Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• ‘Only by recognising the power & intelligence of the opium poppy can we even begin to make peace with it’

GS Paper 2

• The infinite variety of custom – on UCC and Tribals debate
• Choice is theirs: BCCI puts unfair restrictions on men cricketers
• China’s loss of momentum, rebuilding a bridge too far
• Ten military lessons from the Ukraine conflict for India
• Sobriety after the euphoria of the U.S. state visit
• Ominous signs- on Khalistani separatism
• Standing up for National Anthem: What the Supreme Court has ruled

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

‘Only by recognising the power & intelligence of the opium poppy can we even begin to make peace with it’

Source– The post is based on the article “Only by recognising the power & intelligence of the opium poppy can we even begin to make peace with it” published in “The Times Group” on 8th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Modern history

Relevance: Opium trade and Opium war

News-The article is about new book of Amitav Ghosh ‘Smoke and Ashes: A Writer’s Journey Through Opium’s Hidden Histories’. The article discusses the profound impact of the opium trade on the economies and societies of India and China.

What is major issue between India and China?

Between India and China there is a high level of incomprehension. There is a huge historical influence of China on India – both economic and cultural.

However, there is complete lack of understanding of Chinese culture in India. China also lacks the understanding of Indian culture.

How colonial opium trade with China has made the Bihar and Punjab of today?

2 factors that resulted in devastation of Puvanchal region:

First, the resource curse of opium in rich and culturally fertile Purvanchal region is responsible for underdevelopment of these regions. While, it helped in industrialisation of England and America, but devastated the agricultural economy of Purvanchal.

After 1857 the British started recruiting from Punjab, instead of Bihar. They also started investing massively in the region which accounts for wealthy Punjabis of today.

What are some facts about opium trade during freedom movement?

During the course of Indian freedom Struggle,from the 1880s onwards both in India and China there was a huge movement against opium.

There were also divergent trajectories of opium trade. Britishers established an absolute monopoly over opium cultivation in the eastern part of India. In the western part they were resisted by various princely states.

What are present challenges related to opium consumption in present times?

There is very high rates of addiction especially in the border state of Punjab and also on the eastern border, the Northeast. In America also, opioids have become a leading cause of death .

How do India and China remember opium trade wars?

In India, very little is taught about opium trade and wars.

Modern China has emerged from the Opium Wars and from the struggle against opium. Wars are memorialised everywhere in China.

One of the major event is the battle of Sanyuanli between Indian sepoys and Chinese villagers. This event is considered as founding of nationalism in China

GS Paper 2

The infinite variety of custom – on UCC and Tribals debate

Source– The post is based on the article “The infinite variety of custom” published in “The Hindu” on 8th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Polity

Relevance– UCC

News- The Prime Minister’s push for a uniform civil code has led to alarm among tribal communities in different regions of the country.

What are the concerns of tribals regarding UCC?

Tribal fear that significant parts of their way of life would be undone if a UCC is implemented. Tribal feel that “one code for one country” undermines the Constitution.

Most tribes have a patrilineal line of succession. They fear that non-tribal people and people of other religions can trap their women to grab land if daughters are allowed to claim father property.

Tribal fears that UCC will impact their customary practices. They also believe that civil courts are too cumbersome and inaccessible.

Special legislation such as the PESA Act, 1996; the Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act, 1908; and the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, 1876, recognise customary practices in Jharkhand. These are protected under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.

There are also judicial precedents which recognise customary practices and authorise lower courts to make decisions on their basis.

The sharpest protests against a UCC in the north-east emerged from Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.

Many tribal bodies have said that UCC is unconstitutional because of protections provided in Articles 371A and 371G of the Constitution of India.

A UCC could also come in conflict with the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Social practices in the north-east vary from community to community. They fears that their traditional system will be affected by a common code

PESA Act, 1996 empowers the tribal villages to use their “customary mode of dispute resolution” for disputes related to land, family, and marriage, among others. The community-based systems of settling disputes in Arunachal Pradesh are “more democratic” than those of modern-day courts. The tribal communities fear that the UCC could undermine this Act.

Adi community in Arunachal Pradesh have Kebang system for settling disputes. Unlike the formal judicial system, everyone’s a winner in the Kebang system.

In Meghalaya, daughters inherit ancestral property from their parents. The Khasi customary law vests the right of inheritance on the youngest daughter.

The best practices and aspects of customary laws can be accommodated when a common code is prepared without affecting traditional systems.

Change cannot be imposed on communities. They will change when they feel the need to.

Choice is theirs: BCCI puts unfair restrictions on men cricketers

Source– The post is based on the article “Choice is theirs: BCCI puts unfair restrictions on men cricketers” published in the “The Times of India” on 8th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Government policies and interventions

Relevance- Issues related to sports administration

News- The article explains the issue of male players regarding BCCI restrictions on their overseas business

What are the concerns of male cricketers?

Women cricketers can do business overseas without jeopardising their career. Their male counterparts are denied that right. Male cricketers must retire from all forms of domestic cricket to get that opportunity. This is unfair.

Media reports indicate that the BCCI is thinking about cooling off periods for retired players before they look for overseas opportunities. Cooling off makes sense in sensitive areas such as the military or government to prevent conflicts of interest. But it is not the case with cricket.

What is the way forward for better career prospects for male cricketers?

England and Australia allow their players to find the balance between club contacts and national duty. It’s a realistic approach. Peak earning potential for a cricketer is limited to a few years.

BCCI should take a pragmatic approach and leave it to active players to decide about their business contracts.

China’s loss of momentum, rebuilding a bridge too far

Source– The post is based on the article “China’s loss of momentum, rebuilding a bridge too far” published in “The Business Standard” on 8th July 2023.

Syllabus GS2- International Relations

News- The Chinese economy is presenting a strange picture.

How is the Chinese economy showing a different trend from other economies of the world?

Much of the world is facing inflation. But, Beijing faces deflation in producer prices and low consumer price inflation.

Central banks in other countries have been increasing interest rates. But, the Chinese are easing up on monetary policy.

There is a stock-market boom in countries like India. But, the Shanghai Composite index is lower than it was in 2009.

Growth in last year was expected to be 5.5 per cent, but fell short at 3 per cent.This year’s official growth target is 5 per cent. But the outlook for growth is uncertain due to the lack of domestic demand and of private investment.

Industrial production is lower than the pre-Covid level four years earlier. Exports and Imports are down.

What are the factors behind the recent slowdown in the Chinese economy?

Some of these are cyclical issues. But, there are structural constraints. These are a shrinking population in the working-age bracket, massive public and quasi-public debt, over-construction in housing , shortage of consumer demand and poor project choices .

China has shifted from capital investment to private consumption as the primary driver of growth. But, it has failed to achive growth aims.

Western world is de-risking itself by reducing its dependence on Chinese manufacturing. Any meaningful de-coupling is not possible. But, more foreign investment will be headed to other countries as a result of di-risking moves by the west.

What assumptions can be from these developments about the global political economy?

Earlier assumptions were that China would become larger than the US as an economy, and challenge Western strategic dominance. It may need to be revised.

It is a rebalancing of global power, rather than a substantial power shift.

Ten military lessons from the Ukraine conflict for India

Source: The post is based on the article “Ten military lessons from the Ukraine conflict for India” published in “Indian Express” on 8th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interest.

What are the military lessons from the Ukraine conflict for India?

The military lessons from the Ukraine conflict for India are;

Geopolitical conflicts can be inherently escalatory and high-stakes: Studying the Russia-Ukraine conflict reminds us that geopolitical tensions can quickly escalate and have severe consequences for regional stability and alliances, such as NATO.

Prolonged wars involve evolving aims: Long-lasting wars tend to escalate and can surprise even seasoned military analysts with their evolution, such as Russia’s continued resistance against Ukraine.

A stable domestic front is crucial for prolonged wars: Wars demand not only battlefield strategy but also political stability and domestic resilience, which are intertwined.

Battlefield and political resilience are interconnected: Just like Russia, India should ensure its military and political strategies are coherent and adaptable, even in the face of setbacks.

Prolonged wars are wars of reserves: These types of wars need extensive reserves – including political will, military capacity, industrial logistics, and manpower. A consistent narrative can also bolster morale.

War strategies are complex and evolving: The Ukraine conflict shows that warfare blends tactics from different eras, demonstrating that India should be prepared to adapt and learn from both past and present military strategies.

The rise of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tools changes the battlefield: ISR technologies reveal more of the battlefield than ever before, making traditional stealth tactics less effective. India must consider the potential of these technologies, including their capacity to shorten engagement windows and blur the lines between combatants and non-combatants.

The democratization of combat information calls for decentralized firepower: As combat information becomes widely accessible, there will be pressure to distribute firepower more broadly, potentially to smaller units like platoons. This means India needs to prepare for simultaneous, multi-location engagements and develop new command structures to manage dispersed forces.

Modern technology impacts the dynamics of the battlefield: Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capabilities and other technology-rich strategies are becoming increasingly lethal. This suggests that India must keep pace with technological advancements and find a balance between precision and volume firepower, especially as sensor and strike capabilities converge.

Military technology must align with national doctrine: India should adapt technology to suit its own military doctrine, rather than subscribing to a one-size-fits-all approach.

India should learn from global military trends: India needs to independently evaluate its military strategy by learning, unlearning, and relearning lessons from past wars and current global trends. This will ensure strategic autonomy and aid in defense reform processes.

Sobriety after the euphoria of the U.S. state visit

Source: The post is based on the article “Sobriety after the euphoria of the U.S. state visit” published in “The Hindu” on 8th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

About historical development of India US relations

In the past, U.S.-India relations have seen their share of disappointments, notably during the tenures of U.S. Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. Johnson denied aid to India during the 1962 China-India conflict, and Nixon made a show of force during the 1971 India-Pakistan conflict, causing strain in the relationship.

However, the recent state visit by Indian PM to the U.S. marks a significant shift in this relationship. The U.S. demonstrated its clear support for India, promising technology transfer in critical areas like fighter jet engines production and other emerging technologies. This can significantly boost India’s military and aerospace capabilities.

What are the major differences in India’s previous visits then and now?

Earlier Visits: Visits by early Indian Prime Ministers, such as Jawaharlal Nehru, were foundational, setting the groundwork for future relations. Some visits faced challenges, like Indira Gandhi’s, which was considered a disaster due to disagreements between both nations.

Rajiv Gandhi’s visit: Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to the U.S. was considered successful and it broke many past barriers in Indo-U.S. relations.

Manmohan Singh’s visit (2005): During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit in 2005, India achieved a civil nuclear cooperation between India and the U.S.

The most recent visit by Prime Minister Modi witnessed significant advancements in defense and technology collaborations, showcasing the enhanced position of India as a prime defense technological partner of the U.S.

How the civil nuclear deal marked a shift in India- us relationship?

The civil nuclear deal was a significant milestone in the India-US relationship for several reasons:

Waiver and approvals: The U.S. helped India secure a waiver under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and approval of the U.S. Congress for the 123 Agreement, enabling India to reach an India-specific Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These were exceptional achievements that had few parallels in global history.

India’s unique position: As a result of this deal, India has the ability to keep some reactors outside IAEA safeguards, allowing them to be utilized for military purposes. This unprecedented freedom reflects a remarkable shift in India’s global standing.

In essence, the civil nuclear deal marked a shift in the India-US relationship by elevating it to a level of strategic cooperation, mutual respect, and global significance that was unprecedented.

Why India should be cautious?

History of changing alliances: The U.S. has been known to change its priorities and allies based on its strategic interests, often influenced by the preferences of its current President. This dynamic and unpredictable nature of U.S. foreign policy makes it important for India to remain cautious and not overly reliant.

Circumstance vs conviction: The present positive shift in U.S.-India relations appears to be more driven by changing global circumstances, such as the rise of China, rather than an inherent shift in U.S. perceptions about India. It’s important to remember that circumstances can change.

Differences in alliances: India is not currently the kind of ally that the U.S. typically seeks. For example, India wouldn’t be able to be part of an arrangement like the AUKUS Pact, which involves deep strategic commitments between the U.S., the UK, and Australia. The fundamentals underlying the Quad (comprising India, Japan, Australia, and the U.S.) and AUKUS are quite different.

Potential as a ‘Bridge Power’: India has the potential to act as a ‘bridge power’, mediating between conflicting parties in the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and Europe. India should seize this opportunity to assert its position on the global stage, instead of being overly influenced by any one power.

Ominous signs- on Khalistani separatism

Source: The post is based on the article “Ominous signs” published in “The Hindu” on 8th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2- Internal security

News: On July 8, rallies by pro-Khalistan separatists are planned in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Australia that target Indian diplomatic missions and diplomats. The Indian government has taken steps to speak to officials in these countries for added security and vigilance.

What is the current situation regarding pro-Khalistan rallies?

There is an increase in pro-Khalistan separatist activities targeting Indian diplomatic missions and diplomats in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Australia. This includes planned rallies marked as “Kill India” and “Khalistan Freedom”. These activities have left the Indian government worried and has led them to take steps such as speaking to officials in these countries for increased security.

How have the foreign governments been notified?

India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has spoken with his British counterpart about the issue. Additionally, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has communicated with its counterparts in all the affected countries, requesting pre-emptive action.

What risks are associated with these planned rallies?

The threats towards Indian diplomats abroad, including attacks on Indian missions and arson attempts, indicate a significant rise in overseas separatist activity. The rallies planned for July 8 pose a security risk to the Indian diplomatic missions. They also test the resolve of the foreign governments to investigate groups threatening violence and their commitment to international security conventions.

How should the affected countries respond to these threats?

Countries hosting these rallies must ensure adequate protection to Indian diplomatic interests as obligated under international conventions. They should also investigate any group threatening violence and sharing intelligence on any organizations supporting them. The use of “freedom of speech” should not be a cover for failing to prevent criminal acts.

How should India alter its diplomacy regarding this issue?

India must reconsider its public diplomacy in relation to this issue. The repeated calling out of foreign governments, freezing diplomatic contact, or downgrading security for the British High Commission may not be diplomatically effective. Instead of voicing protests, India should leave law enforcement issues to the sovereign governments of those countries.

What is the ideal way for countries to deal with the growing violence from such groups?

Given the escalating threats, it is crucial that there is cooperation between the governments rather than brinkmanship. This cooperation should include sharing information and intelligence, and discussing solutions to address the growing violence by such groups.

Standing up for National Anthem: What the Supreme Court has ruled

Source: The post is based on the article “Standing up for National Anthem: What the Supreme Court has ruled” published in The Indian Express on 8^th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Structure, Organization & Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary

Relevance: About the SC rulings on singing National Anthem

News: An executive magistrate in Srinagar has sent 11 men to jail after they were detained for allegedly not rising for the National Anthem at an event on June 25 where J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha was present.

What are the Supreme Court rulings related to singing the National Anthem?

Bijoe Emmanuel Case: The law around alleged disrespect to the National Anthem was laid down by the Supreme Court in its 1986 judgment in Bijoe Emmanuel & Ors vs State Of Kerala & Ors.

The case involved the three children from the religious group Jehovah’s Witnesses who refused to participate in singing the National Anthem at their school. For this, they were expelled by the school.

However, when the case reached SC, it held that forcing them to sing the Anthem violated their fundamental right to religion under Article 25 of the Constitution and the court also provided legal protection to them.

The Supreme Court further stated that Article 25 was incorporated in recognition of the principle that the ultimate measure of a true democracy, lies in the ability that even an insignificant minority finds its identity under the Indian Constitution.

SC also held that standing up respectfully for the National Anthem but not singing does not constitute an offence under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

Shyam Narayan Chouksey Case: The matter involving singing the national anthem again came up to SC in Shyam Narayan Chouksey vs Union of India (2018).

The court initially passed an interim order in 2016 that “all the cinema halls in India shall play the National Anthem before the feature film starts and all present in the hall are obliged to stand up to show respect to the National Anthem’’.

However, in its final judgment in 2018, the court modified its interim order.

The court held that the extent that playing of the National Anthem prior to the screening of feature films in cinema halls is not mandatory, but optional or directory.

Must Read: Why make a show of patriotism: SC judge

GS Paper 3

Express View on Yamuna status report: River abandoned

Source: The post is based on the article “Express View on Yamuna status report: River abandoned” published in “Indian Express” on 8th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Environment

News: In January, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) established a panel led by Delhi’s lieutenant governor to find way to rejuvenate the Yamuna river in the capital. However, a six-month status report by the Delhi government reveals minimal reduction in pollution levels.

What are the major findings of the status report on the Yamuna river rejuvenation?

Major finding are as follows:

1. The pollution levels in Yamuna river have barely decreased despite interventions.
2. The sewage treatment plants in Delhi are not fully utilized, causing untreated sewage to flow into the river.
3. Many poor communities lack access to the sewage pipe network.
4. Despite expanding the sewerage network to some unauthorized areas, around 245 million gallons of sewage remain untreated daily.
5. A 15-year old project designed to trap sewage has failed to meet deadlines and didn’t account for Delhi’s growing population.
6. City authorities like the DDA, municipal corporation, and pollution control agencies aren’t collaborating effectively.
7. More than 70% of Yamuna’s pollution comes from Delhi, making it crucial to improve the city’s pollution control.
8. Much of the Yamuna River in Delhi is so polluted that it’s unfit for bathing.

This underlines the critical need for effective pollution control measures in the capital.

Internationalisation of Indian currency: The rupee challenge

Source: The post is based on an article “Internationalisation of Indian currency: The rupee challenge” published in The Indian Express on 8^th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indian Economy – Monetary Policy, Growth & Development

Relevance: About the benefits and challenges associated with Internationalization of rupee.

News: Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) has recommended several measures for Internationalization of rupee.

What is internationalization of rupee?

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What are the benefits of internationalization of rupee?

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It also protects the economy from sudden stops and reversals of capital flows.

What are the different measures recommended by the IDG?

Read Here: Internationalization of the Rupee: Explained

What are the challenges with the internationalization of the rupee?

As per reports, even though the central bank had allowed banks in July last year to settle international trade in rupees with 18 countries, there has been little progress in adopting this facility.

For example, Russia favors the yuan or the dirham as transaction mediums, even though there has been a significant increase in oil imports from India.

What can be the way ahead?

The process of internationalising the Indian rupee requires permitting easier and more unconstrained transactions in the rupee.

The development of financial and foreign exchange markets will also play a critical role in determining the pace of internationalization of the currency.

Further, as the Indian economy grows in size and as its trade linkages with other countries grow stronger, more space will be created for using the rupee in international transactions.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Selective ban of messaging apps may be looked at: TRAI

Source: The post is based on the article “Selective ban of messaging apps may be looked at: TRAI” published in The Hindu on 8th July 2023

What is the News?

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has opened discussions on regulating over-the-top (OTT) communication service providers such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram and Signal.

TRAI would also discuss the possibility of selectively banning OTT services in places where an Internet shutdown would otherwise have been imposed.

Why does TRAI want regulation for OTT communication services?

Firstly, telecom operators and OTT platforms such as WhatsApp offer similar services. But they are not bound by the same requirements – as a result, there is a need for regulatory parity.

Secondly, Telecom service providers (TSPs) need a service license for offering voice and SMS services. On the other hand OTT communication service providers offer voice call, and messaging and video call services similar to the services provided by TSPs, without any such licence.

Thirdly, Telecom service providers in India are regulated by several laws including Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 and have to adhere to requirements such as lawful interception. Such requirements are not applicable on OTT services currently.

Fourthly, OTT services do not financially contribute towards increasing telecom services penetration in the country unlike the operators who have to pay towards the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

Why is TRAI exploring selective banning of OTT apps?

TRAI has said that shutdown of telecommunications or the Internet can have significant ramifications for a country’s economy. 

It also disrupts critical services such as education and healthcare. Consequently, such a shutdown affects the life and livelihood of the citizens of the country.

This has been cited as a reason to explore selectively banning OTT apps as opposed to the whole Internet.

What does the draft telecom Bill prescribe for OTT services?

Draft Telecom Bill provides for the inclusion of new-age over-the-top communication services like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram in the definition of telecommunication services.

As per the draft bill, providers of telecommunication services will be covered under the licensing regime, and will be subjected to similar rules as other telecom operators.

This issue has been under contention for several years now with telecom service providers seeking a level-playing field with OTT apps over communication services such as voice calls, messages, etc where operators had to incur high costs of licenses and spectrum while OTT players rode on their infrastructure to offer free services.

Explainer: What is the Farmers Distress Index?

Source: The post is based on the article “Explainer: What is the Farmers Distress Index?” published in Down To Earth on 6th July 2023

What is the News?

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), an institution under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed an early warning system called ‘farmers distress index’.

What is the Farmers Distress Index?

Aim: To minimize the agrarian distress in the form of crop loss / failure and income shock. This will help in decreasing farmer suicides.

Working of the index: The index methodology involves going  through local newspapers, other news platforms and social media platforms for any report on incidence of farmers distress like localised cases of issues with debt repayment, death by suicide, pest attacks, drought, floods, migration, among others.

– Following this, contacts of farmers from the area will be collected to conduct telephonic interviews, which will have 21 standardized questions to gauge early signs of distress. 

– Based on these questions, the degree of distress will be identified.The index will have values from 0-1. A value between 0-0.5 will indicate ‘low distress’, 0.5-0.7 will indicate ‘moderate’ distress and above 0.7 will indicate ‘severe’ distress. 

– If the index is severe, it will identify which component among the seven is more severe and contributes maximum to farmers’ distress.

Significance of the index: The index will help in anticipating agrarian distress and prevent its spread from a few farmers to the village or block level by pre-warning different stakeholders, including central, state, local and also non-government agencies about the future occurrence of farmers distress in a particular block / district so that they can take timely preventive measures.

Outstanding performance by India in United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific’s (UNESCAP) Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation

Source: The post is based on the article “Outstanding performance by India in United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific’s (UNESCAP) Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation” published in PIB on 7th July 2023

What is the News?

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific’s (UNESCAP) has released the Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023.

What is the Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation?

UNESCAP has been conducting the Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation since 2015.

Aim: To review the progress of trade facilitation reforms in their respective Member States. 

Parameters: The survey covers WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) along with set of nearly 60 trade facilitation measures categorized into eleven sub-groups, namely: 1) Transparency 2) Formalities 3) Institutional arrangement and cooperation 4) Transit facilitation 5) Paperless trade 6) Cross-border paperless trade 7) Trade facilitation for SMEs 8) Agricultural trade facilitation 9) Women in trade facilitation 10) Trade finance for trade facilitation and 11) Trade facilitation in times of crisis. 

The survey is fact-based rather than perception-based. A three-step approach to data collection and validation is generally followed, implemented over a 6-month period every 2 years.

What are the key findings of the survey related to India?

India has positioned itself at the forefront of global trade facilitation efforts with an impressive score of 93.55% in 2023 vis a vis 90.32% in 2021.

India is now the best performing country amongst all the countries of the South Asia region. The overall score of India has been greater than many developed countries including Canada, France, UK, Germany etc.

India has achieved a perfect score of 100% in four key areas: Transparency, Formalities, Institutional Arrangement and Cooperation, and Paperless Trade.

India has witnessed a substantial improvement in the score for “Women in Trade Facilitation” component from 66.7% in 2021 to 77.8% in 2023 thereby indicating commitment to gender inclusivity and the empowerment of women in the trade sector.

This outstanding recognition reflects India’s continuous efforts to streamline trade procedures and improve transparency through initiatives such as Turant customs, single window interface for facilitation of trade (SWIFT), pre-arrival data processing, e-Sanchit, and coordinated border management.

Ministry of Education releases report on Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States/UTs for the year 2021-22

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Education releases report on Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States/UTs for the year 2021-22” published in PIB on 7th July 2023

What is the News?

The Union Ministry of Education has released a report on Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States/UTs for the year 2021-22.

What is the Performance Grading Index?

The Performance Grading Index is prepared by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education. It was first released for the year 2017-18.

It assesses the performance of the school education system at the State/UT level by creating an index.

The PGI 2.0 structure comprises total weightage of 1000 points across 73 indicators, which are grouped under 2 Categories viz., Outcomes and Governance & Management. 

These categories are further divided into 6 domains, viz., Learning Outcomes (LO), Access (A), Infrastructure & Facilities (IF), Equity (E), Governance Processes (GP) and Teacher Education & Training (TET).

Scores obtained by States/UTs have been classified into 10 grades with the highest achievable Grade is Daksh, which is for State/UT scoring more than 940 points out of a total of 1000 points.  The lowest grade is Akanshi-3 which is for a score up to 460. 

What are the key findings of  Performance Grading Index 2.0 for 2021-22?

Source: PIB

None of the States/UTs has attained the highest Grade i.e Daksh. 

Only 2 States and UTs, namely Punjab and Chandigarh have attained Grade Prachesta -2 (score 641-700).

The three poorest performing States/UTs Akanshi 3 are Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram. 

The maximum and minimum scores obtained by the States/UTs in 2021-22 are 659.01 and 420.64 respectively. The deviation between the maximum and minimum scores obtained by States/UTs is 23.8% of the maximum points, indicating that states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram has to put more effort to reach the top slot. This disparity was 51 % in 2017-18.

Microplastics can alter gut microbiome, cause intestinal inflammation: FAO

Source: The post is based on the article “Microplastics can alter gut microbiome, cause intestinal inflammation: FAO” published in Down To Earth on 5th July 2023.

What is the News?

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has found that Microplastics and nanoplastics considerably impact human and animal gut microbiomes as well as the environment.

What are Microplastics and Nanoplastics?

Microplastics (0.1 to 5 000 μm) and nanoplastics (0.001 to 0.1 μm) are tiny plastic particles that have potential effects on the environment, animals and human health.

Micro- and nanoplastics are generated from both primary and secondary sources.

Primary sources are those that deliberately created micro- and nanoplastics for consumer and industrial uses, such as exfoliants in cleansers, cosmetics, as drug delivery particles in medicines, and industrial air blasting.

Macroplastic products that disintegrate into micron-sized and smaller particles are the secondary source of micro- and nanoplastics. They occur both terrestrially and in the aquatic environment.

How do microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body?

There are three key routes for microplastics and nanoplastics to end up in the human body: 

Inhalation: Inhaled airborne microplastics originate from urban dust, and include synthetic textiles and rubber tyres. 

Ingestion: Microplastics will be ingested as they are prevalent in the food chain and water supplies.

Skin contact: Skin membrane was too fine for microplastics or nanoplastics to pass through. But it is possible for them to enter through wounds, sweat glands or hair follicles.

How do microplastics and nanoplastics impact  human and animal gut?

Microplastics and nanoplastics considerably impact human and animal gut microbiomes as well as the environment.

Researchers have studied the effect of microplastics on the gastrointestinal tract and gut microbiota.

It found that injection of these plastics has led to changes in gene markers, biochemical markers, mucus layer, gut permeability, oxidative stress, immune response and liver function.

What is causing the mysterious ‘gravity hole’ in the Indian Ocean?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is causing the mysterious ‘gravity hole’ in the Indian Ocean?” published in Indian Express on 6th July 2023

What is the News?

Scientists have finally found the reason behind the huge gravity hole in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

What is a Gravity Hole?

A gravity hole, also known as a gravitational anomaly, refers to a specific area where the force of gravity is lower than the average on Earth.

Gravity holes happen as the Earth gravitational field is not uniform due to variations in density and mass distribution. 

Gravity Hole in Indian Ocean:

The Indian Ocean is home to one of the giant gravity hole known as the Indian Ocean Geoid Low (IOGL).

It was discovered in 1948 during a ship-based gravity survey by Dutch geophysicist Felix Andries Vening Meinesz.

It is found in a large section of over three million sq. km in the Indian Ocean seafloor, located around 1,200 km southwest of India’s southern tip.

It is estimated to have formed approximately 20 million years ago.

What is the reason behind the Gravity Hole in the Indian Ocean?

The researchers discovered that the possible reason for the gravity hole in the Indian Ocean is the plumes of magma.

This phenomena might have originated 120 million years ago when the supercontinent Gondwana land separated. 

As the Indian plate separated from the African plate, it smashed into the European plate and the ocean called Tethys was squeezed between the continental plates.

Some parts of these plates are still melting back into the deep Earth’s interior and generating low-intensity magma and creating a gravity hole.

Govt. to share PM Gati Shakti data

Source: The post is based on the article “Govt. to share PM Gati Shakti data” published in The Hindu on 8th July 2023

What is the News?

Government is working out a mechanism to share data with industry and potential investors about multi-modal connectivity as well as other physical and social infrastructure captured on the PM Gati Shakti platform.

What is PM Gati Shakti?

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What is the institutional framework of PM Gati Shakti?

The institutional framework for rolling out, implementation, monitoring and support mechanism is designed to have a Three-tier system:

Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOs): It will be headed by Cabinet Secretary and will consist of Secretaries of 18 Ministries as members and Head of Logistics Division as Member Convenor. 

– The EGOS has been mandated to review and monitor implementation of the PM Gati Shakti to ensure logistics efficiency. 

Network Planning Group (NPG): It is composed of representatives from various connectivity infrastructure ministries and departments.

These representatives include the heads of the network planning division, and their purpose is to ensure unified planning and integration of the proposals.

All logistics and connectivity infrastructure projects requiring investments of over Rs 500 crore are directed through the NPG.

Technical Support Unit (TSU): It is approved for providing the required competencies for the complexities involved in overall integration of networks, enhancing optimization to avoid duplication of works for holistic development of any region as well as reducing logistics costs through micro-plan detailing.

Network Planning Group(NPG) has approved a tot

What is the progress under PM Gati Shakti?

al of 85 major infrastructure projects worth Rs 5.4 lakh crore from various ministries under the PM Gati Shakti initiative.

Among these approved projects, there are 34 from railways, 31 from roads and transport, one from new and renewable energy, four from oil and gas and eight from the Housing and Urban Affairs ministry.

Iceland is the world’s most peaceful country; check where India stands

Source: The post is based on the article “Iceland is the world’s most peaceful country; check where India stands” published in Indian Express on 7th July 2023

What is the News?

The 2023 Global Peace Index(GPI) has been released.

What is the Global Peace Index(GPI)?

Released by: Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)

Aim: To present the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to date on trends in peace, its economic value, and how to develop peaceful societies.

Countries covered: The index covers 163 countries comprising 99.7 percent of the world’s population.

Parameters: It measures the state of peace across three domains: 1) Societal safety and security 2) Ongoing domestic and international conflict and 3) Militarisation.

What are the key findings of the 2023 Global Peace Index(GPI)?

Globally: The average level of global peacefulness has deteriorated by 0.42%.

– Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world – a title it has held since 2008.

– Afghanistan is the least peaceful country in the world for the eighth consecutive year.

India: India has occupied the 126th spot in the rankings, two higher than its previous position.

– India has experienced an improvement of 3.5 per cent in overall peacefulness over the past year, owing to improvements in violent crime, neighboring countries’ relations and political instability.

– Further, the reduction in geopolitical tensions with China owing to the decrease in border incidents as well as less social unrest has led to an improvement in the political instability in India.