9 PM UPSC Current Affairs Articles 19^th August, 2024

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 2

Political upheaval in Bangladesh

Source: The post political upheaval in Bangladesh has been created, based on the article “Hasina’s exit and India’s hour of reckoning” published in “The Hindu” on 19th August 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- India and its Neighborhood- Relations.

Context: The article discusses a major political upheaval in Bangladesh in August 2024. It started as a student protest against a job quota system and escalated into a nationwide movement, leading to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

For detailed information on Sheikh Hasina’s Exit and India Bangladesh Relations read Article 1, Article 2

How did the protests escalate in Bangladesh?

1. In June 2024, Bangladesh’s High Court reinstated a job quota reserving 30% of civil service posts for descendants of freedom fighters.
2. This decision ignited protests, mainly led by students, who felt the quota was unfair. The protests began peacefully but quickly escalated.
3. By July 7, students were staging blockades, severely disrupting Dhaka’s transport system.
4. Tensions rose on July 14 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a controversial statement, calling protesters “children of Razakars,” which further inflamed the situation.

What was the government’s response?

1. The government initially aligned with the protesters’ demand for quota reform and was preparing to appeal the court’s decision restoring the quota system.
2. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s derogatory statement on July 14 and the Bangladesh Chhatra League’s actions against protesters further escalated the situation.
3. The government shut down the internet to disrupt protester communication, leading to further unrest.
4. On July 18, clashes between police and protesters resulted in about 20 student deaths.
5. Despite reducing the quota from 30% to 7% on July 21, the government’s coercive tactics, including arrests and the disappearance of protest leaders, failed to quell the movement, which ultimately led to Hasina’s ouster.

What was India’s role and response?

1. India’s response, as articulated by Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, appeared to downplay the democratic nature of the protests, aligning more with the Awami League’s narrative.
2. This stance faced criticism for overlooking the genuine grievances of the protesters and the human rights violations reported.

What are the implications for Bangladesh’s future?

1. Political Stability: The ouster of Sheikh Hasina after 15 years of rule signals potential instability. The interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, must manage this transition carefully.
2. Governance and Democracy: The movement highlighted deep-seated issues like authoritarian rule and lack of participative democracy. A free, fair, and participative election is now critical for restoring public trust.
3. Social Unity: The protests, supported by diverse social groups, underline the need for inclusive governance. Attacks on minorities were met with public vigilance, showcasing Bangladesh’s potential for unity amid diversity.
4. India-Bangladesh Relations: India’s perceived alignment with Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League could strain relations. Moving forward, India must engage more broadly with Bangladesh’s population.

Question for practice:

Examine the role of India’s response in the context of the political upheaval in Bangladesh during August 2024

Key Areas of Cooperation between Japan and India

Source: The post key areas of cooperation between Japan and India has been created, based on the article “Japan’s Foreign Minister writes: India and Japan, co-creators of new solutions” published in “Indian Express” on 19th August 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- international relations- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Context: The article discusses the visit of a Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to India, highlighting the historical and current cooperation between Japan and India in areas like defense, economics, people-to-people exchanges, and women’s roles in peace and security. The visit aims to deepen these partnerships further.

For detailed information on India-Japan relations read Article 1, Article 2 here

What are the Historical Ties Between Japan and India?

1. Japan and India share historical ties dating back to the 6th century with the introduction of Buddhism from India to Japan.
2. Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan, famous for green tea, has a connection with India through Tada Motokichi, who learned black tea production techniques in India and applied them to green tea in Japan.

What are the Key Areas of Cooperation?

1. Defense and Security: Japan and India have strengthened their defense cooperation through joint exercises involving land, sea, and air forces. The third “2+2” Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting will further these efforts. An example is the collaboration on defense technology.
2. Economic Cooperation: Both nations are working on the High-Speed Rail project and developing India’s northeastern region. They aim to achieve a 5-trillion-yen investment target set in 2022. New focus areas include Green Transformation and Digital Transformation.
3. People-to-People Exchanges: The extension of the “Japan-India Tourism Exchange Year” to 2024 and events like “Japan Month” and “India Month” aim to foster cultural exchanges and strengthen ties.
4. Women, Peace, and Security (WPS): Japan values India’s experience in deploying women in peacekeeping operations. They are collaborating on the WPS agenda, focusing on women’s leadership in peace and security.

What is the Future of Japan-India Relations?

1. The relationship between Japan and India is expected to grow stronger, with both countries contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The visit is seen as a step towards deepening this unique and historical partnership.
2. Global Cooperation: Japan and India’s alignment in global forums like the Quad supports a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” reflecting their shared commitment to regional stability.

Question for practice:

Discuss the key areas of cooperation between Japan and India as highlighted in the recent visit of the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to India.

Need for better mental health policies in India

Source: The post need for better mental health policies in India has been created, based on the article “Mental health of medical students can no longer be ignored” published in “Indian Express” on 19th August 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Context: The article discusses the urgent need for better mental health policies in India, highlighting the high number of medical student suicides and overall mental health issues. It criticizes the current low funding and poor policy attention, suggests learning from India’s HIV-AIDS program strategies, and calls for community-based and affordable mental health interventions.

For detailed information on Issues with Mental Health and Mental Healthcare in India read this article here

What is the Issue with Mental Health in India?

1. High Suicide Rates: The National Medical Commission reported 122 suicides among medical students over the past five years, highlighting severe mental health issues within this group.
2. Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions: A survey by the Commission revealed that 27.8% of undergraduate students had mental-health conditions and 31.3 per cent of postgraduate students had suicidal thoughts.
3. General Population Affected: The 2015-16 National Mental Health Survey indicated that 10.6% of Indians over 18 suffer from mental disorders, with a significant 16% in the productive age group of 30-49 years affected.
4. Inadequate Resources: The survey also showed an 80% treatment gap due to insufficient human resources and facilities to manage mental health effectively.

What initiative have been taken for Mental Health in India?

1. The National Medical Commission formed a Task Force for medical students’ mental health, addressing 122 suicides in five years.
2. The 2014 National Mental Health Policy and the 2017 Mental Health Act aimed to prioritize mental health but lack clear implementation plans.
3. The Union government allocated Rs 1,000 crore for mental health in the latest budget, with most funds directed to tertiary institutions.
4. Civil society groups like Banyan in Tamil Nadu developed evidence-based interventions, such as the Home Again program, focusing on homeless and mentally ill women, highlighting community-based care models.

What Can India Learn from the HIV-AIDS Program?

1. Strategic Interventions: Use epidemiological evidence to craft interventions. This approach helped in HIV-AIDS control and can guide mental health strategies.
2. Modeling Different Options: Tailor interventions for different regions and groups. This method provided cost-effectiveness data for scaling up HIV-AIDS programs.
3. Advocacy and Stigma Reduction: Engage parliamentarians, media, and judiciary to address systemic issues and reduce stigma, as done in the HIV-AIDS program.
4. Community Engagement: Allocate resources for community involvement. The HIV-AIDS program devoted 25% of its budget to engaging community leaders.
5. Autonomous Agency: Create an agency like NACO to coordinate efforts, mobilize resources, and ensure comprehensive mental health interventions, balancing institutional care with community involvement.

What Should be Done?

1. Implement Community-Based Interventions: Learn from successful programs like Banyan’s Home Again, which addresses the needs of homeless mentally ill women through a five-stage process: awareness, rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
2. The government needs to prioritize mental health and create community-based and affordable interventions.
3. The task force for medical students’ mental health is a good start, but broader action is needed to address mental health challenges for all citizens.

Question for practice:

Examine how the strategies used in India’s HIV-AIDS program can be applied to improve mental health policies and interventions in India.

GS PAPER - 3

Benefits of Bamboo cultivation for India

Source: This post ‘Benefits of Bamboo cultivation for India’, is based on the article Bamboo as food, fuel, and timber, published in Business Standard on 19^th August 2024.

UPSC Syllabus topic: GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy – Crops and cropping patterns in India

Context: Bamboo, often referred to as the “poor man’s timber,” has transformed into a lucrative crop for Indian farmers, now being recognized as “green gold.” With modern agronomic practices, bamboo cultivation is proving more profitable than traditionally lucrative crops like sugarcane and cotton.

Bamboo farming is rapidly spreading beyond its traditional Northeastern habitat to regions like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Western Ghats, and Gujarat.

Present status of bamboo cultivation in India

1) The land under bamboo cultivation is estimated at over 15.70 million hectares, with the Northeastern zone holding about 50% of the country’s bamboo resources.

2) India boasts 136 documented native species of bamboo and produces approximately 3.23 million tonnes annually, underscoring its importance as a versatile and valuable plant.

3) NITI Aayog projects the global bamboo market to reach around $98.3 billion by 2025. As the world’s second-largest bamboo producer after China, India is well-positioned to capture a significant share of this market.

What are the Legal and Agricultural Reforms Boosting Bamboo Cultivation?

Amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 2017: The reclassification of bamboo from “tree” to “grass” under this amendment removed various restrictions on its harvesting, transportation, and sale, making bamboo cultivation more accessible to farmers.

National Bamboo Mission: This shift has been supported by government initiatives like the National Bamboo Mission and the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, which aim to promote bamboo farming across the country. These initiatives focus on encouraging the use of bamboo as a sustainable alternative to wood, and on developing a value chain for bamboo production, marketing, and export.

Economic Incentives: Maharashtra is expanding bamboo farming, offering financial incentives ~7 lakh per hectare.

What are the Environmental and Economic Benefits of Bamboo cultivation?

Environmental Impact: Bamboo is a highly efficient carbon dioxide converter, producing 35% more oxygen than most plants and growing up to 90 cm per day, making it an excellent biomass producer.

Economic benefits: High-yielding varieties like “Beema Bamboo” offer significant profit potential, with growers earning a net annual profit of ₹75,000-80,000 per hectare, making bamboo one of the most profitable crops in India.

Health benefits: Bamboo based foods are deemed healthy because these are rich in fiber and low in calories. Some parts of bamboo plants, including their roots, are believed to have therapeutic traits and are used in the traditional health care systems in the Northeast

Energy: Bamboo can be converted into biofuels like ethanol or pulped to produce paper. It is also widely used in construction as an alternative to wood and for making scaffoldings, thanks to its strength, resilience, and flexibility.

Challenges of EU’s CBAM for India

Source: This post ‘Challenges of EU’s CBAM for India’, is based on the article The EU’s border tax poses major challenges for Indian businesses, published in Live Mint on 19^th August 2024.

UPSC Syllabus topic: GS Paper 3 -Environment – Climate Change and global warming

Context: European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which mandates that all imports into the EU bear the same carbon cost as those produced within the EU.

CBAM will initially target six sectors—iron and steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, electricity, and hydrogen. It will have significant impacts for India, specifically in the aluminum and steel sectors.

The mechanism is designed to equalize the carbon cost between EU-produced goods and imports, potentially closing markets for high-carbon-footprint products from countries like India.

How will impact India’s steel and Aluminum sector?

Exports: The EU accounts for 27% of India’s aluminum and 38% of steel exports.

The CBAM’s current phase, which runs till 31 December 2025, will focus on detailed data reporting of both direct and indirect emissions.

Direct vs. Indirect Emissions: Direct emissions refer to those generated during the production process, while indirect emissions involve the electricity used during production. From 2026, CBAM will target direct emissions only.

Potential Tariffs: For aluminum, the impact of CBAM could range from 7-10% ad valorem duty. However, including indirect emissions could increase this impact to over 70%, due to the use of coal-fired electricity. It severely restricts Indian aluminum exports to the EU.

What are the challenges in front of India?

Ripple effect: Even though currently CBAM is in the reporting phase only, non-EU customers who are importing from India and exporting to EU after adding value to it, are demanding CBAM compliance declarations from Indian manufacturers.

Alternative energy sources such as hydro, gas and nuclear energy, and battery-storage options are not available yet.

Violation of WTO Rules: CBAM’s alignment with WTO rules is questionable, and there are concerns about how it might disrupt global trade norms.

Discriminatory provisions: The EU’s CBAM seems to be discriminatory. The CBAM penalizes imported goods by applying the EU’s own carbon pricing system to them. For example, even if two products (one produced in the EU and one in a country like India) result in the same amount of CO2 emissions, the product from India would face additional costs if the carbon price in India is lower than in the EU.

Reverse financing: “reverse financing” refers to a situation where developing countries, like India, end up indirectly supporting the EU’s carbon budget. It shifts the financial burden of climate action from developed countries (like those in the EU) to developing countries.

It remains to be seen how Carbon Credit Trading System (CCTS) system will align with CBAM requirements.

Data Privacy Concerns: The extensive emissions data required by the EU could expose sensitive business information, necessitating robust data protection measures.

FTA: The CBAM could undermine benefits from tariff reductions and market access under free-trade agreements that India is negotiating with the EU and the UK.

India’s progress and challenges in agriculture and economic reforms compared to China

Source: The Post India’s progress and challenges in agriculture and economic reforms compared to China has been created, based on the article “Ashok Gulati writes: The path to Viksit Bharat runs through fields” published in “Indian Express” on 19th August 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Economy-growth, and development

Context: The article discusses India’s progress and challenges as it approaches its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. It highlights successes in agriculture, contrasts with China’s faster growth, and emphasizes the need for better policies, particularly in agriculture and nutrition.

For detailed information on India’s Economic Growth and challenges read this article here

What Achievements Has India Made in Agriculture?

1. India’s agricultural GDP grew by an average of 3.6% annually from 2004-05 to 2023-24, reflecting steady progress.
2. The Green Revolution in the late 1960s transformed India’s food production, making the country self-sufficient.
3. India is now a net exporter of agricultural products, with exports worth around $51 billion in the last three years.
4. Key export items include rice, marine products, spices, and buffalo meat.
5. India has achieved food security and is capable of feeding its population, with population growth under 1% annually.

How Does India Compare to China in Agriculture and Economic Growth?

1. Economic Growth: Since the economic reforms in 1978, China’s rural areas saw incomes rise by over 14% annually up to 1984, creating a robust demand base. This contrast sharply with India’s slower economic reforms and lower income growth rates.
2. Agricultural Reforms: China initiated agricultural reforms in 1978, dismantling the commune system and introducing the household responsibility system. These reforms led to a 14% annual increase in farmers’ incomes between 1978 and 1984, fueling demand for goods from China’s Town and Village Enterprises (TVEs).
3. Support for Farmers: China offers substantial support to its farmers through income support per acre and market price supports that are higher than those in OECD countries. In contrast, India’s government support for farmers is effectively negative, with policies that restrict trade and market access while providing subsidies for inputs like fertilizers and power.
4. Impact of Policy Decisions: China’s one-child policy helped accelerate its economic growth and per capita income. India, without such measures, focuses on education, particularly for girls, to manage population growth and boost economic development.

What Should be Done?

1. Implement Policy Changes: India needs bold policy changes, especially in agriculture. Policies need to encourage diversification, like shifting from paddy to pulses in the Punjab-Haryana belt, which requires less water and fertilizer.
2. Increase Farmer Support: Adopt China’s model of substantial income and market price support for farmers. For instance, Chinese farmers received more than 14% income growth annually between 1978 and 1984 due to reforms.
3. Focus on Nutritional Security: India should move from food security to nutritional security. Currently, 35% of Indian children under five are stunted, underscoring the need for improved nutrition alongside basic food availability.
4. Enhance Agricultural R&D and Infrastructure: Invest in agricultural research and development and improve irrigation and land-lease markets. Building efficient value chains for perishables, like the Amul model, is also crucial.
5. Set Milestones for 2047: To achieve “Viksit Bharat@2047,” India must set clear, short-term goals and continuously monitor progress, making course corrections when necessary to ensure long-term success.

Question for practice:

Discuss the differences in agricultural and economic growth strategies between India and China, and their impact on rural incomes.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre

Source- This post on Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre has been created based on the article “Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurates new state-of-the-art ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre building in Chennai” published in PIB on 18th August 2024.

Why in News?

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the new Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He also virtually launched the Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre in Chennai and the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Puducherry.

About Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC)

1. Purpose: The MRCC aims to improve the coordination and effectiveness of maritime rescue operations, especially for mariners and fishermen in distress.

2. Technology: The Centre is equipped with the latest distress monitoring systems, including terrestrial and satellite systems, and advanced communication tools for real-time alert management.

3. Personnel: It involves highly trained ICG personnel, specialized in Search and Rescue operations who manage the Centre to ensure quick responses during emergencies.

About Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre (RMPRC)

1. About: The RMPRC is India’s first facility dedicated to coordinating responses to marine pollution, especially oil and chemical spills in the Indian Ocean Region. It is located at Chennai Port.

2. Background: The Centre was first announced by Shri Rajnath Singh during the Indo-ASEAN meeting in Cambodia on November 22, 2022.

3. Emergency Response: The Centre operates 24/7, monitoring marine oil pollution incidents and coordinating responses.

4. Training: The Centre also serves as a training hub for pollution response techniques, offering practical training to various organizations and personnel from friendly countries.

About Coast Guard Air Enclave (CGAE)

1. The Air Enclave strengthens maritime security along the Puducherry and South Tamil Nadu coast.

2. It houses Chetak and Advanced Light Helicopter Squadrons, both are indigenously built. They are to support maritime patrol, Search and Rescue, and other missions from land and sea.

UPSC Syllabus: Defence

Malabar Tree Toad

Source- This post on Malabar Tree Toad has been created based on the article “Endemic Malabar Tree Toad populations may decline 68.7% due to climate change: Study” published in “Down To Earth” on 19 August 2024.

Why in News?

A recent study suggests that climate change could reduce the Malabar Tree Toad’s distribution range by up to 68.7% within India’s protected areas.

About Malabar Tree Toad

Aspects	Description
About	1) The Malabar Tree Toad is a rare and endangered species of amphibian native to the Western Ghats of India. 2) They are particularly found in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. 3) It was first discovered in 1876 and went unseen for over a century. 4) It was rediscovered in 1980 at Silent Valley National Park in Kerala.
Habitat	1) The Malabar Tree Toad lives mainly in trees, especially in the dense canopy of tropical rainforests. 2) It is active at night, feeding on insects and other small creatures, while during the day, it hides under leaves or in tree crevices to stay safe from predators and avoid drying out.
Physical Characteristics	1) The Malabar Tree Toad is a small, dark-colored toad, usually brown or black, with distinctive white or yellowish spots on its back. 2) The skin is rough and covered with small tubercles, giving it a somewhat warty appearance. 3) This toad typically measures around 3 to 4 centimeters in length, making it relatively small compared to other toad species. 4) Its limbs are slender and well-adapted for climbing, with the fingers and toes equipped with pads that help it cling to wet surfaces.
Conservation Status	The Malabar Tree Toad is listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
Threat	Deforestation, habitat loss, and pollution are major threats to this toad.
Conservation effort	1) Conservation efforts are focused on preserving the remaining forest habitats and protecting the water bodies that are essential for the breeding of this species. 2) There is also an increasing interest in studying the ecology and behavior of the Malabar Tree Toad to better understand its needs and improve conservation strategies.

UPSC Syllabus: Environment

Multidimensional Vulnerability Index

Source- This post on Multidimensional Vulnerability Index has been created based on the article “UN launches new way to measure nations’ economic vulnerability” published in “The Hindu” on 19 August 2024.

Why in News?

Recently, the UN General Assembly officially launched the “Multidimensional Vulnerability Index” (MVI) aimed at providing small island states and developing nations with better access to low-interest financing.

About Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI)

Aspects	Description
About	1) The Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) is a newly established international quantitative benchmark. 2) It is designed to measure structural vulnerability and the lack of structural resilience across various dimensions of sustainable development at the national level. The United Nations is actively collaborating with SIDS to develop and implement the MVI.
Purpose	1) The MVI is designed to complement traditional development metrics like GDP. 2) It aims to address the specific needs of small island developing states (SIDS) and other developing nations that face unique vulnerabilities but do not qualify for low-interest development financing based on GDP per capita alone.
Key Indicators in the MVI	The MVI incorporates a range of indicators reflecting a state’s structural vulnerabilities and lack of resilience, including: i) Import dependency ii) Exposure to extreme weather events and pandemics iii) Impacts of regional violence and refugee crises iv)  Demographic pressure v) Availability of water and arable land resources vi) Child mortality under the age of five
Limitations of Traditional Measures	1) Traditional metrics, such as Gross National Income (GNI), often fail to adequately capture the vulnerabilities faced by SIDS. 2) These traditional measures make it difficult for SIDS to access necessary financing for development.
Applications of the MVI	The MVI will play a crucial role in guiding: i) Programmatic support for SIDS ii) Viable debt service payment strategies iii) Financing for sustainable development initiatives tailored to the specific challenges of SIDS.

UPSC Syllabus: Index

Project on Microplastic Contamination

Source- This post on Project on Microplastic Contamination has been created based on the article “FSSAI begins project on microplastic contamination” published in “The Hindu” on 19 August 2024.

Why in News?

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated a project to evaluate microplastic contamination in food products and to develop detection methods.

About the Project on Microplastic Contamination

Aspects	Description
About	The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated a project to address the issue of microplastic contamination in food products.
Objectives	1. Develop Detection Methods: Create and validate methods to detect micro and nano-plastics in food. 2. Assess Contamination Levels: Evaluate how widespread microplastics are in food and the exposure levels for consumers in India. 3. Set Analysis Standards: Establish standard procedures for analyzing micro/nano-plastics. 4. Laboratory Testing: Conduct comparisons between different laboratories to ensure consistent results. 5. Gather Data: Collect important data on microplastic exposure in the Indian population.
Collaborating Institutions	The project is being implemented in collaboration with leading research institutions such as CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Lucknow), ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (Kochi) and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani).
Global Context	1. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported finding microplastics in common food items like sugar and salt. 2. While these findings are global, FSSAI emphasizes the need for India-specific data to understand the impact on public health. 3. The results of this project will not only shape regulations in India but also add to the global knowledge on microplastic contamination in food.
Commitment to Public Health	1. FSSAI is focused on ensuring that food in India is safe and healthy. 2. This project will help determine the level of microplastic contamination in Indian food and guide the creation of safety regulations.

About Microplastics

1. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, smaller than 5 mm in length, even tinier than a grain of rice.

2. Types of Microplastics:

i) Primary Microplastics: These are intentionally manufactured as small particles for commercial purposes. They are commonly found in cosmetics, nurdles (plastic pellets used in industrial manufacturing), and fibers from synthetic textiles like nylon.

2. Secondary Microplastics: They are formed from the degradation of larger plastic items, such as bottles, fishing nets, and plastic bags. Their breakdown occurs due to environmental exposure, including sunlight radiation, wind, and ocean waves.

About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

1. It is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).

2. It operates independently under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

3. Its primary responsibility is to protects and promotes public health by regulating and supervising food safety standards.

4. Headquarters: New Delhi

UPSC Syllabus: Governance

Indian Railways to develop master clock system

Source- This post on Indian Railways to develop master clock system has been created based on the article “In a first, Indian Railways to develop master clock system” published in “The Hindu” on 19 August 2024.

Why in News?

Indian Railways is introducing a master clock system to synchronise time across all its applications and systems. A prototype of this system will be demonstrated by October 2.

What is Current System?

1. Currently, stationmasters manually set the time based on section controllers’ instructions.

2. Different Zonal Railways use various time sources, leading to inconsistencies.

Development of the Master Clock System

1. The Railway Board has formed a committee to work with the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) to develop the system.

2. The master clock system will use time from reliable sources like NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) or the National Physical Laboratories.

3. The Director for Telecommunications of the Railway Board is leading the development.

4. The committee will finalise the design, ensuring it works seamlessly across all Zonal Railways, production units, workshops, and data centres.

Why is there need for Synchronisation?

1. Time discrepancies between stationmasters, crew, data loggers, and locomotive systems create confusion during accident investigations.

2. Uniform time synchronisation is crucial for efficient train operations, management, and accurate post-accident analysis.

UPSC Syllabus: Governance

Findings of Migration Survey in India (2020-21)

Source- This post on Findings of Migration Survey in India (2020-21) has been created based on the article “A snapshot of migration in India” published in “The Hindu” on 19 August 2024.

Why in News?

The findings of migration Survey in India (2020-21) were released recently.

Key Findings from the Migration Survey in India (2020-21)

Aspects	Description
Largest Migrant Group	Migrants moving from Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) to Maharashtra constituted the largest group of all external migrants.
Top Host States for External Migrants	Maharashtra hosted the highest share of external migrants, followed by Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Major Contributor States	Uttar Pradesh was the leading contributor of migrants, followed by Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Bihar.
Significant Migration Corridors	The U.P. to Maharashtra migration route was the most significant for external migrants, followed by migrations from Gulf countries to Kerala and from U.P. to Delhi.
Economic Migration	1. Approximately 22% of migrants moved for economic reasons, including better employment prospects, business, and service transfers. 2. The largest economic migration flows were from U.P. to Maharashtra, U.P. to Delhi, and Bihar to West Bengal.
Marriage as a Major Migration Reason	1) Marriage accounted for 68.2% of all migration reasons. 2) The top migration routes due to marriage were from U.P. to Maharashtra, Bihar to Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh to U.P.
Top Migrant-Hosting Districts	Suburban Mumbai hosted the highest number of migrants, followed by Pune and Thane in Maharashtra.

UPSC Syllabus: Index and reports

Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cube

Source- This post on Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cubes has been created based on the article “What is Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cube, the IAF’s mobile hospital?” published in “Indian express” on 19 August 2024.

Why in News?

Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted trials of airdropping its Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cube in Agra.

About Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cube

1. It is a cutting-edge mobile hospital developed by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

2.  It is a part of the Army’s broader BHISHM initiative (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita, and Maitri).

3.  The cube is designed to be deployed within 12 minutes, ensuring swift response during emergencies.

4.  It is equipped to treat up to 200 casualties, providing comprehensive medical care in disaster-stricken areas.

5.  Advanced Technology Integration:

i) The cube includes a tablet with the BHISHM software system, enabling quick item location, usage monitoring, and readiness for future deployments.

ii)  It incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics for real-time monitoring, effective coordination, and efficient management of medical services in the field.

6. Versatility and Transportability: The unit comprises 72 lightweight, easy-to-transport components, which can be carried by hand, cycle, or even drone. This flexibility allows for deployment in various challenging environments, making it ideal for mass casualty incidents.

7. The cube is waterproof and durable, ensuring it can be used in any emergency situation. After use, it can be efficiently repacked and redeployed, maintaining its readiness for subsequent operations.

8. Significance: The cube’s ability to bridge the critical time gap between primary and definitive care can potentially save numerous lives during the golden hour of emergencies.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology