Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

GS Paper 3

• Dealing with deepfakes
• Built To Not Last – on Bihar bridge collapse
• Lapses in Road Safety: A casual attitude to safety

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

A word of advice to the Delhi police

Source– The post is based on the article “A word of advice to the Delhi police” published in “The Indian Express” on 6thJune 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions for the Protection and Betterment of Vulnerable Sections.

Relevance- Issues related to sexual harassment

News- The protest by India’s medal winning wrestlers has been in the news for long. Two cases of sexual harassment are registered by the Delhi police against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India.

The cases were under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Is delay in registering have impact on prosecution process and legal proceeding in sexual harassment case?

At the stage of the registration of the FIR, the mandate of the Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari vs Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and others (2014)) should be considered.

Once a cognizable offence is made out under Section 154 of CRPC, the police have to mandatorily register the FIR.

The veracity of allegations cannot be inquired into before registering an FIR. In case the delay in reporting the matter is over three months, the reasons for the delay are to be explained satisfactorily.

A mere delay in an FIR is no ground to discard the victim’s allegations, if the truthfulness of the explanation for the delay is established in the court. Otherwise, it may need corroboration with additional and credible evidence.

What is the legality of narco-analysis tests?

Such tests are conducted either on a suspect or on a witness but not on a victim under conditions laid down in Selvi vs State of Karnataka (2010).

The truthfulness of the allegations cannot be established with the aid of such tests. The credibility of the statement of the victim is tested through a thorough cross-examination.

However, such tests administered on the accused may help in a further investigation if some information or material is discovered after such tests.

What are legal aspects related to the arrest of the accused in this case?

Allegations realted to sexual assault at the workplace attract Section 8 or Section 10 or Section 12 of the POCSO Act in the case of a minor victim. It will attract Section 354 of the IPC in case of other victims.

In none of these sections, the punishment is more than seven years of imprisonment. Therefore, according to CrPC, arrest is not mandatory unless there is material evidence to show the possibility of tampering of evidence or making any threat.

Since the accused is an influential person, these apprehensions mentioned above may not be ruled out. However, there need to be reasons and material to justify the arrest.

What is the way forward for Delhi police and prosecutors in this case?

The best option available with the Delhi police is to complete the investigation quickly and have the final report in court.

For offences punishable with imprisonment of less than 10 years, investigation needs to be completed in 60 days after arrest . Since no arrest has taken place, this provision is not applicable in the given cases

For the minor victim, there is also a presumption in favour of prosecution under the POCSO Act. It will be for the accused to prove that he did not commit the offence.

When the victims are insistent in their allegations and are protesting for justice, the allegations cannot be said to be false. However, the court may still frame charges and proceed with the trial.

The ultimate decision to proceed with the trial or not to, and frame charges would be taken by the judicial magistrate after deliberations. Any delay in investigation will have adverse consequences and shake public confidence in the Delhi police.

In the short term, stabilise the Line of Actual Control

Source– The post is based on the article “In the short term, stabilise the Line of Actual Control” published in The Hindu on 6th june 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Bilateral groupings and agreements

Relevance: Indo-China relations

News- From the last few years, the situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has continued to remain extremely tense.

Why is there a need for stability in the region?

There was the biggest mobilisation of Chinese forces into Tibet after Galwan.

As per India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the situation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh remains very fragile and quite dangerous in terms of military assessment.

Thirdly, Chinese territorial claims include the entire Arunachal Pradesh and the occupied Aksai Chin. It claims Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh as two of the five fingers that are attached to the Tibetan Palm.

The current mindset among the Indian security establishment is that the “salami slicing tactics ” of the Chinese must be halted.

Further, advanced surveillance technology provides visibility of movement of opposing forces. Better roads and improved logistics enhance the reaction capability. It is increasing the chances of face-offs and clashes.

What are the existing agreements on LAC and its flaws?

Since 1988, four agreements have been signed between the two countries (in 1993, 1996, 2005 and 2013) to maintain peace along the LAC.

Article I of the 1993 Agreement stipulates the creation of joint mechanisms to verify and settle LAC-related disputes.

The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was created in 2012. It meets twice in a year but has little to show in terms of results on the ground.

The 3,488-kilometre-long LAC has only four Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points. The Lipulekh BPM Point which was proposed in the Article V of the 2005 Protocol has not been established till now.

What is the way forward?

Convert the LAC into a Line of Control (LC) by delineating it on the map and on the ground without prejudice to border claims.

The disputed areas on the LAC can be treated as no entry zones. Alternatively, both sides should be allowed to patrol these areas as per a mutually agreed frequency.

Joint patrolling of the disputed areas must also be explored as this can result in the maintenance of status quo and an increase in confidence.

UGC’s clamp down on distance education goes against the spirit of NEP2020

Source– The post is based on the article “UGC’s clamp down on distance education goes against the spirit of NEP2020” published in The Indian Express on 6th June 2023.

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

Relevance: Issues related to distance education

News- An affidavit was filed recently in the court by the UGC after an inspection claim that Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) started its sub-campuses in five different locations without requisite permissions.

What are the issues regarding such regulations?

Higher educational institutions (HEI) are required to adhere to the UGC’s policy of territorial jurisdiction even for ODL. It is contrary to the idea of open learning as the technology which has no geographic or political boundaries.

In the past too, this regulation caused several regular universities to lose their learning centres outside their state. For example, Bharathiar University in Coimbatore was forced to discontinue around 450 franchises.

In a country,  the number of seats in educational institutions is below demand. Cutting off on an efficient alternative like ODL will be a major mistake. It can hurt the nation in the long-term.

Funding of higher education by the state has gone down and the traditional brick-and-mortar campuses are too expensive.

Under the graded autonomy scheme of UGC, only institutions with a NAAC score of more than 3.26 on a scale of 4 (A+ grade) are permitted to start ODL courses. In fact, Kerala does not have a single such varsity and consequently cannot run any ODL programmes.

Further, ODL courses are a major source of revenue for universities.

What is the way forward?

Any regulatory system that thrives on inspections as a means to deliver on its objectives will suffer from subjectivity, arbitrariness and corruption.

UGC must adopt technology rather than rely on inspections as a primary method of compliance.

Perhaps it’s time to revise the notion that “education is not for profit”. The money has to come from somewhere.

Centre’s ‘lateral entry’ plan gains traction

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre’s ‘lateral entry’ plan gains traction” published in Business Standard on 6^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Governance – Role of Civil Services in a Democracy

Relevance: Concerns associated with lateral entry

News: Recently, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) issued a list of 20 lateral recruitments to middle and senior levels of central government service.

What is lateral entry?

Click Here to Read

How has been the response of the people for the lateral entry?

When the government initiated lateral recruitment for middle and senior positions in 2019, it saw opposition from group of people.

However, despite the opposition, the government has still continued to recruit personnel through lateral entry.

Further, the lack of opposition to the recent advertisement indicates that lateral recruitments have become a regular and accepted practice within the government system.

However, specialist roles in areas like audit, Railways, and tax (direct and indirect) have not yet been opened to lateral recruitments, despite reports of the government facing a shortage of specialists.

What are the concerns with lateral entry?

As per former chairman of the UPSC, Deepak Gupta, such recruitments could potentially devolve into an uncontrolled spoils system that favors politicians.

Further as per a former CAG, while selective use of lateral entry may have limited benefits, its widespread implementation could ultimately undermine the entire system.

Moreover, the new entrants through lateral recruitments are not designated as members of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or an equivalent service.

However, acknowledging the need of lateral entry, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has taken steps to establish designated officers and sections to manage the process more systematically instead of relying on ad hoc arrangements.

Despite this, there are still challenges associated. For instance, despite being granted an extension beyond the initial three-year term, a lateral entrant chose to resign in just eight months into his new term without giving any reason.

This highlights that challenges and factors influencing individuals’ decisions to leave still exist within the government.

Must Read: Issue of lateral entry into the Bureaucracy

What can be the way ahead?

First, it is necessary to evaluate whether a specific gap within the government can be effectively filled by a lateral entrant, rather than solely focusing on vacancies.

Second, it is also required to invest in HR capabilities by bringing in experienced professionals through lateral entry at senior positions.

Third, the government has set up the Capacity Building Commission and Mission Karmayogi to train government employees about their roles. However, both the institutions have not stepped in to deal with lateral entrants.

Fourth, the government has implemented a streamlined process for lateral entry appointments to bring in the most talented individuals with expertise to fulfill specific tasks.

The aim is to ensure that the best-of-the-best talent is inducted through lateral entry and effectively utilized within the government.

      Source: Business Standard

Why the fourth India-Africa forum summit should happen during Delhi’s G20 presidency

Source: The post is based on the article “Why the fourth India-Africa forum summit should happen during Delhi’s G20 presidency” published in The Indian Express on 6^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – International Relations – Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings

Relevance: About the fourth IAFS

News: The fourth India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) was disrupted by the pandemic, causing a delay after the previous three summits held in 2008, 2011, and 2015.

This disruption has caused a setback to the African Union’s (AU) envisioned summit timeline. Now, since the AU is holding summits with its partners, India should also hold the fourth IAFS before the G20 summit this year.

How can the fourth IAFS be held before the G20 summit?

First, currently, it is Africa’s turn to host the fourth IAFS. The previous summits took place in India, with the second one held in Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union Commission.

Initially, Mauritania was recommended as the host for the fourth IAFS. However, it was found that Mauritania lacks the necessary facilities to accommodate a large summit.

Therefore, discussions have shifted now to find a viable host location. In such a scenario, Addis Ababa is the best suited as it has the facilities for holding such large summits.

Second, the size of the fourth IAFS may be an issue. The first two summits followed the Banjul formula, involving 15 African countries and the AU Commission. However, the third summit expanded to include all 54 African countries, making it a massive event.

The options are whether to invite all African countries or return to the Banjul formula. However, hosting a large summit is time-consuming.

On the other hand, when the summit is held in Africa, following the Banjul formula with 15 countries is more manageable. 

Third, there are concerns over members who will attend the summit. The Banjul format includes both permanent and rotational members of IAFS. The five permanent members are South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria, and Egypt, who are the founders of the New Economic Partnership for African Development.

However, these countries do not provide sufficient regional representation from all parts of Africa. Hence, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) play a crucial role in ensuring regional balance.

When the AU was established in 2002, it recognized eight RECs. The countries that chair these eight RECs should be invited to participate in the summit, allowing for broader representation across the continent.

What is the importance of the Banjul format for India?

The inclusion of the Banjul format in the summit allows for increased interaction with countries that may not engage in bilateral discussions with India.

For instance, Comoros is strategically important, but engagements with it are infrequent.

Which countries are expected to participate if fourth IAFS is held this year following the Banjul format?

The five permanent invitees, including South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria, and Egypt along with the AU Chair Comoros and Senegal as the past chair are expected to be the part of the fourth IAFS.

Apart from the five permanent invitees and the AU representatives, there would be eight other representatives invited to the fourth IAFS.

Law panel’s recommendations on sedition law: Stepping backwards

Source: The post is based on the article “Express View on Law panel’s recommendations on sedition law: Stepping backwards ” published in “The Indian Express” on 6th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Relevance: About retaining sedition law.

News: The 22nd Law Commission has said that the sedition needs to be retained, but certain amendments could be made for greater clarity regarding its usage.

What is Sedition?

What are the Law Commission’s recommendations for retaining sedition law?

What are the reasons given by the committee for retaining sedition law?

What should be done?

After initially defending the law, the Centre told the Court last year that it would review it.  Prime Minister is on the view of shedding colonial baggage as the country marks 75 years of Independence. Accordingly, the Union Home Ministry in an affidavit asked the SC to defer the hearing till it is reviewed by a “competent forum.”

Now the Parliament must step in and must finish what it started (revoke sedition). This is essential in polarised times when the spaces for freedom of expression and the right to dissent seem endangered.

GS Paper 3

Dealing with deepfakes

Source– The post is based on the article “Dealing with deepfakes” published in “The Hindu” on 6th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Scientific Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.

Relevance– Issues related to civil society

News- On May 28, the wrestlers protesting peacefully in New Delhi were arrested, and boarded in a van. Shortly after, a photo appeared to show four of the wrestlers posing with wide smiles for a selfie in the van.

What is deepfake?

A deepfake is something that a machine has produced using deep learning and which contains false information.

Deep faking is a significant ‘upgrade’ from photoshopping images. Here, machines process large amounts of data to falsify images and videos with fewer imperfections.

What are issues with deepfake?

People worldwide have already used the technology to create a video of Barack Obama verbally abusing Donald Trump, manufacturing revenge porn.

Chatbots can mimic intelligence. But, it is difficult to tell the difference when they make a mistake. People believe certain information to be ‘true’ because a machine gave it to them.

What are potential benefits of deep learning?

Using deep learning, the ALS Association in the U.S. founded a “voice cloning initiative”. It restores the voices of those who had lost it to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Deep learning has also been adapted in comedy, cinema, music, and gaming. Experts have recreated the voices and/or visuals of visual artist Andy Warhol.

It has enhanced our ability to understand, and even reinterpret, history.

What is the way forward to stop the misuse of deep learning?

Despite its misuse, deep learning can be saved from bad aspects, just like the kitchen knife or the nuclear reactor. The focus must be on how it can be used properly.

The experience with solar geoengineering offers a useful insight. it modifies the climate by blocking sunlight, But. it has planet-wide consequences. Many scientists have called for a moratorium on the use of this technology and for international cooperation.

There is a need for laws that regulate its use and punish bad actors. Wider consultation with people for their inputs can guide the future of such a powerful technology.

A good starting point could be manipulation of hyper-realistic digital representations of our image and voice. This should be considered a fundamental moral right in the age of deepfakes. It can be a stepping stone for individuals to become more scientifically, and digitally literate.

China has responded strongly to misuse of deep learning. It has banned deepfaked visuals whose creators don’t have permission to modify the original material and which aren’t watermarked.

Built To Not Last – on Bihar bridge collapse

Source: This summary is based on the article “ Built To Not Last “, published in The Times of India on 6th June 2023.

Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management, Infrastructure

News: Recently, a 200m stretch of a 3km-long bridge over the Ganga in Bihar collapsed, leading to many deaths.

This is the 2^nd such incident after the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat.

Furthermore, there have been infrastructure related incidents like roads caving in, bridges collapsing, and expressway stretches being washed away across India.

What were the reasons behind Bihar bridge collapse?

The prevalent state-private contractor-builder nexus is identified as a leading cause.

High-value infrastructure projects often being rushed through without proper structural inspections, quality audits, or safety monitoring. It is to achieve the political success. It results into flawed design and poor construction quality.

No one takes accountability for these repeated failures.

In case of Bihar bridge collapse, 2 issues were highlighted:

1. First, parts of the bridge had already collapsed last year due to wind and rain. IIT-Roorkee experts had noted serious structural defects. However, construction was continued.
2. Second, an attempt was made to downplay the incident by claiming that authorities had demolished the bridge.

What are the effects?

First, human fatalities and injuries.

Second, severe environmental pollution. Debris from substandard construction materials, dust, and ash contaminate rivers and country sides, causing damage to aquatic and other ecosystems.

Lapses in Road Safety: A casual attitude to safety

Source: The post is based on the article “A casual attitude to safety” published in “The Indian Express” on 6th June 2023.

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

Relevance: About the Lapses in Road Safety.

News: India has just witnessed its most horrific train accident in over two decades in Odisha. A bus carrying some of the injured persons from the train accident site in Balasore to a hospital had a head-on collision with a van in Bengal’s Medinipur district. This questions the issue of road safety and railway safety.

About the recent train accident and the issue of railway safety in India

What are the reasons for lapses in road safety?

There are five primary reasons for accidents — and deaths and injuries due to accidents. They are

Faulty design: Every highway, modern or old, has several well-identified “death traps”. The majority of bad accidents take place primarily because of bad design.

Poor maintenance and wear and tear: The Morbi Bridge tragedy in Gujarat is an example of poor maintenance.

Improper safety protocols and regulations: These include selling of cars that would not meet crash test regulations, poor implementation of seat belts in automobiles, etc.

Human error: This is sometimes compounded by fatigue and boredom.

Wilful flouting of safety regulations and norms: This is due to both societal attitudes as well as lack of law enforcement.

Consumer and citizen safety has to be the priority for successive governments. Indian citizens should hold the authorities responsible for poor safety and quality enforcement.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

The decade-long search for a rare Higgs boson decay continues

Source: This summary is based on the article “The decade-long search for a rare Higgs boson decay continues“, published in The Hindu on 6th June 2023.

What is the News?

Physicists at CERN, working with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), have reported detecting a rare decay process where a Higgs boson decayed into a Z boson and a photon.

What is Higgs Boson?

The Higgs boson is a subatomic particle that is integral to our understanding of mass. The strength of a particle’s interaction with the Higgs boson determines its mass.

The LHC creates a Higgs boson by accelerating protons into a high-energy collision, resulting in a release of energy that forms different particles.

What are the recent findings?

As the Higgs boson is a heavy particle, it is unstable and decays into lighter particles

As per the Standard Model of physics, it is predicted that a Higgs boson will decay into a Z boson and a photon 0.1% of the time.  This means the LHC needed to have created at least 1,000 Higgs bosons to have been able to spot one of them decaying to a Z boson and a photon.

This rare decay process was detected by physicists at the LHC.

Two detectors at the LHC, ATLAS and CMS, have combined their data from 2015 to 2018, improving the statistical precision of their searches. However, the data does not yet confirm this decay pathway with 100% certainty.

What is the significance of the study?

Understanding the behavior and properties of the Higgs boson can provide significant insights into the nature of our universe. Its decay process can help test the predictions of the Standard Model of physics.

It is because even after the success of this model, it can’t answer the questions like what dark matter is or, in fact, why the Higgs boson is so heavy.

By testing its predictions with precision, physicists are looking for possible inconsistencies or “cracks” in the Standard Model, which may validate new theories in physics.

Adverse possession: What is it, what has the Law Commission said about it

Source: This summary is based on the article “ Adverse possession: What is it, what has the Law Commission said about it“, published in The Indian Express on 6th June 2023.

What is the News?

The 22nd Law Commission of India, led by former Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Ritu Raj Awasthi, recently recommended against any changes to the laws on adverse possession.

What is adverse possession?

Adverse possession refers to the occupation of land that one does not own. The occupation should be continuous, uninterrupted, and peaceful to be declared as adverse possession.

The report suggests that an original title holder who neglects to enforce their rights over the land cannot re-enter it after a long time has passed.

About adverse possession law

Adverse possession laws have their roots in the Hammurabi Code of 2000 BC. But modern laws inherited from colonial India’s interpretation of the Property Limitation Act, 1874.

The 1963 Limitation Act further refined these laws in India, shifting the burden of proof to the person claiming adverse possession.

Under the Limitation Act, 1963, any person in possession of private land for over 12 years or government land for over 30 years can become the owner of that property.

It means the original title holder must claim the land within the mentioned time period.

What was the Supreme Court ruling?

SC in Hemaji Waghaji Jat v. Bhikhabhai Khengarbhai Harijan case, observed that the law of adverse possession “ousts an owner on the basis of inaction within limitation” and is “irrational, illogical, and wholly disproportionate”.

Following this observation, the Law Commission was asked by the Ministry of Law and Justice to examine the matter. While the Commission’s conclusion was to maintain the status quo on the law of adverse possession, two of its ex officio members disagreed.

What are the arguments against this law?

Two ex officio members of the Law Commission disagreed with the report, arguing that the law promotes false claims and doesn’t stand judicial scrutiny.

They suggest that the law should be removed, citing the burden it places on the court system and the unnecessary challenges it poses for the true owners of the land.

What is affecting trade momentum?

Source: This summary is based on the article “ What is affecting trade momentum?“, published in The Hindu on 6th June 2023.

What is the News?

India’s merchandise exports contracted by 12.7% year-on-year to $34.66 billion in April 2023.

Similarly, imports fell by 14%, amounting to $49.90 billion. This decline is not exclusive to India, as other countries have also experienced drops in imports and exports, reflecting a reduction in global demand.

What are the reasons behind slowing global trade?

Weaker worldwide economic activities, inflation, tightening of monetary policies.

Disrupted supply chains resulting from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The conflict has affected the prices of energy, food, and commodities, with prices remaining high by historical standards.

The collapse of financial institutions, such as crypto exchange FTX and three banks in the U.S., as well as declining confidence in Credit Suisse, has heightened financial instability.

What are its effects?

Sharp decrease in international trade, due to overall drop in demand for goods and services

Discretionary spending has suffered, affecting certain imports and delaying expenditures.

Inflation has further eroded individuals’ purchasing power and impacted capital flow to developing countries.

Explained | A new ‘smart bandage’ raises the bar for treating chronic wounds

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | A new ‘smart bandage’ raises the bar for treating chronic wounds” published in The Hindu on 6th June 2023

What is the News?

Researchers have developed a smart bandage which can help treat chronic wounds. This bandage can deliver drugs while monitoring the healing status and transmitting data to a smartphone.

What is the status of chronic wounds?

Chronic non-healing wounds affect tens of millions of people around the world and cause a staggering financial burden on the health care system. If a general surgeon sees 10 patients, 3-4 patients will be ones with chronic wounds, so it’s very rampant, and most common in the lower socio-economic strata of society.

About 80% of people with chronic wounds would be those with diabetes. About 25% of the nearly 77 million diabetic adults in India develop diabetic foot ulcers, a type of chronic wound. Of these, around half of the wounds become infected, requiring hospitalisation, and about 20% need amputation.

What is a smart bandage?

It is a soft stretchable polymer that helps the bandage maintain contact with and stick to the skin. The bioelectronic system consists of biosensors that monitor biomarkers in the wound exudate.

Data collected by the bandage is passed to a flexible printed circuit board, which relays it wirelessly to a smartphone or tablet for review by a physician. A pair of electrodes control drug release from a hydrogel layer as well as stimulate the wound to encourage tissue regrowth.

How does the smart bandage work?

Exudates are the fluids exiting the wound. Biosensors determine the wound status by tracking the chemical composition of the exudates, which changes as the wound heals. Additional sensors monitor the pH and temperature for real-time information about the infection and inflammation.

A pair of electrodes, the same electrodes that stimulate the tissue, control the release of drugs from a hydrogel layer. The wireless nature of the device reduces the problems of existing electrical stimulation devices, which usually require bulky equipment and wired connections, limiting their clinical use.

What are the advantages of smart bandages?

a) It doesn’t have to be removed frequently to monitor the status and apply antibiotics, b) It reduces the cleaning and dressing of the wound. Thereby decreasing the chances of bacterial contamination, c) The bandage could also reduce the number of hospital visits.

PM flags off two schemes to revive wetlands, mangroves

Source: The post is based on the following article 

“PM flags off two schemes to revive wetlands, mangroves” published in the  Live Mint on 6th June 2023

“World Environment Day 2023 celebrated with a thrust on Mission LiFE” published in the PIB on 5th June 2023

What is the News?

On World Environment Day, in a move to revive wetlands and mangroves across the country, Prime Minister has launched two schemes named Amrit Dharohar and MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes).

Note: MISHTI, Amrit Dharohar, PM PRANAM are the conservation initiatives mentioned in the Budget.

What is Amrit Dharohar scheme?

Aim:

-To ensure the conservation of the existing Ramsar sites through public participation,

-To make Ramsar sites as centres of eco-tourism and a source of green jobs for thousands of people.

-To achieve sustainable ecosystem development with the help of local communities over the next three years.

Need: India currently has 75 Ramsar sites that are wetlands of international importance and designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. In the last nine years, the number of wetlands and Ramsar sites in India has increased almost three times. So a separate protection strategy is necessary.

What is MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes)?

Aim:

-To revive and protect the mangrove ecosystem in the country.

-To comprehensively explore the possible area for the development of mangroves covering nearly 540 sq km, spreading across 11 states and two union territories over five years, starting from FY2023-24.

Need: Mangroves are unique, natural eco-system having very high biological productivity and carbon sequestration potential, besides working as a bio-shield.

India accounts for about 3% of South Asia’s mangroves. Apart from the Sundarbans in West Bengal, the Andamans region, the Kachchh and Jamnagar areas in Gujarat have substantial mangrove cover.

Primary objectives: The sharing of best practices on plantation techniques, management practices, conservation measures and resource mobilization through the public-private partnership route.

Cost: MISHTI programme was launched with active participation of coastal States and UTs. The Centre covers 80% of the project cost, while state governments contribute the remaining 20%.

Duration and coverage: The Programme will cover approximately 540 sq km area across nine (9) coastal States and four (4) UTs in five years (2023-2028).

Activities:  a) It will create around 22.8 million man-days with estimated carbon sink of 4.5 million tons of Carbon, b) It will also create potential areas for nature tourism and livelihood potential for local communities.

Railway signalling: Back From precision to peril: Role of signalling in train accidents

Source: The post is based on the article “Back From precision to peril: Role of signalling in train accidents” published in the Live Mint on 6th June 2023

What is the News?

Preliminary investigations into the three-train crash in Odisha point to a signalling error and interference with the electronic interlocking system.

How does railway signalling work?

Signalling method: The signalling system in India is automatic. There is little manual intervention now. Indian Railways is moving to a uniform signalling system called ‘electronic interlocking (EI)’. EI is a network of signals and switches—which would control the movement of trains.

Signalling types: Signalling has two main parts: one dealing with the movement of trains between stations and another within a station.

a) Movement of trains between two stations: It is governed by ‘block rules’. The track is divided into blocks electronically, with signalling at both ends of the block.

b) Movement of trains within stations: It is regulated by ‘interlocking’. It ensures trains aren’t set on a collision course with the right signalling and alignment of points—the place where a train change tracks.

If a part of the track or the loop line is already occupied by a train, the interlocking system ensures the signal for the approaching train is not cleared.

What are the errors faced while railway signalling?

The electronic interlocking of signals will face challenges like a) external interference (like sabotage), b) system lapses and c) software glitches.

Electrical signalling derives its power using underground cables. Faults there could alter EI functioning.

Is railway signalling mostly at fault in train collisions?

As per a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General last year, out of 2,017 train accidents between 2017-18 and 2020-21, 1,392 or 69% were due to derailment. Further analysis of derailment revealed 24 factors are responsible for derailment. This includes an incorrect setting of points at stations, and systems and technological deficiencies in signalling systems.

How can train travel be made safer?

RBI Committee on customer care: RBI panel raises alarm on poor customer care

Source: The post is based on the article “RBI panel raises alarm on poor customer care” published in the Live Mint on 6th June 2023

What is the News?

A committee appointed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued recommendations to improve customer service standard at banks, non-banking financial companies, and other regulated institutions.

About the RBI Committee on customer care

Aim: To assess the state of customer care services, evaluate the adequacy of existing regulations, and propose measures for improvement.

Chaired by: Deputy Governor B.P. Kanungo.

What are the key issues highlighted by the RBI Committee on customer care?

Fail to meet requirements: The lack of enforcement action against regulated entities failing to meet customer service requirements, despite a comprehensive regulatory framework.

Increasing Ombudsman Scheme case highlights customer dissatisfaction: The current disincentive mechanism through the framework for Strengthening Internal Grievance Redress Mechanism in banks is not functioning effectively. Hence, the number of complaints under RB-IOS (Reserve Bank –Integrated Ombudsman Scheme) is consistently rising.

Absence of uniformity in customer care: There is an absence of uniformity among regulated entities in the classification of complaints. Some entities were categorizing certain complaints as suggestions or queries. The lack of a standardized definition is the root cause of such discrepancies.

Deficient customer service standards: Most organizations were merely redressing individual complaints, since there were no incentives for improvements to ensure better customer service.

What are the recommendations of the RBI Committee on customer care?

Standardise customer care: Customer service regulation should be consolidated on the principle of the same activity and same regulation, and apply to all Regulating Entities (REs) depending upon the activity being undertaken by them, irrespective of the category of the REs.

Establish a clear definition of complaint: RBI has to establish a clear definition of what constitutes a complaint under the Internal Grievance Redress mechanism. This will offer a comprehensive view on the volumes, types, and nature of complaints, and allow an accurate assessment of the state of customer service.

Develop a customer service and protection index: RBI should develop and publish a customer service and protection index. This would rate customer service quality through a single score. The index may cover dimensions like adequacy of regulatory and institutional framework in place, customer experience, efficacy of the grievance redressal, customer education and awareness, etc. This should also incentivise those making systemic upgrades.

Maintain a centralized KYC database: REs should maintain a centralized KYC database of all customers, linked to a unique customer identifier, for instance, a customer information file. This will obviate the need to submit KYC documents repeatedly for availing multiple facilities from the same entity.

India, U.S. finalise road map for defence industrial cooperation

Source: The post is based on the article “India, U.S. finalise road map for defence industrial cooperation” published in The Hindu on 6th June 2023

What is the News?

India and the U.S. have concluded a road map for ‘Defence Industrial Cooperation’ which shall guide the policy direction for the next few years. This was concluded during the bilateral meeting between the Defence Minister and visiting U.S. Secretary of Defence.

About the Defence Industrial Cooperation between India and the US

-The cooperation roadmap shall guide the policy direction for the next few years towards cooperation in high technology areas and identifying opportunities for co-development and co-production.

-Both sides will identify opportunities for co-development of new technologies and co-production of existing & new systems and facilitate increased collaboration between defence start-up ecosystems of the two countries.

-Both sides reviewed the robust and multifaceted bilateral defence cooperation activities and agreed to maintain the momentum of engagement.

Why India-US cooperation is essential?

India-U.S. partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region.