Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Our e-courts project needs a big rehaul to assure us transparency
• Understanding the Saudi-Iran detente
• A chance for India to shape a data governance regime
• A reality check for foreign universities
• Find Covid Origin – China must be held accountable. Also ban dangerous gain of function research on viruses
• How India’s new naval base at Andamans will force Beijing to reassess its strategy

GS Paper 3

• A resilient India, but growth pangs for China
• Why local banks are insulated from SVB ripples

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Same-sex marriages can rock societal values: Centre
• Bobbili Veena likely to be presented to G-20 delegates
• India remains biggest arms importer between 2018-22 despite drop in overall imports
• 246 vultures spotted in first-ever synchronized survey in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
• Explained | Why a room-temperature superconductor paper is turning so many heads
• States demand that lightning be declared a natural disaster
• Different faces of the Indian women’s movement
• Agrometeorological Advisory Services (AAS) being rendered for the benefit of farmers in the country under the ‘Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa’(GKMS) scheme
• Get additional funds to implement SC order on higher provident fund pension: Panel to Centre
• IREDA gets ‘Infrastructure Finance Company’ status from RBI
• Wagner Group of mercenaries: Why Joe Biden and US Congress are at odds over designating it a ‘terrorist’ group

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Our e-courts project needs a big rehaul to assure us transparency

News: The Union budget for 2022-23 allocated₹7,000 crore for the third phase of the e-courts project. The project is administered by the e-committee of India’s Supreme Court in partnership with the ministry of law and justice.

About the E-court Project and E-committee

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The project has helped with easier availability of judgments and case progression updates online on the e-courts website. However, the achievements are not significant when compared to problems being faced by the project.

What are the concerns with the project?

Delay in Investments: A parliamentary standing committee in December 2022 acknowledged that no money was spent on the project in 2022-23. It was due to a failure in getting necessary approvals by the department of justice and the e-committee.

Functioning of the e-committee: There is a lack of transparency in the functioning of the e-committee ofthe Supreme Court because it does not release any minutes of its meetings. It is also not clear how the e-committee selects various outsiders for its expert panels.

Audit: Neither the e-committee nor the e-courts project has ever been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Even the parliamentary panels have not reviewed the performance of the project.

Lack of transparency:An attempt was made by the author to get the information of the final proposal for the project’s Phase IIIthrough RTI. However, the Public Information Officer of the Supreme Court refused to share the proposal. The reason given was that the final proposal is still under consideration of the government.

It raises questions on the logic on which the ₹7,000 crore outlay provided by the government.

Centralization of the project: The Supreme Court has ruled that high courts are in charge of the administration of the district judiciary in Indian states. However, when it comes to the e-courts project, the e-committee implemented Phase I centrally.

In the second phase, the high courts were put in charge of procurement and implementation, but the e-committee was still responsible for planning and setting standards.

Even though the SC has attempted to democratize the committee’s composition by staffing it with high court judges, it still functions in the centralized manner.

What can be done going ahead?

Decentralization: Decentralization can improve the efficiency of the e-courts project.It can facilitate a greater technological integration with the e-systems of state governments.It will also encourage competition between states to modernize their own judiciary.

New Structure: The Government by law can also create a new legal structure for India’s e-courts project.

Understanding the Saudi-Iran detente

News:Saudi Arabia and Iran, two of West Asia’s major powers, have agreed to restore diplomatic relations in an agreement brokered by China.

What were the reasons behind the breakdown in relation between Saudi Arabia and Iran?

The reasons were – regional dominance, Iran turning into Shia theocratic republic, ideological differences, etc.

Further, their relations collapsed in 2016 after the Saudi embassy in Tehran was overrun by protesters following Riyadh’s execution of a revered Shia cleric.

However, under China’s mediation, they have agreed to start a new beginning.

What are the terms of the agreement?

Read – The China hand in Saudi-Iran diplomacy

According to reports, Iran has agreed to prevent further attacks against Saudi Arabia, especially those from the Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has agreed to regulate Iran International, a Farsi news channel that is critical of the Iranian regime.

China is also planning to host a cross-Gulf conference of Iran and the six Gulf monarchies (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman), who make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), this year to further strengthen peace in the region.

Why did Saudi Arabia reach out to Iran?

U.S.’s deprioritisation policy for West Asia.

The US now faces greater foreign policy challenges such as the Russian war in Ukraine and China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific. Hence, this has created a power vacuum in the West Asian region to counter Iran.

Therefore, to address the vacuum created, the US and its allies wanted to bring Israel and the Arab world together against Iran.

Further, relations between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. have not been good in the recent years. The U.S. is now one of the top oil producers in the world and is not as dependent on the Gulf as during the Cold War.

Hence, Saudis decided to look for alternative solutions for the Iran problem. i.e., they came up with a way to reach out to the Iranians.

What led Iran to accept the deal?

Iran is facing one of the toughest phases of economic isolation and domestic pressure. Its economy is deteriorating, and its currency (the rial) is struggling.

Looking at the condition of Iran, China allowed Iran to withdraw parts of the $20 billion funds that were frozen with Chinese banks after the U.S. sanctions.

Hence, Iran thought in such a struggling economic scenario, it would be better to have a deal with Saudi Arabia, under China’s mediation.

Strategically, Iran also knows that such a deal could complicate American efforts to unite Arab countries and Israel against it.

What does China gain from the deal?

China has economic, regional and strategic interests in playing the role of a peace broker in West Asia. China is the world’s largest oil buyer and stability in the energy market is essential for its continued rise.

Further, China’s ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran are good unlike the US. China is a leading buyer of Saudi oil and the largest trading partner of Iran. 

Therefore, this agreement marks China’s arrival as a major power in West Asia.

Therefore, presence of China and absence of US in the Saudi-Iran reconciliationpoints to larger changes in the global order.

However, there are also risks associated with the deal because West Asian region is prone to conflicts. If the agreement between the Saudi-Iran doesn’t work, it could lead to a bad impression of China globally.

How does the U.S. look at the deal?

U.S. officials have welcomed the reconciliation because peace it would help to stabilise the region and benefit the global energy market.

However, there are also strategic concerns with because the US sees an ally (Saudi Arabia) making friends with its rival (Iran) and its global challenger (China) deepening its influence in a region which the U.S. had dominated since the Suez War of 1956.

There has been a presence of the US in major peace initiatives in the region in the post-War world. For example, Middle East Quartet (2002) or the Abraham Accords (2020).

A chance for India to shape a data governance regime

News– India has made good progress in its digital strategies and data governance. However, it must also ensure that its digital strategies and data governance are inclusive, transparent, and secure.

What are some facts associated with India’s Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA)?

It is a consent management tool. It has benefits associated with it like it has the potential to improve data protection and privacy for citizens by giving them greater control over the use and sharing of their personal information. It could help to build trust in digital technologies and data governance.

However, there are also risks related to security and privacy. If this tool is not properly implemented, there is a risk that personal information could be misused or misappropriated.

The implementation of DEPA may be inconsistent across different sectors and jurisdictions. It could undermine its effectiveness and create confusion among citizens.

What are concerns related to use of data?

There are concerns related to connectivity and the availability of a skilled human workforce are other concerns.

Potential misuse of data and information in these sectors. For example, in the health sector, there is a risk that sensitive medical information could be misused or exploited for commercial purposes,

Ownership and governance of data generated and collected in health and agriculture. There are questions related to the rights of data providers and responsibilities towards them.

Data sovereignty has become an increasingly important issue. The term refers to the principle that a country has the right to control the collection, storage, and use of data within its borders.

What are the benefits associated with establishment of an India Data Management Office (IDMO)?

It is a step forward in the country’s journey towards data sharing and data governance.

The IDMO is expected to oversee and coordinate the implementation of India’s digital strategies and data governance framework. It will ensure that these efforts are aligned with the country’s values and priorities.

It will also work to promote the development and implementation of open-source solutions.

It will help to ensure that underlying data architectures are a social public good, and digital technologies become accessible and affordable for all.

What is the way forward for data governance in India?

Open source and open innovation models can be important alternatives to proprietary solutions that are governed by big tech companies.

It requires a close collaboration between the government, the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders and the development of clear and effective regulations and standards.

Many commentators have called for the opening of data “silos” to capture the potential wealth of data sharing between governmental offices, corporations and citizens.

While it may be useful in promoting citizen participation and increasing access to information, it may jeopardise trust and security. For example, the sharing of sensitive personal or financial information may be harmful to individuals and society as a whole.

Therefore, it is important for India to come to a middle ground between restrictive data sovereignty and limitless data flow. There is a need to define which data, for which purposes, can be shared and used by whom.

In doing so, India must respect and protect the fundamental right to privacy with a robust data protection law. It must balance the interests of all stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and citizens for the goal of sustainable development.

There is a need for investment in the necessary digital infrastructure and skills to ensure that data is collected, stored, and used in a responsible, secure and accountable manner.

Further, it is essential that the India Stack is designed and implemented in a way that is consistent with India’s broader development strategies. This will help to ensure that the data governance is aligned with the country’s values and priorities.

A reality check for foreign universities

News– The government has proposed to invite foreign universities to set up their campuses in India.

What are the government’s assumptions behind this move?

The number of Indian students going abroad increased from 4.4 lakh in 2021 to 7.5 lakh in 2022. The outward remittance spent on education in 2012-­2022 was about $5.1 billion. India is anprofitable market even if foreign universities can attracta fraction of this outward flow.

Second supporting factor is the enrollment figures. The All­ India Survey on Higher Education estimates that 4.13 crore students are enrolled in higher education.

If the policy target is to achieve a 50% enrolment ratio by 2035 from the current 27.3%, the intake of students will almost double in 15 years. Much of this is expected to happen in private institutions.

What are the challenges in front of foreign universities for setting up in India?

The OECD’s global study on the internationalisation of higher education pointed out that financial aspects of setting up an offshore campus are likely to prevail despite good intentions.

First, how foreign universities willposition themselves in terms of fees and cost.

If foreign universities want to compete with premier Indian institutes such as the IITs, they will have to compete in terms of cost as well.

For instance, IIT Madras has about 7,000 students with an annual operating expenditure of ₹1,032 core in 2020-­21. The fees only partially meet this expense. Government support enables the institution to charge low fees.

Second, as per the key conditions of the UGC, they have to offer services on par with what they offer at home. In that case, they must bring in foreign faculty and invest significant capital. Then fees would be very high.

Third, creating graduates who will be in demand is not easy, even after charging a high fees. Even decades old elite private institutes are yet to reach IIT or IIM levels.

Fourth, Students travelling abroad pay more fees for better opportunities and enriching cultural experiences. Realising this, countries such as the UAE, offer 10 ­year visas for exceptional students and five year visas for others to seek work. This makes it attractive for students.

What are options for foreign universities to open their branches in India?

First, the local market is fragmented. Some universities such as Shiv Nadar and Azim Premji, backed by philanthropic institutions have managed to keep the annual tuition fees low. Whereas Institutes such as the VIT take the volume route and charge a mid-level fee.  Others such as Ashoka University or Krea University charge a relatively high fee.

In this landscape, foreign universities could position themselves as premier institutions and compete with elite private institutes.

Second, Higher fees need not be a major barrier if institutes can providepremium placements for students. Recruiters should be willing to pay enhanced entry level remuneration, which may offset higher education costs.

The IITs and IIMs offer two different models. The IIT success mantra is low fees and a high Premium. The IIM model has high fees, high premium model.

The 2019 Global Education Monitoring Report on the internationalisation of higher education in Gulf Cooperation Council countries too points it out. It says that despite GCC nations heavily investing in branch campuses of foreign universities, the employment workforce nationalisation has not been as expected.

Find Covid Origin – China must be held accountable. Also ban dangerous gain of function research on viruses

News: Recently, the WHO chief said that tracing the origins of Covid is not just a scientific but also a moral imperative.

Why there are still many debates on Covid origin?

The lab leak theory has persisted despite some scientists positing that the novel virus had naturally jumped from animals to humans. The unknowability is there because China is stonewalling any Covid-origin investigation.

How China is stonewalling Covid origin investigations?

In early 2021, China allowed a WHO team to visit the country. But the visiting team was neither allowed to freely travel and interview witnesses nor given access to raw patient data from early cases in Wuhan – the Chinese city thought to be ground zero of the pandemic.

When WHO proposed a second phase of investigation later that year, China flatly refused.

China’s refusal fuelled the speculated lab leak theory that the Wuhan Institute of Virology is conducting gain-of-function research on coronaviruses and the US also funding the project.

What should be done?

There must be an international consensus on banning all gain of function research. This is because a) The dangers of such experiments far outweigh the benefits, b) The modified viruses are essentially deadly bioweapons.

Further, the investigations into the origins of Covid must continue – to find the truth and to better prepare for or prevent future outbreaks.

How India’s new naval base at Andamans will force Beijing to reassess its strategy

News– The government of India has begun to build a holistic naval base on Great Nicobar Island, which overlooks the entrance to the Malacca Straits. It is hardly 90 miles from the tip of Indonesia.

What is the rationale behind building a naval base on Great Nicobar Island?

A naval base in Great Nicobar can be the central piece to an oceanic strategyagainst Chinese aggression in the Himalayas.

Over 65 per cent of China’s oil dependency is fulfilled through Indian Ocean lines of communicationsimports. With increasing vulnerability of oil imports, China will be more cautious on LAC.

The tactical scenario in the Malacca Straits and South China Sea is already in favor of India due to the intelligence sharing and communications agreements of the Quad. In times of crisis, these agreements would be activated.

By using these agreements, Chinese aggression on the northern LAC would be countered by a threat to China-bound tankers in the Malacca Straits.

It will act as a deterrence to China. China will begin to treat India as an equal force.

The prerequisites to victory are information dominance and the denial of information to the enemy. With a base in Great Nicobar, the entry to the Malacca Straits would be a hundred miles away while the nearest Chinese base in Sanya would be 1,500 miles away.

Which factors will decide that naval base is used for strengthening the defence preparedness of India?

It depends on whether India is prepared to use it for strategic purposes. Whether it permits the new base in Great Nicobar to be the beginning of an oceanic strategy to replace the land-centric approach.

It also depends on whether the political intention is merely to set up a minor reconnaissance base in great Nicobar or build an Indian outpost for eastern theatre command.

What does this move by India to build a naval base imply?

The strategic rules governing war have not changed over the years. Alexander the Great never fought on the grounds not favoring him, nor did Napoleon and the great captains of war.

At sea, choosing the area to fight means creating a dominant battlespace where our information dominance prevails and the enemy is blinded.

The Ukraine war has once again demonstrated it. In Ukraine, the local satellite information is made available right down to the platoon commanders’ level, on the cell phone via US satellite internet.

India needs to avoid the two-front war scenario, downsizing the army and counter-punching the Chinese on the seas. It will deny Beijing a fight on the ground of its own choosing.

GS Paper 3

A resilient India, but growth pangs for China

News– The Chinese government has projected a growth target of around 5% in 2023. It is lower than that of last year and even lower than the expected GDP growth for India in 2023.

What are the reasons for low growth in China?

The Chinese economy is in a process of structural deceleration.

The consumption expenditure is recovering, external demand remains weak. The scenario of  future private investment is weak. There are doubts about the role of the private sector in the Chinese economy and sentiment among foreign investors is weak.

The real estate sector is still dragging down growth. Beyond 2023, the government’s push for astructural shift of the Chinese economy is still on the way.

Over the last few years, tighter regulatory measures have been introduced to containfinancial risks and achieve more social objectives such as a green economy, food security.

How is the Chinese economy undergoing transformations?

The Chinese government has recognised that too high a growth is no longer possible nor desirable. It only aggravates financial imbalances. Sustainable growth has become a key concept in China’s new economic narrative.

Job security is one of the most important objectives of the sustainable growth narrative. It is evident from higher target for new jobs, compared to last past years

The need for jobs explains China’s recent charm offensive to retain foreign direct investment in China as it is an important source of job creation.

Comparison between the Indian and Chinese economy?

While India and China may not be too different in size and population, growth prospects differ substantially.

China has lowered its GDP target further. In contrast, India remains resilient. An acceleration of this pattern is to be expected in the next few years. It will depend on whether reshuffling of the value chain continues, pushed by geopolitics and high costs in China.

Why local banks are insulated from SVB ripples

News: The fall of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has had effects around the world.

How did the Indian government respond to bank failures in the past?

The failure of Laxmi Bank and Palai Central Bank in 1960 prompted the government to introduce the Deposit Insurance Corporation (DIC) Bill in 1961 to protect depositors.

In 1968, the Act was amended to widen its ambit to cover cooperative banks.

Deposit insurance started with a sum of ₹1,500, way back in 1962. This was gradually increased to ₹100,000 in 1993 and most recently, to ₹500,000 in 2020. In dollar terms (as of end-December 2021), this comes to 3.01 times India’s per capita income. In the US, the deposit cover is 3.6 times of nation’s per capita income.

How did the US government respond to the SVB failure and other bank failures?

The US levying a new tax on the banking system to provide guarantees to depositors who were previously guaranteed. Using this, the US government would ensure the safety of depositors’ money. However, the equity holders in the bank will lose their shares.

The US Treasury Secretary has also said that no taxpayer funds will be used to bail out SVB. This means the bank and management will not be rescued.

What are the major questions associated with SVB Failure?

In 2018, SVB and other small banks were provided with exemptions from post-crisis banking regulations. To avoid the immediate problem of interest-rate risk, a new facility which lends against collateral valued at par has been introduced. This removed interest-rate risk from the equation for banks.

This new scheme raises the following concerns a) Covering all depositors on bank failure is not financially prudent, b) With rumours going viral in minutes on social media platforms, delinking interest-rate risk from the banks might create frequent bank runs.

Why India is less impacted by the SVB failure?

This is because of a) Tight regulation of banks in India by RBI, b) Indian banks largely do not fund startups and hence the impact on the startup world is manageable to a large extent, and c) In FY24, banks are at their best shape in decades. For instance, the recent RBI stress tests found that banks would be able to withstand severe stress. It found that even if customers withdraw 15% of uninsured deposits, liquid assets equivalent to 12.2% of total assets would be available.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Same-sex marriages can rock societal values: Centre

Source: The post is based on the article “Same-sex marriages can rock societal values: Centre” published in The Hindu on 12th March 2023.

What is the News?

The government has recently said in the Supreme Court that same-sex marriages can hamper societal values.

About the case

The SC has received petitions to allow solemnisation of same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act. The petitioners argued that the non-recognition of same-sex marriage amounted to discrimination that struck at the root of the dignity and self-fulfillment of LBTQ+ couples.

Note: The Special Marriage Act of 1954 provides a civil form of marriage for couples who cannot marry under their personal law.

In response to these petitions, the Court issued separate notices to the Union of India and the Attorney General of India. The court also transferred various similar issues pending before various High Courts to itself.

Recently, the centre has filed an affidavit expressing its view on same-sex marriages.

What are the government’s views on same-sex marriages?

Same-sex marriages create havoc in accepted societal values: The institution of marriage has a sanctity attached to it and in major parts of the country, it is regarded as a sacrament, a holy union, and a sanskar.

Despite statutory recognition, marriage necessarily depends upon age-old customs, rituals, practices, cultural ethos and societal values. Even the Parliament has designed and framed the marriage laws in the country based on personal laws and codified laws relatable to the customs of various religious communities.

Hence, any interference with the same would cause complete havoc with the delicate balance of personal laws in the country and accepted societal values.

Court never accepted same-sex marriages: The Court had only decriminalised sexual intercourse between same-sex persons in its 2018 judgment in Navtej Singh Johar. During that time, the court never accepted same-sex marriage as part of the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Same-sex marriages are not acceptable as an Indian family unit: Living together as partners and having sexual relationships by same-sex individuals is not comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children.

Only the Centre can decide not the court: Any “deviation” from “statutorily, religiously and socially” accepted norm in “human relationships” can only happen through the legislature and not through the Supreme Court.

Note: Most countries in North and South America and Europe have legalised same sex marriage.

Bobbili Veena likely to be presented to G-20 delegates

Source: The post is based on the article “Bobbili Veena likely to be presented to G-20 delegates” published in The New Indian Express on 12th March 2023.

What is the News?

The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing to present the replicas of Bobbili Veena as part of their cultural exchange to the delegates of G-20 conference.

What is Bobbili Veena?

Bobbili veena, also known as ‘Saraswati veena,’ is a large plucked string instrument used in Carnatic classical music.

History: The making of the veena began in the 17th century during the reign of Pedda Rayudu, the king of Bobbili Samsthanam who was a great patron of music.

Location: The home of the Bobbili veena is the town of Bobbili, about 120km from Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Salient features:

-Bobbili veena is made from a single piece of jackwood tree, unlike other veena which are made by joining two pieces of wood. Hence, it is also called as ‘ekanda veena’.

-It is famed for its fine-tune and distinctive notes.

-The artisans have made the veenas by using elephant tusks, stag horns and strings to get ‘Sapta Swaras’ during Bobbili Raja’s regime. Now, they are replaced the elephant tusks and stag horns with plastic material imported from Mumbai.

Significance: It earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2012 for its unique design and high-quality craftsmanship.

Threats: These include a) the emergence of electronic music instruments and digital sound systems, b) the lack of skilled artisans, as only 40 families are there to make these veenas at present.

India remains biggest arms importer between 2018-22 despite drop in overall imports

Source: The post is based on the article “India remains biggest arms importer between 2018-22 despite drop in overall imports” published in The Hindu on 14th March 2023

What is the News?

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has released a report titled “Trends in International Arms Transfers 2022”.

What are the key findings of the report?

Arms imports: India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Australia, and China are the top five arms importers in 2018–22.

Arms exports: US, Russia, France, China, and Germany as the five biggest arms exporters. The five countries alone accounted for 76% of global arms transfers between 2018 and 2022. 

India’s arms imports: India was the world’s largest arms importer between 2018 and 2022, accounting for 11% of global imports.

– Russia was the largest supplier of arms to India in both 2013–17 and 2018–22. Russia accounted for 45% of India’s imports followed by France (29%) and the US (11%).

India’s arms exports: Among the top 10 arms exporters for the period 2018-22, India was the biggest arms export market to three countries — Russia, France, and Israel and the second-largest export market to South Korea.

– India was also the third-largest market for South Africa, which was ranked 21 on the list of arms exporters.

What are the observations made by the report on India?

Reduced in arms imports: India is still the largest arms importer, but its arms imports dropped by 11% between 2013 and 2017 and 2018 to 2022.

The decrease can be attributed to several factors, including India’s slow and complex arms procurement process, efforts to diversify its arms suppliers, and attempts to replace imports with major arms that are designed and produced domestically.

Decrease in arms imports from Russia: Russia’s position as India’s main arms supplier is under pressure due to strong competition from other supplier states, increased Indian arms production, and, since 2022, also the impact of the war in Ukraine.

246 vultures spotted in first-ever synchronized survey in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka

Source: The post is based on the article “246 vultures spotted in first-ever synchronized survey in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka” published in The Hindu on 14th March 2023

What is the News?

The Kerala Forest and Wildlife department along with its counterparts in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has conducted the first ever synchronized vulture survey in select regions of the Western Ghats.

Where was the first ever synchronized Vulture Survey carried out?

The survey was carried out in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) and the adjoining landscape consisting of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve(STR) in Tamil Nadu, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) in Kerala, the Bandipur Tiger Reserve(BTR) and the Nagerhole Tiger Reserve (NTR) in Karnataka.

What was the method adopted to count the vultures in the survey?

Based on inputs from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Vulture Specialist Group, the Vantage Point Count Method was chosen as the survey methodology given the terrain’s hilly and undulating nature. 

In this method, the survey area was divided into hundred grids and one vantage point (a hilltop or the centre of an open plain that would provide a clear view) from each grid was selected. 

Ease of accessibility was also considered as a criterion for the vantage point.

What are the key findings of the survey?

As many as 246 vultures were spotted in the first­-ever synchronized survey.

The survey found vultures namely: White­rumped vultures , Long Billed vultures, Red Headed vultures, Egyptian vultures, Himalayan Griffon and Cinereous vultures.

Vultures in India:

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Explained | Why a room-temperature superconductor paper is turning so many heads

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | Why a room-temperature superconductor paper is turning so many heads” published in The Hindu on 14th March 2023

What is the News?

Researchers at the University of Rochester have created a new superconductor material called “Reddmatter”.

What is a room-temperature Superconductor?

Superconductors transmit electrical currents without resistance, which means no energy lost as electricity is sent from point A to point B. 

But today’s superconductors require extremely cold temperatures and high pressures to work, making them impractical anywhere outside special laboratories.

If they could operate at room temperature, superconducting materials would no longer be relegated to the experimental realm and could be incorporated into the world’s energy infrastructure.

But ever since superconductivity was discovered in 1911, science has not been able to crack the code on room-temperature superconductivity.

What have the researchers created now?

Researchers have created a new superconductor material called “Red Matter”. It was formed by combining lutetium (a rare earth metal) with hydrogen and nitrogen.

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What are the questions raised over this discovery?

Researchers have inferred that the material’s electrical resistance had dropped to zero by collecting resistance data and then subtracting the contributions from sources other than the material. 

The validity of this procedure has to be carefully ascertained; some experts have already expressed an inclination to outright reject the technique as being completely unfounded.

States demand that lightning be declared a natural disaster

Source: The post is based on the article “States demand that lightning be declared a natural disaster” published in The Hindu on 13th March 2023

What is the News?

A few States have demanded that “lightning” be declared as a “natural disaster” because deaths caused by it surpass any other disaster in the country.

What is Lightning?

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Around 2,500 people die every year due to lightning.

The frequency of lightning was the highest in northeastern states and in West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar.

But the number of deaths was higher in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Lightning characteristics are different for different regions, the prevalence is more at night and the early hours in hilly states and more during the day in the plains. That is why deaths occur more in the plains.

Steps taken: India was among only five countries in the world that had an early warning system for lightning, the forecast is available from five days to up to three hours in advance of the predicted event.

Why should Lightning be declared as a natural disaster?

The Centre should include lightning as a “natural disaster” to minimize lightning-related deaths. This would help States prepare long-term mitigation through coordinated efforts with local agencies and reconstruction activities to build disaster-resilient infrastructure.

Note: According to present norms, cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, pest attacks, frosts and cold waves are considered as disasters that are covered under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), 75% of which is funded by the Centre. 

Different faces of the Indian women’s movement

Source: The post is based on the article “Different faces of the Indian women’s movement” published in The Hindu on 13th March 2023.

What is the News?

The Indian women’s movement is well-known for its vibrancy, but there has been less attention on the movement’s gradual transformation.

About the evolution of women’s movements in India

Nationalist movement: The political history of the Indian women’s movement is written in photographs of wave after wave of arrests of women satyagrahis during the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement.

– Quote: “When woman, whom we call abala (weak), become sabala (strong), all those who are helpless will become powerful” a clarification by Gandhiji at All India Women’s Conference (1936) was the hallmark of a nationalist movement that relied on women to serve as its face.

Ecofeminist movements: Chipko, one of the earliest ecofeminist movements in the world, circulated photographs of women clinging to trees to protest tree cutting.

Quiet revolution of the 1970s: It probably did as much to enhance attention to women’s specific needs as street protests.

– For example, the Self-Employed Women’s Association began to unionize women in the informal sector leading the advocacy for reforms in legal and social protection for women workers;

– Feminist advocacy highlighting sex-selective abortion and discrimination in inheritance patterns led to legal reforms; and

– Women’s formal and informal collectives have worked hard to reform and implement laws against sexual harassment in the workforce and in public spaces.

73rd Amendment to the Constitution: It was passed, reserving one-third of seats in panchayat and leadership positions in local bodies for women.

Self Help Groups(SHGs): The latest era in women’s activism is distinguished by the harsh politics of protest and quietly organized rights-based movements. 

– The government has invested heavily in the formation and support of Self Help Groups (SHGs). 

– The Economic Survey states that there are about 12 million self-help groups in India today, the majority of which are women. 

– These SHGs are usually supported and advised by community resource persons paid by the state. SHGs primarily function as savings and loan institutions where members deposit small amounts of savings per month and can borrow in case of emergencies. In some cases, they also support entrepreneurship through bank loans.

Agrometeorological Advisory Services (AAS) being rendered for the benefit of farmers in the country under the ‘Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa’(GKMS) scheme

Source: The post is based on the article “Agrometeorological Advisory Services (AAS) being rendered for the benefit of farmers in the country under the ‘Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa’(GKMS) scheme” published in PIB on 14th March 2023

What is the News?

The Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has informed Lok Sabha that the Government of India stands committed to address the challenges of climate change and has taken many steps through various Ministries, Departments, States and Union Territories.

What are the steps taken by the Government to address challenges from Climate Change?

NAPCC: The Government of India is implementing several programmes and schemes through relevant Ministries and States including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

Flood Forecasting on International & Interstate Rivers is formulated and issued by the Central Water Commission (CWC) as short-range forecasting and five day’s advance flood advisory.

Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa(GKMS): India Meteorological Department, Ministry of Earth Sciences in collaboration with Indian Council of Agriculture Research(ICAR) and other institutions is rendering District/Block level Agrometeorological Advisory Services(AAS) for the benefit of farmers in the country under the scheme Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa(GKMS).

Per Drop More Crop scheme: The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing the Per Drop More Crop scheme. It mainly focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation System).

Rainfed Area Development(RAD) Programme under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture(NMSA): It focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability. Under this system, crops/cropping system is integrated with activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, agroforestry, apiculture etc. This will enable farmers in maximizing farm returns for sustaining livelihood, and also to mitigate the impacts of drought, flood or other extreme weather events.

National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

Integrated Coastal Zone Management project(ICZMP): The government of India has implemented ICZMP that has contributed, inter-alia, mapping of hazard line, Eco-sensitive Area, Sediment cell for the entire coastline of India. 

Get additional funds to implement SC order on higher provident fund pension: Panel to Centre

Source: The post is based on the article “Get additional funds to implement SC order on higher provident fund pension: Panel to Centre” published in The Hindu on 14th March 2023

What is the News?

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has pulled up the Union Labour Ministry for underutilisation of the allocations meant for the Ministry’s schemes.

What are the issues raised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour?

Firstly, it has asked the Ministry of Labour to assess and work out the likely financial implication of implementing the Supreme Court judgment on higher provident fund pension and approach the Ministry of Finance for additional funds to enable timely payment of amounts that may become due.

Secondly, there is gross underutilisation of schemes. For example, in the case of Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan, National Database of Unorganised Workers, Labour Welfare Schemes and Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour, the utilization recorded has been 26.66%, 30.02%, 30.63% and 48.30% respectively vis­à-vis the Budget provisioning.

– The panel observed that this gross underutilisation of the funds has impacted the performance of certain schemes thereby defeating the laudable intent of these schemes in benefiting the targeted groups.

– Hence, the panel has urged the Ministry to leverage their spending pattern on such schemes where the utilization percentage is not up to the mark.

IREDA gets ‘Infrastructure Finance Company’ status from RBI

Source: The post is based on the article “IREDA gets ‘Infrastructure Finance Company’ status from RBI” published in PIB on 14th March 2023

What is the News?

The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has granted an ‘Infrastructure Finance Company (IFC)’ status to Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency(IREDA).It was earlier classified as ‘Investment and Credit Company (ICC)’.

What is an Infrastructure Finance Company(IFC)?

IFC is a non-deposit accepting loan company which complies with the following:

– A minimum of 75% of the total assets of an IFC-NBFC should be deployed in infrastructure loans;

– The company should have a minimum net worth of Rs 300 crore,

– The CRAR of the company should be at 15% with Tier I capital at 10% and

– The minimum credit rating of the company should be at ‘A’ or equivalent of CRISIL, FITCH, CARE, ICRA, BRICKWORK or equivalent rating by any other accrediting rating agencies.

What is the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency(IREDA)?

Click Here to read

How will the IFC status help IREDA?

With the IFC status:

-IREDA will be able to take higher exposure in Renewable Energy(RE) financing.

-It will also help the company to access a wider investor base for fund mobilization, resulting in competitive rates for fundraising.

-It will also increase the investors’ confidence, enhance the brand value and generate a positive outlook in the market. 

Wagner Group of mercenaries: Why Joe Biden and US Congress are at odds over designating it a ‘terrorist’ group

Source: The post is based on the article “Wagner Group of mercenaries: Why Joe Biden and US Congress are at odds over designating it a ‘terrorist’ group” published in Indian Express on 14th March 2023

What is the News?

Tensions are escalating between the United States President and the US Congress as they debate over designating the Wagner Group — a shadowy private militia believed to be fighting for Russia against Ukraine in the ongoing battle between the two countries as a Foreign Terrorist Organization(FTO).

What is Foreign Terrorist Organization(FTO) designation by the US?

FTO is a designation for non-US organizations that are deemed to be involved in terrorist activities. 

According to Section 219 of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of State can designate an organization as a foreign terrorist organization if the Secretary finds that 1) the organization is a foreign organization; 2) the organization engages in terrorist activity or terrorism or 3) threatens the security of United States nationals or the national security of the United States.

What happens once an organization is designated as FTO?

Once an organization is labelled as an FTO, it is unlawful for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide material support or resources to it. 

Members and representatives of an FTO are inadmissible to the US and in certain circumstances, removable from the United States. 

Moreover, the funds of an FTO must be frozen and reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury.