9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – December 4th, 2021

Posted on December 4th, 2021 Last modified on September 8th, 2022 Comments Views 9

Dear Friends
We have initiated some changes in the 9 PM Brief and other postings related to current affairs. What we sought to do:

Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today’s newspaper are readily available to you.
We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough and adds value not just for GS but also for essay writing. Hence, the 9 PM brief now covers the following newspapers:
1. The Hindu
2. Indian Express
3. Livemint
4. Business Standard
5. Times of India
6. Down To Earth
7. PIB
We have also introduced the relevance part to every article. This ensures that you know why a particular article is important.
Since these changes are new, so initially the number of articles might increase, but they’ll go down over time.
It is our endeavor to provide you with the best content and your feedback is essential for the same. We will be anticipating your feedback and ensure the blog serves as an optimal medium of learning for all the aspirants.
- For previous editions of 9 PM Brief – Click Here
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Mains Oriented Articles

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Challenges in NIRF: Recast this apples-and-oranges ranking method

Source: This post is based on the article “Recast this apples-and-oranges ranking method” published in The Hindu on 4th December 2021.

Syllabus: GS 2 Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

Relevance: Understanding the reasons behind not to rank state run HEI and Centrally funded institutes (CFI) together under NIRF.

News: Ranking of state-run Higher Education Institutes (HEI) with centrally funded institutes (CFI) like IIT’s under the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) is not a good step.

What is National Institution Ranking Framework?

Read here: National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)

Why it is not a good step to rank both state-run HEI and CFI altogether?

Allocation of financial resources: According to a study, there are 184 CFI, to which the Government of India allocates its financial resources. While, in comparison, State public universities didn’t receive adequate financial resources. This is after the fact, that out of total school enrolment, the number of graduates is largest in the state public universities.

No level playing field: State-run HEI often struggles with the resources. Also, no cost-benefit analysis of State versus centrally funded HEI was done by any agency on economic indicators like return on investment government made into them.

Parameters: State-run HEI is also lagging among the different parameters on which NIRF ranked. These parameters are:

1) Adequate faculty strength, Learning and resources: This is because of continuous retirement, and low recruitment, which further weakened the student-teacher ratio.

2) Research and Professional Practice: Laboratories of State-run HEI are often lacking in modernized infrastructure and also not meeting the market demand.

Also, in spite of more share of Ph.D. students (29.8%) in State-Run HEI in comparison with institutes of National Importance(23.2%), central universities(13.6%), fewer funds have been received by them.

Emerging Technologies: State HEIs are struggling to embrace emerging technologies involving artificial intelligence, machine learning etc, while CFI has this facility.

So, NIRF should plan an appropriate mechanism to rate the output and the performance of institutes in light of their constraints and the resources available to them.

ForumIAS is now in Hyderabad. Click here to know more

National Family Benefit Scheme is in urgent need of revival

Source: This post is based on the article “National Family Benefit Scheme is in urgent need of revival” published in the Indian Express on 4th December 2021.

Syllabus: GS 2 Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.

Relevance: Understanding National Family Benefit Scheme.

News: The National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), which is meant to help the survivors in difficult circumstances, is losing its purpose now.

About National Family Benefit Scheme

1) Launched in 1995 under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). 2) Restricted to BPL families. 3) Rs. 20000 will be given as a lump sum assistance to the bereaved household in the event of the death of the bread-winner.

What are the problems associated with National Family Benefit Scheme?

Budget Allocation: Central expenditure on NFBS declined from Rs 862 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 623 in 2020-21 (budget estimates), with revised estimates for 2020-21 even lower — just Rs 481 crore.

Government attention: The government is focussing more on promoting other contributory schemes like Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

Not implementing the committee suggestions: Mihir Shah panel suggested some changes to improve the lacunae associated with NFBS like higher coverage, extended eligibility of NFBS assistance, but all are simply ignored.

What needs to be done to revive the NFBS?

Increase in the amount of emergency assistance: According to K P Kannan, the initial intention was to peg NFBS benefits at around 80% of India’s per-capita GDP. Based on this benchmark, the benefits should be raised to nearly Rs one lakh.

BPL households: BPL lists are outdated, unreliable, and full of exclusion errors in most states. So, there is a need to update that list and include all the eligible families.

Inclusive Approach: There is a need to bring simplification, transparency, and people-friendliness in the process. Proper assistance should be provided in accessing information, completing formalities, tracking their application, submitting complaints, and obtaining a response in the event of any grievance.

Increase in budget allocation: For making NFBS run smoothly, the government should increase money for investing in this project.

Issue of Bail: Relief to Sudha Bharadwaj is welcome. Prolonged imprisonment of other Bhima Koregaon accused must also be questioned

Source: This post is based on the following articles:

Pique and petulance published in The Hindu on 4th December 2021.
Relief to Sudha Bharadwaj is welcome. Prolonged imprisonment of other Bhima Koregaon accused must also be questioned published in Indian Express on 4th December 2021.

Syllabus: GS 2 Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Judiciary.

Relevance: Understanding the reasons behind the delay in bail.

News: Bombay High Court granted bail to lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case.

Reasons behind the delay in bail, and what is the High Court’s observation on it?

Under the Bhima Koregaon/Elgar Parishad case, the state opposed all bail pleas of the accused, even if some of them were ailing. Even the Bombay High Court granted medical bail to poet Varavara Rao only when his health got deteriorated. Father Stan Swamy succumbed to illness in the custody only, despite his repeated request for bail plea.

Read here: Sudha Bharadwaj bail: how HC spelt out limitations of sessions court

How judiciary maintains a balance against state overreach?

It can be seen that the state continues to apply the UAPA against journalists, lawyers, etc. Here, the court plays the important role in providing relief can be visible in the following cases:

Lower courts in Assam granted bail to those arrested under UAPA for social media posts that supported the Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan.

In Union of India v K A Najeeb and Ashim vs NIA, the Supreme Court has sought to balance the restrictions on bail and the fundamental rights of the accused.

Delhi High Court, while granting bail to anti-CAA-NRC activists, sought to raise the bar for UAPA in denying bail, but the Supreme Court stepped in to say it will not be treated as a precedent.

‘More women than men’ an overestimate, say experts; demand further evidence

Source: This post is based on the article “’More women than men’ an overestimate, say experts; demand further evidence” published in Business Standard on 4th December 2021.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Relevance: To understand the issues surrounding NFHS data.

News: The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data shows that there are 1,020 women for every 1,000 men in India. But experts question the validity of data.

Must read: NFHS-5 and its findings – Explained, pointwise

What are the expert’s opinions?

Firstly, the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), an autonomous organisation of the health ministry which conducted the survey, clarified that any survey estimate of the sex ratio would be slightly higher compared to the actual figures because the data is collected at a household level.

Secondly, Lots of institutions, the homeless, army (personnel), and hostel establishments, which are male-dominated, are not covered by NFHS.

Thirdly, the NFHS does not have the framework to cover the institutional population.

Note: The next NFHS would be conducted in 2023 in the post-pandemic background. The technical advisory committee will decide what kind of changes need to be made to the survey to capture the impact of Covid.

What will be the impact of NFHS data?

Researchers and policymakers look at its publications, so the data that women outnumber men could adversely affect the ongoing programmes fighting sex-selective abortions and neglect of women in education, health, and access to property rights.

What should the government do?

The skewed sex ratio at birth shows a strong son preference and continued sex-selective practices in India. So, the government must invest in girls’ education, women’s empowerment and make efforts towards improving gender equality and increasing the value of the girl child.

NFHS-5 should have put a strong warning, at least in a footnote, that its sex ratio figures are unlikely to be valid for the total population.

GS Paper 3

COP27, in Egypt, must focus on food systems

Source: This post is based on the article “COP27, in Egypt, must focus on food systems” published in The Hindu on 4^th Dec 2021.

Syllabus: GS3 – Issues related to climate change and food security.

Relevance: WFP, Climate change, Sustainable food systems

News: The United Nations Special Envoy for Food Systems Summit, has called for an unprecedented focus on food systems — food and agriculture — by ensuring that COP27 (in Egypt) has a dedicated focus on this.

There is a need to reimagine our food systems, which requires us to look at food systems through the angle of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Food systems should be made more resilient to climate change while making them green and sustainable.

How are food systems and climate change related to each other?

The climate crisis impacts all parts of the global food system — from production to consumption. It destroys land and crops, kills livestock, depletes fisheries, and cuts off transport to markets. This impacts food production, availability, diversity, access, and safety.

At the same time, food systems impact the environment and are a driver of climate change.

– Climate change & Hunger: Analysis by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) shows that a 2°C rise in average global temperature from pre-industrial levels will see a staggering 189 million additional people in the grip of hunger.

– Climate change & Vulnerable communities: A vast majority of such communities, who rely on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and livestock, have to bear the impacts of climate change with limited means to adapt.

– Climate change & Nutrition: As per the latest IPCC report, climate change threatens nutrition through multi-breadbasket failures.

Hence, climate change is inextricably linked to how we develop and implement our food system across the world.

What is the role of WFP in this regard?

The WFP is working with communities to adapt to the changing climate that threatens their ability to grow food, secure incomes, and withstand shocks. It has supported 39 governments, helping them realise their national climate ambitions.

In 2020, the WFP implemented climate risk management solutions in 28 countries, which are now better prepared for climate shocks and stresses and can recover faster.

In India, the WFP and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry are planning to develop a best practice model on adaptation and mitigation with potential support from the Adaptation Fund.

What are the key areas that we need to focus upon?

First,creating resilient livelihoods and food security solutions by protecting and improving the livelihood of vulnerable communities.

Second, the adaptation of climate-resilient food crops, such as millets, for nutritional security.

Third, enabling women’s control and ownership of production processes and assets and increased value addition and local solutions.

Fourth, promoting a resilient agriculture sector. This can be done by creating sustainable opportunities, access to finance, and innovation for small-holder farmers, with climate information and preparedness.

Fifth, building capacity and knowledge of civil society and governments for vulnerability analysis. This will increase food security by addressing the link between food security and climate risk.

Sixth, need to increase climate finance for adaptation. Multilateral development banks, other financial institutions, and the private sector need to explore innovative approaches for mobilizing finance for the adaptation fund.

Seventh, investment from governments and the private sector in supporting farmers while maintaining biodiversity, and offering attractive income and work environment to smallholders and youth.

A leap forward for fusion power

Source: This post is based on the article “A leap forward for fusion power” published in Business Standard on 4^th Dec 2021.

Syllabus: GS3 – Science and Technology

Relevance: Nuclear Fusion/ thermonuclear bomb/ hydrogen bomb

News: Physicists at the National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, in Livermore California, claim to have generated nearly as much energy as they put into an inertial confinement system.

This development is regarding the break through research in nuclear fusion process. Though Nuclear fusion has many benefits, some drawbacks make it unviable as of now.

What are the benefits of nuclear fusion process?

Nuclear fusion is a potentially inexhaustible source, and it has no dangerous side effects.

Fusion causes no poisonous radiation. There are no emissions of carbon compounds, or any other pollutants.

What are the challenges associated with nuclear fusion process?

Firstly,triggering fusion reactions requires temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius, and pressures of 100 billion Earth atmospheres.

Secondly, currently nuclear fusion process is triggered by nuclear fission process. However, this process is very destructive, as the fission explosion also releases lethal radiation that may last for millennia.

A more usable form of fusion would require a less destructive trigger, and it would release fusion energy in a controlled, usable format.

What are the options available to make nuclear fusion sustainable?

Both the methods given below are capable of generating controllable energy rather than explosions, and they don’t cause radiation.

Magnetic confinement designs/ Tokamak’s magnetic fields: It creates a very powerful magnetic field, which confines the fusion material.

Inertial confinement: In this process, fusion material is stored inside a physical capsule, which is squeezed.

However, creating a Tokamak’s magnetic fields and sustaining it, or bombarding an inertial containment capsule, takes large amount of energies. In this context, the recent breakthrough that claims to have generated nearly as much energy as they put into an inertial confinement system holds significance.

What the NFHS data reveals about inequality in India

Source: This post is based on the article “What the NFHS data reveals about inequality in India” published in India Express on 4^th Dec 2021.

Syllabus: GS3 – Issues related to inclusive growth

Relevance: Convergent, and inclusive pattern of development

News: The release of the NFHS data and the NITI Aayog’s study on developing a multidimensional index of poverty (MPI) has led to a considerable amount of discussion.

In recent articles, experts have pointed out the existence of regional inequality in development, using many statistics in support of their argument.

However, a detailed examination (by the authors), of the summary statistics reported in the NFHS data (large and small states of India for the two years 2015-16 and 2019-21) reveals the opposite.

What are the key changes revealed?

There has been a remarkable convergence in living standards, in the space of just five years (2016-2021).

There has been a large 31% increase in the aggregate level of development, and a very large decline of 41%, in inequality of development.

Less developed states (BIMARU) have shown higher improvement, which is an evidence in support of catch-up growth. States such as UP, Bihar and Jharkhand are fast approaching similar standards for select indicators as some of the “developed” states.

This further suggests that regional imbalances are reducing, and in some indicators, rapidly. For instance, Female empowerment has improved more than 50%.

What is the reason for such a remarkable convergence in living standards in a span of 5 years?

It is an outcome of an approach that involves targeted interventions to improve developmental outcome. Such targeted intervention measures include:

One, the issue of challenges associated with lack of access to modern sanitation, as directly addressed by the construction of 110 million toilets.

Two, the problem of asthma due to indoor air pollution generated by incomplete combustion of wood used for cooking was addressed by the PM Ujjwala Yojana which provided 86 million LPG connections.

Three, holistic development of an entire region by identifying the most backward districts of the country.

The tech holes that ensure that crypto can never be effectively banned

Source: This post is based on the article “The tech holes that ensure that crypto can never be effectively banned” published in Business Standard on 3rd Dec 2021.

Syllabus: GS3 – Information Technology

Relevance: Why banning Crypto is not possible?

News: Experts have stated that it is not possible to enforce an effective ban on cryptocurrency in a foolproof manner.

Why banning Cryptocurrency is not possible?

Peer to Peer networks: Users can always transact using peer-to-peer networks. This is exactly what happened in India post RBI’s restrictions on Indian banks in 2018.

Defi platforms: Users can trade or transact in Crypto via Decentralised finance (Defi) platforms. These platforms can be used without any intermediaries like banks or standard crypto exchanges. User sign-ups are completely anonymous on these platforms, without any identity markers like name, email-id or location.

Banning ports would lead to unintended consequences: One way to block these DeFi platforms and cryptos would be to ban the ports, which are the interfaces that allow computers to communicate regarding a software with each other. But this would mean blocking other genuine software that use a particular port. For instance: Port 8333 is used by Bitcoin, but also by cloud computing major VMware.

Exchanges can move abroad: The simplest option for a ban is to block local crypto exchanges in the country. In that case, the exchanges would move abroad and attract users through virtual private networks (VPNs). It would just reduce the government’s ability to track and tax transactions. There will be money laundering and scams.

A ban on crypto in India would not stop people from amassing such assets in other jurisdictions. For example, a crypto user giving freelance services to a company abroad, can take the payment in crypto. His Crypto assets could sit in the foreign jurisdiction untouched until they are traded in INR transactions in India.

Also, as per Financial Action Task Force recently issued Guidance on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers, the proliferation of these instruments requires accommodation in any governance model.

What have been the implications of a blanket Crypto ban?

At present, two countries have banned Crypto: Nigeria & China, and both have failed at curbing their usage.

A ban only boosts adoption of Crypto: In countries where a blanket ban was imposed, it eventually resulted in an even greater adoption of Crypto. For instance: Nigeria & China

– Nigeria: Nigeria’s central bank curbed local banks from working with cryptocurrencies in February 2021. It warned of severe regulatory sanctions and freezing accounts of companies and users using them. But a Reuters report in October said that crypto adoption in the country increased following the ban.

– China: In May 2021, China first cracked down on crypto mining operations in the country and then followed it up with a blanket ban on all crypto related activities, including trading, in September. But, there has been an increased activity on decentralised finance (DeFi) platforms.

Why Defi platforms cannot be banned?

Unlike crypto exchanges like CoinSwitch Kuber, WazirX or CoinDCX that are based on the respective servers of the companies, decentralised platforms are not controlled by a single server or group of servers.

They are like distributed peer-to-peer networks that are run by computers across the globe. This means that there is no single point of failure, meaning shutting down a few computers would not lead to blocking access for others.

Corridors of death

Source: This post is based on the article “Corridors of death” published in The Hindu on 4^th Dec 2021.

Syllabus: GS3 – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Relevance: To understand the issue of unnatural death of Elephants.

News: The recent deaths of Elephants in Tamil Nadu and Assam in train collisions has again highlighted the gaps in efforts to reduce man-animal conflicts in the country.

Of the 29,964 elephants in India, the majority are in the southern region.

What are the reasons behind it?

Project Elephant division (MoEF&CC) reported unnatural killing of 1,160 elephants over 11 years ending December 2020.

Railway accidents accounted for 186 cases. C&AG in its latest compliance audit report on the Ministry of Railways has confirmed greater number of casualties getting reported are in elephant passages.

Other causes being poaching for 169 and poisoning for 64 cases of deaths out of 1160.

What is the way forward?

To prevent electrocution – Installing hanging solar-powered fences, as has been planned in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, can help save elephants from electric shock.

-The authorities should ensure that there are no illegal electric fences or barbed wire fences. Instead, it can be replaced with the solar-powered ones.

Preventing train hits – Planting ‘citronella’ and ‘lemon grass’, as done in Golaghat district (Assam), to deter elephants.

Participation of local communities is crucial for conservation of local ecosystem. Everyone, and especially those living close to elephant corridor, must be conveyed the critical role elephants play in biodiversity conservation.

Eco-corridor: The ministries of Railway, & Environment Ministry must cooperate to quickly complete projects of elevated-passes (Eco-corridor) and under-passes for safe wildlife crossings.

– C&AG reported that after the construction of underpasses and overpasses in the areas of East Central and Northeast Frontier Railways, there was no death reported.

The authorities should also work upon other recommendations made by the C&AG. These are:

– Periodic review of identification of elephant passages

– More sensitisation programmes for railway staff

– Standardisation of track signage

– Installation of an animal detection system (transmitter collars) and ‘honey bee’ sound-emitting devices near all identified elephant passages.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

India finalises cooperation plan to revive Covid-hit Sri Lanka economy

Source: This post is based on the article “India finalises cooperation plan to revive Covid-hit Sri Lanka economy” & “Four-pronged plan on Sri Lanka crisis” published in Indian Express and The Hindu on 4^th Dec 2021, respectively.

What is the news?

India and Sri Lanka have agreed to a four-pronged package comprising initiatives on food and energy security to help mitigate Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.

What is the four-pronged package that has been finalised between India & Sri Lanka?

1). Urgent food and health security package that includes an extension of a line of credit to cover the import of food, medicines and other essential items from India to Sri Lanka

2). Energy security package that includes a line of credit to cover the import of fuel from India, and early modernisation of the Trincomalee Tank Farm;

3). Offer of a currency swap to help Sri Lanka address its balance of payment issues;

4). Facilitation of Indian investments in different sectors that would contribute to growth and expand employment

What are the recent economic issues between India and Sri Lanka?

One, The Rajapaksa Government has favoured Chinese companies on projects that it expedites. For instance, the projects to develop oil infrastructure in Trincomalee have been languishing till now.
Two, Sri Lanka’s request for a $1 billion swap has not yet materialised.

Three, India has also delayed a decision on a request for a debt moratorium waiver to help Sri Lanka tide over its economic problems during the pandemic.

Four, recently, Sri Lanka cancelled an MoU signed with India and Japan for the East Coast Terminal project. India protested the cancellation though it later agreed to the West Coast Terminal being developed by the Adani group.

Strategy to adopt blockchain into govt systems released

Source: This post is based on the article “Strategy to adopt blockchain into govt systems released” published in Business Standard on 4th Dec 2021.

What is the news?

The Ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) has released a national strategy on blockchain for adopting the technology in government systems, especially for e-governance services.

What are the key features of national strategy on blockchain?

It identifies 44 potential areas of using the technology and lays out the broad framework of how it can be utilized across different sectors.

i) A National Blockchain Framework (NBF) will be set up with three types of participants- i) confident user of technology (application developers), ii) provider or operator of technology (infrastructure and services, Blockchain as a service), iii) complete technology stack builder (IP creator).

ii) Under the framework, the National e-Governance division will handle the implementation of projects undertaken by various ministries and departments at central as well as state levels.

iii) A multi-institutional model has been suggested for structuring the NBF. It includes C-DAC for R&D, NIC and NICSI (National Informatics Centre Services Inc) for hosting the national-level blockchain infrastructure and offering blockchain as a service.

– It also lays out the overall vision and the development and implementation strategies for a National Blockchain Platform

iv) The sectors, where blockchain models have applications, have been identified as education, governance, finance & banking, healthcare, logistics, cybersecurity, media, legal, power sector, etc.

v) The ministry identified five areas of weakness in the technology– scalability, security, interoperability, data localisation and disposal of records.

vi) Key challenges to widespread adoption of blockchain tech are- adoption of the technology, regulatory compliance, identification of suitable use cases, finding the right data format, and awareness and skill set.

vii) The strategy seeks state governments to develop state-specific blockchain applications on the shared blockchain infrastructure.

What is Blockchain technology?

At its core and in its simplest form, Blockchain technology is just a record of transactions, where every transaction is public. For simplicity, you can consider it as a distributed ledger or like an Excel file, where info in each cell is linked to the previous cell. This makes it near impossible to manipulate the information, as any effort to change info in one of the cells can easily be found out.

For more info, kindly read these articles:

– Blockchain technology

– What is Blockchain technology?

– Factors affecting the growth of Blockchain in India

Plea in Delhi HC opposes legalisation of same-sex marriages under Hindu Marriage Act

Source: This post is based on the article “Plea in Delhi HC opposes legalisation of same-sex marriages under Hindu Marriage Act” published in The Indian Express on 4th Dec 2021.

What is the news?

A plea, by an NGO, before the Delhi High Court, has sought that same-sex marriages should not be permitted under the Hindu Marriage Act.

Background: The plea comes at a time when at least eight petitions seeking legalisation of same-sex marriages in India under the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA), the Special Marriage Act and the Foreign Marriage Act, are pending before the High Court.

They have also sought a declaration that legal recognition of same-sex marriages is a fundamental right.

It must be noted that in 2018, the Supreme Court overturned a previous judgment and ruled that consensual homosexual sex was not a criminal offence.

However, same-sex marriages are yet to be recognised in the country.

What are the key points in the petition?

The NGO has stated that,

– Under the Hindu customs, two people of opposite sex can marry to give sanity to the family system and purpose of legitimacy to children.

– Any attempt to tinker with Hindu Marriage Act in a way that it affects the age-old harmless beliefs of Hindus will be a direct intrusion by secular state into the religious right of Hindus that is guaranteed by the Constitution.

– The petition seeking recognition of same-sex marriage under HMA was not reasonable when at the same time it was not permitted under the marriage laws pertaining to other religions.

– Judicial interference will cause complete havoc with the delicate balance of personal laws.

Omicron likely to cause re-infections, surge in cases, say experts

Source: This post is based on the article “Omicron likely to cause re-infections, surge in cases, say experts” published in Business Standard on 3^rd Dec 2021.

What is the news?

The new variant of COVID-19 i.e. Omicron is spreading across India. The experts say that the surge is likely due to reinfections (people getting infected with the virus again) and even vaccinated people getting infected.

What are the concerns about this variant?

More transmissible than Delta. This is evident from the steep rise in cases in South Africa where, Omicron has overtaken Delta variant.

Presence of multiple mutations on the spike protein region and it has all the mutations of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and itself. It is a peculiar virus. It is likely to evade immunity even for a vaccinated person, and therefore, we need booster doses.

Due to its high transmissible nature and cases already found in India, there is high possibility of 3rd wave due to this variant. However, the magnitude of the rise in cases and the severity are still not clear.

The effectiveness of vaccine of original variant is likely to be less for Omicron variant.

However, evidence suggests that the severity of infection induced by this variant is not critical. This is due to the fast pace of vaccination and high exposure to Delta variants, thereby acquiring natural infection immunity.

Should India be concerned?

India has had substantial exposure to the Delta variant and has acquired natural infection immunity. It is much more broad based to deal with variants that evade anti-spike antibodies.

Also, India is better prepared now for surveillance, testing and care.

So, Omicron is not likely to wreak havoc in India.

PM inaugurates InFinity Forum, a thought leadership Forum on FinTech

Source: This post is based on the article “PM inaugurates InFinity Forum, a thought leadership Forum on FinTech” published by PIB on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has inaugurated InFinity Forum, a thought leadership Forum on FinTech.

Click Here to read about the InFinity Forum

What is Fintech?

Fintech (finance and technology) refers to any business that uses technology to enhance or automate financial services and processes.

What are the pillars of Fintech?

India’s financial inclusion efforts were the driver of the ‘fintech revolution’.Fintech is resting on four pillars – income, investments, insurance and institutional credit.

When income grows, investment becomes possible; insurance covers enable greater risk-taking ability and investments, and institutional credit brings means for advancement. Hence, when all those factors come together, one will suddenly find a large number of people embracing fintech innovation.

India’s Financial Inclusion Initiatives with the help of Fintech

Mobile payments in India exceeded ATM cash withdrawals for the first time last year.

The government has universalised bank accounts with 430 million Jan Dhan accounts in the last seven years from less than 50% of Indians having bank accounts in 2014.

UPI is processing around 4.2 billion transactions in just last month

PM Svanidhi enabled access to credit for small vendors across the country

e-RUPI enabled targeted delivery of specified services without leakages.

Suggestions to improve FinTech

Fintech firms should focus on ensuring greater security in their transactions to retain the trust of people who have embraced digital payments and financial technologies.

Longest in-country migration route of lesser florican from Rajasthan tracked

Source: This post is based on the article “Longest in-country migration route of lesser Florican from Rajasthan tracked” published in The Hindu on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

A recent study has for the first time tracked the longest in-country migration route of lesser Floricans from Rajasthan to Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district.

About the study

The study on the Lesser Florican Migration Route has been launched as part of the bustard recovery programme which is a conservation initiative for the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican.

Conducted by: The Wildlife Institute of India(WII) is implementing the study in partnership with Forest Departments of several States and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation.

Where was the study conducted? The study was undertaken in the Shokaliya landscape of Ajmer district to trace the journey of lesser floricans from their breeding grounds to their places of origin, presumably in down South.

Note: Unprotected agricultural fields in Shokaliya are the strongholds of lesser florican’s breeding population.

Significance of the study: This study would help experts understand the ecology and seasonal movements between breeding and non-breeding areas of Lesser Florican which were poorly known at present.

About Lesser Florican

The lesser florican (Sypheotides indicus), also known as the likh or kharmore is the smallest in the bustard family. The bird is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent, where it is found in tall grasslands.

Habitat: In India, the bird is observed in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and some other regions during the monsoon season when it breeds and later disappears with its chicks to unknown places.

IUCN Status: Endangered

Wildlife Protection Act,1972: Schedule I

CITES: Appendix II

Threats: The bird is threatened both by hunting and habitat degradation.

Explainer: Neo Banks vs Traditional Banking

Source: This post is based on the article “Explainer: Neo Banks vs Traditional Banking” published by Hindu Businessline on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

Neo-Banks bridge the gap between the services that traditional banks offer and the evolving expectations of customers in the digital age. They are changing the face of fintech and could one day eclipse traditional banks.

What are Neo Banks?

Neo-banks are online-only financial technology (fintech) companies that operate solely digitally or via mobile apps. Simply put, neo-banks are digital banks without any physical branches.

What is the difference between Neo Banks and traditional Banks?

Firstly, in India, Neobanks don’t have a bank licence of their own but rely on bank partners to offer licensed services. That’s because the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) doesn’t allow banks to be 100% digital yet (though some foreign banks offer digital-only products through their local units).

Secondly, Neo-banks are disrupting the traditional banking system by leveraging technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to offer a range of personalised services to customers. On the other hand, traditional banks follow an omni-channel approach i.e. having both physical (through branches and ATMs) and digital banking presence to offer a multitude of products and services.

Can Neo Banks replace Traditional Banks?

Not entirely. Neo-banks offer only a small range of products and services as compared to a whole gamut of services that traditional banks offer.

Besides, since neo-banks are highly digital-focused, they may not be able to cater to the banking needs of non-tech-savvy consumers or people from the rural parts of the country, who believe in face-to-face interaction with their financial custodians. As of 2020, India had a smartphone penetration rate of just about 54%.

What are the challenges that they face?

Firstly, building trust. Unlike traditional banks, neo-banks don’t have a physical presence, so customers cannot literally ‘bank upon’ them in case of any issues/challenges.

Secondly, neo-banks are yet to be recognised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). So, they have to engage with regulated banks and financial institutions to offer financial products and services

India revokes PepsiCo’s potato patent

Source: This post is based on the following articles:

“India revokes PepsiCo’s potato patent” published by The Hindu on 4th December 2021.
“Historic win for farmer seed rights: PepsiCo’s IPR on potato variety revoked” published by Down To Earth on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights (PPV&FR) Authority has revoked a PVP (Plant Variety Protection) certificate granted to PepsiCo India Holding (PIH) on a potato variety (FL-2027) on multiple grounds.

Note: PPV&FR is a statutory body set up under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001.

Background

Pepsico had a patent for the potato plant variety FL-2027 (commercial name FC-5). For growing this variety, Pepsico had entered into a buyback agreement with farmers.

But Pepsico later filed a lawsuit against the farmers for illegally growing, producing and selling the variety without permission of Pepsico.

However, farmers have cited Section 39 of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act,2001 which specifically says that a farmer is allowed to grow and sell any variety of crop or even seed as long as they don’t sell branded seed of registered varieties.

Later, Pepsico decided to withdraw lawsuits against the farmers.

What has been done now?

An application was filed by an activist at the PPV&FR Authority to revoke the Pepsico certificate on a potato variety(FL-2027).

The PPV&FR authority revoked the certificate on multiple grounds. This included the following:

The grant of the certificate of registration had been based on incorrect information furnished by the applicant.
The certificate had been granted to a person not eligible for protection.
The grant of the certificate of registration was not in the public interest.

What is the significance of this decision?

The PPV&FR authority revocation of Pepsico patent on grounds of being against public interest sends an important signal that farmers’ rights were not to be taken lightly by IPR-holders in India.

Explained: Why Centre has refused to accept Paika revolution as first war of independence

Source: This post is based on the article “Explained: Why Centre has refused to accept Paika revolution as first war of independence” published by Indian Express on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

The government of India has said that the Paika rebellion cannot be called the first War of Independence

At present, the Indian Mutiny or Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is called the first war of Independence against British Rule.

What is the Paika Rebellion?

Read more: About Paika Rebellion

What is the Central Government response to the proposal of Paika rebellion as the First War of Independence?

The Government of India has said that the Paika Rebellion cannot be called the first War of Independence.

However, considering that the rebellion which started in 1817 continued till 1825 and is one of the beginnings of popular uprisings against the British in India, the government declared that it would now be included in the curriculum of the Class VIII history textbook of NCERT.

Bills to extend tenures of CBI, ED chiefs introduced in Lok Sabha

Source: This post is based on the article “Bills to extend tenures of CBI, ED chiefs introduced in Lok Sabha” published by Indian Express on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

The Government of India has introduced the two Bills — Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021 and The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Lok Sabha.

The Bill seeks to extend the tenure of the CBI and ED chief to a maximum of five years from the present two years.

Must read: Centre brings Ordinances to extend tenure of ED, CBI directors up to 5 years

What are the concerns associated with the ordinances?

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

Implement panel’s anti-pollution measures, SC tells Centre, Delhi Govt.

Source: This post is based on the article “Implement panel’s anti-pollution measures, SC tells Centre, Delhi Govt.” published by The Hindu on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has approved the measures taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management(CAQM) to create an ‘Enforcement Task Force’ and flying squads to prevent and penalise polluters in Delhi NCR.

What is the issue?

The Commission for Air Quality Management(CAQM) has announced several emergency measures for Delhi-NCR to bring down the levels of pollutants in the air.

These measures include a) Educational institutes to remain shut b) Ban on construction activities c) Industrial operations in NCR where gas was not available and not running on PNG or clean fuel would be allowed to operate for eight hours during weekdays and remain closed on weekends and d) Deployment of water sprinklers and anti-smog guns.

To ensure compliance with these measures, CAQM has formed the Flying Squads and Enforcement Task Force.

What will the Flying Squads and Enforcement Task Force do?

Flying squads will consist of officials of the Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB). They will make surprise visits to ensure compliance with rules. They will then report to the Enforcement Task Force, which will meet daily.

The Enforcement Task Force will be a five-member body headed by CAQM Chairperson. Based on the report of the flying squads, the Enforcement Task Force will have the power to order closures, seizures and issue financial penalties for non-compliance.

Chocolate-bordered Flitter: Shutterbug leads to a pretty find in Sikkim

Source: This post is based on the article “Shutterbug leads to a pretty find in Sikkim” published by The Hindu on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

A team of researchers have discovered a new Butterfly species in Sikkim. They have named it ‘Chocolate-bordered Flitter’.

What is a Chocolate-bordered Flitter?

Chocolate-bordered Flitter (Zographetus Dzonguensis) is a golden yellow butterfly discovered in Dzongu in North Sikkim.

The butterfly has been named ‘Chocolate-bordered Flitter’ as it has a chocolate coloured border around both wings.

The closest relatives of this butterfly are Zographetus pangi in Guangdong, and Zographetus hainanensis in Hainan, both in southeastern China close to Hong Kong.

However, the physical appearance of this species differs slightly and the internal structures of the males also differ slightly.

Supreme Court frowns upon ‘trend’ of acquittals in workplace sex misconduct cases on hyper-technical grounds

Source: This post is based on the article “Supreme Court frowns upon ‘trend’ of acquittals in workplace sex misconduct cases on hyper-technical grounds” published by TOI on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has expressed concern over a rising trend of courts invalidating proceedings into sexual misconduct at a working place on “hyper-technical” grounds.

What was the issue?

A constable at the Border Security Force had accused the head constable of sodomising (any form of the sexual act) in 2006.

However, the Calcutta High Court had quashed the proceedings against the head constable on the grounds that a commandant of the Border Security Force, who had sought additional record evidence while carrying out the disciplinary proceedings, did not have the jurisdiction to do so.

What did the Supreme Court say on this?

The Supreme Court has set aside the order of the Calcutta High Court.

The court observed that the right against sexual harassment is vested in all persons as a part of their right to life and right to dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Hence, it is important that the spirit of this right is upheld instead of rejecting sexual harassment complaints on “hyper-technical” grounds.

For instance, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act 2013 penalizes several misconducts of a sexual nature and imposes a mandate on all public and private organizations to create adequate mechanisms for redressal.

However, if the courts dismiss petitions on technical grounds, then the legislation may not come to the aid of persons aggrieved of sexual harassment.

Must Read: Sexual Harassment of women at the workplace – Explained pointwise

Explained: What is Kyhytysuka sachicarum?

Source: This post is based on the article “Explained: What is Kyhytysuka sachicarum? published by PIB on 4th December 2021.

What is the News?

An international team of researchers has discovered a new marine reptile in Columbia. The reptile has been named as Kyhytysuka sachicarum.

Note: This reptile was named Kyhytysuka which translates to ‘the one that cuts with something sharp’ to honour the ancient Muisca culture in Columbia that existed there for millennia.

What is the significance of the discovery of the Kyhytysuka sachicarum reptile?

Kyhytysuka sachicarum reptile belongs to an important transitional time during the Early Cretaceous epoch, some 130 million years ago.

At this time, the Earth was coming out of a relatively cool period, had rising sea levels, and the supercontinent Pangea (supercontinent that incorporated almost all the landmasses on Earth) was splitting into northern and southern landmasses.

There was also a global extinction event at the end of the Jurassic that changed marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Dadabhai Naoroji: Why this nationalist served as a British MP

Source: This post is based on the article “Why this nationalist served as a British MP” published in the Livemint on 4th December 2021.

What is the news?

Recently, Dinyar’s Patel biography Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian nationalism won the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2021.

Facts about Dadabhai Naoroji

He was an Indian nationalist, educationist, first Indian MP in British Parliament, an Economist, a mentor and belonged to a Parsi community

As an educationist: He began his career as a professor and work towards equality and state-supported universal education.

As a British MP: He used the British institution to fulfil Indian interests. He passed a resolution in British Parliament to bring reforms in the Indian Civil Service.

As an Economist: Dadabhai Naoroji put forward the ‘drain of wealth‘ theory in which he stated that Britain was completely draining India. He calculated that the British drain one-fourth of India’s revenue every year.

His theory facilitated alliance with other anti-imperialists and socialists. Karl Marx briefly dabbled with the idea of the drain of wealth. Socialists like Henry Hyndman applied it in their critiques of capitalists.

As a mentor: He mentored Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pheozesha Mehta, Romesh Chunder Dutt and other leaders.

For his contribution, he is described as the “Grand Old Man of India”.

Naoroji stuck only to constitutionalist politics, while things changed after World War I. Before the 1920s, advocating self-government for India was a radical idea while this is not the same case after the 1920s. In the 1920s, nationalism changed fundamentally, after the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi.