Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

GS Paper 3

• How can we transition to a low-carbon city?
• India could learn from Thailand how to boost tourism
• Augmenting capacity – on setting up decentralised grain storage facility
• The trade landscape is changing structurally to India’s advantage
• A Ghostly Tale For World Oceans Day
• Deadly billboards – Despite frequent accidents, there is no political will to regulate billboards
• Cities Never Sleep States are allowing more shops to run 24×7. They need to back it with better policing, public transport

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Nine years of Modi govt: In education, big plans, some key gains

Source: The post is based on the article “Nine years of Modi govt: In education, big plans, some key gains” published in The Indian Express on 8^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Education

Relevance: About the achievements and concerns with the education system in India

News: The current government in its second term has made significant development in the field of education in India.

What are the developments made?

NEP 2020: There has been notable progress over the past year. For instance, common entrance tests for central universities, granting universities more autonomy to collaborate with foreign institutions among others have been implemented. The NIPUN Bharat scheme has also been implemented.

However, some of the announcements on NEP are believed to be superficial. For instance, the renaming of the mid-day meal scheme as PM POSHAN without any additional funding allocation.

Further, despite the NEP’s recommendation to include breakfast as part of the mid-day meal, the Finance Ministry refused to implement this for pre-primary and elementary classes.

Similarly, the relaunch of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme has received lower funding than proposed by the Education Ministry.

National Curriculum Framework: The NCF, a policy document for revising textbooks and classroom pedagogy, is nearly complete.

School Textbooks: The NCERT has undertaken three rounds of revisions in school textbooks. The third round aimed at reducing the curriculum burden on students.

Foreign Universities: The current government has made significant progress in liberalising higher education to accommodate foreign universities.

Currently, the UGC is preparing a regulation that would allow foreign universities to establish campuses in India, have their own admission process and fee structures and recruit faculty and staff from here and abroad.

New Institutions, Enhanced Capacity: Over the past nine years, the government has established several new centrally run educational institutions.

Additionally, existing institutions have undergone significant capacity enhancement through the implementation of the EWS quota. This has increased the intake capacity.

Female representation: Various initiatives have been taken to increase female representation in male-dominated educational institutions.

For instance, the supernumerary seats were introduced for women at IITs and NITs in 2018. This resulted in a rise in female representation from 9% in 2017 to 20% in 2022 at IITs.

Moreover, according to AISHE data, there has been a reduction in gender disparity in higher education enrolment since 2014.

Other initiatives: The no-detention policy under the RTE Act 2009, which guaranteed promotion through Class 1 to 8, was scrapped in 2019.

The National Testing Agency was set up in 2017, the Medical Commission of India was dissolved in September 2020 and replaced with a new body – National Medical Commission. Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) was set up in 2017.

What issues with education remain?

Autonomy: In contrast to the first term of the government, the momentum seen in granting autonomy to institutions diminished in the second term. While the IIMs received increased autonomy, other centrally run institutions like central universities and IITs have not been granted similar freedoms.

Additionally, as per a recent investigation, the promised autonomy under the Institutions of Eminence (IOE) scheme mostly exists in theory.

Vacant Faculty and Leadership Positions: In the past nine years, central educational institutions (CEIs) have faced a shortage of teachers and vacant leadership positions. Even the appointment of heads of CEIs has been slow.

Other Issues: Despite the promise made to raise public spending on education to 6% of the GDP, the overall allocation towards education has been stagnant at 2.8% to 2.9% of the GDP.

The establishment of National Research Foundation (NRF), the Higher Education Commission of India and Digital University has not yet been done.

Source: The Indian Express

Express View on OPEC’s new move: Crude cuts

Source: The post is based on an article “Express View on OPEC’s new move: Crude cuts” published in Indian Express on 8^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Effects of policies of developed and developing countries on India’s interest

News: OPEC+ countries have decided to further cut crude oil production for 2024. This decision has significant implications for global oil prices and India’s economic recovery.

The group has agreed to reduce overall production targets from January 2024 by a further 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) to a combined output of 40.46 million bpd. Saudi Arabia, the biggest OPEC producer, would lead these cuts.

What are the reasons for these production cuts?

Demand for oil has fallen behind supply due to weakness in global growth. It is weakening crude oil prices. This trend is likely to continue for some time.

What are its implications for India?

India imports crude oil to satisfy more than 80% of its needs. Therefore, production cuts, which could increase prices, will hurt India.

However, 2 factors will be important to consider impacts on India. First, India is importing crude oil from Russia at lower than market prices. Second, oil prices in India have not reduced much despite fall in global crude prices.

This Pride Month, let’s count the wins for queer and trans rights

Source- The post is based on the article “This Pride Month, let’s count the wins for queer and trans rights” published in “The Indian Express” on 8thJune 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Vulnerable sections of the population

Relevance- Issues related to LGBT

News- Pride Month is here again. The country is waiting for the Supreme Court’s verdict on the marriage equality case.

What are steps taken by state organs for the upliftment of trangender community?

SC expanded the definition of women in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act to include transgender persons. They are now legally entitled to avail of abortion services.

The apex court also took several measures to make the judicial system queer-inclusive. It expanded its Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee to include queer non-binary lawyers.

It came out with a module for sensitisation of the judiciary on the LGBTQIA+ community. It has taken other small steps, like creating universal restrooms in the court complex.

The Government of India expanded the ambit of Ayushman Bharat. It included transgender persons through the TG Plus card which entitles them to health. There has also been progress in making medical curricula queer-inclusive.

There was good news related to political representation of transgender persons. Bobi Kinnar became Delhi’s first transgender municipal councillor.

Sonu Kinnar, another transgender person, also made history by becoming president of Nagar Palika Panchayat of Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh.

What are the issues still faced by transgender community?

The NALSA judgement paved the way for the legal recognition of transgender persons. The Transgender Persons Act insisted on medical interventions to change gender. But in India, laws are often not implemented on the ground.

Transgender people often face difficulty in accessing public spaces. The Karnataka government’s recent decision to allow transgender people free bus travel was much needed. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment started the SMILE scheme for transgender people and set up a few shelter homes called Garima Grehs. It is facing flak for restricting funding to the existing shelters.

The Transgender Persons Act has many provisions that are yet to be realised though the rules. Examples are making transgender welfare boards, transgender protection cells, etc.

What is the way forward for upliftment of transgender community in India?

There is a need to be cognisant of the pending demands of the community. There is still no central law banning unscientific, inhuman, and traumatising conversion therapy in India. There is no regulation of sex-normalising surgeries for intersex children.

The long pending demand of the transgender community for horizontal reservations needs sincere deliberations and actions.

Tackling the human-dog conflict

Source- The post is based on the article “Tackling the human-dog conflict” published in “The Hindu” on 8th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Government policies and interventions. GS3- Environment

Relevance– Issues related to street dogs

News- Over the past few decades, the growing population of street dogs has posed increasing challenges for municipalities and cities across the country.

The Prevention of Cruelty (Animal Birth Control) Rules 2023 rules that have been designed to address emerging challenges.

What are the alternatives to ABC?

First, there is culling. But, it is a cruel solution. Past such practices show that the dog population has bounced back time and again.

Second is Confinement in pounds or shelters. But they are economically unviable and unsustainable.

The room freed up on our streets because of round-ups and culling will be filled by dogs. It is because of abandonment, free-roaming and breeding pets and street dogs. This is no kind of solution.

How 2023 rules on ABC address the resolve that shortcoming in earlier rules?

ABC programmes are now being streamlined. The burden of its implementation will fall on the ABC monitoring committees at the State, district and municipality levels.

The rules require updated infrastructure investments for the capture, housing, surgery and release of dogs. It requires specific processes to be recorded such as keeping and reporting.

It focuses on procedures for responding to conflict situations. It requires the engagement of organisations to ensure that the standards of ABC are high.

It calls for differentiation of street dogs from pet dogs to improve data collection and analysis.

What is the way forward to tackle the menace of street dogs?

A scientific approach is required to tackle the street dog conflict and population issue.

Social marketing and human behaviour change demands our attention too. Instead of attacking each other, there is a need for shared expertise and commitment to resolve complex societal problems.

If there is no research on the benefits of ABC on dogs, we must put our money into it. If there are poor ABC programmes, organisations must take ownership and improve their standards through training.

GS Paper 3

How can we transition to a low-carbon city?

Source: The post is based on an article “How can we transition to a low-carbon city?” published in The Hindu on 8^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Environment

Relevance: Measures needed for transitioning cities worldwide.

News: There has been a significant increase in the emission of carbon dioxide in 2020 by the cities worldwide.

Transitioning to low-carbon economy requires to integrate mitigation and adaptation options in multiple sectors. This is called the ‘sector-coupling approach’ and it is necessary to decarbonise urban systems.

Why are energy-system transitions important?

An energy-system transition could reduce urban carbon dioxide emissions by around 74%. Therefore, the transition must focus on both the demand and supply sides.

On the supply side, actions include phasing out fossil fuels, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and employing carbon capture and storage technologies.

On the demand side, the “avoid, shift, improve” framework should be adopted. This involves reducing energy and material demand, shifting to renewable alternatives, and improving energy efficiency.

Additionally, in order to address residual emissions in the energy sector, we must implement carbon-dioxide removal (CDR) technologies.

What can be the different strategies adopted to mitigate and adapt to low-carbon cities?

The strategies to mitigate and adapt to low-carbon varies based on a city’s characteristics.

Established Cities: Established cities can focus on modifying existing infrastructure to improve energy efficiency. Promoting public and active transportation like walking and cycling would also help.

Measures such as electrifying public transport and implementing renewable-based district cooling and heating can also be adopted.

Rapidly Growing City: Rapidly growing cities can aim to bring workplaces closer to residential areas and reducing transport energy demand. These cities can also adopt low-carbon technologies, including renewables and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

New and Emerging Cities: These have great potential for emissions reduction by implementing energy-efficient services, adopting people-centric urban designs, and enforcing building codes that require net-zero energy use.

How can an energy transition be just?

Energy systems are directly and indirectly linked to livelihoods, local economic development, and the socio-economic well-being of people.

Hence, a one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient to ensure a socially and environmentally just transition in energy systems.

This is because transitioning to renewable-energy sources could affect groups of people or communities in developing economies and sectors that depend on fossil fuels.

Therefore, balancing energy supply with rapidly growing energy demand, ensuring energy security, and considering export needs are important.

Additionally, addressing issues related to land dispossession in large-scale renewable energy projects, spatial concentration of poverty, marginalization of communities, gendered impacts, etc. are important.

Moreover, developing economies such as Nigeria, Angola, and Venezuela, which rely heavily on fossil fuel exports, may face significant economic challenges when transitioning away from these industries.

Therefore, a socially and environmentally just energy transition requires specific approaches that address the diverse situations and challenges, ensuring that no one is left behind.

What lies ahead?

Transitioning cities to low-carbon energy systems requires efforts that consider factors such as urbanization, national contexts, and institutional capacities.

Hence, it is important to engage multiple stakeholders in energy governance and decision-making processes.

India could learn from Thailand how to boost tourism

Source: The post is based on an article “India could learn from Thailand how to boost tourism” published in Live Mint on 8^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Industries and Industrial Policies

Context: The article discusses the success of Thailand’s tourism industry and suggests ways India could learn from it to boost its own tourism sector.

Between 2015 and 2019, tourist arrivals to Thailand jumped from 30 million to 40 million. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is still expected to attract about 25 million tourists this year.

Significance of the tourism industry

The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates the industry amounted to 7.6% of global gross domestic product (GDP) last year, despite pandemic effects.

Southeast Asia’s success now extends beyond Thailand to Vietnam and even tiny Cambodia (which received 6.6 million tourists in 2019).

What are the factors behind success of Thailand Tourism?

Thailand’s tourism policies, such as visa-free travel for many countries, have also contributed to its success.

Thailand has been successful in attracting tourists due to its innovative approach to tourism. An example is the Eathai food court in Bangkok, which offers a hygienic and accessible street food experience for both locals and foreigners.

The Thai government removed the requirement for the Thailand Pass, which had been a deterrent for tourists due to the need to obtain Thai health insurance. This led to a surge in arrivals in the second half of the year.

After slowdown from China, Thai government conducted roadshows across India to drum up business.

What are the challenges India’s Tourism industry is facing?

India attracted 11 million tourists in 2019. The number will reduce further if visitors of Indian origin returning to visit family are deducted.

Initiatives like ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ campaign are not attractive to foreign tourists.

Initiatives like lowering GST for hotels are insufficient to attract foreign travelers.

India needs the initiatives like first Incredible India! advertising campaigns, which made India from being a backpackers’ destination to being a country loved by the luxury traveller. This year also has been declared “Incredible India! Visit India Year” by the government. But the slogan has become old and repetitive. Innovation is the need of the hour.

What can the course of action?

Instead of merely expanding the number of countries eligible for an e-visa, India could introduce visa-free travel for the G20 and wealthier Southeast Asian neighbors.

Augmenting capacity – on setting up decentralised grain storage facility

Source: The post is based on an article “Augmenting capacity” published in Business Standard on 8^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce

News: Rs 1-trillion programme approved by the Union Cabinet in India to create the world’s largest decentralised grain storage capacity in the cooperative sector.

The godowns will be built at the block level and run by cooperatives.

Cooperative societies would provide various utilitarian services to farmers. Which will include grain procurement, fair price shops, custom hiring centers for farm machinery, and common facilities for grading, sorting, assaying, and preliminary processing of the farm produce.

How will the grain storage facility benefit farmers?

Saving on transportation costs, as they would not have to take the produce to distant mandis (markets).

Realization of better prices by keeping their produce in safe custody and selling them in the lean season at higher prices.

The post-harvest losses for perishable commodities like fruit and vegetables are as high as 25 to 30 per cent.

The receipts issued by the warehouses for the stored stuff would serve as legally valid collateral for institutional loans.

On a broad level, it will tackle the paucity of grain storage space by increasing capacity by 70 million tonnes.

Lastly, the scheme will not create an extra burden on the exchequer. It would be implemented by the Ministry of Cooperation by leveraging the funds available under various existing schemes of different ministries

The trade landscape is changing structurally to India’s advantage

Source- The post is based on the article “The trade landscape is changing structurally to India’s advantage” published in the “mint” on 8th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Indian economy

Relevance- Issues related to trade

News– The article explains the phenomena of increasing exports of India.

How rising exports in India reflects structural changes in the trade basket?

India added 628 new products to its export basket by 2022. The new products are highly concentrated in high-tech manufactured goods, chemicals, and electronics.

Between 1994 and 2022, India has carved out new markets for over 600 products. It has become the market leader in some of these new product categories. For instance, India is a large net exporter of certain turbojets and defence technology.

The growth of the new product basket outpaces the growth of legacy products. Productions such as helicopters, arms and ammunition, and electrical machinery registered some of the highest growth rates.

Exports of India’s top-three products, which include petroleum, diamonds, and medicaments, continue to grow. But the share of these products is declining.

How does a change in product basket impact sensitivity to exchange rate fluctuations?

Research shows that as the export baskets shift towards high-value goods, there is decline in the sensitivity of exports to real effective exchange rates.

While the exchange rate sensitivity was as high as 2.5 for 1994-2007, it shows a significant drop to 0.6 for 2008-2022.

There is rising integration with the global value chains (GVCs). It is also responsible for decline in sensitivity to exchange rate.

How beneficial is the PLI scheme beneficial for the Indian economy?

Most of India’s GVC participation has generally remained upstream. Upstream trade involves less value-addition and can be more prone to demand shocks.

In this context, policies such as the production-linked incentive scheme (PLI) can prove useful for developing downstream linkages. The PLI scheme can further integrate India into downstream GVCs by incentivising global manufacturers to set up shop in India.

PLI scheme is criticised for manufacturers using incentives to set up assembly units which are low in value instead of manufacturing plants.

The experience of countries like China and Vietnam shows that assembly in low value added, led to employment generation for a large number of low-skilled workers.

The assembly units also helped build backward linkages to domestic sectors in these countries, creating further value-addition.

As firms build their footprint, they will develop into producing more sophisticated components. It will lead to higher value creation.

How is India’s performance in the services exports?

Early 2000s was a period of BPOs mushrooming to provide cost-cutting back-end information technology (IT) services. India now looks beyond just cost-cutting.

Data from the Asian Development Bank shows that India went from providing back-end services in law, IT and management in 2010 to upstream, high-value-added services in these areas by 2020.

Our services exports have also shown a low degree of vulnerability to global income fluctuations. For instance, services exports to the US and Canada have shown a low degree of correlation with the GDP growth in these countries.

How India’s integration into manufacturing GVCs can also increase through exports of services?

Intangible services include pre- and post-production activities such as supply chain management know-how, brand management and design.

Firms specialising in pre- and post-production activities within a GVC make the largest value additions.

A Ghostly Tale For World Oceans Day

Source– The post is based on the article “ A Ghostly Tale For World Oceans Day ” published in “The Times of India” on 8th june 2023.

Syllabus: GS3 – Environment Pollution

Relevance: Issues related to Marine life

News- The article highlights the importance of ocean health and conservation of marine life on World Ocean Day.

What are the issues related to oceans?

The FAO report indicates 30% of the world’s ocean stocks are over-exploited, depleted or recovering from depletion caused by various factors. These factors are overfishing, by-catch of species caught in fishing gears, climate change, marine debris etc.

Every year an estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in the oceans.

Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear commonly is referred to as ‘ghost gear’. It accounts for roughly 10% of all marine debris accumulating in our marine environment

What are the problems created by ghost gear?

Ghost gear is a threat to biodiversity and marine habitats, especially corals and endangered species like sharks, turtles and dugongs.

Ghost gear also causes increased operational costs for boat owners. Lost gear is a hazard to boat navigation and safety at sea.

Significant costs are incurred to remove entangled gear from propellers or engines. Entangled gear causes breakdowns leading to costs of repair and rescue, and loss of fuel.

What are the solutions in this regard?

Ocean clean-ups can remove ghost gear. It is all-important to have strategies at landing centres and fishing harbours to prevent ghost-gear pollution.

Governments, companies and gear manufacturers should incentivise – by money or discounts and access facilities – fishers to return used and damaged fishing gear.

Fishing gears collected should be part of a ‘circular economy’ for recycling or upcycling, transformed into art, ornaments or sports nets among other useful things.

Eliminating ghost gear from the ocean requires commitment, cooperation and innovation at every level throughout the fishing-gear supply chain

There is a need to spread awareness among fishers by training local communities in upcycling ghost nets.

An untapped potential of ghost gear creates new business opportunities and additional sources of income for marginalized fishing communities.

Deadly billboards – Despite frequent accidents, there is no political will to regulate billboards

Source: The post is based on the article “Deadly billboards – Despite frequent accidents, there is no political will to regulate billboards” published in The Hindu on 8th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Road Safety.

Relevance: About billboard accidents in India.

News: Giant outdoor billboards are crashing and becoming death traps for many in recent times. The recent deaths of three workers, in Coimbatore last week, after they were crushed by the falling steel frames of a hoarding is one such example.

Why there are increased incidents of billboard accidents?

a) Many municipal corporations fail to curb unlicensed hoardings, b) Occasional corrective actions against billboards are often due to the intervention of the judiciary or triggered by fatal accidents. For example, the Tamil Nadu government removed thousands of unauthorised hoardings in Chennai on the directions of the Supreme Court in 2008, c) Many leaders, especially political leaders, encourage their larger-than-life projections on flex banners and illuminated cut-outs and d) There is a lack of manpower in municipalities to enumerate unlicensed hoardings, periodically inspect authorised billboards, and act against unstable or illegal ones.

All these made enforcing legal and all-weather structural stability requirements of billboards being ignored.

What should be done to prevent further billboard accidents?

The outdoor advertising market globally is poised to grow to $67.8 billion in 2023. So to prevent further billboard accidents the government should do the following.

a) Violators deserve stringent punishment, b) International studies have pointed to billboards being dangerous distractions on roads as they affect a driver’s response time, vehicle lateral control and situational awareness. So, accidents caused by such distractions must be documented in the annual Road Accidents in India report.

Cities Never Sleep States are allowing more shops to run 24×7. They need to back it with better policing, public transport

Source: The post is based on the article “Cities Never Sleep – States are allowing more shops to run 24×7. They need to back it with better policing, public transport” published in The Times of India on 8th June 2023.

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

Relevance: About shops and establishments running round the clock.

News: The Delhi government has recommended that 155 shops and establishments be granted permission to run round the clock. If this proposal is cleared it will take the list of such shops running round the clock to 523. It acknowledges the changing pattern of work in urban India.

About legislation on shops and establishments

Legislation and operating conditions for shops and establishments come under the ambit of state assemblies. Most states have been relaxing restrictions and giving shops more leeway in the way they operate.

What are the challenges in Delhi’s decision to permit shops and establishments to run round the clock?

Shops and establishments in Delhi face bureaucratic interferences when they are working 24×7. For example, the Tamil Nadu government allow blanket permission to all shops and establishments to work round the clock. The only condition is that each employee must be given at least a day off in a week and written consent is needed from women who work through the night.

What should be done to ensure the smooth operation of shops and establishments?

a) India needs far better policing and a public transport ecosystem that also adapts to these changes, b) Permitting shops can play a critical role in encouraging more women to join the workforce or enhance their prospects by opening opportunities beyond their neighbourhood.

So before permitting shops and establishments to run round the clock, states first need to strengthen their most basic function.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Could phage therapy help combat antimicrobial resistance?

Source: The post is based on the article “Could phage therapy help combat antimicrobial resistance?” published in The Economist on 8th June 2023

What is the News?

A study conducted by the University of Exeter shows that the public is aware of and accepts the use of bacteria-killing viruses, known as phage therapy, as an alternative to antibiotics.

What is Phage therapy?

It is a treatment approach that uses bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and kill specific bacteria. The method involves using these viruses to target and destroy bacterial infections, serving as an alternative to antibiotics.

Advantages: Phages are highly specific in their action, targeting only the specific bacteria they are programmed to attack. This can potentially reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. So, phage therapy is considered as a potential solution for antibiotic-resistant infections. Further, the patients often have minimal side effects.

What are Bacteriophages?

These are viruses that infect bacteria and use them as hosts for their replication. They are highly diverse and can target different types of bacteria.

BSNL’s third revival package: Union Cabinet approves allotment of 4G/5G Spectrum to BSNL

Source: The post is based on the article “BSNL’s third revival package: Union Cabinet approves allotment of 4G/5G Spectrum to BSNL” published in the PIB on 7th June 2023

What is the News?

As part of the revival strategy, the Union Cabinet has approved BSNL’s third revival package with a total outlay of Rs. 89,047 crores. It includes an allotment of 4G/5G spectrum for BSNL through equity infusion. With this revival package, BSNL will emerge as a stable telecom service provider focused on providing connectivity to the remotest parts of India.

What are the key aspects of BSNL’s revival package?

What are the potential benefits of BSNL’s third revival package?

With this spectrum allotment, BSNL will be able to a) Provide pan India 4G and 5G services, b) Provide 4G coverage in rural and uncovered villages under various connectivity projects, c) Provide Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services for high-speed internet, and d) Provide services/spectrum for Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN).

About the performance of BSNL’s previous revival packages

The Government approved the first revival package for BSNL/MTNL in 2019 and brought stability to BSNL/MTNL.

In 2022, the Government approved a second revival package for BSNL/MTNL. It provided financial support for capex, viability gap funding for rural landlines, financial support for de-stressing the balance sheet, settlement of AGR dues, merger of BBNL with BSNL, etc.

As a result of these two packages, BSNL has started earning operating profits since FY 2021-22. The total debt of BSNL has reduced from Rs. 32,944 Crore to Rs. 22,289 Crore.

Union Cabinet approves continuation of Central Sector Scheme of ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite Scheme’

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Cabinet approves continuation of Central Sector Scheme of ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite Scheme’” published in the PIB on 7th June 2023

What is the News?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the continuation of the Central Sector Scheme of “Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme” from 2021-22 to 2025-26 co-terminus with the 15th Finance Commission cycle.

About the Exploration of Coal and Lignite Scheme

Aim: To explore and estimate coal resources in the country, facilitating the preparation of detailed project reports for coal mining.

Stages: Under this scheme, exploration for Coal and Lignite is conducted in two broad stages: (i) Promotional (Regional) Exploration and (ii) Detailed Exploration in Non-Coal India Limited blocks.

What is the reason behind the continuation of the Scheme?

Exploration for Coal and Lignite is required to prove and estimate coal resources available in the country. The geological reports prepared through these explorations are used for auctioning new coal blocks.

After the seventh round of the commercial coal blocks auction, which will offer 103 mines, there will be a need to create new blocks for offer. So, the scheme has been extended.

India-U.S. Strategic Trade Dialogue: India, U.S. review export control regulations

Source: The post is based on the article “India, U.S. review export control regulations’” published in The Hindu on 8th June 2023

What is the News?

At the inaugural India-U.S. Strategic Trade Dialogue (IUSSTD), India and the U.S. pledged to streamline their export control regimes for critical technologies.

About India-U.S. Strategic Trade Dialogue (IUSSTD)

Launched in: The new dialogue mechanism was launched during the US commerce secretary’s visit to New Delhi in March.

Need: It represents a key institutional innovation to unlock the potential of high-tech trade between the two countries envisaged as a part of the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (ICET).

What are the key discussions held during the inaugural IUSSTD?

IUSSTD focused on ways in which both governments can facilitate the development and trade of technologies in critical domains such as semiconductors, space, telecom, quantum, AI, defence, bio-tech and others.

Both sides reviewed the relevant bilateral export control regulations with the objective of building and diversifying resilient supply chains for these strategic technologies.

Kerala Fibre Optical Network: What is KFON, Kerala’s scheme for internet connectivity for all households

Source: The post is based on the article “What is KFON, Kerala’s scheme for internet connectivity for all households” published in the Indian Express on 8th June 2023

What is the News?

The Kerala government officially launched the Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON). Through KFON, Kerala became the first state to declare the right to Internet as a basic right.

What is Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON)?

Need: Kerala State Wide Area Network (KSWAN), the existing state Information Infrastructure connecting government offices, is limited to 3,800 premises. Hence, the Government in 2017 decided to establish KFON.

Aim:

-To reduce the digital divide by ensuring high-speed broadband internet access to all houses and government offices.

-To give a fillip to e-governance and accelerate Kerala’s journey towards being a knowledge-based economy.

-To create a core network infrastructure (information highway) with non-discriminatory access to all service providers.

-To ensure a reliable, secure and scalable intranet connecting all government offices and educational institutions.

Speed and specifications: It is an optical fibre cable network of 30,000 kms, with 375 Points-of-Presence across Kerala.

KFON promises an internet speed from 10 mbps to 10 Gbps. The quality of mobile phone calls is also expected to improve. Once KFON is connected to mobile towers in Kerala, it will speed up transition to 4G and 5G.

Significance: Basically, KFON will act as an infrastructure provider. The KFON infrastructure will be shared with all service providers, including cable operators. Local ISP/TSP/cable TV providers would provide Internet connectivity to the households.

How will KFON benefit the poor?

The government wants to ensure internet connection for 20 lakh families below poverty line under KFON. In the first phase, as many as 14,000 BPL families would get connections to high-speed internet, free of cost. With time, 100 BPL families in each of the state’s 140 Assembly constituencies will be selected for this scheme