Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• The anatomy of the Yamuna floodplains
• Express View on ‘award wapsi’: Writer’s choice

GS Paper 2

• RTI in politics: Bringing political parties within the fold of law will not help
• Ayushman Bharat expose: How to nudge India’s public health infrastructure
• An avoidable ban – Restrictions on rice exports can be counterproductive

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

The anatomy of the Yamuna floodplains

Source: The post is based on the article “The anatomy of the Yamuna floodplains” published in “The Hindu” on 28th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and icecaps)

News: The author discusses the historical and ecological significance of the Yamuna River’s floodplains in Delhi. He highlights how urbanization, construction, and lax regulations have encroached upon and degraded these areas, leading to severe flooding and challenges for the residents. He also emphasizes the need for better planning and respect for the river’s natural flow and importance.

What are the significances of the Yamuna River’s floodplains in Delhi?

Significances of the Yamuna River’s floodplains in Delhi:

Historical Importance:

The environmentalist Anupam Mishra labeled Yamuna as Delhi’s “real town planner.”

Delhi was traditionally planned along the river’s course.

It ensured Delhi never faced water scarcity or extreme floods.

Ecological Role:

The floodplains recharge groundwater and store excess water.

They act as a buffer during floods, slowing water runoff.

Sediments of floodplains create aquifers that rejuvenate groundwater.

Livelihoods:

A 2022 report identified 56 bastis housing 46,750 people on these floodplains.

Half of these households depend on farming; others rely on daily wage work, fishing, and animal herding.

Agricultural Value:

Rich silt deposited by the river aids in farming.

Traditional crops include rice, wheat, and flowers.

Housing Crisis Solution:

Many displaced or migrating people have historically found shelter here due to affordability.

Urbanization Challenges:

Construction on floodplains has restricted the river’s natural flow.

Encroachments like the Akshardham Temple and Commonwealth Village are built on designated floodplain zones.

Climate Resilience:

Floodplains help manage intense rainfall and prevent devastating floods.

What are the challenges faced by the Yamuna River’s floodplains?

Urban Encroachment: Rapid urbanization and haphazard construction activities affect floodplains. Examples include Akshardham Temple, Commonwealth Games Village, and luxury apartments.

Loss of Floodplain: Restricts river’s natural flow, increasing flood risks. Like, Delhi experienced major floods in 1978, 1988, and 1995.

Lack of Proper Policies: Floodplain zoning not adequately included in the Master Plan.

Climate Change: Intensified rains lead to rapid swelling of the river.

River Constriction: Constructions constrict the river, reducing its ability to expand and breathe.

Pollution: Population growth has outpaced sewage infrastructure, increasing river pollution.

What should be done?

Preserve Floodplains: Stop encroachments to maintain the river’s natural flow. Examples: Stop projects like the Commonwealth Games Village on floodplains.

Policy Improvements: Include floodplain zoning in the Master Plan.

Only four states have a National Floodplains Zoning Policy.

Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Create infrastructure that can withstand heavy rains.

River Health: Focus on de-silting drains and rejuvenating the river.

Enhance Drainage Systems: Improve city drainage to prevent flooding.

Green Areas: Develop more green spaces for natural water absorption.

Express View on ‘award wapsi’: Writer’s choice

Source: The post is based on the article “Express View on ‘award wapsi’: Writer’s choice” published in “The Indian express” on 28th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

News: A parliamentary panel, constituted after the 2015 award return controversy, wants Sahitya Akademi awardees to promise not to return awards in political protest.

About Major findings of The Parliamentary Standing Committee report on “award wapsi”:

Writers chosen for the Sahitya Akademi award should commit not to return their awards in political protest.

Such acts of returning awards negatively impact the award’s prestige and reputation.

It undermines the achievements of other awardees.

The committee wants to get agreement from shortlisted candidates before finalizing the award.

What are the arguments against the Parliamentary Committee Reports?

Arguments Against the Parliamentary Committee Reports:

Independence of Sahitya Akademi:

The Sahitya Akademi is an autonomous body from the 1950s.

Initially, the government agreed not to control it after its setup.

An award from the Akademi is an appreciation by peers, not a state honor like the Padma awards.

Role of a Writer:

Writers aren’t representatives of the state.

The claim that returning an award is “disgraceful to the country” is considered misplaced.

The state should view its association with a writer as a privilege, not patronage.

Purpose of the Award:

An award shouldn’t be an incentive to conform.

It should honor individual excellence.

Context of “award wapsi”:

39 writers returned their awards in 2015 as a protest against rising intolerance.

The murder of Sahitya Akademi winner M M Kalburgi by alleged right-wing activists was a significant trigger.

These writers emphasized the right to dissent and the state’s responsibility to safeguard it.

Overarching Message:

The government should understand the protest’s essence instead of criticizing its political implications.

GS Paper 2

RTI in politics: Bringing political parties within the fold of law will not help

Source: The post is based on the article “RTI in politics: Bringing political parties within the fold of law will not help” published in “Business standard” on 28th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability.

News: The author argues against a petition to include political parties under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in India, stating that while parties receive state benefits, they aren’t government entities. The real issue is tracking large donations and concerns over anonymous electoral bonds, not necessarily bringing parties under RTI.

About Political Parties and the RTI Act

The Supreme Court received a petition to declare political parties as “public authority” under the RTI Act, 2005.

The RTI Act aims for transparency in government functions.

By definition, political parties don’t fit under this Act.

Why should political parties not be included under the RTI Act?

Definition Mismatch:

The RTI Act was designed for transparency in government functions.

Political parties don’t fit under “public authority” under this Act’s current definition.

Voluntary Nature of Parties:

Political parties are formed voluntarily and are not statutory bodies.

Their public engagement is by choice, not by law.

Risk to Internal Discussions:

RTI coverage could expose sensitive internal discussions on strategy and candidate selection.

Such openness might jeopardize the essence of democratic competition.

Available Information:

Major parties’ financial accounts are already on the Election Commission website.

Donor lists and public affidavits about candidates are publicly accessible.

Slippery Slope

If political parties are included, NGOs and private corporations might be next.

All these entities receive government subsidies but are not government bodies.

Primary Concern Unaddressed

The main transparency issue lies in large donations and electoral bonds.

Simply including parties in RTI might not solve this concern.

What should be done about it?

Redefine Anonymous Donations:

The Election Commission suggests the anonymous donation cut-off be reduced from ₹20,000 to ₹2,000.

Electoral Bond Transparency:

Address anonymity in electoral bonds, which currently allows potential money laundering.

Ensure greater disclosure to track donations and their influence.

Focus on Main Issues:

Target transparency concerns big donations and their influence on public policy, like the clearer system in the US.

Increase Disclosure on Party Websites:

Encourage parties to consistently and comprehensively update donor lists and financial accounts.

Reevaluate State Concessions:

Scrutinize the state concessions given to parties, ensuring they are in line with democratic principles and accountability.

Ayushman Bharat expose: How to nudge India’s public health infrastructure

Source: The post is based on the article “Ayushman Bharat expose: How to nudge India’s public health infrastructure” published in “The Indian express” on 28th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.

News: The author discusses challenges in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) health scheme. Doctors sometimes misuse the scheme for personal gains. The author suggests better incentives and focus on public facilities to improve the scheme and benefit the poor.

What are the challenges in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) health scheme?

Misuse by Doctors: Some doctors deceive patients for personal gain. For instance, a doctor at Safdarjung Hospital misled patients about the scheme’s timeline.

Financial Incentives: Doctors might choose private channels over the scheme if they gain more financially, like the Safdarjung case.

Settlement Delays: Popular belief suggests long claim settlement times in public hospitals, but in reality, it’s 21 days on average.

Less Active Interest: Public facilities show less interest in the scheme compared to private ones. Only 54% of claims in public facilities were settled.

Staff Overload: Public hospital staff, already handling many clinical activities, find it hard to manage the scheme.

Arogyamitra’s Role: Arogyamitra focuses more on registering patients than on ensuring claim settlements.

Limited Services: Most public facilities offer selected services, reducing potential revenues.

Infrastructure Needs: Better infrastructure and more staff can boost the scheme’s success in public hospitals.

What should be done?

Transparency: Clear information should be provided to patients about the benefits of PMJAY to prevent misuse by doctors.

Increase Incentives: Doctors should receive better incentives for registering patients under PMJAY and settling claims.

Faster Claim Settlements: Streamline the process to reduce the average 21-day claim settlement time in Bihar.

Active Interest: Encourage medical teams in public hospitals to take active interest in the scheme.

Claim Follow-up: Arogyamitra’s pay could be linked to successful claim settlements, not just registrations, encouraging them to follow up.

Revenue Generation: Increase the types of services in public facilities to increase revenue.

State Support: State governments should provide manpower and enforce accountability to increase service volume in public facilities.

Database Correction: Ensure no one is excluded due to database errors in eligibility.

An avoidable ban – Restrictions on rice exports can be counterproductive

Source: The post is based on an article “An avoidable ban – Restrictions on rice exports can be counterproductive” published in Business Standard on 28^th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Government Policies & Intervention

Relevance: concerns with ban on rice exports

News: Recently, India has decided to ban the export of all types of rice, except Basmati and parboiled rice.

What are the implications of this ban?

The government has taken measures to check the domestic rice prices in India and ensure food security. However, the ban has increased the price of rice internationally. 

India is the world’s leading rice exporter, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of global trade. Hence, when India suddenly stopped exporting rice, it caused a decrease in the global rice supply by about 10 million tonnes.

The other major exporters of non-scented rice are Thailand and Vietnam. However, they do not have an adequate amount to fill this gap.

Food-deficit countries, particularly small African nations, heavily dependent on rice shipments from India, will also be significantly affected by the ban.

Further, uncertainties in harvests caused by weather conditions in multiple countries, and Russia’s decision to withdraw permission for Ukraine to export grains from Black Sea ports have also raised the prices of rice globally.

Must Read: India’s rice export ban impacts Asian and African nations most and Express View on curbs on rice exports: Against the grain

What are the challenges associated with the ban?

The government’s decision to enforce a ban is being criticized because – a) India may miss out on the opportunity to benefit from the current high level of global prices, b) it may discourage farmers from increasing paddy cultivation and investing in yield-boosting farm inputs and c) it could damage India’s reputation as a reliable supplier of food grains and a trustworthy trade partner.

What makes the ban illegitimate?

Substantial stock: Although there has been a rise in the prices of rice by around 11.5% in a year, there is no actual shortage of rice in local markets.

The Food Corporation of India still holds a substantial stock of rice (41 million tones) which is more than three times the buffer stocking norm of 13.54 million.

This is more than enough to meet the government’s requirements for the public distribution system, which ranges from 36 to 38 million tones.

Diminishing Impact of El Nino: The concerns about the potential impact of El Nino on monsoon rainfall and paddy sowing in the current kharif season have diminished significantly.

The monsoon rain has been above normal, and paddy sowing is progressing well. 

Hence, it is recommended that the government should avoid impulsive reactions to market fluctuations and prioritize the establishment of essential stability in both domestic and international grain trade policies.

GS Paper 3

Weighing in on the National Research Foundation Bill

Source: The post is based on the article “Weighing in on the National Research Foundation Bill” published in The Hindu on 28^th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Science and Technology

Relevance: concerns with National Research Foundation

News: The Union Cabinet has recently approved the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023.

What is NRF?

Read Here: What is the National Research Foundation?

The Kasturirangan Committee in 2019 gave the proposal of creating the NRF as an independent foundation and the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) adopted it.

What are the concerns with NRF?

Low Funding: The Kasturirangan Committee proposed that the NRF should receive an annual grant of Rs. 20,000 Crores (0.1% of GDP).

However, as per the available information, the NRF is expected to receive ₹10,000 crore for five years, totaling ₹50,000 crore.

Out of which, a maximum of ₹14,000 crore is to be provided as a government grant or budgetary support, with the remaining ₹36,000 crore expected to come from industry and private philanthropic sources.

This means that NRF would receive a maximum annual funding of 2,800 crore for the following five years, which is only 14% of the amount the Kasturirangan Committee had suggested.

Subsuming Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB): The SERB was set up as a statutory body within the DST. Its objective was strategically planning, promoting, and financially supporting internationally competitive research in emerging fields of science and engineering.

It has played a crucial role in developing a sustainable research ecosystem and its budgetary allocation has substantially increased over the years.

However, since it is being subsumed with NRF, there are concerns over whether NRF would get the additional SERB’s financial allocation, or it will be removed.

Read More: Proposed National Research Foundation looks to tap CSR to address funding concerns  and India’s National Research Foundation (NRF): Needs, significance and challenges

What can be the way ahead?

The New Education Policy places a strong emphasis on the necessity of a vibrant research environment in tackling global issues and utilizing technological advancements.

Therefore, a significant financial support is needed for India to become a leader in this sector, ideally in line with the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee.

Adopt a comprehensive plan for nature conservation

Source– The post is based on the article “Adopt a comprehensive plan for nature conservation” published in the “mint” on 28th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Environment

Relevance: Wildlife conservation

News- The article explains the importance of conserving nature. It explains the challenges for India in environment protection and potential solutions to address these challenges.

How does India give importance to environmental conservation?

India culture and traditions deeply embrace the idea of living in harmony with the environment and understanding the significance of ecological balance.

Ancient scriptures promote the principle of ‘ahimsa’ or non-violence towards all living beings. They emphasise the vital role of conserving biodiversity for a sustainable world.

India’s Constitution recognizes the fundamental duty of all citizens to protect forests and biodiversity.

What is the importance of one health approach?

There is interconnectedness between human and animal health. Areas with better animal-care facilities experienced improved overall health outcomes and reduced instances of vector-borne diseases.

Development must encompass both human and animal life conservation. This forms the foundation of the ‘One Health’ approach.

The ‘One Health’ approach is a crucial pillar for nations to achieve their sustainability goals.

Various studies indicate that through education, awareness programs, and regular monitoring, the transmission of zoonotic diseases can significantly decrease.

In rural areas, where people rely more on animals for food, transportation, and livelihood. It becomes imperative to develop robust models that integrate the concept of One Health.

What are steps taken by the Indian government for wildlife conservation?

India has successfully increased tiger population from 2,967 in 2018 to at least 3,167 in 2022.

Over the years, the government has introduced a plethora of policies and initiatives aimed at protecting species on the verge of extinction.

Remarkable projects such as Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 aims to preserve wildlife.

How can India address the challenges in the animal welfare ecosystem?

There is a need to establish a well-rounded model that encompasses legal frameworks, community involvement, and sustainable practices.

Strengthening law enforcement to deter crimes against animals and imposing stricter penalties for offenders should be a priority. Involving local communities, indigenous groups, and other stakeholders in conservation efforts is equally crucial.

There is a need to adopt a multi-faceted approach that includes wildlife conservation, caring for free-roaming and pet animals, and improving veterinary services.

Corporations must also integrate animal welfare into their give-back initiatives and embrace environmentally responsible practices. Business should go beyond seeking profit and should prioritise the preservation of our planet.

Many global business groups have already embraced such an approach. For instance, Vedanta has committed to planting 7 million trees by 2030 as part of the World Economic Forum’s trillion tree pledge and has already planted over a million trees.

India’s rice export curbs could prove too myopic for its good

Source– The post is based on the article “India’s rice export curbs could prove too myopic for its good” published in the “mint” on 28th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Indian economy

Relevance: Issues related to external trade

News- Russia’s decision to pull out of the Black Sea grain deal, but also India’s announcement that it would ban the export of many varieties of rice.

Why is the export ban not a good policy decision?

It significantly undermines the claims that India is the natural and responsible leader of the developing world. Notably, India’s share of worldwide rice shipments stands over 40% in 2022-23.

It could lead to growing resentment over time. If global rice prices surge to a 10-year high and the developing world attributes shortages mainly to the Indian export ban, anger may escalate quickly.

The central argument for India’s leadership to the Global South has always been its perception that it considers other developing countries as equals. This distinguishes it from the West or China.

However, Indian policymakers should refrain from arbitrary decisions like export bans that make other nations feel dependent and subservient. True global leadership is taking responsibility for the world as a whole.

What are India’s justifications for its decision?

There is rising food prices at home. Domestic prices for rice have risen over 10% in the past year.

Export bans may seem like the best solution for domestic consumers. The government holds significant stocks of rice that could be distributed to poorer Indians or released into the open market to stabilise prices.

For the bureaucracy, export bans appear to be the immediate response to soaring domestic prices. Last year, following the upheaval in wheat markets due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India also imposed a shutdown on wheat exports.

These restrictive trade policies are aimed at protecting millions of subsistence farmers. But farmers’ welfare seems to be the least priority for policy makers.

Once Again, A Knowledge Hub

Source– The post is based on the article “Once Again, A Knowledge Hub” published in “The Times of India” on 28th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Issues related to development and management of education

News- The article explains the steps taken by the government for successful implementation of NEP2020.

How does India have a rich legacy of being a knowledge hub?

India’s profound knowledge reservoir is apparent in the Vedas and Upanishads. These have served as vast reservoirs of wisdom for countless centuries.

India had universities like Nalanda and Takshashila.

What are significant achievements made in recent times to fulfil the objectives of National Education Policy 2020?

Curriculum– Early Childhood Care and Education has been integrated into India’s formal schooling system for the first time. The new National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) focuses on a play-based pedagogy.

This framework incorporates a diverse range of activities such as conversations, storytelling, music, arts, crafts, games, nature field trips, and interactive play with materials and toys. Textbooks based on NCF-FS have been introduced for classes 1 and 2. It supports the national NIPUN Bharat Mission’s goal of achieving foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026.

The establishment of PM SHRI Schools for Rising India across the nation is the right step in the spirit of NEP.

Blending vocational and mainstream– NEP 2020 places special emphasis on integrating and mainstreaming vocational education with general education. Samagra Shiksha and the Skill India Mission have been aligned to introduce skilling programs at the school level.

In addition, the introduction of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) is a welcome step.

The NCrF allows for multiple entry and exit points. It enables students to re-enter the higher education system at any stage of their life. The credits earned are stored in a student’s Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) for recognition.

The process of earning credits has been expanded to include online courses available on the SWAYAM portal. There is a plan to establish a Digital University in India.

The digital ecosystem for skilling has been strengthened through a unified Skill India Digital platform. It facilitates demand-based skilling, connects with employers, including MSMEs, and grants access to entrepreneurship schemes.

To address language barriers in learning, many higher education institutions now offer technical programs in various Indian languages. AI translation tools are also employed to translate textbooks into different Indian languages. It ensures broader accessibility and inclusivity.

Global presence– India’s institutions are setting up campuses overseas.

IIT Madras is planning a campus in Zanzibar-Tanzania. An MoU to set up IIT Delhi in the UAE was also signed in the presence of the PM earlier this month. Notable foreign universities are setting up campuses in GIFT City in Gujarat.

Growth Is Everything

Source– The post is based on the article “Growth Is Everything” published in “The Times of India” on 28th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Indian economy and growth

News- As per PM Modi, India will almost certainly become the third largest economy in the next few years.

What is the important contribution of the Modi government in the Indian economy?

The Modi government has ensured that economic growth takes place with macroeconomic stability, by avoiding imprudent fiscal policies. It has made India’s economic growth durable.

What are the issues with the Indian economy?

Since the emergence of Covid, the job market in India has undergone a structural setback. Notably, the least productive sector of the economy, agriculture, has experienced a relative increase in its share of employment.

According to the GOI’s jobs report for 2021-22, 45.5% of the workforce was engaged in agriculture, which is three percentage points higher than the pre-Covid period

Way forward-

The government should not remain satisfied with a growth rate of around 6%. As per economic survey, India’s potential GDP growth can rise to 7-8% a year in the medium-term with reforms.

Economic growth rate below 8% annually will not effectively tackle India’s serious employment issue.

To tackle this problem, innovative policies are needed to swiftly improve skill development. The level of human capital significantly affects investments.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

House panel for DGCA-like authority for cybersecurity

Source: The post is based on the article “House panel for DGCA-like authority for cybersecurity”  published in Business Standard on 28th July 2023.

What is the News?

The Standing Committee on Finance has given several recommendations on cybersecurity and other issues.

What are the issues highlighted by the Standing Committee on Finance?

According to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), more than 13 million cybersecurity incidents were tracked in 2022 alone. 

As per the Union Home Ministry, the volume of financial crimes reported increased from 2.62 lakhs in the financial year 2020-21 to 6.94 lakhs in 2022.

As per Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, out of 6.9 lakhs complaints related to financial frauds in 2022, an FIR was issued only in 2.6% of the cases.

There is a major disparity in the cyber-resilience of commercial banks, cooperative banks and non-banking financial institutions. While all commercial banks have completed cyber security related audits, only a small percentage of cooperative banks, approximately 10.92 per cent – 206 out of 1886 entities – have undertaken such audits.

What are the recommendations given by the Standing Committee on Finance?

Firstly, Establish a centralized and empowered Cyber protection authority(CPA) similar to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to tackle the rising instances of white-collar crimes in cyberspace. 

– One of the tasks of the CPA should be to create and maintain a Central Negative Registry, which would include information on fraudsters’ accounts and the official documents they have utilized.

​​Secondly, the Centre should mandate Apple and Google to share “exhaustive” metadata, developer identities, and ownership and origin of apps they host on their respective app stores to curb financial fraud.

– The committee said that sharing such information with the government will empower regulators to conduct in-depth analysis, identify potential security vulnerabilities and institute appropriate measures to fortify the digital landscape.

Thirdly, create a whitelisting framework for Digital Lending Agencies (DLAs) and other financial intermediaries.

– This measure is intended to combat fraudulent activities and promote a standardized code of conduct within the digital lending industry, thus fostering a more secure and trustworthy environment for consumers.

Cinematograph Bill aimed at curbing piracy passed by RS

Source: The post is based on the article “Cinematograph Bill aimed at curbing piracy passed by RS”  published in The Hindu on 28th July 2023

What is the News?

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

What is the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023?

The Bill amends the Cinematograph Act, 1952.The Act constitutes the Board of Film Certification for certifying films.

Key Provisions of the bill:

Additional certificate categories: The Bill adds certain additional certificate categories based on age. 

– Under the Act, film may be certified for exhibition: (i) without restriction (‘U’), (ii) without restriction, but subject to guidance of parents or guardians for children below 12 years of age (‘UA’), (iii) only to adults (‘A’), or (iv) only to members of any profession or class of persons (‘S’).   

– The Bill substitutes the UA category with the following three categories to also indicate age-appropriateness: (i) UA 7+, (ii) UA 13+, or (iii) UA 16+.  The age endorsement within the UA category by the Board will inform guidance of parents or guardians, and will not be enforceable by any other persons other than parents or guardians.

Separate certificate for television/other media:  Films with an ‘A’ or ‘S’ certificate will require a separate certificate for exhibition on television or any other media prescribed by the central government. The Board may direct the applicant to carry appropriate deletions or modifications for the separate certificate.

Unauthorized recording and exhibition to be punishable: The bill prohibits the unauthorized recording of films and their exhibition.

– An unauthorized recording means making or transmitting an infringing copy of a film at a licensed place for film exhibition without the owner’s authorisation.  

– An unauthorized exhibition means the public exhibition of an infringing copy of the film for profit: (i) at a location not licensed to exhibit films or (ii) in a manner that infringes upon the copyright law.

– The above offences will be punishable with: (i) imprisonment between three months and three years, and (ii) a fine between three lakh rupees and 5% of the audited gross production cost.

Certificates to be perpetually valid:  Under the Act, the certificate issued by the Board is valid for 10 years. The Bill provides that the certificates will be perpetually valid.

National Framework for Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater

Source: The post is based on the article “National Framework for Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater”  published in PIB on 27th July 2023.

What is the News?

Minister of State for Jal Shakti has informed Lok Sabha about the Arth Ganga Model and the initiatives taken to promote the reuse of treated water.

What is the Arth Ganga Model?

Click Here to read

What are the initiatives taken by the government to promote the reuse of treated water?

National Framework for Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater: It has been published by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).The framework gives guidelines for the formulation of State reuse policy and is intended to build appropriate market and economic models for the reuse of treated wastewater.

Centre of Excellence(CoE) on water reuse has been established in partnership with The Energy Research Institute (TERI) on Water Reuse at the TERI Headquarters in New Delhi. 

Thermal Power Plants(TPPs) are required by the Ministry of Power’s Tariff Policy 2016 to use treated sewage water from Sewage Treatment Plants(STPs) operated by municipalities or other local authorities located within a 50 km radius.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has formulated a charter based participatory approach to facilitate the industries for water recycling and pollution prevention in major industrial sectors like Pulp & Paper, Sugar, Textile and Tannery in river Ganga main stem states.

Industry Specific Improvement: Reuse and recycling of wastewater in Industries has been promoted in water intensive grossly polluting industrial units along river Ganga.

Lok Sabha passes Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 in Parliament

Source: The post is based on the article “Lok Sabha passes Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 in Parliament”  published in PIB on 27th July 2023.

What is the News?

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 has been passed in Lok Sabha. 

What is the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023?

The Jan Vishwas Bill aims to decriminalize around 180 offences by amending 42 laws across sectors including environment, agriculture, media, industry and publication.

Some of the acts which are being amended include The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; Public Debt Act, 1944; Copyright Act, 1957; Patents Act, 1970; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 among others.

The offences will be decriminalized by either 1) eliminating both imprisonment and/or fine 2) removing imprisonment while retaining or increasing fines or 3) changing imprisonment and/or fine to penalties. 

Moreover, the bill removes all offences under the Post Office Act,1898.

What are the benefits of the Bill?

Firstly, the Bill will help in rationalizing criminal provisions to ensure that citizens, businesses and the government departments operate without fear of imprisonment for minor or technical defaults.

Secondly, the bill establishes a balance between the severity of the offence or violation committed and the gravity of the prescribed punishment.

Thirdly, the technical and procedural lapses and minor defaults had been burdening the justice delivery system and delaying the adjudication of serious offences. Therefore, the bill would reduce undue pressure on the justice system and reduce the pendency of cases.

Fourthly, the decriminalization of provisions which affect citizens and some government employees will help them live without the fear of imprisonment for minor violations.

Lastly, it will help in rationalizing laws, eliminating barriers and bolstering growth of businesses and will save time and cost for both the government and businesses.

Self Reliant India Fund

Source: The post is based on the article “Self Reliant India Fund”  published in PIB on 27th July 2023

What is the News?

The Minister for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises has informed Lok Sabha about the Self Reliant Fund and the other initiatives taken by the government for the MSME Sector.

What is the Self Reliant India(SRI) Fund?

Self Reliant India Fund was set up in 2021.

It is a Category-II Alternative Investment Fund registered with SEBI.

Aim: To provide growth capital to the deserving and eligible units of the MSME sector. 

Size of the fund: The total size of the fund is Rs. 50,000 Crore where Rs.10,000 Crore will come from the Government of India and Rs.40,000 Crore through Private Equity / Venture Capital funds.

Structure of the fund: The Fund is an investment strategy of holding a portfolio of other investment funds, rather than investing directly. In the context of AIFs, a Fund of Fund is an AIF which invests in another AIF. 

– Accordingly, SRI Fund will be a combination of Mother/Daughter Funds which will leverage private equity/ other funds and thus will multiply the impact of the initial budgetary infusion. 

– The Mother Fund will provide funds only to the Daughter Funds for onward investment as growth capital, while the investment in MSMEs will be done by the Daughter Funds under the Fund. 

Implementation: SRI fund is implemented by a special purpose vehicle, NSIC Venture Capital Fund Limited, which is a 100 percent subsidiary of National Small Industries Corporation, a mini-Ratna.

What are the initiatives taken by the government for the MSME Sector?

Champions 2.0 portal 

MSME Champions Scheme: It has been formulated with three components namely, ‘MSME-Sustainable’ (ZED), ‘MSME-Competitive’ (LEAN) and ‘MSME-Innovative’ (Incubation, Design, IPR)

Budget 2023-24 announced the infusion of Rs. 9,000 crore in the corpus of Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro & Small Enterprises to enable an additional credit of Rs. 2.00 Lakh crore with reduced cost of credit.

Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance(RAMP) Scheme

Gulf Stream could collapse as early as 2025, study suggests

Source: The post is based on the article “Gulf Stream could collapse as early as 2025, study suggests”  published in The Guardian on 25th July 2023.

What is the News?

According to a study, the Gulf Stream system could collapse as soon as 2025.

What is Gulf Stream?

The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean. It extends all the way up the eastern coast of the United States and Canada.

It is a small part of something called the ‘thermohaline circulation’ or ‘Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation’. 

How does the Gulf Stream impact weather and climate?

This strong current of warm water influences the climate of the east coast of Florida, keeping temperatures there warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than the other southeastern states. Since the Gulf Stream also extends toward Europe, it warms western European countries as well.

Why has the study predicted about the Gulf Stream?

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which includes the Gulf Stream governs the climate by bringing warm, tropical waters north and cold water south.

The study estimates a timescale for the collapse of AMOC between 2025 and 2095 with a central estimate of 2050, if global carbon emissions are not reduced.

The last time AMOC stopped and restarted was during the Ice Ages about 115,000 to 12,000 years ago.

Impact of collapse of AMOC: A collapse of AMOC would have disastrous consequences around the world, severely disrupting the rains that billions of people depend on for food in India, South America and west Africa. 

– It would also increase storms and drop temperatures in Europe, and lead to a rising sea level on the eastern coast of North America. It would also further endanger the Amazon rainforest and Antarctic ice sheets.

Note: The most recent assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) would not collapse as quickly as the study has suggested.

Supreme Court to appoint DERC chairperson: What is the Delhi govt, L-G tussle over the post

Source: The post is based on the article “Supreme Court to appoint DERC chairperson: What is the Delhi govt, L-G tussle over the post”  published in Indian Express on 28th July 2023

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has said that it will appoint a chairperson for the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on an ad hoc basis.

This order comes since the Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor (L-G) failed to arrive at a consensus on the name.

What is the issue between the Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor (L-G) over the DERC Chairman appointment?

The post of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairperson fell vacant. After this, the Delhi government appointed a retired judge for the post and sent the file to L-G.

The LG office returned the file asking that a legal opinion on the appointment be sought from the Delhi High Court Chief Justice. 

The Delhi government went to Delhi High Court against this. The court ruled in its favour and said that the Lieutenant Governor cannot suppress a government like this and asked that the new chief be appointed in two weeks’ time.

In the meantime, the Centre promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance which said that appointments of chiefs of autonomous commissions and boards will be done by the President. This power is usually delegated to the L-G as the administrator.

Based on this ordinance, the President appointed the Chairperson of DERC. The Delhi government challenged this decision in the Supreme Court.

It said that since power was a transferred subject falling under the jurisdiction of the elected government of a state or a Union territory, the Centre did not have the right to make an appointment.

The matter was then heard by the Supreme Court which stayed the appointment.

What is happening now?

Since the Delhi government and L-G have not been able to suggest a common candidate for DERC Chairperson, the Supreme Court has decided to make an appointment as an “ad-hoc” measure.

Union Minister launches Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition in Chennai

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister launches Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition in Chennai”  published in PIB on 27th July 2023.

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched a Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC).

It was launched on the sidelines of the 4th environment and climate sustainability working group meeting and ministerial talks taking place in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

What is the Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC)?

Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC) was conceived during India’s G20 Presidency.

Purpose: It is an industry-led initiative that aims to promote resource efficiency and circular economy practices. 

Aim: To facilitate and foster greater company-to-company collaboration, build advanced capabilities across sectors and value chains, bring learnings from diverse and global experiences of the coalition members and unlock on-ground private sector action to enhance resource efficiency and accelerate circular economy transition.

Pillars: The Coalition is structured around the three guiding pillars of 1) partnerships for impact 2) technology cooperation and 3) finance for scale.

Members: The Coalition has founding members representing 39 companies from 11 countries. Some of the founding members include companies like Maruti Suzuki, Coca Cola, Unilever, Nestle, Aditya Birla Group, Tata Power and Mahindra & Mahindra.

Significant role to be played by Coalition: RECEIC may be invited to the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue for annual convenings as well as sharing their experiences with the G20 and highlighting success factors to enhance resource efficiency and circular economy. 

– RECEIC will also act as an overarching platform enabling industries to address information gaps and coordination challenges across the G20 members.

Discovered: A mechanism that quietly removes unfit cells before you’re born

Source: The post is based on the article “Discovered: A mechanism that quietly removes unfit cells before you’re born”  published in The Hindu on 26th July 2023.

What is the News?

Scientists have found that cells that don’t express a particular gene are destroyed before an embryo starts to develop.

What are non committed cells?

In the early stages of the human embryo, before it has implanted in the mother’s womb, the cells arrange themselves in a particular way. 

A blob of cells gathers towards one side of the embryo and the other cells arrange themselves around this blob. This blob is called the inner cell mass. It contains cells with the ability to make all the other types of cells in the human body – i.e. the cells in this blob are pluripotent. 

Within the inner cell mass, researchers in 2016 had discovered a novel group of cells called non-committed cells.

These non-committed cells did not participate in the later stages of embryo development and appeared to be eliminated early on compared to the other inner cell mass cells, which contributed to forming the developing embryo.

Why do these non committed cells die so young?

A study has found that human embryonic stem cells express a gene called HERVH, a virus-like gene that’s important in maintaining pluripotency. 

Most of the inner cell mass cells also express HERVH – but not the non-committed cells that eventually die.

The non committed cells actually express transposons also called “jumping genes”. These jumping genes are dangerous little pieces of DNA that can insert themselves into different regions of the genome, damaging it and leading to cell death. The DNA damage caused by the transposons leads to these cells dying out early

On the other hand, HERVH actually ends up protecting the cells from the damage inflicted by the jumping genes, kickstarting a protective mechanism that prevents the transposons from getting expressed in most cells.

But the non-committed cells that don’t express HERVH are killed off by the uncontrolled transposon activity.

Centre launches Technological Advancements in Crop Insurance to Empowering Farmers and Streamlining Operations in PMFBY

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre launches Technological Advancements in Crop Insurance to Empowering Farmers and Streamlining Operations in PMFBY”  published in PIB on 21st July 2023.

What is the News?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched several new technological initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme(RWBCIS).

What are the technological initiatives launched under PMFBY and RWBCIS?

YES-TECH Manual: It is a comprehensive guide developed after extensive testing and piloting in 100 districts of India. It facilitates the implementation of Yield Estimation System, based on Technology (YES-TECH)

– YES-TECH is a technology-driven yield estimation system, offering methodologies, best practices and integration insights for accurate yield assessments at the Gram Panchayat level.

Weather Information Network Data Systems(WINDS) portal: It is a centralized platform that hosts, manages and processes hyper-local weather data collected by Automatic Weather Stations and Rain Gauges at Taluk/Block and Gram Panchayat levels. 

– The portal enhances risk assessment and decision-making in crop insurance, agriculture advisories, and disaster mitigation, supporting the agricultural sector and rural economy.

AIDE mobile app: It is a mobile application specifically developed to streamline the enrollment process for farmers in crop insurance schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS).

– It brings the enrolment process directly to the doorstep of farmers. This will ensure a seamless and transparent process, making crop insurance more accessible and convenient for farmers.

The following today’s current affairs articles have been covered in 7 PM Explained section of the day:

7 PM Editorial of the day: Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023: Explained, pointwise