Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

GS Paper 3

• Steering sustainable trade – India needs to push manufacturing exports
• Transmitting efficiency – New RE projects could address a major weakness
• On climate change, wealthy nations must show the way
• A reserve currency differs from one that payments are settled in
• Responsibility and the complexities of climate leadership
• CoWIN leaks: Where’s government’s due diligence?
• Greenwashed – Aravalis to Goa, rules are being tweaked to allow ecologically dangerous projects and mining

Prelims-Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 to be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur
• Biparjoy part of a new trend in Indian cyclones
• ‘Soul of Steel’: Backed by Indian Army, Extreme Himalayan Challenge a Test Beyond Assumed Physical Limits
• States look for alternatives as Centre restricts FCI purchase
• Indian medicines under lens in Sri Lanka over a series of adverse events
• Direct Seeding of Rice: Paddy and the price of water
• Remains of new species of duck-billed dinosaur found in Chile
• Mahindra Defence begins deliveries of ‘Armado’ for Indian armed forces
• CBIC releases National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 report

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Birth Of The Matter – Single persons are denied the right to be surrogate parents on fact-free, not-quite-scientific & vague moral grounds

Source: The post is based on the article “Birth Of The Matter – Single persons are denied the right to be surrogate parents on fact-free, not-quite-scientific & vague moral grounds” published in The Times of India on 19th June 2023

Syllabus: GS 2 – mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of vulnerable sections.

Relevance: About Regulation of Surrogacy.

News: Recently, one of the last Indian singletons became a parent through surrogacy. This is because Surrogacy (Regulation) Act excluded single men and women ineligible for surrogacy alongside live-in and same-sex couples.

About the Petitions on Surrogacy (Regulation) Act

Petitions challenging the exclusions have been filed in the court. The government said that “the prism of the welfare of the child” is paramount.

On the other hand, the petitioners argue that a) The law commission in its 228th report has advised the government not to “Prohibit surrogacy on vague moral grounds,” b) The government’s welfare of the child concept does not make it clear why a single parent is considered hurtful to the welfare of a child, and c) The government consider Biology as the source of a strong emotional bond. But, the government’s opinion of the child being “rejected or uncared for by the parent who is not biologically related” is not correct. For instance, too many biological children are neglected and even seriously abused by their parents.

What should be done?

Reproductive technology has advanced and revolutionized. So, citing tradition and saying who can or cannot be a family while embracing technology is wrong. Reproductive autonomy under Article 21 shouldn’t be cancelled by prejudices.

Three years after Galwan, disengagement has not been followed by resolution

Source: The post is based on the following article

• “The Stories On China That India Will Miss” published in The Times of India on 19th June 2023
• “Three years after Galwan, disengagement has not been followed by resolution” published in the Indian Express on 19th June 2023

Syllabus: GS 2 – India and its neighbourhood- relations.

Relevance: About India – China border dispute.

News: Three years after the Galwan clash, both India and China are no closer to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Similarly, both India and China are pursuing a tit-for-tat expulsion of journalists from China and India respectively.

About the disengagement between India and China

The disengagement by troops is at five “friction” points. These are Galwan in 2020, on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake in 2021, at Patrolling Point 17 in the Gogra-Hot Spring in August 2021, and PP15 in September 2022. Almost 18 rounds of talks between the area military commanders of both sides have happened so far. But, de-escalation has not taken place.

In the process of disengagement, India stepped back from areas where it was previously patrolling to create a demilitarised buffer zone at the five points where the Chinese intrusion had taken place. In official communication with the Chinese, India has stopped using the phrase “return to status quo” as it existed on April 2020.

Both sides have decided that the intrusions in the Depsang Plains and in Demchok are “legacy issues” and need not be taken up now.

What is the present state of the India – China border dispute?

What are the implications of the expulsion of journalists?

India has not approved visas for Chinese journalists since 2020, leading to a drop from 14 journalists to one. Similarly, China will see the last Indian journalist in China leave this month with the expiry of his visa.

Without reporting from the ground in China, Indian journalists will lack the ground experience that China offers and cannot observe China’s economic policies. Indians will now depend on Western media and the Anglo-Saxon narrative.

What should be done?

India needs intermediates, machinery and equipment from China, as much as China needs a market in India. India-China trade increased from $125 billion in 2021 to $135 billion in 2022, an 8% increase. India’s trade deficit with China continues to grow and stands at $100 billion.

India’s measured actions such as keeping trade channels open and keeping its foreign policy options open show pragmatism in India’s approach. With India’s increased participation with the US and Quad, India should avoid seeing its own problems with China on border issues through the American security lens focussed on the Taiwan Strait.

GS Paper 3

Steering sustainable trade – India needs to push manufacturing exports

Source: The post is based on the article “Steering sustainable trade – India needs to push manufacturing exports” published in Business Standard on 19^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indian Economy – Growth & Development

Relevance: concerns with declining exports in India and measures needed

News: India’s merchandise exports have been struggling, with declining for fourth consecutive month in May.

What are the highlights of the merchandise exports data?

The value of exports was $34.98 billion in May, down from $39 billion in the same month last year.

Even though the imports have declined, the trade deficit expanded to a five-month high of $22.12 billion.

Among the key sectors, 17 out of 30 experienced a contraction in exports, including petroleum products, gems and jewelry, and engineering goods. However, electronics exports performed well, showing over 70% growth.

What are the challenges with Indian exports?

The weakness in the global economy poses a near-term challenge for India’s exports.

According to the projections of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), global economic growth is expected to slow from 3.3 percent in 2022 to 2.7 percent in 2023.

Additionally, the growth rate in the US is also expected to decline from 1.6% in 2023 to 1% in 2024.

Further, the continued tightening of financial conditions is expected to affect demand.

What are the future projections for the exports?

India is expected to maintain a manageable current account deficit (CAD) due to lower commodity prices and a surplus in trade in services. 

As per the Chief Economic Advisor, the CAD was expected to remain under 2 percent of GDP this fiscal year.

Moreover, the inflation rate in OECD countries is expected to decrease from 9.4% in 2022 to 6.6% in 2023. However, despite this, the inflation rate will still remain significantly above the medium-term target.

Therefore, financial conditions in advanced economies are expected to remain restrictive in the future, which will have negative effects on global output and fund flows.

What measures have been taken by India to boost its export?

The Indian government is taking measures to boost exports by utilizing its investment promotion agency and diplomatic missions, with a specific focus on 40 countries that make up around 85% of India’s exports.

In terms of policy, the government is working on a twin strategy of export promotion and import substitution.

However, the effectiveness of this strategy remains uncertain in the current global economic and trade environment, especially when India is reluctant to engage in large trade agreements.

What can be the way ahead for India?

As per a recent report, India’s top export items are primarily petroleum products, while mobile phones have entered the top five rankings in 2022-23.

Therefore, India needs to expand its achievements in the mobile phone sector to other areas to achieve sustained success.

Increasing manufacturing exports will not only contribute to long-term stability in external accounts but also generate much-needed employment opportunities for India’s growing workforce.

Transmitting efficiency – New RE projects could address a major weakness

Source: The post is based on the article “Transmitting efficiency – New RE projects could address a major weakness” published in Business Standard on 19^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Environment – Renewable Energy

Relevance: About NCT’s transmission project and challenges associated with it.

News: The National Committee on Transmission (NCT) has recently approved six transmission projects. It is an important step toward overcoming hurdles for renewable power projects in India.

About NCT’s transmission project

The project will connect green-energy installations and contribute to the goal of transmitting 500 GW of energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

The NCT’s approval is part of a plan to transmit 500 GW of energy based on non-fossil fuels by 2030, connecting solar parks and wind-power plants to the national grid.

Under the plan, the focus is on attracting private sector participation through “traffic-based competitive bidding” (TBCB) for these projects.

The transmission projects will connect renewable-energy zones (REZs) in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, as well as hydroelectric power projects in Himachal Pradesh.

Note: Currently, renewable energy (RE) accounts for only 12% of the country’s power generation, with coal remaining the dominant source.

What are the challenges with Renewable Energy projects?

RE power generation, unlike fossil fuel-based generation, is based on various factors. For example, solar power depends on factors like sunrise, sunset, and cloud cover, while wind power relies on wind speed.

This variable nature of RE power makes it difficult to integrate it with the transmission of power produced by conventional sources.

Since the capacity utilization of the transmission system varies between 20 percent and 30 per cent, there are questions about its economic viability.

Another concern which arises is regarding the effectiveness of the traffic-based competitive bidding (TBCB) process.

While competitive bidding is generally considered a better approach, recent experiences have shown that the chasing of the lowest power tariffs by bidders does not always result in efficient or viable projects.

For instance, in the solar power sector, competition in project bidding drove prices down to a level where power purchasers backed out of purchasing contracts with RE power generators, hoping for even lower prices in subsequent bids.

It is therefore crucial that the National Committee on Transmissions’ (NCT) latest plan avoids this issue.

On climate change, wealthy nations must show the way

Source- The post is based on the article “On climate change, wealthy nations must show the way” published in “The Indian Express” on 19th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Environment – Climate Change

News– The article explains the need for urgent action on climate change in current times.

Why is action on climate change urgently needed in present times?

Climate change is creating variability in our weather systems. Floods, droughts, extreme rains and subsequent crop damage and health impacts are big challenges for the planet.

The WMO’s recent report on global temperatures touching 1.5 degrees Celsius is a warning about a climate emergency.

As per IPCC’s 2023 Climate Change Synthesis Report, governments are just not doing enough to tackle the crisis.

As per this report, the current pace of climate actions will lead to a rise of global average temperature by 2.7 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels by 2100. All the international net-zero targets together would still warm the planet by 2.2 degrees Celsius.

An estimated two million people lost their lives between 1970 and 2019 to extreme weather and the economic loss hovers around $6.5 trillion.

Many believe that climate impacts in 2100 will not be severe, and the current adaptation measures will be adequate. But Covid-19 has revealed the under-preparedness of most countries. Climate change is likely to pose a much more severe challenge.

What is the importance of rich countries in tackling climate change?

A mere 10% of the world’s richest countries emit 50% of the greenhouse gases, while the poorest account for 12%. Delaying climate action to 2030 is likely to push temperatures beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius.

If the major economies of the world want to lead, they will have to do so by making a long-term commitment to reducing emissions.

The quantum of climate finance has grown only slightly over the past decade, reaching about $ 579 billion in 2017-18. This is about 10 times less than the estimated $ 6.3 trillion needed every year by 2030 to stay aligned with the Paris Agreement.

Why is current timing suitable for climate related actions?

The solutions that exist for climate change can be scaled up faster with political will. Solar is now the cheapest source of power in the major economies. A new solar plant is three times cheaper than its equivalent in coal.

In 2022, 90% of the world’s power sector growth came from renewables. Twenty-four nations have reported a drop in emissions by expanding their renewables portfolio.

The switch to clean energy need not spell doom for the oil and gas sector. Professionals can migrate to renewables with expertise in energy technology and finance.

By investing their subsidies in de-centralised solar, wind, geothermal and tidal power, the corporations could make themselves the primary energy provider for the developing world.

A reserve currency differs from one that payments are settled in

Source- The post is based on the article “A reserve currency differs from one that payments are settled in” published in the “mint” on 19th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS3 – Indian Economy – Money and Currency

Relevance- Issues related to external account

News– There has been a lot of discussions recently on the international usage of the US dollar as a reserve currency.

What is a reserve currency?

It is the currency held by countries as foreign exchange reserves. These are required to meet the gap between a country’s international payments and receipts. It serves as a buffer to meet any contingency.

Such reserves can be held in the form of gold or any foreign currency that can be freely used or fully convertible currency.

What are its characteristics?

It should not be subject to any controls by the country that issues it. USD as a reserve currency is based on its credibility.

The second requirement for a reserve currency is that there should be sufficient availability of that currency to be held as reserves.

Countries should be prepared to expand their currency in amounts sufficient to be held by other countries as a reserve asset. It means running current account deficits on a sustained basis. This is known as the Triffin’s paradox.

A reserve currency should be available for investment in liquid form. Ensuring liquidity in a currency requires well developed debt and equity markets in that currency.

What is the historical experience associated with reserve currency?

Historically, gold has been used as a reserve currency. Over time, the supply of gold was not enough to meet the growing needs of trade and investment.

This saw the emergence of reserve currencies. Currencies of dominant imperialist countries like the UK were accepted for international payments.

Initially, the UK’s pound sterling was the currency of choice. It could always be converted to gold by the Bank of England. It lost its reserve currency status as it abandoned the gold standard during the Great Depression and became bankrupt following World War II.

As the US began to dominate the global economy. it became the preferred reserve currency.  The trend ended in 1971 and the US abandoned the gold exchange standard.

The freely floating exchange rate system emerged after it. Countries declared the exchange rate system of their choice and their currency of intervention. Most countries picked the USD for it. The system has broadly stayed the same since then.

One major change was the emergence of the euro as a single currency for countries in the Eurozone.

The currency composition of allocated reserves in 2022 as compiled by the IMF shows that 58% of reserves are held in USD and 19% in euro.

Do recent global events following US sanctions threaten the use of the USD as a reserve currency?

Countries today are going alternate currency and even payment arrangements for their global transactions.

China allowed limited convertibility by letting non-residents hold renminbi accounts for trade payments.

In 2015, it introduced the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), backed by the People’s Bank of China.

It offers clearing and settlement services for its participants in cross-border renminbi payments and trade. But it does not mean that the Chinese currency can become a reserve currency, unless it becomes fully convertible.

In 2022, the RBI introduced an additional arrangement for invoicing, payment and settlement of exports/imports in Indian rupees through Special Rupee Vostro Accounts.

It allows increased invoicing of trade in INR without multilateral settlement. But, they are not very different from India’s bilateral trade and payment arrangements with Russia.

Geo-political considerations and the covid-19 experience of supply chain disruptions also forced countries to enter trading blocs and set up their own payment arrangements.

The role played by a reserve asset, however, cannot be replaced or minimised by these payment arrangements.

A national currency serving as a reserve currency with key characteristics of convertibility, usability and availability will continue to be needed. The role of the USD will continue to be important.

Responsibility and the complexities of climate leadership

Source- The post is based on the article “Responsibility and the complexities of climate leadership” published in “The Hindu” on 19th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Environment

Relevance– Issues related to climate change

News- Over the last few weeks, there has been an increasingly vocal campaign to unseat the President-Designate of COP28, Minister Sultan Al Jaber of the host nation, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

What are the actions needed by the global community for addressing the challenges presented by climate change?

For a clean energy future for the planet, there is a need for united actions. It is important to avoid division. All fellow parties must be engaged at COP28 and elsewhere.

Many of our nations are also crippled by unsustainable debts. Some amount of debt is becoming unplayable due to climate damages.

There is a need for a collective approach which recognises the debt problem and the barrier it creates for clean energy investment and climate adaptation.

Sovereign wealth funds and multilateral development banks could assist in de-risking restructured debts and insuring re-issued climate bonds.

Thus, finance continues to be central to the COP outcome. The Loss and Damage fund must be utilised properly.

Fossil fuel-dependent economies are critical to these efforts. They can demonstrate their commitment by making subscriptions to support funding for climate damages in the most vulnerable countries.

COP28 may be an opportunity to engage the fossil fuels industry to make some significant and quantifiable commitments to emissions cuts and climate action in general.

CoWIN leaks: Where’s government’s due diligence?

Source- The post is based on the article “CoWIN leaks: Where’s government’s due diligence?” published in “The Indian Express” on 19th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Awareness in the field of IT, computers. GS2- E-governance

Relevance- Issues related to privacy and security in digitalisation

News- The recent media reports about the CoWin data leak are no doubt disconcerting.

What is the general response of authorities to data-related privacy and security concerns?

They dismiss it by saying that our phone or Aadhaar numbers may already be there with hundreds of entities anyway.

Keepers of these systems argue that the security and privacy safeguards deployed are foolproof because they use “state-of-the-art best practices”.

What should be standard discourse on security and privacy related concerns?

Security specifications should start with a well-articulated threat model. It should tell about security risks and the capabilities of a hypothetical adversary.

For large public service applications, it is assumed that the adversary can corrupt all insiders including system administrators, all custody chains, and all hardware and software.

The system designers are required to either argue for security in some well-established and standard framework against such a threat model.

Trusting the integrity of software or hardware is usually avoided because such correctness is often difficult to establish.

Why does the policy response on privacy require even more due diligence?

Leakage of sensitive personal information from phones, and Aadhaar makes one vulnerable to direct harms like fraud, identity theft, or illegal surveillance. There can be indirect harm resulting from unknown entities using personal data in unknown ways.

For example, such data may be used illegally for profiling voters and influencing them. This is problematic because individuals are often less careful about these indirect harms.

What is the way forward to prevent the privacy breach in digitalisation?

It requires standards to ensure that data is only collected for specific purposes. Its security, particularly against insider attacks, is a necessary condition.

There is a need for legal standards to ensure collection of data for specific purposes and access control regulation to prevent building parallel copies of sensitive databases.

Any digitalisation involves some privacy risks at the interface of the digital and the human. It needs to be precisely modelled.

The interface is a crucial component of the digitalisation use cases. It defines how various users, including administrators and operators, interact with digital systems.

What is the harm associated with failure to do the required due diligence of privacy risk assessment?

It results in violations of data collection for specific purposes. It is evident from the imprecise definition in the Aadhaar Act and the indiscriminate use of the “Aadhaar card” in all services. Some of these are backed by laws and some are not.

The other harms that often arise due to inadequate modelling are in digitalisation of welfare delivery such as sale of PDS ration or MNREGA payments.

It may result in exclusions and denial of services, hardships, and increased transactional costs for the beneficiaries.

Greenwashed – Aravalis to Goa, rules are being tweaked to allow ecologically dangerous projects and mining

Source: The post is based on the article “Greenwashed – Aravalis to Goa, rules are being tweaked to allow ecologically dangerous projects and mining” published in The Times of India on 19th June 2023

Syllabus: GS 3 – Environment and Bio-diversity Conservation.

Relevance: About protecting Indian hill ranges.

News: A recent study found that India might lose 22% of Aravallis, India’s oldest mountain range, in just 40 years, from 2019 to 2059.

What are the findings of the study on Aravali hillocks?

Aravalis acts as a natural boundary to the Thar Desert and is a natural water recharge facility. But, a flattening Aravali will speed up the desertification of the entire area.

What are the causes for flattening Aravalis?

These include a) Indiscriminate mining, b) Environmental laws are routinely diluted by a slew of exemptions, lacunae and reconversions from forest to non-forest land, c) Intrusions from developers, urban city departments and state governments into protected eco-zones, and d) Allocation of Aravali lands for housing projects of the government.

Why the issue is not persistent in Aravalis alone?

These are common causes. Forests, lakes and fields from Uttarakhand to Rajasthan, Haryana to Goa and the North East are being depleted by developers to build everything from yoga resorts to film studios.

For example, the recent Goa government regulation freed up 6 crore square metres of Goa’s eco-sensitive zone land for sale. In Uttarakhand, policies were altered and rules amended to make mining easier.

The focus on infrastructure development by depleting eco-sensitive zones is myopic. Deforestation and melting glaciers have made hill states vulnerable to mudslides and landslides. So, irreversible” damage to ecology must stop as requested by the Supreme Court.

When the government can ban 10 year old diesel cars to protect the environment, then it can do much more to protect a hill range and a seaside ecological zone.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 to be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur

Source: The post is based on the article “Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 to be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur” published in PIB on 18th June 2023

What is the News?

The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021 is being conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur.

What is the Gandhi Peace Prize?

Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by the Government of India in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. 

The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.

The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.

The jury which decides the awardee of the Gandhi Peace Prize comprises the Prime Minister of India, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and one other eminent person.

What is Gita Press?

Gita Press was established in 1923. It is one of the world’s largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita. The institution has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation.

Biparjoy part of a new trend in Indian cyclones

Source: The post is based on the article “Biparjoy part of a new trend in Indian cyclones” published in The Hindu on 19th June 2023

What is the News?

The cyclonic disturbances over the North Indian Ocean which includes the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the land area in between have gone through many significant changes in recent decades.

What are the changes cyclones have gone through in the North Indian Ocean?

Decrease in the number of cyclones: The number of cyclonic disturbances in the North Indian Ocean has declined considerably over the past four decades.

– This decline was mostly due to a rapid decrease in the number of cyclonic disturbances originating from the Bay of Bengal, the source of most past cyclones to have made landfall in southeast and west Asia. 

– In contrast, the number of such disturbances originating from the Arabian Sea has been steadily increasing in recent years, though the count is still relatively low. 

Greater intensity of cyclones: Global warming is causing the Arabian Sea to heat up, which is resulting in more, stronger cyclones. 

– Data show that about 34% of all disturbances that originated in the Arabian Sea have become severe cyclonic storms (a top speed of >48 knots) compared to the 19% of disturbances which originated from the Bay of Bengal and become severe cyclonic storms. 

– Further, the Indian Meteorological Department finds it tougher to forecast cyclones originating from the Arabian Sea as the models have to be adjusted given the oceanographic differences it has with the Bay of Bengal.

‘Soul of Steel’: Backed by Indian Army, Extreme Himalayan Challenge a Test Beyond Assumed Physical Limits

Source: The post is based on the article “‘Soul of Steel: Backed by Indian Army, Extreme Himalayan Challenge a Test Beyond Assumed Physical Limits” published in News18 on 17th June 2023

What is the News?

A first-of-its-kind event, the ‘Soul of Steel Himalayan Challenge’ was recently conducted in the forward areas of the Garhwal Himalayan region.

What is the Soul of Steel Challenge?

Launched by: CLAW Global (veterans organization) with the support of Indian Army.

It is the world’s first self-sustained, high-altitude skill and endurance at such glaciated and snow-bound terrains. 

It is modelled on the lines of the ‘Ironman triathlon’ a long-distance triathlon challenge in Europe which tests an individual’s grit and endurance.

The idea behind Soul of Steel is the pooling of skill sets and creating a challenge that will unlock the human ability to survive, stabilize and thrive in high-altitude areas.

The challenge opened the domain of niche military skills to an average person, who wishes to challenge their physical and psychological limits

What is the significance of the Soul of Steel Challenge?

The Soul of Steel event will lay the foundation to galvanize the adventure sports potential of remote areas of India, boost tourism, engage the youth in skill-based certification programmes for gainful employment and promote active environmental conservation.

It will also stage Uttarakhand on the global tourism map for adventure tourism.

What is CLAW Global?

Click Here to read

States look for alternatives as Centre restricts FCI purchase

Source: The post is based on the article “States look for alternatives as Centre restricts FCI purchase” published in The Hindu on 19th June 2023

What is the News?

The Central Government has recently announced its decision to reduce the quantity of foodgrains a bidder can purchase under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic).

After this, several States have started taking steps to ensure the supply of foodgrains is distributed under the Public Distribution System but not covered under the National Food Security Act.

What is an Open Market Sale Scheme(OMSS)?

Under the Open Market Sale Scheme, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) sells surplus stocks of wheat and rice at pre-determined prices through e-auction in the open market.

Aim: To enhance the supply of food grains, especially wheat, during the lean season and thereby moderate the open market prices, specially in the deficit regions.

What has the government announced about OMSS?

The Central Government has reduced the quantity of foodgrains a bidder can purchase under the Open Market Sale Scheme.

It has been decided that the quantity that a bidder can purchase in a single bid under the OMSS(D) from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will range from 10-100 tonnes. 

Earlier, the maximum quantity allowed was 3,000 tonnes per bid for a buyer. 

The government has said that this has been done to curb inflation and to accommodate more small and marginal buyers and to ensure wider reach of the scheme. 

Indian medicines under lens in Sri Lanka over a series of adverse events

Source: The post is based on the article “Indian medicines under lens in Sri Lanka over a series of adverse events” published in The Hindu on 19th June 2023

What is the News?

Two patients have recently died after being given Indian-made anaesthetic drugs in Sri Lanka. This has raised questions about imported Indian drugs.

What happened in Sri Lanka related to Indian imported drugs?

Two people had died after being given the Indian-manufactured anaesthetic Bupivacaine. 

Indian drugs were in the news again in May 2023 as well when doctors in Sri Lanka’s Central Province reported complaints of visual impairment among 10 patients who were administered Indian medicines after eye surgery. 

The doctors cited the “presence of germs” in the eye medication as a reason for their patient’s condition. Health authorities initiated an inquiry and withdrew the drug to prevent further use.

These series of incidents have brought Indian drugs under sharp scrutiny within Sri Lanka.

Some highlighted the cases of Gambia and Uzbekistan, where Indian-made cough syrups were recently linked to the deaths of dozens of children.

India’s supply of medicines to Sri Lanka:

For years, India has been Sri Lanka’s top source of medical supplies, accounting for nearly half of its pharmaceutical imports that in 2022 totalled about $450 million. 

The trading link became more crucial in the wake of Sri Lanka’s unprecedented economic meltdown last year, which led to critical shortages, including medicines. 

The crisis-hit Sri Lanka continued procuring essential medical supplies from India, through the credit line offered by the Government of India, as part of its nearly $4 billion assistance to the island nation.

Direct Seeding of Rice: Paddy and the price of water

Source: The post is based on the article “Paddy and the price of water” published in Indian Express on 19th June 2023

What is the News?

Most global weather agencies predicting El Niño — which typically suppresses rainfall in India. A weak monsoon can particularly impact paddy (rice with husk) cultivation as rice is a highly water-intensive crop.

This is where Direct seeding of rice (DSR) can be a better option as it cuts down the massive water consumption of paddy. 

What is Direct Seeding of Rice(DSR)?

Click Here to read

What is the difference between Direct Seeding of Rice(DSR) and conventional transplanting?

In DSR, Paddy here is sown directly in the field without any nursery preparation, puddling or flooding. In transplanting, the flooded fields basically deny oxygen to the weed seeds in the soil, preventing their germination. Water, thus, acts as a natural herbicide. In DSR, water is replaced with chemical herbicides.

What are the advantages of DSR?

1) No significant reduction of yield under optimal conditions, 2) Savings on irrigation water by 12-35% under efficient water management practices, 3) Reduces labor and drudgery by eliminating seedling uprooting and transplanting, 4) Reduces cultivation time, energy, and cost, 5) Faster maturation of crops and lower GHG emissions and 6) Increases total income by reducing cost of cultivation.

What are the current constraints related to DSR?

1) Seeds exposed to birds and pests, 2) Weed management, 3) Higher risk of lodging and 4) Risk of poor or non-uniform crop establishment.

Why hasn’t DSR picked up yet?

A key reason is subsidized or even free electricity for irrigation providing farmers little incentive to deploy water-saving technology. A second reason is the lack of good machines.

Remains of new species of duck-billed dinosaur found in Chile

Source: The post is based on the article “Remains of new species of duck-billed dinosaur found in Chile” published in The Hindu on 19th June 2023

What is the News?

Scientists from Chile have discovered a new species of duck-billed dinosaur in the far south of Chile.

What is a Duck-billed Dinosaur?

Duck-billed Dinosaur is a species of herbivorous dinosaur.

These were slender-looking dinosaurs, which could easily adopt a bipedal and quadrupedal posture to reach the vegetation at height and ground level.

They were common in North America, Asia and Europe during the Cretaceous period.

What is the significance of this discovery of Duck-billed Dinosaurs in Chile?

Duck-billed Dinosaurs were previously unknown in the Southern Hemisphere.

This discovery demonstrated that Chilean Patagonia served as a refuge for the duck-billed dinosaur which was common in North America, Asia and Europe during the Cretaceous period, from 145 to 66 million years ago

Mahindra Defence begins deliveries of ‘Armado’ for Indian armed forces

Source: The post is based on the article “Mahindra Defence begins deliveries of ‘Armado’ for Indian armed forces” published in Hindustan Times on 18th June 2023

What is the News?

Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS), has started deliveries of ‘Armado,’ an Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV) built for the Indian armed forces.

What is Armado?

Armado is India’s first Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV).

Built by: It is a fully indigenous vehicle designed and built by the Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS) for the Indian armed forces.

Purpose: It can be used in counter-terrorism operations, raids in open and desert terrains, and reconnaissance missions. Special forces and quick reaction teams too can use it, doing so for conventional operations, weapon-carrying, border patrolling etc.

Features: It can accommodate a driver and 5 passengers.

– Above the standard 1,000 kg load capacity, the ASLV can carry another 400 kg.

– It gets ballistic protection up to the B7 level and STANAG level-2. This means that its armour offers protection against armour-piercing rifles.

– It gets protection on all sides (front, side and rear) from ballistics and explosives.

– Armado takes just 12 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 160 kmph, and runs at a speed of more than 120 kmph.

– It also gets a self-cleaning-type exhaust scavenging and air filtration system for extreme dusty climate, like deserts.

CBIC releases National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 report

Source: The post is based on the article “CBIC releases National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 report” published in PIB on 18th June 2023

What is the News?

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has released the National Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 report.

What is the National Time Release Study(NTRS)?

Time Release Study is essentially a performance measurement tool for assessing the cargo clearance process of international trade as recommended by the World Trade Organization (WTO) under the Trade Facilitation Agreement(TFA) and the World Customs Organization (WCO). 

It measures cargo release time defined as the time taken from arrival of the cargo at the Customs station to its out-of-charge for domestic clearance in case of imports and arrival of the cargo at the Customs station to the eventual departure of the carrier in case of exports.

The ports included in the study include seaports, air cargo complexes (ACCs), inland container depots (ICDs) and integrated check posts (ICPs) which account for approximately 80% of bills of entry and 70 percent of shipping bills filed in the country.

What are the key findings of the National Time Release Study(NTRS) report?

The average import release time has continued to improve, achieving 20% reduction in release time for ICDs; an 11% reduction for ACCs and a 9% reduction for seaports in 2023 over 2022.

The report reaffirms the 3-fold ‘Path to promptness’ comprising 1) advance filing of import documents enabling pre-arrival processing 2) risk-based facilitation of cargo and 3) benefits of trusted client programmes – Authorized Economic Operators.