9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – October 29th, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• The death penalty and humanising criminal justice
• Central Asia: The new battleground for US and China

GS Paper 3

• Why spectrum needs a change in approach
• Desi dil, global lifesaver
• CBIC seeks details on digital assets from India’s top crypto bourses
• At COP27, move the needle on climate action
• The UK or Korea: What is the ideal benchmark for the size of India’s govts?

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Internationalisation of rupee has risks but they are unavoidable: RBI deputy governor
• 100 years of Saka Panja Sahib: Why a railway station in Pakistan holds significance in Sikh history
• Global TB report – 2022: 21.4 lakh TB cases notified in India in 2021, 18% higher than 2020: Health Ministry
• EXERCISE GARUDA – VII AT AIR FORCE STATION JODHPUR
• PM Modi moots one nation, one police uniform
• Coinage with images of gods and goddesses dates back to Kushans
• Use of mother tongue in foundational education, now and earlier
• Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise ‘Simbex’ – 2022
• Emissions Gap Report 2022: Emissions in India, 6 other nations top pre-Covid levels
• What ‘viral spillover risk’ means, and how it could lead to new pandemics

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

The death penalty and humanising criminal justice

News: The three-judge bench that included the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice U.U. Lalit has taken constructive steps to correct issues related to the death penalty law.

The findings of the Death Penalty India Report (2016) and the Deathworthy (Project 39A of the National Law University Delhi) report helped the CJI in providing a structure for death penalty law.

What is the step taken by the three-judge bench of SC?

A three-judge bench that included CJI has focused on restructuring ‘Framing Guidelines Regarding Potential Mitigating Circumstances to be Considered While Imposing Death Sentences’.

It has also referred the matter to the larger Bench of the SC to come up with procedural norms for imposing the death sentence. The direction of a larger bench will ensure uniformity in the death penalty decision.

The reference to larger bench will be a step towards justice reforms in the death penalty sentencing. It is because there are various limitations imposed by law (Section 354(3) in the Code of Criminal Procedure) and judiciary (deciding the ‘rarest of rare’ case).

How the decision of the three-judge bench is a positive step towards reform in the capital punishment?

In the ‘Bachan Singh case’ the SC highlighted Section 235(2) of Code of Criminal Procedure.

Section 235(2) grants a right to pre-sentence hearing after conviction but the decision of trial court and the appellate court conflict with the decision given in the ‘Bachan Singh case’.

This issue of difference in opinion is highlighted by Justice Ravindra Bhat. He has further highlighted the limitation in deciding the ‘rarest of rare’ case and has also asked the sentencing court to balance aggravating and mitigating factors.

SC in its past observation has said that the accused in a death sentence has less choice of defending itself and placing mitigating circumstances after the conviction as aggravating circumstances would always be on record.

However, the decision of the three-judge Bench has overruled the past judgment. It has said it is necessary to have clarity in the matter to ensure a uniform approach with providing real and meaningful opportunity to the accused.

However, the problem lies with transforming real and meaningful opportunity into reality and in its application.

Further, the three-judge bench decision has also highlighted judgment of ‘Manoj and Ors. vs State of M.P’.

SC in ‘Manoj and Ors. vs State of M.P’ said that the trial court must consider the factors such as social environment, educational level, mental state, etc. of the accused when dealing with death penalty.

What is the way ahead?

The decision and initiative taken by three-judge bench will have a positive outcome but the future shape to humanise criminal justice will ultimately depend upon two things.

First, the composition of larger Bench on the death penalty matter and the inclination of the judiciary to bring reforms in the death penalty laws.

Second, the acceptance of meaningful hearing and its broader application even at the earlier guilt determination stage will depend on the society.

Therefore, the two components (culpability/guilt and sanction/punishment) must be taken into account in giving a death penalty.

Central Asia: The new battleground for US and China

News- The article explains the geopolitical game between major powers across Central Asia and its strategic implications.

What is the importance of Central Asia?

The Samarkand declaration describes Central Asia as the core of the SCO. This includes stabilizing Afghanistan.

The US strategy too recognizes that a “secure and stable” Central Asia would contribute directly to the US’s counterterrorism efforts.

What is happening in Afghanistan?

In Afghanistan, the Taliban is battling multiple challenges to security and stability. The killing of Ayman al Zawahiri in a US drone strike in Kabul has created fresh doubts about the Taliban’s intentions as well as capacity to go after terror networks.

A UN Security Council report documented the presence of 8,000 to 10,000 foreign fighters in Afghanistan. The report said such groups included hundreds of fighters of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and Central Asian groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and Islamic Jihad Union.

What is the current situation in Pakistan?

Pakistan’s forces are facing direct attacks in tribal areas in Peshawar and the Swat Valley from Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan and Baloch groups.

Chinese interest in Pakistan has been targeted by bad Taliban and Baloch groups. These groups have upped the ante since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

What is the Chinese strategy in the region?

China does not seem ready to provide a security umbrella to Central Asia or Afghanistan. It is closely coordinating moves with Pakistan across central Asia and beyond. China has ambitions of becoming the pre-eminent Asiatic power in this region. It wants to use it to weaken competition from the US across the Indian Ocean region.

After the departure of US troops from Afghanistan, China started engaging deeply with the Taliban. However, China’s direct influence in Afghanistan remains limited. It wants to limit competition from the US across the Indian Ocean region by strong presence in this region.

It is cooperating with Pakistan in this region. In alliance with Pakistan, it is trying to reverse the influence of other states in the region through proxy violence and border engagements. Aggression at Indian borders within two months of the signing of the US-Taliban agreement in February 2020 is an example.

The joint China-Pakistan moves include consistent hardening of the LAC with India and putting a technical hold on UN designations of Pakistan-backed terror operatives. The recent docking of Chinese-built Pakistani frigate PNS Taimur at the Colombo port and China’s ship Yuan Wang 5 at Hambantota port appears to be aimed at spreading their footprints in the Indian Ocean region.

What are security challenges in the region?

US-China competition in the region has a nuclear dimension because of the presence of three nuclear weapon states. China started helping Pakistan develop its military and nuclear muscle mainly to offset threats arising from strong Indo-Soviet cooperation. It has built Pakistan as an “all-weather” nuclear state.

There is rising levels of proxy violence across Af-Pak. The aggressive propaganda of new age proxies commanded by the Pakistan deep state, like the al Qaeda and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), are serious threats.

GS Paper 3

Why spectrum needs a change in approach

News: The government has recently released the draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022. It will replace the colonial era Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. The draft bill includes spectrum policy.

The spectrum policy in India is not up to the mark and it has failed to provide meaningful connectivity to all citizens.

What draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 say?

The bill aims to improve the accessibility of the spectrum and enhance its benefits. This will ensure better connectivity to all Indians and will help in reducing the digital divides.

The draft bill refers to the spectrum as a public good and an inexhaustible resource. However, spectrum being an inexhaustible resource has some technical limitation and its recent cost in auction has also raised concerns.

What are the concerns associated with spectrum?

The cost of spectrum is one of the major concerns.

Since 2010, the government has consistently used auctions for spectrum allocation and except the 2010 auction all other auctions saw a grim response from the buyer due to the high cost.

According to one estimate, at 7.6 per cent of the aggregate revenue of the network operators, spectrum cost in India is amongst the most expensive in the world.

This impacts the investment in network upgradation and infrastructure of the network operators which finally result in poor quality services.

The recent auction of the spectrum was sold at reserve price due to bring down the cost of the spectrum but this also has issues.

There are chances of unsold spectrum due to the high reserve price which will affect the revenue of the government and in turn it will affect the quality and quantity of the services in certain areas.

Moreover, the licences and spectrum are assigned for specific service areas which are mostly identified by the state boundaries.

But the operators mostly focus on urban markets and the spectrum in remote areas remains unutilised due to a lack of investment in infrastructure by the network operators.

How does draft bill provide the solution to problems of spectrum?

The draft bill includes the provision on the spectrum such as use it, share it, or lose it. However, it needs innovative support to be successful.

The draft bill also provides solution to unsold spectrum by supplementing auctions by administrative allocation, and any other manner as may be prescribed by the government. Thus, ending the process of auction.

What steps can be taken by the government?

First, Government should come up with a different approach towards bridging the digital divide between the rural and urban areas as the cost to revenue ratio is low in the rural areas.

Second, the unutilized spectrum of the licesened operators can be given to local entrepreneurs who are better in understanding the local needs. This will ensure better services along with development of local entrepreneurs.

Third, the government can explore innovative methods of spectrum access such as a non-competitive licensing framework for certain specific cases.

Fourth, the idea of niche operators providing services to telecom operators and manufacturers needs revival and spectrum should be combined with other infrastructure to enable better service delivery.

Fifth, the government should build an ecosystem that enables transparency in moving away from auction along with a reasonable price for operators and strict service obligations.

Sixth, there should be no unsold spectrum and niche operators should be encouraged to get involved in the auction.

Desi dil, global lifesaver

News- The article explains the project of developing artificial heart by IIT Kanpur.

What is the importance of the artificial heart being built by IIT Kanpur?

32% of global deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases.

Artificial heart is a logical solution. Earlier it was meant to be a bridge to heart transplant. But now there is no need for a transplant. Patients with artificial hearts are leading active life.

But it is not affordable. It cost around 1 crore rupee in India.

The artificial heart built by IIT Kanpur is the cheapest and the most advanced. It will be beneficial for the common man.

What is the model strategy by IIT Kanpur to develop this product?

A team of engineers from IIT Kanpur is executing the project.

The mentorship is provided by alumni having knowledge of building machines to support failing hearts.

Initial capital is being provided by the alumni. The future capital will come from government and private funding agencies.

Leading heart specialists from India with domain knowledge are acting as advisors to the project.

What are some facts related to the technological potential of our country?

We have made phenomenal progress in space and defence technology.

Vital healthcare equipment like MRIs, Ultrasounds and lasers are products of defence research.

Today platforms for defence and healthcare on software where we are undisputed leaders.

CBIC seeks details on digital assets from India’s top crypto bourses

News- The article explains the taxation related provisions on cryptocurrencies.

The CBIC wants to bring crypto assets within the ambit of GST. It is working on the definition and classification of the crypto asset class to determine taxability on the value of each transaction.

What is the rationale behind this move by CBIC?

clarity on the value of these crypto products being traded and their mode of transaction would give a fair idea of how it could fit into the GST regime and tax rate applicable to them.

There are various interpretations by different authorities on the taxability and classification of various crypto transactions. These need to be harmonised.

What are some facts related to cryptocurrencies?

There are several types of tokens of all cryptocurrencies. The most common are utility and payment tokens.

These do not have their investment backed or guaranteed by regulation.

What is the government stand on cryptocurrencies?

India is yet to clear its stand on whether to ban or legalise digital tokens. The Reserve Bank of India has time and again said they are a threat to the na­tion’s financial stability.

The government is pitching for global cooperation on regulating such assets.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has developed the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).

What are taxation provisions related to cryptocurrencies?

Currently 18% is levied on the service provided by crypto exchanges and is categorised as financial services.

The Centre has defined cryptocurrencies as virtual digital assets under the direct tax regime.

India’s tax provisions define virtual digital assets as any information, code, number or token generated through cryptographic means or otherwise.

The government in this year’s Budget imposed a 30% tax on income from crypto assets. There will be 1% tax deducted at source on payment of virtual assets of more than Rs 10,000 in a year.

At COP27, move the needle on climate action

News- The article explains the issues related to climate change. It suggests the way forward to the low carbon path.

What are the core issues related to fighting against climate change?

The climate action plans of countries are inadequate for reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

Developed economies are not taking responsibility for their past emissions. They are not willing to extend financial help to developing economies.

There is still heavy burning of fossil fuels by the top five emitters — China, the United States, India, Russia, and Japan as well as Southeast Asian countries taken together.

What is the scenario with India and China?

Both India and China have high reliance on fossil fuels. In China, Coal and gas contribute 70% to energy production.

India has announced net zero for 2070 and China for 2070. This is not sufficient to fight climate change.

There is a need to advance their date for net zero to 2050.

What is the way forward?

There should be extensive use of markets to help shift the global economy to a low-carbon path.

Radical shift in countries adopting carbon pricing is needed. For example, significant carbon tax on the source of pollution.

It should reiterate the need for all countries to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies.

For climate financing, something similar could be done to what was achieved during the

COVID-19 pandemic. Rich countries raised vast amounts of financing during the crisis

Climate projects can be vastly scaled up by multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Massive investment in clean energy is needed. Energy is responsible for three-fourth of GHG emissions in air.

The UK or Korea: What is the ideal benchmark for the size of India’s govts?

News: The last UK PM has given the “low taxes, high growth” framework a bad name. This shows that there is no clear relationship between income-tax rates and economic growth. However, lower taxes might result in smaller welfare budgets (such as a lower health service budget) which will reduce the popularity of the existing government.

What is the average tax rate of global economies?

In general, the advanced economies have higher tax rates than the rising economies of East Asia, where tax rates peak around the 35 per cent level. This is because of their ambitious welfare programmes. Britain’s peak income-tax rate of 45 per cent is not very different from the average for the euro area.

Among the advanced economies (leaving out places like Singapore), only Canada has a markedly lower peak rate (33 per cent). The higher-income countries in East Asia (South Korea and Taiwan) have peak rates closer to the euro average.

What is the government expenditure status of middle-income economies?

Rising economies without comparable social-safety nets have smaller government expenditure in relation to GDP. The successful middle-income economies of East Asia tends to have smaller budgets and lower levels of a deficit than other economies.

Even the super-successful South Korea has government expenditure that is equal to only a quarter of GDP (for instance, France has it over 60 per cent), and a deficit of just 2.8 per cent. Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam reflect broadly the South Korean example.

What is the government expenditure status of India?

India’s government expenditure is about a third of GDP, with much higher deficits (about 10 per cent for the Centre and states combined). South Korea’s debt is less than half its GDP, whereas for India it is over 85 per cent.

India’s government sector is large, relative to GDP when compared to East Asia (excluding Japan and China). Yet, India has poor-quality public services in every direction and under-spending on defence.

What India needs to do?

Some of the most problem-ridden middle-income economies have big governments, big deficits, high levels of debt, and large-scale corruption. Two prominent examples are Brazil and South Africa. So, India has to avoid that path.

The finance ministry or NITI Aayog must look into ways to improve and expand services, save money, provide more roles to private sector, and others.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Internationalisation of rupee has risks but they are unavoidable: RBI deputy governor

Source: The post is based on the article “Internationalisation of rupee has risks but they are unavoidable: RBI deputy governor” published in Indian Express on 28th October 2022.

What is the News?

A deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has emphasized the advantages and risks of the internationalization of the rupee.

What is ​​the Internationalization of the rupee?

​​Internationalization of the rupee is a process that involves increasing the use of the local currency in cross-border transactions. 

It involves promoting the rupee for import and export trade and then other current account transactions followed by its use in capital account transactions.

What are the advantages of the Internationalization of the Rupee?

Firstly, the use of the Rupee in cross-border transactions mitigates currency risk for Indian businesses. Protection from currency volatility not only reduces the cost of doing business, but it also enables better growth of the business, improving the chances for Indian business to grow globally.

Secondly, it reduces the need for holding foreign exchange reserves. While reserves help manage exchange rate volatility and project external stability, they impose a cost on the economy. 

Thirdly, reducing dependence on foreign currency makes India less vulnerable to external shocks. For example, during phases of monetary tightening in the US and the strengthening of dollar, excessive foreign currency liabilities of domestic business results in a de facto domestic tightening. Reduced exposure to currency risk would substantially mitigate the pain of the reversal of capital flows.

Fourthly, as the use of the Rupee becomes significant, the bargaining power of Indian businesses would improve, adding weight to the Indian economy, and enhancing India’s global stature and respect.

What are the risks associated with the Internationalization of the Rupee?

India is a capital-deficient country and needs foreign capital to fund its growth. If a substantial portion of its trade is in Rupee, non-residents would hold Rupee balances in India which would be used to acquire Indian assets. Large holdings of such financial assets could heighten vulnerability to external shocks, managing which would necessitate more effective policy tools.

A reduced role for convertible currencies in external transactions could lead to reduced reserve accretion. At the same time, however, the need for reserves would also reduce to the extent the trade deficit is funded in Rupees.

Non-resident holdings of Rupees could exacerbate the pass-through of external stimulus to domestic financial markets, increasing volatility. For instance, a global risk-off phase could lead non-residents to convert their Rupee holdings and move out of India.

What are the steps taken for the Internationalization of the rupee?

Enabling external commercial borrowings in Rupees (especially Masala Bonds) was one step. 

The July 2022 Scheme of RBI permitting Rupee settlement of external trade created a more comprehensive framework including the flexibility of investing surplus Rupees in Indian bond markets. 

The Asian Clearing Union is also exploring a scheme of using domestic currencies for settlement. An arrangement, bilateral or among trading blocs which offers importers of each country the choice to pay in domestic currency is likely to be favoured by all countries and therefore, is worth exploring.

100 years of Saka Panja Sahib: Why a railway station in Pakistan holds significance in Sikh history

Source: The post is based on the article “100 years of Saka Panja Sahib: Why a railway station in Pakistan holds significance in Sikh history” published in Indian Express on 29th October 2022

What is the News?

The gurdwara management bodies from both sides of the border — Amritsar-based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) — will jointly observe the 100 years of Shaheedi Saka Panja Sahib (martyrdom massacre) at Hasan Abdal city, Punjab province of Pakistan.

What is Saka Panja Sahib?

Saka Panja Sahib is a heroic event that took place on October 30, 1922, at Hasan Abdal railway station close to the sacred shrine of Panja Sahib in Punjab province of Pakistan.

On this day, Sikhs from nearby Panja Sahib wanted to serve langar (community kitchen food) to the Sikh prisoners but were told by the station master at Hasan Abdal station that the train would not stop at the station. 

In protest, the Sikhs squatted on the railway tracks and as the train approached, the Sikhs who were determined to halt the train continued to stay, demanding their right to serve langar to the Sikh prisoners.

The train finally came to a screeching halt, but only after crushing many Sikh protesters — of whom Bhai Karam Singh and Bhai Partap Singh died after sustaining serious injuries. 

Since then, both Sikhs are hailed as martyrs of Saka Panja Sahib who sacrificed their lives fighting for the rights of Sikhs against the British.

About Gurdwara Panja Sahib

Gurdwara Panja Sahib is a famous gurdwara located in Hasan Abdal, Pakistan.

The Gurdwara was built on the site believed to be visited by Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak Dev, along with his companion Bhai Mardana.

Global TB report – 2022: 21.4 lakh TB cases notified in India in 2021, 18% higher than 2020: Health Ministry

Source: The post is based on the article “21.4 lakh TB cases notified in India in 2021, 18% higher than 2020: Health Ministry” published in The Hindu on 29th October 2022

What is the News?

The World Health Organization(WHO) has released the Global TB report – 2022.

What are the key findings of the Global TB report – 2022?

The COVID-19 pandemic has set back years of progress made on nearly every indicator on tuberculosis (TB) front. 

New cases in 2021 — an estimated 10.6 million people — increased by 4.5% from 2020 while the burden of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) increased by three per cent in the same duration. These figures have increased for the first time in many years.

Global spending on essential TB services decreased from $6 billion in 2019 to $5.4 billion in 2021.

The report also noted the crucial role of nutrition and undernutrition as contributory factors to the development of active TB disease.

What does India’s Ministry of Health data say on TB cases in India?

India’s TB incidence for the year 2021 is 210 per 100,000 population – compared to the baseline year of 2015 (incidence was 256 per lakh population in India). There has been an 18% decline which is 7 percentage points better than the global average of 11%.

The TB cases placed India at the 36th position in terms of incidence rates (from the largest to the smallest incidence numbers).

EXERCISE GARUDA – VII AT AIR FORCE STATION JODHPUR

Source: The post is based on the article “EXERCISE GARUDA – VII AT AIR FORCE STATION JODHPUR” published in PIB on 28th October 2022

What is the News?

Indian Air Force(IAF) and French Air and Space Force(FASF) are participating in a bilateral exercise named ‘Garuda VIl’ at Air Force Station Jodhpur. 

About Exercise Garuda

Exercise Garuda is a bilateral exercise between the Indian and French Air Force.

The first edition of the exercise was held in 2003. This is the seventh edition of the bilateral exercise.

Aim: To provide a platform for both countries to enhance operational capability and interoperability, while also sharing best practices.

Other exercises between India and France

Exercise SHAKTI: It is a biennial military exercise conducted between India and France. It was first conducted in the year 2011.

Exercise Varuna: It is a bilateral naval exercise between India and France. ·

Exercise La Pérouse: It is a multilateral maritime exercise led by the French Navy. The Indian Navy participated in this exercise for the first time in 2021.

PM Modi moots one nation, one police uniform

Source: The post is based on the article “PM Modi moots one nation, one police uniform” published in The Hindu on 29th October 2022

What is the News?

The Prime Minister has mooted the idea of “one nation, one police uniform”. He was addressing the State Home Minister’s conference on internal security issues in Faridabad, Haryana.

What is One Nation one Police Uniform?

One Nation one Police Uniform means having a uniformed attire for police officers across India.

This will not only ensure quality products due to the scale at which they’ll be produced but also give a common identity to law enforcement as citizens will recognise police personnel anywhere in the country.

About Police Uniforms in States

The Indian Constitution puts police forces under the jurisdiction of state governments, and each of the 28 states have their own police force. 

Both ‘public order’ and the ‘police’ are placed in List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with the division of powers between the Union and States.

While police personnel in India are often associated with the colour khaki, their uniforms do differ in varying degrees in different regions.

Since state governments and even an individual force can decide the uniform their personnel wear, there are at times inconsistencies in their official attire.

For instance, Kolkata police wear white uniforms, Puducherry Police constables wear bright red caps with their khaki uniforms, Delhi Traffic Police personnel wear white and blue uniforms among others.

Coinage with images of gods and goddesses dates back to Kushans

Source: The post is based on the article “Coinage with images of gods and goddesses dates back to Kushans” published in The Hindu on 29th October 2022

What is the News?

Delhi Chief Minister has appealed to the Union government and the Prime Minister to print images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on new currency notes for the country’s “economic prosperity”.

In this context, let us look at the Evolution of the Coinage System in India:

Indus Valley Civilization: The Indus valley civilization of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa dates back between 2500 BC and 1750 BC. However, there is no consensus on whether the seals excavated from the sites were in fact coins.

Punched marked Coins: The first documented coinage is deemed to start with ‘Punch Marked’ coins issued between the 7th-6th century BC and 1st century AD.

– These coins are called ‘punch-marked’ coins because of their manufacturing technique. Mostly made of silver, these bear symbols, each of which was punched on the coin with a separate punch.

– They are broadly classified into two periods: 1) The first period is attributed to the Janapadas or small local states, 2) The second period is attributed to the Imperial Mauryan period and 3) The motifs found on these coins were mostly drawn from nature like the sun, various animal motifs, trees, hills etc.

Dynastic Coins: The earliest of these coins relate to those of the Indo-Greeks, the Saka-Pahlavas and the Kushans. These coins are generally placed between the 2nd century BC and the 2nd century AD.

– Indo Greeks: Hellenistic traditions characterize the silver coins of the Indo-Greeks, with Greek gods and goddesses figuring prominently, apart from the portraits of the issuers.

– Sakas: The Saka coinage of the Western Kshatrapas are perhaps the earliest dated coins, the dates being given in the Saka era which commences in AD 78.The Saka era represents the official calendar of the Indian Republic.

– Kushans: Kushans, who hailed from the Central Asian region were the first to use the image of Goddess Lakshmi on their coins, along with Ardochsho, the Iranic Goddess of wealth. They also depicted Oesho (Shiva), moon deity Miro and Buddha in their coinage.

Satavahana: Their coins were predominantly of copper and lead, however, silver issues are also known. These coins carried the motifs of fauna like elephants, lions, bulls, horses, etc. often juxtaposed against motifs from nature like hills, trees, etc. The silver coins of the Satavahanas carried portraits and bilingual legends, which were inspired by the Kshatrapa types.

Gupta: Gupta coinage (4th-6th centuries AD) followed the tradition of the Kushans, depicting the king on the obverse and a deity on the reverse; the deities were Indian, and the legends were in Brahmi. 

– The earliest Gupta coins are attributed to Samudragupta, Chandragupta II and Kumaragupta and their coins often commemorate dynastic succession as well as significant socio-political events, like marriage alliances, the horse sacrifice or for that matter artistic and personal accomplishments of royal members.

South India Coinage: The symbols and motifs on South Indian coin issues were confined to dynastic crests such as the boar (Chalukya), bull (Pallava), tiger (Chola), fish (Pandya and Alupas), bow and arrow (Cheras) and lion (Hoysala) etc.

Vijayanagara: Vijayanagara kings used coinage with Hindu idols. Harihara –II (1377-1404) introduced coins that had Brahma-Saraswati, Vishnu-Lakshmi and Shiva-Parvati. 

British India: The British East India Co. at Madras Presidency minted coins labelled as the Three Swamy Pagoda, which depicts Lord Balaji flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side.

Use of mother tongue in foundational education, now and earlier

Source: The post is based on the article “Use of mother tongue in foundational education, now and earlier” published in Indian Express on 29th October 2022

What is the News?

The Minister for Education has released the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for foundational stage (children aged 3 to 8 years) education.

What has the NCF recommended?

NCF has recommended that the mother tongue should be the primary medium of instruction in schools, both public and private, for children up to eight years of age.

NCF observed that English can be one of the second languages taught at that level.

Why mother tongue?

Since children learn concepts most rapidly and deeply in their home language, the primary medium of instruction would optimally be the child’s home language/ mother tongue/ familiar language in the Foundational Stage.

What is the impact of this recommendation?

At the national level, in schools affiliated with the CBSE or ICSE, English is the main medium of instruction in the primary classes itself. That has been the case despite efforts to get the boards to adopt the mother tongue or dominant regional languages at least for the primary grades. 

Most state boards have their regional languages as the main mode of instruction. However, every state government also runs schools in which English is the medium of instruction. In fact, the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments have taken policy decisions to gradually get all schools to impart education only in English. 

What did previous education policies recommend?

First education policy: It was based on the recommendations of a commission headed by D S Kothari. It observed that regional languages were already in use as the medium of education at the primary and secondary stages and steps should be taken to adopt the same at the university stage as well.

National Education Policy(NEP),2020: It marked a departure from the past, as it made a clear case for the mother tongue. It recommended that wherever possible, the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond, will be the mother tongue/ local language.

What did the previous NCFs recommend?

First NCF: It was published in 1975. It said clearly that as far as possible, primary education should be in the mother tongue”, which was the child’s most natural medium of communication.

NCF 2005: It said the language of interaction and communication in Early Childhood Care and Education(ECCE) would normally be the child’s ‘first’ language. However, in light of socio-political realities, English has to be introduced early as a second language either in Class I or at the preschool level.

What is the Constitutional position on this issue?

Under Article 350A of the Constitution, the government must try to ensure that children from linguistic minority groups are educated in their mother tongue.

Article 351 says: It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure its enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other language specified in the Eighth Schedule.

Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise ‘Simbex’ – 2022

Source: The post is based on the article “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise ‘Simbex’ – 2022” published in PIB on 28th October 2022

What is the News?

The Indian Navy is hosting the 29th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX)  at Visakhapatnam.

Note: SIMBEX-2022 is being conducted in two phases – Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam followed by the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal 

About Exercise SIMBEX

SIMBEX is a joint maritime bilateral exercise between Indian and Singapore navies. 

The exercise began in 1994 and was initially known as Exercise Lion King.

Objective: To enhance interoperability amongst the navies and underscore the shared responsibility of the countries to work together to keep sea lines of communications open.

Significance: SIMBEX is the Indian Navy’s longest uninterrupted bilateral maritime exercise with any foreign navy.

Other exercises between India and Singapore

Exercise SITMEX: It is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Royal Thailand Navy(RTN) and Indian Navy(IN). It was conducted for the first time in 2019.

Emissions Gap Report 2022: Emissions in India, 6 other nations top pre-Covid levels

Source: The post is based on the article “Emissions in India, 6 other nations top pre-Covid levels” published in Indian Express on 28th October 2022

What is the News?

The ‘Emissions Gap Report 2022’ has been released.

What is the Emissions Gap Report 2022?

Released by: United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) 

This is the 13th edition of the report.

Title: ‘The Closing Window — Climate Crisis Calls For Rapid Transformation of Societies’

Aim: To provide an overview of the difference between where greenhouse emissions are predicted to be in 2030 and where they should be to avert the worst impacts of climate change. 

What are the key findings of the Emissions Gap Report 2022?

The world is falling short of the goals set forth in the Paris Climate Agreement adopted in 2015.

No credible pathway is currently in place to restrict global warming to under 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The top seven emitters (China, the EU27, India, Indonesia, Brazil, the Russian Federation and the United States of America) plus international transport accounted for 55 percent of global GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in 2020.

These seven countries’ GHG emissions have rebounded in 2021 exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Collectively, G20 members are responsible for 75 percent of global GHG emissions.

The global average per capita GHG emissions was 6.3 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) in 2020.

What are the recommendations given by the Emissions Gap Report 2022?

The world needs to reduce greenhouse gasses by unprecedented levels over the next eight years.

There is a need for alternative technologies in heavy industry, to reverse the rise in the carbon intensity of global steel production.

Urgent transformation is needed to deliver the enormous cuts needed to limit GHG emissions by 2030.

What ‘viral spillover risk’ means, and how it could lead to new pandemics

Source: The post is based on the article “What ‘viral spillover risk’ means, and how it could lead to new pandemics” published in Indian Express on 25th October 2022

What is the News?

According to new research published in a UK journal, there is an increased risk of “viral spillover” in some regions that could cause new pandemics over the next few years.

What is Viral spillover?

Viruses are some of the most abundant entities on earth, but they need to infect a host’s cell in order to replicate. 

According to the research, these virus/host relationships seem relatively stable within superkingdoms, the major groupings of organisms. 

However, below this rank, viruses may infect a new host from a reservoir host (in which it usually resides) by being able to transmit sustainably in a novel host – a process defined as ‘viral spillover’.

Many viruses in recent years such as Influenza A, Ebola, and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) spilled over to humans and caused significant diseases.

How viral spillover could lead to new pandemics?

Researchers collected samples from Lake Hazen in Canada, the world’s largest High Arctic lake by volume and has the largest freshwater ecosystem.

Based on the study, they concluded that climate change is melting glaciers and this could create a possibility of the emergence of new viruses trapped in the ice for years. 

The hosts (humans or animals) can move to previously inhabitable regions and can come in contact with such pathogens which could cause viral spillover.