Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Numbers Game – on data collection methods for surveys
• Delhi’s Kyiv Calculations – on India-Ukraine relations
• Restoring the World Trade Organization’s crown jewel
• What Data Protection Bill needs to do to actually protect
• Blurred lines – on US’s delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine

GS Paper 3

GS Paper 4

• Corporate social responsibility projects demand expertise too

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Numbers Game – on data collection methods for surveys

Source– The post is based on the article “Numbers Game – on data collection methods for surveys” published in “The Times of India” on 10th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Government policies and interventions

Relevance– Issues related to data collection and statistics by government

News- In the last four months, three members of the PM’s economic advisory council have independently expressed concern about the quality of official statistics.

What are issues with government statistics and data collection?

The primary data generation process is hampered by the lack of adherence to set timelines. The census has been indefinitely postponed, creating a significant gap in the data system. In addition, surveys such as the consumer expenditure survey and the economic census are also experiencing delays.

Users have raised concerns over the quality of the data generated.

The National Statistical Commission (NSC), formed in 2006 to spearhead statistical activities and establish standards. It was intended to gain authority through legislation. However, even after seventeen years, the legislation has not been passed.

What is the way forward to strengthen the statistical system of the Indian government?

The NSC membership selection process should involve a committee comprising parliamentarians. It is crucial for shielding the statistical system from allegations of political bias.

A mechanism to ensure financial autonomy is necessary. An upgrade to the statistical system must be overseen by a technically equipped body that has statutory powers. Reliable data is an essential need.

India has built an impressive structure to capture administrative data by governments. However, this mode of data collection needs to be complemented by the official statistical system generating primary data through surveys to fill the gaps.

While India has developed a robust structure for collecting administrative data by the government. However, this data collection method needs to be balanced with the official statistical system’s primary data generation through surveys to cover the existing gaps.

Delhi’s Kyiv Calculations – on India-Ukraine relations

Source– The post is based on the article “Delhi’s Kyiv Calculations” published in “The Times of India” on 10th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Bilateral groupings and agreements

Relevance: India and Ukraine bilateral relationship

News- India’s MEA secretary (west) Sanjay Verma’s upcoming visit to Kyiv could potentially mark a turning point in Indo-Ukrainian ties.

What are the issues with India and Ukraine bilateral relationship?

Historically, the relations between India and Ukraine are based on the premise that Ukraine is a satellite of Russia. There were no efforts to innovate, rethink and revisit.

Whereas, Ukrainians feel that India has not done enough to stop Russian aggression. Today, Ukrainians use phrases like “India does not care” for India’s response towards Russia’s war against Ukraine.

There is a lack of high-level political visits. Ukraine hosted Indian Presidents in 1993 and 2005. But the only time the PM of India Indira Gandhi visited was in 1982, when Ukraine was a part of the USSR.

What has been India’s position on the Ukraine war?

PM Narendra Modi stated publicly in the presence of President Vladimir Putin, “this is not an era of war” at the SCO Summit in Samarkand. India also reiterated its support for territorial integrity, sovereignty and commitment to the UN Charter by member states.

However, India did not condemn Russian aggression openly.

What are potential bilateral relationships between India and Ukraine?

Policymakers in India realise the urgent need to overhaul India’s policy towards Ukraine. In this context, this visit will rekindle hope.

India was present at a summit on Ukraine in Copenhagen. This was the first ever presence of non-Western states like India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and South Africa in such a format.

This summit is an established platform with almost 50 countries, based on the 10-point Peace Plan of the Ukrainian President.

The war has brought out the post-colonial identity of modern Ukraine. It shows the similarity with the nations in the southern hemisphere.

Ukraine is no longer a problem of Europe alone. So, India’s involvement is important to protect its national interest as a global player.

What are the challenges in Indian foreign policy approach towards Russia?

It is difficult to reshape India-Russia relations and remove the legacy of the Soviet era.

Russian strategists fully understand India’s strategic necessity to be closer to the US and the West, but it also expects that India holds no open objection to its closeness to China.

Countries of the Global South are becoming aware that Russia’s policies towards countries of the former Soviet Union are based on hegemony and sphere of influence. Russia is ignoring agency and representation of these countries.

After more than 30 years of sovereign Ukraine’s existence, Russia is apprehensive of India’s independent policies towards it.

What is the way forward for India and Ukraine bilateral relationship?

There is a need to widen people-to-people contacts and academic exchanges.

The war against Ukraine is an opportunity for India to get rid of its post-Soviet inertia and start afresh. India is expected to understand Ukraine from this standpoint.

Restoring the World Trade Organization’s crown jewel

Source: The post is based on the article “Restoring the World Trade Organization’s crown jewel” published in The Hindu on 10^th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Important International Institutions

Relevance: concerns associated with WTO’s dispute settlement system (DSS)

News: In June 2022, at the Geneva ministerial conference, the member-countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached a crucial agreement.

Recently, an agreement was reached for revival of the WTO’s dispute settlement system (DSS) by 2024, also known as the “crown jewel” of the organization. DSS has been paralyzed due to the non-functioning of its appellate body since 2019.

What is the Dispute Settlement System of the WTO?

Click Here to Read

What are the reasons behind the non-functioning of the appellate body of the DSS?

The United States has blocked the appointment of appellate body members, making it inactive. It has criticized the appellate body of the WTO for exceeding its institutional mandate and engaging in judicial overreach.

One of the main concerns raised by the U.S. is that the appellate body has been creating binding precedents through its decisions, which goes against the WTO’s dispute settlement understanding (DSU).

It is well-established that there is no rule of stare decisis, i.e., no rule of precedent in international law. It is system followed by Courts under which Courts refer to the previous, similar legal issues to guide their decisions.

Further, the WTO’s DSU also makes this clear in Article 3.2 by stating that the appellate body rulings can neither add nor diminish the rights and obligations of WTO member-countries.

Therefore, the appellate body needs to ensure consistency in the interpretation and application of WTO agreements without establishing binding precedents.

However, the appellate body has encouraged WTO panels to consider previous interpretations, only in similar cases, while it has also departed from previous rulings which have cogent reasons.

Moreover, other appellate bodies, such as the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea also follow past decisions.

Why are other strategic reasons behind the United States blocking the appointment of DSS’s appellate body members?

The United States appears to have a larger strategy of de-judicializing trade multilateralism.

With the creation of the WTO, governments around the world accepted certain norms of international law to evaluate their actions and gave this authority to international courts, which resulted in the legalization of international relations.

It also led to judicialization of international relations, with the expansion of international courts and tribunals that dominated national decision-making.

This judicialization has raised concerns about the erosion of national sovereignty as countries delegate critical decision-making powers to international courts.

Therefore, the United States, facing the economic challenges posed by China, aims to regain full control over its trade policies by doing away with the judicial review of the WTO appellate body.

Note: According to Daniel Abebe and Tom Ginsburg, De-judicialization is the reverse phenomenon where countries weaken international courts to take back decision-making power.

Must Read: Dispute Settlement System of the WTO: Challenges and Solutions – Explained

What can be the way ahead?

It seems useless to try to restore the WTO’s appellate body through negotiations with the United States. Instead, other countries should try to elect the appellate body members by resorting to voting at the WTO’s General Council meeting.

What Data Protection Bill needs to do to actually protect

Source: The post is based on the article “What Data Protection Bill needs to do to actually protect” published in “Indian Express” on 10th July 2023.

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

News: India’s government is considering reintroducing the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill during the upcoming Parliament Monsoon session. The aim of this potential move is to better protect online users, referred to as ‘digital nagriks’ or digital citizens.

What is data portability?

Data portability is a provision that allows users to move their personal data from one digital platform to another. It’s designed to give individuals more control over their online data. For instance, a small business using a large e-commerce platform can take its user data and transfer it to another platform. This means that if the business is unhappy with the practices of the current platform, it can switch to a competitor without losing all the data it generated on the original platform. This empowers users and provides them with more control over their own data.

What is data interoperability?

Data interoperability refers to the ability of different digital platforms to work together and exchange information seamlessly. It would allow users who switch platforms to not only take their data with them, but also continue interacting with users from the original platform. This enhances the users’ flexibility and freedom, and also encourages cross-platform communication and interaction.

For instance, if data interoperability were implemented, a Twitter user could choose to leave Twitter for a rival platform, taking all her personal data with her. In addition, due to data interoperability, she would still be able to communicate with her contacts on Twitter, despite having switched platforms.

Should the Government Include Data Portability and Interoperability Provisions?

Given the benefits of data portability and interoperability, the government should include these provisions in the revised Digital Personal Data Protection Bill.

Such a move can significantly enhance user control over personal data and potentially stimulate India’s start-up ecosystem by fostering healthy competition. It’s a crucial step to transform and democratize digital experiences, making it more beneficial and empowering for users, while also encouraging innovative and responsible practices in data management by tech platforms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, incorporating data portability and interoperability into the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill could enhance user control, stimulate India’s start-up ecosystem, and revolutionize internet interaction, offering a critical step forward in our increasingly digital world.

Blurred lines – on US’s delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine

Source: The post is based on the article “Blurred lines” published in “The Hindu ” on 10th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – International Relations (IR)

News: The Biden administration recently decided to send cluster munitions to Ukraine in the wake of the ongoing Russian invasion. It illustrates both the difficulties faced by Kyiv and its western allies in the protracted war, and the U.S.’s willingness to intensify the conflict.

About Convention on Cluster Munitions

Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international treaty, which was adopted by more than 100 countries on May 30, 2008, prohibited the manufacture, transfer, and use of cluster munitions. It entered into force on Aug. 1, 2010.

Is the U.S. contradicting its own criticisms of war crimes?

Even though the U.S. has not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, it has previously criticized Russia for using such munitions in the conflict, labeling it as war crimes. Yet, the U.S.’s change of stance, as part of its 42nd aid package to Ukraine, underlines the pressures Ukraine is enduring on the battlefield.

What are the factors behind this US’s Decision?

Ukraine’s dependency on the West for resources like artillery shells and ammunition stands in stark contrast to Russia’s undisturbed weapon supply. This discrepancy strains the Western reserves, leaving Ukraine in a disadvantageous position.

Initially, it was assumed that Ukraine’s swift victories would pressure Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. But, the strong defensive fortifications by the Russians along the front line present formidable obstacles. Ukraine’s minor territorial gains in the southeast came at high costs. Also, their aim of cutting off Putin’s land bridge in Zaporizhzhia remains unfulfilled.

This challenging reality led to the U.S.’s “difficult decision” of sending cluster munitions. Despite President Biden justifying it as aiding Ukraine’s self-defence, the decision to send these potentially civilian-targeting weapons to the battlefield blurs moral lines.

GS Paper 3

Tomato challenge: Hoarding is not as bad as it sounds

Source– The post is based on the article “Tomato challenge: Hoarding is not as bad as it sounds” published in the “mint” on 10th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Economy – Pricing and inflation

Relevance: Issues related to inflation

News- The ministry of consumer affairs announced a ‘Tomato Grand Challenge’ with the objective to ensure the availability of tomatoes at fair prices.

What is the popular perception about hoarding?

There is perception is that holding back supply causes the price to rise. People form an opinion based on what is visible today and ignore what is likely to happen tomorrow.

People cannot make much sense of year- on-year price changes. They tend to have a recency bias. People compare today’s prices with those of goods when last purchased.

What are impacts of high inflation on food items?

Relatively low-income families face the brunt of it in terms of household expenditure when these prices shoot up, and without notice.

In contrast, farmers face distress when prices collapse suddenly, resulting in severe losses.

Why hoarding is essential for producers?

Farmers have destroyed excess produce to avoid a price collapse. They should have an option to stock the extra produce.

The demand for food products is relatively stable. Variations in supply cause dramatic changes in these prices. Hoarding tends to reduce price volatility.

The release of hoarded produce also lowers tomorrow’s prices when tomorrow comes. This is called ‘invisible’ trade-offs because what happens tomorrow cannot be seen today.

What is the way forward?

There is need to develop cold storage options for cultivators. These should be accessible at reasonable prices. Cultivators should be allowed to decide when to bring their supply to the market.

There is ned for creative ideas for developing integrated supply chain. Innovative solutions to achieve low-cost cold storage of farm produce and develop an efficient food processing sector can be helpful.

Who can dethrone the US dollar?

Source: The post is based on the article “Who can dethrone the US dollar?” published in Business Standard on 10^th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indian Economy – Growth & Development

Relevance: concerns associated with adopting alternatives payments system against dollars.

News: Countries around the world are taking measures for dedollarization and coming up with alternative transaction mechanisms. However, the factors that make the dollar an international currency must be considered.

What are the factors that make dollars an international currency?

Read – De-dollarisation of Trade

What have been the previous attempts to dethrone the dollar?

Japan: During the 1990s, Japan was the second-largest economy in the world, had good institutions, and it commanded confidence from the world on inflation, taxation, and capital controls.

It tried a big “industrial policy” push to establish the Japanese yen as a major international currency. However, the attempt failed.

Euro: After the failure of Japan, the euro emerged as a significant currency and the European Union (EU) began to rival the US as an economic powerhouse.

This gave the euro recognition as an international currency. However, the euro remains a minor player compared to the dominant position of the US dollar.

What measures are being taken by China?

The Chinese government is making efforts to promote the renminbi as a global currency. However, China faces more challenges compared to Japan.

China has strict capital controls, similar to India, which restrict the flow of money in and out of the country. The Chinese central bank primarily pegs the renminbi to the US dollar, which means it is not truly an independent exchange rate.

Further, China lacks confidence in managing inflation and taxation and it also does not have an appealing financial system that attracts non-resident investors or fundraisers Hence, this ambition of the Chinese state is likely to go unfulfilled.

What can be the way ahead for India?

First, India has the potential to become a major producer of internationalized financial services.

This can be achieved by implementing the recommendations of the Percy Mistry report on making Mumbai an international financial center and the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission report by Justice Srikrishna.

Second, policymakers should aim to restore the pre-independence era where the rupee was widely trusted and used across South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, and East Africa.

This requires maintaining good institutions over a period of 50 years, particularly regarding inflation, taxation, capital controls, and demonetization. In terms of inflation, the goal should be to sustain the 4 percent inflation target consistently over a 50-year period.

Express view on extreme weather: Heat is on

Source: The post is based on the article “Express view on extreme weather: Heat is on” published in Indian Express on 10th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3- Environment (Climate change)

News: Last week saw global average daily temperatures in a range never seen before. Last Monday, it reached above 17 degrees Celsius. This was the hottest day recorded in history. The record was beaten again on Tuesday, and then on Thursday. More records are expected to be broken in the coming days and weeks. 2023 is likely to be one of the hottest years ever.

How is climate change progressing?

Climate change is happening as predicted by scientists, but maybe a bit faster. It’s not just heat, but also heavy rain, floods, droughts, and wildfires. While these cannot be stopped instantly, governments can act to reduce their impact.

What can be done to tackle heat waves?

Simple interventions can significantly reduce deaths from heat waves. However, many local governments don’t have a heat action plan. No area can consider itself safe from heat waves due to their unpredictable nature.

How has heat wave exposure increased over the years?

In 2015, nine states experienced heat waves. By 2020, 23 states were affected. The number of heat wave days per year increased from seven in 2015 to 33 in 2020. Last month, eastern UP saw many people hospitalized, and several died due to heat-related diseases. These are the shocks that may repeat if local governments are not prepared.

Why heat waves in the rainy season?

It may seem strange to discuss heat waves during the rainy season. However, July is one of the four months when heat waves are expected. Recent trends suggest that heat waves could occur in subsequent months as well. Therefore, it’s an ideal time for local governments to prepare for heat emergencies.

The problem with battery electric vehicles

Source: The post is based on the article “The problem with battery electric vehicles” published in “Indian Express” on 10th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. & Environmental pollution.

News: Rowan Atkinson, known for his love of cars, expressed his skepticism about the push for electric vehicles (EVs). In a Guardian article, he raised concerns about the environmental impact of manufacturing EVs and the state support for them. He believes this focus on EVs could be problematic if replicated in India.

What are EVs?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are vehicles that are powered by electricity, instead of traditional fuel sources like gasoline or diesel. They utilize an electric motor for propulsion, and the electricity that powers them is stored in rechargeable batteries. There are several types of EVs, including: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)

What are the Issues in promoting the adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)?

Upfront subsidy: The effectiveness of state subsidies for BEVs is debated. While they have worked in some markets like Norway, the U.S, and China, they primarily benefit middle and upper-middle classes, who are the typical buyers of BEVs.

Charging network: According to World Bank, Charging infrastructure plays a critical role in EV adoption. India currently has a limited number of public charging stations, making it difficult for BEV owners to find convenient charging options. For instances, as of mid-2022, India has only about 2,000 public charging stations, despite having over a million EVs.

Electricity source: In many countries, electricity for EVs is generated from renewable sources, like, Norway has 99% hydroelectric power. In India, most electricity is still generated from coal-fired thermal plants. Therefore, while BEVs may reduce emissions in cities, they still contribute to pollution at the power generation stage.

Value chain: India relies heavily on imports for the lithium required to produce Li-ion batteries for BEVs. This dependency presents supply chain risks and could impact the country’s ability to meet growing demand for BEVs. For example, demand for Li-ion batteries from India is projected to grow at a CAGR of more than 30% by volume up to 2030.

Note: More than 90% of the global Li production is concentrated in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia alongside Australia and China, and other key inputs such as cobalt and nickel are mined in the Congo and Indonesia

Variety of technologies: There are other efficient vehicle technologies available apart from BEVs. Focusing too heavily on one technology might limit innovation and the potential benefits from other promising technologies.

What are the new technologies that would be helpful in the push for battery electric vehicles (BEVs)?

Hybrid vehicles: Hybrid technology, which combines an internal combustion engine (ICE) with an electric powertrain, can improve fuel efficiency and doesn’t require extensive charging infrastructure like BEVs. However, they still use Li-ion batteries, and their efficiency can drop when using air conditioning, which is often needed in India.

Ethanol and Flex Fuels: Flex fuel vehicles can run on more than one type of fuel, or a mixture of fuels like petrol and ethanol. This technology is currently under commercial deployment in countries like Brazil, Canada, and the US.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) and Hydrogen ICE: Read here

Synthetic fuels: Porsche is developing a synthetic fuel made from carbon dioxide and hydrogen using renewable energy. This approach could extend the lifespan of ICE cars while making them virtually CO2-neutral. The fuel production is being tested in Chile. From 2026, Formula One will also use synthetic fuel.

What should be done?

To facilitate the transition to EVs, governments must focus on fair subsidy distribution, investing in charging infrastructure, and promoting local battery production. Researching alternative technologies, implementing robust policies, and raising public awareness are crucial. Intermediate technologies can bridge the gap, ensuring safety standards are met, while government and automaker partnerships can incentivize wider EV adoption.

GS Paper 4

Corporate social responsibility projects demand expertise too

Source– The post is based on the article “Corporate social responsibility projects demand expertise too” published in the “mint” on 10th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 4 – corporate governance

Relevance: Issues related to corporate Social Responsibility

News-The article is about concerns related to the money spent by companies on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

Companies above a threshold level of profit, sales or net worth are mandated to invest 2% of their average profit for the last 3 years on CSR activities, which are defined.

What are the issues related to CSR spending?

Limited areas: There has been concentration in three activities. These are education, health and rural development. For example, 77% of the total amount spent between 2014-15 and 2020-21 was on these three areas.

Regional Inequity in spending: There has also been a concentration of spending in some large states: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Companies do not have any core competence in these areas. Internal staff that are not competent to do this work. They are involved in low-effort exercises like distributing water coolers or laptops to schools.

Companies look for easy ways out by transferring the money to a centralized fund like the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to save the management time on CSR compliance.

What are the challenges faced by companies?

Most of the companies like to transfer the money to a centralized fund like the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. It is because companies are not meant to do social work. They need to allocate more resources in compliance with their CSR responsibility. Therefore, it should be the responsibility of the government to use CSR funds effectively.

What is the way forward?

Government can set up a separate organization to work on the deployment of these resources. NITI Aayog could be entrusted with this responsibility.

Centre can take the prerogative on how to deploy these funds. The amount can be paid by companies in a lump-sum manner to deploy based on their social-sector priorities.

Government can draw up a list of all CSR projects followed by directed or suggested CSR spending. Advice can be given routinely to firms on where money should be spent and for what exact activity.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Ministry of Education releases combined report on Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) for the year 2020-21 & 2021-22

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Education releases combined report on Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) for the year 2020-21 & 2021-22” published in PIB on 9th July 2023

What is the News?

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education has released the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) combined report for 2020-21 and 2021-22.

What is the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D)?

Aim: To assess the performance of the school education system at the District level by creating an index for comprehensive analysis.

Methodology: PGI-D structure comprises of total weight age of 600 points across 83 indicators, which are grouped under 6 categories viz., Outcomes, Effective Classroom Transaction, Infrastructure Facilities & Student’s Entitlements, School Safety & Child Protection, Digital Learning and Governance Process. 

– These categories are further divided into 12  domains such as Learning Outcomes and Quality (LO), Access Outcomes (AO), Teacher Availability, Learning Management (LM), Infrastructure, Facilities, school Safety and Child Protection (SS&CP), Digital Learning (DL) among others.

Categories: PGI-D has 10 grades under which districts are categorized with Daksh being the highest grade (above 90%) followed by Utkarsh (81%-90%); Ati-Uttam (71%-80%); Uttam (61%-70%); Prachesta-1 (51%-60%); Prachesta-2 (41%-50%); Prachesta-3 (31%-40%); Akanshi-1 (21% to 30%); and Akanshi-2 (11% to 20%). 

– The lowest grade is Akanshi-3, for districts that score less than 10%.

Significance: PGI-D is expected to help the state education departments to identify gaps at the district level and improve their performance in a decentralized manner.

What are the key findings of PGI-D 2020-21 and 2021-22?

Source: The Hindu

There are no districts in the country figuring in the top two grades — “Daksh” and “Utkarsh” in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 index.

121 districts were graded as Ati-Uttam for 2020-21.This number fell by more than half in 2021-22 with just 51 districts making the grade.

Among the best-performing districts in 2020-21, the maximum are from Rajasthan (26) followed by Gujarat (22) and Punjab (19).All nine districts of Delhi have figured in the “Ati Uttam” category.

In the digital learning domain during 2021-22, the majority of districts are still in the bottom three grades indicating the need for boosting the digital learning aspect. 

Objections overruled, Forest Bill goes to House unchanged

Source: The post is based on the article “Objections overruled, Forest Bill goes to House unchanged” published in Indian Express on 10th July 2023

What is the News?

A Parliamentary committee set up to examine the proposed amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act,1980 has endorsed the amended Bill in its entirety. 

What is the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023?

The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, is a proposed legislation aimed at amending the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, with the objective of promoting sustainable development while conserving India’s forests and biodiversity.

What are the key provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023?

Land under the purview of the Act:  The Bill provides that two types of land will be under the purview of the Act: (i) land declared/notified as a forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 or under any other law, or (ii) land not covered in the first category but notified as a forest on or after October 25, 1980 in a government record. 

Exempted categories of land:  The Bill exempts certain types of forest land from the provisions of the Act such as:

–  Forest land along a rail line or a public road maintained by the government providing access to a habitation, or to a rail, and roadside amenities up to a maximum size of 0.10 hectare.

– Forest land situated within 100 km from international borders, Line of Control, or Line of Actual Control, for construction of a strategic linear project of national importance and concerning national security

– Forest land up to 10 hectares, for constructing security-related infrastructure

– Forest land proposed to be used for constructing defense related projects, camps for paramilitary forces, or public utility projects up to five hectares in a left-wing extremism affected area.

Assignment/leasing of forest land:  Under the Act, a state government requires prior approval of the central government to assign forest land to any entity not owned or controlled by the government.   

– In the Bill, this condition is extended to all entities, including those owned and controlled by the government.

Permitted activities in forest land:  The Act specifies certain activities that will be excluded from non-forest purposes, meaning that restrictions on the use of forest land for non-forest purposes will not apply.  

– These activities include works related to the conservation, management, and development of forest and wildlife such as establishing check posts, fire lines, fencing, and wireless communication. 

– The Bill adds more activities to this list such as: (i) zoos and safaris under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (ii) ecotourism facilities, (iii) silvicultural operations and (iv) any other purpose specified by the central government. 

Power to issue directions: The Bill adds that the central government may issue directions for the implementation of the Act to any authority/organization under or recognised by the centre, state, or union territory (UT).

What are the key issues with the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023?

Click Here to read

Data Protection Bill approved by Cabinet: Content, concerns

Source: The post is based on the article “Data Protection Bill approved by Cabinet: Content, concerns” published in Indian Express on 6th July 2023

What is the News?

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 is expected to be tabled in the upcoming Parliament’s Monsoon Session.

What are the key provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022?

Applicability: The Bill will apply to processing of digital personal data within India and to data processing outside the country if it is done for offering goods or services, or for profiling individuals in India.

Collection of Personal Data: The bill requires entities that collect personal data — called data fiduciaries — to maintain the accuracy of data, keep data secure, and delete data once their purpose has been met.

Data Breach: The bill is expected to allow “voluntary undertaking” — meaning that entities violating its provisions can bring it up with the data protection board which can decide to bar proceedings against the entity by accepting settlement fees. 

– Repeat offences of the same nature could attract higher financial penalties, the official said. The highest penalty — to be levied for failing to prevent a data breach — has been prescribed at Rs 250 crore per instance.

Click Here to read more

What are the key changes that are made in the bill now?

Click Here to read

What are the key concerns with the bill?

Firstly, the Bill has prescribed that the central government can exempt “any instrumentality of the state” from adhering to the provisions of the bill on account of national security, relations with foreign governments, and maintenance of public order among other things.

Secondly, the central government will have complete control in appointing members of the data protection board — an adjudicatory body that will deal with privacy-related grievances and disputes between two parties — is learnt to have been retained as well.

Thirdly, there is also concern that the law could dilute the Right to Information (RTI) Act, as personal data of government functionaries is likely to be protected under it, making it difficult to be shared with an RTI applicant.

What are the data protection laws in other countries?

Click Here to read

Coming, women-only courts for alternative dispute resolution

Source: The post is based on the article “Coming, women-only courts for alternative dispute resolution” published in The Hindu on 8th July 2023

What is the News?

The Central Government is launching a unique initiative of setting up women-only courts called Nari Adalats.

What are Nari Adalats?

Nari Adalats are being set up at the village level as an alternate dispute resolution forum for resolving issues like domestic violence, property rights and countering the patriarchal system.

It will also raise awareness about social schemes under the government while collecting valuable feedback to enhance the effectiveness of these initiatives.

It will be launched on a pilot basis in 50 villages each in Assam and J&K and would be extended to the rest of the country over the next six months.

Ministries involved: This initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development under the Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti.

– The implementation will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Rural Development and Common Service Centers operated by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).

The scheme takes inspiration from the Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats [People’s Court of Women] which were run by the National Commission for Women (NCW) till 2014-15.

Composition of Nari Adalats: 

The Nari Adalat of each village would have 7-9 members/Nyaya Sakhis [legal friends]: Half of which would be the elected members of the gram panchayat and the other half are women with social standing like teachers, doctors and social workers – who would be nominated by the villagers.

The head of Nari Adalat called the Mukhya Nyaya Sakhi [chief legal friend] will be chosen among the Nyaya Sakhis, generally for a six-month term.

The Nari Adalat will not hold any legal status as its primary focus will be on reconciliation, grievance redressal and creating awareness of rights and entitlements.

Understanding solar flares: How explosions on Sun’s surface can lead to radio blackouts

Source: The post is based on the article “Understanding solar flares: How explosions on Sun’s surface can lead to radio blackouts” published in Down To Earth on 6th July 2023

What is the News?

The Sun emitted an X-class solar flare disrupting radio communications over parts of the United States and the Pacific Ocean.

What are Solar Flares?

Source: Reuters

A solar flare is a tremendous explosion on the Sun that happens when energy stored in ‘twisted’ magnetic fields (usually above sunspots) is suddenly released.

​​They can heat a substance to several millions of degrees in a matter of minutes, producing a burst of radiation that spans the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to x-rays and gamma rays.

Impact of Solar Flares: Solar Flares can affect radio communications, power grids and navigation signals and endanger astronauts and spacecraft.

Categories: Solar flares can be divided into various categories based on their brightness in X-ray wavelengths. 

– X-class flares are large, significant events that have the power to cause global radio blackouts and persistent radiation storms in the upper atmosphere.

– Medium-sized M-class flares typically result in brief radio blackouts that affect the Earth’s polar regions. Sometimes an M-class flare is followed by small radiation storms. 

– C-class flares are slight and have little effect on the Earth.

GSTN launches geocoding in all states and UTs

Source: The post is based on the article “GSTN launches geocoding in all states and UTs” published in Indian Express on 8th July 2023

What is the News?

The GST Network (GSTN) has introduced geocoding functionality in all states and union territories of India.

What is Geocoding?

Geocoding converts an address or description of a location into geographic coordinates.

It has been introduced to ensure the accuracy of address details in GSTN records and streamline the address location and verification process.

This is important because the accuracy of the address details is crucial in determining the applicable GST rates, place of supply rules, and other compliance requirements.

The GST Network has already geocoded 1.8 crore principal places of businesses.

Applicability: This functionality is currently available for various types of taxpayers, including normal taxpayers, composition taxpayers, SEZ units, SEZ developers, Input Service Distributors (ISDs) and casual taxpayers who are active, cancelled or suspended.

What is the GST Network (GSTN)?

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