNSC would enable climate change decision-making by a handful of developed countries.

Russia: It has ​​opposed the resolution on the grounds that involving UNSC would politicise the issue of climate change and warrant unnecessary intervention by western countries in domestic issues.

Land water resources are at a breaking point-Report

Source- This post is based on the article “Land water resources are at a breaking point-Report” published in Livemint on 14th Dec 2021. 

What is the news 

The State of the world’s land and water resources for food and agriculture (SOLAW 2021) by FAO has been recently released. 

Some key findings of report 

1) Current patterns of agricultural intensification are not proving sustainable 

Grassland and shrub-covered areas used to graze animals or as sources of fodder have declined, due to conversion to cropland. 

The area of irrigated crops has doubled while that of rain fed crops has only increased by 2.6 per cent in the time period 2000-2019. 

Although cropland covers only 13 per cent of the global land cover classes, degraded cropland accounts for 29 per cent of all degraded areas. 

Soil salinity is estimated to take up 1.5 million ha of cropland out of production each year. 

Increase in use of chemical (non-organic) inputs; uptake of farm mechanization; and overall impact of higher mono-cropping and grazing intensities are harming the agricultural land. 

2) Population growth and Urbanisation-  

-Population increases have meant that agricultural land available per capita for crops and animal husbandry declined by 20 per cent between 2000 and 2017. 

-The rapid growth of cities had a significant impact on land and water resources. More than 55 per cent of the world’s population are urban dwellers. This meant encroachment on good agricultural land. 

-Due to increased population in the last two decades, there was a decline in global per capita internal renewable water resources (IRWR) of about 20 per cent. 

-Internal renewable water resource (IRWR) is that part of the water resources (surface water and groundwater) generated from the precipitation received by the country. 

Progress made in reducing the number of undernourished people in the early part of the 21st century has been reversed. The number has risen to 768 million in 2020 from 604 million in 2014. 

By 2050, agriculture will need to produce almost 50 per cent more food, livestock fodder and biofuel than in 2012 to satisfy global demand and keep on track to achieve “zero hunger” by 2030.