9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – April 6th, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• The CUET mandate warrants cautious implementation
• Let global principles guide messaging interoperability
• Strengthen secularism, save the republic
• No quota without quantifiable data
• Making sports accessible for all

GS Paper 3

• Why India needs to bring back nature-positive farming
• Atom-Nirbhar India: Nuclear energy is critical for the future. The civil liability clause deters foreign participation
• IPCC report on Mitigation of Climate Change scientifically establishes India’s position on the historical responsibility of developed countries for consuming the carbon budget
• How individuals can save a warming planet
• Oz Is Just the Start
• Measures to rejuvenate public-private partnerships

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Bill in Lok Sabha to ban WMD funding
• 99% of world breathes unhealthy air: new WHO data
• The Indian Antarctic Bill and its various provisions
• 75 Digital Banking Units in different districts to be set up in consumer- friendly manner: Minister
• Rajya Sabha passes Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022
• Union Environment Minister Launches Awareness Mascot ‘Prakriti’ & Green Initiatives for Effective Plastic Waste Management
• Indian Culture Portal has a total of about 2.98 lakh digital artefacts with metadata and more than 34 lakh bibliographic entries: Union Minister

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

The CUET mandate warrants cautious implementation

News: Recently, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has made it mandatory for the Central Universities to take admission in their undergraduate programmes on the basis and merit of scores in the Central University Entrance Test (CUET) from this year. 

What is the situation wrt admission tests in India? 

The institutions of national importance (INIs), i.e., the IITs, the IIIT, the NITs, and the IIM, already admit students on the basis of a single common entrance examination.  

All the medical institutions take admission on the basis of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (undergraduate), or NEET.  

12 central universities have been admitting students on the basis of a single common entrance test. 

However, most central universities admit students on the basis of their own entrance tests which conducted programme by programme. The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research is also allowed to follow a different approach for taking admission.  

What are the concerns associated with CUET? 

It goes against the principle of academic autonomy. In addition, the formalisation, uniformity, and standardisation of the education will pull down quality of education to the lowest common denominator.  

There are concerns over the autonomy, competence, credibility and expertise of the NTA which will conduct the test. For example, leakage of national level tests. 

The entrance tests may undermine the importance of board examinations. It can distract students from their studies in schools.  

It may pose a huge disadvantage to an overwhelmingly large number of students from the State Boards (not the Central Board of Secondary Examination). 

In fact, the countries in which the World-class universities are situated do not insist on admitting students based on a quantitative score of a common test. They grant freedom to evolve holistic criteria for admission or in other words they respect the idea of academic autonomy.  

The higher education is in the concurrent list. Therefore, the States must be taken into confidence on such matters. In fact, the centrally-funded technical educational institutions, central universities, and deemed universities enrol a mere 5.08% of students. The remainder, 94.92%, are enrolled by the state universities, and their colleges (publicly funded or self-financed). 

Way Forward 

There has to be discussion, deliberation and consultation with all the stakeholders. It will develop the best method for admission in the higher educational institutions. 

Finally, The Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), as prescribed by the NEP 2020, needs to be established soon. It includes the General Education Council (GEC) which is a consultative mechanism.

Let global principles guide messaging interoperability

News: On 24th Mar 2022, European negotiators finally agreed on the terms of a new legislation known as the Digital Markets Act. It is a key component of Europe’s new digital strategy.  

What are the objectives of the act? 

It aims to regulate “gatekeepers“, or platforms with a significant presence in Europe in terms of their revenues and European user base.  

It aims to break, at least to some extent, the control of the digital platforms over the markets in which they operate. 

One of the key areas in which regulations are going to focus is going to be interoperability. 

Why has the Digital Markets Act been proposed in Europe? 

There is a clear scenario that some platforms are dominating in their given vertical or field across the globe. They can also to enter and dominate any other adjacent fields.  

For example, US companies have a first-mover advantage on the internet. They are digitally dominating in the European Market. Thus, it is difficult for the domestic players to acquire enough market-share. 

The regulation of the platform economy will loosen the stronghold of the US platforms. It will give smaller companies in adjacent fields a chance to survive. For example, messaging interoperability with smaller messaging apps has been mandated under the law.  

Absence of interoperability has a lot of negative consequences. For example, it reduces choices available to customers. It also affects the overall competitiveness of the market. 

The interoperability at present could result in the immediate degradation of a key feature of modern digital communication. 

What are the problems that would emerge due to interoperability? 

If messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Signal which provide end-to-end encrypted services are integrated with other platforms which do not provide encrypted services, the privacy of communication across the platforms might be affected. 

The interoperability will make it impossible for anyone to offer secure communications at a global scale.  

In addition, various features like spam detection, identification of prohibited speech, etc. will not be able to function if messages are shared with other services. 

Way Forward 

In the future, it might be possible to ensure such privacy across multiple interoperable applications.  

All countries of the world need to come together. They should establish common policy principles that can be imposed on the global technology platforms.  

Strengthen secularism, save the republic

Context: The judgment of Karnataka High Court regarding the hijab issue has further provoked the hijab-wearing college students in Udupi. They have approached the Supreme Court to contest the order.

What is the political dimension of the hijab issue?

The issue of hijab is political as well as constitutional. The Supreme court can settle the constitutional aspect but the political dimension will continue.

As a matter of fact, Hindu and Sikh women in northern India cover their heads on occasions such as a marriage, funeral, etc. However, removal of hijab from educational institutions creates an environment of intolerance.

What is the moral framework that India has followed?

India has a past where people from other parts of the world were welcomed with open arms. A tolerance of other faiths and compassion towards fellow beings became an integral part of Indian traditions because of Buddha. The Constitution adopted that moral framework for the governance of India. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion and conscience on the one hand and secularism for the governance of the country on the other.

What is the essence of Indian secularism?

The essence of Indian secularism is that the state has no religion. This is clear from Article 27 and 28 of the Constitution.

Article 27 states that no tax can be levied for promoting any particular religion. Article 28 says that no religious instruction shall be given in any educational institutions wholly maintained out of state funds. Article 25(2)(a) empowers the state to regulate secular activities associated with religious practices. Article 15 prohibits any kind of discrimination on the ground of religion. Above all freedom of religion is made subject to other fundamental rights, apart from the reasonable restrictions on the grounds of public order, morality and health.

In Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain & Anr., the Supreme Court of India said “the state shall have no religion of its own’.

Can India become a theocratic state?

A theocratic state with majority religion as the state religion is an unworkable proposition. A theocratic state functions on the basis of religious laws, which in India means the Dharma Shastras according to which only a particular caste has the right to rule and a large majority of the population will have no right to be a part of the power structure. This may lead to perennial conflicts and the eventual disintegration of society.

What should be done?

India can only survive as a secular state where the state has no religion and does not promote any religion. Secularism was chosen as the foundational principle of the republic to keep the nation united.

No quota without quantifiable data

Context: The Madras High Court recently quashed the 10.5% special reservation for Vanniyakula Kshatriyas with the overall 20% quota for Most Backward Classes (MBC) and Denotified Communities (DNC). It has again highlighted the importance of quantifiable data as a prerequisite for reservation in education and employment.

Is there a need for an exhaustive study?

It is a fact that no exhaustive study has been done to collect quantifiable data on the representation of different communities in education and employment since the second BC Commission (1982-85).

The quantifiable data are required for providing any form of quota in favour of any community. The Constitutional stipulation of adequate representation in the services has to be met along with that of social and educational backwardness for any community to become eligible for reservation in employment.

The Tamil Nadu government should commission a study to compile the data on the way the benefits of reservation got distributed among BCs, MBCs and the DNCs.

What is the need for internal reservation?

The need for internal reservation has been felt for more than one reason. Even in the 1970s and 1980s, two BC Commissions found that certain sections of communities are more backward than others. The situation has got compounded in the absence of application of creamy layer rule.

What should the Tamil nadu Government do now?

As the 69% quota law came into force in 1994, the government can have the data compiled since then with regard to education and employment in government institutions, and make them available in public domain.

Depending on the finding of the proposed study, the government can frame its policies accordingly to ensure equitable distribution of benefits of reservation and social justice.

Making sports accessible for all

Context: The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics was a watershed moment for Indian sports. A paralympic gold medal was won by a female Indian athlete for the first time. To build on this success, it is important to provide more opportunities and an enabling environment for greater participation of women and persons with disabilities in sport.

What are the barriers faced in promoting sports?

There are several challenges which can harm the inclusive legacy of the 2020 Paralympics:

1. COVID-19 pandemic: Data from UNESCO’s worldwide survey of school physical education show that some 70% of physical education teachers consider their students’ physical and mental health to have worsened during the pandemic, with children with disabilities most affected.
2. Low budget allocation for physical education and sport.
3. Discriminations based on gender and disability: Social and cultural barriers restrict the participation of women and girls in sport.

What is the ‘Fit for Life’ flagship initiative?

It is an initiative of UNESCO. It is designed to activate smart investments in impactful sport policies, school curricula, and grassroots participation to scale up effective solutions tackling rising physical inactivity, mental health issues, social exclusion, and inequalities. Complementing initiatives such as Fit India campaign and Khelo India, it can lead to healthier communities.

Way forward: Sports can help promote inclusion and equality. It can help in COVID-19 response and recovery strategies. Creating an inclusive sports culture requires effective policies, progressive curricula, focused on quality physical education, and well-trained physical education professionals.

GS Paper 3

Why India needs to bring back nature-positive farming

Context: The pandemic showed that human interventions in natural processes can have disastrous consequences. It’s time to scale up natural-positive food systems that would simultaneously promote crop, soil and human health.

There is growing consensus among agri-scientists, policymakers and farmers that the Green Revolution has reached its limits and raised several issues of environmental sustainability.

What have been the ill-effects of the Green Revolution?

Due to the Green Revolution (GR), India’s food production grew at an unprecedented scale and farm incomes also improved substantially. High yielding varieties of seeds, chemical fertilisers, assured irrigation and pesticides were key components of this .

However, the rise in food production has also led to some unintended consequences:

– Groundwater depletion

– Land degradation

– Yield stagnation

– Loss of agri-biodiversity and the long-term impact on farmers’ and consumers’ health.

Hence, it’s now time to move from resource-intensive to a sustainable agriculture.

What are the key components of sustainable farming?

Moving away from extractive and input-intensive practices towards a low external input and sustainable system. For instance: organic farming, natural farming, Pesticide-free farming etc.

A more holistic approach to farming, and reducing the use of chemicals in farming without affecting the yields. For instance:

– Non-Pesticide Management (NPM) agriculture: Under this, a farmer is encouraged to engage in synthetic pesticide-free agriculture and create a unique identity for this produce in the consumer market. It involves choosing pest-resistant varieties of crops and practicing crop rotation, intercropping and mixed cropping that are well adapted to the local agroecological systems. If there is need, farmers use sprays made of locally prepared bio-inputs and herbal extracts that keep pests at bay. Most of these bio-inputs are made by the farmers themselves with locally available materials that reduce their costs and debts considerably.

Instead of a standardisation, sustainable farming brings back diversity to farming by promoting crops and crop-varieties suited to different agroecological zones of India.

What is the way forward?

Immense state support, in the case of the Green Revolution, was a major reason behind its success. Hence, there is a need to provide end-to-end support to farmers to create an enabling environment for this transition.

Identify and establish cultivation practices that are crop, soil and region-specific. More agricultural research has to go into developing seed varieties and cultivation practices using locally available materials.

More support is needed for post-harvest management in areas such as transportation, storage and value addition. Since chemical contamination can also occur after the produce leaves the farm, there’s a need to follow the value / supply chain approach and cover all aspects.

The incentive system available to crops has to change. The present system of minimum support price-based public procurement is concentrated in a few areas and crops. Diversification of the procurement basket is important to ensure a fair price for the produce.

Provision of financial services like credit and insurance at affordable price is vital for a vibrant and efficient farming system. Crop insurance, as a risk mitigation mechanism, can protect the small and marginal farmers from climate variations.

Farmer collectives and farmer producer organisations (FPO) need to play a big role in the transition to a sustainable and pesticide-free farming system. Organisations can partner with FPOs to procure directly from farmers at the farmgate and give their produce the recognition it deserves.

Support the entry of MSMEs in the pesticide-free food chains and to raise awareness among the consumers on a large scale, to raise demand and develop territorial markets.

Atom-Nirbhar India: Nuclear energy is critical for the future. The civil liability clause deters foreign participation

News: Meeting the net-zero carbon emissions pledge by 2070 requires an overhaul of both the logistics and electricity sectors to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

So far the solar energy sector has received much attention when it comes to India’s transition to renewables, but without nuclear energy, India won’t be able to fulfil its pledge.

What are some recent developments that highlight India’s reliance on fossil fuels?

Two recent developments have brought India’s reliance on fossil fuel into sharp focus.

– The Russia-Ukraine conflict and the consequent surge in crude oil prices.

– The most recent IPCC report on climate, which highlights the energy sector’s large contribution to global warming.

What is the situation wrt nuclear energy in India?

It’s an area where India was off to an early start, developed relatively high indigenous capabilities in relation to other sectors, but subsequently didn’t put enough efforts into it.

Today, nuclear power contributes a mere 3% of the total electricity generated, and has a capacity of, 6780 MW.

Dependence on Russia: India’s main partner today is Russia. The Kudankulam nuclear plant, which supplies about 26% of the electricity from this source, operates in partnership with Russia. Going forward, the geopolitical situation makes it challenging to depend on just Russians.

Why India didn’t progress on the nuclear energy front?

Civil liability for nuclear damage: After the 2008 India-US civil nuclear deal, progress has been disappointing. The deal did open the pathway to a stable supply of uranium ore from Kazakhstan and Canada. However, the design of the subsequent bill on civil liability for nuclear damage killed the prospect of participation of Western firms.

What is the way forward?

Recent progress on creating small modular reactors (up to 300 MW) is making the possibility of rapid scale-up of nuclear energy quite feasible.

– SMRs will offer enhanced safety and simpler designs at lower capital costs.

These improvements will be harder to achieve with India’s pressurised heavy water reactors. Hence, India should begin by amending its nuclear liability legislation in a way that encourages investment by companies that are at the forefront of SMRs, which promise to lower the chance of unsafe release of radioactivity.

IPCC report on Mitigation of Climate Change scientifically establishes India’s position on the historical responsibility of developed countries for consuming the carbon budget

News: IPCC has come out with the third instalment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). The IPCC reports are created by its three working groups.

This report, which deals with actions that can be taken to combat climate change, has been prepared by the Working Group III.

Assessment reports by Working group I and II have already been released earlier.

What are the findings of the report?

Limiting global warming will require major transitions in the energy sector and this will mean drastically reducing fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, improved energy efficiency, and the use of alternative fuel

On financial support: It falls short of the levels needed to achieve mitigation goals across all sectors and regions. The challenge of closing gaps is largest in developing countries as a whole. It also states that public finance falls short of the Copenhagen (reiterated in the Paris Agreement) goal of USD 100 billion per year by 2020.

– To accelerate the low-carbon transition, developed countries should ensure higher flows of finance and technology transfer in critical areas such as renewables, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, and others.

With a shrinking remaining carbon budget, the access to a fair share of this budget for developing countries has become an important question.

Changes in lifestyle and behaviours have a significant role to play in mitigating climate change. The Report endorses India’s view on the need for curbing unsustainable consumption and is in line with its call of L.I.F.E. – Lifestyles for Environment which it gave at COP26 at Glasgow. Having the right policies, infrastructure and technology in place to enable changes to our lifestyles and behaviour can result in a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Emissions reduction: There is a need for deep and urgent global emissions reduction. Four-fifths of the total carbon budget for 1.5 deg C temperature increase and two-thirds of the total carbon budget for 2 deg C warming has been already consumed.

Limiting warming to around 1.5°C requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest and be reduced by 43% by 2030; at the same time, methane would also need to be reduced by about a third.

Net-zero: The global temperature will stabilise when carbon dioxide emissions reach net-zero. For 1.5°C, this meant achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions globally in the early 2050s; for 2°C, it is in the early 2070s.

For a 1.5°C goal of net-zero, the world’s dependence on coal must drop 95% by mid-century, on oil 60% and on gas 45%

India

– Both historical cumulative emissions and per capita annual emissions show that India’s role (as part of South Asia) is minimal.

– The report justifies India’s emphasis on equity, stating that it is fundamental to international co-operation on climate change. Equity remains a central element in the UN climate regime, notwithstanding shifts in differentiation between states over time and challenges in assessing fair shares”

– Coal plants: There is no place for new coal plants in the world. The report finds that all coal-fired power plants, without the technology to capture and store carbon (CCS), need to be shut down by 2050 if the world aspired to limit global temperature rise to 1.5^oC. None of the existing under construction coal-fired power plants in India have CCS facilities.

As per some experts, if all else fails, India can look at geo-engineering solutions like placing reflectors in orbit, say, to adjust how much solar heat reaches us. But, any such solution would require a global consensus.

How individuals can save a warming planet

News: Recently, the IPCC report for the first time included a chapter on “demand, services and social aspects of mitigation”. It implies a paradigm shift in the way we think about climate action. 

The chapter puts people and their well-being at the centre of climate change mitigation.  

What is this new understanding, as mentioned in the IPCC report? 

So far, climate action has been focused on the supply side, i.e., what needs to be supplied to people. It ignored the demand side, i.e., what people need, demand, and aspire for.

The people aspire for a healthy life, food for daily nutrition, a comfortable home, and transportation system, thermal comfort, communication, and participation in decision-making processes. Therefore, the burden of mitigation should be reduced on the supply side. And, focus should shift to the demand side.  

What has been proposed by the report regarding lifestyle changes for climate change mitigation? 

Comprehensive demand-side mitigation strategies must be adopted.

– For example, individuals can go for reduction in food waste, sustainable healthy dietary choices, adaptive heating and cooling choices for thermal comfort etc. 

Individuals having high socio-economic status contribute disproportionately to emissions. Therefore, they have the highest potential for emissions reductions.

Efforts can be made to reduce inequality and forms of status-related consumption. The consumption of goods and services should be focused on the well-being instead of for social prestige. 

Immediate action can be undertaken in our lifestyle. It will enable people to lead low-carbon lifestyles.

– For example, shift in the mode of transport (walking, cycling etc.), industry, buildings, and food. Amongst all, walking, cycling and using electricity-powered transport can be the biggest contributor in climate change mitigation. 

What is the way forward? 

Individual choice alone can make only a modest contribution to reducing GHG emissions. It requires investment in and transformation across every sector. In addition, policy support is also needed which encourages people to make low-carbon choices in all aspects of their lives.  

Structural and cultural changes are important for people to lead low-carbon lifestyles. This enables people to make the right choices.

– For example, individual’s shift to walking and cycling require urban planning for land use, more green spaces, reallocation of street spaces for walking and physical exercise, etc.

In addition, the demand for fossil fuels has to reduce. The use of coal fuel must fall by 90% by 2050. The use of gas and oil need to decline by 25-50%. Further reductions would be required in gas and oil by 2100. 

The IPCC should continue to provide the evidence for policymakers, investors, and all other decision-makers to decide what needs to be done ahead. 

Oz Is Just the Start

News: Recently, India and Australia established a free trade agreement (FTA) for both goods and services between the two nations. It is known as The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). 

What are the World Trade Organisation rules on FTAs in goods?  

Case I FTAs: If FTA includes one or more developed countries as members  

All member countries must eliminate duties and other trade restrictions on products traded among them. The trade barriers must be eliminated rather than just lowered. 

In this, substantially all or nearly all trade is covered. The partial trade preferences are prohibited in these types of FTAs.  

For example, India-Japan FTA comes under this category. Therefore, it eliminates trade barriers on substantially all products. But India-Japan trade is insignificant (India sent only 2. 2% of exports to Japan while Japan sent 1. 2% of its exports to India in 2010 year). Therefore, it has not led to many changes in bilateral trade.

Case II FTAs: When FTA members happen to be all developing countries.  

Member countries can simply reduce rather than entirely eliminate trade barriers. 

There may be exchange of trade preferences as the members want. The reductions may be applied to as many products as the members decide to choose. 

For example, All the India’s FTAs (except India-Japan FTA) have been with other developing countries. For example, Singapore in 2005, South Korea in 2010, ASEAN in 2010, Malaysia in 2011 and UAE in 2022. They have partial trade preferences.  

What has been proposed in the India-Australia FTA? 

It aims to provide for immediate tariff cuts and eventual elimination of tariffs. It will make most of India’s exports to Australia and Australia’s exports to India duty-free.  

It covers exchanges in a number of services sectors. For example, financial services, telecommunications, professional services, movement of natural persons and also concessions for Indian students (Like extended post-study work visas etc.).

Why is the India-Australia FTA significant? 

It comes under Case I FTA and will lead to a genuine free-trade relationship between India and Australia.  

Till now, Australia had FTAs with China and Vietnam. It was disadvantageous for Indian Exporters in the Australian Market. The FTA promises to give India a level playing field in labour-intensive products such as apparel and other light manufactures.
Indian producers who are dependent on Australian imports for their inputs into their products are going to benefit. Their cost of production will decrease. Therefore, the lower cost will also benefit the Indian Consumers. 

The FTA will lead to competition with Australian goods and enhanced productivity of the Indian producers. 

The FTA can help India to decouple its economy from that of China.  

It will make India have FTAs with two of its three partners in the Quad. i.e. Japan and Australia.  

What are the challenges? 

At present, India-Australia bilateral trade balance is in favour of Australia.

– For example, Australia’s largest export items to India is coal with pearls, gold, copper ore, aluminium, wine, fruits and nuts, cotton and wool representing its other exports. India exports, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, etc. 

In recent years, India has been sceptical of competition from the foreign goods. Therefore, India has resorted to raising tariffs on a large proportion of imported items.

Way Forward 

There is a considerable scope for further expansion of bilateral trade between India and Australia. At present, India’s GDP is only $3 trillion and Australia’s GDP is at $1. 3 trillion.  

This FTA would serve as the stepping stone to similar agreements with India’s larger trading partners, notably, the UK and EU.  

At present, India must turn to the most ambitious free trade relationship of all i.e., an India-US FTA.

Measures to rejuvenate public-private partnerships

News: Recently, the New Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) and the National Infrastructure Pipeline were launched by the central government.

As a result, Public-private partnership (PPP) models have come under the focus as various projects will be funded under PPP.  

What have been the Indian expereince with various PPP models? 

(A) Indian experience: 

Almost all Indian companies and commercial lending institutions are concerned of investing in greenfield PPP projects. In fact, foreign investors also prefer to invest in the brownfield assets.  

In recent years, the government has received poor responses from private players in PPP bids.

– For example: (1) the Indian Railway could not attract many private players for passenger-train operations, and (2) The Bharat Broadband Nigam Ltd (BBNL) cancelled a tender for connecting villages due to the lack of participation of eligible bidders.  

Various PPP models including the Build-operate-transfer (BOT) and the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) have been examples of classic failure of PPP model in India.

– For example, the share of the BOT model in road investments in India declined from 85% in 2013 to almost zero in 2020.  

PPP Models have performed well in sectors like telecom, ports, airports, electricity transmission and renewable energy. 

(B) International xeperience: 

Recently, Britain renationalised the British Rail, after being operated on a PPP model after a period of 25 years.

What are the suggestions for PPP reforms?  

Kelkar Committee submitted a report titled as “Revisiting and Revitalizing PPP Model of Infrastructure Development” (2015). It recommended some of the following measures in this regard 

(1) The report recommended setting up “3P India”. It would function as a centre of excellence in PPPs. 

(2) The report proposed to address complex issues like renegotiation, independent regulation, equitable risk-allocation, amendments to Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and expeditious redressal of disputes.  

Regulatory bodies can be established for administration of PPPs. Such bodies have also been established in other countries.

– For example, there is the Infrastructure Concessions Regulatory Commission in Nigeria, the PPP Advisory Unit in Ghana, the PPP Centre in the Philippines and the PPP Unit in South Africa, and the National Infrastructure Commission of the United Kingdom 

A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which is 100% owned by the government can be established for the PPP project. It can perform the sovereign function like land acquisition and securing all permissions. Subsequently, the SPV’s share will be sold to the highest private bidder. It will reduce the development risk.  

The Least Present Value Method (LPVM) can be adopted. In this, the time-period of a concession is kept open-ended and flexible. It helps the concessionaire who bid with the lowest amount of revenue share. It will remove the revenue risk in the long term PPP projects to a substantial level. 

In addition, a bespoke credit-rating system can be adopted. It requires embracing the “expected loss” (EL) approach instead of the “probability of default” approach.  

Way Forward 

In response to the latest Budget speech, the Department of Economic Affairs is required to take a fresh approach for “capacity building” for PPPs. 

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Bill in Lok Sabha to ban WMD funding

Source: This post is based on the article “Bill in Lok Sabha to ban WMD funding” published in The Hindu on 6th April 2022.

What is the News?

The External Affairs Minister (EAM) has introduced the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill,2022.

What is Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems Amendment Bill, 2022?

The Bill amends the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act,2005.

What was the need for this Bill?

Firstly, the bill was needed as the earlier law of 2005 only banned the manufacture of WMDs and does not cover the financial aspect of WMD delivery systems.

Secondly, the bill was essential to meet India’s international obligations to the United Nations Security Council’s targeted financial sanctions. Also, the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force have mandated against financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery system.

Key Provisions of the Bill: 

Bans funding of weapons of mass destruction(WMD): It inserts section 12A in the 2005 Act. It says that no person shall finance any activity in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, which is prohibited under this Act or under the United Nations (Security Council) Act,1947, or any other relevant Act.

Empowers Centre to Freeze Assets: The Bill empowers the Centre to freeze and seize the financial assets of people involved in the above-mentioned activities of weapons of mass destruction(WMD).

Prohibits any financial support: It also prohibits any person from making funds, financial assets, or economic resources available for the person involved in prohibited activities under this act.

99% of world breathes unhealthy air: new WHO data

Source: This post is based on the article “99% of world breathes unhealthy air: new WHO data” published in Indian Express on 4th April 2022.

What is the News?

Ahead of the World Health Day (7th April), the World Health Organization (WHO) has released the Air Quality Database 2022.

What is the Air Quality Database 2022?

The WHO air quality database compiles data on annual mean concentrations of particulate matter(PM) and nitrogen dioxide(NO2).

The data compiled in this database is used as input to derive the Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 11.6.2, Air quality in cities for which WHO is the custodial agency.

What are the key findings of the report?

Exceeds WHO’s air quality limits: Almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds WHO’s air quality limits.

Unhealthy Air: More than 6,000 cities in 117 countries are now monitoring air quality, but their residents are still breathing unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. People in low and middle-income countries suffer the highest exposure.

Increased Collection of Data: As many as 2,000 more cities and human settlements are now recording ground monitoring data for particulate matter, PM10 and/or PM2.5, than in the last update (2018). This marks an almost six-fold rise in reporting since the database was first made in 2011.

Impact of PM 2.5 and NO2 on Health: Particulate matter, especially PM 2.5, is capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream, causing Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular (stroke), and Respiratory Impacts.

– NO2 is associated with respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, leading to respiratory symptoms (such as coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing), hospital admissions, and visits to emergency rooms.

What are the WHO’s New Air Quality Guidelines?

Click Here to read about it

The Indian Antarctic Bill and its various provisions

Source: This post is based on the article “The Indian Antarctic Bill and its various provisions” published in The Hindu on 6th April 2022.

What is the News?

Lok Sabha has introduced the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022. The Bill aims to lay down a set of rules to regulate a range of activities on territories in Antarctica where India has set up research stations.

What are the key provisions of the Indian Antarctic Bill,2022?

Regulate Activities to Antarctica: It aims to regulate visits and activities to Antarctica, as well as potential disputes that may arise among those present on the continent. 

Inspection of Vessels: It lays out a structure for government officials to inspect a vessel and conduct checks of research facilities.

Antarctic fund: It directs the creation of a fund called the Antarctic fund that will be used for protecting the Antarctic environment.

Penal Provisions: It extends the jurisdiction of Indian courts to Antarctica. It also lays out penal provisions for crimes on the continent by Indian citizens, and foreign citizens who are a part of Indian expeditions or are in the precincts of Indian research stations.

Establishment of Committee on Antarctic Governance and Environmental Protection: It will monitor, implement and ensure compliance with the relevant international laws, emissions standards and rules of protection.

Prohibitory Activities: It prohibits mining, dredging and activities that threaten the pristine conditions of the continent. It also bans any person, vessel or aircraft from disposing waste in Antarctica and bars the testing of nuclear devices.

– It also provides that private tours and expeditions to Antarctica would be prohibited without a permit or the written authorization by a member country. 

Why was the need for Antarctica Bill?

Firstly, India had been a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty since 1983. The treaty makes it mandatory to specify a set of laws governing portions of the continent where it had its research bases.

Secondly,  India is also signatory to treaties such as the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and the Protocol on the Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty – both of which enjoin India to help preserve the pristine nature of the continent.

What is Antarctic Treaty?

The Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961. The Treaty covers the area south of 60°S latitude. 

Objectives: 1) To demilitarize Antarctica 2) To establish it as a zone free of nuclear tests and the disposal of radioactive waste and to ensure that it is used for peaceful purposes only 3) To promote international scientific cooperation in Antarctica and 4) To set aside disputes over territorial sovereignty.

Signatories: Of the 54 signatory countries to the treaty, 29 have consultative status that give them voting rights.

75 Digital Banking Units in different districts to be set up in consumer- friendly manner: Minister

Source: This post is based on the article “75 Digital Banking Units in different districts to be set up in consumer- friendly manner: Minister” published in AIR on 4rth April 2022.

What is the News?

In the Union Budget 2022, the Finance Minister has proposed setting up 75 digital banking units (DBUs) in 75 districts across India through scheduled commercial banks.

What are Digital Banking Units (DBUs)?

Simply put, digital banking involves taking all traditional banking activity online — doing away with paperwork like cheques, pay-in slips, demand drafts, and so on.

What are the benefits of Digital Banking Units(DBUs)?

Firstly, Digi banking units will help banks that are now looking to reduce their physical footprint with fewer brick and mortar branches, with a ‘light’ banking approach.

Secondly, DBUs will be cheaper to establish than a new branch, will also require less staff, and can be high-yield units for the parent bank. 

Thirdly, they can provide a better customer experience, aided by technology. These units will also encourage more financial literacy and a favorable outlook toward digital banking.

What is the significance of setting up DBUs?

RBI’s Digital Payments Index(RBI-DPI) which aims to capture the extent of digitization of payments has seen a growth of over 46% since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

Indians in urban and Tier II and III cities are the first to adopt digital payments, but there is a need for further penetration of digital payments and banking in the country.

Hence, this initiative of setting up digital banking units will aid financial inclusion by getting more Indians on board.

Rajya Sabha passes Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Source: This post is based on the article “Rajya Sabha passes Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022” published in The Hindu on 5th April 2022.

What is the News?

Rajya Sabha has passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Lok Sabha has already passed this Bill.

What is the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022?

Purpose: The Bill seeks to amend the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.  

Key Provisions of the Bill

Unification of Municipal Corporations in Delhi: The Bill replaces the three municipal corporations under the Act with one Corporation named the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Powers of the Delhi government: The Act as amended in 2011 empowers the Delhi government to decide various matters under the Act. These include (i) total number of seats of councilors (ii) division of the area of corporations into zones and wards (iii) delimitation of wards, among others. The amendment bill instead empowers the central government to decide these matters.

Number of councilors: The Act provides that the number of seats in the three corporations taken together should not be more than 272. The Bill states that the total number of seats in the new Corporation should not be more than 250.

Removal of Director of Local Bodies: The Act provides for a Director of Local Bodies to assist the Delhi government and discharge certain functions which include: (i) coordinating between Corporations, (ii) framing Recruitment Rules for various posts. The Bill omits the provision for a Director of Local Bodies. 

E-governance system for citizens: The Bill adds that obligatory functions of the new Corporation will include establishing an e-governance system for citizen services on an anytime-anywhere basis for a better, accountable, and transparent administration.  

Union Environment Minister Launches Awareness Mascot ‘Prakriti’ & Green Initiatives for Effective Plastic Waste Management

Source: This post is based on the article “Union Environment Minister Launches Awareness Mascot ‘Prakriti’& Green Initiatives for Effective Plastic Waste Management” published in PIB on 5th April 2022.

What is the News?

Union Environment Minister has launched Awareness Mascot ‘Prakriti’& other Green Initiatives for Effective Plastic Waste Management.

What is Prakriti?

Prakriti is a mascot to spread greater awareness among the masses about the small changes that can be sustainably adopted in our lifestyle for a better environment.

The mascot will also inform people about various green initiatives taken by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and the Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) to ensure effective plastic waste management(PWM) in the country.

Plastic Waste Generation in India

India generates about 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and the per capita plastic waste generation has almost doubled over the last five years.Plastic pollution adversely affects our ecosystems and is also linked to air pollution.

Steps announced to tackle Plastic Waste

Prime Minister had announced India’s pledge to phase out single use plastics by 2022.

The Plastic Waste Management Rules,2016 were amended, paving the way for the ban on the import of plastic waste, ban on use of single use plastic from July 1, and increasing the minimum thickness of carrying bags from existing 75 microns to 120 microns by December 2022.

What are the other Green Initiatives launched for effective plastic waste management?

National Dashboard on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management: It aims to bring all stakeholders including Central Ministries/ Departments, State/UT Governments in one place and track the progress made for the elimination of single-use plastic (SUP) and effective management of plastic waste.

Extended Producer Responsibility(EPR) Portal for Plastic Packaging: It aims to improve accountability, traceability, transparency and facilitate ease of reporting compliance to EPR Obligations by Producers, Importers and Brand-owners.

Mobile App for Single Use Plastics Grievance Redressal: It aims to empower citizens to check sale/usage/manufacturing of SUP in their area and tackle the plastic menace.

Monitoring Module for Single-Use Plastic(SUP) for local bodies, SPCBs/PCCs and CPCB

Industrial Production of Graphene from Waste Plastic

Indian Culture Portal has a total of about 2.98 lakh digital artefacts with metadata and more than 34 lakh bibliographic entries: Union Minister

Source: This post is based on the article “Indian Culture Portal has a total of about 2.98 lakh digital artefacts with metadata and more than 34 lakh bibliographic entries: Union Minister” published in PIB on 4rth April 2022.

What is the News?

Government has implemented the National Virtual Library of India(NVLI) project through the Indian Culture Portal.

Currently, the Indian Culture Portal has a total of about 2.98 lakh digital artifacts with metadata and more than 34 lakh bibliographic entries.

What is the National Virtual Library of India(NVLI)?

Launched by: Ministry of Culture in collaboration with IIT Bombay, Mumbai.

Aim: To provide a platform for the digital preservation of diverse cultural artifacts, and to create awareness and a sense of collective ownership among citizens about their shared heritage.

The platform hosts data of cultural relevance from various repositories and institutions all over India.

As part of the NVLI project, IIT-B has developed the Indian Culture Portal. It is a one-stop source portal for information related to history, heritage, and culture.

Salient Features of the Portal

– Inclusive Digital Platform: The portal provides access to multiple cultural resources such as the national and state archives, libraries and district gazetteers which will cater to all sections of the society. 

– Free Access and Bilingual Digital Platform: Free access to archival resources and documents.The portal is also bilingual and is available in both English and Hindi language. 

– Accessible by the Visually Impaired: The portal has specific features and functionalities that allow the visually impaired to read and access the portal without difficulty. 

– Digital Flipbook for Rare Books and E-books: This exclusive feature is available for all books on the portal. Rare Books on the portal are also downloadable

– QR Code Sharing: Data on the portal can be easily shared using unique QR codes. Once scanned, the desired page can be easily accessed on phones and other devices.