9 PM UPSC Current Affairs Articles 1 April, 2024
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Mains Oriented Articles
GS PAPER - 2
Bet on human resources for Viksit Bharat by 2047
Source-This post on Bet on human resources for Viksit Bharat by 2047 has been created based on the article “Bet on human resources for Viksit Bharat by 2047” published in “Mint” on 1 April 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2– Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Context-The article highlights the importance of long-term planning. The author argues that whether market-oriented or not, an economy’s path is guided by variables that can take around 7 years to vary and adjust. This is the reason that the Viksit Bharat goal set by Prime Minister assumes significance. It encouraged Indian minds to achieve developed country status by 2047.
Read more- Labour Reforms
What are the problems with Indias labour market?
1) India has low female labour force participation in the overall labour force (especially of women)
2) There are few jobs in formal sectors and so many self-employed workers.
3) There is the issue of joblessness and slow growth in wage rises.
4) There is transition of workers from farm to low-skill service.
Thus, to avoid middle income trap and achieve developed country status, India must step up investment in education and healthcare. Like infrastructure, it can’t be left to market forces.
Question for practice
Highlight the issues with Indias labour market. How can this be addressed?
Introducing too much technology into the worker’s life
Source-This post on Introducing too much technology into the worker’s life has been created based on the article “Workers, not tech, should be state’s priority” published in “The Hindu” on 30 March 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2– Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Context-The article highlights the problems of technological intervention for implementation of MGNREGA.The author argues that the objective of MGNREGS is not to offer a playing field for technological interventions, but to provide deprived households a sense of work security.
What is Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)?
Read more- MGNREGS
What is the significance of MGNREGS?
As per scholarly study in World Development, these schemes lead to higher nutritional intake and empower women. This also pay women on par with men and serve as insurance substitutes
It empowers marginalized communities by giving them pronounced benefits and contributes to ensuring political transparency. These principles must not be sidelined by enthusiasm for technological intervention.
What are the challenges with technological intervention for implementation of MGNREGA?
There are challenges in the project of linking rural employment guarantees to digitized individual identification systems such as-
1) Sidelining the worker– There are issues related to poor internet connectivity, fingerprint recognition issues, difficulties faced by the disabled, unrecorded working days and name duplication.
Further, there are problems such as lack of awareness, errors in linking, authentication, elimination of names, discrepancy in name spellings, and issues in seeding. In all these problems, workers have little or no fault.
2) Omission of workers– There are more than 26 crore workers registered with MGNREGS. As per research, around 5.2 crore workers were deleted from the database in 2022-23. Further, as per the article of The Hindu Newspaper, around 34.8% of job card holders were not eligible for The Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS).
What should be the way forward?
The enhanced budgetary allocation to MGNREGS must be utilized for addressing technological problems and making technology an enabler of socio-economic transformation for workers.
In the backdrop of increasing socio-economic inequality, diminishing social security, and rising rural distress, it is important to ensure that technology does not threaten any workers livelihood security.
Question for practice
Explain how technological intervention can threaten job security of MGNREGA workers.
GS PAPER - 3
Major concerns in global economics: Firms in a tough global environment
Source: This post major concerns in global economics has been created, based on the article “Firms in a tough global environment” published in “Business standard” on 1st April 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Economy-Effects of liberalization on the economy
News: Global economic integration previously spurred growth, but now, trends towards de-integration are impacting the economy. These include changes in trade rules, environmental taxes, shifts in China’s economy, and various government actions, all are affecting the world economy and business strategies. Major concerns in global economics
How is the third globalization different from the early one?
Economic Engagement: Third globalization involves more restricted economic engagement for countries misaligned in foreign policy and military affairs. Earlier, global access was more open, regardless of such alignments.
Case of Russia and China: The belief that integrating countries like Russia and China into globalization would lead them to freedom didn’t hold; they now face restrictions due to differing policies.
Capital Destruction: This phase involves tangible and intangible capital destruction, like factory closures in China and oil extraction issues in Siberia, impacting global GDP.
What are the major concerns in global economics?
Carbon-Border Taxes Impacting Global Production:
Carbon-border taxes, like the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, aim to equalize the cost of production inside and outside Europe. These taxes are not protectionist but ensure fair competition and are similar to VAT on imports.
The shift towards renewable energy, especially in China (33% renewables), affects countries like India with less developed energy policies.
Nationalistic Policies:
Since 2013, under President Xi Jinping, China has seen centralized power, nationalism, and hostility towards foreigners. Their economy, previously boosted by credit, infrastructure, and construction, is struggling.
China’s attempt to subsidize exports conflicts with global trade rules and impacts other economies.
Unsystematic Movements in Trade Policy:
The erratic and unpredictable changes in trade policies by various countries have disrupted global trade norms established by agreements like GATT/WTO. An example is the looming threat to international digital service trade agreements, influenced by shifting political climates and elections.
What is the situation of Indian Internationalization?
Indian internationalization has faced challenges, with modest growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports in the last decade.
From 2012 to 2022, total exports grew by about 3% per year in real dollars.
Services exports have been a strong component, showing significant success.
Government policies have been somewhat positive, like reducing import duties for phone parts and electric vehicles, benefiting companies like Apple, Xiaomi, and Tesla.
However, the overall strategy lacks focus, leading to underperformance in international markets compared to potential.
Indian firms are increasingly integrating into the global economy through exports and FDI.
Way forward
There is a need to be more proactive in understanding and adapting to the economic and political landscape. In the era of the third globalization, diversification and envisioning potential risks are crucial for firm survival. Understanding the implications of carbon-border taxes, Chinese subsidies, and the unpredictable nature of global trade policies is vital.
Question for practice:
Examine the impacts of nationalistic policies, unsystematic trade movements, and the rise of carbon-border taxes on the current global economic landscape.
Climate change impacting wheat production in India: POINTERS FROM WHEAT
Source: The post climate change impacting wheat production in India has been created, based on the article “POINTERS FROM WHEAT: Green Revolution 2.0’s focus must be on input use efficiency and building climate resilience” published in “Indian express” on 1st April 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Indian economy-issues of buffer stocks and food security;
News: This article discusses the current situation of wheat harvests in India, affected by climate change. It mentions the challenges of temperature changes and the need for the country to develop wheat varieties that can withstand these changes for future sustainability. Climate change impacting wheat production in India
How is climate change impacting wheat production in India?
Wheat stocks in government storage are the lowest in seven years, at 9.7 million tonnes as of March 1.
Climate change is causing temperature fluctuations, impacting wheat growth in India.
In 2022 and 2023, unseasonal rains and temperature spikes during grain formation led to yield losses.
Warm temperatures at sowing time in central India (MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra) resulted in fewer tillers and premature flowering.
Conversely, the Indo-Gangetic plains (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar) are expecting a bumper harvest, thanks to normal March temperatures and good grain-filling progress.
Overall, despite lower yields in central India, the country might harvest more wheat than in the previous two years, balancing the impacts of climate change.
How can India adapt to these changes?
India needs to focus on breeding climate-resilient wheat varieties, resistant to drought and heat.
The strategy should shift from high fertilizer reliance to more efficient use of inputs like water, nutrients, and energy.
Emphasis on Green Revolution 2.0, aiming for higher yield with less resource consumption.
Research to identify plant genes responsible for desirable traits like drought and heat tolerance is crucial.
Adapting sowing times and practices based on changing climate patterns can help mitigate adverse impacts.
Considering global wheat price trends, temporarily easing import restrictions could also be a strategic move.
Question for practice:
Evaluate the potential impact of climate change on wheat production in India.
Challenges for Indian agriculture to realize its aspiration of a Viksit Bharat by 2047: Viksit must be inclusive
Source: The post challenges for Indian agriculture to realize its aspiration of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 has been created, based on the article “Viksit must be inclusive” published in “Indian express” on 1st April 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Indian economy- growth and development
News: The article discusses the challenges and necessary strategies for New Indian Agriculture Challenges for Viksit Bharat by 2047.
How has Indian agriculture grown over the years?
Indian agriculture’s growth has been steady, with an average annual growth rate of 3.3% from 1991-92 to 2023-24.
Under the Modi government (last 10 years), agriculture grew at 3.6%, slightly better than the 3.5% during the Manmohan Singh era.
Agriculture, engaging about 45% of India’s workforce, contributes around 18% to the GDP. However, the agri-GDP growth for 2023-24 is just 0.7%.
By 2047, agriculture’s GDP share might drop to 7-8%, but it could still involve over 30% of the workforce.
What are the challenges for Indian agriculture to realize its aspiration of a Viksit Bharat by 2047?
Climate Change Impact: Agriculture is vulnerable to climate risks, like rising temperatures and unseasonal rains that dropped growth to 0.7% in 2023-24.
Workforce Imbalance: Despite contributing about 18% to GDP, agriculture employs 45% of the workforce, indicating low productivity. This discrepancy could lead to economic imbalances.
Resource Management: Challenges in water consumption, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions need urgent attention.
Technology and Innovation Lag: Modernization in farming practices and infrastructure is crucial for coping with climate challenges and increasing productivity.
Policy Limitations: Current policies, including export controls and stocking limits, resemble outdated strategies of the 1960s, indicating a need for reforms in areas like subsidies, research, and market access.
What should be done?
Increase Investment in Agriculture R&D and Innovation: Allocate more resources to agricultural research and innovation to enhance productivity.
Promote High-Value Agriculture: Shift focus to sectors like poultry, fishery, dairy, and horticulture, which offer higher economic returns.
Improve Market Access for Farmers: Develop policies and institutions to connect farmers to national and international markets, potentially through digital platforms like E-NAM and ONDC.
Rationalize Subsidies: Redirect funds from food and fertilizer subsidies towards more sustainable agricultural practices.
Enhance Skill Development: Focus on training rural populations for better job opportunities in a rapidly urbanizing India.
Question for practice:
Examine the challenges facing Indian agriculture in achieving its aspiration of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Factors continuing the water crisis in South India: Compounding crises
Source: The post factors continuing the water crisis in South India has been created, based on the article “Compounding crises: Water deficit worsens other adverse events for the poor” published in “The Hindu” on 1st April 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3-Disaster and disaster management.
News: The article discusses the severe water shortage in South India, mentioning that the reservoirs are low on water and the situation could worsen. Factors continuing the water crisis in South India: Compounding crises
What is the current water situation in South India?
South India’s reservoirs are at 23% capacity, significantly lower than the 10-year average.
The water situation is deteriorating, with this year’s levels 9% below the rolling decadal average.
Previous similar water crisis occurred in 2017.
The year 2023 was the warmest on record, exacerbating water scarcity.
What are the factors continuing the water crisis in South India?
Monsoon Influence: Erratic monsoon patterns, partly due to one of the strongest El Niño events on record, contribute to the water scarcity.
Climate Change: 2023 was recorded as the warmest year, with predictions of 2024 being even hotter, impacting water availability.
Election Impact: The general election means increased outdoor activity, potentially raising water usage.
Past Lessons Ignored: Despite previous crises, there’s a noticeable lack of effective policy implementation and preparation.
Other Contributing Factors: Issues like unplanned urbanization, excessive groundwater extraction, and low water reuse efficiency worsen the situation.
How does climate change intensify this crisis?
Climate change increases the likelihood of simultaneous crises, such as droughts coinciding with disease outbreaks.
These intensified conditions disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries like India.
The situation worsens socio-economic conditions, especially among marginalized groups, who are most vulnerable to these climate-induced crises.
Question for practice:
Discuss the factors contributing to the severe water shortage in South India.
Nuclear energy- A solution for clean energy transition
Source-This post on Nuclear energy- A solution for clean energy transition has been created based on the article “Explained: The push for nuclear energy as climate solution” published in “The Indian Express” on 1 April 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3– Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
News– Brussels has recently hosted a first-of-its-kind Nuclear Energy Summit. It was touted as one of the most high-profile international meetings on nuclear energy ever.
Context– This meeting is one of the latest in a series of efforts that were being made in the last few years to project nuclear energy as an important solution to deal with problems of climate change and energy security.
What is Indias position on nuclear energy?
1) India has 23 operational nuclear reactors. The currently operational reactors have a combined installed electricity generating capacity of 7,480 MW (about 7.5 GW). The share of nuclear energy in total electricity generation capacity is just about 3.1%. This is among the lowest in countries that do use nuclear energy
2) There are at least ten more reactors that are under construction, and the capacity is supposed to triple to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.
India does acknowledge the role of nuclear energy in its decarbonization plan and is planning for a rapid expansion in the coming years. However, despite this also, the share of nuclear energy in electricity generation is likely to remain extremely modest in the future.
What is the status of nuclear energy installation in the world?
1) As per IAEA data, the number of operational nuclear reactors has come down in the last 20 years, from 437 in 2003 to 411. The average life of these reactors is more than 31 years, which also highlights the fact that few new reactors have been installed in the last decade.
2) The total installed electricity generation capacity has shown only a marginal increase during this period, from about 360 GW in 2003 to 371 GW now.
3) It accounts for less than 10 % of global commercial electricity generation. Its share has been declining for almost three decades now.
What is the significance of nuclear energy in meeting the twin objective of energy security and decarbonization?
1) Reduced carbon emission-It is a clean source of energy with a minimal carbon footprint. As per IAEA, (International Atomic Energy Agency) even when the entire life cycle is considered such as reactor construction, uranium mining and enrichment, waste disposal and storage etc, greenhouse gas emissions are only in the range of 5 to 6 grams per kilowatt hour.
This is more than 100 times lower than coal-fired electricity, and about half the average of solar and wind generation.
2) Incessant Supply-It provides continuous power, unlike wind or solar which are seasonal or time-dependent.
3) Endorsed by IPCC & others– Adoption of nuclear energy is recommended by IPCC(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) for decarbonization. As IAEA, it is already contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear power generation results in avoiding emissions of more than 1 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent every year.
What are the reasons for low installation of nuclear energy in the world?
1) Safety concerns– This is one of the main reasons behind the poor uptake of nuclear energy in recent years. For ex- Fukushima accident in 2011 and the continuing crisis at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
2) High cost– Nuclear reactors require high investments and a technology base.They take years to build and must operate under a variety of regulations and constraints which makes them unattractive for many small and developing countries.
3) Lack of research-There has been lack of research to bring down the cost of nuclear energy like solar and wind in the last decade. As a result, rapid adoption of nuclear energy could not occur.
Read more- India’s Nuclear Energy Program
What are the steps taken to promote nuclear energy in the world?
1) Initiatives by IAEA-
a) It has also organized the first-of-its-kind Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels recently.
b) It has launched an ‘Atoms4Climate’ initiative to highlight the potential of nuclear power to accelerate the clean energy transition.
C) It has set up a pavilion for the first time at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh.
2) COP Outreach-Outcome from COP 28 formally acknowledged that nuclear energy is one of the zero, or low-emission technologies that should be promoted to achieve rapid decarbonization. This was the first time that nuclear energy was mentioned in any COP outcome.
There is this misperception that renewables will solve everything in the short run. However, in the long run, as the demand for clean energy increases, there will be requirement of nuclear energy in a big way.
Question for practice
What are the reasons for low installation of nuclear energy in the world? What steps have been taken by IAEA recently to address this?
Firms in a tough global environment
Source-This post on Firms in a tough global environment has been created based on the article “Firms in a tough global environment” published in “Business Standard” on 1 April 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3-Ecomomy- Effects of Liberalization on the Economy, Changes in Industrial Policy and their Effects on Industrial Growth.
Context-The article highlights the need for strategic thinkers to redesign firms in the tough global environment. India has had poor growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports in last decade. Total exports grew just by 3 % per year in real dollars from 2012-22. Steps such as cutting import duties for phone parts (which helps Apple and Xiaomi) or electric vehicles (which helps Tesla) are in the correct direction, but the strategy of being unstrategic is not good.
What is the evolving global economic landscape that poses challenge to firms worldwide?
1) Era of third globalization– In this era, there is a rise of protectionism which leads to lesser economic engagement into the advanced economies for countries that do not have robust foreign policy and military affairs.
It involves the destruction of tangible and intangible capital such as factories in China and oil extraction in Siberia. This decline in capital stock is a one-time negative level shock to global GDP.
2) Carbon-border taxes-It has the potential to reshape global production. The emergence of carbon-border taxes in many important countries will involve the destruction of capital stock in carbon-intensive ways. In the transition to clean energy, China is already ahead of India. The weaknesses of Indian energy policy may reduce the global competitiveness of Indian exports.
3) Chinese government subsidies– The Chinese economy has been under severe stress. To overcome this, the Chinese government is subsidizing exporters in ways that violates global trade norms.
Since China is one of the largest economies in the world, its export policies can have substantial repercussions on other countries.
4) Incoherency in trade policies across many countries-There are unsystematic movements on trade policy by various countries that often go on the wrong direction. The trade policies of many countries pose threats to trade openness. For ex- the attempt to disrupt the global agreement on free trade for digital services. Further, return of Donald Trump to power, would also add to the climate of political uncertainty.
Read more- Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme
In the background of these challenges, the organization design of firms needs to be improved to fit better in this environment.Also,there should be a pro-active approach by envisioning bad scenarios and establishing financial risk management.
Question for practice
How does the evolving global economic landscape that poses challenge to firms worldwide?
Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)
Katchatheevu Island
Source-This post on Katchatheevu Island is based on the article “Did Congress ‘give away’ Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka?” published in “The Indian Express” on 1st April 2024.
Why in the News?
PM Narendra Modi recently criticized the Congress for giving away the strategic Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in the 1970s.
About Katchatheevu Island
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1. Location– Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island covering 285 acres located in the Palk Strait, between India and Sri Lanka. Katchatheevu lies 33 km northeast of Rameswaram and about 62 km southwest of Jaffna.
2. Sole Structure on Island– The island’s sole structure is St. Anthony’s Church, built in the early 20th century. Every year, during a festival, Christian priests from India and Sri Lanka jointly conduct services, drawing pilgrims from both countries.
3. Lack of potable water source– Katchatheevu is not suited for permanent settlement as there is no source of drinking water on the island.
What is the history of the Island?
1. Formation– It originated from volcanic activity during the 14th century.
2. Administration:
a. During the early medieval era, the Jaffna kingdom of Sri Lanka governed it.
b. By the 17th century, control shifted to the Raja of Ramnad (present-day Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu), who owned Katchatheevu island. Later, it became part of the Madras Presidency.
3. Dispute– In 1921, both India and Sri Lanka, at the time British colonies, claimed Katchatheevu in order to determine fishing boundaries.
What is 1974 Indo-Sri Lankan maritime agreement?
1. In 1974, an agreement signed by Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi of India and Sirima R.D. Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka acknowledged Katchatheevu as part of Sri Lanka’s territory, leading to a change in ownership.
2. The agreement allowed Indian fishermen to access Katchatheevu as before, but didn’t settle fishing rights. Sri Lanka understood that Indian fishermen could only access Katchatheevu for resting, drying nets, and visiting the Catholic shrine without needing a visa.
3. Another treaty signed in 1976 restricted fishermen from both nations from fishing in each other’s exclusive economic zones. However, uncertainty about fishing rights has persists till date.
UPSC Syllabus- Geography and Places in news
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)
Source-This post on Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) is based on the article “DoT asks telcos to suspend USSD-based call forwarding, switch to alternate mode from Apr 15” published in “The Economic Times” on 29th March 2024.
Why in the News?
The Department of Telecom has directed telecom operators to deactivate USSD-based call forwarding by April 15 and transition to alternative methods for reactivation.
The DoT noted that USSD-based call forwarding, particularly the *401# service for unconditional call forwarding, is being misused for inappropriate activities.
What is Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)?
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1. About– It is a communications protocol utilized in Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks for sending short text messages. USSD is similar to Short Message Service (SMS).
2. USSD format:
a. A USSD message usually begins with either an asterisk (*) or a hash symbol (#) and ends with a hash symbol (#).
b. These messages consist of digits for commands or data, often separated by additional asterisks.
c. USSD messages can contain up to 182 alphanumeric characters.
3. Advantage over SMS– In contrast to SMS messages, USSD establishes a real-time connection throughout a session, enabling a two-way exchange of data sequences. This real-time connection makes USSD faster than SMS-based services.
4. Applications:
a. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browsing, mobile money services, prepaid callback service, menu-based information services, and location-based content services.
b. It is used to show balance deductions on mobile phones, with a notification appearing on the screen after a call or outgoing SMS.
c. It is also employed for checking IMEI numbers of mobile devices.
UPSC Syllabus- Science & Technology
Vaikom Satyagraha
Source-This post on Vaikom Satyagraha is based on the article “Remembering Vaikom satyagraha, a 100 years later” published in “The Indian Express” on 31st March 2024.
Why in the News?
This article talks about Vaikom Satyagraha, which began on March 30, 1924. Lasting for over 600 days, it was the first of many temple entry movements in India.
About Vaikom Satyagraha
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1. First anti-caste movement:
a. The Vaikom Satyagraha in Travancore, now part of Kerala, is recognized as the first anti-caste movement.
b. This campaign aimed to challenge the caste system by opposing restrictions that barred students from depressed classes and untouchables from entering the temple.
2. Origin– The movement began and centered around Vaikom, which was part of the princely state of Travancore, near the Mahadev temple in the Kottayam district of Kerala during 1924-1925.
Background of Vaikom Satyagraha
1. During the AICC (All India Congress Committee) meeting in Kakinada in 1923, T. K. Madhavan, alongside Sardar Panikkar and KP Kesava Menon, presented a petition to the Travancore legislative council. 2. The petition advocated for granting the right to temple entry and worship of gods to all members of society, regardless of caste, creed, or community. |
3. Beginning of the Movement– It was launched on 30th March 1924.
4. Prominent Satyagrahis– Kunjappy, Venniyll Govinda Panicker, and Bahuleyan
5. Support to the movement:
a. ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy was asked to lead the campaign.
b. Sikhs from Punjab, known as Akalis, supported by opening a community kitchen (langar) for the volunteers.
c. Chattampi Swamikal and Sree Narayana Guru supported the movement.
d. Mahatma Gandhi arrived at Vaikom in March 1925 to negotiate a compromise and resolve the issue definitively.
Significance of Vaikom Satyagraha
1. The movement set the stage for the significant Temple Entry Proclamation (1936) by the Maharaja of Travancore, which abolished the longstanding prohibition on marginalized castes entering temples in Travancore.
2. The Vaikom Satyagraha was a testing ground for the Gandhian principles of Satyagraha. It was tested and proved as the most effective means for the first time.
3. This movement were helped in establishing equal rights and curbing discrimination against Scheduled Castes in Indian Society.
UPSC Syllabus- History in news
Genetic profiling
Source-This post on Genetic profiling is based on the article “Genetic profiling of captive elephants of Kerala to begin shortly” published in “The Hindu” on 31st March 2024.
Why in the News?
The genetic profiling of around 400 captive elephants in Kerela will start soon. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is conducting the profiling to include the elephants’ information in a national database-Gaja Suchana.
Genetic profiling
1. About– Genetic profiling, or genetic testing, involves examining an individual’s DNA to detect variations or mutations linked to traits, diseases, or conditions. 2. Significance– This analysis offers insight into individual genetic composition and serves multiple purposes, including assessing disease susceptibility, tracing ancestry, and informing personalized medical care. |
Genetic profiling of Captive elephants in Kerela
1. Reason for genetic profiling– Kerala, which was previously known for having the largest captive elephant population, is experiencing a significant decline in numbers.
2. Gaja Suchana mobile app:
a. The Wildlife Institute of India has developed a mobile application called Gaja Suchana, allowing officials from all state forest departments to access the data.
b. This initiative aims to monitor the movement of captive elephants within and between states.
c. The database will aid in identifying elephants lacking valid ownership certificates.
Read more– Captive Elephant Rules 2024 |
What is Wildlife Institute of India (WII)?
1. About– It is an internationally acclaimed Institution, which offers training program, academic courses and advisory in wildlife research and management.
2. Established in 1982 as an attached office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Subsequently, it was granted autonomous status in 1986.
3. Mandate– It carries research in areas of Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Wildlife Policy, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Forensics, Spatial Modelling, Eco-development, Habitat Ecology, Climate Change, Forensics, Remote Sensing and GIS, Laboratory, Herbarium, and an Electronic Library are the spheres of research too.
UPSC Syllabus- Environment
Written approval needed for GST Audits of Big Firms and MNCs
Source-This post on Written approval needed for GST Audits of Big Firms and MNCs is based on the article “Now, GST probe into big corporates, major MNCs needs a ‘written approval’” published in “The Hindu” on 31st March 2024.
Why in the News?
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Recently, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has instructed Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) officials to get written approval from zonal chief commissioners before investigating big companies, MNCs, or sensitive cases with national significance.
The directive is a set of instructions titled “Guidelines for CGST field formations in maintaining ease of doing business while engaging in investigation with regular taxpayers”.
What are the key guidelines issued by the CBIC?
1.Consideration of single-office investigation feasibility– According to the guidelines, if a taxpayer is under investigation by both state GST and Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) officers for different matters, the principal commissioner will assess whether it’s feasible for only one office to handle all the cases regarding that taxpayer.
2. Investigations deadline-The guidelines also stipulate that tax officers must complete investigations within one year of initiation.
3. Categories where prior approval required– The guidelines state that each investigation must be approved by the principal commissioner before initiation, except in the specified four categories where prior written approval from the zonal Principal Chief Commissioner is necessary to start an investigation and take action. These four cases include:
a. Interpretation seeking to impose tax/duty on any sector/commodity/service for the first time.
b. Big industrial houses and major multinational corporations.
c. Sensitive matters or those with national implications.
d. Matters already under consideration by the GST Council.
UPSC Syllabus- Indian Economy
Record 60 traditional Indian products receive GI tag
Source-This post on Record 60 traditional Indian products receive GI tag is based on the article “Over 60 products from across India earn GI tags” published in “The Hindu” on 31st March 2024.
Why in the News?
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Recently, over 60 products from across India have been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This marks the first instance of such a large number of products being granted the GI tag at once.
Key products awarded the GI tag
States | Products |
Assam | 1. Asharikandi terracotta craft 2. Pani Meteka craft 3. Sarthebari metal craft 4. Jaapi (bamboo headgear) 5. Mishing handloom products 6. Bihu dhol 7. Bodo Dokhona (the traditional attire of Bodo women) 8. Bodo Eri silk ( fabric of peace or ahimsa (non-violence)) 9. Bodo Sifung (a long flute) |
Uttar Pradesh | Banaras Thandai |
Tripura | 1. Pachra-Rignai, (a traditional dress worn on special occasions) 2. Matabari Peda (a sweet) |
Meghalaya | 1. Meghalaya Lyrnai Pottery 2. Meghalaya Chubitchi |
What is a GI tag?
1. About- Geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign which is used to identify products originating from a specific geographical location and that location gives it a distinct quality, characteristic.
2. Regulation– The GI tags are governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. They are issued by the Geographical Indication Registry, which operates under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
3. Significance– A geographical indication right enables those who have the right to use the indication to prevent its use by a third party whose product does not conform to the applicable standards.
UPSC Syllabus- Geography & Art & Culture