Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• No filter- Prior approval requirement for initiating corruption probes is not desirable
• How fraternity in India is different from the idea enshrined in the Constitution
• African Union and the G20: Africa on the high table
• G20 meet’s climate action promise: Significant, but not enough
• The new India-US dynamic

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

No filter- Prior approval requirement for initiating corruption probes is not desirable

News: The Supreme Court stated that its 2014 decision, which nullified a law mandating government approval for probing high-ranking officials for corruption, applies retroactively to 2003. This impacts cases from 2003 to 2014, despite a 2018 amendment reintroducing a similar approval requirement.

What does current law say about investigations for corruption?

Original Issue: Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act previously required the Central government’s approval to start an investigation into corruption charges against high-ranked officials. This section was invalidated by the Supreme Court in 2014.

Current Provision: In 2018, the Prevention of Corruption Act was amended, introducing Section 17A.

Mandatory Approval: Section 17A requires the government’s prior approval before starting a probe into decisions or recommendations made by a public servant.

Additional Safeguard: A sanction is still needed to prosecute any public servant when the trial court reviews the charge sheet.

Implications: While these approval requirements can prevent baseless investigations, they might also impede genuine anti-corruption efforts, potentially shielding corrupt officials.

What are the views of the Supreme Court on this matter?

Equality Concern: The Court held that Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act violated the norm of equality by protecting only a specific class of public servants.

Retrospective Effect: The recent judgment clarified that the 2014 ruling applies retroactively from 2003, impacting cases between these years.

Constitutional Consistency: Post-Constitution laws must align with the Constitution. If found inconsistent, their invalidation is effective from their inception.

Approval Requirements: The Court observed that approval requirements can block anti-corruption goals, potentially hindering the truth and warning corrupt officials.

Why are approval requirements controversial?

Objective of Anti-Corruption Laws: Such provisions can be destructive of the goal of anti-corruption laws.

Truth Impediment: The approval requirements can block the truth from surfacing in cases of corruption allegations.

Warning to Corrupt Officials: These provisions might act as a forewarning to officials once allegations arise against them.

Balance of Interests: While it’s crucial to have measures that filter out unnecessary inquiries into public servants making genuine decisions, it’s equally vital that these provisions don’t protect dishonest officials.

How fraternity in India is different from the idea enshrined in the Constitution

News: The author discusses the concept of fraternity in political philosophy and its historical evolution. They emphasize its significance in India’s Constitution but point out its neglect due to caste divisions. The article suggests that addressing caste-based inequalities is essential to attain genuine political fraternity in India.

What is the concept of Fraternity?

Origin in Political Philosophy: Fraternity emphasizes the emancipation and empowerment of people in the political realm. Historically, it stands alongside liberty and equality as a cornerstone of liberal political philosophy.

Ancient Beginnings: Traced back to Plato, where the term “philia” (love) denotes the sharing of knowledge, making friendships more profound. Aristotle later emphasized justice and friendship within the “polis,” marking the birth of political fraternity.

Evolution Over Time: The Middle Ages linked fraternity with Christianity in Europe. It gained political prominence during the French Revolution with the slogan “liberté, égalité, fraternité.”

Fraternity in India: Emphasized during India’s independence struggle, it became a vital tenet of the Constitution. However, India’s caste system presents challenges, as fraternity often remains within caste groups rather than bridging them.

How important was Fraternity in India’s independence?

Foundational Tenet: During India’s independence struggle and the subsequent rise of its constitutional democracy, the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity were central. They served as guiding principles for a diverse Indian society transitioning to an independent republic.

Ambedkar’s Stance: Dr. Ambedkar stressed the inseparability of liberty, equality, and fraternity. He highlighted the importance of fraternity in India’s diverse and divided society.

Constitutional Framing: The framers of the Indian Constitution understood the significance of fraternity for India, a nation divided by various social hierarchies. They recognized the necessity of fraternity to counter these divisions and maintain cohesion.

What limits Fraternity in India?

Social Inequalities: Fraternity is hindered if it merely glosses over existing social disparities. True fraternity cannot be built on social solidarity that ignores these differences.

Caste Divisions: India’s caste system poses significant challenges. While there exist fraternal ties within caste groups, inter-caste unity remains elusive. The shared history of India, marked by the caste system, opposes both equality and liberty, key tenets alongside fraternity.

Religious Discrimination: The rhetoric of aggressive nationalism often paints religious minorities as enemies. Such minorities have repeatedly faced social and political discrimination.

Fundamentalism’s Impact: Any form of fundamentalism, with its rigid beliefs and practices, prevents the development of genuine fraternity. A fanatic’s outlook is often exclusive, hampering true fraternal connections.

What’s the way forward for Fraternity in India?

Addressing Caste Dynamics: For true political fraternity to emerge in India, caste and its associated prejudices must be addressed. The article suggests that caste and the idea of political fraternity cannot coexist, with one needing to make way for the other.

Political Conditioning Over Moral Stance: Fraternity in India needs to be curated, carved, and instilled through political conditioning. The article emphasizes that this approach is more effective than relying on moral considerations alone.

Role of Affirmative Actions: The introduction of affirmative actions, like the reservation system, was aimed at building equality among varied social groups. This equality is essential to actualize fraternal relations in a society marked by structural hierarchies.

Emphasis on Equality: A foundational acceptance of equality is essential to foster true fraternal ties in India. Without this, fraternity remains restricted within caste boundaries.

Politics of the Future: Deciding which one survives, caste or fraternity, will be the task of future politics. The article suggests that the politics of the future will determine the path India takes.

African Union and the G20: Africa on the high table

News– Recently, the African Union was included as the new member of G20.

What is the significance of the inclusion of the African Union in G20?

The G20 now encompasses almost 80% of the global population, comprising 97 out of the United Nations’ 193 member countries. It also represents 88% of the world’s GDP and accounts for 79% of global trade.

This expansion effectively balances the existing grouping of 27 developed countries within the EU. It elevates the status and credibility of the G20.

It enhances the G20’s representativeness without making it cumbersome, as the AU will be represented by a single leader.

Africa is also abundantly rich in resources, including arable land, minerals, rare earth metals, and a youthful workforce.

It has been steadily growing and achieving economic and political integration. In 2018, it launched a Free Trade Area and adopted “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want,” a comprehensive plan to transform the continent into a global powerhouse.

Why is inclusion in G20 beneficial for the African Union?

This inclusion provides Africa with a voice, participation, and leadership on the global stage. Its developmental, financial, economic, and environmental challenges and solutions can be frequently discussed.

Africans now have the opportunity to shape the agenda and outcomes.

Importantly, Africa is home to 33 out of 46 Least Developed Countries. It grapples with widespread poverty, conflict, political instability, climate challenges, environmental degradation, and financial instability.

Africa can seek support from the G20 in terms of global public goods, such as finance, technology, investment, and capacity-building.

Why admission of the African Union in G20 is a strategic masterstroke for India?

This decision had been pending for the past six years. Prime Minister Modi has earned the gratitude of Africa and has gained their trust.

This achievement will yield substantial benefits for India in terms of strengthening its partnership with Africa on multiple fronts. It includes strategic, political, economic, technological, trade, and people-to-people relations.

The inclusion of the AU in the G20 will facilitate closer partnerships and coordination within international bodies like the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), World Bank, and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This is especially important in countering China’s efforts to influence African countries away from India’s proposed UN Security Council reform.

What is the importance of G20?

The G20 plays a vital role in the establishment of rules-based, orderly, and equitable economic, financial, and monetary systems, and strengthening multilateral institutions.

The G20 is committed to creating a more equitable playing field within multilateral systems for developing countries. It also initiates affirmative actions and measures to assist the most disadvantaged developing nations in overcoming their challenges.

Key components include the reform and funding of Multilateral Development Banks and the IMF, ambitious replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), support for achieving SDGs.

It is also working for effective mobilization and provision of adequate concessional financing to low and middle-income countries, the Green Development Pact with commitments to green technologies, and financing for climate and a just transition to clean energy.

G20 meet’s climate action promise: Significant, but not enough

News– At the recent G20 summit, there was a commitment to work towards tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Why is this commitment a low hanging fruit?

According to the International Energy Agency, this single action has the potential to prevent the emission of 7 billion tons of carbon dioxide by the year 2030.

It is the easiest step for the G20 countries to address climate issues, even though some fossil fuel-producing nations like Russia and Saudi Arabia initially had reservations.

Renewable energy adoption is already happening rapidly worldwide. Annual capacity expansions are increasing by approximately 10% each year. There is no opposition to the adoption of renewable energy by developing countries.

As per IEA, tripling the renewable capacity by 2030 is an ambitious yet feasible aspiration. Annual capacity is growing at an average annual rate of about 11%. Slightly increasing this annual growth rate will meet the targeted 2030 capacity objective.

Why is tripling renewable energy capacities within a span of seven years a challenging objective?

Currently, the global installed capacity for renewable energy is just below 3,400 GW.

In 2022, there was an addition of approximately 295 GW of new capacity, marking the highest increase to date.

To achieve the goal of tripling the overall capacity by 2030, the world would need to incorporate nearly 1,000 GW of fresh capacity every year. This is the target advocated by organisations such as the IRENA, the IEA, climate activists.

What are critical components to achieve this objective?

There is a need for mobilisation of sufficient financial resources and the creation of opportunities. It includes infrastructure development, favourable policy environments, and skill enhancement in countries with limited energy access.

The majority of new capacity additions currently occur in only a few large developing countries. Over the past five years, India and China, collectively, have accounted for more than 50% of the global capacity additions.

Achieving the tripling target is contingent on rapid demand growth in other developing nations, particularly in Africa.

According to an assessment by IRENA, an annual investment of approximately $5.3 trillion would be necessary until 2050 to facilitate the energy transition required to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

How can the International Solar Alliance play a pivotal role in  tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030?

Solar energy consistently constitutes over 50% of new renewable energy capacity additions each year. It is central to the expansion of renewable energy sources.

In 2022, out of the 295 GW of new renewable capacity added, 191 GW came from solar energy.

The ISA was specifically established to accelerate the deployment of solar energy worldwide.

The International Solar Alliance has collaborated with the G20 Presidency to expedite development in G-20 countries and address climate change through the promotion of solar energy utilisation.

ISA has launched the Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of all nations in producing, transporting, and utilising low and zero-carbon hydrogen.

ISA is offering guarantees to its member countries in Africa to incentivize private sector investments in solar mini-grids.

ISA is cultivating entrepreneurs in countries that can become the leading suppliers of solar energy across countries and regions. It has recently identified and is strengthening 20 solar startups in Africa.

Why is the recent G20 summit criticised for insufficient attention to the issue of climate change?

Goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 alone would not be sufficient to meet the 1.5-degree Celsius temperature goal.

Current projections indicate that greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 would exceed the levels compatible with a 1.5-degree Celsius rise by approximately 24 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Tripling renewable energy would only help avoid about 7 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which is less than one-third of what is actually required.

The G20 meeting avoided addressing most of the contentious issues, such as more substantial emissions reductions, the phasing out of fossil fuels, and the substantial mobilisation of financial resources.

The new India-US dynamic

News: India’s successful role in the recent G20 summit highlights improved India-US relations and growing geopolitical importance.

What have been the important development in India US relations?

Geopolitical Stakes: The US and its G7 allies have softened their stance on issues like the Ukraine war, signaling a greater investment in India. This is seen as a counter to China’s aggressive diplomacy.

High-Level Engagements: PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US and bilateral meetings with President Joe Biden have led to joint statements, indicating intensified engagement.

UN Security Council: Biden has reiterated support for India’s long-standing demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, continuing a commitment first made by President Obama.

Defense Ties: Agreements between General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics for light combat aircraft engines signify closer defense relations. Placement of liaison officers in military organizations is another step forward.

Economic Relations: Both countries have resolved trade disputes and are working towards better economic ties. India has removed duties on certain US imports, and the US has exempted some Indian steel and aluminium exports from tariffs.

What should be done?

While the relationship is improving, India faces the challenge of balancing its ties with the US and its complex relations with neighboring China, which has territorial ambitions on India’s borders.

GS Paper 3

Spotlighting another border point, the ‘rogue channel

News: The author talks about India’s Home Minister, Amit Shah, and his recent efforts to boost border security at the tough Harami Nala region in Gujarat. This includes building observation towers, roads, and other infrastructure to stop illegal activities and infiltration from Pakistan.

What new initiative has India launched to secure its India-Pak border at Harami Nala region in Gujarat?

Observation Post Tower at BOP 1164: A 9.5-metre tall observation post tower equipped with high-resolution pan-tilt-zoom cameras was inaugurated. This will enhance intelligence-gathering capabilities.

Road and Mooring Infrastructure: The newly constructed Chidiyamod-Biarbet Link Road was inaugurated to improve connectivity. Additionally, a foundation stone for a mooring place at Koteshwar in Kutch was laid. This mooring project, with a budget of ₹257 crore, will support larger vessels and floating BOPs.

New Observation Posts: New observation towers are planned at BOPs 1165, 1166, and 1169. These towers, worth ₹3 crore each, will provide live camera feeds for continuous surveillance over Harami Nala’s surroundings.

Total Investment: These security enhancements are part of initiatives worth ₹361.35 crore, aiming to realize India’s Prime Minister vision of a “secure border”.

What are the impacts of this new initiative?

Enhanced Surveillance: The new observation post tower at BOP 1164 is equipped with high-resolution cameras, offering continuous live camera feed over the water and mudflats of Harami Nala. This significantly bolsters intelligence-gathering capabilities.

Infrastructure Boost: The inauguration of the Chidiyamod-Biarbet Link Road and the foundation stone for a mooring place at Koteshwar improves access and operational capacity. The Mooring Place project, in particular, will aid the BSF by allowing maintenance and berthing of bigger vessels in the Creek area.

Impenetrable Border: With the new observation posts, continuous surveillance, and improved road connectivity, the border, as stated by Amit Shah, is now considered impenetrable, ensuring no cross-border mischief.

Enhanced Naval Capabilities: The ₹257 crore Mooring Place project strengthens the BSF’s marine operations, allowing for berthing, repairs, and maintenance of larger vessels, including floating BOPs.

What is unique about Harami Nala?

Geography: It’s a natural water body, about 25 kilometers long, flowing from Pakistan into Kutch, south of the Vighakot sector.

Territory: Approximately 22 kilometers of the channel are on the Indian side of the International Boundary, which is uncontested.

Changing Landscape: Tidal waters from the Pakistani side are causing the channel to extend further into the Indian territory.

Economic Importance: The area is abundant in fish, especially prawns, attracting Pakistani fishing boats.

Industrial Activity: On the Indian side, away from the boundary, factories produce salt, bromide, and other chemicals using mineral-rich waters.

Challenging Terrain: Vast marshy mudflats surround it, with temperatures reaching above 50° Celsius in summer.

Climate phenomena and food security

News: The author discusses weather disruptions in India, focusing on the impacts of the Western disturbance and El Niño. They stress the significance of two types of water in agriculture and the necessity for India to adjust its agricultural practices and water management in response to climate change.

What weather disruptions are faced by India?

Extended Western Disturbance: This disturbance, which usually brings moisture to the western Himalaya and northern India during winter and spring, remained active late into the summer.

Landslides and Flooding: These events resulted in significant infrastructure damage and loss of life in the western Himalaya and northern India.

Affected Population: More than 25 lakh people were potentially impacted in an area estimated between 2,124 and 7,362 sq. km.

El Niño Phase: Evidence showed an intensifying El Niño phase which could influence the southwest monsoon.

Northeast Monsoon: Studies found that 43% of heavy rainfall events in the northeast monsoon, including the devastating 2015 Chennai floods, coincided with an El Niño.

What are the two types of water in agriculture?

Green Water:

This is rain-fed soil moisture.

Used by food and cash crops.

Transpires back into the atmosphere.

Around half of the cultivated area in India depends on green water.

75% of India’s daily diet water footprint is green water, highlighting the importance of rainfed agriculture.

Blue Water:

Found in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater.

Basis for irrigation, drinking, and industry use.

Maintains ecological flows in rivers.

Dominant crops in irrigated areas, like rice paddy during the kharif season, use green water for about 35% of their needs.

What are the impacts of El Niño on India?

Weakened Precipitation: Climate-linked warming due to El Niño may weaken winter precipitation from the Western disturbance and shift it to more intense rain events.

Southwest Monsoon Influence: An intensifying El Niño phase can potentially affect the southwest monsoon, though the relationship between them has changed over time.

Rainfed Agriculture: El Niño affects rainfed agriculture by delaying rain starts, impacting sowing, and by causing higher temperatures that negatively influence plant growth and soil moisture.

Food Production: In the 2015-2016 El Niño year, soybean production in India declined by 28% from the 2013-2022 average.

Northeast Monsoon: 43% of heavy rainfall events in the northeast monsoon, including the 2015 Chennai floods, coincided with an El Niño.

How should India respond?

Shift in Crops:

Move towards less water-intensive crops like millets to reduce the vulnerability of the food system to phenomena like El Niño.

Over 30% of blue water can be saved with such shifts, though saved water might be quickly used unless policies are in place.

Alternative Strategies:

Adaptations and alternative crop strategies are now available, like switching to shorter growing cycle crops.

Advisories to farmers are crucial for switching crops.

Utilizing Forecasts:

Both the Centre and the States, along with farmers, should benefit from forecasts about phenomena like El Niño.

Enhancements in short-term weather forecasts are vital.

Dam Management:

There’s a clear need for alternative management of dams and reservoirs to minimize flood disasters and protect aquatic ecosystems.

Governance Response:

Emphasize sustainable water-sharing between humans and nature, rejuvenating rivers, and diversifying agro-food systems.

May the twain meet: Look East as much as West for Indian exports

News– India’s goods exports printed 14.5% lower for the April-July period, having contracted for

the sixth month on a trot in July.

Why is trade with the Asia-Pacific region(APAC) a matter of concern?

Between April and July, India’s total goods exports contracted by 14.5%. Exports to the APAC region experienced a more substantial decline, down by 22.0%.

Comparatively, the decline in exports to the United States and the European Union (EU) was lower at 11.5% and 4.8%, respectively.

The slowdown in exports to the APAC region commenced earlier. In the fiscal year 2022-23, when India’s overall goods exports saw increases of 6.9%. But, exports to APAC markets decreased by 11.2%.

Most of these regions increased their imports from across the globe. Hence, India’s export slump cannot be attributed to reduced regional demand.

Furthermore, India’s non-oil exports to the APAC region were down by 12.3% year-on-year in the past fiscal year. But, they increased to both the EU and the US.

This suggests that the decline in India’s goods exports to APAC was not solely due to lower exports of oil but was a broader issue.

The region’s share in India’s goods exports had been diminishing  for a long time. In fiscal year 2018-19, APAC accounted for 33% of India’s goods exports.

However, in fiscal year 2022-23, APAC’s share had decreased to 26.6%, while the combined share of the US and EU had risen to 34%.

The trade deficit with the region is also an issue. The APAC share in India’s goods trade deficit was 49.6% in fiscal year 2018-19. It increased to 64.7% during April-July of this fiscal year.

How regional FTAs within the Asia-Pacific region are a cause of worry for India?

India is not a party to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. It is considered as the world’s largest free trade pact.

India is also not a party to other significant trade agreements in the broader Asian region, namely the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the trade component of the IPEF.

As tariffs among member countries within these agreements continue to decrease, India’s potential for exports to the APAC region could encounter additional challenges.

Way forward-

India should maintain its focus on the APAC region.

The APAC region has a nominal GDP of approximately $32 trillion in 2022. The APAC market surpasses both the US  and the Eurozone.

S&P Global anticipates that APAC will grow at approximately 4%. This growth rate trend is likely to persist in the foreseeable future.

Therefore, India should explore ways to fully leverage the export potential of this region, particularly considering its geographical proximity.

Sunny Side Up – on India-Saudi Arabia MoU

News: India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in the field of energy.

The focus of MoU is on renewable energy and the possibility of connecting national power grids through an undersea link.

What is the Significance of the MoU between India and Saudi Arabia?

First, both countries are aiming towards transition to renewable energy (RE). Saudi Arabia aims for 50% RE by 2030, while India aims to increase its RE capacity from 175 GW in 2022 to 450 GW by 2030. The MoU explores the idea of linking national grids to manage the surge in RE capacity.

Second, it also opens the possibility of international cooperation in energy storage technology.

What are the challenges?

First, Variations in power demand throughout the day and the generation of power is dependent upon the natural forces like sunlight. It makes it difficult to manage the grid. Which is also the reason behind India’s uneven state-wise RE development.

Second, Storage costs make RE less attractive financially.

A new direction for direct taxes

News: The latest data shows a decline in the government’s direct tax collections.

The government’s direct tax collections declined by 0.91% in the first four months of the current financial year. This is contrary to the Budget’s projection of 11.36% growth for the full year.

What are the issues reported in the collection of direct taxes?

First, there is a shortfall in direct tax collections despite healthy profits reported by India Inc. Corporation tax collections fell by 10%.

Second, personal income-tax collections grew by only 6.6%, much lower than the projected annual growth rate of 14%.

Third, The Union Budget for 2023-24 heavily relies on the growth of direct taxes. The shortfall in direct tax collections could jeopardize the government’s ambitious capital expenditure plan.

What are possible reasons behind the slowdown in direct tax collections?

Gradual cut in corporation tax rates and lower tax rates for individuals might be affecting collections. The effective tax rate for companies has come down from about 24.67% in 2014-15 to 22% in 2020-21.

Tax concessions offered to individual taxpayers have been rising steadily.

Companies earning over ₹500 crore have seen a decline in their effective tax rate from 23% to 19%.

What should be done?

There is an urgent need to understand why direct tax collections have not reflected the buoyancy in the Indian economy.

The tax department’s move to send notices to potential tax evaders may not be enough to address the issue.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

President of India to virtually launch Ayushman Bhav Campaign

Source: The post is based on the article “President of India to virtually launch Ayushman Bhav Campaign”  published in PIB on 12th September 2023

What is the News?

The President of India will launch the ‘Ayushman Bhav’ campaign.

What is the Ayushman Bhav campaign?

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Purpose: It is a comprehensive nationwide healthcare initiative that aims to extend healthcare coverage to every village and town transcending geographical barriers and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Collaboration between: The campaign is a collaborative effort involving gram panchayats, the Department of Health, various government departments, and local elected bodies in both rural and urban areas. 

Components: The campaign aims to extend comprehensive coverage of health services through its three components:

– Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0: This initiative aims to provide Ayushman cards to remaining eligible beneficiaries enrolled under the PM-JAY scheme, ensuring that more individuals have access to essential health services.

– Ayushman Melas at HWCs and CHCs: These Melas at Ayushman Bharat- HWCs and CHCs will facilitate the creation of ABHA IDs (Health IDs) and issuance of Ayushman Bharat Cards. They will also offer early diagnosis, comprehensive primary health care services, tele consultation with specialists, and appropriate referrals.

– Ayushman Sabhas: These gatherings in every village and Panchayat will play a pivotal role in distributing Ayushman cards, generating ABHA IDs, and raising awareness about vital health schemes and disease conditions such as non-communicable diseases, tuberculosis (Nikshay Mitra), sickle cell disease as well as blood donation and organ donation drives.

Recognition: Panchayats that successfully extend comprehensive coverage of health services will earn the prestigious title of ‘Ayushman Gram Panchayat’ or ‘Ayushman Urban Ward,’ symbolizing their dedication to equitable healthcare provision.

Significance: Ayushman Bhav campaign is aligned with the vision of creating ‘Healthy Villages’ and ‘Healthy Gram Panchayats,’ laying the foundation for achieving Universal Health Coverage in the country. 

Union Minister extends invitation for an Indo Russian Workshop on Eastern Maritime Corridor in Chennai

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister extends invitation for an Indo Russian Workshop on Eastern Maritime Corridor in Chennai”  published in PIB on 12th September 2023

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has extended an invitation to Russia for an Indo Russian Workshop on Eastern Maritime Corridor(EMC).

What is the Eastern Maritime Corridor?

The Eastern Maritime Corridor is a proposed sea route between the Indian port city of Chennai and the key Russian port Vladivostok.

The route passes through the Sea of Japan, the South China Sea and Malacca Strait.

This maritime corridor is part of the vision to address the current lack of connectivity between India and Russia.

What are the expected benefits for India from this Eastern Maritime Corridor?

Reduce Time: This sea route is estimated to reduce the time required to transport cargo between Indian and Russian Ports of Far-East Region by up to 16 days, i.e., 24 days in comparison to over 40 days currently taken to transport goods from India to Far East Russia via Europe.

– Present trade route between Mumbai in India and St Petersburg in Russia covers a distance of 8,675 nautical miles which takes approximately 35 to 40 days. 

Presence in South East Asian region: The new route would  give India the largest presence in the South East Asian region. The strategic location of Chennai Port on the Bay of Bengal makes it an ideal gateway for trade with Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Access to Russia’s Far East Region: The Port of Vladivostok in Russia provides access to the resource-rich Far East region, offering immense opportunities for Indian businesses to tap into the market sectors like energy, mining, and technology.

IICA and UNICEF jointly organize workshop on Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting(BRSR)

Source: The post is based on the article “IICA and UNICEF jointly organize workshop on Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting(BRSR)”  published in PIB on 12th September 2023

What is the News?

Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs(IICA) has organized a workshop on Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting(BRSR) in collaboration with UNICEF and National Stock Exchange.

What is the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework?

The Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework was introduced by SEBI in 2021.

The framework is a mandatory disclosure mechanism for top 1000 listed companies or businesses to report their performance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects and demonstrate their commitment to responsible business practices.

The framework is based on the nine principles of the National Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC) which are:

Source: Deloitte

What are the strengths of BRSR Framework?

Firstly, it provides a comprehensive framework covering a wide range of sustainability topics, including governance, ethics, social responsibility, environmental performance, and economic performance.This enables Indian companies to report on sustainability in a holistic manner.

Secondly, its alignment with global standards simplifies sustainability reporting for Indian companies to international stakeholders, who show increasing interest in sustainability performance. 

Thirdly, being mandatory for the top 1,000 listed companies ensures a uniform standard, ultimately improving sustainability reporting across India.

What are the weaknesses of BRSR Framework?

Firstly, BRSR can be complex and challenging to implement due to numerous requirements, making it difficult for companies to identify relevant ones.

Secondly, reporting requirements may lack clarity, leading to inconsistencies in reporting, mainly because the framework is relatively new and lacks sufficient implementation guidance.

What are the improvements needed to the BRSR Framework?

Firstly, simplification and ease of implementation can be achieved by reducing requirements and offering clearer reporting guidelines and implementation support.

Secondly, enhancing clarity through more examples of reporting on various sustainability topics would benefit companies. 

Lastly, expanding the framework to encompass additional sustainability topics like human rights and labor practices would enhance its comprehensiveness.

Maritime information sharing workshop 2023

Source: The post is based on the article “Maritime information sharing workshop 2023”  published in PIB on 12th September 2023

What is the News?

India will be hosting the three-day Maritime Information Sharing Workshop 2023 (MISW 23).

What is Maritime Information Sharing Workshop 2023 (MISW 23)?

Hosted by: Gurugram-based Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).

Aim: To bolster collaboration, cooperation and information sharing among partner countries for a safer, peaceful, and prosperous Indian Ocean Region.

Theme: “Advancing Maritime Security for a Sustainable Future”

Participating countries: 31 countries are participating in the workshop.

Note: These 31 countries are of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and signatories to the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA).

What is the Djibouti Code of Conduct(DCOC)?

Djibouti Code of Conduct(DCOC) was established in 2009.It is a grouping on maritime matters aimed at repression of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Western Indian Ocean Region, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

India has joined the Djibouti Code of Conduct as Observer in 2020.

Transport Minister mentions tax on diesel vehicles: Why is diesel under pressure?

Source: The post is based on the article “Transport Minister mentions tax on diesel vehicles: Why is diesel under pressure?”  published in Indian Express on 12th September 2023

What is the News?

The Road Transport Minister has suggested that people should shift away from using petrol and diesel fuels. 

He mentioned that if the usage of diesel-powered vehicles continues, he might propose to the Finance Minister the imposition of an additional 10% GST on these vehicles as a “pollution tax”.

Note: Government already imposes a 28% tax on diesel cars, plus an additional cess depending on the engine capacity, taking the total tax to almost 50%.

– A committee appointed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas recommended a ban on diesel four-wheel vehicles by 2027 in cities with a population of more than 1 million.

How much percentage of India’s transport vehicles use diesel?

Diesel accounts for about 40% of India’s petroleum products consumption.

Around 87% of total diesel sales are to the transport segment, with trucks and buses accounting for about 68% of diesel sales in the country. 

Three states — Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Haryana — account for almost 40% of the diesel sold in India.

In the car’s segment, the contribution of diesel demand has fallen to 16.5% from 28.5% in 2013.

Why have carmakers started to move away from diesel?

Firstly, the higher compression ratio of diesel engines means increased emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which is one of the main drawbacks of diesel engines versus petrol.

Secondly, carmakers like Maruti Suzuki have decided to exit the diesel segment due to the introduction of the new BS-VI emission norms from April 1, 2020.The cost of upgrading diesel engines to meet these stricter standards was prohibitively high. 

– Car manufacturers argued that the government’s decision to skip from BS-IV to BS-VI made it economically unviable to continue offering diesel engines in their portfolio.

What is the reason an individual user might prefer diesel to petrol?

Firstly, higher fuel economy of diesel engines compared to petrol is a factor.Diesel has greater energy content per litre and diesel engines are inherently efficient.Diesel engines do not use high-voltage spark ignition (spark plugs) and use less fuel per kilometer as they have higher compression ratios.This makes diesel the fuel of choice for heavy vehicles.

Secondly, diesel engines offer more torque (rotational or turning force), and are less likely to stall as they are controlled by a mechanical or electronic governor, thereby proving to be better for haulage.

Thirdly, for individual car owners, the cost of running a vehicle is a crucial factor.In India, diesel-powered cars were highly popular for nearly a decade with diesel cars making up 48% of passenger vehicle sales in 2013.

— This popularity was largely due to the significantly lower price of diesel compared to petrol, with a substantial price difference, at its peak of Rs 25 per litre.

– However, the situation changed when fuel prices were deregulated in late 2014.The price difference between diesel and petrol has since narrowed to around Rs 7 per litre, the closest they have been in price since 1991.

— As a result, diesel cars accounted for less than 20% of overall passenger vehicle sales in the fiscal year 2021-22.

Nipah kills two in Kerala: What is this virus, why is it dangerous even though it doesn’t spread fast

Source: The post is based on the article “Nipah kills two in Kerala: What is this virus, why is it dangerous even though it doesn’t spread fast”  published in Indian Express on 12th September 2023

What is the News?

Cases of Nipah Virus have been found in Kerala again after two people were confirmed to have died of the viral disease in Kozhikode district,Kerala.

What is Nipah Virus?

Nipah is a zoonotic disease, which means it is transmitted to humans through infected animals or contaminated food. 

It can also be transmitted directly from person to person through close contact with an infected person.

First case: The first outbreaks of the Nipah virus among humans was reported from Malaysia (1998) and Singapore (1999). 

– The virus takes its name from the village in Malaysia where the person in whom the virus was first isolated died of the disease.

Host reservoir: The animal host reservoir for this virus is known to be the fruit bat, commonly known as flying fox. 

– Fruit bats are known to transmit this virus to other animals like pigs, and also dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep.

Transmission: Humans get infected mainly through direct contact with these animals, or through consumption of food contaminated by saliva or urine of these infected animals.Human-to-human transmission is also considered possible.

Symptoms: Fever, headache, cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, and vomiting.In severe cases, disorientation, drowsiness, seizures, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) can occur, progressing to coma and death.

Treatment: There is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals. The primary treatment for humans is supportive care.

Fatality rate: The Nipah virus is known to spread far more slowly than Covid-19.However, it is its ability to kill that is the biggest concern. 

– According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the overall global case fatality rate of Nipah is estimated at 40% to 75% .

Salem sago gets GI tag

Source: The post is based on the article “Salem sago gets GI tag”  published in The Hindu on 12th September 2023

What is the News?

Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers Service Industrial Cooperative Society Ltd. (SAGOSERVE) from Tamil Nadu has received a Geographical Indication(GI) Tag for Salem sago.

What is Salem sago?

Source: The Hindu

Sago is derived from raw tapioca.It is in the form of small hard globules or pearls and is pearl white in colour.

It is produced in Salem district in Tamil Nadu which is the main center for sago production in the country.

It is manufactured from the wet starch powder crushed from tapioca roots.The wet starch powder is used for producing sago and the dry powder has been used as a raw material for industrial purposes.

Sago is used in various industries, including food, paper, construction, textile, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, mining, and alcohol, among others.

What is Tapioca?

Tapioca is a starchy food derived from the cassava root.In India, tapioca pearls are referred to as “Sabudana”.

Climate and Soil: Any well drained soil preferably red lateritic loam with a pH range of 5.5 -7.0 is best suited for tapioca cultivation. 

– It thrives best in tropical, warm humid climate with well distributed rainfall of over 100 cm per annum. This crop can be cultivated upto an elevation of 1000 m.

Origin: Tapioca originated in South America and was later introduced to India.

– In India, tapioca is predominantly cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. 

Petition for counting all VVPAT slips during elections: What the Election Commission, activists argue

Source: The post is based on the article “Petition for counting all VVPAT slips during elections: What the Election Commission, activists argue”  published in Indian Express on 13th September 2023

What is the News?

A petition has been filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) in the Supreme Court.It has sought 100% counting of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.

What is Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail(VVPAT)?

VVPAT is a ballotless system connected with the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). It prints a paper slip when a voter casts his/her vote on the EVM against the candidate’s name and the symbol of the party he/she is standing for.

As soon as the voter presses the button on the EVM, the VVPAT machine prints the slip that contains the name and symbol of the party they have voted for, for around 7 seconds. 

The machine also has a transparent window where a voter can see the printed slip.After this, the slip goes inside a sealed box of the machine.

Hence, VVPAT essentially acts as a verification machine for a voter to ensure that the vote has been taken into account for which he or she has voted.

When was VVPAT first introduced?

The VVPAT was used for the first time in all 21 polling stations of the Noksen Assembly constituency of Nagaland in 2013, after which the EC decided to introduce VVPATs in a phased manner. 

From June 2017, 100% of VVPATs began to be used in polls, and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections became the first general election to have 100% of EVMs being attached to VVPATs.

What percentage of VVPAT slips are counted as of now?

In 2018, the EC mandated the counting of VVPAT slips of one randomly selected polling station per Assembly constituency. 

This was increased to five polling stations per Assembly seat, following a Supreme Court judgment in 2019.

What is the present petition demanding?

The present petition by ADR has asked the court to declare every voter has the fundamental right to ensure that their vote has been accurately recorded. 

They argue that the current practice of displaying the VVPAT slip for seven seconds does not guarantee this and they are seeking a 100% counting of VVPAT slips to fulfill the Supreme Court’s 2013 judgment in Subramanian Swamy vs. Election Commission of India, where it held the VVPAT is an indispensable requirement of free and fair elections.

What did the EC say about this?

EC said the VVPAT was “essentially an audit trail” so the voter could verify the vote at that instant but following Supreme Court orders, the slips were being tallied on a “statistically robust basis”.

Hence, going for 100% counting of VVPAT slips in every election would mean we are going back to the time of manual polling.This would be tantamount to the re-introduction of paper ballots by indirect means.

Moreover, preparations for the upcoming General Election to the Lok Sabha had already begun, and any last-minute changes to the verification process would pose significant technical and logistical challenges.

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