9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – November 23rd, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Politics over pension – on NPS
• The ‘India pole’ in international politics
• A solution to the problem of judicial pendency, posed by the law minister – don’t mechanically arrest a suspec
• Strategy to save: The National Suicide Prevention Strategy must percolate to every district

GS Paper 3

• Smooth flow – On Inland Waterways in India
• Climate change – on COP 27
• Deglobalisation poses a climate threat that demands attention

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• The SC ruling on pensions for women IAF officers
• Putin unveils Russia’s ‘Arctic power’ with launch of nuclear icebreakers
• Project UNNATI: Skill training of MGNREGS workers lags; Centre blames it on the States
• FSSAI proposes regulations for genetically modified food
• Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India 2022: Groundwater report waters down aquifer-level data, say experts
• Tamil Nadu gets its first biodiversity heritage site
• Supreme Court calls out Centre over short tenures of Chief Election Commissioners
• 5 bacteria types claimed 6.8 lakh lives in India in 2019: Report
• India’s unusual abstention in CITES vote on reopening ivory trade
• Recurrent outburst of twin star points towards rare future supernovae
• India jumps 2 spots higher and now ranks 8th as per Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI, 2023)
• Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement with Australia will significantly open up opportunities for Indian businesses: Piyush Goyal
• EAC-PM working paper analyzes problems with Freedom in the World Index, V-DEM indices, and EIU Democracy Index

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Politics over pension – on NPS

News: Punjab along with other states such as Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand have opted to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) from the current National Pension System (NPS).

What is the difference between OPS and NPS?

NPS was adopted by every state except West Bengal for the government employees who joined from 1st April 2004.

NPS and OPS both have tax benefits but the OPS is inflation-linked and there is a hike in pension every six months in the form of dearness allowance (DA).

The government bears the entire cost of the OPS whereas in NPS employees contribution is 10 percent of salary and DA and 14 percent is contributed by the government.

The funds contributed by the government and the employees are deposited in different schemes approved by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

The deposited fund is then invested in the equity and debt market depending on the employee’s choice and subject to guidelines. Therefore, NPS reduces financial burden on the states.

What are the problems with adopting OPS?

OPS acts as a fiscal burden on the states.

For example, Punjab’s projected expenditure on the pension for the current fiscal year is estimated at one-third the state’s own tax revenues. The liabilities would exceed the state’s own tax revenue by 46 per cent if the salaries and interest payments were added to it.

Similar is the case with Gujarat which is in better financial shape than Punjab. The pension and salary costs would amount to 72 per cent of its tax revenues.

Therefore, it is not wise to return to OPS as it acts as burden on the state government and on the taxpayers.

The ‘India pole’ in international politics

News- The article explains the Indian foreign policy.

Why is India reluctant to take sides in international affairs?

The reason is that India views itself as a pole in the international system, and not as a satellite state or a camp follower.

The origins of this thought can be found in the character of the country’s long struggle for independence.

The pre and post-Independence articulations of leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhiji, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak on international politics contained this thought.

The primacy India inherited as the legatee state of the British empire in South Asia gave strength to this thought. India’s ancient civilisational sense and the Non-Aligned Movement experiment, have contributed to India’s desire for a unique foreign policy identity.

What are the priorities of the Indian foreign policy establishment?

India’s non-alignment is often misunderstood as neutrality. However, it is not neutrality, but the ability to take a position on a given issue on a case-by-case basis.

New Delhi does not fall in line with either of the camps. India’s recent or past statements on issues of global importance like Ukraine or Iraq, North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s aerial campaign in Serbia, or UNSC shows its position.

It indicates that it tends to take positions that not just suit its interests but are also informed by its sense of being a unique player on the global stage.

What is the classic view of polarity?

The classical view of polarity is domination of the international system by the great powers. It seeks balances of power by them, and alliance-building based on ideology

What does being a pole mean for India?

India, however, has a different view of itself as a pole. It has not actively sought to dominate the South Asian regional subsystem even when it could. Its balancing behaviour has been subpar.

It has refused to build alliances in the classical sense of the term, or sought camp followers or allegiances. Even its occasional balancing behaviour was contingent on emergencies.

It believes that it has a strategic periphery in South Asia where it has a natural claim to primacy. It discourages interference by other powers in that space. It welcomes the rule of law and regional order.

What should be considered by the international community?

India is a pivotal power in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. It has the ability to help tackle security, climate and other challenges of global consequence.

Western powers must, therefore, treat India as a partner rather than as a cheerleader. They should mainstream India into global institutions such as the UNSC. It should consult India rather than dictate to India which side to take.

A solution to the problem of judicial pendency, posed by the law minister – don’t mechanically arrest a suspec

News: Recently, the Union Law Minister suggested that the large number of bail pleas being filed add to the pendency in the country’s courts. To address that he suggested that these pleas should only be heard by trial courts, and should not be allowed to go to even the high courts.

About the bail pleas and pendency in India

Strategy to save: The National Suicide Prevention Strategy must percolate to every district

News: Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced a National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

What is the National Suicide Prevention Strategy?

What is the status of suicides in India?

In India, more than one lakh lives are lost every year to suicide. In the past three years, the suicide rate has increased from 10.2 to 11.3 per 1,00,000 population.

As per National Crime Records Bureau statistics, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka have the highest percentage share of suicides (2018-2020), ranging between 8% to 11%.

The most common reasons include a) Family problems and illnesses, b) Other causes include marital conflicts, love affairs, bankruptcy, substance abuse and dependence. In approximately 10% of cases, the cause of suicide remains unknown.

What is the significance of India’s Suicide Prevention Strategy?

The strategy calls attention to a) The massive burden of suicides in the country and initiates steps to achieve a reduction in suicide mortality by 10% by 2030, b) Focus on multiple sectoral collaborations to provide a cohesive strategy and achieve the intended reduction in the number of suicides, and c) Create mental health curriculum in educational institutions within the next eight years.

What needs to be done to effectively prevent suicides?

India needs to work on a) Targeted intervention programmes, and stigma reduction strategies, b) Reduce access to pesticides and alcoholism.

States need to participate enthusiastically in the rollout of the Suicide Prevention Strategy to ensure its proper implementation of the strategy in the federal country.

GS Paper 3

Smooth flow – On Inland Waterways in India

News: The government of Uttar Pradesh has recently decided to use inland waterways to move export-bound cargo to international seaports.

It will integrate the Varanasi-Haldia inland waterway with the existing roads and highways network and help in developing a multimodal transport system in the country.

What is the present situation of inland waterways in India?

India has a huge inland waterways network which can be used for the movement of goods and passengers.

The National Waterways Act, 2016 has identified around 111 navigable water courses and declared them “national inland waterways”.

However, only 25 of them have been developed into operable water channels and out of these only 13 are being used.

Inland waterways in India are mostly unutilised for commercial purposes despite the growing need in the economy.

India lags behind the US, China and the European Union, where more than 20 percent of merchandise transportation is done through waterways.

However, India passed the Inland Vessels Act last year which is expected to leverage inland waterways in India.

What are the benefits of inland waterways?

Inland water transportation is a cheaper, convenient and environment friendly mode of transporting cargo goods.

A World Bank study has found that water transportation is about 30 per cent cheaper than railways and 60 percent less expensive than roadways.

Carbon emission is also less compared to other road transports. However, there are also few concerns associated with it.

What are the concerns?

a) Water courses need to be regularly cleaned to clear silt deposits, weeds and other obstructions, b) the loading and unloading points need to be augmented including terminal facilities for ships, and c) adequate water flows would need to be maintained in these streams at all times.

Climate change – on COP 27

News- The article explains the major developments at COP27.

What were the expectations from COP27?

COP27 would respond to the growing urgency for greater emission cuts.

It was expected that every country would be asked to strengthen their respective climate actions every year from now to 2030. As of now, the countries have to upgrade their climate actions every five years.

The fossil fuel use would be phased down.

There was hope related to inclusion of a stronger measures for pursuing the 1.5 degree Celsius target.

There should be more emphasis on adaptation. It was hoped that COP27 would make some progress on identifying the adaptation goals.

Another expectation was funding for adaptation purposes. Developing countries have been demanding that at least half of climate finance should be directed towards adaptation projects.

What are the major decisions at COP27?

There was a decision to set up a loss and damage fund.

There was agreement on wording of the implementation plan.

It was decided to continue the discussions on a work programme set up last year to urgently scale up mitigation action. COP27 decided that two global dialogues would be held each year as part of this work programme.

It quantified for the first time the financial needs for climate action. It said about USD 4 trillion had to be invested in the renewable energy sector every year till 2030 if the 2050 net zero target was to be achieved. Additionally, at least USD 4-6 trillion was required every year for global transformation to a low-carbon economy. About USD 5.9 trillion was needed by the developing countries in the pre-2030 period, just to implement their climate action plans.

The developed countries have said they will ensure the USD 100 billion flow from 2023.

An important initiative on adaptation came from the UN Secretary General. He unveiled plans of the WMO to set up early warning systems in areas that do not have them. About one-third of the world, including about 60% of Africa, is not equipped with early warning and climate information systems.

What were the disappointments at COP27?

On most other parameters, COP27 proved to be an underachiever.

With current efforts to reduce emissions, the world is headed to a temperature rise of about 3 degree Celsius from pre-industrial times by the end of this century.

There was opposition from developing countries, especially gulf countries, to phase down fossil fuels.

The Inclusion of a stronger mention of the goal of pursuing the 1.5 degree Celsius target was not agreed upon.

The issue of adaptation was not given sufficient attention. Some countries, including the United States, did promise some money. But it wasn’t more than a trickle.

the developed countries have not yet delivered on their promise to mobilise USD 100 billion every year. It should have happened in 2020. All that the COP27 final agreement did about this was to express serious concern.

The loss and damage clause raise some concerns. It leaves a lot to the imagination and good sense of rich countries. COP 27 ended without finalising the size of the funding pool, how and from where money will come from and modus for disbursing it.

Implementation plan dodged the real issues.

What is the case of India?

India has sought climate equity on behalf of developing countries.

At COP27 in Glasgow, the final agreement accepted India’s request that the text does not mention phase-out of coal but modify it to phase-down.

At COP27, India’s demand that phase-down should include all fossil fuels such as oil and gas was met with opposition from hydrocarbon rich producers and consumers.

India has been criticised by western media for its principled stand.

Deglobalisation poses a climate threat that demands attention

News- The article explains the impacts of deglobalisation on efforts to fight climate change.

What are the impacts of degobalisation on fighting against climate change?

Mitigation– Climate agreements will be easy to conclude if the world is not fragmented economically. It will be easy to transfer technology in exchange for emission commitment.

Free movement of people will make it easy to monitor climate actions.

Deglobalisation will hinder the production and innovation needed to replace carbon-intensive production processes with climate-friendly ones. Consider battery production for renewable energy for mitigation. Key inputs for the battery are in short supply. It needs free movement of resources to sustain the production of batteries.

Adaptation– It will be harder in a deglobalised world. New crops and technologies for adaptation will require more innovation, investment and financing. If flow of these things is impeded because of closed borders, developing countries will face difficulties in accessing them.

The surest way for developing countries to achieve more growth is export of goods and services. Protectionist measures by developed countries will impede such growth. Hence, lack of funds will limit adaptation in the developing world.

Global diversification will bring more resilience. The supply chain will have multiple suppliers. It will be easy to shift production from a climate-hit supplier to elsewhere.

Migration- If mitigation and adaptation fail, more people will be forced to migrate. Closed borders will make climate refugees more vulnerable.

Deglobalisation will hamper efforts for global agreement on climate refugees.

What is the way forward?

International community should negotiate a Geneva convention style pact. It will create safe spheres of continued global interaction that are protected from sanctions and bans in most circumstances.

We should set stringent conditions for denying countries access to global payment infrastructure and for applying sanctions.

Effective climate actions require continued globalisation.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

The SC ruling on pensions for women IAF officers

Source: The post is based on the article “The SC ruling on pensions for women IAF officers” published in The Hindu on 23rd November.

What is the News?

The Supreme Court asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to consider the grant of pensionary benefits to 32 Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers.

About the recent court judgement

The women officers had joined the service between 1993-1998 and were granted extensions of six and four years successively before being released from service between 2006 to 2009. But they neither get any pensionary benefits nor are considered under permanent commission. So a case has been filed in court.

The court held that a) These women SSC officers had the legitimate expectation of being granted an opportunity to claim permanent commission in terms of the prevailing policy. b) These women SSC officers be considered for grant of pensionary benefits.

About women’s participation in the defence sector

Women serve as medical doctors and dentists in the Indian armed forces. Only women serve as nurses in Military Nursing Service. But, women are being inducted as jawans in the Corps of Military Police since 2019.

National Defence Academy (NDA) has started inducting women cadets from the Autumn 2022 term.

The Navy has also opened 12 branches, cadres and specialisations for women officers. It has already announced that women would be inducted as Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme.

In Air Force, women serve in all arms and services as officers in the IAF akin to their male counterparts.

What were the Supreme Court’s judgements on women officers in the defence sector?

Babita Puniya case, 2020: In this case, the Supreme Court directed that women officers in the Army should be granted permanent commission (PC) as well as command postings in all services other than combat.

Lt. Col. Nitisha vs. Union of India case, 2021: In this case, the Supreme Court held that the Army’s selective evaluation process discriminated against and disproportionately affected women officers seeking a permanent commission.

Putin unveils Russia’s ‘Arctic power’ with launch of nuclear icebreakers

Source: The post is based on the article “Putin unveils Russia’s ‘Arctic power’ with launch of nuclear icebreakers” published in The Hindu on 23rd November.

What is the News?

The Russian President unveiled two nuclear-powered icebreakers that will ensure year-round navigation in the Western Arctic.

About the new nuclear-powered icebreakers

Yakutia: It is having a 173.3-metre with a displacement of up to 33,540 tonnes. It can smash through the ice of up to three metres. It will enter service in 2024.

Rossiya: It is a super-powerful nuclear 209-metre icebreaker. It has a displacement of up to 71,380 tonnes which would be completed by 2027. It will be able to break through ice four metres thick.

Two other icebreakers in the same series, the Arktika and the Sibir, are already in service. Another icebreaker Chukotka, is scheduled for 2026.

These are part of Russia’s large-scale, systematic work to re-equip and replenish the domestic icebreaker fleet, to strengthen Russia’s status as a great Arctic power.

Significance: a) According to Russia such icebreakers were of strategic importance for the country. b) They are needed for the study and development of the Arctic, and c) They will help in ensuring safe, sustainable navigation in the Arctic region.

What is the significance of the Arctic region?

The Arctic is taking on greater strategic significance due to climate change. As a shrinking ice cap opens up new sea lanes. Vast oil and gas resources lie in Russia’s Arctic regions, including a liquefied natural gas plant on the Yamal Peninsula.

Project UNNATI: Skill training of MGNREGS workers lags; Centre blames it on the States

Source: The post is based on the article “Skill training of MGNREGS workers lags; Centre blames it on the States” published in The Hindu on 23rd November.

What is the News?

The Union Rural Development Ministry wants to link the performances of the States under the project UNNATI with its labour budget for the next financial year.

What is Project UNNATI?

Unnati was launched with the intention of upgrading the skill base of MGNREGS workers to help them transition from partial employment to full employment.

Aim: To train one adult member (18-45 age group) of a household who has completed 100 days of work under the MGNREGS.

Funding: Full expenditures towards a stipend, against wage loss compensation, are entirely borne by the Central Government.

Types of skill training: The selected candidates are skilled using three established training programmes — the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal Yojana (DDU-GKY), the Rural Self Training Institute (RSETI) and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

Note: The DDU-GKY is a placement-linked programme, in which 70% of the trained candidates have to be compulsorily employed with a minimum salary of ₹6,000 a month.

Why does the Ministry want to link the performance of Project UNNATI with its labour budget?

The government targeted to train two lakh persons. To achieve that, at least 20% of the households that complete 100 days of work under the MGNREGS should be targeted by the States under the project. The project was slated to end in March 2022 but has been extended by two years.

However, since its inception in 2020, just a little over 25,000 persons have been trained under the project. Similarly, the performance of the project so far has been far below the 20% target.

So, the Ministry wants to link the performance of Project UNNATI with its labour budget. This will make the labour budget of the States to be influenced by their performance under the project.

FSSAI proposes regulations for genetically modified food

Source: The post is based on the article “FSSAI proposes regulations for genetically modified food” published in Business Standard on 22nd November 2022.

What is the News?

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified Foods) Regulations,2022.

About Draft Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified Foods) Regulations,2022

The regulations will apply to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) intended for food use.

It will be applicable to food ingredients produced from GMOs that contain modified DNA as well as to food ingredients produced from GMOs that do not contain modified DNA but includes ingredients/additives/processing aids derived from GMOs.

Note: GMO means any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.

Key Provisions of the Regulations

Approval of food authority: No person shall manufacture, pack, store, sell, market or otherwise distribute or import any food or food ingredient produced from GMOs except with the prior approval of the food authority.

Labelling of GMO Products: All GMO food products must be labelled with the words ‘contains genetically modified organisms’. This is subject to the condition that if the product contains 1% or more of the GM ingredient considered individually.

– This label must appear on the front of a pack of pre-packaged products. This labelling requirement also applies to the adventitious or technically unavoidable presence of GM ingredients.

– The labelling requirement will not be applicable to GM-food products in which the modified DNA is not detectable.

Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India 2022: Groundwater report waters down aquifer-level data, say experts

Source: The post is based on the article “Groundwater report waters down aquifer-level data, say experts” published in Business Standard on 22nd November 2022.

What is the News?

Union Minister of Jal Shakti has released the Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India 2022.

What are the key findings of the report?

Groundwater: The total annual groundwater recharge for the country this year has increased by 1.29 billion cubic meters(bcm), in contrast with the last assessment conducted in 2020. 

– The total annual extractable groundwater resources have also increased by 0.56 bcm.

– However, the annual groundwater extraction for irrigation, domestic and industrial uses has decreased by 5.76 bcm during this period.

Major consumer of Groundwater resources: The agriculture sector is the predominant consumer of groundwater resources.

– About 87% of the total annual groundwater extraction is for irrigation use. Only 30.69 bcm is for domestic and industrial consumption which is about 13% of the total extraction.

Of the total 7,089 assessment units in the country, a) 1,006 units or 14% have been categorized as over-exploited, b) 260 units or 4% as critical, c) 885 units or 12% as semi-critical and d) 4,780 units or 67% as safe.

State-wise Groundwater Extraction: The overall stage of groundwater extraction in the country is 60.08%.

– The stage of groundwater extraction is very high in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu where it is more than 100%.

– In the states of Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and UTs of Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry, the stage of groundwater extraction is between 60-100%.

– In the rest of the states, the stage of groundwater extraction is below 60 %.

Impact of rock formations: The type of rock formations and their storage and transmission characteristics have a significant influence on groundwater recharge. 

– Porous formations such as the alluvial formations in the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra basin generally have high specific yields and are good repositories of groundwater. 

– Groundwater occurrence in the fissured formations occupying nearly two-thirds of the geographical area of the country, on the other hand, it is mostly limited to the weathered, jointed and fractured portions of the rocks.

What are the issues with this Groundwater Report?

According to experts, the groundwater data showing an increase in recharge and a decrease in extraction may not be offering an accurate representation. This is because the assessment units are too large in size and too few in number to present a micro-level picture.

Tamil Nadu gets its first biodiversity heritage site

Source: The post is based on the article “Tamil Nadu gets its first biodiversity heritage site” published in The Hindu on 23rd November 2022.

What is the News?

The Tamil Nadu government has declared the first biodiversity heritage site in the State named Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site.

About Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site:

Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site comprises Arittapatti village and Meenakshipuram village in Tamil Nadu.

Ecological significance: The site houses around 250 species of birds, including three important raptors — the Laggar Falcon, the Shaheen Falcon and Bonelli’s Eagle. 

– It is also home to wildlife such as the Indian pangolin, slender loris and pythons. 

Historical Significance: The area is surrounded by a chain of seven hillocks or inselbergs that serve as a watershed charging 72 lakes, 200 natural springs and three check-dams.

– The Anaikondan tank built during the reign of the Pandiyan kings in the 16th century, is one of them. 

– The site also features various megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi Inscriptions, Jain Beds and 2200-year-old rock-cut temples adding to its historical value.

What is a Biodiversity Heritage Site?

Click Here to read

Supreme Court calls out Centre over short tenures of Chief Election Commissioners

Source: The post is based on the article “Supreme Court calls out Centre over short tenures of Chief Election Commissioners” published in The Hindu on 23rd November 2022.

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has raised questions on the present system of the Central government appointing serving bureaucrats of its choice as Chief Election Commissioners (CECs) and Election Commissioners(ECs).

What is the case about?

The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court is hearing a series of petitions seeking functional independence for Election Commissioners.

Challenging the constitutionality of the present appointment process, the petitioner contended that appointments were being done as per the whims and fancies of the executive.

The petitioners pleaded for the creation of an independent collegium or selection committee for the future appointment of CEC and ECs.

What were the observations made by the Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court said the Central government pays mere “lip-service” to the independence of the Election Commissioners.

This is evident from the way the tenures of Chief Election Commissioners (CECs) have “slid” down from over eight years in the 1950s to just about a few hundred days after 2004.

Moreover, successive governments particularly after 2004, have picked people whom they knew would never ever get close to the full term of six years prescribed under the Election Commission Act, 1991.

Note: Section 4 of the 1991 Act says the term of a CEC and Election Commissioners is six years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Further, the protections under Article 324, like removal through impeachment, available under the Constitution to the CECs would only be of any use if he or she had a full term.

What is the suggestion given by the Supreme Court in the appointment of CEC and Election Commissioners?

The Supreme Court observed that involving the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the selection process of CEC/ECs would go a long way to ensure transparency.

The presence of the CJI would send a message that the government cannot play games in the selection and the best person of character would be picked.

5 bacteria types claimed 6.8 lakh lives in India in 2019: Report

Source: The post is based on the article “5 bacteria types claimed 6.8 lakh lives in India in 2019: Report” published in TOI on 22nd November 2022.

What is the News?

According to a Lancet report, Bacterial Infections were the second leading cause of death worldwide.

What are the key findings of the report by Lancet?

India: In India, five bacteria were responsible for at least 6.8 lakh deaths in 2019.

– The five deadly bacteria in India are led by Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumanii. 

– E Coli, which is associated with diarrhoea, urinary tract infection and pneumonia among others, claimed a maximum of 1.6 lakh lives in India.

Globally: An estimated 1.3 crore people died due to infections globally. Of these deaths, 77 lakh deaths were associated with the 33 bacterial pathogens included in the study with five bacteria alone connected to more than half of all deaths.

Age-wise: The pathogens associated with the most deaths differed by age. S. aureus was associated with the most deaths in adults aged over 15 years globally.

– The most deaths in children aged 5 to 14 years were associated with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.

India’s unusual abstention in CITES vote on reopening ivory trade

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s unusual abstention in CITES vote on reopening ivory trade” published in Indian Express on 23rd November 2022.

What is the News?

For the first time, India has abstained and not voted against a proposal seeking to re-open the Ivory Trade at the ongoing conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

CITES and Ivory Trade

At the start of the 20th century, millions of elephants roamed Africa. But a combination of trophy hunting, ivory trade and loss of habitat resulted in a catastrophic decline over the next few decades – falling to just 1.3 million in 1979 from 10 million in 1913.

In 1989, CITES banned international commercial ivory trade obtained from both African and Asian elephants. It did so by placing them in Appendix I of the convention, which bans trade in species threatened with extinction. 

But poaching did not stop – just over 286,000 elephants were counted in Africa in 1995. However, populations have stabilized since then.

In 1997, CITES moved African elephant populations in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe to Appendix II – which allows commercial international trade subject to certain restrictions.

Subsequently, in 1999 and 2008, CITES permitted these countries to conduct one-off sales of ivory stock. But these countries have been arguing that regular, controlled commercial ivory trade should be allowed.

However, Namibia’s proposal for allowing a regular form of controlled trade in ivory by delisting the elephant populations of the four countries from Appendix II was rejected in CoP17 (2016) and CoP18 (2019). 

At the ongoing CoP19, the proposal was moved by Zimbabwe but met the same fate.

What has been India’s stand on Ivory Trade?

The endangered Asian elephant was included in CITES Appendix I in 1975 which banned the export of ivory from the Asian range countries. 

In 1986, India amended The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to ban even domestic sales of ivory. After the ivory trade was globally banned, India again amended the law to ban the import of African ivory in 1991.

In 1981 when New Delhi hosted CoP3, India designed the iconic CITES logo in the form of an elephant. Over the years, India’s stand has been unequivocal on the ivory issue.

What has changed now?

For the first time, India has abstained from voting on a proposal to allow the commercial sale of ivory from African elephants.

The development comes after Namibia had claimed that it sought India’s help to reverse the ban on the global ivory trade as part of its deal to transfer African cheetahs.

Recurrent outburst of twin star points towards rare future supernovae

Source: The post is based on the article “Recurrent outburst of twin star points towards rare future supernovae” published in PIB on 22nd November 2022.

What is the News?

Astronomers tracking the constellation Ophiuchus have spotted a recurrent nova system approximately 5,000 light-years away.  

Note: Nova is a transient astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently “new” star that slowly fades over weeks or months.

What is RS Ophiuchi?

RS Ophiuchi is a recurrent nova system approximately 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Ophiuchus. 

It has shown recurrent eruptions since 1985. The latest was in August 2021, when it reached a peak visual magnitude of 4.6 – bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. 

It is a binary system of a white dwarf star and a red giant in which the latter supplies the white dwarf with fresh, hydrogen-rich fuel for nova eruption. 

With enough fuel, the material on the surface of the white dwarf achieves a critically high temperature and pressure, and a thermonuclear runaway (TNR) ensues, which lasts for about 1000 seconds. This explosion generates huge energy making the system visible from a far distance. 

What has been detected by Astronomers?

Astronomers have been studying the data from the outburst of the star called RS Ophiuchi detected in 2021.

They found that with every eruption, the white dwarf accretes at least 10% of the ejected mass. They believe that eventually, it will explode as a Type 1a supernova. 

This event, if and when it occurs, will be the final proof of the conjecture around Type 1a supernova which states that if a white dwarf crosses the Chandrasekhar Limit of 1.4 Solar Mass, it collapses under its own gravitational pressure and gives birth to a Type 1a supernova.

Note: A Type 1a supernova is a rare type of supernova that occurs in binary systems (two stars orbiting one another) in which one of the stars is a white dwarf.

India jumps 2 spots higher and now ranks 8th as per Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI, 2023)

Source: The post is based on the article “India jumps 2 spots higher and now ranks 8th as per Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI, 2023)” published in PIB on 22nd November 2022.

What is the News?

The Climate Change Performance Index 2023 has been released.

What is the Climate Change Performance Index?

Released by: German Watch, New Climate Institute and Climate Action Network International based in Germany. 

Published since: 2005

Aim: To enhance transparency in international climate politics and enable comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries.

Parameters: CCPI assesses each country’s performance in four categories: GHG Emissions (40% of the overall ranking), Renewable Energy (20%), Energy Use (20%) and Climate Policy (20%).

What are the key findings of the index related to India?

Ranking: ​​India has been ranked 8th amongst a group of 59 countries and the European Union. It has risen two spots since last year.

Denmark, Sweden, Chile and Morocco were the only four small countries that were ranked above India as 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respectively. The first, second and third ranks were not awarded to any country. 

In effect, therefore, India’s rank is the best among all large economies.

Observations: India earned a high rating in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, while a medium for Climate Policy and Renewable Energy. 

The aggressive policies of India towards rapid deployment of renewables and robust framework for energy efficiency programs have shown considerable impact. 

As per the Index, India is on track to meet its 2030 emissions targets (compatible with a well-below- 2°C scenario).

Significance: The ranking given by CCPI places India as the only G-20 country in the top 10 ranks.

India will now be assuming G-20 Presidency, and it will be an opportune time to show the world about its climate mitigation policies. Such as the deployment of renewable sources of energy and other energy transition programmes.

Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement with Australia will significantly open up opportunities for Indian businesses: Piyush Goyal

Source: The post is based on the article “Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement with Australia will significantly open up opportunities for Indian businesses: Piyush Goyal” published in The Hindu on 22nd November 2022.

What is the News?

The Australian Parliament has ratified the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) with India paving the way for implementing the deal as early as January 1, 2023.

What is the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement(ECTA) signed between India and Australia?

The India-Australia ECTA is the first trade agreement of India with a developed country in more than a decade after the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed with Japan in 2011.

The Agreement encompasses cooperation across the entire gamut of bilateral economic and commercial relations between the two friendly countries and covers areas like Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Trade in Services among others.

Key Provisions of the agreement

Custom Duty: Under the deal, Australia has agreed to eliminate Customs duty immediately on 98.3 percent of the traded goods and on 100 percent tariff lines over a period of five years. 

– On the other hand, India will do away with Customs duties on 40 percent of products immediately and on 70.3 percent of tariff lines over a period of 10 years. 

– Major labour-intensive sectors in India that will benefit from the elimination of 5 per cent Customs duty at present include textiles and apparel, agricultural products, leather, furniture, jewellery and pharmaceuticals.

Visas: India can every year send 1,800 Yoga teachers and Indian chefs to Australia and 1,000 work-cum-holiday visas will be available for young professionals. Post-study work visas for up to four years will benefit over 100,000 Indian students.

Wine: On Australian wine, India has agreed to reduce tariff over a period of 10 years, However, on wine bottles priced below $5, the existing Customs duty of 150% will not be reduced.

Agriculture and dairy sectors: India has managed to completely shield its dairy sector from any tariff reduction under the FTA while excluding the most sensitive agriculture items.

Recognition of professional qualifications: Both countries have decided to facilitate the recognition of professional qualifications, licensing, and registration procedures between professional services bodies.

What is the significance of this agreement?

Firstly, the total bilateral trade will cross US$ 45-50 bn in 5 years from the existing US$ 31 bn. India’s Merchandise Exports are likely to increase by 10 billion by 2026-27. 

Secondly, since the labour-intensive sectors will be benefitted, it is expected to create additional employment of at least 10 lakhs jobs in India, create ample opportunities for investment, and promotion of start-ups. 

Thirdly, it would provide enhanced job opportunities for Indians in Australia and increase remittance flows to India. 

EAC-PM working paper analyzes problems with Freedom in the World Index, V-DEM indices, and EIU Democracy Index

Source: The post is based on the article “EAC-PM working paper analyzes problems with Freedom in the World Index, V-DEM indices, and EIU Democracy Index” published in PIB on 22nd November 2022.

What is the News?

The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister(EAC-PM) has released a working paper titled ‘Why India does poorly on global perception indices’.

What is the purpose of this working paper?

The working paper analyses three perception-based indices: Freedom in the World Index, V-DEM indices and EIU Democracy Index.

What are the problems EAC-PM has found with these Indices?

Freedom in the World Index: It has been published since 1973 by Freedom House. The index has placed India in the “partially free” category.

Since the publication of the index, the only two previous instances where India was considered as Partially Free was during a time of emergency and then during 1991-96 which were years of economic liberalization. 

Clearly, this seems very arbitrary as what did the period of emergency which was a period of obvious curtailment of various activities similar to the period of economic liberalization or of the current times. 

Moreover, India has been placed below countries like Northern Cyprus. Surely, this is not credible.

The index also continues to treat Jammu and Kashmir as separate territory since the early 1990s and now places it in the category of “not free”. 

Democracy Index: The index is published by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). India is placed in the category of “Flawed Democracy” and its rank deteriorated sharply from 27 in 2014 to 53 in 2020 and then improved a bit to 46 in 2021.

The comparison of India’s scores with other countries in this index has some surprising results.

India’s score for Civil Liberties is behind Hong Kong (8.53). Similarly, India’s score for Political Culture is much lower than that of Hong Kong (7.5) and Sri Lanka (6.25). Clearly, this seems very arbitrary.

Varieties of Democracy(V-DEM) Report: It is produced by the Varieties of Democracy Institute at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. 

It comes up with six indices covering various aspects of democracy such as Liberal Democracy, Electoral Democracy, Liberal Component, and Egalitarian Component among others.

India has been termed as an “electoral autocracy” in the 2021 report, the same as it was during the period of Emergency. 

The cross-country comparison of this index also throws up some interesting results. India’s rank on Liberal Democracy Index is 93. In contrast, the Kingdom of Lesotho which started having a democratically elected government only in the mid-1990s and has since faced various disruptions including a military coup and emergencies has a rank of 60 and Kosovo which declared independence from Serbia only in 2008 has a rank of 79.

What are the problems with the methodology of these indices?

First, these indices are primarily based on the opinions of a tiny group of unknown “experts”

Second, the questions that are used are subjective and are worded in a way that is impossible to answer objectively even for a country, let alone compare across countries. 

Third, there are questions that should be asked but are excluded.

Fourth, certain questions used by these indices are not an appropriate measure of democracy across all countries.