9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – September 21st, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• Decolonization: After All, The Raj Is Dead

GS Paper 2

• For State Of The Nation, Look At States Of The Nation
• Death Penalty
• Positioning India in a chaotic world
• A blow for dignity
• Weighing Quad against SCO
• Telcos want seven sections of the Telegraph Act 1885 repealed or modified

GS Paper 3

• Reducing air pollution: Stubble burning needs economic solutions
• The lumpy skin disease
• Harnessing Gati Shakti, National Logistics Policy for closer regional ties
• Work from home is popular but its productivity isn’t settled yet

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Union Minister launches SCALE app for skill development in leather sector at Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai
• AIBD Unanimously extends India’s Presidency for one more year
• China remains a formidable challenge, says Navy Chief
• The ‘triple dip’ La Niña, and its likely impact in India
• The significance of Ethereum Merge and its impact on blockchain architecture
• First public global database of fossil fuels launches
• CSE releases roadmap for legacy waste management, dumpsite remediation
• ECI seeks restrictions on cash donations to political parties, writes to government

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Decolonization: After All, The Raj Is Dead

News: At present, there is an intense debate on decolonisation all over the world. But India should move past the decolonisation debate.

What India learnt from Britain?

India has imbibed much from Britain including the Westminster-style democracy. The 19th-century Bengal ‘renaissance’ or cultural rebirth or the campaigns against sati and untouchability were born from the constructive synthesis of the ideas of the European Enlightenment and Indian reformism.

Several early Congressmen were England-educated, deploying the ideas of Western liberal democracy against the British empire.

Many Dalit-bahujan thinkers see the Raj’s education system as a liberating influence from Brahmanical dominance. Writer-activist Chandra Bhan Prasad had even created a temple to “Goddess English” in Banka village in UP.

How did Britons and British universities criticised the British Empire?

a) British author William Dalrymple has talked about the rampant exploitation of India by the East India Company, b) Several Indian-origin academics who have written knowledgeably on imperialist oppression carry out their work supported by British universities and publishers.

What colonial legacy does India need to root out?

1) Governments in all states use the colonial sedition law of 1870, a provision used against freedom fighters like Nehru and Netaji. Recently, the Supreme Court put a one-year moratorium on using the law.

Note: The UK abolished its sedition laws in 2009 because of their “chilling effect” on free speech.

2) India’s police forces are guided by the 1861 Police Act and several laws from the 1862 Indian Penal Code still remain, 3) India’s elaborate VIP convoys that politicians of all parties prefer are relics of the colonial past. On the other hand, British politicians use public transport and prefer simplicity.

English language, a colonial legacy and India’s strength

Competency in English is one of India’s most valuable assets. It is spoken widely, and English language coaching centres are also present in many states. Globally, English is a language of aspiration and a language that many highly accomplished and globally renowned NRIs speak.

In 2022, as many as 1,18,000 Indians received student visas to study in the UK. At present, Indian nationals are the second-largest group, after British nationals, working in Britain’s National Health Service.

Indian-origin Rishi Sunak almost became the UK’s prime minister and Indian-origin Suella Braverman is Britain’s current home secretary.

What should be done?

India’s Parliament has very few minority community MPs. On the other hand, Britain has impressive diversity in the Parliament. India should learn from them.

India and Britain should confidently learn from each other how to improve modern democracy and work together to promote mutual economic advantages. Instead of calling for decolonisation, the real need is bridge-building with each other.

GS Paper 2

For State Of The Nation, Look At States Of The Nation

News: In the Independence Day speech, PM set the tone for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. He also said ‘When the states grow India grows.’ Niti Aayog, with its mandate to actualise cooperative federalism, is a perfect platform for the national development agenda.

How can Niti Aayog help in making Viksit Bharat?

The medium between states to implement best practices

States have varying capacities in driving transformational and inclusive growth. But Vision 2047 requires strong and agile institutions with an overall development strategy, setting sectoral targets and bringing together technology, enterprise and efficient management for policy formulation and implementation.

Niti Aayog can act as a medium for states to learn from each other through sharing of their best practices. For example,

Project Excel is a Gujarat government initiative to empower women, youth, orphans, minority communities and marginalised groups by promoting entrepreneurship, farm value chain interventions, etc.

The Farmer Registration and Unified Beneficiary Information System (FRUITS) facilitates faster and targeted delivery of agriculture-related services to farmers in Karnataka.

Enhancing cooperative federalism

With the help of Niti Aayog, state planning departments can reinvent themselves as State Institutions for Transformation (SIT). SITs would identify critical growth drivers and play a vital role in facilitating stakeholder consultations for focussed efforts that balance sustainable growth with social development while addressing climate concerns.

Such SITs will be key to achieving a medium-term vision of SDG 2030 and a longer-term vision of India@100. For example, Karnataka set up the State Institute for Transforming Karnataka (SITK).

Building State Economic Transformation Unit (SETU)

Niti Aayog has begun a State Support Mission (SSM) that will act as a multidisciplinary ecosystem to amplify the impact of existing programmes and initiate cutting-edge projects to catalyse the development strategies of states. The SSM would also focus on providing strategic insights to collectively achieve India’s vision of a $5 trillion economy.

In this, Niti Aayog would also play a vital role in a) Scaling available technologies for the effective delivery of social welfare projects, b) Support states in raising resources for infrastructure needs, c) Establish monitoring systems to facilitate the transition from outlays to outcomes for major government schemes.

Offers Three-way partnership

IIM or IIT will be designated as a Lead Institution to help scale State Institutions for Transformations (SIT). Thus, it would be a three-way partnership between the state, a Lead Institution, and Niti Aayog, each bringing to the fore their complementing competencies for achieving our larger socio-economic growth objectives.

To help India achieve the PM’s vision of becoming an economic superpower, its incredible diversity, demographic dividend and cooperative federalism can play a strategic role. Niti Aayog will play a crucial role in making PM’s vision a reality.

Death Penalty

News– The article explains the judicial position on death sentence. It also provides arguments against death sentence.

What is recent Supreme Court decision on death penalty?

The court decided to frame uniform rules for trial courts while giving death sentences. It asked a five-judge bench to set out norms.

It expressed the need for giving a person convicted of capital offence a meaningful opportunity to argue for mitigating circumstances.

It suggested that the court might not only consider the particular context of a crime. It should consider other factors like birth, privileges, psychology, social and educational background of the convict person.

What are arguments against death penalty?

India’s criminal justice system faces the issue of discrimination against those belonging to particular caste, religion and class.

A study in 2016 found that 76 per cent of such prisoners belonged to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, other backward classes or religious minorities. Three-fourths were from economically vulnerable sections.

Another 2020 Project 39A study of trial court judgments showed that in Delhi, 60% of death sentences, awarded by trial courts between 2000 and 2013, were converted into acquittals or commutation of sentences by the High Court.

Sound legal reasoning have not been provided by courts while awarding death sentences. The same study also showed that 72 per cent of all cases where Delhi trial courts awarded the death penalty from 2000 to 2015 cited “collective conscience of the society” as an influencing factor.

The 2015 Law Commission Report on Death Penalty recommended abolition of death sentence except in terror-related cases. The report noted the global trend that over 144 countries have either in law or practice abolished the death sentence.

What is the need of the day?

This case is a crucial opportunity to bring consistency into practice. We need to ensure that those facing capital punishment get a fair, humane, and just trial opportunity.

There is a need for a better-balanced approach to capital punishment. We need to rethink the wisdom of capital punishment.

Positioning India in a chaotic world

News-The article explains India ‘s new version of non-aligned foreign policy. It also explains the changing geopolitical scenario and the need to re-look at our foreign policy priorities.

What is the new version of non-alignment?

It reflects a desire to be part of two blocs and open association with all.

It represents a new version of non-alignment that looks for an independent path in world affairs. Rather than non-alignment of past, it is multiple engagements with others.

During the SCO summit, India advised Russia that it is not an era of war but an era of democracy, dialogue and diplomacy. He also praised both Russia and Ukraine for evacuation of Indian students. It shows our new version of foreign policy.

A test case will be India’s relation with Iran. Us has threatened to put sanctions on India if it engages with Iran.

In recent times, India foreign policy appears to be passive rather than active. India abstained from voting in the UN on the Ukraine issue. During the crisis in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, India did not engage proactively.

What should be our new strategy in the changed strategic scenario?

India is facing the confluence of new situations and threats, which often interests.

We need to have a re-look at our understanding of regional and international tensions.

We need to have a new paradigm of thought. But we should not completely abandon our past priority of remaining independent of conflicting blocs.

What should be India’s strategy to deal with China?

China represents a near-term threat. We should not think that the relationship will always remain adversarial. We should leave our door open for improvement in the longer term.

We should not overlook the fact that the primary conflict between India and China is civilizational and not territorial.

Along with long-term improvement, we should manage relations with China in the near-term in the context of growing Russia-China closeness. We need to manage relationships with both Russia and China.

Why do we need to have a re-look at the nuclear dimension?

There is a need for reconsideration in the context of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. There are concerns about the possible use of nuclear weapons.

There is growing sophistication of Chinese and Pakistan nuclear forces.

A blow for dignity

News– The article explains the prevailing practice of conversion therapy in India and the legal framework to deal with this inhumane practice.

What are steps taken by various bodies to stop the practice of forceful conversion?

Recently Madras High Court in S. Sushma vs Commissioner of Police prohibited conversion therapy in Tamil Nadu.

The National Medical Commission directed all State Medical Commissions to ban conversion.

The Supreme Court in Navtej Singh Johar decriminalized homosexuality.

What is conversion therapy?

It is a range of dangerous practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation.

It consists of diverse methods like counselling, correctional rape, shock therapy and electro-convulsion.

What are the limitations of the existing legal framework?

There is no express provision in Indian law restricting conversion therapy. Only civil liability can be attached to doctors, who practice conversion therapy.

Only forceful conversion is considered illegal. It continues to take place through other forms.

What is the way forward?

Our constitution promises dignity to every citizen. Practices like conversion therapy denies dignity to an individual.

There is a need for stringent and effective legislation that bans the practice of conversion therapy.

There is a need to put criminal liability on persons who indulge in this practice.

Our constitution promises dignity to every citizen. Practices like conversion therapy denies dignity to an individual.

Weighing Quad against SCO

News-The article explains the India Indo-pacific policy. It also explains India having multiple alignment with all major powers to maintain its strategic autonomy.

What is Indo-pacific policy?

China’s aggression and expansionist policies are behind India’s Indo-Pacific stand.

Belt and Road initiative and growing Chinese presence in India neighborhood increased India apprehension.

PM Modi shared his vision of Indo-Pacific at Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore in June 2018. He claimed that it includes other nations also who are not part of this geography, but who have a stake in it.

In the initial stage India was not comfortable with the anti-Chinese stance of the USA.

Quad meetings were upgraded to ministerial level only after the Galwan attack in 2020.

What is the current foreign policy of India?

India continues to believe in plurilateralism. Along with Quad, it is also a member of SCO. It is also part of two trilaterals, India-Russia-China and India-USA-Japan.

It wants to engage with competing powers like USA, Russia, China at the same time. It supports the multipolar world.

India has reservations against past western hegemony and western dominated international order.

According to S. Jaishankar, the world’s norms are imposed by western powers. These norms, institutions and practices are responsible for western domination. These institutions needs to be dismantled.

BRICS partners share the same objective with India. They want to dismantle the world order shaped by multilateral institutions set up by western powers. China is challenging western hegemony by changing the narrative through its cultural heritage.

Why does Russia matter to India?

• Dependence on Russia for military reasons. More than two-thirds of its weapon comes from Russia.
• To balance China.

This is the reason for India ‘s participation in the Vostok military exercise.

What will decide the future course of India relations with the west?

• Western sanctions will weaken Russia to such an extent that it will move closer to China. If Russia loses the Ukraine war, China will be the only major non-western power in the region.
• Chinese foreign policy for India will also matter. If China continues to maintain its aggressive behavior against India, India will go closer to Quad than SCO.

Telcos want seven sections of the Telegraph Act 1885 repealed or modified

News: Telecommunications companies (telcos) have petitioned the Union government to repeal and amend certain Sections of the Indian Telegraph Act (ITA) of 1885.

Through the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), telecom operators have identified seven Sections that require repeal/repurposing and strengthening.

Which sections do telecommunication companies want to be repealed or amended?

Section 27: If a telegraph officer transmits any message on which the charge prescribed by the Union government has not been paid, the section provides for imprisonment/fine. Telcos want it to be repealed.

Reason: The section has become irrelevant. Because human intervention is no longer required for transmission, due to technological advancements.

Section 28: Telegraph officer will be held guilty of any misconduct that leads to delay or disruption in the correct transmission of any message.

Reason: This section has become irrelevant because misconduct is governed in accordance with the present employment laws and policies.

Section 30: It provides for imprisonment/fine or both if a person fraudulently retains, removes, and holds the message without any reason.

Reasons: There is no human intervention so this section becomes irrelevant.

Section 29A: The COAI has asked to recreate this section to address the risk of tower frauds (where documents are forged). Current law imposes a fine of only Rs 50.

Recommendations: COAI has proposed to introduce a minimum penalty of Rs 1 lakh and/or imprisonment of six months for the first offence and Rs 5 lakh and/or imprisonment up to two years for each subsequent offence.

It has also recommended that the offence should be made cognisable and non-bailable.

Section 20: This section deals with offences relating to establishing, maintaining, or working unauthorised telegraph without proper licence or authorisation from the government. Telcos demand that this section should be amended.

Recommendations: They say that the punishment should be made cognisable and non-bailable.

Presently it is non-bailable and non-cognisable with a fine which may extend to only Rs 1,000 which make it easy for fraudsters to escape.

Section 23A: this section deals with offences related to intrusion into signal rooms, trespass on the telegraph office or causing obstruction in the services. Telcos want amendment to this section.

Recommendation: The offence should be made non-bailable and cognizable. They have asked that the penalty should be raised to Rs 1 crore per offence. The fine should be paid to the affected telco or telecom licensee.

Currently, such violations only impose a penalty of up to Rs 5,000 and are bailable.

Section 25A: This section covers damages made to all kinds of infrastructure such as optical fibre cable, etc., created by telcos for delivery of their services to customers. Telcos want amendment in this section.

Recommendations: They have recommended that penalty should be increased proportionately to the loss or damage suffered by the telecom service provider/licensee.

Currently, there is a maximum fine of Rs 1000 for such damage.

GS Paper 3

Reducing air pollution: Stubble burning needs economic solutions

News: As the paddy-harvesting season is near, none of the northern rice-growing states seems to have a workable strategy in place to prevent farmers from burning crop residues. This might aggravate air pollution in the National Capital Region in October-November.

What is stubble burning? and What are the negative impacts of Stubble burning?

Why do farmers prefer to burn stubble?

Wheat straw is commonly used as animal feed and sells at good prices. But rice is unfit to be fed to cattle because of its high content of unpalatable silica. Therefore,  it has little market value.

What are the government steps to control stubble burning and its drawback?

The drawback of Microbial stubble decomposer: It was developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Delhi and Punjab governments offer this to farmers to spray them on fields.

It has been rejected by the farmers as an impractical proposition. This is because it takes 20-25 days to decompose the leftover biomass. This is too long for farmers.

The drawback of crop residue management machinery: The machinery involves additional expenses to farmers. So the farmers find it unaffordable without financial assistance.

The drawback of other types of machinery: Happy Seeders and Super Seeders can sow the new crop without removing the paddy remnants from the fields.

Some bigger machines can harvest paddy, cut the straw into pieces, and spread them on the ground or tie them into bundles in a single operation. But these are costly machines which individual farmers cannot afford.

State governments subsidise the cost of these machines for cooperative societies and custom-hiring service providers. But they do not offer financial aid to farmers to meet the charges for their use.

Note: Haryana is the only state that offers Rs 2,500 per acre for this purpose, but the farmers find the amount too little to cover the costs.

Overall, stubble burning is essentially an economic issue that requires an economic solution.

What should be done to prevent stubble burning?

Unless rice straw is converted into an economic good, farmers would have no incentive to spend money on disposing of it in an environmentally safe manner. Some of such solutions are a) Making various kinds of paper and hard boards, fuel briquettes for replacing coal in thermal plants, b) converting them into biofuel for blending with petrol. Haryana has already set up a 2G ethanol plant in Panipat to produce alcohol from paddy and other agricultural wastes.

All this shows the need to focus on the supply chain for collecting crop residues from fields and making them available to the end-users.

The lumpy skin disease

News: Lumpy Skin Disease has spread in India and it has severe implications on the economy of India.

The article discusses the challenges associated with Lumpy Skin Disease and measures taken by the government to control it.

What is Lumpy Skin Disease LSD?

Virus: It is caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) which belongs to the genus capripoxvirus. This virus is a part of the poxviridae family.

Smallpox and monkeypox viruses are also a part of the same family.

The LSDV shares antigenic similarities with the sheep pox virus (SPPV) and the goat pox virus (GTPV) and it is similar in the immune response to those viruses.

Effect of LSD: LSD affects the lymph nodes of the infected animal causing the nodes to enlarge and appear like lumps on the skin. The nodules may turn into ulcers which can develop scabs over the skin.

Incubation period: According to the FAO, the time between infection and symptoms is about 28 days.

More on LSD – https://forumias.com/blog/lumpy-skin-disease-in-cattle/

https://forumias.com/blog/lumpy-skin-disease-epidemic-in-saurashtra-39-animals-dead-govt/

Is it safe to consume the milk of affected cattle?

LSD is a non-zoonotic disease therefore it is safe to drink milk from the infected cattle.

Moreover, a large portion of milk produced is either pasteurized or boiled, or dried in order to make milk powder.

This process ensures that the virus is inactivated or destroyed.

How LSD has become a challenge for India?

India is the world’s largest milk producer and it also has the largest number of cattle and buffalo worldwide.

The disease has reduced the milk supply which will affect the dairy sector in India.

It will also affect the livelihoods of smaller poultry farmers.

What is the government doing to control the disease?

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has suggested a few measures to control the disease. It includes vaccination of the cattle with more than 80% coverage, controlling the movement of animals, etc.

The government has informed that Goat Pox Vaccine is very effective against LSD. It is being used across affected States to contain the spread.

The affected States have put bans on the movement of cattle.  They are also isolating infected cattle and buffaloes, spraying insecticides to kill vectors like mosquitoes, etc.

Some affected States are also setting up dedicated control rooms and helpline numbers to guide farmers whose cattle have been infected.

The government has also come up with vaccine – https://forumias.com/blog/lumpi-provacind-vaccine-how-icars-new-vaccine-against-lumpy-skin-disease-the-viral-infection-killing-indias-cattle-will-work/

Harnessing Gati Shakti, National Logistics Policy for closer regional ties

News: The government has announced two major initiatives to develop infrastructure of India. These initiatives can be helpful in regional integration as well.

The two initiatives are – a) Gati Shakti, or the National Infrastructure Master Plan and b) the National Logistics Policy.

These two are interrelated pillars that will help India to become a competitive economy.

What are the features of Gati Shakti?

About Gati Shakti

What are the features of National Logistic Policy (NLP)?

It aims to create a multi-modal connectivity network that enables easy movement of goods, services and people across the country.

The policy provides for a Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP). It is a digital platform that will store information about cargo movements across the country and provide clearances for such movements.

The policy focuses on the target to reduce overall logistics and supply chain costs in India from 12 per cent of GDP to the global average of 8 per cent.

India’s rank in Logistic Performance Index (LPI) issued by World Bank is 35. It is low when compared to other countries. It will be achieved through integration of local supply chains with international supply chains.

How Gati Shakti and NLP can help India’s neighbours?

The integration of Gati Shakti and NLP will help in regional economic integration.

Components of the Gati Shakti and NLP can be expanded to India’s neighbors.  It can become a powerful instrument for their economic and social development.

For example, the objectives of Gati Shakti and NLP can be applied to transport connectivity with the member countries of SAARC.

It will help in improving the regional and digital connectivity among countries for smooth movement of goods and people across borders.

India should seek to become the transit country of choice and the most preferred development partner for all the countries of the Indian subcontinent. It is possible by giving the neighboring countries a “national treatment”, in terms of access to India’s transportation and logistics network.

This can be done by integrating waterways through the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) sub-regional cooperation platform. Further linking the several cross-border rivers can also be done.

Moreover, the development of new ports in the BBIN countries can be done by promoting coastal shipping (Sagarmala) and ocean trade.

NLP includes setting up of modern warehousing and logistics facilities at nodal points across India. Such shared facilities can be extended to the neighboring countries also.

The objectives of NLP and Gati Shakti can also be introduced on the BIMSTEC platform that seeks to integrate South Asia with Southeast Asia.

Other areas that can be extended to neighboring countries are the expansion of rail services, the greater utilization of water transportation, etc.

These areas are important for enhancing energy security and fighting climate change. However, there are other steps that can be taken to give regional dimensions to Gati Shakti and NLP.

What steps can be taken by India to give regional dimensions to Gati Shakti and NLP?

First, India should reshape the architecture of these initiatives to enable their extension to our neighboring countries.

Second, the initial focus may be made on river transportation and coastal shipping among the BBIN and island Neighbours.

Third, India should offer participation to interested neighboring countries in India’s ULIP.  It will provide benefits of lower transaction and supply chain costs to those countries.

With little efforts Gati Shakti and NLP have the potential to become the key pillars of our Neighborhood First Policy.

Work from home is popular but its productivity isn’t settled yet

News:  

There is a report on Work Form Home published by National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) recently.

The survey was based on teleworking industries (information technology, finance, professions such as law, education, public administration, etc.)

The report has taken the surveys of 27 countries of which India is also the part. The report provides the attitude of the individual towards work from home.

What are the highlights of the report?

Number of working days: According to the survey Indians were working 2.6 days in a week from home compared to 1.5 days of the countries across the world.

No. of days offered to by the employers: An average of 1.8 days in a week WFH was offered by the employers in India compared to global average of 0.7 days.

No. of days desired by employees: Indians want to WFH on an average of 2.1 days in a week whereas the average of people around the world is 1.7 days in a week.

The gap between employee hopes and employer intentions about WFH was the lowest in India.

Giving income: Indians are ready to give up 6.9% of their income in order to get two or three days of WFH whereas the global average is 5%.

Mostly women were ready to give up their income for WFH because of the responsibilities of the household work that they have to take in most countries.

Travelling time: One of the advantages of WFH is that it saves the travelling time. The average travelling time for the employees across the world is 65 minutes.

Chinese employees spend the highest time in travelling with 96 minutes while Indian employees spend around 65 minutes travelling time.

Productivity: The productivity of the employees went up by 6.7% while working from home at the global level while the productivity in India increased by 9.8%.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Union Minister launches SCALE app for skill development in leather sector at Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister launches SCALE app for skill development in leather sector at Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai” published in PIB on 20th September 2022.

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Skill Development has launched the SCALE (Skill Certification Assessment for Leather Employees) app.

What is a SCALE App?

Launched by: Leather Skill Sector Council 

Purpose: The app provides a one-stop solution for the skilling, learning, assessment and employment needs of the leather industry.

– It allows people from all age groups interested in leather craft to access online live-streamed classes from the state-of-the-art studio at its office.

About India’s Leather Industry

The Leather industry in India accounts for around 13% of the world’s leather production of hides/skins. India is the second-largest producer and consumer of footwear in the world. It accounts for 9% of the world’s footwear production. 

The leather industry is an employment-intensive industry providing jobs to more than 4 million people.

Scheme for Leather Industry:  Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme (IFLDP) 

AIBD Unanimously extends India’s Presidency for one more year

Source: The post is based on the article “AIBD Unanimously extends India’s Presidency for one more year” published in PIB on 20th September 2022.

What is the News?

The 47th Asia-pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) Annual Gathering meeting was held in New Delhi.

At this meeting, the member countries have decided to extend India’s Presidency of the AIBD for one more year. 

What is the Asia-pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development(AIBD)?

Established in: 1977 under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO). 

Purpose: It is a unique regional inter-governmental organization servicing countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific(UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development.

Mandate: To achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy and resource development.

Members: AIBD currently has 26 countries as full members represented by 43 organizations, and 52 affiliate members. 

Secretariat: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

China remains a formidable challenge, says Navy Chief

Source: The post is based on the article “China remains a formidable challenge, says Navy Chief” published in The Hindu on 20th September 2022.

What is the News?

The Chief of Naval Staff(CNS) has addressed a seminar titled “Security Challenges” that India faces.

What are the key highlights from the seminar?

China’s presence in the Indian Ocean Region(IOR): China began its Indian Ocean maritime deployment in the Indian Ocean Region(IOR) in 2008 using anti-piracy operations as the reason and since then there has been a continuous presence in the region.

– At any point India has anything between 5-8 Chinese Navy units, be it warships or research vessels and a host of Chinese fishing vessels operating in the IOR. For instance, China now has a base in Djibouti and has been involved in the development of various ports in the IOR, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan and so many other countries.

– Hence, India has to maintain a high level of operational preparedness at all times whatever be the situation and the importance of infrastructure development, especially along the northern borders.

On the experience with Russian equipment: They were reliable and while there had been teething issues with some of the systems but India have received good support from Russia.

– Some technologies which India have not been able to get from any other sources, Russia has been able to support us.

Indian Navy’s lead in indigenisation efforts: Around 29 ships commissioned in the past seven years were constructed in India, and 38 out of 40 ships presently under construction were also being built at Indian shipyards. The aim of the Navy is to be fully atma nirbhar by 2047.

Lessons from the Ukraine War: It was easy to start a war, but a major challenge is to terminate it. There are also lessons in the use of media and social media to weaponize the cognitive domain.

The ‘triple dip’ La Niña, and its likely impact in India

Source: The post is based on the article “The ‘triple dip’ La Niña, and its likely impact in India” published in Indian Express on 21st September 2022.

What is the News?

The World Meteorological Organization(WMO) is predicting that the current La Niña phase will likely continue for the next six months, making it a Triple dip La Nina.

What is El Nino and La Nina?

El Nino and La Nina, which mean ‘the boy’ and ‘the girl’ in Spanish, are mutually opposite phenomena.

La Niña refers to the phase in which sea-surface temperatures are cooler than normal. The warmer phase is known as El Niño. 

Together they constitute what is known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation system, or ENSO for short.

Normally, El Nino and La Nina occur every four to five years. El Nino episodes occur more frequently and are usually associated with more impactful weather events. La Niña, on the other hand, has a longer run.

Click Here to read more

How do La Nina and El Nino impact the Indian monsoon?

El Niño years in India have witnessed extreme heat and below-normal rainfall levels during monsoon, even though El Niño might not be the only factor or even have direct links to them. In 2014, an El Niño year, India received 12% deficient rainfall from June to September.

On the other hand, La Nina years are known to favour the Indian summer monsoon. This year, India has received 740.3 mm of rainfall, quantitatively 7% higher than the seasonal average till August 30.

What is Triple Dip La Nina?

‘Triple Dip’ La Niña is a period where the La Niña period extends for up to three consecutive winters. 

For instance, La Niña phenomenon started building up in September 2020 and will continue for another six months. There is a 70% chance of this phenomenon to continue from September to November 2022 and a 55% chance of it continuing through December 2022 – February 2023.

What will be its impact?

The continuance of La Niña further into 2023 is not bad news from the Indian standpoint. But it is not the same for many other regions where La Niña has very different impacts.

In most parts of the United States, for example, La Niña is associated with very dry winters. In Australia and Indonesia, and generally in the tropical region, La Niña is expected to bring more rainfall.

The excessive rainfall in Pakistan, which is experiencing its worst flooding disaster, can also be blamed in part on La Niña.

The significance of Ethereum Merge and its impact on blockchain architecture

Source: The post is based on the article “The significance of Ethereum Merge and its impact on blockchain architecture” published in Indian Express on 17th September 2022.

What is the News?

Ethereum blockchain platform fully transitioned from ‘proof of work’ to a ‘proof-of-stake’ consensus mechanism and this revamp is known as the Merge.

What is Etherum?

Ethereum is a decentralized cryptocurrency, meaning that it does not have institutions like banks approving the transactions that happen on its network.

The approvals happen under the Proof of Work(PoW) consensus mechanism which was essentially done by miners.

Under it, the miners would compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles using a massive infrastructure of cutting-edge computer hardware, and the first one to solve the puzzle would be chosen as the validator.

This method was almost entirely dependent on crypto farms which are massive warehouses lined with rows of computers which would solve the puzzles.

What are the issues with this mechanism?

These mining farms were energy guzzlers and they sometimes consumed more electricity than entire countries and were, therefore, a big concern in terms of environmental sustainability.

For instance, the crypto’s total annualized power consumption nearly matches that of Finland, while its carbon footprint is comparable to Switzerland.

What has changed now?

Etherum has decided to set aside the need for crypto miners and gigantic mining farms which had previously driven the blockchain under a mechanism called ‘proof-of-work’ (PoW).

Instead, it has now shifted to a ‘proof-of-stake’ (PoS) mechanism that assigns ‘validators’ randomly to approve transactions and earn a small reward.

How is the new method significant?

1) It would entirely eliminate the need for miners on the Ethereum network, 2) It will reduce Ethereum’s energy consumption by nearly 99.95%, and 3) It will make transactions on the Ethereum network extremely secure.

First public global database of fossil fuels launches

Source: The post is based on the article “First public global database of fossil fuels launches” published in Indian Express on 17th September 2022.

What is the News?

The World’s first Global Registry of Fossil Fuels has been launched.

What is the Global Registry of Fossil Fuels?

Launched by: Carbon Tracker and the Global Energy Monitor 

Purpose: It is the first-of-its-kind database for tracking the world’s fossil fuel production, reserves and emissions.

– It includes data from over 50,000 oil, gas and coal fields in 89 countries. That covers 75% of global reserves, production and emissions. This registry is available for public use.

What are the key analysis that can be made from this data?

Firstly, the United States and Russia have enough fossil fuel still underground untapped to exhaust the world’s remaining carbon budget. That’s the remaining carbon the world can afford to emit before a certain amount of warming occurs, in this case, 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

– These reserves would generate 3.5 trillion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions which is more than all of the emissions produced since the Industrial Revolution.

Secondly, of the 50,000 fields included, the most potent source of emissions is the Ghawar oil field in Saudi Arabia, which churns out some 525 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

CSE releases roadmap for legacy waste management, dumpsite remediation

Source: The post is based on the article “CSE releases roadmap for legacy waste management, dumpsite remediation” published in The Print on 15th September 2022.

What is the News?

The Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) has released a roadmap for legacy waste management in a bid to support India’s garbage-free cities agenda.

What is Legacy Waste?

The term ‘legacy waste’ has not been defined in any official government document in India.

But it typically refers to wastes that are collected and kept for years at some barren land or a place dedicated to a Landfill (an area to dump solid waste).

Significance: The term ‘legacy waste’ has received close attention in the wake of Swachh Bharat Mission(SBM) 2.0 which mandates that cities in India should clear legacy waste sites, reclaim the land and prevent more waste from reaching dumpsites.

Note: The operational guidelines of the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 had made it mandatory for cities with a population of less than a million to clear legacy waste sites by March 31, 2023. Cities with a population of more than a million are to remediate their dumpsites by March 31, 2024.

What is the roadmap of CSE on legacy waste?

The CSE has prepared a seven-point roadmap which includes: 1) developing a sustainable solid waste management plan, 2) ensuring maximum utilization of recovered fractions, 3) reusing the reclaimed land sustainably on the basis of a comprehensive policy and protocol, 4) developing standards for gainful use of recovered fractions, 5) incentivising management of recovered materials 6) building capacity of urban departments and 7) ensuring sustainable operation of sanitary landfills.

ECI seeks restrictions on cash donations to political parties, writes to government

Source: The post is based on the article “ECI seeks restrictions on cash donations to political parties, writes to government” published in The Hindu on 20th September 2022.

What is the News?

Election Commission of India (ECI) has suggested a number of amendments to RP (Representation of People Act) Act,1951 to increase transparency and accountability on the part of candidates.

What are the suggestions given by the Election Commission?

Donations: All donations above Rs 2,000 should be reported, thereby enhancing transparency in funding.

– As per current rules, political parties have to disclose all donations above Rs 20,000 through their contribution report that is submitted to the EC.

Cash Donations: Restrict cash donations at 20% or at a maximum of ₹20 crores out of the total funds received by a party, whichever is less.

Digital Transactions: Make digital transactions or account payee cheque transfers mandatory for all expenses above ₹2,000 to a single entity/person.

Separate Bank account: Every fielding candidate should open a separate bank account for election purposes and route all expenses and receipts through this account, and furnish these details in their account of election expenditure.

– As of now, maintaining a separate bank account for poll expenditure is part of the instructions but EC wants it to become part of the Conduct of Election Rules.

Ensure that no foreign donations creep into the funds of the political parties as stipulated under the RP Act and the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010.