9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – September 29th, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Matter of degrees: UGC should think more on allowing four-year undergraduates to enrol for PhDs
• False dichotomies of education that we must strive to overcome
• In nature’s warning signs, a nudge to riparian states
• Globe-changing reverberations of the Ukraine war
• Eye of the State – on draft Telecommunication Bill
• India’s national priorities are best served domestically
• G-20 presidency is an opportunity to position India as the voice of the Global South
• Rediscovering the Bay of Bengal
• Democracy in Kashmir: Indira’s failure, Vajpayee’s success

GS Paper 3

• Foreign trade: Going beyond a phrase
• Talent, recognition – on awards to scientists

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Union Cabinet informed about progress under National Health Mission (NHM) – 2020-21
• Tourists witness the remarkable blooming of Neelakurinji flowers in Chikmagalur that happens once in 12 years
• Ancient plant silphion known for curing many diseases probably still around: Expert
• Dibang hydel project: Arunachal says no land for national park, NGT drops its own case
• How pollution, insects are threatening Taj Mahal, and what Supreme Court has said
• Why the wait for new trade policy just got longer
• Centre extends Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for another three months
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) unravels remarkable Archaeological remains in Bandhavgarh Forest Reserve
• Swedish defence firm Saab plans to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon in India

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Matter of degrees: UGC should think more on allowing four-year undergraduates to enrol for PhDs

News: UGC is set to allow four-year undergraduate degree holders to enrol for PhD programmes.

What are the impacts of the UGC decision?

Advantages: a) In sync with global standards: A number of foreign universities allow undergraduates to skip the postgraduate stage and enrol directly for PhD, b) It will save time and money for students.

Disadvantages: a) Dilutes the requirement of mandatory publication of a research paper before the award of a PhD, b) Quantitatively it will produce more PhDs. For instance, in 2019, the US had 55,000 doctoral recipients. The same year, India had 2 lakh scholars enrolled for PhD and 39,000 doctoral recipients, c) PG course helps students do a deeper study of the discipline and also in research – because a dissertation has to be written. This will be diluted, d) Many PhDs will go on to teach undergraduate and PG students and inadequate knowledge of the core discipline will impair teaching standards.

What UGC needs to do?

Firstly, UGC must ensure that PhD coursework also integrates parts of the PG curriculum.

Secondly, the same yardstick shouldn’t apply across disciplines: A doctoral student can focus on the thesis rather than a research paper but mandatory publication in a quality Scopus-indexed journal could prod the scholar to aim higher.

A UGC study in the top-ranked central university and an IIT found that 75% of the university submissions weren’t in Scopus journals, but the opposite was true for IITs. This is because there are around 30,000 Scopus-indexed journals in STEM and related fields against 14,000 for humanities and social sciences.

So, the UGC should understand that a PG degree may be important in some disciplines before a PhD and not so much in others.

False dichotomies of education that we must strive to overcome

News: Education should develop children’s capacity to question things in society or their capacity to contribute constructively. But in reality, education institutions focus far too much on the capacity to question instead of their contribution.

Good education must account for all these matters, and not make choices between them because these are false choices.

What are the false dichotomies the education should avoid and why?

Freedom versus discipline: In schools, discipline and freedom are seen as opposites. Educators often choose discipline, as it is easier to handle students. This is educationally ineffective, and potentially creates lifelong problems for students.

Memorization versus understanding: Memory plays an important role in developing conceptual understanding, as does practice in creativity. An educational approach that relies on one alone cannot achieve its goals.

Knowledge versus skills: Education today focuses on acquiring knowledge in children’s subjects. But they fail to develop their skills and capacities to process and use that knowledge. For instance, the development of an ability to communicate, or think critically, takes a back seat to soaking knowledge and content in courses.

Education for employability and employment versus a liberal education: Education that does not emphasize general capacities of critical thinking and education that ignores economic goals of productive livelihood undermines both citizenship and the individual.

Educators are facing challenges in providing liberal education which also equally develops capacities such that students can find gainful employment.

Collaboration versus competition: Institutions function as formal structures of the curriculum. But they do not focus on the practices and cultures which promote collaboration during competition. Thus making children failed to face the competition of various sorts they face in a reality.

Common-size-fits-all versus the contextual: In any education system, some matters have to be common across the system, while some must be entirely contextual. For any society to function as one unit there are common things that must be learnt. But there are contextual matters specific to areas, places, cultures and more. It is this balance between the common and the contextual that education policies must achieve.

But providing complete autonomy on everything is as dysfunctional for societies and communities as a deeply hierarchical, tightly prescriptive approach.

Love and affection for students versus a distanced professional approach: Education is at its core a matter of relationships, particularly between teachers and students. Both love and distanced approach should be practised on various situations.

So overall a good education requires not dichotomies, but a consistent endeavour to balance and achieve complementary ends, both in theory and in practice.

In nature’s warning signs, a nudge to riparian states

News-The article explains the challenges faced by India due to frequent floods in trans-boundary rivers. It also explains the international mechanism to mitigate trans-boundary river floods.

Nearly a third part of Pakistan was impacted by floods. In June this year, Assam also faced floods.

There is a lack of transparency in sharing hydrological information between states which aggravates the flooding.

What is customary international law

In accordance with customary international law, no state can use its territory in a manner that causes harm to another state while using a shared natural resource. It means that there is a binding obligation on all states not to release water to cause floods in other  countries.

What are challenges for India in case of Brahmaputra River?

Assam faces frequent floods in Brahmaputra River.

China dam construction activities on Brahmaputra is cause of concern for India.

There is no comprehensive basin-level mechanism to deal with water management of Brahmaputra.

Neither India or China are party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UNWC) 1997 or the United

Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) water convention. Both have provisions for flood mitigation.

There was an MoU with China in 2013 with a view to sharing hydrological information during the flood season. But the MoU does not allow India access to urbanization and deforestation activities on the Chinese side of the river basin.

What is the case with flooding in Gandak and Kosi rivers?

Floods in Gandak and Kosi rivers that are shared by India and Nepal are frequent phenomena.

The intensity has increased because of glacial retreat and heavy seasonal precipitation.

Both rivers are covered under India-Nepal Kosi agreement, 1954 to check floods in the river basin.

What is the way forward?

India can become a party either to UNWC or water convention. It could lay the groundwork for a bilateral treaty on Brahmaputra with China. India should not insist on insertion of dispute settlement mechanism provisions.

With Nepal, it is important that the two neighbors view the river basins as single entities. It will help in facilitating an integrated approach for improved basin and flood risk management.

Globe-changing reverberations of the Ukraine war

News– The article explains the impacts of Russia-Ukraine powers. It also explains the response of major powers and its implications for future world order.

Big powers have always feared being surrounded. Russia has always felt vulnerable on its western front.

What are the impacts of the Ukraine war?

Russia had poor strategy and weak logistics. It has paid a heavy price militarily, economically and diplomatically.

There are more losses of human life than during the 10-year Afghanistan intervention.

There is huge devastation in Ukraine. Around 10 million people have crossed to neighbouring countries and 7 million people displaced internally.

What is Russia’s response?

Ukraine counter-offensive has retaken a 6500 square kilometres area and forced Russian forces to retreat to the Kharkiv border.

It has led Putin to announce referendums in occupied areas. Putin is planning to mobilise more focus. He is threatening to use nuclear weapons. Mr. Putin now interprets the current war as an existential struggle in which Russia would make use “of all weapon systems available

to us”.

What will be the consequences for the future?

Ukraine will continue to remain hostile.

Putin’s objective of ensuring Russia’s security will remain elusive. He will suffer reputational damage both in Russia and at global level.

It will be beneficial to the west if war continues.

Rivalries between west and Russia would be sharper than during the cold war. The threat of nuclear weapons will increase as the treaty on non-proliferation will come under huge stress.

The strength of nationalism, based on ethnicity, culture, religion, history and language,

will grow.

The Ukraine war will lead to major economic shifts. States suffering from western

sanctions will try to set up alternative financial and monetary platforms beyond the control of Washington.

There will be increased protectionism and retreat from globalization. It will impact world growth.

Where does China and India stand?

China- It will continue to have a closer relationship with Russia.

India– It will be a setback for India’s vision of a multi-polar world order. It will have security implications for India as we have closer collaboration with Russia in areas of space, nuclear energy and defense.

Eye of the State – on draft Telecommunication Bill

News– The article explains the vast surveillance power provided to the State by the draft Telecommunication Bill and its impact on fundamental rights enjoyed by citizens.

What are the provisions of the draft Telecommunication Bill that provides for state surveillance?

Clause 24(2)– It provides that application of surveillance will extend to OTT communication services like Telegram, Whatsapp. This will violate the privacy of users.

Clause 3 and 4– It requires licensing of telecommunication services.

Clause 23- It provides power to the government to prescribe standards. It will result in more regulations. It may lead to requirements for service providers like local registration and hosting of data. Smaller service providers may find it difficult due to compliance cost and privacy concerns.

Law enforcement agencies are provided more powers on vague grounds like-

Clause 25– It provides for extensive powers to the government like taking over the control, suspending the operation and even managing telecommunications services for reasons of “national security”. The term “national security” is not clearly defined and it is a vague term.

Clause 34– Providing false information by users may lead to their prosecution.

Clause 51– It requires service providers to supply user information to authorised officers for civil or criminal proceedings.

What are other challenges related to state surveillance?

There is a lack of data protection law.

State continues with unauthorised surveillance.

Bombay High Court noted in one of the cases that premier investigating agencies like the CBI have used interception orders that neither have sanction of law nor issued for legitimate aim.

India’s national priorities are best served domestically

News:  India has been involving greatly into international summits and meetings. But it does not serve much of India’s interest and there is need for India to change its priorities.

Why do international meetings do not serve the nation’s interest?

A lot of time spent on the international meetings and the cost of time spent is not at par with the returns.

For example, The Indian PM called for better supply chains and full transit rights at this SCO summit but Pakistan won’t allow surface transit rights to India via its territory.

China blocked a joint move by India and the US to blacklist the Laskhar-e-Taiba militant Sajid Mir under the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

Further India is also going to head the G20 presidency.

But due the declining relations with China and Pakistan it is doubtful whether the heads of Pak and China will attend the meeting in India.

Therefore, India should focus more on resolving domestic challenges.

What are the domestic issues in India?

Unequal growth: The southern states are growing faster than those in the north. This may lead to serious disputes between India’s southern and northern states over the sharing of centrally-raised revenues.

Delimitation of constituencies: The delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies was last done on the basis of the 2001 census and is due for a review in 2026.

SC cases: Supreme Court is struggling with issues which may be resolved by ruling political parties at the Centre and the states.

For example, issues such as places of religious worship, quotas in government jobs for the economically weaker sections, etc.

Electricity: The state electricity corporations are also suffering with distribution losses by the high levels of subsidies provided in several states.

According to the Reserve Bank of India’s July 2022 report, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand are fiscally vulnerable. Another issue is the range of non-merit subsidies such as fertilizer subsidies.

What can be the course of action?

First, all such subsidies can be withdrawn and may be distributed as universal basic income.

Second, the repeated extensions and appointments of officials by the central government need course of correction.

Third, the central government needs to discuss the disputable issues with the state governments like it did for GST.

Therefore, India should try to resolve domestic challenges first rather than indulging in international meetings.

G-20 presidency is an opportunity to position India as the voice of the Global South

News: India is about to take the presidency of G20. Its presidency will play a great role in putting forward Global South.

Recently external affairs minister S Jaishankar has called India the Voice of Global South.

However, there are many concerns as India’s official outlook has also changed with time.

How has India’s official outlook change?

India has been inactive in the Group of 77 (G-77). It is now a 134-member group of developing economies.

India last hosted a G-77 meeting in New Delhi in the 1980s whereas Pakistan has been more active within this group and currently chairs it.

On the other hand, India was busy with forum like G-7 plus, BRICS, SCO and trilaterals and quadrilaterals like Quad, etc.

Several factors seem to have contributed to a change in Indian official outlook.

What are the factors responsible for the change in Indian official outlook?

First, the unwillingness of the P-5 (the US, Russia, China, France and UK) to reform UN governance and let India into the UN Security Council.

Second, Western deglobalization and disinterest in the reform of multilateral financial and trade organizations (IMF, WB & WTO).

Third, failure on the part of the US, EU, China and Japan to address the problem of fixing external debt burden of developing countries.

Fourth, the deadlines on climate change.

Fifth, the East-West power struggle brought by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and imposing huge costs on developing economies.

What are the concerns with the present G20 meeting in Indonesia?

Indonesia is currently hosting G-20 summit.

It is unlikely that Russia and the US will come together in the G-20 meeting. If the Indonesia summit fails, G-20 might enter a non-functional phase.

Therefore, taking the presidency of G20 will be an opportunity for India to fix many issues.

How G20’s presidency will be an opportunity for India?

In the past few meetings, the G20 has not played any significant role. For example, it failed to step in and help the Covid-afflicted world.

Therefore, India may be taking over the chairmanship of a paralyzed group and it will be an opportunity for India to breathe life in the group through North-South dialogue.

G20 will also be a great opportunity for India to showcase its tourist destinations to the world and promote tourism.

India’s focus on reform of multilateralism, international finance and trade, climate change, developing country external debt, etc. were last seen in the pre-globalisation India era of the G-77.

India can raise these issues back on the global platform (G20). It will make a low-income developing country like India the Voice of the Global South.

However, India needs to regain the trust of other developing countries, especially in Africa and South and Southeast Asia to once again play this role effectively.

What can be the course of action?

Indian foreign policy has been on the lines with the Western policies. Therefore, there is a need to stay in the South and raise the developmental concerns of the Global South.

Rediscovering the Bay of Bengal

News: India has also opened the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBS) at Nalanda University. This shows India’s commitment towards constructive efforts by forming connections and setting up platforms for all in the Bay of Bengal.

The Bay of Bengal (the Bay) is experiencing an increase in geo-economic, geopolitical, and geo-cultural activity. It can play a key role in shaping the maritime order in Asia.

How CBS will be an advantage?

It will offer collaborations in areas such as geo-economics and geopolitics, ecology, trade and connectivity, maritime security, maritime law and blue economy. It will lead to generation of opportunities for the Bay region.

This will strengthen India’s overall framework for maritime engagement.

Further, it will also advance sustainable economic growth for all countries by promoting closer maritime ties.

What is the importance of the Bay of Bengal?

Commercial hub: The Bay has been a major commerce hub for the Indian Ocean. It created a channel between the East and the West in terms for trade and culture.

Security: It also acts as lifeline for global economic security and energy security.

Environment: The Bay also provides an opportunity for greater regional cooperation in the environmentally friendly exploration of marine and energy resources.

Biodiversity: The Bay has a biodiverse marine environment with many rare and endangered marine species and mangroves.

Geopolitical changes: The increasing interest towards Indo-Pacific and realignment of global economic and military power towards Asia has increased the significance of Bay region.

However, there have been many changes in the Bay in the recent times.

What changes or problems have come up in the Bay?

Population growth, altered land use, excessive resource exploitation, salinization, and sea level rise.

Non-traditional dangers including terrorism and climate change.

There has been species extinction due to the careless exploitation of the maritime environment which has led to problem of biodiversity.

These have led to the formation of a dead zone and the mangrove trees that protect the shore from the natural hazards are under more threat than ever.

Therefore, actions are required to preserve the Bay.

What can be the course of action?

First, a more focused and interdisciplinary study is required on these issues.

CBS has given the nation a unique interdisciplinary research center devoted to Bay-focused teaching, research, and capacity building.

Second, it is essential that maritime neighbors develop a partnership and cooperate because maritime domains are interrelated and interdependent.

A few concerns that need immediate attention are – expanding cooperation in maritime safety and security, enhancing cooperation on maritime connectivity and the ease of maritime transit, among others.

Third, there is a need for regional marine entities to balance opportunities and goals on a national, regional, and international scale.

Fourth, countries in the region will need to mobilize incentives and investments, manage oceanic affairs more effectively, and support people as they switch to alternative lifestyles.

Democracy in Kashmir: Indira’s failure, Vajpayee’s success

News:  Elections in Jammu and Kashmir is due for the past four years. It has been under direct administration of the Union government since Article 370 was revoked.

What were changes brought by revoking Article 370?

Jammu and Kashmir was transformed from a state to the union territory by the Union Parliament.

The new UT was given limited powers along the line of lines Delhi assembly.

The central government made further more changes in the UT.

For example, State subject certificates were replaced with domicile certificates which allowed voting and property rights to a temporary as well as long-time residents.

It altered land laws and affected forest rights, allocated mining rights to industry from outside the state, removed the right to free education up to the post-graduate level.

The latest changes were to revise the delimitation of electoral constituencies as ordered by the reorganisation act.

However, there are still many problems with Jammu and Kashmir.

What are the problems present in Jammu and Kashmir?

Voter’s list: Jammu and Kashmir administration began to revise the voters’ list after the delimitation commission submitted its report.

However, in the absence of recent census 2020 it is difficult to understand how the voters’ list was prepared.

New laws: Jammu along with Kashmir has also suffered from the result of the new domicile certificates, land laws and industrial policies.

Delimitation commission: there are also allegations that the delimitation of electoral constituency by the delimitation commission has not been fair to the Kashmiri population.

Border dispute: J&K shares border with Pakistan and there have been wars which has disturbed the area.

Insurgency: There has been increase in the insurgency within the Kashmir valley and targeted attack on Pundits, panchayat officials and the police still continue.

Therefore, there is a need for a free and fair assembly election especially that which allows civil society observers.

How past government has helped in free and fair election in Kashmir?

Atal Bihari Vajpayee government ensured free and fair elections in 2002 when the insurgency was at its height.

The elections were followed by new policies of non-interference in state governance along with peace negotiations with armed groups as well as Pakistan.

Vajpayee government followed by Manmohan Singh government led to a sharp fall in attacks and casualties and the restoration of a functioning government.

The peace-building years of 2002-2012 also laid the foundation for India to use the UN’s Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to target Pakistan-based terrorists.

Therefore, there is a need to revise the current policy of the government.

What can be further course of action?

First, a free and fair election in 2023 can help to restore peace in J&K.

Second, the strongest confidence-building measure would be to restore statehood prior to elections and stop the implementation of the delimitation commission’s recommendations.

GS Paper 3

Foreign trade: Going beyond a phrase

News: Recently, India’s foreign trade policy, 2015 was extended by six months at a time since 2020.

What are the reasons behind extending the foreign trade policy?

What is the need for a new Foreign Trade Policy?

What is the evolution of trade in India since FTP 2015-2030?

In 2015, the government was doubtful about the benefits of freer trade. So, new agreements were put on hold, older agreements were scrutinised, and bilateral investment treaties were scrapped.

After the Covid-19 pandemic hit India, the prime minister introduced the concept of aatmanirbharta, or self-reliance. It is not clear what self-reliance specifically means in the context of foreign trade policy. It is assumed that increasing the capacity and competitiveness of domestic industry.

Meanwhile, the government has also acted on multiple new free trade agreements,. For instance, a) Signing a comprehensive partnership with the United Arab Emirates, b) A more limited agreement with Australia, and c) Moving discussions forward with the United Kingdom and the European Union among others.

What clarifications are required in a new foreign trade policy?

The new foreign trade policy should ideally fill a) “Self-reliance” is one short phrase and does not constitute a policy statement on its own, b) Clarify whether Production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes are a temporary bridging mechanism or an export promotion system or an investment promotion scheme or a geo-strategic play to reduce dependence on China. This can be done by clearly defining aim and purpose of the scheme, c) There has to be clear proof of how temporary subsidies lead to a permanent increase in competitiveness.

In the absence of this understanding, the errors of the past will be repeated. These issues need to be clearly examined and understood before releasing a new policy.

Talent, recognition – on awards to scientists

News– The article explains the rationale behind central government’s proposed move to have a re look at awards, prizes and fellowships. It also explains the issues faced by scientific researchers if it is implemented.

The Union Home Ministry has been given this task to have a re look.

What is the rationale behind reducing the number of awards to scientists?

It is in accordance with PM’s vision regarding “Transformation of the Awards Ecosystem”.

Central government had modified the system of the Padma awards.

It ensures that ordinary people doing selfless work get the opportunity to get awards rather than well-known personalities who are repeatedly given these awards.

The government wants a transparent selection process.

What are the issues with the proposed move?

It is easy to set benchmarks in the field of sports and gallantry awards. But it is not the case with scientific research. It involves subjectivity.

It is possible to train talented youth to be Olympians or international cricketers but impossible to create an Einstein or a Chandrasekhar.

It is not easy to recognise early carrier potential. There is a lot of subjectivity involved. Fewer awards could increase discontent. Many talented youths can miss the opportunity to get awards.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Union Cabinet informed about progress under National Health Mission (NHM) – 2020-21

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Cabinet informed about progress under National Health Mission (NHM) – 2020-21” published in PIB on 28th September 2022

What is the News?

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister was informed about the progress under the National Health Mission(NHM) during FY 2020-21.

What is the National Health Mission(NHM)?

National Health Mission(NHM) was launched by the government of India in 2013 subsuming the National Rural Health Mission (Launched in 2005) and the National Urban Health Mission (Launched in 2013).

Aim: To provide financial and technical support to States enabling them to provide accessible, affordable, accountable, and effective healthcare up to District Hospitals (DHs) especially to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population.

Components: The main programmatic components include Health System Strengthening in rural and urban areas, Reproductive-Maternal- Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A), and Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases.

Beneficiaries: NHM is implemented for universal benefit – i.e. entire population; services are offered to everyone visiting the public healthcare facilities with a special focus to vulnerable sections of the society.

Targets under NHM by 2025: 1) Reduce MMR to 90 from 113, 2) Reduce IMR to 23 from 32, 3) Reduce U5MR to 23 from 36, 4) Sustain Total Fertility Rate(TFR) to 2.1, 5) Reduce prevalence of Leprosy to <1/10000 population and incidence to zero in all districts, 6) Annual Malaria Incidence to be <1/1000, 7) Prevent and reduce mortality & morbidity from communicable, non- communicable; injuries and emerging diseases, 8) Reduce household out-of-pocket expenditure on total health care expenditure and 9) Ending the TB epidemic by 2025 from the country.

What has been achieved under the mission?

Under-five mortality rate(U5MR): It has declined from 49 in 2013 to 36 in 2018.As per SRS 2020, U5MR has further reduced to 32.

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): It has declined by 443 points from 556 per one lakh live births in 1990 to 113 in 2016-18. 

Infant Mortality Rate(IMR): It has declined from 80 in 1990 to 32 in the year 2018.As per SRS 2020, IMR has further reduced to 28.

Total Fertility Rate(TFR): As per Sample Registration System (SRS), TFR in India declined from 2.3 in 2013 to 2.2 in the year 2018.As per SRS 2020, TFR has further reduced to 2.0.

Malaria: In the year 2020, malaria cases and deaths have declined by 46.28% and 18.18%, respectively.

TB Cases: The incidence of TB per 1,00,000 population has been reduced from 234 in 2012 to 193 in 2019. The mortality due to TB per 1,00,000 populations for India reduced from 42 in 2012 to 33 in 2019.

Kala Azar: The percentage of Kala Azar (KA) endemic blocks, achieving the elimination target of < 1 KA case per 10000 population, increased from 74.2% in 2014 to 97.5% in 2020-21.

Tourists witness the remarkable blooming of Neelakurinji flowers in Chikmagalur that happens once in 12 years

Source: The post is based on the article “Tourists witness the remarkable blooming of Neelakurinji flowers in Chikmagalur that happens once in 12 years” published in Indian Express on 29th September 2022

What is the News?

The Neelakurinji flowers that blossom once in many years have turned the green patches of hill stations in Chikkamagaluru purple-blue.

What is Neelakurinji?

Neelakurinji is the famed shrub found in Western Ghats, covering the slopes of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Their scientific name is ‘strobilanthes kunthiana‘. Neelakurinji blooms once every 12 years.

It is rarest of rare plant species that grows in Western Ghats and does not grow in any other part of the world. Besides the Western Ghats, Neelakurinji is also seen in the Shevroy in the Eastern Ghats, Sanduru hills of Bellary district in Karnataka.

Significance: Nilgiri Hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji.

– Kurinjimala Sanctuary of Kerala protects the kurinji in Kottakamboor and Vattavada villages in Idukki district.

– Kurinji Andavar temple located in Kodaikanal of Tamil Nadu dedicated to Tamil God Murugan also preserves these plants.

– The Paliyan tribal people living in Tamil Nadu used it as a reference to calculate their age. 

– The flower has no smell or medicinal value.

Ancient plant silphion known for curing many diseases probably still around: Expert

Source: The post is based on the article “Ancient plant silphion known for curing many diseases probably still around: Expert” published in Down To Earth on 29th September 2022.

What is the News?

According to a recent study, a Mediterranean medicinal plant named Silphion which mysteriously vanished 2,000 years ago may still be around. 

What is Silphion?

Silphion is a yellow-flowered plant that was thought to have gone extinct some 2,000 years ago.

Habitat: These plants may need cold and moist conditions for seed germination. This is because the plants related to Silphion, such as Ferula drudeana and Ferula asafoetida, also need similar environmental conditions for seeds to germinate

Ancient usage of the plant: The resin of the Silphion was extensively used as a spice, perfume, aphrodisiac, contraceptive and medicine.

– It also occupied an important place in the export economy of ancient Cyrene, an old Greek and later Roman colony near north-eastern Libya.

Causes of extinction of Silphion: Overharvesting, Human-induced environmental changes and Widespread deforestation and desertification.

What has been found now about Silphion?

A study has claimed that the Silphion plant may still be around and not have gone extinct.

This is because recently researchers from Istanbul University found a plant species at three locations in Turkey, that resembled the ancient plant Silphion.

Dibang hydel project: Arunachal says no land for national park, NGT drops its own case

Source: The post is based on the article “Dibang hydel project: Arunachal says no land for national park, NGT drops its own case” published in Down To Earth on 28th September 2022.

What is the News?

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has dismissed the case it took up suo motu on the grant of forest clearance for the 3000-MW Dibang hydel project without meeting the precondition of declaring a National Park.

The NGT did so after it was informed by Arunachal Pradesh that the local people are not willing to part away their land for the declaration of National Park.

What is the Dibang Multipurpose Project?

Dibang Multipurpose Project is a hydropower cum flood moderation project proposed on Dibang River (a tributary of Brahmaputra) in the Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. 

The dam site is located about 1.5 km upstream of the confluence of Ashu Pani and Dibang rivers and about 43 km from Roing, District Headquarter. 

The project would moderate flooding in the areas downstream of the Dibang Dam during the entire monsoon period.

What is the National Green Tribunal?

Click Here to read

How pollution, insects are threatening Taj Mahal, and what Supreme Court has said

Source: The post is based on the article “How pollution, insects are threatening Taj Mahal, and what Supreme Court has said” published in Indian Express on 29th September 2022.

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has directed the Agra Development Authority to stop all commercial activities within a 500-meter radius of the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What is the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)?

Since the 1970s, there have been growing concerns that emissions from industries near the Taj Mahal are causing its once-gleaming white marble surface to discolour, turning it yellow and black in some places. 

In order to protect the monument from pollution, the central government demarcated an area of 10,400 sq km around the Taj, called the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).

The TTZ comprises monuments including three World Heritage Sites, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. 

In 1996, the Supreme court in a landmark judgment (M.C. Mehta vs Union Of India & Ors),  banned the use of coal/ coke in industries located in the TTZ with a mandate for switching over from coal/ coke to natural gas, and relocating them outside the TTZ or shutting down. 

Did the condition of the Taj Mahal improve after this?

In 2010, a report submitted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) found that despite various government schemes to reduce pollution in the TTZ area, the iconic Taj Mahal continued to face a threat from water and air pollution.

What was the Supreme reaction to the condition of the Taj Mahal?

In 2018, the Supreme Court criticized the UP government for not producing a vision document that would outline the steps it would take to protect the monument.

It also questioned how the TTZ authorities were considering proposals by several industrialists to expand their units in the demarcated area, despite an “ad hoc Moratorium” imposed by the court.

Why the wait for new trade policy just got longer

Source: The post is based on the article “Why the wait for new trade policy just got longer ” published in Livemint on 29th September 2022

What is the News?

The Union government has extended the tenure of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 by another six months till March 2023. 

Why do we need a foreign trade policy? 

Amid declining exports and slowing global growth, the new Foreign Trade Policy(FTP) was aimed at making Indian exports more globally competitive by reducing transaction costs and time. 

It was expected to lay down simple and transparent procedures which would have been easy to comply with, boosting efficiency in the management of foreign trade in India.

The policy was all the more crucial following the Russia-Ukraine war and covid-19, which bruised supply chains and slowed global trade growth. 

What exactly were exporters expecting in the New Foreign Trade Policy? 

The industry was expecting support in the form of several fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to boost exports, especially in the services sector. 

They were hoping that the government will reform the discontinued Service Export Incentive Scheme (SEIS) to aid specific sectors such as travel and tourism and health. The SEIS scheme rewarded service exporters at 5% or 6% of the net foreign exchange earned.

The industry was also expecting a focused policy for e-commerce shipments, a broader duty remission scheme for exporters and a scheme to develop districts as export hubs.

Why was an intervention required right now? 

India’s merchandise exports grew at the slowest pace in 18 months in August at 1.62%. Several sectors, including. jewellery, engineering exports and ready-made garments contracted, underlining the need for government intervention.

Why has the new Foreign Trade Policy(FTP) been delayed then?

The new Foreign Trade Policy(FTP) has been postponed due to current global uncertainty and currency volatility.

Centre extends Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for another three months

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre extends Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for another three months” published in PIB on 28th September 2022

What is the News?

Union Cabinet has approved the extension for the  Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY-Phase VII) for a further  period of 3 months i.e. October to December 2022.

What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)?

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana(PMGKAY) was launched in 2020.

It is a part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package(PMGKP) to help the poor fight the battle against Covid-19.

Purpose: Under this welfare scheme, 5 kg of food grain per person per month is provided free of cost for all the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) [Antodaya Anna Yojana & Priority Households] including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Significance: The scheme has provided food security to the poor, needy and vulnerable households/beneficiaries so that they do not suffer on account of the non-availability of adequate food grains. Effectively it has doubled the quantity of monthly foodgrains entitlements being normally delivered to beneficiaries.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) unravels remarkable Archaeological remains in Bandhavgarh Forest Reserve

Source: The post is based on the article “Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) unravels remarkable Archaeological remains in Bandhavgarh Forest Reserve” published in The Hindu on 28th September 2022

What is the News?

Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) has discovered remarkable archaeological remains in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Forest Reserve.

What has been discovered by ASI at Bandhavgarh Forest Reserve?

26 caves which are mostly Buddhist in nature. Remains of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism like chaitya-shaped doors and cells containing stone beds.

26 ancient temples/relics of Kalachuri period (9th century CE to 11th Century CE).

A large Varaha sculpture datable to the 9th – 13th century CE. It appears to be the world’s largest sculpture. 24 Brahmi inscriptions (2nd century CE to 5th century CE)

Important kings of the era mentioned in the inscriptions include Shri Bhimsena, Maharaja Pothasiri and Bhattadeva.

About Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. It was declared as a National Park in 1968 and then became a Tiger Reserve in 1993. 

The park resides on the extreme northeastern border of Madhya Pradesh and the northern edges of the Satpura mountain ranges.

The park derived its name from the most prominent hill of the area which is said to have been given by Lord Rama to his brother Laxman to keep a watch on Lanka The fort was built by Gond Dynasty kings.

One of the biggest attractions of this national park is the Bengal tiger(Panthera tigris tigris). Bandhavgarh has a very high density of tigers within its jungles.

Swedish defence firm Saab plans to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon in India

Source: The post is based on the article “Swedish defence firm Saab plans to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon in India” published in Hindustan Times on 27th September 2022

What is the News?

Swedish defence firm Saab has announced its plan to set up a manufacturing facility in India for the Carl-Gustaf M4 shoulder-fired weapon system under the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative to bolster indigenous defence manufacturing. 

Note: The facility will be the firm’s first manufacturing facility for the Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon system outside Sweden. 

What is Carl-Gustaf M4?

Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle is a man-portable, multi-role weapon system that allows dismounted soldiers to effectively deal with multiple challenges on the modern battlefield.

Key Features: It is lightweight, robust, reliable, effective and easy to use.

– It can be fitted with a wide range of sights to ensure a maximum effect in any tactical situation and flexibility for the user. 

– The system is attached with a standard clip-on telescopic sight, with additional options, including open sight, red dot sight and advanced fire control devices available.

The Indian Army has been using the iconic Carl-Gustaf since 1976 and currently operates the Mk2 and Mk3 versions.