9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – November 9th, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• EWS quota provides social justice to the economically marginalised
• The Supreme Court order on PF pensions
• During its G20 presidency, India can be a voice for developing world
• India@75, Looking at 100: The new teacher – beyond a knowledge provider
• No consensus is derailing counter-terror diplomacy
• Content moderation through co-regulation
• What Justice? – on acquitting the prisoners on death sentence

GS Paper 3

• The irrelevance of regional rural banks
• After the dust, a clearer picture of Agnipath’s direction

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• New species of estuarine crab discovered in Cuddalore named after Annamalai University
• Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change speaks at the Launch of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at COP 27,Egypt
• Vikram-S: India’s first private launch vehicle all set for maiden flight
• Small island nations call for windfall tax on Big Oil to pay for Climate Change
• Greenwashing: U.N. chief slams companies engaging in ‘toxic cover-up’
• Nicobar project gets assent for diversion of 130 sq km of forest
• Not mandatory to publish in journals before final PhD thesis: UGC
• Centre constitutes 22nd Law Commission: what role does this body play?
• Mathura-Vrindavan aims to become a carbon neutral tourist destination by 2041
• Rupee-based trade: India pushes Rupee trade beyond Russia
• CSIR-NGRI working on early warning systems in Himalayan States

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

EWS quota provides social justice to the economically marginalised

News: The Supreme Court has now upheld the validity of the 103rd constitutional amendment which provided 10% reservation for economically backward communities.

What are the salient features of the 103rd constitutional amendment?

What are the Supreme Court rulings on the 103rd constitutional amendment?

Why reservation and representation are still relevant and crucial for ensuring social justice in India?

Social justice has been one of the cherished goals of the makers of our Constitution. In his book Why Socialism? Jayaprakash Narayan writes “Socialism is not a code of personal conduct but a system of social reconstruction.” He mentions Poverty, hunger, filth, disease, and ignorance for the overwhelming many while comfort, luxury, position, and power for the select few hampers India’s social justice.

Veteran socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia was continuously vocal against the prevailing socio-economic disparities. His writings and speeches always inspired nuanced public debate on the issues of the socially and economically marginalised. Therefore, reservation and representation are crucial enabling mechanisms for millions of marginalised and dispossessed people in India

Hence, a) B R Ambedkar was instrumental in ensuring mechanisms for preferential treatment for socially marginalised sections in government education and employment, b) The EWS quota is a form of social justice for the economically marginalised.

What are a few recent achievements in ensuring social justice in India?

a) After seven decades of independence, India witnesses the rise of a woman from a tribal community to the highest constitutional office in the country, b) Opening of more than 47 crore bank accounts under Jan Dhan yojana, a war has been unleashed on financial untouchability, c) India ensured a national bulwark to protect every citizen of our country, regardless of caste and community by providing more than 2 billion doses of Covid vaccines.

From Gandhi to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and from the principles of Sarvodaya to Antyodaya, Indian leaders always ensured the enfranchisement of the sarvahara (proletariat).

The Supreme Court order on PF pensions

News: The Supreme Court upheld the amendments to the pension scheme made by the government in 2014. The court recognised the government’s powers to amend the pension scheme prospectively or retrospectively under Section 7 of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

What is EPF Pension scheme, and what was the Supreme Court ruling on the 2014 amendments?

What is the reason for increased litigation after the amendment to EPF Pension scheme?

An option to increase pension is provided for in EPS-1995. For pension, 8.33% of the employer’s contribution to the employee’s PF account must be remitted into the pension fund on actual basic pay, dearness allowance and retaining allowance.

The request for a higher pension should be made in the form of an option exercised by both employee and employer. But due to information asymmetry, most members did not exercise this option and have been contributing to the pension fund only within a salary cap (which was revised from ₹6,500 to ₹15,000 eight years ago), and not on actual pay.

The Government amended EPS-1995 effective in 2014. The amendment provided a time limit of six months for the members, jointly with their employers, to opt for higher pension based on their actual salary.

The time limit was not known to the employees as there was no communication to them.

Even after the court set aside the time limit in R.C. Gupta case in 2016, many applications for higher pension were rejected by the EPFO citing the cut-off date.

In the present case, the court said that all employees can exercise this right within four months.

What will be the impact of the recent SC ruling on EPF Pensions?

a) The serving employees can opt for higher pension now, transferring the stipulated part of the employer’s contribution to the pension fund, b) Members who contributed to the fund beyond that date but retired, would have to remit the stipulated dues into the pension fund of the EPFO, c) Persons retired prior to September 1, 2014 without exercising the joint option in the unamended scheme are excluded from the present four month time, d) The members opting for higher pension would have to contribute an additional 1.16% on salary exceeding ₹15,000 as a temporary measure for six months.

During its G20 presidency, India can be a voice for developing world

News- The article explains the G20 summit that will be presided by India.

What should be the agenda of the G20 summit?

Development challenges– The developmental agenda must receive first attention.

Differences over energy diversification and the emerging challenges in trade and technology will need reconciliation.

Stagflation in the US, China and Europe threatens to affect the global economic outlook. Therefore, policy coherence in macroeconomics and trade is important. Supply chain related issues need urgent attention.

Digitalisation– It is important to develop a consensus on an open source, open application programming interface (API) and an interoperable framework for public digital platforms on which the private sector can freely innovate.

Climate change– There is a need to focus attention on climate finance. A new quantified goal beyond the existing annual $100 billion pledge by Advanced Economies to assist developing nations in climate change adaptation and mitigation from 2020 to 2025 is required.

Clean energy– Clean energy related challenges should be discussed at G20. Green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels on an industrial scale. A viable international framework for development and international trade in GH2, together with green ammonia and green shipping is the key.

The G20 could work toward an expanded and robust civilian nuclear energy cooperation framework, including for small modular reactors.

Global governance– Multilateral institutions are perceived today as unrepresentative and ineffective. G20 should call for a new multilateralism and reassessment of the Global Financial Order to ensure finance for sustainable green transitions.

What is the case for India’s leadership?

India’s stature is rising and has a high economic growth rate.

India’s commitment to advancing South-South cooperation is well acknowledged. During the pandemic, India provided 250 million vaccine doses to 101 countries, apart from other medical assistance.

India has a strong commitment to digital transformation. The country’s exemplary success with the Unified Payments Interface, Direct Benefits Transfer and Aadhar authentication in welfare schemes has growing relevance to the developing world.

The use of the CoWIN platform enhanced vaccine accessibility and equity. India has made a strong pitch for a TRIPS waiver to ensure equitable access to vaccine production.

The country’s clean energy transition and global climate mitigation efforts demonstrate the commitment of its leaders at the highest level.

At the COP26 in Glasgow, Modi proposed Mission LiFE, which places individual behaviour at the centre of the global climate action narrative. Modi’s “Panchamrit” announcements at COP26 established India as a climate leader.

India’s global initiatives in recent years such as SAGAR, blue economy, clean oceans and disaster-resilient infrastructure have the potential to gain traction in the G20.

India@75, Looking at 100: The new teacher – beyond a knowledge provider

News- The article explain the requirement for country to achieve excellence in the field of education

What is needed for our country in the field of education?

For global leadership, we need to tackle casteism, inequality, hatred and discrimination that remain in the contemporary social fabric.

We will have to educate our children and provide them skill development opportunities.

Many children still don’t have access to quality education. We have to ensure that our children, growing up in villages and Tier-2 and 3 cities, do not lag behind and have the same access to opportunities.

We need to develop digital models, consisting of apps, digital tutorial content and virtual teachers to ensure that no child is left behind.

Our children also need vital lessons in wealth management, financial literacy and entrepreneurship to succeed in life.

What are the steps that are being taken to fulfill the needs of the country?

Curricular and co-curricular activities are being promoted along with an emphasis on vocational education and life skills. Experiential learning is facilitated through workshops and infrastructural adaptations. Integrated learning is implemented by incorporating art, music, dance and drama in curriculum transactions.

Atal Tinkering Lab, are providing opportunities to scientists to design mobile and AI applications, drone technology and Arduino-programmed robotics applications using 3D design. Technology-integrated learning is enabled through wi-fi-enabled zones, Hi-Tech Interactive Panels, Digital Library and Microsoft education tools.

Environmental conscientiousness is instilled through initiatives like Mission SDGs, tree plantation drives and paper recycling projects.

No consensus is derailing counter-terror diplomacy

News- The article explain the challenges related to global terrorism.

What are challenges related to terrorism?

Unequal response– Global war on terrorism has ended with US negotiation with Taliban. It was conceived by US after 9/11 terror attack. It was an unequal campaign. when India had asked for help to deal with the IC-814 hijacking; the U.S., the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan denied.

State sponsored terrorism from Pakistan was not given much attention due to USA and China friendship with Pakistan.  UNSC designations of Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed, never mentioned their role in attacks in India. The maximum India received in terms of global cooperation was the grey listing of Pakistan by FATF.

Weak international reaction to the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, and its persecution of women and minorities in the country, demonstrate rising fatigue levels in dealing with terrorism

Weak global response– UNSC is paralysed. It is unable to pass any meaningful resolutions that are not vetoed by Russia or western members. China has been able to block as many as five terror designations requested by India and the U.S.

UNSC Resolutions 1267, 1373 are being rendered outdated and toothless.

There is still no consensus on CCIT proposed by India. Very little progress has been made on the actual issues such as the definition of terrorism, concerns over human rights law conflicts, and the old debate on ‘freedom fighter vs terrorist’.

Emerging technologies– The next challenge comes from emerging technologies and the weaponization of a number of different mechanisms for terrorism purposes. Drones are already being used to deliver funds, drugs, weapons, ammunition and even improvised explosive devices. After the COVID-19 pandemic, worries have grown about the use of bio-warfare.

In a future that is already here, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and robotic soldiers makes it even easier to perpetrate mass attacks while maintaining anonymity.

Terror financing uses bitcoins and cryptocurrency, and terror communications use social media, the dark web and even gaming centres.

Consesus over definition– There is growing global polarisation over the definition and meaning of terrorism. Russia-Ukraine war is not only shifting the focus from terrorism but is also blurring the lines on what constitutes terrorism.

What is the need of the day?

There is need for global consensus on regulating the use of these emergent technologies by all responsible states. Otherwise, it will be hard to distinguish their use from those by designated terror entities, or state-sponsored terrorism.

Globally accepted norms on how to respond to the terror attacks are needed.

What will be the future of terrorism?

The truth is global inequity, food and energy shortages, climate change and pandemics are going to be the next big drivers of strife and violence in the world

Terrorist acts of the future will grow more and more lethal. They will need fewer people to carry out the terror strikes. Their sponsors having more and more anonymity.

Content moderation through co-regulation

News: The article discusses the amendment made in the IT Rules, 2021 and the need for the co-regulatory intermediary law.

What does Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 mandate and what is the recent amendment made?

IT Rules, 2021 mandate platforms to establish a grievance redressal mechanism to resolve user complaints within fixed timelines.

The government recently amended the rules and established Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs). This will act as appeals over the platforms’ grievance redressal decisions.

This shows that the government has tightened the rules for online speech resembling Section 69A of the IT Act.

Section 69A of the IT Act provides the government with the power to issue directions for blocking public access to any information through any computer resource.

However, it will be difficult for the government to control the online speech as users have increased along with the increase in illegal and harmful content. Therefore, there is a need for the intermediary law that works on co-regulation.

What is an intermediary law and what kind of intermediary law is needed?

An intermediary law is where the government orders intermediaries to remove the content that does not comply with the law.

There is need for an intermediary law that empowers online platform for the moderation of the social media content under broad government guidelines. For example, the Digital Services Act (DSA) of the European Union (EU).

Therefore, coming up with co-regulatory intermediary law is important.

What purpose can be served by co-regulatory intermediary law?

First, it will help platforms to retain some amount of autonomy over their terms of service.

• It will give flexibility to the online platform to come up with evolving standards for harmful content. This will promote free online speech without the need of private censorship.

Second, co-regulation aligns government and platform interests.  For example, platforms took measures to tackle disinformation during the pandemic which also helped the government.

Third, co-regulatory mechanisms allows the state to outsource content regulation to platforms which are better at tackling modern content moderation challenges.

What is the way ahead?

First, online platforms must follow due process and be fair to the user while removing content or redressing user grievances.

Second, co-regulation should give autonomy along with making online platforms accountable. Accountability can be increased through algorithmic transparency as platform often use tools to hide sensitive contents from being challenged.

Fourth, GAC should be removed because they concentrate censorship powers in the hands of the government.

What Justice? – on acquitting the prisoners on death sentence

News: Supreme Court has recently acquitted three prisoners awarded death sentence by the trial court and Delhi HC in the 2012 Chawla gangrape murder case. This has raised concerns over the lapses in the criminal justice system.

Why did SC acquit the prisoners?

Lack of cross-examination: SC found that witnesses were not properly cross-examined which made the chances for wrong conclusions.

Lapses in the investigation: A test identification parade of the accused wasn’t conducted despite there were some eyewitnesses to the victim’s kidnapping.

Lack of proper hearing by the court: The trial court and Delhi HC accepted the police version on the accused’s arrest without any supportive evidence.

Violation of procedures:  The manner of discovering evidence, collecting samples and dispatching them for forensic analysis violated procedures. This created space for wrong conclusions.

The trial court and HC awarded death penalties despite such irregularities.

What is the current position of acquittal cases in India?

NLU Delhi’s Project 39A reveals 33 prisoners on death row were acquitted nationwide in 2021.

This is a huge number as such acquittal raises doubt on the procedures followed by courts, wastes time of the accused and creates injustice to the victims.

Therefore, a proper investigation and hearing should be done to bring justice and maintain the trust of citizens in the judiciary and police.

GS Paper 3

The irrelevance of regional rural banks

News: Several of the regional rural banks (RRBs), are now facing an existential crisis due to dwindling business and soaring bad assets.

About the present status of RRBs

The RRBs set up in the mid-1970s to provide financial services to agricultural workers and labourers. Many of them have either collapsed or got merged with their parent banks.

The overall business of rural financial institutions has generally gone up in the last decade. But the performance of RRBs does not go up. For instance, a) The number of RRBs has nearly halved from 82 to 43, b) RRBs non-performing assets have more than doubled from 2.05% to 4.68%, c) The volume of the credit disbursed by the RRBs, on the other hand, has shrunk from 13% to 11%. But the share of commercial banks in agricultural loans increased from 65% in 2010-11 to 76% in 2021-22.

What are the steps taken by the government to improve RRBs?

a) Merged some stand-alone RRBs with larger units to cut their overhead costs and scale up the business volumes, b) Inducted funds to expand their capital base, c) Over Rs 4,000 crore has been provided towards recapitalising the RRBs in last fiscal year.

Why there is a growing irrelevance of the RRBs?

-The RRBs have been left primarily with the government-sponsored business of servicing the official schemes involving direct benefit transfers.

-RRBs have 1) Limited business activity, 2) Swelling operational costs, 3) Lack of internet banking facilities, 4) Some of the RRBs, even today, have not fully digitised their operations, and 5) Many of them do not expand their business operations beyond farm-related activities such as reaching out to micro, small and medium enterprises located in the rural areas and offer them banking services.

So, most people in rural areas, therefore, prefer to deal with commercial banks.

-Further, most of the RRBs are ineligible for being listed on the stock exchanges because they do not meet the required pre-conditions. This is because, the RRBs need to have earned an operational profit of over Rs 15 crore in three out of the previous five financial years, besides a net worth of at least Rs 300 crore and a capital adequacy ratio of above 9 per cent to qualify for listing on the stock exchange.

What will be the better course of action for RRBs?

The best course for most RRBs is to either merge with their sponsoring banks or close down. They have very little space to survive as stand-alone financial enterprises.

After the dust, a clearer picture of Agnipath’s direction

News- The article explains the rationale behind the Agniveer scheme.

What are arguments in support of the Agniveer scheme?

Nothing is ever constant and change will always be the order of the day. Therefore, our policies also need to change and be aligned with the future. The merits or demerits of a particular policy can be debated and feedback is given to make it more robust. But to denounce it outrightly is not appropriate.

The present system of almost one year of training was devised when the standard of education of recruits was low and they had lower technical skills. They required more time to learn.

Nowadays, youth are technologically savvy. Everyone has a smartphone. To continuing with old training methodologies is irrational.

Another aspect that has been much discussed is whether the Agniveers will be able to deliver when the time comes. It is not right to have disbelief in their capabilities.

Prior to the 1971 war, recruits were inducted into units after a curtailed training period. They had to face battle within months. They were able to stand up and deliver. Young soldiers have more risk-taking abilities. Most gallantry award winners have had a younger profile.

Agniveers can have lateral absorption into the Central Armed Police Forces, State police and even in other Ministries. The Home Ministry and certain State governments have announced 10% lateral induction. The aspects such as pension and medical cover would be automatically addressed in case of lateral induction.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

New species of estuarine crab discovered in Cuddalore named after Annamalai University

Source: The post is based on the article “New species of estuarine crab discovered in Cuddalore named after Annamalai University” published in the The Hindu on 9th November 2022. 

What is the News?

The new species discovered in the estuary of Cuddalore district by the faculty of Annamalai University has been named ‘Pseudohelice annamalai’. This is done in recognition of Annamalai University’s 100 years of service in education and research.

About Pseudohelice annamalai

A new species of estuarine crab has been discovered in the mangroves near the Vellar River estuary in the Cuddalore district.

Characteristics: It is distinguished by dark purple to dark grey colouring, with irregular light brown, yellowish brown, or white patches on the posterior carapace with light brown chelipeds.

The new species is small and has a maximum width of up to 20 mm. This species is not aggressive and can move fast like other intertidal crabs.

Distribution: The species inhabits muddy banks of mangroves and burrows. The species discovered is distributed around the Indian subcontinent and the eastern Indian Ocean.

Significance: This is the first-ever record of this genus in India. So far, only two species — Pseudohelice subquadrata and Pseudohelice latreilli — have been confirmed within this genus.

The occurrence of Pseudohelice in India links the distribution gap between the western Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. The new species provides additional evidence of the geographic isolation of the eastern Indian Ocean for some marine organisms.

Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change speaks at the Launch of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at COP 27,Egypt

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change speaks at the Launch of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at COP 27,Egypt” published in PIB on 8th November 2022.

What is the News?

The Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change spoke at the Launch of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate(MAC).

What is the Mangrove Alliance for Climate(MAC)?

Mangrove Alliance for Climate(MAC) was launched at the COP27 Summit in Egypt to scale up and accelerate the conservation and restoration of the mangrove forests.

The alliance is led by the United Arab Emirates(UAE) in partnership with Indonesia.

The alliance will raise awareness about the role of mangroves as a “nature-based solution to climate change”.

What are mangroves?

A mangrove is a shrub or a small tree that grows along the coastlines and has roots in salty sediments, often underwater. 

They also grow in swamps. Mangrove forests can survive extreme weather conditions and require low oxygen levels to survive.

Mangroves are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and are found in 123 countries.

Mangroves are among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics. They account for 3% of carbon sequestered by the world’s tropical forests.

Mangrove forests act as natural barriers against rising tides and storms. Each year, they prevent property damages of over $65 billion.

UNESCO celebrates July 26 as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem to raise awareness about mangrove ecosystems and to promote their conservation.

What is the relationship between India and mangroves?

India contributes to nearly half of the total mangrove cover in South Asia.

According to the Forest Survey report 2021, mangroves cover in the country is 4,992 square km, which is 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area. Since 2019, the cover has risen by only 17 sq km.

West Bengal has the highest percentage of mangrove cover in India, mainly because it has Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. It is followed by Gujarat and Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Vikram-S: India’s first private launch vehicle all set for maiden flight

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s first private launch vehicle all set for maiden flight” published in The Hindu on 9th November 2022.

What is the News?

Hyderabad-based space firm Skyroot Aerospace is going to launch Vikram-S, India’s first privately manufactured rocket. It is being launched as part of Skyroot Aerospace’s first mission “Prarambh”.

What is Vikram-S?

Vikram-S is India’s first privately manufactured rocket being developed by Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based startup in the aerospace business. 

Purpose: It is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle that will carry three client payloads and assist test and verifying most of the technology in the Vikram family of space launch vehicles.

– Note: Sub-orbital flight are those vehicles which are travelling slower than the orbital velocity – meaning it is fast enough to reach outer space but not fast enough to stay in an orbit around the Earth.

Features: Skyroot is designing three Vikram rockets that will use various solid and cryogenic fuels to carry between 290 kg and 560 kg payloads to sun-synchronous polar orbits. 

What are the other initiatives taken by private players in the space sector?

Rocket manufacturing startup, Agnikul Cosmos has tested its semi-cryogenic Agnilet engine for 15 seconds at ISRO’s vertical testing facility at Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), Thiruvananthapuram. 

ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicles(SSLV) are also likely to be manufactured and operated by private players soon.

Small island nations call for windfall tax on Big Oil to pay for Climate Change

Source: The post is based on the article “Small island nations call for windfall tax on Big Oil to pay for Climate Change” published in Livemint on 9th November 2022.

What is the News?

A group of small island nations has joined calls for a windfall tax on oil companies to compensate developing countries for the damage caused by climate change-induced natural disasters.

What is the Windfall Tax?

Click Here to read

Why should there be a Windfall Tax on oil companies?

The oil companies have benefited from extortionate profits at the expense of human civilization. While they are profiting, the planet is burning.

For instance, in the first half of this year six fossil fuel companies alone had made nearly €70 billion in profits – “more than enough money to cover the costs of major climate damages in developing nations”.

On the other hand, Small Island States’ very existence is under threat by rising sea levels and increasingly intense tropical storms.

Hence, a 10% windfall tax on these oil companies will help in compensating the Small island nations suffering some of the worst impacts of climate change.

Greenwashing: U.N. chief slams companies engaging in ‘toxic cover-up’

Source: The post is based on the article “U.N. chief slams companies engaging in ‘toxic cover-up” published in The Hindu on 9th November 2022. 

What is the News?

The UN Secretary-General has said that there will be zero tolerance for Greenwashing or falsification of carbon emissions reports by companies, financial institutions, cities, regions and other non-state actors.

What is Greenwashing?

Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or misleading information about how a company’s products are environmentally sound.

It involves making an unsubstantiated claim to deceive consumers into believing that a company’s products are environmentally friendly or have a greater positive environmental impact than is true.

What are examples of Greenwashing?

Developed countries are often accused of greenwashing their normal business investments in developing countries or their bilateral aid. They often highlight the climate co-benefits of these financial flows, sometimes with very little justification.

The Volkswagen scandal was also a case of greenwashing. In this scandal, the German car company was found to have been cheating in emissions testing of its supposedly green diesel vehicles

What is being done to address greenwashing by non-state actors?

An expert group was formed by the UN Secretary-General in 2021 to suggest remedial actions to address a ‘surplus of confusion and deficit of credibility’ over net-zero targets of non-State entities.

The report has given several recommendations such as: 1) corporations pursuing net zero targets must not be allowed to make fresh investments in fossil fuels, 2) corporations must be asked to present short-term emission reduction goals on the path to achieving net zero and must bring an end to all activities that lead to deforestation, 3) corporations have been advised not to use offset mechanisms at the start of their journey to net-zero status and 4) creation of regulatory structures and standards as soon as possible.

Nicobar project gets assent for diversion of 130 sq km of forest

Source: The post is based on the article “Nicobar project gets assent for diversion of 130 sq km of forest” published in The Hindu on 9th November 2022. 

What is the News?

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC) has granted an in-principle clearance for the diversion of 130 sq km of forest in Great Nicobar Island for the mega project.

What is the mega project being planned at Great Nicobar?

The Mega Project in Great Nicobar Island includes a transhipment port, an airport, a power plant and a greenfield township. 

The project is being implemented by Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation under a vision plan conceived by the NITI Aayog. 

A key condition for the clearance of the project is the submission of a detailed scheme for compensatory afforestation which is to be done on “non-notified forest land” in Haryana. 

What is the ecological impact of this project?

Firstly, the area of the project is nearly 15% of the thickly forested Great Nicobar Island which is spread over 900 sq km. This is one of the largest single such forest diversions in recent times.

– It is nearly a quarter of all the forest land being diverted in the past three years across the country and 65% of the 203 sq km of forest land diverted in the three-year period 2015-18.

Secondly, the ministry’s own estimates suggest that 8.5 lakh trees will have to be cut in Great Nicobar for this project. This is doubly significant because these are primary evergreen tropical forests with high biological diversity and also high endemism.

Thirdly, the project area is home to rare flora and fauna. These include the leatherback sea turtles, Nicobar megapode (a flightless bird endemic to the Nicobar islands), Nicobar Macaque and saltwater crocodiles.

Not mandatory to publish in journals before final PhD thesis: UGC

Source: The post is based on the article “Not mandatory to publish in journals before final PhD thesis: UGC” published in Indian Express on 9th November 2022. 

What is the News?

University Grants Commission(UGC) has issued the final UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022.

What are the key provisions of UGC PhD Regulations,2022?

Firstly, UGC has scrapped the mandatory requirement of getting research papers published in peer-reviewed journals before the final submission of a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) thesis.

– Earlier, it was mandatory for M Phil scholars to publish at least one research paper in a conference or seminar and for PhD scholars to publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal and make two paper presentations in conferences or seminars before the submission of their thesis for adjudication.

Note: This decision was taken after the Indian Express had published a series of investigative reports on how India has emerged as one of the biggest markets for sub-standard research journals with many doctoral candidates getting their papers published for a fee.

Secondly, UGC has dropped its plan to make universities and colleges reserve at least 60% of their annual intake of doctoral candidates for NET or JRF-qualified students.

Thirdly, it has retained the provision of part-time PhDs that is primarily targeted at working professionals aspiring to obtain doctoral degrees. IITs already allow such programmes. 

Fourthly, those joining PhD programmes after a four-year UG programme can do so after a one-year master’s degree, while graduates of conventional three-year UG degrees need to have completed two-year master’s degrees.

Fifthly, to ensure the quality of their output, earlier, research scholars had to appear before a Research Advisory Committee once in six months and present the progress of their work for evaluation and further guidance. They will now have to do so each semester now.

Centre constitutes 22nd Law Commission: what role does this body play?

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre constitutes 22nd Law Commission: what role does this body play?” published in The Hindu on 9th November 2022.

What is the News?

The government of India has constituted the 22nd Law Commission of India with former Karnataka High Court Chief Justice, Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi as its Chairperson.

What is the Law Commission of India?

Click Here to read

About the 22nd Law Commission of India

The 22nd Law Commission of India is headed by Justice Awasthi. It would have a tenure of three years.

Mandate of the commission: a) To identify laws which are no longer needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed 

b) To examine the existing laws in the light of Directive Principles of State Policy and suggest ways of improvement and reform.

c) Suggest legislations as might be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble of the Constitution and

d) Revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to simplify them and remove anomalies, ambiguities and inequities.

Mathura-Vrindavan aims to become a carbon neutral tourist destination by 2041

Source: The post is based on the article “Mathura-Vrindavan aims to become a carbon neutral tourist destination by 2041” published in PIB on 8th November 2022.

What is the News?

The government of Uttar Pradesh has announced that Mathura-Vrindavan is aiming to become a “net zero carbon emission” tourist destination by 2041.

This will be the first such carbon neutral master plan for a tourist destination in India.

What is Net Zero Carbon Emission?

It means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance.

What is the plan for Mathura-Vrindavan to make it a net zero carbon emission?

Tourist vehicles will be banned from the entire Braj region, which includes famous pilgrim centres such as Vrindavan and Krishna Janmabhoomi.

Only electric vehicles used as public transport will be allowed into the area.

All 252 water bodies and 24 forests in the area will also be revived.

The entire region will be divided into four clusters each containing two of the eight key cities. The idea is to form small circuits called ‘Parikrama Paths’ which the pilgrim can undertake either on foot or using electric vehicles.

What is the importance of Mathura region?

Mathura is an active center of Brahmanism, Buddhism and Jainism for several decades in Uttar Pradesh. 

There are some cultural traditions in Mathura like the Sanjhee, which is the colorful art of decorating the ground with flowers. 

Raaslila is another predominant form of Mathura culture. The Bhagwat Purana says that Shri Krishna along with the gopis danced the Raas on the river bank of the Yamuna at Vrindavan.

Rupee-based trade: India pushes Rupee trade beyond Russia

Source: The post is based on the article “India pushes Rupee trade beyond Russia” published in The Hindu on 9th November 2022.

What is the News?

On the lines of an arrangement being worked out with Russia, India is in talks with Sri Lanka, the Maldives and multiple South East Asian, African and Latin American countries to initiate trading in the Indian Rupee.

About overseas Trade in Indian Rupee 

The Reserve Bank of India announced guidelines on overseas trade in Indian Rupee in July 2022.

This is aimed at curtailing India’s dollar dependence on trade and indirectly strengthening the domestic currency.

The first country to open a special Rupee Vostro account is Russia which has increased the supply of discounted crude to India post the Ukraine war.

Note: A Vostro account is an account held by a bank that allows customers to deposit money on behalf of another bank.

How does the rupee-based trade work?

Under the Indian rupee arrangement, banks in India will open Vostro accounts (an account that an Indian bank will hold on behalf of another bank) of correspondent bank/s of the partner country for trading. 

Indian importers can pay for their imports in rupees into these accounts. These earnings (from Indian imports) can then be used to pay Indian exporters in Indian Rupee. 

Unlike regular Vostro accounts, INR (Indian Rupee) balances can be held in these Special Vostro Accounts rather than them being only transit accounts like normal Vostro accounts.

Is rupee-based trade feasible in the long run?

Any rupee trade arrangement between India and a country which has a trade deficit with India, may not be feasible in the long run. 

Russia is an exception in this case since the country is under sanctions and could use the Indian rupee to invest here to fulfil their offset obligations under defence contracts.

CSIR-NGRI working on early warning systems in Himalayan States

Source: The post is based on the article “CSIR-NGRI working on early warning systems in Himalayan States” published in The Hindu on 9th November 2022.

What is the News?

The National Geophysical Research Institute(NGRI) of CSIR has begun field studies to put in place an early-warning system in the Himalayan States against major and sudden floods, rockslides, landslips, glacier lake bursts and avalanches and to prevent Chamoli kind of disasters in future.

What is an Early warning system?

An early warning system is an adaptive measure for climate change, using integrated communication systems to help communities prepare for hazardous climate-related events. 

A successful EWS saves lives and jobs, land and infrastructures and supports long-term sustainability. It will also assist public officials and administrators in their planning, saving money in the long run and protecting economies.

How is CSIR-NGRI working on an early-warning system in the Himalayan States?

CSIR-NGRI has identified a few locations in the higher reaches of Uttarakhand for the installation of more seismometers and river gauges to take the total number to 100 from 60.

The objective is to closely monitor the river flows in specific areas along the catchment to detect any sudden rise in water levels or flooding threshold that can lead to a hazard.

These instruments will help scientists take cognisance of the vibrations or “noise” recorded by the seismometers which need not be due to earthquakes but can also be because of vehicular traffic, animal movement, rain, river flows and so on.

These instruments are also crucial for the safety of large infrastructure projects and hydroelectric power plants in this region.

Note: Currently, scientists are able to detect and assess a sudden flow 30-40 km away since the seismic wave is faster than the flow, and hence, the advance warning comes at least half an hour before.