Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• How G20 will strengthen India’s building blocks
• Express View on caste in California- Law making caste-based discrimination illegal is a step forward. Prejudice must be brought into the light
• Disappearing languages, vanishing voices

GS Paper 2

• India, US and the China anxiety- For Delhi and Washington, the other’s China choices matter
• Finding Seoul in the Indo-Pacific
• India should quit the Brics
• GOI must consider a law that mandates a cooling-off period before retired judges take another job

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

How G20 will strengthen India’s building blocks

News: The article discusses the importance of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements for clean energy technologies. Global demand for these minerals has increased, but their supply chains can be unstable due to politics, trade, or natural events. India is focusing on enhancing its own production and supply of these minerals to reduce dependence on imports. The government has made policy changes to encourage mining and has formed international partnerships for mineral security.

What are Critical minerals?

Definition: Vital elements essential for modern technologies and clean energy transition.

Examples: Cobalt, lithium, silicon, graphite, and rare earth elements (REE).

Uniqueness: They have no viable substitutes, making them indispensable.

Applications: Foundational for technologies such as solar modules, wind turbines, and batteries.

Growing Demand:  Key to the global shift towards green energy solutions.

Supply Chain Vulnerability: Influenced by trade policies, geopolitics, and natural events.

Importance for India: Essential not just for economic growth but also national security.

Why are critical minerals important?

Clean Energy Technologies: Critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements are fundamental for green solutions.

Sustainability Targets: They play a key role in helping India achieve 500 GW of non-fossil power capacity by 2030.

Emission Reduction: These minerals support India’s goal of reducing emissions intensity to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Economic Growth: These minerals are essential for national economic health and security.

No Substitutes: They have no viable alternatives, making them indispensable.

Tech Applications: Used in devices like solar modules, wind turbines, and batteries.

Global Demand Surge: From 2016 to 2022, the production of lithium grew by 240%, rare earth elements by 134%, and cobalt by 67%.

Modern Civilization: Termed as building blocks for today’s society.

What efforts has India made to secure its future?

Focus on Critical Minerals: Recognizing their importance in clean technologies like solar modules, wind turbines, and batteries.

Policy Reforms: Amended the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 in 2015, 2020, 2021, and 2023 to bolster the domestic critical minerals sector.

New Auction Regime: Initiated in 2015, this system grants mining and composite licenses transparently and promptly.

Encouraging Exploration: The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) supports the exploration of critical minerals. Private agencies are funded for these activities.

Provisions for Deep-Seated Minerals: The 2023 Act amendment included Exploration Licenses (EL) specifically for deep-seated and critical minerals.

International Partnerships: India joined the Minerals Security Partnership and formed agreements like the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement. They’re also exploring opportunities in Chile and Argentina through Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL).

G20 Leadership: Under India’s G20 presidency, the country is emphasizing the importance of critical minerals for a sustainable future.

About Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 2023

Recent Amendment: This is the latest in a series of amendments since 2015 to promote mining in India.

Special Provision: The Act includes provisions for Exploration Licenses (EL) specifically for deep-seated and critical minerals.

Atomic Minerals: Six minerals, including lithium, were removed from the atomic minerals list.

Government Role: The central government is tasked with auctioning 24 critical minerals, but revenues go to the respective state governments.

Objective: Strengthen India’s domestic mining, reduce import reliance, and ensure a sustainable supply of critical minerals.

Impact: The changes are expected to boost domestic exploration and production of essential minerals for clean energy technologies.

Express View on caste in California- Law making caste-based discrimination illegal is a step forward. Prejudice must be brought into the light

News: The article talks about California becoming the first US state to pass law SB-403, aimed at addressing caste-based discrimination. It points out that while many Indian-Americans embrace their culture in the US, some carry biases like caste prejudice. The article stresses the need to address these issues for a stronger Indian-American community.

Why did California introduce a law against caste-based discrimination?

Growing Awareness: California, being a progressive state, has often led in terms of legislation, addressing issues from pollution control to LGBTQIA+ rights.

Notable Incidents: In 2020, Cisco, a significant tech company, was sued by the state because two Indian managers allegedly discriminated against a Dalit engineer.

Influence of Other Regions: Earlier this year, Seattle recognized caste discrimination, signaling the urgency of addressing this issue on a broader scale.

Reflecting Community Voices: The law is a result of a larger conversation in the community and isn’t just a top-down decision. It indicates that caste prejudices exist among some Indian-Americans in the US.

Promoting Justice: The law aims to challenge and address discrimination, ensuring that everyone, irrespective of their ancestry or caste, is treated fairly.

What are its impacts?

Recognition of Caste Issues: The law solidifies that caste discrimination is not just an Indian issue but is recognized and addressed in the US, specifically in California.

Validation for Marginalized Voices: The legislation provides a platform for Dalits and other marginalized groups to raise their concerns about caste prejudices in the US.

Influence on Other Regions: Following California’s lead, other states or cities might consider similar legislation, as Seattle did by recognizing caste discrimination earlier.

Reflection for Indian-Americans: The law prompts the Indian-American community to introspect and confront prejudices they might have carried over.

Disappearing languages, vanishing voices

News– The article explains the loss of linguistic diversity across the world.

How is linguistic diversity across the world in decline?

A mathematical model, featured in The Economic Journal, predicts that within the next century, around 40% of languages with fewer than 35,000 speakers will become extinct.

The ILD reveals a global decline in linguistic diversity by 20% from 1970 to 2005. Regionally, indigenous linguistic diversity has seen a 60% decline in the Americas, a 30% drop in the Pacific region, and an almost 20% decrease in Africa.

The index aims to analyse the distribution of speakers among all spoken languages globally.

A growing number of people worldwide are shifting towards just a handful of dominant languages, at the expense of smaller ones.

This trend has led to a loss of linguistic diversity, and resulted in the eventual extinction of some languages.

According to the Linguistic Society of America, many languages today have only one living native speaker.

Approximately half of the global population speaks one of the ten most widely spoken languages as their mother tongue. It poses a significant threat to language diversity.

What are the possible reasons behind loss of linguistic diversity?

The decline in language diversity and the extinction of languages are closely linked to migration patterns.

When people migrate to countries where a dominant language is spoken, they adopt that dominant language to access the social and economic benefits.

As a result, first-generation migrants typically become bilingual, the next generation may have a weaker grasp of their mother tongue. The third generation may no longer speak their mother language, even within the family.

India serves as an illustrative example. There is increasing migration to English-speaking nations. English currently boasts 340 million native speakers and over 1.2 billion second language speakers.

\What are some facts about the Language Diversity Index (LDI)?

Language Diversity Index (LDI) calculates the probability that two randomly selected individuals from a population will have different mother tongues.

This index ranges from 0 (everyone shares the same mother tongue) to 1 (no two individuals have the same mother tongue).

Naturally, countries with a smaller variety of mother languages tend to have a lower LDI. Countries with a greater diversity of mother tongues have a higher LDI. For instance, the United Kingdom has an LDI of 0.139, compared to India’s 0.930.

In terms of LDI, the three countries with the lowest rankings are Haiti (0.000), Cuba (0.001), and Samoa (0.002). The top three countries are Papua Guinea (0.990), Vanuatu (0.972), and the Solomon Islands (0.965).

What are the impacts of loss in linguistic diversity?

When these languages disappear, they take with them elements of identity, culture, and indigenous knowledge.

The extinction of languages leads to a reduction in cultural diversity and an increase in cultural homogenization.

What is the situation in India?

In a 2018 report by UNESCO, it was highlighted that India is facing the potential extinction of 42 languages.

UNESCO’s criteria for potential endangerment classify any language spoken by only 10,000 people as being at risk. The majority of these endangered languages are spoken by indigenous tribal groups across India.

Way forward-

It is essential to explore strategies to halt the decline of languages on a global scale. Efforts should be made to preserve some of the endangered languages.

The Linguistic Society of America (LSA) is making commendable efforts to study and document these endangered languages. They are creating video and audio recordings, and written records of these languages, along with translations.

It is hoped that other institutions will follow suit and take action to mitigate the disappearance of languages in any way possible.

GS Paper 2

India, US and the China anxiety- For Delhi and Washington, the other’s China choices matter

News: The article discusses concerns in India and the US about each other possibly getting too close to China (called G2-A2 concerns). This could affect their own strong partnership. Both countries need to communicate better about their China relations to maintain trust and strengthen their alliance.

What are G2-A2 concerns?

G2-A2 concerns refer to anxieties in both India and the US regarding each other’s potential closer ties with China, potentially sidelining their bilateral partnership.

Origins:

India noticed US cabinet trips to China and changes in US-China rhetoric.

The US observed India’s high-level meetings with China and India’s agreement for BRICS expansion.

Historical Context:

India recalls the US’s move towards China in 1971, feeling left out.

India believes the US didn’t do enough to deter China’s militarization of the South China Sea.

The US remembers the Sino-Indian cooperation in the 1950s, which went against US interests.

The US feels India was hesitant about joining the Quad to avoid provoking China.

Recent Events:

Commentators criticize each country’s outreach to China, viewing it as a sign of desperation or weakness.

Developments like the Trump-Xi and Modi-Xi summits between 2017-2019 added to these apprehensions.

Implications:

There’s a fear that if one country gets closer to China, it may negatively impact India-US ties and constrain options in the Indo-Pacific and globally.

What can India and the US do to strengthen their partnership?

Strengthening the India-US Partnership:

No-Surprises Rule: Both should keep each other informed about their significant interactions with China. For instance, Delhi and Washington can establish a regular briefing schedule on interactions with China.

Public Messaging: Enhance public communication so that China doesn’t dominate the narrative. For example, joint press releases can clarify the shared perspectives of India and the US on crucial issues.

Focus on Trends: Pay attention to overall patterns of interaction rather than isolated incidents. Such as investing more in research to understand each other’s historical and current views on China and Asia.

Boost Non-China Partnership Drivers:

Strengthen other aspects of their relationship not solely based on China-related concerns. Like, enhancing trade, cultural exchanges, or technological collaborations.

Adopting these measures can help India and the US solidify their ties, ensuring more robust mutual trust and collaboration.

Finding Seoul in the Indo-Pacific

News– The historic Camp David summit in August this year among the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) marks the new beginning of the strategic partnership among the three traditional allies.

What is the significance of Camp David summit?

This meeting signifies a crucial step in repairing relations between Seoul and Tokyo. It reflects a mutual recognition of the changing regional security dynamics by these three countries.

This development, in conjunction with other alliances like AUKUS, the Quad, and the CHIP 4 Alliance could lead to a strengthened U.S.-led alliance structure in East Asia. This structure reflects the multipolar nature of the contemporary international system.

The summit has the potential to redirect South Korea’s strategic approach in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes improved relations with Tokyo, alignment with the American perspective on China, and increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

This shift in strategy indicates a departure from Seoul’s traditional stance of avoiding any actions that might upset China.

Previous South Korean governments were hesitant to openly acknowledge the challenges posed by China.

There is a strong desire within South Korea to join the Quad grouping. South Korea has expressed interest in joining the Quad for some time. But, there were concerns about Tokyo supporting its bid due to historical grievances.

The Camp David summit may have altered this dynamic. It is possible that South Korea may seek membership in a Quad Plus configuration in the coming year.

There is a renewed enthusiasm for foreign policy in Seoul today. President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared that the primary goal of his foreign policy is to establish South Korea as a “global pivotal state.”

South Korea’s engagement with the U.S. and Japan, support for Ukraine, recognition of the China challenge, and a desire to play a more significant role in the Indo-Pacific all reflect this new vision.

Why is South Korea a natural partner for India in the Indo-Pacific?

Firstly, South Korea’s location in the Indo-Pacific, its proximity to China, and its status as a U.S. ally align well with India’s strategic interests.

Secondly, both countries share concerns about the rise of China and its attempts to unilaterally reshape the Asian security landscape

Thirdly, South Korea can serve as an important regional partner for India, as India’s alignment with the U.S. reaches unprecedented levels, and concerns about China’s intentions and power grow.

What should be the focus areas to enhance their relationship?

At the political and diplomatic levels, they should explore the possibility of organising an annual summit involving their Foreign Ministers and establish a 2+2 format dialogue.

Additionally, reciprocal visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Yoon Suk Yeol to each other’s countries could further strengthen ties.

They might even consider negotiating a joint initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). It can involve South Korea, Japan, India, and the U.S.

In the realm of defense, there is potential to enhance their partnership. South Korea’s capacity to meet India’s defense requirements within the framework of India’s ‘Make in India’ program should be leveraged.

For instance, the K9 Vajra, a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer produced by L&T with technology from South Korea’s Hanwha Defense, exemplifies this cooperation.

Another avenue for collaboration is in the nuclear field. India has encountered challenges in importing nuclear reactors due to concerns related to its nuclear liability law.

South Korea has a successful track record in providing cost-effective and expedited nuclear reactors to countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia. India could contemplate purchasing South Korean-built reactors to expand its reliance on nuclear energy.

India should quit the Brics

News: The upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi marks the end of India’s presidency and holds significance for two key reasons, despite the group’s limited achievements since the 2008 financial crisis.

What are the reasons that make the G20 significant?

First, the Prime Minister has turned the G20 presidency into a significant domestic issue, engaging the entire nation in preparations to highlight India’s global importance.

Second, India faces a strategic choice with the BRICS expansion. The group was not very effective before, but with new members, many of whom are close to China, India now needs to be careful about its foreign policies.

Additionally, Brics+ is becoming more political, with China taking a central role and showing a stronger anti-Western stance. Therefore, India needs to consider its position in the group and ending its membership might be better for India.

Why should India discontinue being part of the BRICS grouping?

Economic Issues: Originally, the BRICS was economically strong, but in 2023 it isn’t as strong as it used to be. Some, like China and Russia, are still wealthy, but that doesn’t guarantee power.

China’s growth has slowed, and Russia has become weaker due to prolonged wars. Argentina is on the edge of a financial crisis while South Africa faces high unemployment and other issues.

Egypt needs help from the International Monetary Fund, and even Saudi Arabia and the UAE are in trouble because of climate change, which will reduce the value of their oil.

Hence, most BRICS+ countries have seen their economic strength decline, except for India, which is still growing. Since India no longer fits in well with the other BRICS members, it should consider leaving.

Political Issues: BRICS+ is becoming more political as it’s leaning towards China and against Western nations, contradicting India’s neutral foreign policy. 

Additionally, most new BRICS+ members are autocracies, except for Argentina and Ethiopia. Given this increasing political orientation and India being a democracy, it should consider leaving the group dominated by autocratic nations.

Global Governance Issues: The current international order led by the US and G7 isn’t working well anymore. Multilateral financial institutions also don’t give emerging countries like India enough say.

Although India seeks a new world order, it doesn’t match China, Russia, or Saudi Arabia’s vision within BRICS+.

The other BRICS members aim to reduce the US dollar’s dominance and offer different resources to poorer nations. However, these goals suggest a new world order based on the dominance of China.

So, shifting from US to Chinese dominance doesn’t seem beneficial for India, as it would support China’s goals in BRICS+.

Must Read: BRICS-Plus – Significance and Implications– Explained

What can be the way ahead?

The G7 is outdated, and BRICS+ isn’t a good choice. Hence, to prove its rising influence, India should leave BRICS. At the same time, to support positive alternatives, India should focus on making the G20 successful.

GOI must consider a law that mandates a cooling-off period before retired judges take another job

News: The Supreme Court dismissed a plea by the Bombay Lawyers Association for a cooling-off period for SC and HC judges before accepting political appointments, although such regulations exist for retired bureaucrats.

What are the regulations on cooling-off period for retired bureaucrats?

In 2021, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) directed state organizations to take vigilance clearance before offering post-retirement positions to bureaucrats in order to avoid hiring officials who have pending cases.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also mandated a three-year cooling-off period for its retired employees in 2018.

Despite this, there have already been many discussions made regarding the cooling-off period.

What discussions have taken place regarding the cooling-off period?

The concept of a cooling-off period for retired bureaucrats, judges, and constitutional post holders before entering politics or taking private jobs has been widely discussed.

In 2013, the Election Commission sought to prevent civil servants and police officers from immediately entering politics after retirement.

However, the government rejected the proposal, citing concerns about violating their constitutional rights.

The Supreme Court has also consistently declined to intervene, dismissing similar petitions in 2014 and 2022. Therefore, the government should consider the Supreme Court’s suggestion to enact a law on this matter.

Must Read: EC Needs A Smart Focus – Cooling-off periods are impractical in social media age

What can be the way ahead?

Judges in constitutional courts deal with fundamental rights, political disputes, high-stakes policies, and constitutional matters, therefore, it becomes necessary to maintain impartiality.

In this regard, a post-retirement cooling-off period can further enhance public trust and perception of the judiciary.

In a world where politics is polarized with complex policies, a law mandating a cooling-off period for retired judges is becoming increasingly important.

GS Paper 3

How to curb government’s fiscal irresponsibility

News: The article discusses how India’s Fiscal Responsibility Law (FRBM Act, 2003) aimed to control government borrowing has been regularly bypassed. Due to a provision in the Indian Constitution, the government can easily amend the law using money bills, leading to consistent delays in achieving fiscal targets. The article suggests rethinking this approach for effective fiscal control.

What is Fiscal Responsibility Law (FRL)?

FRL sets rules to control government borrowing and manage fiscal deficits.

Purpose: Ensures that governments don’t overspend today, preventing financial burdens in the future.

Global Examples:

Germany: Their “debt brake” restricts annual government borrowing to 0.35% of GDP.

US: They have a statutory debt ceiling which sets an upper limit on government borrowing.

India’s Experience:

FRBM Act, 2003: India’s version of FRL aimed at controlling government borrowing and achieving fiscal discipline.

Goals: One of the primary targets was to eradicate India’s revenue deficit by March 31, 2008.

Delays: Due to money bills, the deadline was shifted multiple times, finally settling on March 31, 2018.

Escape Clause: This is a provision that allows temporary deviations from fiscal targets due to unforeseen events. However, the very concept of a money bill in India acts as a major escape clause, letting the government easily amend the FRL.

How Fiscal Responsibility Law evolved in India?

Evolution of Fiscal Responsibility Law in India:

Constitutional Backing: Article 292 of India’s Constitution allows the Union government to borrow, but Parliament must set limits.

Initial Measures:

An expert committee led by EAS Sarma paved the way for the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM) in 2003.

The Vijay Kelkar Task Force worked on its implementation in 2004.

Amendments and Delays:

FRBM’s original goal was to eliminate the revenue deficit by March 31, 2008.

Using money bills, this deadline was postponed multiple times: to 2009, 2015, and finally to 2018.

Issues with Money Bills:

The Finance Bill, being a money bill, can amend laws like the FRBM without full parliamentary scrutiny.

This loophole was used to dilute and delay fiscal targets under the FRBM Act, 2003.

A New Approach:

The FRBM Review Committee Report in 2017 proposed a new bill – the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Bill – to address the challenges.

What is the need of Fiscal Responsibility Law?

Excessive Borrowing: Governments have a history of borrowing heavily, risking future financial health.

Election Driven Spending: Governments might overspend to appease voters before elections, increasing future burdens.

Economic Stability: To prevent the adverse impacts of excessive deficits on the economy, legal checks are necessary.

Constitutional Framework: Article 292 of India’s Constitution permits the Union government to borrow, but within limits set by the Parliament. An FRL defines those limits.

Accountability: A structured law ensures government remains accountable for its financial actions and decisions.

Impact of RBI’s lending guidelines

News– On August 18, the Reserve Bank of India issued guidelines enabling a borrower to transition from a floating interest rate-based loan to one with a fixed interest rate.

What are the detailed guidelines by RBI?

This transition from floating interest rates to fixed interest rates will be based on a policy approved by the lending institution’s board of directors. The policy must also specify how many times such a switch can occur during the loan’s term.

The lending institution must also provide full communication to the borrower about all relevant charges, service fees, and administrative costs associated with the transition.

It is the responsibility of the lending institution to transparently inform the borrower, at the time of loan approval, about the implications of switching from a floating to a fixed interest rate.

The borrower will now have the flexibility to choose between increasing the EMI, extending the loan tenure, or a combination of both.

Furthermore, the regulator has requested that lending institutions provide borrowers with quarterly statements through appropriate channels.

These statements should detail the principal and interest amounts collected to date, the EMI amount, the number of remaining EMIs, and the annualised interest rate for the entire loan term.

What are the differences between fixed interest rates and floating interest rates?

Fixed interest rates remain constant throughout the loan’s tenure. Floating interest rates are subject to market fluctuations and base rate changes.

Floating interest rates are often lower than fixed rates.

Lenders prefer floating rate-based loans because they allow for better adjustments in response to changing market conditions.

The advantages of floating rates can benefit borrowers by potentially increasing their savings. But, the downside is that it can also lead to higher costs in case of rising interest rates.

Floating rate loans typically do not incur prepayment penalties, unlike fixed rate loans.

Fixed-rate loans offer borrowers greater certainty and security. It facilitates better budget planning and financial management.

Do subsidies and safety nets take focus away from generating jobs?

News– With five States going to the polls at the end of the year, political parties have been announcing several promises, largely to address concerns of price rise of essentials.

What is the effectiveness of electoral?

It appears to be a mixed scenario. In Chhattisgarh, certain promises like the Old Pension Scheme cater to a small segment of the population and may not be advisable. Reintroducing the OPS would worsen inequality.

In Madhya Pradesh, nearly 13% of the overall expenses go towards OPS, but it benefits less than 2% of people who were in government jobs. So, it essentially transfers wealth from the poor to the affluent.

However, others, like reducing the cost of gas cylinders, appear to be reasonable.

A recent ‘Data Point’ in The Hindu revealed that 25% of those who benefited from the Ujjwala Scheme, either didn’t request a refill or only requested one.

This is significant in the context of providing ₹1,500 per month to women. There is a need to take into account specific target groups when discussing this populism.

Why do political parties make election promises?

It’s crucial to consider the broader context of our political economy and society. The economic experts don’t have a definitive solution for unemployment.

So, in the absence of a definitive solution, temporary measures are used. Electoral promises can be likened to temporary measures. They become necessary when we lack more fundamental solutions to address the underlying issue.

Field of economics has fallen short in serving societies on a larger scale. This problem isn’t unique to India. Jobless growth is a widespread issue in nearly every country today.

The focus on productivity, especially since the rise of the neoliberal consensus, has primarily benefited a small segment of the population.

There exists a portion of the population that doesn’t benefit from growth. It necessitated the implementation of populist measures to include them. Yet, some measures may be driven by political considerations.

Should GDP growth be the only focus area for economists?

GDP growth remains important. If we look at India’s growth trajectory over the years, it’s clear that during periods of high GDP growth, poverty has reduced.

GDP growth had a positive impact in the initial 10-12 years after liberalisation. It has ceased to be effective since then.

What is the way forward for inclusive growth?

Traditional manufacturing sectors like car production, steel manufacturing, and semiconductor chip production, which used to be associated with job creation, no longer generate substantial employment. The reason is automation.

There is a need to invest in mining for the energy transition. India has barely tapped into its extensive mineral resources. Mining can generate local jobs, including opportunities for historically marginalised castes.

Developing economies are undergoing two important transitions that need to be considered. One is a structural transition that often keeps them stuck in the middle-income category due to difficulties in pushing industrialization.

The second is a significant energy transition with substantial implications for employment.

There is a need to ensure the stability of prices for agricultural products. India has witnessed recent increases in the prices of tomatoes, yet farmers lack a guarantee of a consistent minimum price.

Government should seriously consider technological interventions aimed at transforming agricultural output into higher-value products. This represents a long-term solution to the issue.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Global Biofuels Alliance may be a key G20 takeaway under India’s presidency

Source: The post is based on the article “Global Biofuels Alliance may be a key G20 takeaway under India’s presidency” published in TOI on 8th September 2023

What is the News?

The Prime Minister may launch the Global Biofuels Alliance during the upcoming G20 summit.

What is the Global Biofuels Alliance?

Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) is backed by the US, Brazil and India which are the leading biofuel producers and consumers.

Aim: To facilitate cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels, including in the transportation sector. 

– It will place emphasis on strengthening markets, facilitating global biofuels trade, development of concrete policy lesson-sharing and provision of technical support for national biofuels programs worldwide.

Membership: The alliance will have a three-category membership structure bringing together member countries, partner organizations and industries.

What are Biofuels?

Biofuels are derived from a variety of biomass and considered a low-carbon, affordable and sustainable source of energy. 

According to estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA), global biofuel production would need to triple by 2030 to put the world’s energy systems on track toward net zero emissions by 2050.

The Government of India is pushing biofuels such as ethanol blending of petrol and Compressed biogas (CBG) to reduce the economy’s carbon footprint, dependence on imported oil and raise income of farmers.

India achieved 10% ethanol blending of petrol in June last year and has a target of 25% blending by 2025. 

Under the 2018 SATAT Scheme, 5,000 CBG plants are to be built for an estimated annual production of 15 million tonnes of gas by next year.India currently has a total ethanol production capacity of 947 crore liters.

Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara and Airbus sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for aerospace teaching and research

Source: The post is based on the article “Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara and Airbus sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for aerospace teaching and research” published in PIB on 8th September 2023

What is the News?

Indian Railways Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara and Airbus have entered into collaboration to significantly strengthen the Indian aviation sector.

The partnership will enable co-development and co-delivery of sector-relevant skilling courses and programs for regular students and working professionals, joint research and industry experiences for faculty, internships and placements for students and scholarship programs.

It is expected that 15000 students are likely to be placed in Airbus India operations.

What is Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya(GSV)?

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya(GSV) is a Central University established through an Act of Parliament in 2022.

It subsumes the previously-existing National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI).

Mandate: To create best in class manpower and talent for the entire transportation and logistics sectors.

Sponsored by: Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India.

Chancellor: Union Minister of  Railways.

Located in: Vadodara, Gujarat.

Significance:  GSV is a “first of its kind” university aiming to fulfill the mandate of the National Developmental Plans (PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021 and National Logistics Policy 2022) across railways, shipping, ports, highways , roads, waterways and aviation etc.

What is Airbus?

Airbus is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft and a leading producer of helicopters, defence and space equipment. 

Airbus and Tata had recently announced a partnership to design, innovate, make, manufacture and develop in India C295 aircraft facility at Vadodara (Gujarat). 

Without sperm or egg, how scientists grew whole model of human embryo

Source: The post is based on the article “Without sperm or egg, how scientists grew whole model of human embryo” published in Indian Express on 8th September 2023

What is the News?

Scientists have successfully grown a “human embryo” in the lab without using an egg or sperm.

How did scientists grow a human embryo in the lab without using an egg or sperm?

Source: BBC

Instead of a sperm and egg, the starting material was stem cells which were reprogrammed to gain the potential to become any type of tissue in the body.

Chemicals were then used to coax these stem cells into becoming four types of cell found in the earliest stages of the human embryo: 1) epiblast cells, which become the embryo proper (or foetus) 2) trophoblast cells, which become the placenta 3) hypoblast cells, which become the supportive yolk sac and 4) extraembryonic mesoderm cells.

A total of 120 of these stem cells were mixed in a precise ratio – and then, the scientists step back and watch.

About 1% of the mixture began the journey of spontaneously assembling themselves into a structure that resembles a human embryo.

The embryo models were allowed to grow and develop until they were comparable to an embryo 14 days after fertilization.In many countries, this is the legal cut-off for normal embryo research.

Why are embryo models and research important?

There is no way for scientists to ethically research the early stages of development of an embryo, as it is difficult to study it after it implants in the uterus.Scientists currently study these initial changes in various lab models or donated embryos.

This research is crucial because the initial days of embryo development is when the majority of miscarriages and birth defects occur.Studying these initial stages may help scientists understand genetic and inherited diseases better.

Moreover, the understanding of why some embryos develop normally, retain the proper genetic code and implant properly in the womb while others do not may also help in improving success rates of in vitro fertilization.

Can lab-grown embryos be used to get pregnant?

No.These models are meant to just study the early stages of development of a foetus.

It is generally accepted — and legally supported in most countries — that these embryo models will be destroyed after studying the first 14 days. Attempts to implant are not allowed.

Why is there a 14-day limit on embryo research?

The limit was first proposed by a committee in the UK in 1979 after the birth of the first test tube baby Louise Brown demonstrated that embryos could be kept alive in laboratories. 

The 14-day period is equivalent to when embryos naturally finish implantation. It is also when cells start becoming an “individual”, and breaking off into a twin is not possible.

Explained | What is a heat index and why is it important to measure?

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | What is a heat index and why is it important to measure?” published in The Hindu on 8th September 2023

What is the News?

Recently, Iran recorded a scorching heat index of 70 degrees Celsius (°C) in the coastal part of the country, a metric at which survival of life is difficult.

What is the heat index?

Heat index, also known as apparent temperature, is a measure of how the temperature feels to humans. 

Relative humidity is an important factor that determines heat index along with air temperature.

How is the Heat Index calculated?

The calculation of the heat index involves a complex formula developed by Dr. Robert Steadman in 1979.Dr. Steadman’s formula considers a typical adult human of certain height and weight and incorporates the dew point.Dew Point is the temperature at which air cannot hold any more water vapour, and droplets of water begin to form.In his calculations, Dr. Steadman used 14 °C as the dew point in his calculations.

Some countries, like Canada, have their own indices to measure the heat index.

In 2024, India is scheduled to launch its own heat index to quantify the impact of heat on its population and generate impact-based heatwave alerts for specific locations.

Why is it important to measure the Heat Index?

Impact on Health: High humidity combined with high temperatures can lead to heat stress and heat-related illnesses.It’s crucial to know when conditions are ripe for these health risks so that people can take precautions.

Safety: Heat index values help determine the level of caution needed during hot weather. It provides guidance on when it’s safe to engage in physical activity outdoors and when it’s potentially dangerous, preventing heat-related illnesses and even fatalities.

Climate Change: As temperatures rise due to climate change, we can expect more extreme heat conditions.Monitoring the heat index allows us to prepare, adapt, and implement strategies like early warnings, adjusted work schedules, and sustainable cooling solutions to cope with these extremes.

India showcases PM Gatishakti National Master Plan at Asian Development Bank’s 2023 Regional Cooperation and Integration Conference

Source: The post is based on the article “India showcases PM Gatishakti National Master Plan at Asian Development Bank’s 2023 Regional Cooperation and Integration Conference ” published in PIB on 7th September 2023

What is the News?

India showcased PM Gatishakti National Master Plan at the ‘2023 Regional Cooperation and Integration Conference: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration through Economic Corridor Development (ECD)’.

The conference was organized by Asian Development Bank (ADB) at Tbilisi, Georgia. 

What is PM Gati Shakti?

Launched in: October 2021

Aims: 1) Establish synergies among different ministries during the planning stage itself 2) Align timelines of various projects through efficient planning 3) Promote standardization of the designs for efficient project approval and 4) Enable standardized procedures by all the agencies to reduce project delays.

Click Here to read

What is PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan?

Source: PIB

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan was developed by Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics(BISAG).

It is a technology backed infrastructure development platform with GIS based data layers of infrastructure, geographic features and demography, and various decision support systems.

The platform enables integrated planning, synchronized implementation, and project monitoring. 

The platform aims at enhancing industrial productivity and helping the country achieve its green logistics and clean energy goals by enormously boosting the multi-modal connectivity across highways, railways, ports, airports, logistics infrastructure, mass urban transportation and inland waterways. 

The NMP also has customized decision making and planning tools for functionalities of adding project/data; measure proximity; identification of Go/No Go Area; obtaining NOC from different departments, etc.

Prime Minister’s participation in the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit

Source: The post is based on the article “Prime Minister’s participation in the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit” published in PIB on 8th September 2023

What is the News?

The Prime Minister attended the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Jakarta,Indonesia.

What is the ASEAN-India Summit and East Asia Summit?

Click Here to read

What are the key highlights from the PM’s address at the 20th ASEAN-India Summit?

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific region and highlighted the alignment between India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

He presented a 12-point proposal to enhance cooperation between India and ASEAN covering various areas.The 12 point proposal includes:

1) Establishing a multi-modal connectivity and economic corridor linking South-East Asia, India, West Asia, and Europe.

2) Offering to share India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Stack with ASEAN partners.

3) Announced the ASEAN-India fund for Digital Future, focusing on digital transformation and financial connectivity.

4) Renewing support for the Economic and Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) as a knowledge partner.

5) Advocating for common issues faced by Global South countries in multilateral forums.

6) Inviting ASEAN countries to join the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine being established by WHO in India.

7) Offering to share India’s experience in providing affordable and quality medicines through Jan-Aushadhi Kendras.

8) Emphasizing the collective fight against terrorism, terror financing and cyber-disinformation.

9) Inviting ASEAN countries to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

10) Promoting cooperation in disaster management.

11) Enhancing cooperation on maritime safety, security, and domain awareness.

12) Collaborating on Mission LiFE.

A blanket ban on crypto hard to implement: Report

Source: The post is based on the article “A blanket ban on crypto hard to implement: Report” published in Livemint on 8th September 2023

What is the News?

The International Monetary Fund(IMF) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) have released advanced policy and regulatory recommendations to identify and respond to macroeconomic and financial stability risks associated with crypto assets. 

What are the risks presented by crypto-assets?

The report noted that crypto-assets pose risks to macroeconomic and financial stability as well as risks involving financial integrity, consumer and investor protection and market integrity. 

In some instances, these risks are exacerbated by noncompliance with existing laws.

Can we completely ban crypto assets?

Source: Business Standard

Blanket bans that make all crypto-asset activities — trading and mining — illegal can be costly and technically demanding to enforce.

This is because blanket bans tend to increase the incentives for circumvention due to the inherent borderless nature of crypto-assets, resulting in potentially heightened financial integrity risks and creating inefficiencies. 

Moreover, ban in one jurisdiction could also lead to activity migrating to other jurisdictions, creating spillover risks. 

Hence, instead of banning crypto assets we can take other measures such as:

– Comprehensive policy and regulatory response for crypto-assets to address the risks of crypto-assets to macroeconomic and financial stability. 

– Targeted restrictions such as crypto taxation to address risks.

– Monitor crypto’s impact on the International Monetary System.

– To curb misuse of these assets, countries should implement the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards that apply to virtual assets and virtual asset service providers. 

Centre seeks public comments on Draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre seeks public comments on Draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns” published in PIB on 8th September 2023

What is the News?

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India has sought public comments on Draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns. 

What are the Draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns?

Definition of Dark Patterns: Dark Patterns are deceptive design patterns using user interface or user experience interactions on any platform.

– These practices are designed to mislead or trick users to do something they originally did not intend or want to do.

– Dark patterns undermine consumer autonomy, decision-making and choice potentially constituting misleading advertising, unfair trade practices or violations of consumer rights.

Different Types of Dark Patterns:

False Urgency: It means falsely stating or implying the sense of urgency or scarcity so as to mislead a user into making an immediate purchase or take an immediate action, which may lead to a purchase.

Basket sneaking: It means inclusion of additional items such as products, services, payments to charity/donation at the time of checkout from a platform, without the consent of the user, such that the total amount payable by the user is more than the amount payable for the product(s) and/or service(s) chosen by the user.

Confirm shaming: It means using a phrase, video, audio or any other means to create a sense of fear or shame or ridicule or guilt in the mind of the user, so as to nudge the user to act in a certain way that results in the user purchasing a product or service from the platform or continuing a subscription of a service.

Forced action: It shall mean forcing a user into taking an action that would require the user to buy any additional good(s) or subscribe or sign up for an unrelated service, in order to buy or subscribe to the product/service originally intended by the user.

Subscription trap: It means the process of making cancellation of a paid subscription impossible or a complex and lengthy process including similar other practices.

Interface interference: It means a design element that manipulates the user interface in ways that (a) highlights certain specific information; and (b) obscures other relevant information relative to the other information; to misdirect a user from taking an action desired by her.

Bait and switch: It means the practice of advertising a particular outcome based on the user’s action but deceptively serving an alternate outcome.

Drip pricing: It means a practice whereby-elements of prices are not revealed upfront or are revealed surreptitiously within the user experience; and/or other such practice.

Disguised advertisement: It means a practice of posing, masking advertisements as other types of content such as user generated content or new articles or false advertisements.

Nagging: It shall mean a dark pattern due to which users face an overload of requests, information, options, or interruptions; unrelated to the intended purchase of goods or services, which disrupts the intended transaction.

What are the challenges in enforcing these guidelines according to experts?

The real challenge lies in conclusively proving that certain practices indeed qualify as dark patterns.

Consider the ‘false category,’ for instance.How will a regulator determine if a hotel or platform claiming, ‘only 2 rooms remaining – book now!’ is genuinely providing accurate data, or misleading users due to a lack of context?.

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

7 PM Editorial of the day: Global Biofuel Alliance and Significance of Biofuels-Explained,Pointwise