9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – January 2nd, 2023

Posted on January 2nd, 2023 Last modified on February 26th, 2023 Comments Views 807

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.
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- For individual articles of 9 PM Brief– Click Here

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Working-age population on the decline

Source: The post is based on the article “Working-age population on the decline” published in the Livemint on 2nd January 2022.

Syllabus: GS 1 – Population and associated issues.

Relevance: About the declining working-age population.

News: In the majority of the developed countries working-age population is on the decline.

About the declining working-age population in major economies

According to the UN’s World Population Prospects 2022 (WPP2022) report, the global fertility rate, which stood at 2.3 overall in 2021, will hit the demographic tipping point of 2.1 by 2050. This is owing to a globally synchronized decline in birth rates, including in Africa and Latin America.

The report also pointed out that worldwide, persons aged 65 or over outnumbered children under five for the first time in 2018. By the middle of this century, there will be twice as many senior citizens as people under five, and around as many as the total number of people under 12.

Fertility rates have dropped below the replacement level in all eurozone countries, and they are strikingly low in Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan—the five wealthiest East Asian economies, omitting China.

At 0.81 and 1.38, respectively, South Korea and Hong Kong’s 2021 fertility rates are among the lowest in the world. The US fertility rate has more than halved over since 1960, falling from 3.7 to 1.66 in 2021.

About the declining working-age population in China and India

The situation of India: An emerging-market powerhouse like India is experiencing a population decline. For instance, India recorded fertility rates of 2.03 in 2021 and 2.05 the year before. This is the first time the country had fallen below the replacement rate.

The situation in China: The Chinese government ended its 35-year-old one-child policy in 2016. However, China’s fertility rate stood at just 1.16 in 2021, down from as high as 6.3 as recently as 1968.

Today, every 100 working-age Chinese need to support 20 retirees. If trends continue, by the turn of the next century, every 100 workers will have to support 120 retirees.

What will be the impact of the declining working-age population?

a) High-income economies will face increased pension and healthcare costs, b) The absence of more immigration will lower household consumption and economic growth, c) Historically, per capita output growth has accounted for around half of average annual world economic growth, with the other half coming from population growth. The declining working-age population will upset this balance, d) Many countries may adopt aggressively pro-natalist policies.

Why do population incentivising policies will not stop the declining working-age population?

According to Nobel laureate economist Gary Becker, the demand for children responds to changes in the price of the “marginal child”. Such policies tend to emphasize financial incentives, such as paid maternity leave, “bonuses” for couples that have children, monthly grants for mothers who take time off work to raise a third child, and personal tax deductions to cover childcare expenses.

But these inducements have not proven especially effective. For instance, despite France’s population incentivising policies, its fertility rate stood at just 1.83 in 2021.

How nations can overcome the declining working-age population?

International migration from low-income, high-fertility countries to those with higher average incomes and lower birth rates has helped shield the declining working-age population.

International migration has helped high-income countries sustain economic growth and ease the burden of supporting their growing elderly populations, including by keeping state pensions on a sustainable path.

So, the countries need to recognize the mutually beneficial relationship that exists between low- and high-fertility countries.

GS Paper 2

India’s dilemmas in an Asian century

Source– The post is based on the article “India’s dilemmas in an Asian century” published in The Hindu on 2nd January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- International relations

Relevance– Emerging global order and Implications for India.

News– The article explains the emergence of the Asian century and its implications for stability of global order. It also explains the dilemmas presented by emerging global order before Indian foreign policy establishment

What are important geopolitical developments taking place across Asia?

Emergence of the Asian century appears to be a certainty.

The geopolitical and economic rise of Asia coincides with several regional and global developments. These have potential to undermine the stability and prosperity India had hoped an Asian century would bring.

The withdrawal of the U.S. from much of continental Asia, aggressive rise of China and the Ukraine war appear to have ended the coexistence of Asia.

Today, Russia and China are trying to undermine the global balance of power. Several regional powers such as Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are in tow.

What will be the shape of the Asian century and its impacts on the stability of global order?

There can be no meaningful Asian century in a unipolar world. One Alternative to a unipolar world is a multipolar world with Russia, China, Japan, India and other smaller powers asserting themselves on the global stage. The other alternative is a China-dominated Asia.

It is clear that a China-dominated Asia won’t serve India’s geopolitical interests. A multipolar world with new and shifting alliances; and competing coalitions for dominance will take away the relative ‘stability’ of the current world order.

What is the Indian version of multipolarity?

For India, multipolarity is premised on the rule of law or peaceful coexistence. India values respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, resolution of international disputes through peaceful negotiations, and free and open access for all to the global commons.

What can be the implication of multipolar South Asia for global financial order?

It would lead to sharpening of opposition against the current global financial order.

The weaponization of trade, sanctions against Russia will pose serious challenges to dollar-based trade and Western payment systems such as SWIFT.

The Ukraine war has led to a serious search in parts of Asia for alternative trading arrangements and payment mechanisms.

What is the dilemma created by multipolar Asia before Indian foreign policy establishment?

New Delhi has consistently campaigned for a multipolar world where key Asian powers have a major role in international politics. Yet it may hesitate to engage the emergent Asian century for various reasons.

The Indian establishment has a deeply status quoist view of the world order. It believes in a more democratic, orderly and rules-based world order. But, it recognises that major systemic changes could create chaos. Therefore, India likes peaceful and consensual transformation of the system. It is not happening today.

New Delhi’s biggest fear would be an Asian century without stable multipolarity. Even if it emerges, a multipolar world is most likely to be soon replaced by a bipolar world dominated by the U.S. and China. It would be a bad deal. In such a scenario, India will often be targeted by China.

If a bipolar world leads to great power accommodation between the U.S. and China, India’s situation could be worse off. It means the U.S. accepting China’s sphere of influence.

The Asian century dominated by China may lead to post-Indian South Asia that is under the Chinese sphere of influence, though not entirely inimical to Indian interests.

India-China: between pre-1962 and now

Source– The post is based on the article “India-China: between pre-1962 and now” published in The Hindu on 2nd January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- India and its neighbourhood relationship

Relevance– Bilateral relationship between India and China

News– The article explains the similarities and differences between India-China bilateral relations and the situation along LAC in the 1960s and now.

What are the differences between India- China bilateral conduct in the 1960s and now?

The focus in the 1950s was on the “territorial dispute”of Aksai Chin and NEFA. Today, China is firmly in occupation of Aksai Chin and India is firm in guarding its territorial integrity in Arunachal Pradesh. The immediate issue is transgressions along the LAC.

The differences in the western sector are no longer confined to the Daulet Beg Oldie and Demchok as was the case in earlier decades. China is now seeking claims in the Depsang, Galwan, Pangong Lake and Hot Springs areas.

The border infrastructure on the Indian side was in poor condition earlier. But now, India is rapidly building its border infrastructure.

In 1962, India was forced to approach the U.S. and other Western countries for military assistance to meet the Chinese challenge. In the current phase, India has rapidly inducted new weapon systems.

In the 1950s, China did not claim open support for Pakistan, including on Kashmir. China’s support for Pakistan on Kashmir became self-apparent in the 1960s. Today, China openly works with Pakistan against India’s interests .

The biggest difference between the situation in the 1960s and now is the political will of the Modi government and the determination of the Indian army to block Chinese patrols.

What has not changed in their bilateral relations?

Traditionally, China has enjoyed an advantage in terms of terrain and logistics in Tibet. China has always projected a spurious interpretation of the LAC. It has shied away from clarifying its position through exchanges of large-scale maps.

China’s internal vulnerabilities have always impacted bilateral relations with India. Tibet has remained a source of insecurity for China.

In the late 1950s, Mao Zedong adopted an aggressive stance towards India for consolidating his leadership in the face of internal challenges and avoiding criticism of disastrous political and economic policies.

Today, Mr. Xi is facing challenges for the dreadful Zero-COVID policy, and growing authoritarianism. The tendency to create external diversions is a common thread.

The LAC between India and China is frequently open to challenge by either side. There are areas along the LAC that have been patrolled by both sides in the past.

In the middle, the Barahoti pasture north of Chamoli in Uttarakhand has been at the centre of the dispute for the past seven decades.

In the eastern sector, the international boundary and the LAC are defined by the 1914 McMahon Line. Yet, China seeks to make inroads in the Tawang sector, Upper Subansiri region, and near the tri-junction with Myanmar.

The success of translations has bridged the gap between writing in Indian regional languages and Indian writing in English

Source– The post is based on the article “The success of translations has bridged the gap between writing in Indian regional languages and Indian writing in English” published in The Indian Express on 2nd January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Indian literature

News– The article explains the status of vernacular literature in India

The International Booker Prize was awarded to Tomb of Sand. It is an English translation of Geetanjali Shree Hindi novel Ret Samadhi.

What is the status of literature in vernacular?

These languages have substantially smaller numbers of speakers than Hindi. But they have large readership and a vibrant literary sphere.

JCB award is given to the best Indian novel published in English or translated into English from any Indian language. For the last three years, it has gone to novels originally written in Malayalam. This year it has gone to translation from Urdu.

Over the last two decades, novels from the Indian language have been translated into English. They have occupied a larger space in the literary ecosystem. The Bhojpuri novel Phoolsungi translated into English in 2020 has made waves.

All these novels were written in the 20th or 21st century in Western-realist mode. They deal with modern social-historical themes. Phoolsungi depicts indigo cultivation and the coming of railways in Bihar.

How the differences between vernacular literature and Indian literature in English have reduced with time?

Ever since Bankim Chander, the majority of writers in all Indian languages have been well versed in English while preferring to write in their own languages.

The difference between the vernacular writers and Indian writing in English has not been much of sensibility and quality. It is about language affiliation and social class.

But now vernacular literature has emerged equal to Indian writing in English and enjoys a substantial demographic dividend.

The deep bilingualism that has always coexisted between English and Indian languages at literary level seems now to be breaching linguistic borders.

Equity in healthcare: Aim For More Than Just More AIIMS

Source: The post is based on the article “Aim For More Than Just More AIIMS” published in The Times of India on 2nd January 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Relevance: About achieving equity in healthcare.

News: India’s primary level can take care of almost 70-75% of the population’s healthcare needs. About 20-25% is addressed at the secondary level. Around 5-10% need tertiary-level care.

More AIIMS-like institutions are required to promote equity in India’s healthcare environment.

What is equity in healthcare means?

In healthcare, equity means two things a) People with the same health needs get the same care (horizontal equity) and b) People with an advantage take on a greater share of the responsibility for paying for health services (vertical equity).

A pursuit of excellence or equity is conditioned by one’s background and training. For example, as a general principle, clinicians are trained to support excellence and public health people advocate equity.

Excellence is a measure of the quality of care and equity is a measure of access to care. Both are important. For instance, equity has no meaning if excellence is not a part of it and, excellence is wasted if restricted to a few. So, neither equity nor excellence is achieved without effort.

Read more: [Kurukshetra December Summary] e-Governance in Healthcare Services Delivery – Explained, pointwise

How India can achieve equity in healthcare?

a) India needs to stop seeing excellence as an individual choice and pursuit, but rather as a health system goal. For this to happen, a sharing of a vision of excellence by all levels of leadership is needed.

b) India needs to change the work ethos at all levels to reinforce quality and rigour and ensure commensurate investment in infrastructure and human resources.

c) India needs newer AIIMS-like institutions to achieve the ‘excellence’ of AIIMS New Delhi will need time and effort.

d) Promoting equity requires a reconceptualisation of the health system itself, especially healthcare financing so that barriers to access are removed.

e) India needs smaller health and wellness centres near villages with appropriate size, each catering to the population subset that needs primary, secondary or tertiary care.

Overall, India should ensure providing equity in healthcare is a population-level outcome.

GS Paper 3

The danger of deepfakes

Source: The post is based on an article “The danger of deepfakes” published in The Hindu on 2^nd January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Science and Technology

Relevance: concerns associated with deepfake technology.

News: The article discusses the problems associated with deepfake technology and measures needed to tackle those.

What are deepfakes?

They are digital media-video, audio, and images edited and manipulated using Artificial Intelligence.

Cloud computing, public research AI algorithms, abundant data and availability of vast media have provided the option to manipulate the media. This synthetic media content is referred to as deepfakes.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Generated Synthetic media or deepfakes have benefits in certain areas such as accessibility, education, film production, criminal forensics, and artistic expression.

However, there are more problems associated with it than its benefits.

What are the problems with deepfakes?

Targeting Women: According to a report, 96% of deepfakes are pornographic videos. Deepfake pornography exclusively targets women. It reduces women to sexual objects causing emotional distress, financial loss and consequences like job loss.

Social harm: Deepfakes can also cause short-term and long-term social harm. For example, it can depict a person as indulging in antisocial behaviors and saying bad things that he never did.

Misuse by a nation-state: Deepfake could be used by a nation to harm public safety and create uncertainty and chaos in the target country. Deepfakes can undermine trust in institutions and diplomacy.

Misuse by non-state actors: Deepfakes can be used by non-state actors, such as insurgent groups and terrorist organisations, to show their provoking speeches or such actions to create anti-state sentiments among people.

Spread of unauthentic information: Deepfakes can be used to spread fake news, fake information. Thus, misleading the people.

What can be the course of action?

a) There is a need to enhance media literacy amongst the people. It is the most effective tool to combat disinformation and deepfakes, b) A collaborative discussion with the technology industry, civil society, and policymakers is needed to create a proper law, c) there is a need for easy-to-use and accessible technology solutions to detect deepfakes, d) people should act responsibly and think before sharing any media and before coming to any conclusion.

The International Year of Millets: how India’s govt can promote the cereals in 2023

Source: The post is based on an article “The International Year of Millets: how India’s govt can promote the cereals in 2023” published in The Indian Express on 2^nd January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Food Security

Relevance: benefits and challenges associated millets

News: The effort of India has led the United Nations to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets. India also accounts for a fifth of the world’s millets production.

What are the benefits of millets?

Millets are more nutritious than rice and wheat. However, their protein quality is poorer than that of rice.

The rotis from bajra makes one feel fuller for longer as they take more time to digest and do not raise blood sugar levels too fast. However, there are also challenges associated with millets.

What are the challenges with millets?

Unassured irrigation: Farmers get assured irrigation for rice, wheat, sugarcane, or cotton. Therefore, they would switch towards these corps.

Lack of MSP: Pusa – 1201, a hybrid bajra has been developed to raise the yields and withstand fungal diseases. However, the absence of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) by the government would make farmers hesitant to grow this variety.

What steps can be taken by the government to promote millet?

First, the two schemes of the government – Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman and Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 can be leveraged making them more millets-focused.

Second, MSP procurement of millets should be part of a decentralized nutritional programme.

Third, millets could be served in the form of ready-to-eat foods.

Fourth, the Centre could fund states willing to procure millets, specific to their region and exclusively for distribution through schools and anganwadis.

Read More: Millet Production in India

The path to decarbonisation in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Source– The post is based on the article “The path to decarbonisation in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict” published in The Indian Express on 2nd January 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Infrastructure: Energy

Relevance– Issues related to energy markets

News– The article explains the major changes happening in international energy markets. It also explains the future strategy for the Indian energy market in the changing dynamics.

Energy market is fragmented and energy nationalism is the driving force behind policy.

The Iron curtain has come down. Russia will not be allowed access to western markets as long as Putin is holding the Presidency in Russia. It will lead to a tightening energy embrace between Russia and China.

OPEC plus one has stepped out of western influence. It is actually increasing the closeness between Russia and Saudi Arabia on energy matters. Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it wants to pursue a “Saudi first” non-aligned approach to international relations.

New centers of energy powers are emerging around the world that have a large share of metals, minerals required for clean energy. China is currently the dominant power.

What is the way forward for India?

Petroleum sector– Russian crude is not a sustainable option to meet the energy requirements for India. Government must increase the productivity of existing producing fields. There is a need to increase the country’s market potential to secure a long-term supply with Saudi Arabia and equity partnership with Iran.

Strategic petroleum reserves should be enhanced to cover at least 30 days of consumption. The construction of the pan-India national gas pipeline grid should be expedited.

Coal sector– Coal will remain an important component of India’s energy system for decades. Hundreds of people depend upon the coal ecosystem for livelihood. The government has to find an energy transition route that balances livelihoods and a green agenda.

Some steps in that direction are increased R&D expenditure for coal gasification and carbon capture technologies; carbon tax; establishment of regulatory and monitoring mechanisms for measuring carbon emissions from industry and closure of inefficient and old plants. NITI Aayog should determine the competitiveness of coal versus solar on a full-cost basis.

Demand side measures– The demand conservation and efficiency side is equally important. It is the cheapest, easiest and quickest way to reduce dependence on external sources.

Other measures– There is need for upgradation of transmission grid network to make it resilient for clean energy. The structural issues impacting the renewable actor should be addressed. The improvement in balance sheets of state distribution companies; easing the process for acquisition of land and removal of regulatory uncertainties are important.

Mineral and chip diplomacy is needed to diversify the source of supply of minerals for clean energy.

Creation of an enabling ecosystem for developing and commercializing third-generation clean energy technologies like hydrogen, biofuels and modular nuclear reactors should be pushed.

Demand to exploration: Key warning signals for India’s gas industry in 2023

Source: The post is based on the article “Demand to exploration: Key warning signals for India’s gas industry in 2023” published in the Business Standard on 2nd January 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Relevance: About gas-based economy in India.

News: Indian natural gas business is key to the country achieving its net-zero targets in 2070.

Why does India need to focus on gas based economy?

-Unlike oil, where India has a cheap supply source in Russia, and other affordable sources in West Asia, there is no one to supply liquefied fuel to India at rates that consumers can afford.

-India’s fertiliser and domestic city gas businesses are heavily dependent on natural gas supplies.

-India’s 2070 net-zero climate change target is contingent on increasing gas as a fuel in the economy.

Read more: The Russia-Ukraine war has put the spotlight on the role of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the global energy futures.

What are the key warning signals for India’s gas industry in 2023?

Reduction in demand: Demand for gas in India declined for the first time in eight years this fiscal (excluding a Covid-19-induced dip in 2020-21) after rising steadily until 2019-20.

India’s gas demand was still below 2011-12 levels when India’s dependence on imported LNG was at around half of the current levels.

Decline in gas prices: Russian state-run Gazprom’s sales to Europe and Turkey were at their lowest this century. The squeeze on European supplies increased benchmark gas prices at Dutch TTF to a record in August equivalent to $94 per mBtu (million British thermal units) LNG levels.

But TTF month-ahead prices now average $36 per mBtu, 5% below last year’s levels. This drastic decline in gas is due to mild weather and adequate inventories in Europe.

Volatility in gas rates for India: Europe will need around 75 million tonnes a year of LNG, equivalent to over three times what India consumes, to substitute 100 billion cubic metres of Russian gas this year.

But Qatar, the world’s biggest LNG producer, plans to increase output by only 33 million tonnes a year. This exposes countries like India to volatility in rates in the meantime.

Lack of storage facilities in India: There are almost no gas storage facilities, unlike in China, the US and Europe because the government did not focus on this aspect of the gas supply chain. This makes India even more vulnerable to global price swings.

Reduction in supply to India: Gazprom abruptly ceased 2.5 million-tonne-a-year shipment under a 20-year contract with GAIL.

Over a third of India’s annual LNG supplies comes from a single Qatari supply contract. This is set to expire in a few years. Now Indian importers must compete with Europe, which has the ability to pay steep premiums for term volumes.

India lacks gas exploration: India’s potential gas reserves lie in deep waters. So, gas exploration in India is expensive and high-risk to drill.

The government might accept the recommendations of the Kirit Parikh committee. The committee recommended capping rates at 24% less than the $8.57 per mBtu that explorer ONGC currently charges for supplies. India’s latest price caps on domestic gas supplies will threaten and deter exploration.

Read more: Bottlenecks slow progress of ‘one nation one gas grid’

What should be done to improve gas based economy in India?

The government must be nimble, creative, targeted and pragmatic in new global gas environment. For that, India must free fuel prices instead of meddling with them and regulators must implement the proposals in a faster manner.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

What is a tidal disruption event?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is a tidal disruption event?” published in The Hindu on 1st January,2023

What is the News?

Telescopes operated by NASA recently observed a massive black hole devouring a star. The incident was the fifth-closest example of a black hole destroying a star and occurred 250 million light-years from the earth in the centre of another galaxy.

This astronomical phenomenon of the destruction of a star by a black hole is formally called a Tidal disruption event(TDE).

What is a Tidal Disruption Event(TDE)?

A Tidal Force is the difference in the strength of gravity between two points. If the tidal force exerted on a body is greater than the intermolecular force that keeps it together, the body will get disrupted.

During a Tidal Disruption Event(TDE), the tidal force of a black hole disrupts the star in the vicinity. While about half of the star’s debris continues on its original path, the other half is attracted by the black hole’s gravitational pull. The gradual growth of this material bound to the black hole produces a short-lived flare of emission known as a Tidal Disruption Event.

What is the significance of the Tidal Disruption Event(TDE)?

TDEs are attractive to astronomers because of their observability and short duration, and the opportunity to study the impact of black hole’s gravity on materials around them.

They are also an important tool to learn how black holes influence their environments.

New geospatial policy to foster startup ecosystem

Source: The post is based on the article “New geospatial policy to foster startup ecosystem” published in Livemint on 1st January, 2023

What is the News?

The Department of Science and Technology(DST) has notified a National Geospatial Policy 2022 with the goal of making India a world leader in the global geospatial sector.

What is National Geospatial Policy 2022?

Purpose: It is a citizen-centric policy that seeks to strengthen the Geospatial sector to support national development, economic prosperity and a thriving information economy.

Objectives of the policy

– To make India a World Leader in Global Geospatial space with the best in the class ecosystem for innovation.

– To develop a coherent national framework in the country and leverage it to move towards a digital economy and improve services to citizens.

– To enable easy availability of valuable Geospatial data collected utilizing public funds, to businesses and the public.

– To have a thriving Geospatial industry in the country involving private enterprise.

Key Features of the policy

The policy aims to achieve the following milestones:

– By 2025, the government aims to expand the availability of and access to what it calls “enhanced location data” for enterprises and other organisations, including private organizations.

– By 2030, the government plans to have established an Integrated Data and Information Framework(IDIF), which will serve as the basis for constructing a Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure(GKI).

– By 2035, one of the goals of using geospatial data will be to map the underground infrastructure of India’s most important cities and towns.Another goal will be to generate high-resolution, accurate geospatial data for bathymetry to assist India’s “Blue Economy.”

Institutional Framework: The Government of India will constitute a Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee(GDPDC) at the national level.

– It will be the apex body for formulating and implementing appropriate guidelines, strategies and programmes for promotion of activities related to the geospatial sector.

– GDPDC will be a 17-member body to be headed by a person of repute from industry, government or academia.

National Digital Twins of India’s major cities and towns by 2035: The digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical asset, process or service that lies at the core of the new digital revolution. This facilitates policymakers to understand how infrastructure will function in different situations such as increase of population or during natural disasters.

Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Year End Review 2022

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Year End Review 2022” published in PIB on 30th December 2022

What is the News?

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying have launched several initiatives and schemes in 2022.

What are the schemes and initiatives launched by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in 2022?

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

National Digital Livestock Mission(NDLM)

National Gopal Ratna Award: It is one of the highest National Awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector. It aims to recognize and encourage all individuals like Farmers rearing indigenous animals, AI Technicians and Dairy cooperative societies / Milk Producer Companies / Dairy farmers Producers Organizations working in this sector.

Unique achievement for the Year 2022: For the first time in the world, whole genome sequencing and genomic chip for DNA-based selection of buffaloes has been developed with funding under Rashtriya Gokul Mission. This has led to 2.5% higher genetic gain among the buffalo population in a sustainable manner.

National Programme for Dairy Development(NPDD)

National Animal Disease Control Programme(NADCP)

Livestock Health & Disease Control scheme: It aims to improve the animal health sector by way of implementation of prophylactic vaccination programmes against various diseases of livestock and poultry, capacity building, disease surveillance and strengthening of veterinary infrastructure.

20th Livestock Census report

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development(AHIDF)

National Livestock Mission(NLM)

A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production): ‘A-HELP’ are community-based women activists, who assist veterinarians in local departmental work, help livestock farmers to take loans for entrepreneurship development, fill applications etc.

– It has been launched as a pilot initiative in 7 States/UTs (Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and J&K).

Fisheries Sector: India is the third-largest fish-producing country in the world accounting for 8% of global production and contributing about 1.09% to the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA) and over 6 to the agricultural GVA.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana(PMMSY)

Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund

Budget Announcements:

Integrated Multi-purpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu: Government of India has approved the proposal for the establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu.

Development of 5 Major Fishing harbours as hub of economic activities: As per the Union Budget Announcement 2021-22, the modernisation of 4 fishing harbours namely Paradip, Chennai, Cochin, Vishakhapatnam and the development of Mallete Bunder fishing harbour has been approved.

Integrated Food Security Scheme: Centre to roll out new integrated food security scheme starting 1 January 2023

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre to roll out new integrated food security scheme starting 1 January 2023” published in PIB on 1st January,2023

What is the News?

The Government of India has rolled out the new integrated food security scheme from January 1, 2023.

What is the Integrated Food Security Scheme?

Aim: To strengthen the provisions of the National Food Security Act (NFSA),2013 in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability of food grains for the poor and the vulnerable.

– To bring uniformity and clarity on food security under NFSA at the beneficiary level.

Key Features of the scheme

Subsumed schemes: The scheme will subsume two current food subsidy schemes of the Department of Food and Public Distribution- a) Food Subsidy to Food Subsidy to Food Corporation of India(FCI) for NFSA and b) Food Subsidy for decentralized procurement states, dealing with procurement, allocation and delivery of free foodgrains to the states under NFSA.

Under the scheme, the Government of India will provide free foodgrains to all NFSA beneficiaries i.e. Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) households & Priority Household(PHH) persons for the next one year through the widespread network of Fair Price Shops across the country.

– Free foodgrains will concurrently ensure uniform implementation of portability under One Nation One Ration Card(ONORC) across the country and will further strengthen this choice-based platform.

Funding: Central Government will bear the entire food subsidy of more than Rs. 2 Lakh crore for the year 2023.

Year End Review –Ministry of Education

Source: The post is based on the article “Year End Review –Ministry of Education” published in PIB on 30th December 2022

What is the News?

The Ministry of Education has launched several initiatives and schemes in 2022.

What are the schemes and initiatives launched by the Ministry of Education in 2022?

Samagra Shiksha

Shiksha Shabdkosh: It is a document on the glossary of various terminologies in School Education and a compilation of all the terms which have been used in the context of school education.

PRASHAST Mobile App: PRASHAST stands for Pre Assessment Holistic Screening Tool for schools.

– The app will help in screening 21 disability conditions recognized in Rights of Persons with. Disabilities Act, 2016 at the school level and will generate the school-wise report for further sharing with the authorities for initiating the certification process.

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidvalavas(KGBVs): KGBVs are residential schools under Samagra Shiksha, for girls from class VI to XII belonging to disadvantaged groups such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority and Below Poverty Line (BPL).

PARAKH

National Achievement Survey(NAS) 2021

Vidya Pravesh

Vidyanjali: It is an online portal that acts as a facilitator by connecting volunteers directly to the schools. The effort is to bridge the knowledge/skill / human resource and infrastructure gap in the schools by tapping the potential available in civil society.

Performance Grading Index (PGI)-State

Performance Grading Index District(PGI-D)

Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI): The NITI Aayog developed DGQI platform in 2020 for assessing the data preparedness of the Ministries/ Departments in respect of Central Sector/Centrally Sponsored Schemes. The DGQI assess the Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India on a uniform scale of 0 to 5.

Historic new year for Croatia as it joins euro, Schengen area

Source: The post is based on the article “Historic new year for Croatia as it joins euro, Schengen area” published in TOI on 30th December 2022

What is the News?

From 1st January 2023, Croatia has switched to the European currency – the euro – and joined Europe’s border-free Schengen zone.

Note: Croatia entered the EU in 2013. It becomes the 27th country to join the Schengen area and the 20th to adopt the euro currency.

What is the Euro area?

Euro area or ‘eurozone’ is a bloc of the member states of the European Union (EU) that have replaced their national currencies with a single currency – the euro.

To become a member of the euro area, an EU nation has to meet the convergence criteria – economic and legal conditions such as low inflation, and a stable exchange rate, among others.

Currently, the euro (€) is the official currency of 20 out of 27 EU member countries.

How will Croatia benefit from joining the Eurozone?

Croatia becoming a member of the euro area will help the nation to protect its economy amid soaring inflation in the wake of the Russian war in Ukraine.

Note: This is the first expansion of the eurozone in almost eight years after Lithuania joined it in 2015.

What is the Schengen zone?

Schengen Area signifies a zone where European countries abolished their internal borders for the free and unrestricted movement of people.

It includes 22 of the EU’s 27 states as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

With Croatia joining the Schengen zone, the Croatians would now be able to move freely around the Schengen member countries and would not be required to show their passports while travelling.

Centre, States to join hands to promote millets consumption

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre, States to join hands to promote millets consumption” published in The Hindu on 1st January,2023

What is the News?

To promote the cultivation and consumption of millets on a larger scale, the Union government with the help of various States and Indian embassies around the globe has launched the International Year of Millets(IYM).

What are Millets?

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What is the importance of Millet in India?

Millets were among the first crops to be domesticated in India with several evidence of its consumption during the Indus valley civilization.

In India, millets are primarily a Kharif crop, requiring less water and agricultural inputs than other similar staples.

In 2018, the Government of India rebranded Millets as “Nutri Cereals” followed by the year 2018 being declared as the National Year of Millets aiming at larger promotion and demand generation.

What has the Government of India planned to do to promote millets in 2023?

Union Ministries, States and Indian embassies have been allocated a ‘focussed month’ each in 2023 to promote millets.

For instance, in January, the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Rajasthan governments will conduct International Year of Millets(IYM) events and activities.

Year-End- Review of Ministry of Heavy Industries – 2022

Source: The post is based on the article “Year-End- Review of Ministry of Heavy Industries – 2022” published in PIB on 30th December 2022

What is the News?

The Ministry of Heavy Industries has launched several initiatives and schemes in 2022.

What are the schemes and initiatives launched by the Ministry of Heavy Industries in 2022?

Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME India II) Scheme

FAME India II Scheme has been launched to incentivize demand for Electric Vehicles(EVs) by providing upfront subsidies and creating EV charging infrastructure.

The scheme was redesigned in June 2021 based on experience, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and feedback from industry and users. The redesigned scheme aims at the faster proliferation of Electric Vehicles by lowering the upfront costs.

The scheme has been extended for a further period of 2 years i.e. upto March 31, 2024.

National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC)

Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Automobile and Auto Components

NATRIP

Scheme on Enhancement of Competitiveness in The Indian Capital Goods Sector- Phase-II

Vibrant Village Programme(VVP): Patriotic citizens in border villages can provide permanent security: Home Minister

Source: The post is based on the article “Patriotic citizens in border villages can provide permanent security: Home Minister” published in The Hindu on 30th December 2022

What is the News?

The Union Home Minister said that borders can be permanently secured only when border villages are populated by patriotic citizens who are concerned for the country asking the border-guarding forces to use the Vibrant Village Programme(VVP) for the same.

What is the Vibrant Village Programme(VVP)?

The Vibrant Villages Programme(VVP) has been announced in the Finance Minister’s Budget Speech 2022.

Aim: To enhance infrastructure in villages along India’s border with China, in states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Activities under the VVP include: building infrastructures such as housing, tourist centres, road connectivity, providing decentralized renewable energy, direct-to-home access for Doordarshan and educational channels, and support for livelihood generation.

Coverage: The programme envisages coverage of border villages on the Northern border that have sparse populations, limited connectivity and infrastructure which often get left out of the development gains.