9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – September 27th, 2022

Posted on September 27th, 2022 Last modified on September 28th, 2022 Comments Views 3

Dear Friends,

We have initiated some changes in the 9 PM Brief and other postings related to current affairs. What we sought to do:

Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today’s newspaper are readily available to you.
We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough and adds value not just for GS but also for essay writing. Hence, the 9 PM brief now covers the following newspapers:
1. The Hindu
2. Indian Express
3. Livemint
4. Business Standard
5. Times of India
6. Down To Earth
7. PIB
We have also introduced the relevance part to every article. This ensures that you know why a particular article is important.
Since these changes are new, so initially the number of articles might increase, but they’ll go down over time.
It is our endeavor to provide you with the best content and your feedback is essential for the same. We will be anticipating your feedback and ensure the blog serves as an optimal medium of learning for all the aspirants.
- For previous editions of 9 PM Brief – Click Here
- For individual articles of 9 PM Brief– Click Here

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Could constitutional monarchy crack a democratic conundrum?

Source– The post is based on the article “Could constitutional monarchy crack a democratic conundrum?” published in the mint on 27th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Indian Polity

Relevance– Threats to democracy

News– The article explains the relevance of constitutional monarchy in context of emergence of demagogues across democracies in the world. It also explains the need to be cautious about blind faith on constitutional monarchs for checking demagogues.

What are arguments against constitutional monarchy?

It is an old institution. It has lost its relevance in current times.

Concept of monarchy is against the democratic principles of equality and elected head of states.

Monarchy is ceremonial and symbolic. It is not very different from Republicanism.

It does not enjoy any executive authority and puts a fiscal burden on society.

According to Merriam-Webster, a demagogue is a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power.

What are the arguments in support of constitutional monarchy?

Biggest threat to democracy today comes from demagogues and not constitutional monarchs.

Far rights leaders are emerging across the world. They are assuming absolute powers by leveraging the electoral system.

Plato also warned about this weakness of democracy.

The US constitution also recognizes this weakness. It has introduced a system of checks and balances and separation of powers to guard against demagogues.

Constitutional monarchs enjoys legitimacy and popularity among the masses. They can act as a stabilizing role in democracy. They can act as bulwark against demagogues.

What are the arguments against it?

If people don’t find constitutional monarchs useful, they can lose popular support and legitimacy. It will result in abolition of the institution.

Constitutional monarchy may usurp power from Parliament. They can assume absolute powers.

Constitutional monarchy may not be a magical solution. They can act as institutional bulwark against threats to democracy.

Samarkand: a miniature of an emerging world

Source– The post is based on the article “Samarkand: a miniature of an emerging world ” published in The Hindu on 27th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- International Relations

Relevance– About Emerging world order

News– The article explains the current global situation. It also tells about the new developments at the SCO summit in Samarkand and its implications for future world order.

What is the current global situation?

Russia is on the back foot because of the Ukraine war.

China cannot take position against Russia because of the Taiwan issue. It had to strike a deal with Russia on Taiwan in return for supporting Russia in the Ukraine war.

The USA wants closer relations with democracies. A counter coalition against QUAD (Red QUAD) may emerge in Indo-pacific.

What is the stand of India against its adversaries?

Given the present situation, it is a possibility that Russia would be a part of its opposing party.

Therefore, India told Russia to end the Ukraine war. PM Modi said that democracy and diplomacy should be the way forward. India spoke about the looming oil crisis and disrupted supply chain due to war. Putin said that he understood India’s concern and promised to end the conflict. He blamed Ukraine for the continuation of war.

However, India has not been much vocal against China. India should have engaged with China which occupied territories across LAC. But India was silent.

India would have pulled Pakistan over cross border terrorism. India only demanded transit and trade access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. The Pakistan PM claimed that he discussed the Kashmir issue with China and received assurance of support. But China was silent.

China and Russia welcomed India’s Chairmanship of the SCO and extended their support. It was nothing but a formality.

By questioning Russia on the continuation of the war, which positioned India on the right side of history in a world order divided between democracies and autocracies.

India made this clear at the SCO summit that it cannot be with China or Russia in the new dispensation.

What are the indications of developments at the Samarkand summit?

Samarkand summit shows the world order that may emerge in the future.

The Quad may be the forum that will enable India to protect its interests in the Indo-Pacific.

China-Russia-Iran-Pakistan axis will dominate SCO.

Ripple effects of the SCO summit were evident in the present UNGA session. Both Russia and USA supported the expansion of UNSC. Russia supported India membership of UNSC.

Death penalty: Deciding the rarest of the rare

Source– The post is based on the article “Death penalty: Deciding the rarest of the rare” published in The Indian Express on 27th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Fundamental rights provided by Indian constitution

News– The article explains the current framework for providing capital punishment. It also explains the weakness of this framework.

Recently Supreme Court acknowledged the need for re-examining the fundamental aspects of death penalty.

What is the Bachan Singh case?

Supreme Court proposed sentencing framework for death penalty. It asked courts to weigh aggravating and mitigating circumstances. It introduced “rarest of rare” category of case for capital punishment.

What are the concerns with this framework?

Different court approaches– The courts have taken differing approaches in which factors are relevant to sentencing and how best to bring in factors relevant to punishment.

The courts have different opinions about the weightage sentencing factors must receive, and the contentious role of public opinion.

Accused in death penalty cases are mostly poor. They cannot afford quality legal representation. They don’t have the resources to put before the Court meaningful mitigation information.

Santosh Kumar Bariyar v State of Maharashtra (2002)– SC judge expressed concern about the lack of uniformity in death penalty sentencing.

Channu Lal Verma v State of Chhattisgarh (2018)– SC judge Called for a relook at the constitutional possibility of the death penalty because of the arbitrariness in the process.

The Lethal Lottery in 2008 and the 262nd Law Commission of India Report in 2015 also found shortcomings in the present framework.

What are examples that show contradictions in the Supreme Court’s approach?

Manoj & Ors v. State of MP– SC set in place practical guidelines to ensure that courts have sufficient material on the accused before delivering a sentence of death at every stage of the judicial process.

Manoj Pratap Singh v. State of Rajasthan– SC does not find it useful for courts to have sufficient material on the accused.

What is the way forward?

The accused need to be given time and resources to gather and present such information in every single case and at every judicial stage.

We are required to remove the deep suspicion and biases faced by the accused person.

For further readings–

https://forumias.com/blog/9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-september-22nd-2022/#gs15

https://forumias.com/blog/9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-september-21st-2022/#gs12

GS Paper 3

Pitching India as a signature destination

Source: The post is based on an article “Pitching India as a signature destination” published in The Hindu on 27^th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Industries and industrial policies

Relevance: tourism sector in India and problems associated with it.

News: World Tourism Day is celebrated on 27^th September 2022 but tourism sector has been severely impacted by the pandemic in India and around the world.

However, the government is making efforts to bring the industry back on track.

One of such efforts is the ‘The Dharamshala Declaration’ which has been developed with help of various Ministers.

What is Dharamshala Declaration?

The Dharamshala Declaration aims to recognize India’s role in contributing towards global tourism as well as focusing on recovery of domestic tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism has come up with strategy to encourage more Indians to travel domestically and explore India. It will help to reach the goal of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.

The Tourism Ministry has also been working with the Ministry of External Affairs to identify 20 Indian missions abroad. This will help in bringing higher number of tourists in India.

Moreover, there are goals set for the Indian tourism sector for the coming years that will boost the sector’s growth.

What are the goal set for India in tourism sector?

India would be achieving $150 billion as GDP contribution from tourism and $30 billion in foreign exchange earnings with 15 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2024.

India is estimated to grow at 7%-9% compounded annual growth rate by 2030.

The Tourism Ministry is committed to work on these goals to ensure the positioning of India as one of the world’s best tourism destinations by 2047.

What is the current situation of tourism in India and what steps have taken by government?

Tourism has been one of the sectors severely affected by COVID-19.

The Government of India’s Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme was recently enhanced from ₹4.5 lakh crore to ₹5 lakh crore to benefit enterprises in hospitality and related sectors.

Further, the Ministry of Tourism has also prepared a draft National Tourism Policy 2022.

What are the provisions of the draft National Tourism Policy 2022?

First, it aims at improving the framework conditions for tourism development in the country.

This will be done by supporting tourism industries, strengthening tourism support functions and developing tourism sub-sectors.

Second, it also promotes sustainable, responsible and inclusive tourism in line with our cultural values.

Third, it aims to give support to digitalization, innovation and technology through the National Digital Tourism Mission and skilling through the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Mission.

Fourth, the policy also gives a special focus to private sector participation through public-private-partnerships (PPP).

This policy has been first attempt towards tourism and hospitality sectors after 2002.

Moreover, the presidency of G20 will be an advantage for India to bring its tourism Infront of the world.

How can the presidency of G20 will be helpful for tourism sector in India?

India has an opportunity to position itself as a major tourism destination during India’s presidency of the G20.

India will welcome delegates from the 20 countries/European Union and it will be hosting around 200 meetings with foreign delegates.

This will be an opportunity for India to showcase its country’s cultural richness to the world.

Moreover, the Ministry of Tourism should also work with other Ministries to bring required transformation in visa, ease of travel, traveler-friendly and improved immigration facilities at airports.

Why PLI Is Worth Doing

Source: The post is based on an article “Why PLI Is Worth Doing” published in The Times of India on 27^th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Industries and industrial policies

Relevance: advantages and problems associated with Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

News: Vedanta Foxconn semiconductor factory in Gujarat has received an investment of $20 billion through the government’s flagship Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. This has led to the analysis of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

How does PLI affect a specific product category?

PLI on a specific product category is accompanied by higher tariffs on the product.

This increases the import tariffs and usually results in higher price for the Indian consumer and lower prices of domestic products.

For example, iPhone 13 costs Rs 1. 29 lakhs in India versus Rs 92,500 in Chicago.

How PLI recognize the problem of manufacturing sectors and what are the steps taken for the improvement?

Problem: Manufacturing as a proportion of GDP has not picked up meaningfully despite reforms in 30 years. PLI reforms recognizes that India’s manufacturing productivity is almost 20-30% lower than the rest of Asia. It also recognizes that perfect conditions required for its growth will take time to come up.

Solution: The government will monetize that productivity deficit through PLI.

This will help them to invest in large global-scale capacities. Therefore, PLIs are the industrial variant of Direct Cash Transfer that help to boost the industries.

However, there is a concern for its affordability through budget and post PLI measures.

What are the concerns associated with PLIs?

Affordability: The total combined estimation for the 14 PLI programs is Rs 3.46 lakh crores and it is being argued whether the government will be able to spend this amount.

The amount is expected to be spent over five years and it would be 1. 5% of Union Budget expenditure (0. 2% of GDP). Therefore, it seems reasonable and can be supported by the government through budget.

Further, the total expenditure is dependent on milestone production achievements of the companies. If the maximum projected milestones are achieved by the companies, they would generate enough additional taxes to pay for the programme by itself.

Post PLI: Investment through PLIs is for a five-year period and this raises concerns for the companies for post five-year plans. It has been said that PLIs would help companies with incentives to build ecosystem and sustain itself without any further requirement of the incentives.

NASA’s risk focus adds up and so does the US Fed’s

Source: The post is based on an article “Nasa’s risk focus adds up and so does the US Fed’s” published in The Live Mint on 27^th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Science and technology development

Relevance: problems associated with space weaponization.

News: NASA is estimated to have invested above $320 million in Dart (Double Asteroid Redirection Test). It is the US space agency’s project to protect the planet from hitting any asteroid headed for earth.

NASA launched its Dart (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft in November 2021 with Didymos in its target sights.

Didymos is a large asteroid which is 11 million km away. NASA is planning to hit the asteroid with Dart.

What is the use of Dart project?

America’s Dart project assures everyone on the earth to save the world from any such situation arising out the asteroid hitting the earth.

It would coordinate with other space agencies of the countries to execute the mission in saving the earth.

What are the problems associated with such space missions?

Cost: The cost of the mission is huge when compared to the probability of an asteroid hitting the Earth.

Alteration in data: Further, drones at over 25,000 kmph may alter the orbiter’s speed and make it difficult for NASA to detect and study.

Probability: The probability for an asteroid to hit the earth is very low. Till now, Nasa knows of no asteroid or comet that is on the course to hit the earth.

For example, last year Asteroid Bennu’s was estimated to crash into Earth till 2300 CE. Its probability was 1 in 1,750 and it’s still highly unlikely to happen.

However, Dart can be useful in the bad times when such situation arises.

A push for semiconductor industry

Source– The post is based on the article “A push for semiconductor industry” published in The Hindu on 27th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS3- Indian economy

Relevance– semiconductor manufacturing

News– The article explains the size of the semiconductor industry. It also talks about the Indian government scheme to promote semiconductor manufacturing in India and the challenges associated with the scheme.

What about the semiconductor industry?

Semiconductors are the building blocks of almost every modern electronic device from smartphones to connected devices in the Internet of Things.

The chip-making process is complex and highly exact. It has multiple other steps in the supply chain that include-

Designing software for chips and patenting them through core Intellectual Property rights.

(b) Making chip-fabrication machines and setting up factories

The chip-making industry is highly-concentrated. It is controlled by the big players like Taiwan, South Korea U.S. According to a New York Times estimate, 90% of 5nm chips are mass-produced in Taiwan.

What are the changes introduced in the scheme?

According to the Electronics and IT Ministry, semiconductor demand in India would increase to $70-$80 billion by 2026.

In December 2021, India announced its $10 billion dollar production linked incentive (PLI) scheme to encourage semiconductor and display manufacturing in the country.

It also announced fiscal support for a design-linked initiative (DLI) scheme for designing software, IP rights etc.

The new changes in the scheme seek to harmonize government incentives for all technology nodes of semiconductors. The modified scheme provides uniform 50% fiscal support for all nodes. Besides, it will provide 50% of capital expenditure for other steps of the process as well (chip design and ATMP).

What are the challenges?

Resources-Chip production is a resource-intensive and expensive process. The outlay of the scheme remains $10 billion. Just the setting up of one semiconductor factory requires an investment of anywhere between $3 and $7 billion. Little would be left to support other elements like packaging and testing facilities, and chip design centers.

Initial funding should focus on areas like design and R&D.

Water-Chip-making requires ultra-pure water. Government needs to provide it to chip making factories. It could create challenges for the government.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

ISRO eyeing 200th successful launch of RH-200 sounding rocket in a row

Source: The post is based on the article “ISRO eyeing 200th successful launch of RH-200 sounding rocket in a row” published in The Hindu on 26th September 2022.

What is the News?

The Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) is planning the 200th successful launch of the Rohini RH-200 sounding rocket in a row.

What is RH-200?

RH-200 is a part of the Rohini-sounding rocket family used by the ISRO for atmospheric studies. It has completed 198 consecutive successful flights so far.

Features: It is a two-stage rocket capable of climbing to a height of 70 km bearing scientific payloads. The first and second stages of RH-200 are powered by solid motors.

Note: The ‘200’ in the name denotes the diameter of the rocket in mm.

What are Sounding Rockets?

Sounding rockets are usually one or two-stage solid propellant rockets. They are primarily intended for probing the upper atmospheric regions using rocket-borne instrumentation.

They also serve as platforms for testing prototypes of new components or subsystems intended for use in launch vehicles and satellites.

History of Sounding Rockets in India

The launch of the first sounding rocket US made ‘Nike Apache’ from Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in 1963 marked the beginning of the Indian Space Programme.

Later days saw the launching of two-stage rockets imported from Russia (M-100) and France (Centaure).

In 1967, ISRO started launching a series of its own sounding rockets named Rohini from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station(TERLS).

RH-75 was the first truly Indian-sounding rocket which was followed by RH-100 and RH-125 rockets.

Currently, the RH200, RH300 MkII and RH560 Mk-III rockets are operational.

Govt commits Rs. 7,385 crore under Fund of Funds for Startup India Investment for 88 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)

Source: The post is based on the article “Govt commits Rs. 7,385 crore under Fund of Funds for Startup India Investment for 88 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)” published in PIB on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

Fund of Funds for startups has committed Rs 7,385 crore to 88 alternative investment funds (AIFs). These AIFs in turn have invested Rs 11,206 crore in 720 startups.

What is the Fund of Funds for Startups(FFS)?

Launched in: 2016 under Startup India Initiative.

Nodal Ministry: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Aim: To increase capital availability as well as to catalyze private investments and thereby accelerate the growth of the Indian startup ecosystem.

Corpus: The fund was announced with a corpus of Rs. 10,000 crores. The corpus is to be built up over the 14th and 15th Finance Commission Cycles through budgetary support.

Features: FFS does not invest in startups directly but provides capital to SEBI registered Alternate Investment Funds(AIFs) known as daughter funds which in turn invest money in high-potential Indian startups.

Managed by: SIDBI has been given the mandate of managing the FFS through the selection of daughter funds and overseeing the disbursal of committed capital.

Significance: FFS has not only made capital available for startups at the early stage, seed stage and growth stage but also played a catalytic role in facilitating the raising of domestic capital, reducing dependence on foreign capital and encouraging homegrown and new venture capital funds.

AVGAS 100 LL, special aviation fuel meant for piston engine aircrafts and Unmanned Ariel Vehicles launched

Source: The post is based on the article “AVGAS 100 LL, special aviation fuel meant for piston engine aircrafts and Unmanned Ariel Vehicles launched ” published in PIB on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has launched indigenously-developed AVGAS 100 LL.

What is AVGAS 100 LL?

AVGAS 100 LL is a special aviation fuel meant for piston engine aircrafts and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Currently, India is importing this product from European countries.

What has been developed now?

Indian Oil Corporation(IOC) has indigenously-produced AVGAS 100 LL at its Vadodara Refinery in Gujarat.

This fuel is designed for use in turbo-charged reciprocating piston engine aircraft mainly used by Flying Training Organisations(FTOs) and defence forces for training pilots.

It is a higher-octane Aviation fuel meeting the product specifications with superior performance quality standards as compared to imported grades.

What is the significance of this development?

The indigenous availability of AV GAS 100 LL will help reduce dependence on imports and address the associated logistical challenges.

The country will be able to save precious foreign exchange with the inhouse availability of this product.

NavIC system: Why is the Centre promoting this home-grown alternative to GPS

Source: The post is based on the article “NavIC system: Why is the Centre promoting this home-grown alternative to GPS” published in Hindu Businessline on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

India is pushing tech giants to make their smartphones compatible with its NavIC system.

However, the manufacturers, including companies like Samsung, Xiaomi and Apple are worried about the elevated costs and disruptions as the move requires hardware changes.

What is NavIC?

NavIC, or Navigation with Indian Constellation is an independent stand-alone navigation satellite system developed by the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO).

NavIC was originally approved in 2006. It was expected to be completed by late 2011 but only became operational in 2018.

NavIC consists of eight satellites and covers the whole of India’s landmass and up to 1,500 km from its boundaries.

Where is NavIC used currently?

Currently, NavIC’s use is limited. It is being used in public vehicle tracking in India, for providing emergency warning alerts to fishermen venturing into the deep sea where there is no terrestrial network connectivity, and for tracking and providing information related to natural disasters.

How does NavIC work compared to other satellite navigation systems like GPS?

The main difference is the serviceable area covered by these systems. GPS caters to users across the globe and its satellites circle the earth twice a day while NavIC is currently for use in India and adjacent areas.

Moreover, like GPS, there are three more navigation systems that have a global coverage — Galileo from the European Union, Russia-owned GLONASS and China’s Beidou.

QZSS operated by Japan is another regional navigation system covering the Asia-Oceania region with a focus on Japan.

Why is India promoting NavIC?

India says NavIC is conceived with the aim of removing dependence on foreign satellite systems for navigation service requirements, particularly for strategic sectors.

Relying on systems like GPS and GLONASS may not always be reliable as those are operated by the defence agencies of respective nations, and it is possible that civilian services can be degraded or denied.

Fertility rate declined by 20% in India in 10 years: SRS data

Source: The post is based on the article “Fertility rate declined by 20% in India in 10 years: SRS data” published in TOI on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) data 2020, General Fertility Rate (GFR) has declined in India by 20% over the past decade.

What are the key findings from the SRS data?

General Fertility Rate(GFR): It refers to the number of children born per 1,000 women in a year in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years.

– The average GFR in India stood at 86.1 from 2008 to 2010 (a three-year period) and has come down to 68.7 during 2018-20 (an average of three years).

– The decline has been steeper in rural areas at 20.2% compared to 15.6% in urban areas.

– Among the states/UTs, Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed a maximum decline in GFR followed by Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan between 2008-10 and 2018-20.

– Reasons: Increase in the age of marriage, the improved literacy rate among women and easy availability of modern contraceptive methods are some of the key factors behind this change.

Fertility Rate: The Total Fertility rate (births per woman of reproductive age) in India is 2 as per the latest SRS data.

– Bihar has reported the highest TFR (3.0) while Delhi, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have reported the lowest TFR(1.4).

– At present, the TFR of a rural woman is 2.2 at the national level which is higher than that of an urban woman(1.6).

Government to reduce number of awards given for scientific research

Source: The post is based on the article “Government to reduce number of awards given for scientific research” published in The Hindu on 26th September 2022.

What is the News?

The Government of India has decided to reduce the number of awards given to scientists and medical researchers on the grounds that they are restricted to only “really deserving candidates”.

What are the awards that will be given from now on?

Department of Science and Technology(DST): DST gave 207 awards of which four were National Awards, 97 were private endowment awards, 54 were lecture, scholarship or fellowship-based awards and 56 were ‘internal awards’.

– DST will now retain only the National awards and do away with the rest. It will also start a new scheme for scholarship/fellowships with a suitable honorarium.

Atomic Energy Department: It currently gives 25 “performance-based awards” which are given by public sector units affiliated to the department and 13 non-core domain awards. The department has now decided to do away with all these awards and instead institute a new one “of very high stature”.

Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO): It gave only three internal awards. These awards will be done away with and will be replaced with a National level award of very high stature.

CSIR: It conferred seven awards including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards which are given annually to accomplished scientists.

– It has been decided to continue with the SSB award as it was a “high stature award” but a monthly allowance given to winners for 20 years would be capped to 15 years. The six other awards would be discontinued.

Ministry of Earth Sciences: It conferred four National Awards. It has been decided that the Dr Anna Mani Award for women scientists will now be merged with “awards given to women by other departments like the Ministry of Women and Child Development” and the other three awards ought to be discontinued and replaced with a “new national award”.

Ministry of Health: It will rationalize 51 Florence Nightingale awards given to nurses and “suspend” three national awards by the National Medical Council.

Foreign Trade Policy extended for six months

Source: The post is based on the article “Foreign Trade Policy extended for six months” published in PIB on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

The Ministry of Commerce has announced the extension of the existing Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20) by another six months.

What is Foreign Trade Policy?

Foreign Trade Policy provides a framework for increasing exports of goods and services as well as generation of employment and increasing value addition in the country.

It focuses on supporting both the manufacturing and services sectors with a special emphasis on improving the ease of doing business.

What are the key features of the Foreign Trade Policy(2015-20)?

Click Here to read about it

Why has the existing Foreign Trade Policy been extended again?

The government has received feedback from stakeholders against unveiling any long-term strategy such as a new Foreign Trade policy amid the volatile geopolitical situation, supply chain disruptions, currency depreciation and dwindling exports.

What has been the trend in India’s exports and imports?

India’s merchandise exports in August 2022 saw less than 2% year-on-year growth at $33.92 billion while imports surged 37.28%.

Although crude oil prices have eased to a great extent, the depreciation of rupee against the dollar is one of the reasons for surging imports.

Note: India is the third-largest consumer of fossil fuel in the world after the US and China. It imports 85% crude it processes and pays in dollars.

Centre to set out area limits for mineral mining in states

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre to set out area limits for mineral mining in states” published in The Hindu on 27th September 2022

What is the News?

The Government of India is preparing to set out area caps for mining as it aims to carve out smaller mining areas to attract more investors.

What is the current method of allocating mining areas?

Currently, in the mining process, the government first identifies large areas that could have probable mineral reserves and offers them to companies for initial testing.

Once the probable mineral resource is established, a prospecting license(PL) is given where licensees get to do more exploration to establish the possible mineral resources.

Then, they apply for a mining lease(ML) for a particular area to extract the resource. Essentially, PL is granted for undertaking “prospecting operations” to explore, locate or prove mineral deposits while ML is granted for the actual mining operation.

What are the changes the government is planning to bring now?

The Government of India is preparing to set out area caps for mining as it aims to carve out smaller mining areas to attract more investors.

This move will also prevent vast tracts of land irregularly ending up with a few miners, which would undermine the very purpose of auctioning mineral concessions through a fair and transparent mechanism.

All states will have to follow the area limits for various minerals including iron ore, diamond, bauxite, gold and copper while auctioning resources and changes would require permission from the Center.

These changes will be brought through an amendment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

1,464 books, 74 years and counting: How the world’s largest Encyclopaedic Sanskrit Dictionary is taking shape

Source: The post is based on the article “1,464 books, 74 years and counting: How the world’s largest Encyclopaedic Sanskrit Dictionary is taking shape” published in Indian Express on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute in Pune, Maharashtra is hosting an Open Day for the general public to witness its ongoing Encyclopedia of Sanskrit dictionary Project.

About Encyclopedia of Sanskrit dictionary Project

Started by: Linguist and Sanskrit Professor SM Katre, founder of India’s oldest Department of Modern Linguistics in Deccan College conceived this project in 1948.

– The current members of the project are a team of about 22 faculty and researchers of Sanskrit.

Features of the project: The dictionary contains words in alphabetical order. It follows historic principles in stating the meaning.

– For example, the word beginning with the letter ‘ अ ‘, like Agni will have all the citations from Sanskrit texts starting with Ṛig Veda and the references from the texts following Ṛig veda, chronologically arranged. This helps a reader to understand the historical development of the meaning of the word.

Published volumes: Thirty-five volumes have been published as part of this project. These volumes consist of references from 62 knowledge disciplines restored in the Sanskrit language and trace the language’s linguistic developments right from Rigveda to Hasyarnava (1850 AD).

Software used: The first volume took three years to be published in 1976. But technological intervention and an exclusive software with a font named KoshaSHRI have quickened the process.

Significance: The encyclopedia dictionary of Sanskrit will be the world’s biggest dictionary.

– For comparison, the Oxford English Dictionary with 20 volumes and 2.91 lakh word entries so far remain among the most popularly used dictionaries.

– On the other hand, the Encyclopedia Sanskrit Dictionary, once ready, will be three times larger. The 35 volumes published so far contain about 1.25 lakh vocables (word).

Broad-billed sandpiper spotted for the first time at Nanjarayan tank bird sanctuary

Source: The post is based on the article “Broad-billed sandpiper spotted for the first time at Nanjarayan tank bird sanctuary” published in The Hindu on 25th September 2022.

What is the News?

Broad-billed sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus) has been spotted for the first time at Nanjarayan tank bird sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.

What is a Broad-billed sandpiper?

Broad-billed sandpiper is a migratory bird species found in Northern Europe, particularly in the Nordic Countries such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, and in Siberia.

The bird spends its non-breeding season foraging on insects and crustaceans in the shallow waters and mud flats, mostly in the coastal belt of the eastern part of Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

IUCN Status: Least Concern

What is Nanjarayan Tank Bird Sanctuary?

Nanjarayan Tank, a biodiversity hotspot has recently been announced as the 17th bird sanctuary of Tamil Nadu.

Nanjarayan Tank, also known as Sarkar Periyapalayam Reservoir, is located on the outskirts of Tirupur city near Koolipalayam about 60 kilometres from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

The tank was built by the then-local King Nanjarayan as a source for irrigation and is a haven for migratory birds.

Sittanavasal, a Jain heritage site in Tamil Nadu, battles the elements

Source: The post is based on the article “Sittanavasal, a Jain heritage site in Tamil Nadu, battles the elements” published in The Hindu on 25^thSeptember 2022.

What is the News?

At least three-fourths of the art in Sittanavasal is either damaged or vandalised. This is due to unrestricted public access and general exposure to the elements.

About Sittanavasal

Located in: Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu

It is considered by historians to be one of the oldest inhabited areas in the district and a major centre of Jain influence for 1,000 years just before the Christian era.

Sittanavasal is the name used synonymously for the hamlet and the hillock that houses a) The Arivar Kovil (temple of Arihats – Jains who conquered their senses), b) ‘Ezhadipattam’ (a cavern with 17 polished rock beds), c) Megalithic burial sites and d) The Navachunai tarn (small mountain lake) with a submerged shrine.

This is the only place in Tamil Nadu where one can see Pandya paintings. The site is administered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). ASI has undertaken conservation measures and also introduced digital checks to track public access.

About Sittanavasal’s painting works

The artwork on the ceiling of the sanctum and the Ardha mandapam of Arivar Kovil is an early example of post-Ajanta cave paintings of the fourth to sixth centuries. It is done using the fresco-secco technique (a process that dispenses with the preparation of the wall with wet plaster).

The ceiling paintings show ‘bhavyas’ (exalted souls who work to achieve moksha or spiritual liberation) enjoying themselves in a pool, full of blooming lotuses.

The colours are a mixture of plant dyes and mineral elements such as lime, lamp black, and clay pigments such as ochre for yellow and terre verte for the greyish-green tints.

About Sittanavasal’s inscriptions

The Sittanavasal has inscriptions from Brahmi and ‘vattaezhuthu’, from the third century AD. Early Tamil inscriptions from the ninth century AD of the Jain monk Ilan-Gautaman were also present here.