Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• The ‘mantras’ that powered success at the G-20 summit
• Facilitating degrees within a degree
• The Cauvery Water Management Authority should act
• 33%: The Details – Implementing women’s reservation will need a lot of work
• The Indo-Pacific power play
• With G20-IMEC plan, the global order shifts to Eurasia

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

The ‘mantras’ that powered success at the G-20 summit

News: The article talks about India’s role during its G-20 presidency, highlighting how it promoted multilateralism and consensus-building among member countries. It focused on issues like the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing India’s approach to a multipolar world, support for the Global South, and its stance as a mediator in global affairs.

How did India promote multilateralism at the G-20?

Consensus on NDLD: Despite initial disagreements on language and topics like Ukraine, all G-20 members agreed on the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration (NDLD) under India’s leadership.

Bilateral Engagements: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with various G-20 members, including visits to countries like Japan, Australia, the US, and others, fostering closer ties and ensuring support.

Addressing Global Politics: By ensuring smoother discussions and consensus in the absence of divisive figures like the Russian and Chinese Presidents, India prioritized unity.

Western Bloc Compromises: The western countries, for the sake of consensus and the importance of the G-20, agreed to remove direct references to Russia concerning the Ukraine war.

Promotion of Global South: India actively championed the voice and significance of the Global South in global decisions, emphasizing its relevance in global forums.

Middle Path Approach: By not taking hard stances or choosing sides, India’s approach of following a “middle path” on global issues was evident, helping bridge differences between member countries.

How does India’s middle-path approach benefit global relations?

Multipolar Advocacy: India promotes a multipolar world, standing distinct from the U.S.’s unipolar vision and China’s bipolar ambition.

U.S. Global Role: Post-Cold War, the U.S. tried establishing a unipolar world. However, during the Trump era (2017-2021), its potential decline was evident as it exited several multilateral agreements like the Paris Accord.

China’s Ascendancy: China, marking the 10th anniversary of its Belt and Road Initiative, spent over a trillion dollars on infrastructure in about 90 countries, highlighting its growing influence.

China’s Controversies: China’s rise also raised concerns due to actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, predatory financing in smaller countries, and territorial aggressions, including with India.

Global South’s Significance: The Global South, comprising over 125 countries, is gaining a louder voice on global issues, resetting priorities on topics like climate change and health.

Facilitating degrees within a degree

News: The article discusses India’s new National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF). It points out its shortcomings, complexity, and potential implementation issues. The article emphasizes the importance of clearer guidelines and more inclusive consultations to improve the higher education system.

What are the issues of new National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF)?

Multiple Frameworks: Instead of one consolidated framework, UGC prescribed both NHEQF and the National Credit Framework, causing confusion.

Omission of Key Disciplines: Important disciplines like agriculture, law, medicine, and pharmacy aren’t covered in the NHEQF.

Over-reliance on European Standards: The NHEQF heavily references the European Bologna process and Dublin descriptors, which might not align with India’s unique educational context.

Broad Purpose of Education Overlooked: The framework seems more focused on qualifications than holistic education encompassing socio-cultural and politico-economic factors.

Elitist Approach: Students with a four-year degree and high CGPA can directly pursue a PhD, which might lead to elitism.

Implementation Challenges: Equating postgraduate diplomas with four-year undergraduate programs, and suggesting unrealistic study hours, creates practical hurdles.

Unclear Learning Outcomes: The framework borrows heavily from European standards without adapting them for the diverse Indian disciplines.

What should be done?

1. Integrate all existing guidelines into the NHEQF for clarity.
2. Include disciplines like agriculture, law, medicine, and pharmacy in the NHEQF.
3. Base the NHEQF on consultations with states considering India’s education system diversity.
4. Recognize the broader purpose of education, beyond just livelihood.
5. Reconsider the direct path from a four-year degree with high CGPA to a PhD to ensure inclusivity.
6. Address challenges like equating postgraduate diplomas with four-year undergraduate programs and clarify the duration of courses like B.Ed.
7. Adapt and clarify learning outcomes for the diverse Indian disciplines, instead of heavily borrowing from European standards.

The Cauvery Water Management Authority should act

News: The article discusses the ongoing water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu regarding the Cauvery River. It highlights the necessity of a distress-sharing formula, recent developments in the Supreme Court, and the roles of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and other relevant bodies.

What are the main issues with Cauvery River water sharing?

Historical Dispute: The sharing of the Cauvery River water has been contentious since the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s 1991 interim order.

Lack of Clear Guidelines:

There’s no detailed distress-sharing formula in the 2007 Tribunal order or the 2018 Supreme Court judgment.

Both mentioned pro-rata sharing in distress times, but specifics are lacking.

State Perspectives:

Tamil Nadu factors in the deficit in inflows to four Karnataka reservoirs and the rainfall pattern in three Cauvery catchment groups.

Karnataka argues that water sharing should consider both the southwest and northeast monsoons.

Unclear Reservoir Status: From June 1 to August 27, the four Karnataka reservoirs faced a 51.22% shortfall in inflows.

Authority’s Stance: Neither the disputing parties nor the Cauvery Water Management Authority has opposed the concept of distress sharing. The disagreement is on the formula’s specifics.

What do the judicial bodies say?

Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) 2007 Order:

The Tribunal did not provide much in its final order regarding distress sharing.

However, it did mention that during two consecutive bad years of rain, the monthly schedule of water release should be relaxed.

The suggestion was to operate all reservoirs in the basin in an integrated manner to “minimize any harsh effect.”

Supreme Court Judgment 2018:

The Supreme Court also did not provide a clear guideline for distress sharing.

The judicial bodies referred to the principle of pro-rata sharing in times of distress.

Current Scenario: Neither the states involved in the dispute, nor the Authority has expressed opposition to the concept of distress sharing. The main disagreement is about the specifics of the formula.

What should be done now?

Transparency is Essential:

The CWMA and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) should publish their meeting proceedings online.

Providing access to these records will help dispel misconceptions in both states.

Proactive Approach:

The CWMA, despite its establishment in 2018, hasn’t made significant progress in five years. This needs to change.

The Authority should not miss the current opportunity to address the issue.

Objective Decision Making:

The Authority comprises officials and technical experts.

They should utilize their expertise to create a rational and objective distress-sharing formula.

Judicious Water Use:

Tamil Nadu should focus on the efficient and judicious use of water, regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision on its water quota.

33%: The Details – Implementing women’s reservation will need a lot of work

The points of these articles have been covered in the following article:

Women Reservation Bill – Explained Pointwise

News: The Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced in Parliament, proposing a 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies. The article discusses the Bill and explains how reservation can elevate women’s status in society.

How has the reservation of seats for women in local bodies contributed to improving their status in society?

Reserving seats for women in local government positions like sarpanches, block pramukhs, etc. increased their respect at home and in the community, reduced domestic abuse, and ensured that women in similar roles were heard and respected.

Women’s empowerment is often viewed as urban-centrically, but reservations in local bodies, like panchayat elections, offer rural women a distinct experience that brings them respect and recognition in their communities.

How will the Women’s Reservation Bill grant recognition to women?

The Women’s Reservation Bill aims to increase women’s representation. Increased female presence will boost confidence in being heard and will build a supportive ecosystem for women’s rights.

The Women’s Reservation Bill could increase women MPs from 82 to 181. It seeks sub-reservation for SCs, STs, and Anglo Indians.

It proposes adding a clause to Article 330 A, reserving one-third of Lok Sabha seats for women within the SC and ST categories and one-third directly elected women.

The Bill also seeks to insert a subsection in Clause 2 of Article 239 AA, reserving seats for women in Delhi’s legislative assembly, with one-third within SC and ST categories.

Therefore, this legislative effort is considered a progressive step for participatory democracy, which values inclusion rather than exclusion. However, despite this, there are still concerns present with the Bill.

What are the concerns with the Bill?

Enactment of the Bill: Reservation for women in Parliament depends on the census and delimitation process.

However, the census has been delayed and delimitation could be politically sensitive, especially impacting southern India, which has seen slower population growth due to its development progress.

Hence, the 2002 freeze on delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies will continue until after 2026, which is around the time, the delayed Census 2021 data is expected to be released.

This means that reservation for women in Parliament will likely not start until after 2026.

Reservation within Reservation: The new bill reserves one-third of seats for women, with a further reservation within that quota for women from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

However, some political groups have also called for the inclusion of OBC and minority reservation as well. 

Rotation of Reserved Seats: The Bill proposes to rotate reserved seats after each delimitation exercise which will be determined by Parliament. However, it is unclear how this will be implemented.

Rotating one-third of seats before each election is being considered the fairest approach. However, since the bill is expected to come into effect after the next census and delimitation, there is time to find other solutions.

What lies ahead?

The Bill ensures women’s representation, transforming politics and addressing social inequalities.

It aims to create an enlightened democracy by removing entry barriers and fundamentally reshaping parliamentary democracy, giving Indian women their rightful place in Parliament.

The Indo-Pacific power play

News–  The article explains the US strategy in Indo-pacific to counter China

How is the US increasing its presence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China?

Ties with Vietnam- During US President Joe Biden’s visit to Hanoi, the two countries elevated their Comprehensive Partnership to a more comprehensive and strategic level, known as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam shares a sensitive land border with China and is involved in disputes over Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea.

However, it’s worth noting that in the joint statement issued during the visit, Vietnam was cautious not to include language that might provoke China.

Ties with Philippines- There has been a significant enhancement of the Philippines military alliance with the United States.

This has enabled the US to regain access to its key bases in the Philippines, after a period of several years without such access. The US has been granted permission to use four additional bases in the country.

In May 2023, new guidelines were issued for the 1951 treaty. It outlined more specific commitments by the US to address security threats to the Philippines. One notable provision now allows for joint patrols by US and Philippine forces in the EEZ.

Trilateral security framework- It involves the United States, Japan and South Korea. Efforts to bring these two allies together in a truly coordinated trilateral alliance had been ongoing for some time.

Recent events, such as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia and the potential deepening of military cooperation between these two nations, have further fuelled concerns in Seoul and Tokyo.

Under US sponsorship, the leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea adopted the Camp David Principles.

These principles call for annual trilateral summits, the establishment of a hotline among leaders, intelligence sharing, and the conduct of annual military exercises.

All three countries view the situation in the Taiwan Strait as a factor affecting regional peace and security.

Multi-tiered security framework in the Indo-Pacific region-  At the lowest level are partnerships, including those with countries like Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand.

The next tier includes the Quad, comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. India holds a unique position within the Quad as it is not an ally but maintains strategic partnerships with each of the other member nations.

At a higher level, there is a trilateral military alliance involving the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

Finally, at the apex is AUKUS. It is an enhanced military alliance between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

AUKUS is committed to empower Australia to become a nuclear submarine-capable nation, and operate in collaboration with the naval capabilities of the United States and the United Kingdom in the Indo-Pacific region.

What is ASEAN’s approach towards Indo-pacific?

Some individual nations, such as Laos and Cambodia, maintain strong alignment with China. Others are cautious about provoking China.

Nevertheless, there are indications of a potential shift. ASEAN nations are currently conducting their inaugural naval exercises off the Natuna islands this month.

These islands fall within Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but are also claimed by China through its disputed nine-dash line, which covers the entire South China Sea.

This could be an early sign of ASEAN countries pushing back against China’s exaggerated territorial assertions in the region.

What is the Indian approach towards Indo-pacific?

India is increasingly embracing its role as a willing participant in the evolving US Indo-Pacific strategy. It has already finalized three foundational agreements that enhance interoperability between the armed forces of both nations.

Furthermore, India has secured two master ship repair agreements: one with the US Navy and the Larsen and Toubro shipyard near Chennai, and another with the Mazagaon Docks in August.

American naval vessels have begun using these ports for repairs and refitment. It would be relatively straightforward to extend these facilities to other members of the Quad.

With G20-IMEC plan, the global order shifts to Eurasia

News– At the G20 Summit, President Joe Biden, joined by the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Commission, unveiled the multi-modal India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC).

What are some facts about the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC)?

The economic corridor consists of two main routes. The first is an eastern route, which enables India to connect to the Arabian Gulf through sea routes. The second is the northern route that connects Saudi Arabia to Europe through Jordan and Israel.

Collective Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the IMEC nations totals approximately $47 trillion. This GDP represents approximately 40% of the world’s total GDP.

What is the significance of India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC)?

Shared vision for the Eurasian supercontinent- It aspires to establish a route leading to a more interconnected transoceanic system, stretching from the Mediterranean region through West Asia to the vast Indo-Pacific.

Changing world order- IMEC represents an implicit recognition from the West of the tangible consequences of the ascendance of non-Western powers and the undeniable shift of the world’s economic and geopolitical center toward the East.

It underscores the need to assign more substantial global leadership roles to India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in reshaping the future of Eurasia’s economic and geopolitical landscape. Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, New Delhi, and other emerging powers within Eurasia will hold significant influence in realigning the broader power dynamics across the supercontinent.

Emergence of a West Asian system- Washington and Brussels might be inclined to present the IMEC as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. But, for Delhi, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, the IMEC represents the emergence of a West Asian system.

Within this system, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Egypt are progressively coming together beyond areas such as energy, remittances, and shared ideology.

IMEC serves as another effort to unite Saudi Arabia and Israel under a single transcontinental framework. It also contributes to ongoing US-supported endeavors to secure a normalization agreement between these two nations.

United States’ Eurasian strategy in the post-US hegemony era- Washington aims to shape a balanced power structure across the broader Eurasian landscape.

The objective is to prevent a loose coalition of states, including China, Russia, and Iran, from dominating the supercontinent.

Instead, the strategy involves strengthening the positions of countries like India, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. They should be enabled to exert economic and geopolitical influence and actively contribute to a balanced Eurasian power structure.

European Union’s strategy in the new multipolar world- It is the most ambitious endeavor to gain geopolitical significance and cohesion beyond the European continent in the new multipolar world.

Major European nations like Rome, Berlin, and Paris, with London are aiming to align their efforts with the United States and Asian powers.

They are going beyond occasional maritime exercises in the Indo-Pacific and are working on integrating their economic systems with high-growth markets in the East.

Way forward-

For India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other involved parties, the goal of achieving a balanced Eurasian structure does not imply forming a dual containment alliance against China and Russia.

There is a need for conducting a pragmatic evaluation of each nation’s motivations for involvement, progressing the project beyond a mere Memorandum of Understanding,

It is necessary to tackle logistical and operational hurdles, and give precedence to electricity, digital connectivity, and clean hydrogen during the initial phases of the Corridor.

The IMEC nations should take proactive measures to address potential security challenges that may arise due to the heightened Eurasian connectivity brought about by the corridor.

GS Paper 3

Environmental humanities: the need to expand our understanding of nature

News: The article discusses the importance of incorporating environmental humanities into mainstream academic conversations. It highlights the valuable narratives of marginalized communities in India and questions the traditional Western viewpoint on nature and the environment that has dominated for so long.

What is the role of Environmental Humanities?

Role of Environmental Humanities:

Holistic Understanding: It looks beyond just science to understand human and non-human interactions, promoting sustainable coexistence.

Addressing Academic Bias: Environmental humanities confront the bias against “soft sciences” in institutes that focus primarily on hard sciences.

Challenging Mainstream Views: The discipline critiques the absence of discussions on human-nature interactions and social justice in mainstream environmental debates.

Incorporating Indigenous Insights: It warns against a singular understanding of nature and stresses the value of multiple indigenous perspectives on the environment.

Embracing Diverse Narratives: The field underscores the importance of marginalized community narratives, such as those of the Dalits and tribal groups, for a complete understanding of nature.

Recognizing Non-human Importance: Environmental humanities shifts the focus from just humans, giving significance to non-humans in environmental discourse.

How does India view the relationship between the nation and nature?

Intrinsic Connection: In India, nature is deeply entwined with society and culture, leading to a unique perspective of the nation through the lens of nature and ecology.

Two Predominant Perspectives:

Universal Ecology: One view sees the nation as a place where nature is a common ecological reality for all citizens.

Diverse Affiliations: The other view recognizes multiple perspectives defining the nation in connection to nature, emphasizing cultural ties and diverse notions about ecology.

Role of Ecological Nationalism: It’s used to justify either the utilization or restriction of natural resources, seeing nature as either a boon or a barrier for national progress.

Contesting Modern Utilitarian Models: The authors credit today’s environmental challenges to utilitarian progress models which extract resources, disregarding traditional Indian narratives.

How can Environmental Humanities enhance our understanding of nature?

Valuing the Environment’s Agency: By acknowledging the environment’s intrinsic worth and agency, the field moves away from a purely utilitarian view of nature.

Highlighting Interplay Through Narratives: The discipline enriches understanding by examining stories of rivers, landscapes, plants, animals, and community perspectives.

Tied to Social Justice: It recognizes that environmental problems cannot be separated from social injustices and discrimination faced by marginalized communities.

Simultaneous polls: do States have a say?

News– The Union government on September 2 set up a committee under the leadership of the former President of India Ram Nath Kovind to look into the feasibility of simultaneous polls to State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha.

What are three distinct methods outlined in Article 368 for making amendments in the constitution?

Simple majority- The amendments are made through a simple majority of members present and voting in each House of Parliament. These provisions are exempt from the scope of Article 368.

Examples of such provisions include amendments related to Article 4 (pertaining to changes in the organization of States), Article 169 (concerning the abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in States).

Special majority-  This entails the presence and affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members in each House of Parliament, along with the support of a majority of the total membership in each House.

Special majority and ratification by states- It necessitates both a ‘special majority’ and the ratification by at least one-half of the State legislatures.

What are the entrenched provisions of the constitution?

The constitutional provisions that necessitate ratification for their amendment are explicitly detailed in Article 368(2). They primarily relate to the federal structure of the Constitution.

1 .Any alteration in the provisions concerning the election of the President of India (Article 54 and 55).

2. Any modification in the scope of executive authority vested in the Union or State governments (Article 73 and 162).
3. Changes in the provisions governing the Union judiciary or the High Courts (Articles 124–147 and 214–231).
4. Amendments affecting the distribution of legislative and administrative powers between the
5. Union and the States (Article 245 to 255).
6. Modifications to any of the Lists outlined in the Seventh Schedule.
7. Alterations to the representation of the States in Parliament (Article 82).
8. Amendments to Article 368 itself.

What were the debates in the Constituent Assembly regarding ‘entrenched provisions’?

B.R. Ambedkar supported the idea of requiring State ratification for the amendment of specific constitutional provisions. It ensures that the core federal structure of the Constitution remains intact.

Dr. Ambedkar, was not in favour of allowing the Central Parliament to amend articles related to administrative, legislative, financial, and the executive powers of the provinces, without granting any voice to the provinces or States.

He cautioned that allowing all constitutional amendments through a simple majority vote would undermine the principle of the separation of powers.

Can a constitutional amendment be struck down if not ratified?

Kihoto Hollohan versus Zachillhu (1992)– A challenge was made to the constitutional validity of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which was introduced by the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985.

The challenge was based on the argument that the amendment had not been ratified by the States. The Tenth Schedule included a provision, Paragraph 7. It sought to exclude the jurisdiction of all courts.

The amendment brought about changes in the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the High Courts. This aspect required ratification by half of the States.

A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the overall validity of the Tenth Schedule but declared Paragraph 7 invalid due to the lack of ratification.

Union of India versus Rajendra N. Shah– The Supreme Court ruled against certain provisions of the Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011. The amendment had introduced Part IX B into the Constitution to regulate co-operative societies.

The Court unanimously determined that this amendment should have been ratified by at least half of the State legislatures, since it dealt with a subject that fell under the exclusive authority of the States.

What is the viewpoint of the Law Commission?

In August 2018, the Law Commission of India, headed by Justice B. S. Chauhan, issued a preliminary report. It stated that holding simultaneous elections is not feasible within the current framework of the Constitution.

The Commission emphasised that a constitutional amendment of this nature would need ratification from at least 50% of the States.

What is the viewpoint of experts on amendments proposed by the Law Commission?

According to P.D.T Achary , for simultaneous elections to occur, all existing State Assemblies, which currently have varying tenures, would need to be dissolved.

This could happen through two methods: either the ruling government in a State voluntarily recommends dissolution, or there is a breakdown of constitutional machinery.

However, the latter scenario is unlikely to occur for all States simultaneously.

Only remaining option is for the Union government to amend Article 172. It states that every legislative Assembly of every State shall continue for five years from its first meeting unless dissolved earlier.

P.D.T Achary states that amending this provision to synchronise State elections with Lok Sabha polls cannot be achieved without infringing upon the federal structure of the Constitution.

Following articles have been covered in the 7 PM Editorial-

1.Serious allegations – India and Canada stare at a downturn in ties after Trudeau’s charges- The Hindu

2.The Khalistan shadow on India-Canada ties, over the years-The Indian Express

3.Just What’s Going On, Justin? – The Times of India

4.Gallons of maple syrup won’t sweeten relations –Live mint

The Link of 7 PM editorial of India Canada Relations- India Canada Relations

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Bureau of Indian Standards establishes 6467 Standard Clubs for students across nation

Source: The post is based on the article “Bureau of Indian Standards establishes 6467 Standard Clubs for students across nation”  published in PIB on 19th September 2023

What is the News?

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has announced that it has established 6467 Standard Clubs in schools and colleges across the country. 

What are Standard Clubs?

Launched by: Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS) in 2001

Purpose: They are being established with an objective to sensitize young members of society about the importance of standards in improving quality of life.

Eligibility: Standards Clubs can be formed in any educational institution in India comprising teachers and students – High & Higher Secondary schools, engineering colleges, science colleges, polytechnics, professional institutions.

– Students of class IX and above and studying science subjects are also eligible to be part of the Clubs.

– Consumer Organizations/Non-Government Organizations/Voluntary Organizations registered on the Consumer Engagement Portal of BIS can also facilitate the formation & functioning of above Standards Clubs in Educational Institutions other than Engineering Institutions. 

Formation: Each Standards Club comprises a science teacher as its mentor and a minimum of 15 students as members. 

Activities: The student members of these Standards clubs engage in a variety of activities, like: Standards writing competitions, Quiz competitions, Debates, essay writing and poster making and Exposure visits to laboratories & Industrial units and more.

Financial assistance: The financial support for Standards Clubs in Engineering Institutions would be limited to a maximum amount of Rs 100,000/- per year, subject to the condition that at least two activities must be organized every year.

– The financial support for Standards Clubs in institutions other than Engineering Institutions would be limited to Rs 10,000/- maximum, for each of the three activities in a year for each Standards Clubs.  

– High and higher secondary eligible Government Schools with Standards Clubs are also entitled to receive a one-time Laboratory Grant to a maximum of Rs. 50,000/- in the form of state of the art lab equipment for upgrading their Science Lab.

– Financial assistance of upto Rs.1,00,000 will be given to establish ‘Manak Kaksha’ in government institutions where Standards Clubs have been formed.Under this initiative one room in the school shall be renovated by providing basic amenities like smart TVs, audio video systems, proper illumination, decorating the walls etc. 

Centre floats new science awards

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre floats new science awards”  published in The Hindu on 20th September 2023

What is the News?

The Government of India has decided to constitute a new set of awards for scientists called Rashtriya Vigyan Puruskar.

What is Rashtriya Vigyan Puruskar?

Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar has been constituted to felicitate scientists, technologists and innovators.

Categories: The award will be given under four categories: 

– Vigyan Ratna: It will recognise the lifetime achievement of scientists

– Vigyan Shri: It will recognise distinguished contributions to a field

– Vigyan Yuva Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar: It will encourage young scientists who have made exceptional contributions in their field and 

– Vigyan Team: It will recognise teams of three or more.

Domains: These awards will be given annually for 13 domains: physics, chemistry, biological sciences, mathematics and computer science, earth science, medicine, engineering science, agricultural science, environmental science, technology and innovation, atomic energy, space science and technology, and others.

Number of awards: There will only be three Vigyan Ratnas awarded yearly, 25 Vigyan Shri, 25 Vigyan Yuva, and 3 Vigyan Team.Only Vigyan Yuva will have an age limit of 45 years.

– The awards can also be given to Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).However, only one PIO can receive the Vigyan Ratna award, while three PIOs can be selected for both the Vigyan Shri and the Vigyan Yuva awards.PIOs are not eligible for the Vigyan Team awards.

Nominations Process: Nominations for the awards will be accepted every year between January 14 and February 28, which is recognised as National Science Day. 

– The awards will be announced on National Technology Day, May 11.

– The award ceremony will be held every year on the National Space Day, August 23, to mark the day India’s Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon.

Committee to give awards: A committee under the chairmanship of the principal scientific adviser will select the awardees.This committee will be constituted annually.

– The awards processes will be managed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for the first two years and will be taken over by the newly instituted National Research Foundation.

WHO releases report on global impact of high BP

Source: The post is based on the article “WHO releases report on global impact of high BP”published in The Hindu on 20th September 2023

What is the News?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever report on the devastating global impact of High Blood Pressure(BP) or Hypertension.

What are the key findings of the WHO Report on High Blood Pressure(BP)?

Globally: Hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide.This common deadly condition leads to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage and many other health problems.

The number of people living with hypertension doubled between 1990 and 2019, from 650 million to 1.3 billion. 

Nearly half of people with hypertension globally are currently unaware of their condition. 

More than three-quarters of adults with hypertension live in low- and middle-income countries.

Approximately 4 out of every 5 people with hypertension are not adequately treated, but if countries can scale up coverage, 76 million deaths could be averted between 2023 and 2050. 

Hypertension in India: The 2019-20 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) reported a hypertension prevalence of 24% in men and 21% among women, an increase from 19% and 17% respectively, from the previous round (2015-16).

Hypertension is the most important risk factor for death and disability in India.

Less than one-fourth of hypertensive patients in India had their blood pressure under control during 2016-2020.

What are the recommendations given by WHO to control Hypertension?

Protocol: practical dose- and drug-specific treatment protocols with specific action steps for managing uncontrolled blood pressure can streamline care and improve adherence.

Medication and equipment supply: regular, uninterrupted access to affordable medication is necessary for effective hypertension treatment; currently, prices for essential anti-hypertensive medicines vary by more than ten-fold between countries.

Team-based care: patient outcomes improve when a team collaborates to adjust and intensify blood pressure medication regimens per doctor orders and protocols.

Patient-centred services: to reduce barriers to care by providing easy-to-take medication regimens, free medications and close-to-home follow-up visits, and making blood pressure monitoring readily available.

Information systems: user-centered, simple information systems facilitate rapid recording of essential patient-level data, reduce health care worker data entry burden, and support rapid scale-up while maintaining or improving the quality of care.

Union Health Minister addresses annual meeting of the Friends of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Health Minister addresses annual meeting of the Friends of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health”  published in PIB on 19th September 2023

What is the News?

The Union Health Minister addressed the annual meeting of the Friends of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health on the occasion of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.

What is the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on NCDs (UNIATF)?

UNIATF was established by the UN Secretary-General in 2013 and placed under WHO’s leadership. 

Its role is to bring the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations together to support governments to meet the NCD-related SDG targets which includes mental health.

The Task Force supports governments to meet high-level commitments made at the United Nations General Assembly and the World Health Assembly, including the WHO Global NCD Action Plan 2013–2030. 

The task force reports each year to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

What are the key highlights from the Union Health Minister address to UNIATF?

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a significant global health problem, responsible for about 74% of all deaths worldwide, and in India, they account for 63% of all deaths.This places immense pressure on healthcare systems and has a substantial socioeconomic impact.

India’s approach towards tackling NCDs includes implementing the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).The strategy aims to provide standard care to 75 million people with hypertension and diabetes by 2025.

For every individual, a single Ayushman Bharat Health Account Number (ABHA-ID) is being maintained and tracking of every single individual with NCDs is done through National NCD Portal. 

Ayushman Bharat has introduced Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) that offer population-level interventions for the prevention, screening, control, and management of five common NCDs i.e., hypertension, diabetes, oral cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer. 

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provides health assurance/ insurance coverage for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. Rs. 5 lakh coverage per family per year is provided to over 600 million beneficiaries.

National Workshop on e-NAM 2.0 and Agri Marketing Reforms

Source: The post is based on the article “National Workshop on e-NAM 2.0 and Agri Marketing Reforms”  published in PIB on 19th September 2023

What is the News?

The Ministry of Agriculture has organized a day-long workshop on “e-NAM 2.0 and agriculture marketing reforms”.

What is e-NAM?

National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal launched in 2016.

The platform connects the current Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis to form a unified national market for agricultural commodities.

The portal is managed by “Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC)”, under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

At present, 1,361 regulated mandis in 23 states and four Union Territories are linked with the electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM).

e-NAM has been able to bring competence in APMC mandi operations via: 1) technology interventions 2) accuracy in weighment via digital weighbridge and weighing scale 3) real-time online information on commodity prices 4) access to more buyers/sellers and transparency in trade (due to on-line mode of auction) resulting in competitive bidding and there by better price discovery 5) transparency in payment via multiple online payment modes and 6) better efficiency in overall mandi operations via digitalization.

How will e-NAM 2.0 be different from current e-NAM?

e-NAM 2.0 will be an advanced version of existing e-NAM wherein the reforms in the State Acts will be very important in the success of e-NAM 2.0.

Three Hoysala temples declared World Heritage Sites

Source: The post is based on the article “Three Hoysala temples declared World Heritage Sites”  published in The Hindu on 19th September 2023

What is the News?

The Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

What are Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas?

Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas comprises three temples in Karnataka namely the Channakeshava temple in Belur, the Hoysaleshvara temple in Halebidu and the Keshava temple in Somanathapura.

These temples were constructed during the 12th and 13th centuries by the Hoysala kings and are dedicated to deities Shiva and Vishnu.

These temples are known for their ornate and incredibly detailed stone carvings that are put together in a stellate plan on a star-shaped raised platform.

The material used in temple construction is chlorite schist which is also known as soapstone that is soft and amiable to carving.

The temples have horizontal friezes and many of the sculptures are signed by artists which is unique in the history of Indian art while the doorways show intricate carvings showcasing the excellence achieved by the artist.

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Revolutionizing Indian Agriculture: MoA&FW Unveils Game-Changing Initiatives for Farmers

Source: The post is based on the article “Revolutionizing Indian Agriculture: MoA&FW Unveils Game-Changing Initiatives for Farmers”  published in PIB on 19th September 2023

What is the News?

The Union Finance Minister and Union Agriculture Minister have launched several initiatives focused on agri-credit and crop insurance.

What are the initiatives launched by the government?

Kisan Rin Portal:

Kisan Rin Portal (KRP) is a collaborative effort between Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW),  Department of Financial Services (DFS), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAH&D), Department of Fisheries (DoF), RBI and NABARD.

The portal aims to revolutionize access to credit services for farmers through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and help them access subsidized agriculture credit through the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS).

The portal also serves as a central hub where farmer data, loan disbursement details, interest subvention claims, and progress in utilizing the schemes are integrated. 

It allows for smooth coordination with banks and enables proactive policy actions, strategic guidance and improvements to make agriculture credit more effective and ensure the optimal use of interest subvention.

WINDS Portal:

Full Form: Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) 

Purpose: To ensure real time weather information so that farmers can take right precaution for their crops at the right time.

The portal aims to establish a network of Automatic Weather Stations & Rain Gauges at the taluk/block and gram panchayat levels.This will help create a robust database of hyper-local weather data, supporting various agricultural services.

KCC Ghar Ghar Abhiyaan:

The aim of the campaign is to ensure that every farmer has unhindered access to credit facilities that drive their agricultural pursuits. 

The campaign will begin from 1st October 2023 to 31st December 2023.

The campaign will help in the saturation of KCC accounts among eligible PM-Kisan beneficiary farmers by connecting around 1.5 crore beneficiaries who are not yet connected to KCC scheme.

Army likely to complete inducting 114 Dhanush guns by 2026

Source: The post is based on the article “Army likely to complete inducting 114 Dhanush guns by 2026”  published in The Hindu on 20th September 2023

What is the News?

The Indian Army is on track to complete the induction of 114 Dhanush artillery guns by 2026, with one regiment already operational.

The Pralay missile is also in advanced stages of induction.

What is Dhanush?

Dhanush is a 155 mm, 45-calibre towed artillery gun with a range of 36 km.

The gun has demonstrated a range of 38 km.

The gun is an upgrade of the existing 155 mm, 39-calibre Bofors FH 77 gun. 

The Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited, carved after corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board is now manufacturing the Dhanush guns.

What is a Pralay missile?

Pralay is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile.The missile is designed to destroy enemy radar, communication installations, command centres and airfields.

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Five Eyes intelligence alliance backs Canada probe in Nijjar killing: What is it

Source: The post is based on the article “Five Eyes intelligence alliance backs Canada probe in Nijjar killing: What is it”  published in Hindustan Times on 19th September 2023

What is the News?

Canada’s charge about India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was backed by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

What is the Five Eyes alliance?

Five Eyes is an alliance comprising Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. 

These partner countries share a broad range of intelligence with one another in a unified multilateral arrangement.

These alliance countries are also parties to the multilateral UKUSA Agreement, which is a treaty focused on joint cooperation in signals intelligence. 

India-Canada Relations:

Canada is home to nearly 1.4 million people of Indian ethnic or cultural origin, about 3.7% of the country’s total population, according to the 2021 census.

More than 770,000 people reported their religion as Sikhism, about 2% of Canada’s population.

In 2019, the Canadian government designated April as Sikh Heritage Month.

India was Canada’s 10th largest two-way merchandise trade partner in 2022 with more than $13.7 billion in trade.

The following today’s current affairs articles have been covered in 7 PM Explained section of the day:

7 PM Editorial of the day: India Canada Relations – Explained Pointwise