Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Pratap Bhanu Mehta on Modi’s US visit: Making of a high point
• World Yoga Day: Yoga’s challenge on the global stage
• A tech-tonic shift – on India-USA relations
• Marx, Mao And The Bhadralok – On West Bengal election violence

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Pratap Bhanu Mehta on Modi’s US visit: Making of a high point

Source– The post is based on the article “Pratap Bhanu Mehta on Modi’s US visit: Making of a high point” published in “The Indian Express” on 21st June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Bilateral groupings and agreements

Relevance – Issues related to India and US bilateral relationship

News – PM Modi is on a visit to the US.

What is the status of India and US bilateral relationship?

The most striking thing about the current moment is the sheer asymmetry of what the US is offering. It is offering high-end technology and co-production possibilities with a power that is not an ally.

The US wants a long-term partnership where India becomes important to US supply chains.

India is leveraging these relationships to create a manufacturing ecosystem.

The situation on the border with China is critical. India’s power projection capabilities have faced criticism. But the US is making efforts to strengthen Indian capability for countering China.

Why is the US accepting this asymmetrical relationship with India?

The US is being far-sighted in accepting the asymmetry in this relationship. This is a smartly pre-emptive move on the part of the US in two respects.

First, even at the low point of Indo-US relations, the US recognised that India’s stability is important for it. The US is already facing a hostile Russia, China and Iran.

Second, even the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, is slipping into potentially adversarial territory for the US. Europe is diverging from America’s approach to China.

In this context, if India moves away from the US, the current world order based on US supremacy will upend very quickly.

The US investment in India is not just because they have a common adversary in China. In the long run, the US will need to ensure India is not closer to any other power.

The US’s best investments have been when it has accepted these asymmetrical burdens. One of the examples is its relationship with Europe.

The second pre-emptive move is to bring India into the US military industrial complex. Keeping India out of that complex during the Cold War simply pushed it towards the USSR. But the US defence industry will also need the Indian market.

What is the enduring puzzle of international relations?

If China is really interested in challenging the US, it would have made peace with India. China’s less assertive behaviour on a border dispute with India is beneficial for it. It would have made America’s global standing even more vulnerable.

World Yoga Day: Yoga’s challenge on the global stage

Source– The post is based on the article “World Yoga Day: Yoga’s challenge on the global stage” published in “The Indian Express” on 21st June 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Indian culture, GS 2 – Health related issues

Relevance- Issues related to alternate system of medicine

News – This year the International Day of Yoga is being celebrated at the UN headquarters in New York with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance.

How has International Yoga Day contributed to the success of Yoga at a global level?

Yoga is now a global phenomenon. Yoga has transcended geographical boundaries to reach people across the world.

192 countries, including 44 Islamic countries, celebrated the first IDY in 2015. This reveals its popularity.

According to an informal assessment, over 400 million people participated in the 2022 IDY celebrations.

The WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH and major yoga institutions, has developed a new mobile app (mYoga) to educate people about the therapeutic benefits of yoga. Therefore, no one can dismiss yoga now.

The WHO has now initiated the process of developing a benchmark document for standards in yoga training.

It has also helped to promote research in yoga. Many countries have incorporated yoga into their healthcare systems.

It has popularised yoga asanas as probable components of a competitive sport. For the first time, yoga asanas have been included as a sport in Khelo India as well as the National Games.

What is the contribution of the Indian government for yoga?

The ICCR and the Ministry of External Affairs with the support of AYUSH ministry have been promoting yoga.

Since 2018, the ICCR has been organising an annual international conference aimed at creating a sound understanding of the holistic nature of yoga.

After IDY 2015, the Government of India established 150 Swami Vivekanand District Yoga Health Centres and 1,25,000 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres. Yoga therapy has become popular for post-Covid rehabilitation.

The department of AYUSH in collaboration with NIMHANS and S-VYASA University has developed a Tele Yoga Advisory. Six central universities have started full-fledged departments of yoga.

Over 30% of private, state and deemed universities have started either a certificate, diploma or UG/PG programmes in yoga, since 2015.

India has established National Yogasana Sport Federation and World Yogasana Federation. These are going to standardise and introduce yogasana-based competitions at national and international levels.

The Bureau of Indian Standards has also initiated the process of creating standards for yoga accessories.

What are other examples of success related to yoga?

Yoga has also facilitated the creation of start-ups focused on yoga accessories and yoga services.

The global yoga industry revenues have crossed $100 billion. Yoga-based start-ups are expected to increase significantly in the next one decade.

Meditation-based mobile applications, specialised yoga mats, specialty yoga therapy and integrative medicine centres within conventional medical hospitals also have gone up substantially.

Vivekananda Health Global, a chain of integrative medicine clinics that began as a startup in Bengaluru, has gone global with branches in China, South Korea, Singapore and the US.

A tech-tonic shift – on India-USA relations

Source– The post is based on the article “A tech-tonic shift” published in Business Standard on 21st June 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- International Relations

Relevance:  Indo-USA relations

News- The article emphasis the India-USA relationship

What is the news all about?

Beyond all the discussions about sharing technologies between India and the US, it is well known that trade relations between the two are hardly technology heavy.

The US, the world’s leading technological power, currently offers hardly any significant products to excite the Indian market; the same applies for Indian exports.

What are India’s technological engagements with other countries?

As India becomes a key player in the data network business globally, the business and safety of that architecture matters a lot.

China and India own more undersea landing stations than any other country except the US.

A report by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) notes that India’s total activated capacity of cable landing stations increased nine times over in just six years up to 2021. About a quarter of these cables are invested in by Europe.

The USA is interested that the ownership of these cables does not pass into Chinese hands, overtly or covertly, as European ownership gets diluted.

What is the position of India USA trade mix?

So far India’s primary export to the US is diamonds — 15.4 per cent of the total $78.5 billion. The key exports from the US is crude, 36 per cent of the $50.2 billion (all figures are for FY23). Barring that the key US exports to India are only precious metals and chemical products

Even in services, the picture is not tech-heavy. Of the total US exports of services of India, almost half is personal travel. The Indian export basket fares better, with a large component of IT-related services.

The long-term trends make also it clear that the Indian market will not move to a higher consumption of US products from among the current available pool of freely exportable products and services.

How can ICET help to overcome this?

The iCET collaboration will make greater cooperation in critical and emerging technologies possible, which entails co-development and co-production of these technologies.

What are the Issues in ICET?

In the US, these are entirely private sector businesses, for whom it is difficult to do business with Indian government-owned companies in nuclear, space and big tech.

President Barack Obama favored giving US insurance companies, especially the reinsurance giants, a 100 per cent FDI, in India. India is still not there.

Present statements to elevate and expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the two countries, are ignoring the earlier areas of contentions World Trade Organization, retaliatory tariffs, currency manipulation, dumping.

This is not how China-US relations became strong in the past. They on currency convertibility, easier access for US firms into China, and copyright and patent issues initially. While high tech came later.

Marx, Mao And The Bhadralok – On West Bengal election violence

Source: The post is based on the article “Marx, Mao And The Bhadralok” published in The Times of India on 21^st June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Governance – Electoral Reforms

Relevance: concerns over violence in West Bengal during elections

News: The article highlights the concerns over violence in elections in West Bengal.

What are the concerns over elections in West Bengal?

West Bengal has witnessed large scale violence in the past elections.

The Supreme Court recently affirmed the Calcutta High Court’s order to deploy central forces in all districts of West Bengal for the upcoming panchayat elections.

This highlights the grim situation of West Bengal that even in ordinary panchayat elections, there are chances of violence.

Due to this fear, a significant number of panchayat seats in West Bengal (34% in 2018) were won without opposition.

What are the probable reasons for violence in West Bengal?

The war in the 1970s between the Maoists and CPI(M) is frequently blamed for the trend of violence in West Bengal, which may be somewhat correct.

However, in the later stages, Marx and Engels advocated for peaceful transitions, to socialism after witnessing European elections. But the left in India, had difficulty in embracing it, due to the influence of Stalin and Mao. The violence, in the name of class struggle, attracted a section of leftists in Bengal, not Marx’s Capital.

Also, Bengal had favored violent overthrow of colonial rule. It resulted into many executions of participants by British.

What has been the political history of violence in West Bengal?

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had a large support from the people of West Bengal and neither Mahatma Gandhi nor Nehru could match Bose’s charisma in West Bengal.

Gandhi’s role in denying Bose the Congress presidency made a significant section of Bengali opinion cynical of the politics of non-violence. Nehru’s lack of support for Bose further increased this sentiment.

Therefore, when Bose broke away from congress to form the Azad Hind Fauj, he was widely cheered in Bengal for his bravery and audacity. When he died, it was seen as an extension of the many Bengalis who were executed by the British.

Therefore, throughout history, from the time of freedom fighters to figures like Bose and the Maoists, a section of Bengalis has embraced militancy.

GS Paper 3

Semiconductor fab: the unfinished agenda

Source– The post is based on the article “Semiconductor fab: the unfinished agenda” published in “The Hindu” on 21st June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indian Economy – Industrial Policies

News – The article explains the issues related to the semiconductor industry in India.

What were the earlier attempts by India for semiconductor manufacturing?

The first serious attempt was made in 2007 in the form of a Special Incentive Package. But it yielded no response.

The second attempt in the form of Modified SIP in 2012 fared better. India came close to having a fab. Two consortia were approved by the Cabinet.

The government offered incentives amounting to nearly $5 billion in the form of cash and tax cuts. But finally, both failed to mobilise resources.

How has China established itself as a major player in semiconductor manufacturing?

China started late in the semiconductor fab industry. But backed by massive government financial support over the last two decades, it acquired hundreds of loss-making fabs from around the world and built its fab industry.

China’s chip production has grown rapidly. China has become one of the major producers of chips. It has a strategic stranglehold on chip-making due to its market supremacy in rare earths.

What is the response of western countries to China’s dominance in semiconductor manufacturing?

Over the last year, the U.S. and its Western allies have blocked the transfer of the latest fab-related technology to China.

The U.S. enacted the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022, with nearly $40 billion in subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing to the country. The European Union sanctioned €7.4 billion for a new fab in France.

What are issues involved in semiconductor manufacturing?

Investment in a semiconductor fab is risky. Billions of dollars need to be recovered before the technology becomes obsolete.

There is a need for substantial production volumes for economic viability that is adequate to meet global demand.

Developing an ecosystem for chip manufacturing in a greenfield location is a major challenge. Hundreds of chemicals and gases are required for chip fabrication.

The advantage of semiconductors having a small freight-to-price ratio and a zero-custom duty regime under the Information Technology Agreement, 1996, facilitates production in a single location and global sales.

People need to be trained. Abundant clean water should be available. The art of chip-making is important. Despite the best of equipment, poor quality and low yields can make fabs fail.

There are other issues, such as whether to set up a logic/processor, memory or analog fab. The most advanced set of technologies is needed to manufacture them.

A relatively easier option is Assembly, Testing, Packaging and Marking (ATMP). But ATMPs have little value in terms of actual chip-making.

Semiconductor fabrication represents the ultimate frontier of human tech advancement. As per Moore’s law, the number of transistors in a unit area doubles every 18 months. But the miniaturisation involves higher complexity and costs.

What is the way forward for the success of semiconductor manufacturing in India?

China acquired loss-making fabs and then set up its own logic fab. It provides lessons. Acquiring existing fabs has many advantages. They are reasonably priced, have stabilised technology, and a supply chain ecosystem. They have an established product line, and market.

They will enable India to build the fab ecosystem and train human resources. Much lower subsidies would be required. Funds saved could be used for advanced R&D in fab technologies.

Another strategy could be setting up ATMPs. China has over 100 ATMPs.

Growth versus equity: A debate that India should’ve long settled

Source: The post is based on the article “Growth versus equity: A debate that India should’ve long settled” published in Live Mint on 21^st June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indian Economy- Growth & Development

Relevance: Impact of higher growth on poverty and on inequality

News: There has always been debate over growth versus equity, means, how growth of nations impact the well-being of the people. This article explains the impact of growth on poverty and on inequality.

What is the impact of higher growth on poverty?

It is often argued that growth and poverty are in conflict, i.e., when the growth of a nation increases, it increases poverty.

However, in a democratic society, it is difficult to argue that poverty would decrease with high GDP. For instance, a higher GDP growth rate, such as 15%, is likely to reduce poverty more significantly than a lower rate, around 10%.

Moreover, the government’s measures to redistribute income would also face less resistance with higher growth.

Does higher growth increase inequality?

The relationship between growth and inequality is the inverse. For instance, a 15% growth rate is likely to be accompanied by greater income inequality compared to a 5% rate.

This is because capabilities are unevenly distributed in society, and different sectors of the economy grow at different rates.

For instance, those with the most suitable skills for the faster-growing sectors will experience proportionately higher income growth, while other sectors may find their skills inadequate for the new economic changes.

This structural adjustment occurs irrespective of the country’s political system. Even in China, income inequality has increased over the past decade.

The United States has also witnessed the shift of manufacturing production to developing countries, like China and east Asia.

However, in the US, the market has driven the re-skilling of workers, whereas in developing countries like India, there is a consensus that the state should fund or direct such re-skilling.

Therefore, the issue of inequality is critical for India, and it is often associated with the challenge of poverty reduction.

What are the challenges associated with India’s growth?

There has been a significant structural change in the country’s economy after 1991 economic reforms.

Due to these reforms, certain industries, such as small-scale textile and handloom sectors, faced intense competition from abroad, for which they were unprepared.

Despite the government support to the textile industries, the dominance of textiles as an export item has declined over time.

Countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are now leading the textile export economy in South and Southeast Asia.

What can be the way ahead for India?

There is a need for strong government incentives and support for Small Scale Industries (SSIs) and prioritizing re-skilling initiatives.

Economic growth with government support for re-skilling, rather than picking growth over equity, (or vice versa), is the right political choice.

A national innovation system for pharma

Source: The post is based on the article “A national innovation system for pharma” published in the Business Standard on 21st June 2023

Syllabus: GS 3 – Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.

Relevance: About making the Indian pharmaceutical industry a world leader in innovation.

News: Recently a closed-door roundtable on innovation in the pharmaceutical industry was jointly hosted by the Centre for Technology Innovation and Economic Research and the Ananta Centre.

Note: This article is an expansion of Towards a National Innovation System article.

About the Indian pharmaceutical industry

From an overwhelming dependence on foreign firms and brands 50 years ago, India today has a vibrant and large pharmaceutical sector with highly entrepreneurial Indian players operating alongside multinationals. The industry is the third largest in volume worldwide, with a 10% share. However, in sales, it is the 14th largest in value, with just a 1.5% share.

What should be done to make the Indian pharmaceutical industry a global giant?

Incentivise investment in in-house R&D: India must start with much greater investment in R&D by the industry. The US, Japan, Germany, Switzerland and the UK have giant pharmaceutical companies, each investing billions of dollars in R&D. So India needs a 10-year ambition for leadership, as foreign giants on average spend much more on R&D ($7 billion) than the turnover of our top five pharmaceutical firms ($1.5 billion). This can be facilitated by initiatives such as providing full tax credit against income tax for increases in R&D spending, etc.

A regulatory system that supports innovation in firms: Few of the regulatory framework officials do not understand what it takes to discover a new molecule. This forced Indian pharma companies to conduct Phase I trials of new drugs in Australia instead of India.

Note: In Australia, the phase I trials costs 10 times higher, but the process is systematic, transparent and sure.

So, by revamping the regulatory system, India could turn our huge population and low labour cost into a major competitive advantage for drug discovery.

Reorient public research: India invests only around 0.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) in publicly funded R&D, just below the world average of 0.5%. A little over half of national R&D is done by the government in its own autonomous laboratories. Defence comes first, then Space, Atomic Energy, CSIR and Agriculture.

Healthcare research comes sixth, at under 6% of government spending on R&D. In the US, healthcare R&D (at 27%) is second only to defence. The same goes for the UK too (at 20%). So, allocating a larger share of government R&D spending to healthcare would be fruitful and spur investment within industry.

Facilitate talent search: Any Indian pharma industry can easily hire fresh graduates from Indian pharmacy courses. But they struggle to get advanced research talent. So, they often set up laboratories in the US and UK to tap into pools of specialised talent.

Almost every other country conducts public research within universities. So, their shift to foreign countries also connects them to well-funded universities that do a lot of healthcare research.

But in India, most of our public research happens in autonomous government laboratories. So, India too should shift public research to our higher education system. Thereby, India would simultaneously train more advanced talent that pharmaceutical firms need.

Follow Chinese approach: Fifteen years ago, the Indian pharmaceutical industry was well ahead of China in innovation. Today it is 10 years behind. This is because of impacts of regulatory changes made in China. These impacts a) Made it easier to conduct clinical trials, b) Facilitated competition between different local governments incentivised firms to expand R&D facilities in their city, c) The Thousand Talents programme attracted experienced technologists, etc.

So, building a broad national purpose will turn the Indian pharmaceutical industry into a world leader in innovation.

Dead Wrong – Telangana charging the deceased with UAPA brings to life how the most severe laws are casually misused by govts

Source: The post is based on the article “Dead Wrong – Telangana charging the deceased with UAPA brings to life how the most severe laws are casually misused by govts” published in The Times of India on 21st June 2023

Syllabus: GS 3 – Security Issues.

Relevance: About misuse of stricter laws.

News: In Telangana, police charged the two dead people for two years under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. This is a classic example of the casual misuse of one of India’s most stringent laws.

About the status of UAPA cases

Analysis of NCRB data by various experts shows the conviction rate of people charged under UAPA is below 3%. Although 97% of those arrested and jailed get acquitted eventually, getting bail is tough. For instance, hardly 16% alone got bail in 2020. Thirteen of 4,690 accused under UAPA between 2018 and 2020 were below 18; 53% were between 18 and 30. The conviction rate for cases is 27%, almost half the convictions in IPC cases.

At the end of 2021, the highest number of cases pending investigation for over 10 years was in Manipur, with 1,597 of 2,041 such cases.

About the sedition cases

UAPA, along with the sedition law and a clutch of state laws, gives police sweeping powers to apply severe procedures for offences that are mostly loosely defined. The misuse of the sedition law prompted the Supreme Court to delay its decision until the government reconsiders. However, the law commission cited national security to seek a stricter sedition law. The debates led the new law minister to indulge in “further consultations” on sedition.

SC must not wait indefinitely for the government to reconsider the sedition law. Further, the government should consider the Telangana example as a grave “tendency” to violate rights and reconsider it.

Poor productivity – Cotton farmers need genetically modified seeds

Source: The post is based on the article “Poor productivity – Cotton farmers need genetically modified seeds” published in the Business Standard on 21st June 2023

Syllabus: GS 3 – Awareness in the field of biotechnology.

Relevance: About the need for GM cotton crops.

News: For the past several years, India’s cotton production has been stagnating at 34-36 million bales (one bale is 170 kg).

What is the present state of India’s cotton production?

The cotton sector supports the livelihood of 45-50 million people, including 6 million cotton farmers.

Though India leads the world in cotton acreage, India ranks only 38th in productivity. For example, the average productivity of cotton is only around 500 kg a hectare, which compares poorly with the global average of over 800 kg.

While the old Bt-cotton hybrids, responsible for increasing output, have become outmoded. The new ones to replace them are not forthcoming. The moratorium on testing genetically modified (GM) crops imposed by the government in 2010 is thwarting the development of new Bt-cotton seeds.

What is the status of research for other GM cotton crops in India?

BG-2 RRF: It is a second-generation variant of the Bt-cotton seed, developed by the well-known seed company Mahyco. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has delayed the permission by seeking additional data.

Cry2Ai gene: It is the Bt-cotton strain containing the pink bollworm-resistant, developed by Hyderabad-based Bioseed Research India. State governments are putting up hurdles in the field-testing of the new seeds. Three states —Maharashtra, Telangana, and Gujarat — have not even allowed field trials of the new seeds. Haryana, the only state that has agreed to permit testing, is under pressure from the anti-GM lobby.

Why does India need GM cotton crops?

-Agronomic means such as expansion in plant density and improvement in input-use efficiency can increase in crop yields to some amount. But these cannot save the crops from diseases and pests, which are turning more virulent.

-None of the present Bt-cotton hybrids is capable of withstanding the onslaught of pink bollworm, which has become the major nemesis of this crop now. Farmers have little option but to spray pesticides repeatedly, with grave environmental implications.

What should be done?

The government should effectively counter the disinformation being spread by some anti-GM activists about gene-altered crops. The state governments need to appreciate the merits of modern technology and facilitate the advent of new strains to sustain the cotton revolution.

The aviation industry: Flight to the future

Source: The post is based on the article “The aviation industry: Flight to the future” published in the Indian Express on 21st June 2023

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

Relevance: About recent aircraft acquisition deals.

News: India’s civil aviation sector witnessed two back-to-back jumbo aircraft acquisition deals over a span of four months. One is IndiGo’s historic 500 aircraft deal and the other is Air India’s combined purchase of 470 aircraft.

What are the significances of aircraft acquisition deals?

a) The two deals cumulatively ensure that India is now ensconced in second place in the list of carriers having the largest aircraft order book, behind the US, b) The deals reflects the optimism about the potential of India’s aviation market. In May, India’s domestic passenger traffic numbers touch a record 13.2 million flyers, surpassing the pre-pandemic peaks, and c) The deals reaffirm India’s position as the world’s fastest-growing aviation market and the third-biggest market globally in terms of domestic traffic. 

What are the challenges highlighted by the aircraft acquisition deals?

With Go First facing issues, SpiceJet financial problems and Jet Airways’ revival taking time, India’s domestic aviation market is heading in the direction of a duopoly that has market leader IndiGo and the Tata group airlines.

For instance, IndiGo has a market share (in terms of passengers carried) of over 60%. This new acquisition order ensures a steady supply of aircraft for the carrier till 2035 and equips it to consolidate its position on the leaderboard in India’s booming aviation market.

What should India focus on?

In cumulative terms, Indian carriers have a fleet strength of over 700 aircraft. This is less than half the 1,500 aircraft with American Airlines, the biggest of the four major carriers of the US aviation market have around 1,300 aircraft each. So, India has a long way to go.

India’s annual passenger capacity in the six major metropolitan cities is likely to nearly double to 420 million passengers by 2030. The government is also redoubling the efforts to create aviation hubs in India, starting with Delhi. So, the present aircraft acquisition deals are a good sign for the Indian aviation industry.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Heatwave deaths: Why a heat stroke kills, and how to stay safe

Source: The post is based on the article “Heatwave deaths: Why a heat stroke kills, and how to stay safe” published in the Indian Express on 21st June 2023

What is the News?

Amid heatwave deaths being reported in parts of the country, the Union Health Minister said central teams would be rushed to the affected states to guide the governments. He also asked the Indian Council of Medical Research to develop short-term and long-term plans in coordination with other agencies to prevent such deaths.

What is heat exhaustion?

People feel drained and tired after stepping out on an extremely hot day. This is referred to as heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion happens when the body sweats excessively to keep the core temperature low.

People with heat exhaustion, however, are unlikely to die. They will recover once they are back in cool areas and take fluids.

What are heat strokes and how do they cause death?

A heat stroke happens when the ambient temperature is so high that the body is unable to sweat to regulate the core temperature. In such cases, the core temperature shoots up to 40 degrees C (or 104 degrees F). In these cases, there is a severe imbalance of salts such as sodium and potassium in the body.

Health impacts of heat strokes: The high core temperature coupled with salt imbalances disrupts organs, leading to a host of symptoms. It can affect the brain, making a person foggy, and drowsy, and in severe cases may also lead to a person going into a coma.

It can lead to kidney and liver damage as well. A cascade of such symptoms leads to death due to heat stroke. A cascade of such symptoms leads to death due to heat stroke.

Ways to bring down core temperature: This can be done by pouring cold water over the person, making them drink cold drinks, and giving them electrolytes to balance salt levels.

Prevention: Heat action plans that predict heat waves and awareness drives by local governments can bring down mortality due to intense heat.

What is the impact of humidity and night-time temperatures on heat strokes?

Humidity: When the humidity levels are high, perceived temperatures are higher than the actual reading for ambient temperature. High humidity levels also mean that sweat does not evaporate effectively to keep the body cool.

Night temperatures: The body finds relief when the night temperatures are low. If night temperatures also remain high, the body doesn’t get time to rest and the body cannot recoup.

What is the contention between Coal India and CCI?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is the contention between Coal India and CCI?” published in The Hindu on 21st June 2023

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has ruled that Coal India Ltd (CIL), a public sector undertaking, cannot be exempted from the Competition Act as it found no valid reasons for such exclusion. 

The court was addressing CIL’s appeal against the Competition Appellate Tribunal’s order, which accused the company of engaging in abusive practices.

What is the case about?

In 2017, Competition Commission of India (CCI) had imposed a penalty of ₹591 crore on CIL for imposing unfair/discriminatory conditions in fuel supply agreements (FSAs) with the power producers for supply of non-coking coal.

In other words, CIL was found to be supplying lower quality of coal at higher prices and placing opaque conditions in the contract about supply parameters and quality. 

The CCI contended that Coal India and its subsidiaries operated independently of market forces and enjoyed market dominance in the relevant market with respect to production and supply of non-coking coal in India.

What were the arguments made by Coal India Ltd (CIL)?

Coal India Ltd argued that:

Firstly, it operated based on the principles of promoting the “common good” and ensuring equitable distribution of a vital natural resource.

Secondly, under the Nationalization Act of 1973, specifically the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act, it was established as a “monopoly.”

Thirdly, to incentivize captive coal production, it may need to follow a pricing mechanism that varies based on circumstances.The purpose of differential pricing was to ensure the sustainability of the broader operational ecosystem and pursue welfare objectives.

Fourthly, coal supply also has implications for broader national policies, such as promoting growth in economically disadvantaged regions through increased allocation.

What are the points made by the Competition Commission of India (CCI)?

Firstly, CCI cited the Raghavan Committee (2020) report which concluded that state monopolies were not in the best interests of the nation and should not be allowed to operate inefficiently without competition.

Secondly, coal was no longer classified as an “essential commodity” after 2007, and the Nationalization Act was removed from the Ninth Schedule (laws immune from court challenges) in 2017.

Thirdly, Coal accounts for approximately 60 to 70% of the expenses incurred by power generation companies, which means that irregular prices and supply would indirectly impact consumers significantly.

What were the observations made by the Supreme Court on this?

The Supreme Court dismissed the argument that the Competition Act does not apply to CIL due to its governance under the Nationalization Act, stating that it cannot be reconciled with the Competition Act.

The court emphasized that the essence of the Act would be undermined if state monopolies, government companies, and public sector units were allowed to violate the competition law.

Additionally, it stated that entities cannot act arbitrarily or discriminate against similar entities in an unfair manner.

What is the significance of this judgement?

This judgement reinforced the principle of “competitive neutrality” — entailing that the Competition Act equally applies to public and private sector enterprises.

Melting Himalayan glaciers threaten two billion lives

Source: The post is based on the article “Melting Himalayan glaciers threaten two billion lives” published in Livemint on 21st June 2023

What is the News?

According to a report from International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Glaciers in Asia’s Hindu Kush Himalayas are melting at unprecedented rates and could lose up to 75 percent of their volume by century’s end.

What is Hindu Kush Himalayas?

The Hindu Kush Himalaya stretches 3,500 km (2,175 miles) across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.

They are instrumental in feeding ten of the world’s most important river systems, including the Ganges, Indus, Yellow, Mekong, and Irrawaddy providing essential water resources, energy, clean air, and income for billions of individuals.

Click Here to read more

What are the key findings of the report?

Between 2011 and 2020, the glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region vanished 65 percent faster than in the previous decade, primarily due to the impacts of climate change.

If current greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, the report warns that the Himalayan glaciers could lose up to 80 percent of their current volume by the end of this century. 

Even under the most optimistic scenario of limiting global warming to the 1.5 to 2.0 degrees Celsius agreed upon in the Paris climate treaty, the glaciers are projected to lose between one-third and one-half of their volume by 2100.

The consequences of this unprecedented glacial melt are dire as it can cause both dangerous flooding and water shortages for the 240 million people who live in the mountainous region.

Melting glaciers also pose a danger to downstream communities. Runoff pools in shallow lakes, held back by rocks and debris. The risk comes when a lake overfills, bursting through its natural barrier and sending a torrent of water rushing down mountain valleys.

Bonn climate meet takeaways: Old conflicts, some forward movement

Source: The post is based on the article “Bonn climate meet takeaways: Old conflicts, some forward movement” published in Indian Express on 21st June 2023

What is the News?

The Bonn Climate Change Conference was held recently to prepare decisions for adoption at the COP28 summit in the United Arab Emirates later this year. 

It is widely regarded as a mid-way check on how talks are progressing ahead of the world’s biggest annual international climate conference.

What are the key outcomes of the Bonn Climate Change Conference?

Global Stocktake(GST): Global stocktake or GST is mandated by the 2015 Paris Agreement. It is an exercise aimed at assessing the progress in the fight against climate change and deciding ways and means to enhance global action to bridge the adequacy gap. The Paris Agreement says GST must be conducted every five years, starting in 2023.

– At the conference, the countries completed the third and final round of technical discussions on global stocktake or GST.

– However, there was repeated fallout between the developed and developing countries mainly over provisions related to finance and the ‘historical responsibility’ of the rich countries.

– For instance, Australia downplayed the ‘historical responsibility’ of the developed countries in causing global warming. 

– A bulk of the accumulated greenhouse gas emissions, the reason for global warming, have come from a group of about 40 rich and industrialized countries, usually referred to as Annex I countries because they were mentioned in Annexure I of the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change or UNFCCC. 

– This historical responsibility has been the basis for the differentiated burden-sharing on developed and developing countries in the climate change framework.

– But Australia argued that the historical emissions happened at a time “when there was no alternative to fossil fuel-based energy sources”, and when there was little understanding or consensus on the harm caused by greenhouse gases.

Mitigation Work Programme (MWP): It was set up at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021 for climate action. It is a temporary emergency exercise focused only on increasing emission cuts. 

– The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says global emissions have to come down by 43% from 2019 levels by 2030 to keep alive hopes of meeting the 1.5-degree target. As of now, emissions are still growing and, in 2021, were higher than 2019 levels.

– However, discussions at the MWP ran into trouble after developing countries complained that while they were being asked to strengthen their climate actions, developed countries were yet to offer the enabling finance and technology transfers. 

– Most developing countries, including India, have said they would be able to act more if international support in the form of money and technology transfer was made available.

– According to one assessment, developing countries need as much as US$ 6 trillion between now and 2030 just to implement their climate action plans. 

Summit in Paris: Summit for a New Global Financial Pact is going to be held in Paris. It is an attempt at redirecting global financial flows and raising new money to fight climate change and dealing with associated problems like biodiversity loss and poverty.

GEMCOVAC-OM: India’s first mRNA vaccine against Omicron approved

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s first mRNA vaccine against Omicron approved” published in The Hindu on 21st June 2023

What is the News?

India’s first indigenous mRNA vaccine for the Omicron variant, GEMCOVAC-OM has been approved under emergency use guidelines by the Drug Controller General of India.

What is GEMCOVAC-OM?

GEMCOVAC-OM is India’s first indigenous mRNA vaccine for the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.

Developed by: Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd

Eligibility: ​​Those who are 18 years of age and older can take the vaccine as a booster dose. This can be administered safely to individuals who have received two doses of either Covaxin or Covishield.

Features: It is a thermo-stable vaccine, which does not require ultra-cold chain infrastructure used for other approved mRNA-based vaccines, making it easy for deployment pan India.

– It is delivered intra-dermally using a needle-free injection device system.

– When administered intradermally in participants as a booster, it generated significantly higher immune responses.

What is mRNA vaccine?

Click Here to read

TRAI releases recommendations on ‘Licensing Framework and Regulatory Mechanism for Submarine Cable Landing in India’

Source: This post is based on the following articles 

– “India’s first mRNA vaccine against Omicron approved” published in The Hindu on 21st June 2023

– “TRAI releases recommendations on ‘Licensing Framework and Regulatory Mechanism for Submarine Cable Landing in India” published in PIB on 21st June 2023

What is the News?

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) has released its recommendations on the licensing framework and regulatory mechanism for setting up submarine (undersea) cable landing stations (CLS) in India.

What are the recommendations given by TRAI on setting up undersea cables?

Firstly, Indian telcos operating undersea cables should be required to submit proof that they own at least part of the undersea cables that are in Indian waters.

Secondly, a distinction must be drawn between a cable landing station and so-called ‘points of presence’ to which the station is further connected. Owners of the latter type of facility wouldn’t have to apply for several clearances but would need to comply with lawful interception requirements.

Thirdly, Dark Fibre should be permitted on existing cable landing stations. A dark fibre is an unused optical fibre, available for use in fibre-optic communication. Dark fibre may be leased from a network service provider.

Fourthly, carrying domestic traffic on undersea cables — such as from Mumbai to Chennai — should be explicitly permitted in terms of the licence.

Fifthly, undersea cables should be notified as critical information infrastructure, and thus benefit from protection by the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC).

Lastly, the government should add a section on Submarine cable and CLS in the Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 to promote, protect and prioritize ‘Cable Landing Station’ and ‘submarine cable’ in India. 

Carnivorous alligator gar, the latest threat for Srinagar’s idyllic Dal Lake?

Source: The post is based on the article “Carnivorous alligator gar, the latest threat for Srinagar’s idyllic Dal Lake?” published in Down To Earth on 21st June 2023

What is the News?

The discovery of an Alligator Gar fish (Atractosteus spatula), an invasive species in Kashmir’s Dal Lake has raised concerns about its impact on the native fish species.

What is Alligator Gar?

The alligator gar is a close relative of the bowfin species. 

It is a ray-finned euryhaline fish and is one of the biggest freshwater fish in North America and the largest species in the ‘gar’ family.

They grow very fast and can reach over 50 centimeters in their first year if they’re in suitable conditions. 

They are harmless to humans but will eat any prey item that they can swallow whole (they do not have the ability to bite off pieces of flesh, so they must swallow prey whole).

IUCN Status: Least Concern

What are the concerns regarding the discovery of Alligator Gar fish in Dal Lake?

Being a carnivorous fish, the Alligator Gar poses a threat to the native fish species of Dal Lake. 

Its predatory nature and feeding habits can harm other smaller fish populations.Concerns arise about the fate of the lake’s biodiversity and the impact on the local fish fauna.

– Note: The Biological Diversity Act 2002 prohibits the presence of invasive fish species that could harm natural fish populations. 

Inside the brave new world of novel proteins

Source: The post is based on the article “Inside the brave new world of novel proteins” published in Livemint on 21st June 2023

What is the News?

Precision fermentation can be a safeguard against climate emergencies, besides cutting down future pandemic risks. 

What is Precision Fermentation?

Precision fermentation uses microbial hosts as “cell factories” for producing specific functional ingredients.

How does Precision Fermentation work?

In the precision fermentation process, single-cell organisms—bacteria, microalgae or fungi—are made to produce a protein by giving it coded instructions. 

A microbe, say a yeast, is engineered by inserting the genetic code of a milk protein, one that can be used to make an ice-cream. 

To produce more and more of this desired protein, the microbe is used in a nutrient-rich broth where it happily does what it is told.

After the microbes make enough quantities of proteins in fermentation tanks, the two are separated. The final product is AOF milk or egg-white protein powder, free of any genetically modified organisms(GMO).

Note: Traditional fermentation methods use live bacterial culture to make curd from milk. But precision fermentation teaches a microbe how to make a protein by using a genetic code—also known as the recombinant DNA technology. 

Where is Precision Fermentation currently used?

Precision fermentation is now widely used to produce insulin, a life-saving drug for diabetics, in a lab and not from a pig’s pancreas. 

Likewise, rennet, an enzyme required to make hard cheese, is now manufactured using fermentation and not from the stomach linings of young nursing calves, which were once butchered in large numbers.

What are the challenges in the precision fermentation process?

Currently, food ingredients made using precision fermentation are expensive. For instance, it costs about 20 to 30 times more to make an egg-white protein via fermentation, compared to eggs sourced from a poultry farm. 

The industry is hoping to reach price parity with farm-produced ingredients in the not-so-distant future, as the technology is fine-tuned and breakthrough innovations lower production costs.

PM Modi’s US visit: Inbound FDI rises, so does Indian investment in US

Source: The post is based on the article “PM Modi’s US visit: Inbound FDI rises, so does Indian investment in US” published in Business Standard on 21st June 2023

What is the News?

Closer economic ties are on the agenda as the Indian Prime Minister makes his first State visit to the US. 

In this context, let us look at the data related to trade and capital inflows between India and the USA.

What is the data related to trade and capital inflows between India and the USA?

Foreign Direct Investment(FDI): There is more money coming into India to fund new factories and set up ventures through foreign direct investment (FDI) than before. 

– The average annual US FDI flows in the five years leading up to 2018-19 was $2.7 billion. This has increased to $8.7 billion in the four years since then. 

– A similar outward flow into the US shows up in the overseas direct investment data. This also includes debts, such as loans. The capital outflows averaged $1.7 billion in the five years leading up to 2018-19. This has increased to an average of $3.2 billion since 2019-20.

Foreign Portfolio Investors(FPI): The US tops in terms of foreign portfolio flows. This is money that US mutual funds and other entities invest by buying Indian securities, such as shares on the stock market. 

– The US is the largest FPI investor in India, accounting for around Rs 38 of every Rs 100 worth of FPI holdings.

India’s imports and exports to the US: India exports more to the US than it imports. The exports in 2022-23 were $79 billion, compared to imports of $50 billion. 

– Imports have risen a little faster than exports in the last five years. Imports rose 89% since 2017- 18 while exports were up 64% 

– India’s imports from the US are largely made up of a few categories, including crude, petroleum products, coal and others. The top five accounted for around 49 per cent of imports in 2022-23.

– The export basket was similar. Pharmaceutical products and ready-made cotton garments and accessories were among the major exports. The top five exports accounted for 36% of the total exports.

Unique space telescope designed by Pune scientists ready for Sun mission

Source: The post is based on the article “Unique space telescope designed by Pune scientists ready for Sun mission” published in Indian Express on 18th June 2023

What is the News?

The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope(SUIT) has been delivered to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

What is the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)?

SUIT is a unique space telescope developed by Pune’s Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics(IUCAA).

The telescope is set to be integrated with the ADITYA-L1 mission, expected to be launched in mid-August,2023.

Purpose: The telescope aims to study the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) emissions and capture high-resolution images of the Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona, in various UV wavelengths.

– It will operate in the far and near ultraviolet regions, covering wavelengths of 200-400 nanometers.

Significance: The SUIT telescope will address fundamental questions such as the existence of a higher-temperature atmosphere above the cooler surface of the Sun and the origin and variation of near-ultraviolet radiation and high-energy solar flares.

What is ADITYA-L1 Mission?

Click Here to read