Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• More HIT than miss in India-Nepal ties
• Spare a thought for psychiatric caregivers too
• Ban pan-masala promotions
• Go For The Money: Other higher education institutions should follow IIT Bombay’s example, make aggressive fundraising efforts
• Friends And Benefits: Overlapping interests between India and US show that a formal alliance is not necessary for a solid relationship

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

More HIT than miss in India-Nepal ties

Source– The post is based on the article “More HIT than miss in India-Nepal ties” published in “The Hindu” on 22nd June 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Bilateral groupings and agreements

Relevance– India and Nepal bilateral relations

News- Recently, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ was on a four-day official visit to India.

What is the situation of the hydropower sector in Nepal?

Nepal has an economically viable potential of 50,000 MW of hydropower. But, until a decade ago, it had an installed capacity of barely 1,200 MW. It was dependent on electricity imports from India.

Today, Nepal has an installed capacity of 2,200 MW. During low demand, it can export power to India. A 400 KV transmission is now operational. In 2021, Nepal made a modest beginning by exporting 39 MW.

In the lean season, Nepal does import power from India, but its dependence has dropped from 20% to 10% during the last five years.

What is the status of hydropower cooperation between India and Nepal?

Both sides have finalised a long-term power trade agreement targeting the export of 10,000 MW within a 10-year time frame. The 900 MW Arun III project started in 2018 will be operational later this year.

Work has begun on a second high voltage transmission line between Butwal and Gorakhpur.

India has agreed to the Nepali demand for the facility to export electricity to Bangladesh using the Indian grid. It increases the prospects for sub-regional cooperation.

What is the status of bilateral cooperation in connectivity between two countries?

The Rupaidiha-Nepalgunj Integrated Check Post was inaugurated. Work has begun on the Sunauli-Bhairahawa integrated check post and an MoU signed for another at Dodhara Chandni.

There is a plan to extend the Jaynagar-Kurta railway line inaugurated last year.

After the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline was operationalised in 2019, work has begun to extend it to Chitwan

What are irritants in the India Nepal bilateral relationship?

Agnipath scheme– It impacts the recruitment of Gurkha soldiers into the Indian Army’s Gurkha regiments, a practice that began in 1816 by the British Indian Army.

The Agnipath revision of the terms needs to be discussed between the two armies and the defence and finance officials concerned.

Kalapani boundary issue– It was deliberately stoked as a nationalist cause by Mr. Oli in 2020 when his position as Prime Minister was under threat. A constitutional amendment was pushed through, and Nepal’s map changed unilaterally.

Resolving this will need time because a lasting solution will need political wisdom and understanding.

India–Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950– In Nepal, it is a general belief that the Treaty is unfair as it was imposed.

However, treaty enabled Nepali nationals’ with an equal treatment in terms of employment and permitted them to apply for any government job.

The demand to review the Treaty was officially raised first in 1995. It was on the agenda of the Foreign Secretary’s meeting.

There is a need for discussions in an objective manner that addresses the concerns of both countries.

Spare a thought for psychiatric caregivers too

Source– The post is based on the article “Spare a thought for psychiatric caregivers too” published in “The Hindu” on 22nd June 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Issues related to development and management of health

Relevance- Mental health related issues

News- The article explains the issues faced by caregivers providing support to mental ill people

What is the prevalence of mental disorders faced by the Indian population?

According to National Health Mission estimates, 6%-7% of India’s population suffers from mental disorders. One in four families is likely to have at least one member with a behavioural or mental health disorder.

The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic as long periods of isolation, financial difficulty, and uncertainty about the future increased stress levels across social segments.

Most of these cases remain untreated due to ignorance and social stigma. Without proper diagnosis, the patient and their families keep suffering.

What are issues faced by caregivers?

Over 90% of psychiatric patients in India live with their families. The caregiver is under considerable stress because of the physical and emotional caregiving along with the social isolation, financial difficulties and troublesome behaviour of the patient.

In nuclear families, the role falls on the spouse. Chronic mental illness in a nuclear household disrupts daily life and drains family resources.

Women caregivers face challenges in balancing caregiving, career, child rearing, and household responsibility. They are less likely to receive informal support for psychiatric treatment.

Prolonged caregiving negatively impacts the psychological well-being of caregivers. Caregivers use various strategies to cope which include sharing, spirituality, hobbies. But unhealthy coping mechanisms can negatively impact both caregivers and patients.

The National Mental Health Programme and the decentralised District Mental Health Programme remain focused on the patient but neglect the caregiver.

What is the way forward for the well-being of caregivers?

It is essential to introduce a structured intervention programme to educate and support the caregivers of psychiatric patients. It should educate them about the illness and their roles and responsibilities.

Successful intervention models include cognitive behavioural therapy, psychoeducational skill building, family counselling, and peer-support.

A comprehensive treatment of severe psychiatric illnesses in the future would need building effective partnerships between health-care professionals, informal caregivers, and psychosocial interventions.

What are concerns related to the preparedness of health-care systems to provide caregiver support?

A lack of trained specialists hinders cost-effective intervention model implementation. India has one psychiatrist and psychologist for every four lakh and 16 lakh citizens.

Insufficient budget allocation for mental health patients also raises concerns of developing intervention for psychiatric caregivers.

private mental health institutions services are expensive and beyond reach for many.

Mental illnesses are excluded from the list of ailments covered by leading medical insurers in India.

Government schemes such as the flagship Ayushman Bharat provide coverage for mental disorders. However, coverage by private insurers remains limited.

Several non-governmental organisations and community movements such as Mind root have been engaged in community support work for people with mental illness and their caregivers. However, given the severity of the issue, their scale remains insignificant.

Ban pan-masala promotions

Source: The post is based on an article “Ban pan-masala promotions” published in Business Standard on 22^nd June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Health

Relevance: concerns with the consumption of pan masala.

News: The ban on chewing tobacco (gutka) has not served the purpose because people have now shifted towards consuming pan masala, which is also harmful for health.

When was the chewing tobacco ban?

All state governments banned the sale of chewing tobacco (gutka) and pan-masala laced with tobacco since 2011.

This ban was later overturned by the Delhi High Court judgment in 2022.

However, a Bench led by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court overruled this 2022 judgment and upheld the appeals of the central and Delhi governments against the sale of gutka and tobacco flavoured pan-masala.

What have been the effects of banning chewing tobacco (gutka)?

Despite the ban on gutka, television and other advertisements continue to be allowed in India for pan-masala (without tobacco).

Gutka has been banned due to its cancer-causing properties, while pan-masala has been deemed acceptable, despite evidence suggesting its addictive nature.

Further, the banning of gutka has not led to lower consumption of this carcinogenic product. Instead, the ban has led to clandestine production and distribution networks going underground.

Similar concerns are raised regarding the banning of alcohol, heroin, and cocaine, i.e., whether banning them actually lower their consumption or their consumption are increased by illicit means.

However, in India, the limited availability of hard drugs may play a bigger role in constraining consumption than law enforcement efforts.

Must Read: Tobacco Problem in India- An Overview

What are the concerns with the consumption of pan masala?

Pan masala like that of gutka is harmful for health. However, these are easily available in India in shops.

Government agencies are struggling worldwide to eliminate the production of hard drugs and their consumption. Even their advertisements are not permitted in India or elsewhere.

However, Indian authorities allow pan-masala to be widely advertised all over the country. These advertisements are mostly done by famous personalities.

However, famous stars from the Indian film industry should be discouraged from appearing in such advertisements.

Why is it difficult to ban pan masala?

The revenue which pan-masala generates acts as an obstacle for its ban.

According to the International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group, pan-masala sales revenues reached around 41,821 crores in 2021, with an annual growth rate of approximately 3.5 percent.

Therefore, given its large revenue, pan-masala producers would use all permitted mediums of advertising.

What measures can be taken to control the consumption of pan masala?

First, the central and state governments should ban all promotions of pan-masala even without tobacco.

Second, the harmful effects of pan masala need to be explained in simple terms in all Indian languages via government sponsored messages.

Third, all pan-masala advertisements on television, radio, and print media, especially in regional languages should be prohibited.

Go For The Money: Other higher education institutions should follow IIT Bombay’s example, make aggressive fundraising efforts

Source: The post is based on the article “Go For The Money: Other higher education institutions should follow IIT Bombay’s example, make aggressive fundraising efforts” published in The Times of India on 22nd June 2023

Syllabus: GS 2 – Education.

Relevance: About fund crunch in Higher Educational Institutes.

News: Nandan Nilekani donated $38. 5 million to his alma mater IIT Bombay. This raises the question of why many of India’s public education institutes are so lagging in fundraising.

About the performance of the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA)

It is a designated body to help raise funds. It was founded in 2017 and is a non-profit lending company for higher education institutes’ infrastructure projects.

By the end of last year, HEFA had approved 141 projects worth just ₹46,700 crore, against the target of ₹1 lakh crore.

HEFA would raise funds from the private sector, but no details are available. The government as an equity contributor put in ₹1 lakh in 2022-23, and zero in 2023-2024.

What are the impacts of the fund crunch in Higher Educational Institutes?

a) 11,000 teaching posts are vacant across institutions, including central universities, b) When fees are increased, students either drop out or move overseas, as in the case of medical students. Since 2017, over 30 lakh students have gone abroad, 7. 5 lacks in 2021 alone.

What should be done?

The government understood that government funding alone cannot make institutions world-class. So, the government asked central universities to set up endowments, including FCRA accounts.

NRI corporate leaders are more generous in giving endowments to American universities. But most of them have contributed little to India’s institutions as they lack effective sales pitches like IIT-Bombay. India has 169 billionaires; 1,103 individuals with ₹1,000 crore-plus wealth. They also donate less. So, India should tap private wealth.

Friends And Benefits: Overlapping interests between India and US show that a formal alliance is not necessary for a solid relationship

Source: The post is based on the article “Friends And Benefits: Overlapping interests between India and US show that a formal alliance is not necessary for a solid relationship” published in The Times of India on 22nd June 2023

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

Relevance: About India-US relationship .

News: Indian PM is on a visit to the US. This visit might bury the framework that seeks to understand geopolitics through the prism of alliances.

Why the time for formal alliances have waned?

During the Cold War period, many nations functioned based on alliances.  Even today, formal alliances do exist between the US and Japan. But their essence has changed since the days of the US-Soviet rivalry.

Unlike the Cold War, today’s poles, the US and China, have intertwined economies. Now, the nations started moving towards prioritising alignments over alliances.

How have India-US relations evolved so far?

India-US relationship over the last 18 years has taken place in the shadow of China’s economic uprise and its subsequent revisionism. India’s unsettled border dispute with China made an overlap of interests with the US. Across the world, countries are showing flexibility in adapting to an era of two economic giants (the US and China) locked in a strategic rivalry.

But, India’s economic growth has put India within striking distance of being the third-largest economy after the US and China. At the current rates of growth, India’s economic size should overtake Germany by 2027-28 and Japan by the end of the decade.

India’s growing market and supply capabilities have made India to be part of the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET) with the US.

India is ideally placed to grab economic opportunities coming out of the US and China rivalry.

What should be done?

India and the US have an overlap of interest in multiple areas. For instance, India’s burgeoning diesel and ATF exports to the EU in 2022-23 cushioned the fallout of Russia sanctions there. These overlapping interests make an option for a solid relationship.

GS Paper 3

Why EU’s carbon levy helps rich countries get richer

Source– The post is based on the article “Why EU’s carbon levy helps rich countries get richer” published in “The Indian Express” on 22nd June 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Environment

Relevance- Issues related to climate change

News– EU has introduced a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

What is the issue of differentiated responsibility sharing in climate change negotiations?

Historically, the primary responsibility for climate change has been with the advanced economies, and their process of industrialisation.

The contribution of the Global South was negligible. The Kyoto Protocol recognised the “common but differentiated responsibilities”.

The Paris Agreement required the richer countries to make financial transfers to the developing economies. It set a floor of $100 billion per year for these transfers.

What are some facts about CBAM?

This involves imposing tariffs on imports from other countries that use carbon-intensive methods of production.

A tariff on the import of these goods by the EU would restore competitive parity to the domestically produced goods that are subject to a higher price of carbon.

The CBAM is expected to achieve three objectives. First is to reduce the EU’s emissions. Second is that the EU should not lose competitiveness in carbon-intensive goods. Third is to make the targeted countries reduce the carbon intensity of their exports.

This mechanism, starting in 2026, will cover products such as cement, steel, aluminium, oil refinery, paper, glass, chemicals and electricity generation.

The countries most affected will be Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, India and China. Only three of the 12 exporters to the EU have a mechanism for “pricing carbon”.

What are issues related to CBAM?

Need for more details– First, is related to countries that will be exempted.

Second is related to emissions that will be included in the levying of the import tax. Are indirect emissions embodied in inputs like machines to be considered or only direct emissions?

Third is related to products that are to be included in CBAM.

International laws– The WTO has promoted free trade. The CBAM is a unilateral move, against the spirit of multilateralism.

The problems of measurement mean that it could be used for protectionism. It targets production processes that the WTO does not approve of.

Revenue collection– The analytical framework for tackling climate change is based on putting a price on carbon emissions.

Burning of carbon anywhere in the world affects climate change across the world. So, there is a need for a global price for carbon to redress this global “externality”.

In the absence of a world government, who gets to keep the tax revenue is important. In the case of the CBA, it is the EU that will keep the revenue.

Concerns related to the global south– This mechanism also seeks to penalise “free riders”. A free rider is one who is not contributing towards fighting climate change, although has the means to do so. The country that fits this definition is the US.

The developing countries did not create the problem and have limited means to pay for a “clean up”.

There are equity concerns also. It’s designed to help rich countries avoid paying for creating the climate problem.

Other issues– There is some arbitrariness involved in the coverage of a CBAM. It is not always easy to infer the process of production by looking at the final product.

CBAM is targeting the emissions embodied in a limited number of traded goods. Its effect on climate change is likely to be small.

Why libraries are liberating spaces

Source– The post is based on the article “Why libraries are liberating spaces” published in “The INdian Express” on 22nd June 2023.

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

News– The article explains the issues related to public libraries in India

What are issues related to public libraries in India?

Under the Indian Constitution, public libraries are a state subject. Nineteen states have passed the Library Legislation Act and five states levy a library cess.

In 2013, the National Mission on Libraries came into being under the Ministry of Culture, to revive and modernise public libraries.

They have utilised most of their budget for creating digital libraries including the National Digital Library of India. But it has not made much difference due to digital inequality existing in the country.

There is no move by the National Mission on Libraries to bring state public libraries under one policy or address the issues of access to existing libraries.

There is wildly conflicting data on the state of the Indian public library system. No reliable data exist for functioning libraries at the national, state and district level.

There is no standardisation across public libraries or guidelines for curriculum, and best practices.

NGO and citizen-led efforts in some of India’s most under-served, remote and neglected regions are working on public libraries. But there is no concerted effort to help sustain them.

What are efforts by the government for a national policy on public libraries?

The most recent draft national policy was written in 1986 and it recognised that all public libraries must be free. Though it was never ratified,

Last year, it was reviewed by a Rajya Sabha standing committee. The committee recognised that a national policy was needed to convert state legislations into an enforceable tool for reform. But it dropped the need for free libraries.

What is the way forward to improve the conditions of public libraries in India?

There is a small but growing group of library workers from all over India coming together to campaign for a free library movement. Everyone from bookmakers, policy wonks and educators to the public should join librarians in demanding it.

The need of the hour is a national library policy to ensure free, accessible and excellent libraries for all.

An ode to start-ups in defence

Source: The post is based on an article “An ode to start-ups in defence – Policy initiatives like Idex have put the defence industry on the path to self-reliance” published in Business Standard on 22^nd June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indigenization of Technology, Defence Technology

Relevance: Atmanirbharta in defence

News: The Indian defence industry is growing. India, from being the world’s largest importer of arms and ammunition, is expected to become one of the top five defence exporters before 2030.

What has caused the growth in the Indian defence industry?

PM’s call for atmanirbharta in defence has brought unprecedented change to the sector. It is now recognized that genuine defense preparedness is only achievable through self-reliance.

How did atmanirbharta in defence came up?

The desire to become atmanirbhar is not new. It has been the proclaimed goal of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for decades.

Several high-level committees were set up over the years. A new Department of Defence Production was instituted in 1962. Private industry was allowed entry in 2001, but imported equipment remained dominant. 

However, between 2018 and 2022, the current government implemented several policy decisions that brought transformation. 

These included the introduction of Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX), redefining DefExpo and Aero India as platforms to showcase India’s defense industry capabilities, ease-of-doing business reforms, positive indigenization lists, etc.

The PM’s call for atmanirbharta received support from the armed forces, public sector units (PSUs), and domestic industry. However, the most significant impact was made by the start-ups under iDEX.

How did iDEX helped in transforming the defence sector?

Innovation by the Startups: iDEX helped in the emergence of startups, which developed indigenous technologies and domestic solutions for the defence forces in India.

This allowed India to get the required products at a cheaper rate domestically than those imported.

The solutions developed by the iDEX start-ups were as good or better than those imported. They excelled in emerging technology areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and drones.

For example, QNu Labs developed Quantum Key Distribution over fibre, and achieved distances that were 60 percent higher than the best in class.

Scalability: Scalability was another major benefit of iDEX. Military equipment consists of thousands of sub-systems, which can now be developed simultaneously because of thousands of start-ups responding to these.

Fostering Teamwork: iDEX showcased the power of collaborative teamwork among diverse organizations within the Ministry of Defence.

Representatives from the armed forces, DRDO, PSUs, and the Acquisition Wing worked together, acting as facilitators rather than figuring as bosses.

Other Sectors: iDEX also benefited other sectors in need of an indigenous innovation ecosystem, such as railways and Space.

What can be the way ahead?

The Make in India initiative saw its success in the form of iDEX. However, the true success of iDEX will be realized if it serves as a stepping stone towards a broader vision of “Make in India 2.0”.

Overkill: The Manipur government’s decision to extend net shutdowns lacks merit

Source: The post is based on the article “Overkill: The Manipur government’s decision to extend net shutdowns lacks merit” published in The Hindu on 22nd June 2023

Syllabus: GS 3 – The role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges.

Relevance: About Internet shutdowns in Manipur.

News: The Manipur High Court granted limited Internet access in designated places in the State after a petition seeking the restoration of net access. This is because, citizens have been unable to access vital services such as e-commerce-related activities, except for those who can get exemptions from the shutdowns with government permission.

The Manipur HC also said that the government is merely using the shutdown as a substitute for enforcing law and order.

About rules governing internet shutdowns and Court intervention

According to Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act, 1885 and Telegraph Rules, governments can explicitly seek to retain internet bans in case of a public emergency or in the interests of public safety.

The Supreme Court, in Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India (2020), held that an indefinite suspension of Internet services was in violation of the law, as freedom of expression and the freedom to conduct commercial work via the Internet are fundamental rights. It also held that such suspensions should adhere to the “principle of proportionality and must not extend beyond necessary duration”.

How to tackle the situation in Manipur?

The situation in Manipur can be tackled effectively by a) restoring the confidence of all stakeholders, b) engaging with civil society actors in restoring inter-community dialogue, c) isolating the extremists and d) pursuing a step-by-step approach towards restoring peace and normalcy.  So, the government should stop focusing on the Internet shutdown.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Why the draft livestock and livestock products Bill was withdrawn

Source: The post is based on the article “Why the draft livestock and livestock products Bill was withdrawn” published in The Hindu on 22nd June 2023

What is the News?

The Centre has withdrawn the Draft Live-stock and Live-stock Products [Importation and Exportation] Bill, 2023.

What is the draft livestock and livestock products Bill?

The Bill is meant to replace the Live-stock Importation Act, 1898 and Live-stock (Amendment) Act, 2001.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), which comes under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has prepared the draft of the bill.

The Bill is different from the existing law in three key aspects: 1) It allows the export of live animals, 2) It widens the scope of animal import-export (including cats and dogs among ‘live stock’) and 3) It takes away state governments’ powers to regulate this area.’

What is the need for this bill?

The Live-stock Importation Act, 1898 regulates the import of livestock is a pre-constitutional/ pre-independence Central Act and is 125 years old. 

Hence, a need has been felt to align it with the contemporary requirements and prevailing circumstances related to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

What are the key provisions of the proposed draft Bill?

Firstly, the earlier law regulates only imports of livestock, while the proposed draft Bill has provisions to regulate livestock exports also.

Secondly, the draft bill has expanded the definition of livestock to include felines and canines also.

Thirdly, the Centre has defined the live-stocks and live-stock products as commodities in the proposed draft Bill.

Fourthly, the proposed draft bill takes away some powers of state governments to regulate this area.

What are the criticisms faced by the bill?

Animal rights organizations have said that the draft Bill will open a “Pandora’s Box” of cruelties on animals.

This is because allowing the live export of animals from India is a blanket free pass for the abuse of millions of animals farmed for food and other uses.

According to 2021 figures released by the United Nations, almost 2 billion of the 80 billion land animals raised for food around the world are exported alive to different countries.

India climbs eight places to 127 in global gender index: WEF report

Source: The post is based on the article “India climbs eight places to 127 in global gender index: WEF report” published in The Hindu on 22ndJune 2023

What is the News?

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released the Gender Gap Report, 2023.

What is the Global Gender Gap Report, 2023?

The Global Gender Gap Report has been released annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF) since 2006.

It measures gender parity in 146 countries and across four areas: 1) economic participation and opportunity 2) educational attainment 3) health and survival and 4) political empowerment.

What are the key findings of the report?

Globally: Iceland topped the ranking for the 14th consecutive year with 91.2% of its overall gender gap closed. It is also the only country with a score which is above 90%.

– The overall gender gap closed by a mere 0.3% compared to the previous year. The world would take 131 years to close the overall gender gap between men and women at the current rate of progress.

– In terms of overall gender parity, the Southern Asian region ranked second-lowest of the eight regions with 63.4%.

– The last five countries on the list – Pakistan (57.5%), Iran (57.5%), Algeria (57.3%), Chad (57%), and Afghanistan (40.5%) – have scored below 60 per cent.

India: India was ranked 127 among 146 countries in gender parity — up eight places from 2022. India was ranked 135 in 2022. 

– India had closed 64.3% of the overall gender gap. The country had improved by 1.4 percentage points from then, marking a partial recovery towards its 2020 parity level.

– However, the report underlined that India had reached only 36.7% parity in economic participation and opportunity. The country had attained parity in enrolment across all levels of education.

– In India, while there had been an uptick in parity in wages and income, the share of women in senior positions and technical roles had dropped slightly since the last edition, the report said.

– On political empowerment, India has registered 25.3% parity, with women making up 15.1% of MPs.

– Of the 117 countries with available data since 2017, 18 — including Bolivia (50.4%), India (44.4%) and France (42.3%) — have achieved women’s representation of over 40% in local governance.

What is the New Collective Quantified Goal?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is the New Collective Quantified Goal?” published in The Hindu on 22ndJune 2023

What is the News?

The Sixth Technical Expert Dialogue (TED 6) of the ad hoc Work Programme on the New Collective Quantified Goal was held at the 58th Subsidiary Body Meetings in Bonn, Germany.

What is New Collective Quantified Goal(NCQG)?

A commitment of ‘$100 billion per year till 2020’ to developing nations from developed countries was a target set at the Conference of Parties (COP) in 2009.

But estimates since then show addressing climate change may cost billions and even trillions of dollars.

Therefore, the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement agreed on setting a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCGQ) for climate financing prior to 2025 — a reference point which accounts for the needs and priorities of developing nations.

The NCGQ thus pulls up the ceiling on commitment from developed countries. It is expected to be finalized by 2024.

It will replace the current climate finance goal of $100 billion annually from developed countries.

What is the need for a new Finance Goal?

As per the OECD report, out of the promised $100 billion per year, developed countries provided $83.3 billion in 2020.

According to Oxfam, these figures may be misleading and inflated by as much as 225% as there is too much dishonest and shady reporting.

Moreover, the $100 billion target set in 2009 was seen more as a political goal, since there was no effort to clarify the definition or source of ‘climate finance’.

The economic growth of developed countries has come at the cost of high carbon emissions, and thus they are obligated to shoulder greater responsibility.

Moreover, while the funds available for climate finance have quantitatively increased, they are inaccessible, privately sourced, delayed and not reaching countries in need.

A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found roughly 5% of climate finance comes from grants; the rest through loans and equity which burden developing countries with a debilitating debt crisis.

Countries most in need of finances have to wait years to access money and pay interest at high rates, thus increasing their debt burden.

What do Developed Countries say about NCQG?

Developed countries argue that NCQG must be viewed as a “collective goal” for all developed and developing countries.

Experts worry this argument pushes the “net zero” pathways onto developing countries, which cannot feasibly pay for mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, along with sustainably developing key elements of infrastructure.

What is the way forward suggested by experts on NCQG?

Countries are on a tight deadline to agree upon the NCQG ahead of 2024. There’s no official number yet, but a global transition to a low-carbon economy requires investments of at least $4 trillion to $6 trillion a year.

Experts argue that instead of identifying a single aggregate figure, the NCQG could also set separate targets (or sub-goals) for focus areas such as mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage.

India unable to fill 30% of cybersecurity jobs due to skill gap

Source: The post is based on the article “India unable to fill 30% of cybersecurity jobs due to skill gap” published in The Hindu on 22ndJune 2023

What is the News?

TeamLease Digital has released its latest research study titled “Cybersecurity: Securing India’s Digital Frontier”. 

The research study sheds light on the rapid growth and potential of the cybersecurity market in India, also addressing the mounting cyber risks faced by organizations spanning diverse sectors.

What are the key findings of the report?

Market share of cybersecurity: The cybersecurity market share in India is projected to reach $3.5 billion, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.05% by 2027.

Jobs in cybersecurity: As of May 2023, India had 40,000 job openings for cybersecurity professionals. But 30% of these vacancies could not be filled due to a huge skill shortage.

– The demand for cybersecurity professionals has far exceeded supply, causing many businesses to struggle to recruit qualified personnel. 

– Cybersecurity skill sets that are in high demand include data privacy, cloud security, AI security, and network security. 

Cyberattacks: Enterprises in the country experienced over 2,000 attacks every week in Q1 2023, marking an 18% increase compared with the previous year. The healthcare industry was a prime target, with 7.7% of attacks directed towards it.

GE’s F414 engine: India’s jet engine deal with the US and why it matters

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s jet engine deal with the US and why it matters” published in Indian Express on 22nd June 2023

What is the News?

During India’s Prime Minister’s visit to the US, it is expected that a deal will be announced between the US General Electric (GE) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the manufacture under license in India of GE’s F414 engine for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2.

This agreement will facilitate the transfer of at least 11 critical jet engine technologies to India.

What is GE’s F414 engine?

F414 is a part of General Electric’s(GE’s) suite of military aircraft engines. It has been in use by the US Navy for more than 30 years.

The F414 is a reliable and powerful engine that is well-suited for use in a variety of fighter aircraft. 

It is now being used to power the Indian Air Force’s Tejas Mk2. It is expected to provide the Tejas Mk2 with the performance and operational capability it needs to meet the challenges of modern air combat.

F414 engines may also power the prototypes and the initial batch of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s futuristic fifth-generation fighter aircraft for its Air Force. 

What will be the significance of this jet engine deal between India and the US?

Firstly, it represents a significant step forward for the India-US defense relationship. Previous attempts to share defence technology, such as the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, did not live up to expectations. The GE deal, which will involve the transfer of technology to India, could mark a decisive shift from these past failures.

Secondly, the deal will allow India to make advanced jet engines. Only a handful of countries — such as the US, Russia, the UK, and France — have mastered the technology and metallurgy needed to manufacture an engine that can power combat aircraft. The jet engine deal will thus be an important step forward in India’s journey to develop a domestic defence industrial base.

Titanic tourist submersible missing: Difference between a submersible and a submarine

Source: The post is based on the article “Titanic tourist submersible missing: Difference between a submersible and a submarine” published in Indian Express on 22nd June 2023

What is the News?

The Titan, the vessel that went missing in the area of the Titanic wreck in the North Atlantic is classified as a submersible, not a submarine because it does not function as an autonomous craft, instead relying on a support platform to deploy and return.

What are Submersibles?

Submersibles are small, limited-range watercraft designed for a set mission, that are built with characteristics that allow them to operate in a specific environment.

These vessels are typically able to be fully submerged into water and cruise using their own power supply and air renewal system.

While some submersibles are remotely operated and essentially manually controlled or programmed robots, these usually operate unmanned.

Vessels like the missing Titan are known as human-occupied vehicles.

What is the difference between a submarine and a submersible?

The difference between a submarine and a submersible is a submarine has enough power to leave port and come back to port under its own power. 

On the other hand, a submersible has very limited power reserves so it needs a mother ship that can launch it and recover it.

The procedure is similar to a boat that takes scuba divers out to sea with their gear, allowing them to jump for their underwater adventure and then climb back onboard for the trip back to shore.

Moreover, unlike submarines, submersibles also have a viewport and external cameras to view the outside space surrounding the vessel. They also have limited power reserves.

Explained | Will Betelgeuse, the red giant star, blow up in your lifetime?

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | Will Betelgeuse, the red giant star, blow up in your lifetime?” published in The Hindu on 22ndJune 2023

What is the News?

Researchers from Japan and Switzerland have recently reported that Betelgeuse is in its late carbon-burning stage.

In massive stars like Betelgeuse, the carbon-burning stage lasts only up to a few hundred years, after which the star ‘dies’ and collapses into a supernova within a few months.

What is Betelgeuse?

Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star with a distinctive orange-red hue. Stars in this class are nearing the end of their lives. It is easily spotted in the constellation Orion

Note: A red giant forms after a star has run out of hydrogen fuel for nuclear fusion and has begun the process of dying

In Indian astronomy, Betelgeuse is called ‘Thiruvathirai’ or ‘Ardra’.

Betelgeuse is about 640 light-years away. This means that it takes the light from this star 641 years to reach Earth.

Betelgeuse is particularly easy to spot because of its brightness. It is often the tenth-brightest star in the sky. (It can be much brighter or much dimmer at times). Betelgeuse is about 7,500 to 14,000 times brighter than the Sun.

How have astronomers found that Betelgeuse is in its late carbon stage?

Astronomers have suggested the stage of the red giant star Betelgeuse by studying its pulsations. 

Betelgeuse undergoes periodic expansion and contraction (similar to a boiling pot releasing steam), causing variations in its brightness. By analyzing these pulsations, researchers can infer the star’s current state.

Life Cycle of Betelgeuse

Massive stars like Betelgeuse run out of hydrogen fuel in only a few crore years, when they switch to using helium to make carbon.

The energy released in the fusion of helium is less than that of hydrogen, so the star burns more helium to stay stable and not collapse. The helium runs out in about ten lakh years.

At this time, red giants like Betelgeuse burn carbon, then silicon, and briskly consume one by one the elements of the periodic table, until finally their core brims with iron– whose fusion requires more energy than it releases – and some cobalt and nickel.

Once the core is rich in iron, the temperature and pressure within the star drop. With nothing to stop it, gravity compresses the core and turns it into a neutron star or a black hole. 

ICAR-CTCRI to take its tuber-based rainbow diet campaign to more States

Source: The post is based on the article “ICAR-CTCRI to take its tuber-based rainbow diet campaign to more States” published in The Hindu on 22ndJune 2023

What is the News?

The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) is planning to extend its tuber crop-based ‘rainbow diet’ campaign to more areas in the country with sizeable tribal populations.

What is the Rainbow Diet Campaign?

Launched by: ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI)

Aim: To popularize biofortified tubers and value-added products made from them among the tribal communities for tackling malnutrition and ensuring a balanced diet.

The ‘rainbow diet’ is a meal plan comprising different-coloured fresh fruits and vegetables. The colours in these natural foods are caused by specific phytonutrients. 

– With its tuber crop-based rainbow diet, the CTCRI is popularizing the orange-fleshed sweet potato (rich in beta-carotene), the purple-fleshed sweet potato, and purple-fleshed yam (rich in anthocyanin).  

What are Tubers?

Tubers are specialized storage stems of certain seed plants. They are usually short and thickened and typically grow below the soil. 

Tubers serve as a source of nutrients and energy for the plant. Examples of tuber crops include potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams and cassava.