9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – December 4th, 2023

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 1

Social Capital for Climate Change- Climate targets will stay elusive without stronger social capital

Source: The post social capital for climate change has been created on the article “Climate targets will stay elusive without stronger social capital” published in “Live Mints” on 4th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper 1 – Society – Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India & GS paper 3 – environment- climate change

News: The article discusses the challenges of tackling climate change, especially in diverse societies like India. It highlights the need for societal cooperation and social capital to implement environmental policies. The author worries that India’s diversity and current political climate make this cooperation difficult.

What is social capital?

Social capital is the ability to get benefits and solve problems by being part of social networks. It includes relationships between people and groups, trust within these relationships, and the advantages gained from these connections.

People build social capital through participation in various social, political, and professional activities, and through informal interactions like those with family and friends. Strong networks where people know each other in different ways also boost social capital.

What are the challenges of tackling climate change in diverse Indian societies?

Diverse Societal Structure: India’s vast diversity in language, caste, and culture makes it hard for people to unite for common causes like climate change.

Low Social Cooperation: The diversity leads to low social capital, meaning people trust and cooperate less, especially with those different from themselves. This will lead to challenges in policy implementation at the grassroots level.

Civic Engagement Issues: The limited sense of ‘us’ beyond immediate groups like family or community makes city-wide or national environmental initiatives challenging to execute.

Impact of Political Climate: Current political trends in India might be weakening the social capital needed for collective environmental actions.

What should be done?

Build Social Capital Across Groups: Develop mechanisms that enhance trust and cooperation among diverse groups, as social capital is crucial for collective action. This involves bolstering communal engagement and encouraging cooperative civic action. By transcending narrow group identities, broader environmental concerns can be more effectively addressed.

Align Policy with Diversity: Adapt environmental policies to suit the unique cultural and societal landscape of India, acknowledging its diverse population.

Counteract Divisive Politics: Address the issue of political and social divisions that weaken the collective approach necessary for environmental initiatives.

Focus on Inclusive and Practical Environmental Solutions: Implement solutions that consider economic viability and cultural acceptability, such as investment in renewable energy and electric vehicles, which are both environmentally friendly and economically sensible.

Question for practice:

Discuss how can social capital be developed in India’s diverse society to effectively tackle climate change?

On re-criminalizing adultery

Source: This post has been created on the article “On re-criminalizing adultery” published in The Hindu on 4th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper 1- Society – social empowerment & GS paper 2- polity- fundamental rights

News: The article discusses the Parliamentary Committee’s suggestion to make adultery a criminal offense again in India, but in a gender-neutral way. This comes after the Supreme Court decriminalized adultery in 2018. The Committee wants to protect marriage, but critics say it’s outdated and the state shouldn’t interfere in private matters.

What is adultery?

Adultery refers to a consensual sexual relationship between a married person and someone who is not their spouse. It is typically viewed as a violation of marital fidelity and can result in legal, social, and religious repercussions. In various societies and cultures, adultery is deemed a crime or a sin. In others, it may not be explicitly banned, but it is still regarded as morally objectionable.

What is current legal status of adultery in India?

Adultery was a criminal offense under Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) until September 2018. It was then decriminalized by the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment in the case of Joseph Shine v. Union of India.

Supreme Court Ruling (2018): The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, removed adultery as a criminal offense in 2018. The ruling stated that adultery is a matter of personal privacy and should not be a criminal matter. The Court emphasized that criminalizing adultery infringes on personal freedoms and treats women as property. It should remain a civil issue (ground for divorce), not a criminal one.

For more information read here

What are the arguments in favour of the criminalization of adultery?

Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage: Criminalising adultery in a gender-neutral manner is crucial for safeguarding the sanctity of marriage, which is considered sacred in Indian society and needs protection. This view is supported by the recent Parliamentary Committee, the Law Commission in its 42nd and 156th reports, and the Malimath Committee in 2003.

Guardian of moral principles: Criminal law everywhere in the world serves as a guardian of the moral principles of society, protecting a society’s historical roots while leading it towards a progressive social order. If we start subjecting laws to our personal rationale, it will lead to chaos, as a counter-narrative would always exist.

What are the arguments against the criminalization of adultery?

Invasion of Privacy: The 2018 Supreme Court ruling emphasized that criminalizing adultery intrudes on personal privacy, treating it as a matter between individuals, not the state.

Treating Women as Property: The Supreme Court noted that the adultery law (before 2018 SC ruling) treated women as their husbands’ property, challenging the notion of gender equality.

Marriage as a Personal Compact: One of the Congress MP argued that adultery should be a matter for civil law, not criminal law, as marriage is a personal agreement.

Changing Social Norms: Justice Indu Malhotra of the Supreme Court highlighted the need to recognize individual autonomy in the private sphere, reflecting evolving social attitudes towards marriage and personal choices.

For more information read here

Way forward

Parliament has the authority to counteract judicial decisions, as seen in the Madras Bar Association versus Union of India (2021) case, provided it modifies the legal foundation of the judgment. Therefore, Parliament could enact a gender-neutral adultery law, addressing the Supreme Court’s issues regarding privacy and gender discrimination. This law should balance personal freedom with the societal importance of marriage. Consultation among legal professionals, the public, and legislators is key to creating a law that aligns with modern values and upholds individual liberties.

Question for practice:

Evaluate the implications of reintroducing adultery as a criminal offense, in India in light of the 2018 Supreme Court decision.

GS PAPER - 2

Inclusion of people with disability- India, disability inclusion and the power of ‘by’

Source: The post on Inclusion of people with disability has been created on the article “India, disability inclusion and the power of ‘by’” published in The Hindu on 4th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper 2- governance- mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

News: The article discusses the challenges faced by people with disabilities. It highlights their struggles in society and work, especially in rural areas. It stresses the importance of including them in all areas of development for social justice and economic growth.

Who are the people with disabilities (PWD)?

As per the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”.

For more information read here

What is the current status PWD in India?

In India, there were around 26.8 million persons with disabilities, constituting 2.21% of India’s total population (2011 Census).

There were 14.9 million men (2.41% of men) and 11.9 million women (2.01% of women) with disabilities. 69% (18 million) of persons with disabilities reside in rural areas.

Disabilities are highest in the age group 10-19 years (46.2 lakh people).

What are the challenges in the inclusion of PWD?

Global Prevalence: 1.3 billion people globally have disabilities, with 80% in developing countries and 70% in rural areas.

Economic Exclusion: They often face poverty, lack access to education and limited job opportunities. Inclusion could boost global GDP by 3-7% (asper ILO study).

Social Perception: They are frequently seen as charity cases, not as capable individuals.

Inadequate Government Schemes: Some developmental schemes exclude the disabled, as seen in India where awareness and last-mile connectivity are lacking, especially in rural areas.

What steps have been taken by the government for the inclusion of persons with disabilities?

UN Convention Advocacy: Advocating for changing attitudes and perceptions as per the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Government Schemes in India: Implementation of schemes and the unique ID for persons with disabilities (UDID) under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016).

SPARK Project: The International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with Maharashtra’s Women’s Development Corporation, initiated the Sparking Disability Inclusive Rural Transformation (SPARK) project. It trains Disability Inclusion Facilitators to integrate women with disabilities into self-help groups, thereby promoting their social and economic development.

For more information on Provision made for PWD in India read here

What should be done to support people with disabilities?

Inclusion in Economic Development: Recognize and include persons with disabilities in economic activities, as their inclusion could boost global GDP by 3-7%.

Promote ‘By’ vs ‘For’ Approach: Shift focus to actions performed by persons with disabilities, rather than just for them, ensuring their active participation in decision-making processes.

Private Sector Engagement: Encourage the private sector to hire and retain workers with disabilities, breaking down employment barriers and stereotypes.

Replicate Successful Projects: Expand initiatives like the SPARK project, which trains Disability Inclusion Facilitators and integrates women with disabilities into self-help groups for social and economic development.

Question for practice:

Evaluate the effectiveness of current government initiatives and policies in India for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in socio-economic development.

GS PAPER - 3

On Dam Safety – Damned by our Dams as Safety Issues swirl

Source: The post on Dam Safety has been created based on the article “Damned by our Dams as Safety Issues swirl” published in “Live Mint” on 4^th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management.

News: The article discusses the dam safety in India. It also highlights the reasons for poor dam safety in India. It also highlights suggestions by experts in this regard.

Recently, Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) caused heavy destruction in Sikkim. South Lhonak Lake, a glacial lake situated in north-western Sikkim burst due to incessant rains. The hydropower dam over the Teesta was destroyed and the associated 1,200MW Teesta-III hydropower project submerged. This has raised attention towards dam safety in India.

For more information on the Sikkim GLOF, click here.

A detailed article on Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) can be read here.

What is the status of dam infrastructure in India?

India is the 3^rd most dammed country in the world, with 6,138 large dams in total.

India produces around 25,000MW energy from the dams on the Himalayan rivers alone, which is around 65% of the total hydropower potential of these rivers.

What is the status of dam safety in India?

India has a poor record of dam safety.

1. Dam Failures: According to National Dam Safety Authority, there have been 42 cases of dam failures.
   For instance, the Machchu dam incident of 1979 in Gujarat, killing 2,000.
2. Dam-induced floods: For instance, the Hirakud-induced floods in Mahanadi basin.

What are the reasons for poor dam safety in India?

1. Large number of Ageing Dams: According to the Jal Shakti ministry, dams in India are designed for approximately 100 years of useful age. However, 80% of India’s large dams are over 25 years old and 234 are over 100 years old.
2. Lack of Performance Assessment: There is no mechanism to assess the viable lifespan and performance of dams.
3. Unscientific operation of dams: For instance, not taking seismicity into account, unscientific water release strategies, etc.).
4. Old dams not being Decommissioned: Due to a variety of reasons (discussed below), dams are not being retired out of service.

Why are dams not being decommissioned?

1. Lack of Diversity in Policymakers: India’s water policymaking does not involve stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. It is dominated by civil engineers.
2. Socio-Economic concerns: Dams create a new economic ecosystem around them, such as colonies. This makes it difficult to shift ecosystems around dams to new sites.
   For instance, Mullaperiyar dam (Kerala).
3. Tedious Process: It is a time-consuming and laborious process. This is due to the need of conducting socio-economic and ecological impact studies, earmarking rehabilitation areas for the displaced and devising strategy for building an alternative water resource to offer livelihoods to the displaced population.

What can India do about dam safety in the Himalayas?

Various experts have suggested the following measures:

1 Strict Monitoring of Glacial Lakes: Himalayan glaciers have been receding and strict monitoring is necessary. This includes maintaining an updated inventory of Glacial Lakes (possibly every 5 years).

2 Climate Assessment of Hydropower Projects: Evaluating the potential effects of climate change on the risks and vulnerabilities associated with such projects in the fragile Himalayan region.

3 GLOF Assessment and Mitigation: GLOF assessment should be done beforehand and mitigation measures should be built into Himalayan hydropower projects.

4 Declaring a mountain regulation zone: Declaring MRZ on the lines of coastal regulation zone (CRZ), where large infrastructure projects would be regulated.

5 In-built SOPs in Dam Designs: A critical component of dam safety has to be in-built special operating procedures in dam design that take care of eventualities like flash floods.

What are the steps taken by the government in this regard?

1. DRIP II and DRIP III scheme: The Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) II and IlI schemes have been devised to enhance dam safety oversight. It aims to fully rehabilitate 736 dams in 19 states by 2031. It includes reduction of seepage, improvement in dam drainage; treatment for cracking in the dam, improvement in the ability to withstand higher floods, etc.
   More on the DRIP Scheme here.
2. Dam Safety Act, 2021: It includes:
   a. Framework for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all large dams.
   b. Empowered institutional framework for dam safety, both at Centre and State level.
   c. Standardizing dam safety practices across the country.
   More on it here.

Question for practice:

Dam safety in India requires urgent attention in the wake of the Sikkim GLOF incident. Highlight the challenges of dam safety in India, especially in Himalayan regions. Also suggest steps to mitigate the same.

On the Creator Economy – In the wings

Source: The post on the Creator Economy has been created based on the article “In the wings: The Creator Economy” published in “Business Standard” on 4^th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy

News: The article discusses the advantages of the creation of a creator economy based on NFTs and Blockchain.

The internet was supposed to democratise the sharing of information and give everyone the power to share their ideas or do transactions. However, it is getting dominated by a few big corporate players.

The reason for this dominance is the lack of understanding of the force of network effect. Competition policy legislation worldwide hasn’t been updated to effectively regulate competition in the era of network effects. As such, the force of network effects quickly leads to industry dominance by a few players that have the money to grow the network.

What is the network effect?

The network effect is a business principle that illustrates that when more people use a product or service, its value increases. The network effect significantly applies to digital platforms. When the internet became more widely used, more people relied on it to conduct work, deepen personal connections, and for research and other functions.
Social networks such as Facebook and Instagram are key examples of the network effect. The more people that use the platform in an individual’s network, the more likely it is that individual will use the platform, too.

What is the creator economy?

The Creator economy is an internet-facilitated economy that allows content creators and influencers to earn revenue from their creations.

Examples of creator economy software platforms include YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, Spotify, etc.

What technologies is the creator economy based on?

Two technologies underpin the creator economy:

1 Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT)

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital items stored on a blockchain. Anything digital – images, videos, music, online versions of various articles – can be converted into an NFT and monetised.
More on NFTs here.

The NFT verifies ownership. It also removes the necessity for middlemen (such as music labels (like T-Series)). This allows creators to sell directly to their audience, enabling them to keep a larger share of their earnings from their work.

2 Blockchain Technology (BCT)

Blockchain is a decentralized, distributed ledger technology. It is a chain of blocks, where each block contains a list of transactions. It is shared and duplicated for everyone on the network to see it. This makes it difficult to change anything in the record without others verifying the transaction, making it very secure and trustworthy.

NFTs are stored on blockchain. Use of blockchain ensures that storage is decentralised such that no single person or group has control; instead, all users collectively retain control.

More on Blockchain Technology here.

What will be the possible advantages of the creator economy?

No Need for Intermediaries: It will eliminate the necessity for intermediaries by allowing creators to leverage digital platforms to produce and distribute their own content, products, or services.

Direct Relationship with Audience: By removing the intermediaries, the creator economy fosters direct relationships between creators and their audience.

Democratisation of Creativity: Entry barriers (such as the cost of being onboarded by an intermediary) will diminish, enabling individuals to become creators with minimal initial expenses. This democratization will foster a broader range of voices and content, challenging the established traditional media structures.

Creative Independence: Content creators will have the freedom to generate material that resonates with their vision and values.

Attract New Audiences: It will draw in fresh audiences searching for genuine and specialized content that might not be easily accessible through conventional media channels.

Multiple Fields: This model can extend to all kinds of services: Financial, legal, medical, educational, technical, and others.

With the rise of the creator economy, countries must undertake substantial legislative innovations to adapt to this evolving landscape and reap its full benefits.

Question for practice:

In the wake of rising digitalisation of India, the creator economy has risen as an avenue of multiple opportunities. Elaborate.

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Following articles have already been covered in the 7 PM Articles of the day: 

Today’s 7 PM article 
7 PM Kurukshetra Article- Sustainability of Rural Enterprises 
7 PM Article - Sustainability of Rural Enterprises- Explained Pointwise+ Inforgraphic 

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

International Maritime Organisation (IMO): India re-elected with highest vote tally

Source: The post is based on the article “International Maritime Organisation (IMO): India re-elected with highest vote tally” published in “PIB” on 3rd December 2023

Why in the News?

India has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2024–25 period.

What is the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)?

Specifications	Details
What is it	It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that regulates the maritime industry, which supports global trade, transportation, and all marine operations.
Established in	1948 but entered into force in 1958.
Headquarters	London, UK
Purpose	1) It is responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships. 2) It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
Members	175
India	– India joined the IMO in 1959. – IMO currently lists India as among the 10 states with the ‘largest interest in international seaborne trade’.
Structure of the organization	1) IMO is led by the Secretary General. 2) IMO Assembly: It consists of all Member States and is the highest governing body of the Organization. 3) IMO Council: It is elected by the Assembly for a term of two years. It acts as the executive organ of IMO and is responsible for supervising the work of the Organization.

UPSC Syllabus: International Organizations

UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Accra, Ghana

Source: The post is based on the article “UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Accra, Ghana” published in “PIB” on 2nd December 2023

Why in the News?

The Minister of State of Defence will be attending the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting at Accra, Ghana.

What is United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping?

Specifications	Details
What is it?	It is a vital tool employed by the United Nations to help countries navigate the path from conflict to peace.
Established in	1948
Purpose	Peacekeepers protect civilians, actively prevent conflict, reduce violence, strengthen security and empower national authorities to assume these responsibilities.
Authorized by	Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the UN Security Council.
Principles	They are guided by three basic principles: 1)Consent of the Parties: Peacekeeping operations require the consent of the main parties involved in the conflict. 2)Impartiality: Peacekeepers should maintain impartiality in their dealings with the parties to the conflict. 3)Non-use of Force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate
Peacekeeping forces	UN Member states contribute their manpower for Peacekeeping forces on a voluntary basis.
Funding sources	The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping operations are the collective responsibility of UN Member States. Every Member State is legally obligated to pay their respective share for peacekeeping.

What are India’s contributions to United Nations(UN) Peacekeeping?

1) India is one of the largest contributors of troops to UN Peacekeeping operations. It has contributed approximately 2.75 lakh troops to peacekeeping missions so far.

2) The Indian Army has established the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi. This center provides specialized training for troops in peacekeeping operations.

3) In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a U.N. Peacekeeping mission.

4) In 2021, India in collaboration with the UN launched UNITE AWARE platform. It is a technology platform that utilizes modern surveillance technology for real-time threat assessments to UN peacekeepers.

UPSC Syllabus: International Organizations

International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC): India will be largest cotton producer

Source: The post is based on the article “International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC): India will be largest cotton producer” published in “The Hindu” on 3rd December 2023

Why in the News?

The Ministry of Textiles is hosting the 81st Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) in the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

What is the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)?

Specifications	Details
What is it	It is an association of members of cotton producing, consuming and trading countries.
Formed in	1939
Members	28 (India is one of the founding member) Note: Most of the world’s cotton producing nations are members of ICAC. But two of the ten largest producers (China and Turkmenistan) are not members.
Headquarters	Washington, United States
Meetings	The Plenary Meeting of ICAC is held every year in the member countries.
81st Meeting Theme	“Cotton Value Chain: Local Innovations for Global prosperity”

What is Kasturi Cotton Bharat?

1) Kasturi Cotton Bharat is a premium cotton brand of India, launched by the Ministry of Textiles.

2) Aim: To boost the global competitiveness of Indian cotton by taking charge of branding, traceability, and certification, with a focus on sustainability and benefiting all involved stakeholders.

3) This brand of cotton would be traceable using blockchain technology and it would be carbon positive.

Click Here to read more

What is the overview of the Cotton Textile Industry of India?

1) India has the largest area under cotton cultivation and is the second largest cotton producer.

2) Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana are the major cotton producing states. They produce about 65% of cotton production in the country.

UPSC Syllabus: International Organizations

Geneva Convention: Ukraine accuses Russia of killing surrendering soldiers

Source: The post is based on the article “Geneva Convention: Ukraine accuses Russia of killing surrendering soldiers” published in “The Hindu” on 4th December 2023

Why in the News?

Ukraine has accused Russia of violating the Geneva Convention by executing two unarmed Ukrainian soldiers who had signaled their intention to surrender.

What is the Geneva Convention?

The Geneva Conventions are a set of treaties and protocols that countries must follow during wartime.

They aim to protect people who do not take part in the fighting (civilians, medics, aid workers) and those who can no longer fight (wounded, sick and shipwrecked troops, prisoners of war).

Treaties and Protocols: The convention consists of four treaties which were formalized in 1949 and three additional protocols which were formalized afterwards:

Four Geneva Conventions:

1) First: Protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war.

2) Second: Protects wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea during war.

3) Third: Applies to prisoners of war (POWs), detailing their humane treatment during their captivity.

4) Fourth: It offers protections to civilians, including those in the occupied territory.

Three additional protocols:

1) Protocol I (1977): Protecting victims in international conflicts, including wars of liberation and conflicts against racist regimes.

2) Protocol II (1977):Focuses on protecting victims in non-international armed conflicts, such as civil wars.

3) Protocol III (2005): It created an additional emblem, the Red Crystal, which has the same international status as the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems.

Which countries are signatories to the Geneva Convention?

1) The Geneva Conventions have been ratified by 196 states, including all UN member states. The three Protocols have been ratified by 174, 169 and 79 states respectively. 

2) India has ratified the Geneva Conventions. In addition, it has also ratified the third protocol of 2005. However, India did not ratify the additional protocols 1 and 2 of 1977.

What is the role of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC)?

1) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. 

2) State parties to the Geneva Convention have given the ICRC the mandate to protect victims of international and internal armed conflicts.

What is the potential prosecution under the Geneva Convention for war crimes?

1) War Crimes’ refers to grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions including wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments among others.

2) Under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), it is the ICC that has jurisdiction in respect of war crimes.

UPSC Syllabus: International Relations

Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)

Source: The post is based on the article “Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)” published in “PIB” on 3rd December 2023

Why in the News?

The Union Minister of Science and Technology has addressed the first ever meeting of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC).

What is the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)?

Specifications	Details
What is it	It is an apex autonomous society under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology.
Purpose	It was formed by subsuming 14 Autonomous Institutions(AIs) under it. This has been done to provide centralized and unified biotech governance across the country.
Functions of Institutions under BRIC	1) The institutions subsumed under BRIC will retain their distinct research mandates but governed by one body at BRIC. 2) Institutes can allocate up to one-third of their lab space for researchers from outside DBT institutes and their collaborators (from industry or other institutes). 3) The institutes will also have the freedom to collaborate in public-private research initiatives and receive funding and endowments from non-governmental sources for their research activities. 4) New Ph.D. programs will be launched across BRIC institutions with a shared curriculum.
Significance	1) Rationalization of Autonomous Bodies will ensure performance enhancement. 2) Function as nodal agency for promotion of biotechnology in India. 3) It will help bring together the best minds in the biotech sector on a unified platform.

What is the ‘Zero Waste Life on Campus’ Program?

1) It was launched on the occasion of the first society meeting of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC).

2) The program aims to achieve sustainable waste management across BRIC campuses through the application and adoption of knowledge and technologies.

3) This program will help guide research toward better waste management for the entire community.

4) It is aligned with Mission LiFE movement.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and Technology

Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge and Declaration on Climate and Health: India has not signed both

Source: The post is based on the article “Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge and Declaration on Climate and Health: India has not signed both” published in “The Hindu” on 3rd December 2023

Why in the News?

During the ongoing COP28 climate summit in Dubai, India has not signed the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge nor the Declaration on Climate and Health.

However, both these pledges are still in the draft stage and are far from having legal sanctity.

What is the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge?

1) The Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge has committed to tripling worldwide installed renewable energy generation capacity by 2030.

2) Signed by: 118 countries. India has not signed the pledge.

3) Reason for India not signing the pledge: The pledge states that renewables deployment must be accompanied by phase down of unabated coal power.
– This is contrary to India’s longstanding position that it needs to rely on coal to rapidly improve living standards for its people.
– India also claims that it has the right to use coal because its historical carbon emissions per person have been negligible.

What is the Declaration on Climate and Health?

1) The declaration encourages governments to protect communities and prepare healthcare systems to handle health issues caused by climate-related impacts like extreme heat, air pollution, and infectious diseases.

2) Signed by: The declaration has been signed by 123 countries. India is not the one among these countries. 

3) Reason for India not signing the declaration: India has not signed the declaration as the draft talks about going beyond health sector and ensuring de-carbonisation to reduce emissions. This links certain aspects of our healthcare system such as cold storage for vaccines to carbon emissions, which India opposes.

UPSC Syllabus: Environment

Paris Club Group of Creditors

Source- This post is based on the article “Sri Lanka reaches agreement with India, Paris Club on debt treatment” published in “The Hindu ” on 29th November 2023.

Why in the News?

Recently, Sri Lanka has reached a preliminary debt restructuring deal with India and the Paris Club group of creditors, paving the way for it to revive a stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme.

What is the Sri Lanka debt scenario?

1) Sri Lanka in May 2022 became the first country in the Asia-Pacific to default on its debts in two decades , the result of domestic economic mismanagement and a surge in global inflation following the coronavirus pandemic.

2) Sri Lanka has foreign debts of about $40bn. China, Japan and India are amongst the largest creditors.

3) The IMF has cleared a $3-billion-Extended Fund Facility (EFF) in March 2023 for Sri Lanka but this loan facility has been stalled due to some disagreement between the creditors.

4) Major lenders, excluding China, formed the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) in May 2023 in response to Colombo’s request for debt treatment. It is co-chaired by India, Japan, and France (as chair of the Paris Club)

What is the Paris Club?

What is it?	1) An informal group of creditor countries whose role is to find coordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor countries. 2) It was created gradually from 1956, when the first negotiation between Argentina and its public creditors took place in Paris.
Member Countries	1) Currently has 22 permanent members: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. 2) All are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 3) India is not a member of this club.
Key features	1) It operates on the principles of consensus and solidarity. Any agreement reached with the debtor country will apply equally to all its Paris Club creditors. 2) The outcome of the negotiation is not a legally binding agreement but forms basis for legally binding bilateral arrangements between the debtor country and its Paris Club creditor countries.

UPSC Syllabus- International Relations

Cyclone Michaung: A.P. braces for heavy rainfall as Michaung intensifies

Source– This post is based on the article “Cyclone Michaung | Coastal Tamil Nadu braces for heavy rain as Andhra Pradesh gears up for landfall” published in “The Hindu” on 2nd December 2023.

Why in the News?

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are preparing for heavy rainfall in their coastal districts as Cyclone Michaung intensified over the Bay of Bengal.

What is Cyclone Michaung?

1) Cyclone Michaung is the fourth tropical cyclone of the year over the Bay of Bengal. Other three were- Mocha, Hamoon, Midhili.

2) India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified it as a severe cyclonic storm.

3) The name of the cyclone ‘Michaung’ was proposed by Myanmar, which signifies resilience and fortitude.

What are Tropical Cyclones?

1) Tropical cyclones are violent storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to the coastal areas.

2) The winds circulate in an anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

3) They are associated with large-scale destruction caused by violent winds, very heavy rainfall, and storm surges.

For more information on tropical cyclones and its formation Click Here to read

How are Cyclones named?

Click Here to Read

UPSC Syllabus- Geography