9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – September 13th, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Great G20 power, great responsibility
• Three to tangle: The Pakistan factor should not undermine India’s close security ties with the U.S.
• India has lost its way in the use of international law
• Trade aversion
• Gyanvapi order: The law cannot resolve vexed religious issues
• A Setback for Moscow

GS Paper 3

• China’s property bust holds lessons for India
• Battling Global Crises Locally
• India Industrial Production Index is not beyond repair
• RBI paper on Climate action has suggestions worthy of adoption.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Supreme Court’s three-question test for validity of 10% EWS quota
• Centre is trying to curb lumpy skin disease: PM
• India raises Sri Lankan Tamil issue in U.N
• Gyanvapi Mosque case: What the Varanasi court said
• DRI detects 72 hidden packets weighing 39.5 kg of suspected narcotic substance Heroin in Operation “Gear Box”
• National Metallurgist Award Scheme
• Germany’s emissions-free trains: Is hydrogen fuel really a better alternative for transport?
• New Global Fund to support pandemic prevention and preparedness
• Allahabad HC quashes UP govt orders notifying 17 OBC sub-castes as SC

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Great G20 power, great responsibility

News: From December, India will assume the Group of 20 (G20) year-long presidency along with India will also hold the G20 Summit in India in 2023. India will have the opportunity to assume centre stage in proposing and setting the global agenda and discourse.

What are the other International events India participated in or going to participate in?

India participated in 1) The ‘Senior Officers Meeting’ of the Quad, 2) India and Japanese counterparts held the second India-Japan ‘2+2’ Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo.

India is also scheduled to attend 1) The meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand in Uzbekistan. This will be the first in-person summit of the SCO since the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) India and China will take up the remaining issues along the LAC when the disengagement at Patrolling Point 15 in Gogra-Hot Springs is completed, 3) India will also preside as President of the United Nations Security Council for December 2022.

Why India’s G20 presidency is significant?

India can assert its political, economic and intellectual leadership while hosting the G20 presidency.

What India should do as a G20 president?

India will have to perform a delicate balancing act: India have to balance the West, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and G7 partner nations setting the agenda along with the emerging nexus between China and Russia. India might have to address issues that help in bridging the emerging divide in the world order.

India needs to promote specific priorities: India can find a common ground for setting its G20 agenda by addressing issues of global concern. India needs to focus on specific priorities related to domestic and regional issues such as economic recovery, trade and investment, unemployment, patent waivers on diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.

India should chart a road map for quick global economic recovery, focusing on the supply chain resilience mechanism and stressing on green and digital transformations in the economy and their impact on societal well-being.

India should forge greater cooperation with many G20 members: India should forge greater cooperation with the European Union, the U.K., and Canada especially on realising free trade agreements.

Ensure better and more balanced representation at the G20: India could invite and engage countries from Africa and South America to ensure better and more balanced representation at the G20.

Areas such as technology transfer, greater access to trade for developing countries, addressing debt distress of countries by offering sustainable aid and loan programmes, tackling food and energy prices/security for vulnerable economies etc. could be relevant.

India will be central in outlining key priority areas and in ensuring that the forum does not remain just a ‘talk shop’ but translates into a ‘walk shop’ in terms of meaningful actions and outcomes. Only this will give credibility to India’s pivotal role in the international community.

Three to tangle: The Pakistan factor should not undermine India’s close security ties with the U.S.

News: Recently, the U.S. decided to refurbish the F-16 fighter fleet of Pakistan. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified a possible Foreign Military Sales worth $450 million for engine, electronic warfare upgrades and spares for Pakistan’s F-16s. The proposed sale does not include any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions. However, this might upset India-US security ties.

Why India is concerned about the US decision to refurbish F-16s?

The F-16 fighter fleet has been the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force since the early 1980s. It was upgraded and replenished periodically. The U.S. administration has maintained that since Pakistan is a major non-NATO ally, the defence partnership with Pakistan is a critical component of its global war on terror.

India continuously raised its concerns about the US decision to upgrade and provide more F-16s to Pakistan with U.S. interlocutors. This is because terrorism against India has been Pakistan’s state policy for decades. India’s apprehensions came true in February 2019. A day after the Balakot air strike conducted by the Indian Air Force, Pakistan deployed its F-16s to target Indian military bases close to the Line of Control.

Note: In 2016, the U.S. Congress stalled the Obama administration’s move to give more F-16 fighters to Pakistan.

About India-US security ties

India and the U.S. have committed to deepening defence and security cooperation.

India and the US have been skilfully managing their differences over Afghanistan, the crisis in Ukraine, and the threat of U.S. sanctions under its Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

What should be done to improve India-US security ties?

To stay in Afghanistan, the U.S. needed Pakistan; now to stay away from Afghanistan it needs Pakistan even more. But the US should recognise India’s concerns are immediate and real.

The U.S. rewarding Pakistan will take out accountability of Pakistan and continue terrorism as a state policy. India and the U.S. need to work together to ensure the spectacular gains made in bilateral ties are preserved and nourished.

India has lost its way in the use of international law

News: India’s Constitution makers saw the value of international law. Article 51 of the Constitution states that the state shall foster respect for international law. But now the Indian policy-makers rarely employ the international law vocabulary.

About India’s participation in international law

Ever since India’s independence, India asserted its sovereignty and championed the principle of self-determination in international law. India played a key role in organising the first Asian-African Conference at Bandung in 1955, proclaiming that colonialism should “speedily be brought to an end”.

India has a) Remained committed to the UN Charter and has always advocated the peaceful settlement of international disputes, b) Engaged with international law norms in multiple fields such as human rights, trade, investment, environment, ocean, space, etc. has expanded vastly, c) Played an active role in shaping international law on terrorism by proposing a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), and d) Initiated the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to influence international environmental law.

Why India’s low participation in International law is a cause of concern?

Western countries justify their conduct of international relations by embedding them in international law to gain legitimacy for their actions. However, India only makes marginal articulation of India’s national interests internationally.

For instance, a) India’s failure to use the international law vocabulary to call out Chinese transgressions of India’s sovereignty, b) India’s statement as part of the right of reply in September 2021 in the United Nations did not once mention ‘international law’, c) Barring a few instances such as suing Pakistan at the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, India has not used international courts to hold Pakistan accountable for its breach of international law,  and d) India’s failed to legally challenge Pakistan’s denial of most favoured nation status to India at the World Trade Organization.

All this resulted in India’s failure to develop and contribute new international law doctrines, interpretations, and principles that suit its national interests.

What are the reasons behind India’s low participation in International law?

This is because 1) India’s foreign service is heavily populated by generalist diplomats, 2) The legal and treaties (L&T) division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is grossly understaffed. The L&T division has a strength of 13 offices as opposed to an approved strength of 23, 3) Fragmentation of decision-making in international law with the involvement of several Ministries such as finance, commerce, law, environment, etc, and 4) The Government has also failed to fund research in international law. This resulted in India’s abysmal capacity in international law, and 5) The MEA funds research centres such as the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). But the ICWA focuses largely on the study of international relations, not international law, 5) Low performance of Indian Society of International Law (ISIL): It was supposed to become a centre of excellence for research in international law. Its flagship journal, the Indian Journal of International Law (IJIL), is nowhere close to the top international law journals in the world despite being over 60 years old.

What should be done to improve India’s participation in International law?

Fulfil the recommendation of the parliamentary committee: In 2021, the committee recommended that the MEA should establish chairs for research in international law in universities.

India’s ambition of punching above its weight in international affairs cannot be accomplished without its investing in international law. So India should invest in them.

Trade aversion

News: India has recently decided to stay away from the trade aspect of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

The government has argued that there are not clear guidelines and commitments in the areas of labour, environment, and public procurement are still emerging.

This decision of India might affect its long-term economic goals.

Although India has joined the three pillars of IPEF (supply chains, tax and anti-corruption, and clean energy) but the decision to stay from the trade pillar will weaken its position.

Why are the issues involved with the decision of India to stay away from the trade part of IPEF?

India’s decision to stay away from the trade pillar of IPEF could has geopolitical and geoeconomic implications.

First, India is not a member of any mega trade agreement yet. IPEF provided an opportunity for India to build trade partnerships with countries in the region along with the US.

Second, it is possible that India will not be benefitted from supply chain pillar of the IPEF as well. Because trade and supply chains are interconnected and interdependent.

Third, it will also send a message that India has joined QUAD with a narrow focus on geopolitical security and it is not open for broader economic partnership in the region.

Fourth, India might also get isolated in trade and other economic aspect of the forum if India is not active in the IPEF forum. Therefore, it will be difficult for India to stand as an alternative to China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Fifth, the trade conditions of these agreements are making India, uncomfortable. However, these conditions might become a part of bilateral trade negotiations with advanced economies.

What should be course of actions for India?

If India has to become part of the global value chain it should be ready to negotiate and accept the terms of those trading groups.

India’s decision to walk out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)and now from the IPEF trade component affects its position in bilateral trade talks as well.

Therefore, India’s trade policy needs to be fundamentally corrected and appropriate reforms should be carried out.

Gyanvapi order: The law cannot resolve vexed religious issues

News: The district judge of Varanasi in Rakhi Sing & others has ordered that the petition by the five Hindu women is maintainable under the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) of 1908.

District judge dismissed the mosque committee’s objections which were on the grounds that it is barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, the Waqf Act 1995 and the UP Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Act, 1983.

What is the current ruling of the district court of Varanasi in Gyanvapi mosque?

The judge has noted that the petitioners are seeking neither the conversion of the Gyanvapi mosque into a temple nor making any claim to ownership.

They are merely seeking a right to worship as a civil right.

The deities are being worshipped constantly till 1993 and after 1993 till now once in a year under the regulation of the State of Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, the bar set by the Places of Worship Act 1991 is not applicable.

The constitutionality of Places of Worship Act, 1991 is currently under review in the Supreme Court.

The court has held that the entry of the property as waqf in the revenue records as per law does not create ownership rights.

The Masjid Anjuman Committee’s objections on the maintainability under Order 7, Rule 11 of the CPC have been rejected.

What is the Places of Worship Act, 1991 and judgments associated to it?

It was passed when the Ram temple movement was at its peak.

The intention behind this law was to maintain the religious character of places of worship as it was on August 15, 1947.  However, the law exempted the ongoing Babri Masjid dispute from its purview.

The five-judge bench of SC has said that this law promotes secularism which is the basic structure of the Constitution.

The bench also stated that non-retrogression is the fundamental principle of our constitutional law. Further, the court said that historical wrongs cannot be corrected by moving to courts.

Justice D Y Chandrachud has held that the Places of Worship Act, 1991 prohibits the conversion of the place but it does not prohibit ascertainment of the places of worship.

He further said that even the destruction of the deity’s property does not change the property’s character. The effect is that a temple remains a temple even after demolition.

What can be possible solutions to the Gayanvapi mosque?

A law cannot be a solution to social and religious problems. Laws are constantly changed or repealed. Thus, excessive reliance on Places of Worship Act is not correct.

First, in a court, there is only one winner but there is always room for both parties in arbitration, mediation, and out-of-court settlements. Therefore, a third mediator could be adopted so that both parties get benefits.

Second, Multi-faith prayer rooms are quite common at Western airports therefore it is possible to create a separate room for these women prayers in the mosque.

A Setback for Moscow

News- The article talks about the important development taking place in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the dimensions of war that India needs to watch closely.

Recently, Russia suffered a serious setback in Ukraine and was pushed back at some fronts by Ukrainian army.

What are the key events that are happening currently in the war?

Ukraine’s army has captured some key towns in the northeast of the country that have been under Russian occupation. The latest reports suggest that Ukraine has regained an estimated area of nearly 3,000 sq km.

Russia has formally acknowledged that it has pulled out of a large part of the Kharkiv region and is regrouping for a better defence of its territorial gain in the Donbas region.

Until now, the consensus was in favor of prolonged stalemate between the two sides. Ukraine’s territorial gains in the last few days have made Ukraine’s victory a real possibility. Russia is surely losing ground.

What are the dimensions that India needs to have a close watch?

First is the nature of the debate in Moscow. Until now, domestic political environment has been favorable for Putin in Russia. But now, with the setbacks, this attitude of Russian population might change.

Second, Putin will have to recast its military strategy. He has to escalate the offensive to a higher level including the threat to use nuclear weapons. These options carry huge risks.

Third, Russian military setbacks could weaken the Russian sphere of influence. Major aim of Putin’s Ukraine war is to expand the Russian zone of influence in Eurasia.

Fourth, Ukraine gain and sustained US pressure could compel European nations to continue their opposition to war. Putin thought that European dependence on Russian natural gas will make it difficult for Europe to sustain its support for Ukraine.

Fifth, it can alter the nature of China’s relations with the US and Russia. It will send strategic ripples across Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific. Putin and Xi Jinping announced an alliance “without limits” and “no forbidden areas”. Beijing has lent political support to Moscow in the war.

What should be India’s strategy?

Until now, India’s focus has been on managing the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine and limiting its geopolitical impact on India’s security.

The intensive regional summit in Samarkand and the annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York – should give Delhi a close look at the changing dynamics in Ukraine and develop an effective response.

GS Paper 3

China’s property bust holds lessons for India

News: Decline of China’s property market has become a serious concern for it. It also holds important lessons for India.

One of the reasons for the decline of property market in China is limiting the leverage to it. The step has been taken by Chinese government to protect the financial system.

What are the current situations of the private property markets in China?

The real estate sector has been one of the major growth drivers for the Chinese economy over the last decade. But the property sector has seen the steepest decline in over 30 years.

Sales in China’s property market is stuck at 80 per cent of the pre-pandemic levels and show no signs of picking up.

Covid pandemic and government strict credit measures also declined private property markets. Property sales in China this year are the lowest level since 2015.

The majority of apartments in China are built on a pre-sell model by developers. But this model has failed due to lack of confidence among buyers. Buyers have lost faith in the developers that they will complete projects or deliver apartments.

These financial problems have forced developers to suspend construction activity and stop new projects.

Still, Chinese economy has grown due to exports and infrastructure spending despite the decline in the real estate sector.

However, the present economic situation of China will not help it to achieve the 5.5 per cent target set for 2022.

What will be the consequences of slowing property markets in China?

The commodity prices will be impacted in China if construction continues declining.

There will be the divergence of monetary policy between China and most of the developed world.

For example, now the US and EU are tightening policy and financial conditions to fight inflation while China is cutting rates to increase property markets and stabilize its economy.

The US Treasury bond yields are now higher than Chinese government bonds and this yield gap will only grow in the future which will weaken the Chinese currency.

A weakening Chinese currency will put pressure on other emerging market (EM) currencies and no country would like to lose competitiveness to China.

What is the current real estate market situation in India and what lesson India can learn from China?

It suggests how much the real estate sector can be a stimulating factor for the economy and how much it can slow down the economy if it is not working well.

For example, after IL&FS crisis Real estate sector in the India was deprived of funding increasing defaulting builders and real estate NPAs.

However, the real estate in India is booming now due to various reforms brought by the government.

Therefore, India should also focus on the real estate sectors with proper reforms and credit access in the future.

Battling Global Crises Locally

News– The article explains the difficulty in collective response at international level, as seen in the case of Covid and climate change. Thus, national level policy responses are required to compensate for it.

What are the challenges associated with collective response at international level and how can it be resolved?

Benefits of global public goods like climate change are enjoyed by other countries also due to its spillover effects in terms of reduced global warming.

But the burden falls exclusively on countries reducing emission levels, they are not even incentivized to reduce emissions. Thus, countries pass on this responsibility to each other.

The only way to solve the problem is through international cooperation. UNFCCC is an example of joint understanding at international level. The result has been significant yet insufficient progress toward reducing the danger of global warming.

What are the current challenges faced by the existing global framework to fight climate change collectively?

According to its latest IPCC assessment, beyond 2020, the world can add only another 500 billion metric tons of carbon to the existing stock. It will cap the increase in temperature at 1. 5°C above its pre-industrial level.

But China, US, EU, UK, India, Russia and Japan alone would end up adding 594 billion metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere before bringing their net emission to zero under their nationally determined commitments.

The US and EU-28 account for more than 45% of the existing carbon stock in the atmosphere. They have less than 15% share in the world population and have the highest living standards in the world.

Therefore, the remaining carbon space of 500 billion metric tons can be allocated to poorer nations.

How was the collective global response against Covid pandemic?

Given its global public goods nature, no single country could eradicate the infection fully on its own because there was threat of its reappearance as long as the virus remained active in other countries. Therefore, it was beneficial for countries that discovered vaccines against coronavirus to share it with other countries. Yet, there was limited response to it.

What are the suggestions for countries?

When it comes to global public goods, countries must take supplementary actions at the national level to compensate for suboptimal actions at the international level.

According to a recent book by public servants.

India must expand its production of solar and wind energy. It will not just meet its NDC obligations but also to satisfy the extra demand for Air conditioning that would arise from emission-induced increases in temperatures. States will have to play a critical role in promoting climate resilient livestock production, climate-smart agriculture and water conservation.

Response to pandemic will have to become an integral part of future disaster risk management strategy of India. It will have to include developing systems to minimize the spillover effects of epidemics from outside of national borders.

India Industrial Production Index is not beyond repair

News- The article explains the discrepancies in IIP data and suggestions to improve it.

Various analyses have shown that IIP has understated growth in industrial output over the last decade and its unreliability.

Which are the studies conducted on IIP related issues?

Rangarajan Commission in 2001 was the first official panel to flag serious discrepancies in IIP data.

Committee on financial sector assessment by the RBI and Union government in the mid 2000s reiterated the concerns.

National Statistical Commission appointed N.S. sastry for conducting audit of IIP data. It found problems with collection and validation of data.

The Parliamentary standing committee asked for another review in 2012.

The Suamitra Chaudhari panel was set up in 2014.

The National Statistical Commission on real sector statistics in 2018 by Sudipto Mandle raised concerns about IIP reliability and understating growth in industrial output.

A 2020 working panel by some economists raised the issue of bizarre growth in some components of IIP.

What are the issues with the current system?

Post-liberalisation, there is broader erosion in state capacity to track private sector growth.

There is a lack of a comprehensive and dynamic firm level database. The existing

One from the economic census to the MCA-21 are not representative of the entire industrial sector.

There is a lack of effective statistical leadership. The Statistical Ministry is not able to coordinate raw IIP data spread across various Ministries.

Lack of capability with statisticians to validate raw data before accepting it as meaning statistics.

How to make improvements in the IIP index?

Monthly release of index should include number of sampling and no-corresponding units for each item.

GST database can be used. An accurate and dynamic business register is needed.

New databases need to be tested and release in a validated database for public feedback before being plugged into the statistical system.

Statistical governance and disclosure norms need to be improved.

RBI paper on Climate action has suggestions worthy of adoption.

News– The article is about the climate risk discussion paper that encourages the financial sector to prioritise green-transition financing and ensure long term system stability by addressing the threats of climate change.

What the consultation paper talk about?

The paper explains physical climate impact risk and transition loss risk in the financial sector.

It provides broad guidance, good practice for regulated entities in the financial sector about governance, strategy, processes and risk management structure to address climate risk.

It emphasises on financing opportunities available for climate transition. To have foreign financing in environmentally sustainable business will require incentivisation of green transition from linear economy model to circular economy model.

What are the suggestions put up in the paper?

Extreme weather events and India rank among 10th worst affected countries in climate risk index calls for quick action.

Quantitative and qualitative issues-Both need to be incorporated in climate risk mitigation strategies. We need to take a balanced approach as regulated entities are saddled with capital commitments, liquidity buffers, cash reserve requirements and CSR requirements.

Qualitative issues-

• Asking for information on climate-impact parameters from corporates during the credit appraisal stage should be mandated.
• strength the capital buffers and incentivise the sectors that contribute less towards climate change through lower risk capital weightage.
• Due to the absence of data on climate change default probabilities,stress testing, forecasts or scenario analysis could be used as short term methodology for loss estimates of lending.

Quantitative issues-

• Sector and region-wise concentration needs progressive rationalisation.
• For reduction in scope 1 emissions i.e., direct emissions by entity and scope 2 emissions i.e., indirect emission like from electricity it buys, investment should be incentivized. It will reduce their carbon footprints by renewable energy and lower carbon footprints across data centres.
• There is a need for an increase in regulated entities financing for newer decarbonisation technology, green hydrogen and renewable energy and reducing the financial entities exposure to polluting industries and promoting lending to cooling technology providers.
• For banks, there is a need to incentivise sustainable financing via risk weight concessions and realignment of PSL guidelines. Climate financing should make up part of 40% PSL targets.
• For regulated entities that meet short of target, there is a need for a mechanism for issuing climate transition certificates on lines of carbon credits.

Ultimately, corporations and regulated entities need to embed sustainability at the core of their business.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Supreme Court’s three-question test for validity of 10% EWS quota

Source: The post is based on the article “Supreme Court’s three-question test for validity of 10% EWS quota” published in The Hindu on 13th September 2022.

What is the News?

The Supreme Court will examine whether The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, which introduced a 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections(EWS) in government jobs and admissions violates the basic structure of the Constitution.

What is the 103rd Constitution Amendment Act?

Click Here to read

What are the recommendations given by the committee to revisit the criteria for determining EWS?

Click Here to read

Why the 103rd Constitution Amendment Act is challenged in court?

The 103rd Constitution Amendment Act has been challenged on the following grounds:

Firstly, it violates the basic structure of the Constitution. The special protections guaranteed to socially disadvantaged groups are part of the basic structure. But the 103rd Amendment departs from this by promising special protections on the sole basis of economic status.

Secondly, it violates the Supreme Court’s 1992 ruling in Indra Sawhney & Ors v Union of India, which upheld the Mandal report and capped reservations at 50 per cent. The court held that economic backwardness cannot be the sole criterion for identifying a backward class.

Thirdly, it has been challenged on behalf of private, unaided educational institutions. They have argued that their fundamental right to practise a trade/ profession is violated when the state compels them to implement its reservation policy and admit students on any criteria other than merit.

What has been the government’s stand on this matter?

The government has brought this amendment under Article 46 of the Constitution, part of Directive Principles of State Policy, the state has a duty to protect the interests of economically weaker sections.

On the argument of violation of the basic structure, the government said that to sustain a challenge against a constitutional amendment, it must be shown that the very identity of the Constitution has been altered.

On the Indra Sawhney principle, the government has relied on the SC’s 2008 ruling in Ashoka Kumar Thakur v Union of India in which the court upheld the 27% quota for OBCs. The court accepted that the definition of OBCs was not made on the sole criterion of caste but a mix of caste and economic factors; thus, there need not be a sole criterion for according reservation.

How is the Supreme Court going ahead on this case?

Attorney General had drafted four issues for the consideration of the Bench. The court decided to take up three of them:

First: Whether the 103rd Constitution Amendment can be said to breach the basic structure of the Constitution by permitting the state to make special provisions, including reservation, based on economic criteria”

Second: Whether it (the amendment) can be said to breach the basic structure by permitting the state to make special provisions in relation to admission to private unaided institutions.

Third: Whether the basic structure is violated by excluding the SEBCs (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes)/ OBCs (Other Backward Classes)/ SCs (Scheduled Castes)/ STs (Scheduled Tribes) from the scope of EWS reservation.

Centre is trying to curb lumpy skin disease: PM

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre is trying to curb lumpy skin disease: PM” published in The Hindu on 13th September 2022.

What is the News?

The PM has addressed the inaugural session of the four-day International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022.

What is the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022?

Organized by: International Dairy Federation(IDF) 

Hosted by: India 

Purpose: To allow participants to share knowledge and ideas on how the global dairy sector can contribute to nourishing the world population through safe and sustainable dairying.

Theme: ‘Dairy for Nutrition and Livelihood’

Note: The last dairy summit was held in India about half a century ago in 1974.

India’s Dairy Sector: India is ranked 1st in milk production contributing 23 % of global milk production. Milk production in the country has grown at a compound annual growth rate of about 6.2 % to reach 209.96 mn tonnes in 2020-21 from 146.31 mn tonnes in 2014-15.

– The top 5 milk-producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

What are the key highlights of PM’s address to the summit?

– India’s dairy sector is characterized by “production by masses” more than “mass production”.

– There are no middlemen in this dairy sector. More than 70 per cent of the money received from the customers goes directly to the farmers,

– Women have a 70% representation in the workforce in India’s dairy sector. More than a third of the members of dairy cooperatives in India are women.

– India is building the largest database of dairy animals and every animal associated with the dairy sector is being tagged with biometric identification named – Pashu Aadhaar.

– The total value of dairy production in the country is about Rs 8.5 lakh crore, which is more than the combined value of paddy and wheat production.

– By 2025, India will vaccinate 100% of the animals against foot and mouth disease and brucellosis. The government is also working with several states to control lumpy skin disease(LSD) reported across several states.

India raises Sri Lankan Tamil issue in U.N

Source: The post is based on the article “India raises Sri Lankan Tamil issue in U.N” published in The Hindu on 13th September 2022.

What is the News?

India has called Sri Lanka out at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for lack of measurable progress on its commitments to a political solution to the ethnic Tamil minority issue.

What is the statement given by India at UNHRC?

India has voiced concern over the lack of measurable progress by Sri Lanka on its commitment to a political solution to the Tamil issue through full implementation of the 13th Amendment of the Constitution.

India made this statement at the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

What is the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution?

It is an outcome of the Indo-Lanka Accord of July 1987 signed by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President J.R. Jayawardene in an attempt to resolve Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict.

The amendment led to the creation of Provincial Councils and assured a power-sharing arrangement to enable all nine provinces in the country, including Sinhala majority areas to self-govern. 

Subjects such as education, health, agriculture, housing, land and police are devolved to the provincial administrations but because of restrictions on financial powers and overriding powers given to the President, the provincial administrations have not made much headway.

Why is this statement of India at UNHRC significant?

India’s statement comes ahead of a resolution on Sri Lanka that will likely face a vote at the UNHRC.

Since 2009, India has voted thrice in favour of the U.N. resolution on Sri Lanka — two were critical — and abstained twice, in 2014 and 2021.

Irrespective of its vote, India has consistently underscored the need for a political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, ensuring justice, peace, equality and dignity for the Tamils of Sri Lanka.

What are the issues faced by Sri Lankan Tamils?

In the post-war years, Sri Lanka’s human rights defenders have frequently flagged concerns over persisting militarisation, especially in the Tamil-majority north and east; repression and the shrinking space for dissent.  

Moreover, in the latest report on Sri Lanka, the U.N. Human Rights Chief said that embedded impunity for past and present human rights abuses, economic crimes and corruption were among the underlying factors that led to the country’s devastating economic crisis.  

Gyanvapi Mosque case: What the Varanasi court said

Source: The post is based on the article “Gyanvapi Mosque case: What the Varanasi court said” published in Indian Express on 13th September 2022.

What is the News?

The Varanasi District Court has dismissed the challenge by Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee against the civil suits that sought the right to worship Maa Shringar Gauri and other deities within the Gyanvapi mosque premises.

What is the case about?

In 2021, five women filed a civil suit seeking enforcement of their right to worship deities within the Gyanvapi mosque complex. 

In April the Civil Judge (Senior Division) allowed a video survey of the mosque where a Shivling was said to have been found in the wazukhana. 

The Anjuman Intezamia moved to the Supreme Court arguing that the proceedings were an attempt to change the religious character of the mosque. They said that the Places of Worship Act, 1991 bars the conversion of the religious character of a place of worship from how it existed on August 15, 1947.

The Supreme Court transferred the case to the District Judge. The SC said it would intervene only after the District Judge had decided on the preliminary aspects of the case.

What was the district court’s ruling?

The District Court held that the plea was maintainable despite the 1991 law. The court agreed with the main contention of the petitioners– that they have not sought a declaration that the property is a temple instead of a mosque. All they demanded was a right to worship deities.

What is the Places of Worship Act, 1991?

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What are the arguments against the Places of Worship Act, 1991?

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DRI detects 72 hidden packets weighing 39.5 kg of suspected narcotic substance Heroin in Operation “Gear Box”

Source: The post is based on the article “DRI detects 72 hidden packets weighing 39.5 kg of suspected narcotic substance Heroin in Operation Gear Box” published in PIB on 12th September 2022.

What is the News?

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence(DRI) has launched operation ‘GearBox’ to stop heroin smuggling seizing 39.5 kg of contraband from Kolkata port.

What is Operation Gear Box?

Conducted by: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence(DRI)

Purpose: To detect the hidden drugs in the gearboxes.

The drug syndicate used to remove the gears from old and used gearboxes and plastic packets containing the narcotic substance were placed in them and gearboxes were refitted to avoid detection.

These packets were then shipped concealing inside this metal scrap with other metal scraps so that it would go unnoticed by the authorities.

India and Drug Abuse

According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC), India is one of the major hubs of illicit drug trade ranging from age-old cannabis to newer prescription drugs like tramadol, and designer drugs like methamphetamine.

India lies in the middle of two major illicit opium production regions in the world, the Golden Crescent in the west and the Golden Triangle in the east which makes it a viable hub of the illicit drug trade.

– Golden Triangle: It includes the regions of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand and is Southeast Asia’s main opium-producing region.

– Golden Crescent: It includes Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan and is a principal global site for opium production and distribution.

National Metallurgist Award Scheme

Source: The post is based on the article “National Metallurgist Award Scheme” published in PIB on 12th September 2022.

What is the News?

The Ministry of Steel has given approval for the National Metallurgist Award 2022.

What is the National Metallurgist Award 2022?

National Metallurgists Day Awards was instituted in 1962 by the then Ministry of Steel & Mines.

Objective: To recognise & honour the outstanding contributions of Metallurgists in the metallurgical field covering operation, research, design, education, waste management and energy conservation. 

The awards are given on an annual basis. The first award was given in the year 1963 and subsequently every year thereafter.

Mode of Nominations: Nominations for the award shall be invited online on the Ministry of Steel’s Portal or the centralized portal being developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA). Nominations will be through companies/ organizations or from the public through self-nomination.

Date of Award: 3rd February every year. (It was on 3rd Feb 1959 when the then President Dr Rajendra Parasad commissioned the first Blast Furnace of the country after independence, at Rourkela).

Germany’s emissions-free trains: Is hydrogen fuel really a better alternative for transport?

Source: The post is based on the article “Germany’s emissions-free trains: Is hydrogen fuel really a better alternative for transport?” published in Down To Earth on 13th September 2022.

What is the News?

Germany has launched the world’s first fleet of fully hydrogen-powered trains.

About the World’s first fleet of fully hydrogen-powered trains:

Launched by: Germany

Developed by: Alstom, a French multinational that also has operations in India (it supplied coaches for Delhi Metro).

Working: The trains are powered by what are called ‘fuel cells’ — a special kind of battery that produces electricity when hydrogen (stored in tanks above the coaches) and oxygen (taken from the air) combine. These are then used to power electric motors at the bottom of the train coach.

Significance: These trains are claimed as ‘emissions-free’ trains that can reach speeds of 140 kilometers per hour and can run about 1,000 km before the tank runs dry.

Are these trains completely emission-free?

The trains themselves are free of emissions but the hydrogen that fuels them may not be as ‘green’ as they are made out to be.

‘Green’ hydrogen makes up only 0.03% of global hydrogen production. It is up to five times more expensive than ‘grey’ hydrogen produced from natural gas or ‘brown’ hydrogen produced from coal. 

Due to the way it is produced, CO2 emitted by grey hydrogen is the same as that emitted by petrol and 1,000 times more than natural gas burnt directly.

Another alternative that many experts are pushing for is ‘blue’ hydrogen, which is grey hydrogen coupled with additional installations for carbon capture and storage incorporated into the production facility. 

This way up to 90% of the CO2 emitted during hydrogen production can be captured for reuse or storage and prevented from escaping into the atmosphere. 

The problem is that this ‘blue’ hydrogen costs 1.5-3 times more than grey or even brown hydrogen. Currently, only about 0.7% of global hydrogen production is blue.

Hence, in total, only 0.73% of the world’s hydrogen is actually clean and not contributing to climate change.

New Global Fund to support pandemic prevention and preparedness

Source: The post is based on the article “New Global Fund to support pandemic prevention and preparedness” published in Hindu Businessline on 13th September 2022.

What is the News?

A new fund named Financial Intermediary Fund(FIF) has been established for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response(PPR).

What is the Financial Intermediary Fund(FIF)?

Purpose: To provide additional, long-term financing to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response(PPR) capabilities in low- and middle-income countries and address critical gaps at the national, regional and global levels.

Trustee and Host: World Bank will serve as a trustee and host the secretariat of the fund with technical support from the World Health Organization(WHO).

Funding: The fund was developed with broad support from members of the G20 and beyond. For instance, over $1.4 billion in financial commitments have already been announced by countries like Australia, Canada, China, the European Commission, the United States, India among others.

Areas: Finances from the fund will go towards strengthening and sustaining PPR capacity in areas such as zoonotic disease surveillance, laboratories, emergency communication, coordination and management, critical health workforce capacities and community engagement

Allahabad HC quashes UP govt orders notifying 17 OBC sub-castes as SC

Source: The post is based on the article “Allahabad HC quashes UP govt orders notifying 17 OBC sub-castes as SC” published in The Hindu on 3rd September 2022.

What is the News?

The Allahabad High Court has quashed Uttar Pradesh government orders through which 17 sub-castes from Other Backward Classes (OBC) were notified as Schedule Castes(SC).

What was the case about?

A petition was filed in the High Court challenging UP Government Orders issued in 2016 whereby members of certain ‘Other Backward Castes’ were sought to be declared as Scheduled Castes. 

The petitioner had argued that only the Parliament of the country has the right to include any caste in the SC list as per the provision under Article 341 of the Constitution.

What did the court ruled?

The court quashed the orders of the Uttar Pradesh Government recognizing 17 Other Backward Classes sub-castes as Schedule Caste.

The court said only the Parliament had the power to add to the Schedule Caste list as per Article 341 of the Constitution.

Note: The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 alone can specify which castes, races or tribes or groups within castes, races or tribes shall be regarded as Scheduled Castes under the Constitution in relation to a particular State or a Union Territory. 

This Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order has to be made by the President of India.

Article 341 says that any change to the list of Scheduled Castes specified in this President’s order can only be made by Parliament by law.