Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• El Niño amid heating oceans: We’re now in uncharted waters
• Marriage for all, even if for a few

GS Paper 2

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

El Niño amid heating oceans: We’re now in uncharted waters

News– The latest spike in ocean temperature matters is a cause of concern.

What are the impacts of rising ocean temperatures?

Huge energy stored– The changes in sea-surface temperatures matters a lot when expressed as energy added to the system that includes our ocean and atmospheres. It is the equivalent of hundreds of millions of atomic bombs.

It’s energy that gets trapped in the system by an increasing concentration of greenhouse gases. That energy can manifest as heat waves or storms.

El-Nino and La-Nina cycles– La Niña has prevailed during the last three years. During this phase, trade winds push warm equatorial water westward from the US across the Pacific, where it piles up by Indonesia.

Every two to seven years, it switches to the El Niño pattern. Warmer water can shift back toward the Americas.

El Niño events can be gentle or fierce. It depends on whether strong westerly winds helps warm water to shift across the Pacific.

El Niño is born in the Eastern Pacific. But, the change in patterns redistributes heat around the planet. It disturbs the entire global atmospheric circulation.

The cycle of El Niño and La Niña has probably been going on for millions of years, since our continents and oceans reached their current configuration.

Now, with rapid overall warming, the Pacific cycle might become even stronger. It is already creating more extreme conditions.

Impact on ocean circulations– There’s more capacity for heat deep in the ocean. But, the water heats up at the surface first. Since cold water is heavier, it can create regions of stillness, where normal circulation stops and oxygen depleted oceans grow.

Scientists are observing alarming dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico, which are made worse by nitrate runoff from farms. It affects the phytoplankton, the zooplankton, the fish, the marine mammals and seabirds.

Warming oceans also lead to marine heat waves. It can destroy kelp forests and grasses that provided a home for fish and marine mammals.

Marriage for all, even if for a few

News – The Supreme Court began hearing the case for marriage equality within the ambit of the Special Marriage Act.

What are some facts about the parliamentary debate on the Special Marriage Act?

Member of Parliament, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, was one of the Bill’s proponents. She predicted that the law will not be supported by many but that the next generation would demand the right to choose their partners. The proposed law could improve the lives of women.

There was a perception among some Parliamentarians that allowing citizens to marry anyone of their choice could potentially lead to a collapse of society and civilisation. The Bill’s divorce provisions had raised fears of a proliferation of sexual desires.

Securing more rights for a large number of identities and desires can impose the ‘lifestyle’ of a few onto a majority that is not represented in these struggles.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad had bitterly opposed the Hindu Code Bill. As per him, the measure was forcing something on a vast majority, because a small, microscopic minority considered it a right.

What are issues with marriage equality for vulnerable sections of the population?

Indian polity and society still struggle with the idea of marriage reform and individual choice. Local and national politics have witnessed campaigns against inter-caste and inter-community couples.

Societal morality is given preference over rights afforded under the Act.

Vigilante groups have been empowered to prevent unions using extra-judicial methods. Queer couples may also face similar problems in future. Marriage is considered a social institution that upholds hierarchies based on gender, caste and community.

What is the way forward for marriage equality for vulnerable sections of the population?

Legal sanction may offer at least some relief. Social transformations are not easy. But, laws are unlikely to disrupt the lives of ‘vast majorities.

Some citizens may not be prepared for marriage equality. But law should have more potential than the public imagination. It should be aimed at improving the lives of the more marginalised.

Affording rights to a sexual minority reaffirms the rights of the citizenry as a whole.

GS Paper 2

The problem with India’s multi-alignment stand

News– China’s recent mediation efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis have once again spotlighted India’s approach to conflict resolution.

What has been the approach of China towards Ukraine use?

China has held the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastward expansion responsible for instigating the war. As per China, America is the biggest obstacle to a ceasefire.

It is exploiting the differences among western countries regarding the extent of support to Ukraine. It is cementing the Beijing-Moscow relationship and ensuring the survival of the Vladimir Putin regime.

Thus, China has effectively positioned itself in opposition to the American approach. This is not how India views its role in resolving the conflict.

How is India’s position different from China?

In contrast to the Chinese President first outreach to the Ukraine, Mr. Modi has spoken to Mr. Zelenskyy many times.

In October and December last year, Mr. Modi had expressed India’s solidarity with Ukraine while extending support for peace efforts. Mr. Modi had publicly told Mr. Putin that “today’s era is not of war”.

Washington understands the importance of India’s continuous engagement with Ukraine. It is an important way of bringing New Delhi’s response to the Ukraine war into alignment with its own. The geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific and the Ukraine conflict are inter-connected.

The regular Modi-Zelenskyy interactions shows India’s rising stature and recognition of its unique position in the emerging global order. This is despite western criticism of India’s continued energy imports from Russia.

Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Emine remarked that “India wants to be the Vishwaguru, the global teacher and arbiter. Supporting Ukraine is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru.”

New Delhi has expressed its disapproval of the Ukraine war. But it has avoided taking a clear position in many UN resolutions on the issue.

What are nationalist ideas about Indian foreign policy?

Nationalist ideas have always influenced the Indian state. The choice of the ‘Vishwaguru’ is at the core of the present government’s nationalist foreign policy discourse.

Vishwa Guru image builds on historical trends in India’s political thought. It seeks to emphasise the distinctiveness of the country’s cultural ethos and civilisational values. It highlights the unique nature of ‘soft power’ in foreign policy debates.

India lacks hard power. If India had been adequately powerful, it would have stopped the Ukraine war. The Ukraine attack is being opposed. But nobody is ready to stop Russia because Russia has power.

This narrative assumes that a powerful Indian civilisational state will stand for global peace and stability.

What are the options for India?

The ambiguous position on Ukraine is not a better option for a nation aspiring to become a permanent member of the UNSC. It should have a commitment to speak as a global voice against territorial aggression and rights violations anywhere.

The normative pillars of the democratic, self-confident and morally superior Vishwa Guru identity cannot be identical to hegemon maximising its power at all costs.

Russian justifications are sometimes supported by China. India has no such revisionist motives. India’s views on sovereignty converges with a universally acceptable Westphalian notion. It is against the communist China’s political philosophy of ‘might is right’.

Ukraine is seen as a victim which is resisting aggression from an authoritarian neighbour. The Ukraine war alone is not sufficient to undermine India’s historical ties with Russia. It is based as much on New Delhi’s military dependence on Moscow and India’s strategic autonomy doctrine.

A pursuit of ‘multi-alignment’ may have given New Delhi some diplomatic space in the ongoing war in Ukraine.  However, it may not be sufficient for India to play the role of a mediator between Russia and Ukraine.

India currently lacks the material resources to match the extent of China’s economic and military potential.

Through his peace diplomacy, Mr. Xi’s primary aim is to discourage Mr. Zelenskiy to launch the much-discussed counteroffensive. It will increase Russia’s dependency on China.

Mr. Putin has done immense damage to Russia’s global standing and offended most of the democratic world.

Thus, the Modi government must ensure that India’s refusal to condemn Russian belligerence and continued increase in the import of Russian fuel is not interpreted as a pro-Moscow approach.

SC verdict on Maharashtra political crisis: The apex court draws red lines

News: The Supreme Court recently held that the then Maharashtra Governor’s call for a trust vote, which led to the resignation of the Uddhav Thackeray government last June, was illegal.

About the Supreme Court verdict on the Shiv Sena case

What are the significances of the SC verdict on the Shiv Sena case?

Clearly defined the boundaries of state machinery: The judgement marked the boundaries of the three constitutional arms of the state machinery, namely governors, the Election Commission and presiding officers of legislatures.

Limited the involvement of Governor and Speaker in power games: The role played by Governor and Speaker proved decisive in the power game. The court said that the Governor is not empowered to enter the political arena and play a role in inter or intra-party disputes and also clarified that the floor test is not the platform to resolve intraparty disputes. Similarly, the court said that the Speaker must recognise only the whip and leader who are duly recognised by the political party. This will make the hostile takeover of state governments with active gubernatorial support will be difficult in future.

Provide greater protection to political parties: The court held that the whip on voting represents the will of the party and not its legislators. It’s the party that appoints its whip and the house leader. This means political parties now have a greater degree of protection against defection by legislators.

Utilised the constitutional principles effectively: The SC has used the Constitution’s tenth schedule – meant to prevent opportunistic defections – as the reference point to reach its conclusions. The most important conclusion is that a political party is superior to its legislative wing.

GS Paper 3

Global investors need Indian tax carrots and not uncertainty sticks

News: Multinational companies often try to minimize their tax burden by incorporating themselves in tax havens. The article explains the steps taken globally to address the issue of tax evasion by MNCs.

What steps have been taken by countries to address the tax evasion by MNCs?

Click Here to Read

How has global minimum tax rate evolved?

Read Here: Global Minimum Corporate Tax and India – Explained and India needs to be cautious before joining Global Minimum Tax rate

Moreover, public scrutiny, enabled by increased tax transparency obligations, is putting pressure on companies to act with more social responsibility as part of their ESG obligations.

How is India taking steps towards imposing a global minimum tax rate and how will it benefit India?

India has set an international tax agenda in its current G20 presidency.

Although many countries have implemented the 15% global minimum tax, the negotiations on a fairer distribution of taxing rights (Pillar 1) are expected to conclude under the Indian G20 presidency.

Pillar 1 will allocate more taxing rights to market jurisdictions such as India. It will also provide for more tax certainty to businesses.

Tax certainty is about being guaranteed a fair and predictable tax treatment based on the rule of law. It is also about companies being guaranteed a proper resolution of tax disputes, including through compulsory mechanisms.

What is the way ahead for India?

India despite having brightest tax experts in the world, suffers from a negative reputation for the practices of its tax administration.

There has been progress to improve international dispute resolution. However, a lot remains to be done to foster growth and investments.

Moreover, implementing Pillar 2 of the global tax framework will remove the tool of tax incentives and help in attracting investments in India.

However, India does not need tax incentives to attract investments because it is the largest fast-growing market in the world, rather it needs tax certainty. India should make tax certainty its top priority.

SC directions to benefit electricity consumers

News: Discoms suffer loss and are mostly involved in litigations. Despite various compliance requirements, discoms continue to be a drag on the economy. SC has recently given judgment through its own observations in one of the litigations.

What has been the judgment of the Supreme Court regarding discoms?

Following observation have been made by SC in GMR Warora Energy Ltd versus Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and Others:

First, the court has said that the power purchase agreement itself provides a mechanism for payment of compensation on the grounds of change in law. In such a case, unwarranted litigation should be avoided.

The Court further emphasised that “change in law” events must begin to take place on the day on which regulations, orders, and notices are issued by state agencies.

Second, according to the SC, appeals under Section 125 of the Electricity Act of 2003 are only permitted on any of the grounds listed in Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. This means that appeal to the SC can only be made on substantial questions of law.

As per SC, discoms shouldn’t appeal in matters when the Electricity Regulatory Commissions and the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) had issued appropriate rulings. This, however, undermines the purpose of The Electricity Act of 2003.

Third, the SC directed the Ministry of Power to evolve a mechanism such that once the first order is received from a state or Central Regulatory Commission, discoms should first make the payment to generating companies. This will prevent the burden of carrying cost on the end consumers.

The court said that discoms can exercise their right to appeal against the order after making payments to generating companies.

However, discoms usually get involved into litigation which delays the payments and they also end up paying a late payment surcharge (LPS).

SC said that in such a scenario, concerned discoms shall not be allowed to pass on LPS /carrying cost to the end consumers.

Fourth, the court ruled that discoms are the root cause of massive financial stress across the power chain, thereby impacting the orderly growth of the economy.

There are clear directions from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, Ministry of Power and even various Parliamentary Committees to make timely payments to generating companies.

Despite this, discoms get involved into multiple litigations which results in LPS. This burden is ultimately passed on to the end consumers.

Fifth, the court raised concerns about claims made by the discoms’ counsel that the cost of buying electricity from independent power producers is significantly less than buying it from state-owned power plants.

Must Read: DISCOM sector in India: Challenges & solutions – Explained

What can be summarized from the above rulings?

The judgments may be summarized that the SC insisted the Union of India, through the Ministry of Power, to evolve a mechanism to avoid unnecessary and unwarranted litigation, the cost of which is also passed on to the end consumer.

Anatomy of a bank failure

News– Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and its holding company, Silicon Valley Bank Financial Group (SVBFG), failed last March. This resulted in the failure of Signature Bank and, First Republic Bank.

How management and board failures were responsible for this crisis?

SVBFG’s assets tripled in size between 2019 and 2021. The technology sector was booming, so lending expanded rapidly.

Any abnormal growth in loans can cause trouble for bank. Management does not have the bandwidth to assess risk properly.

Reliance on volatile wholesale deposits tends to increase. Managerial incentives are often linked to profits without adjusting for risk. For CEOs, the temptation to quickly grow the loan book is irresistible.

The onus is on the board of directors to take actions. But Boards supports CEOs who show good performance for a few years.

At SVBFG, the board was not even responsive to supervisory warnings. As per FRB report, the board put short-run profits above effective risk management. It treated resolution of supervisory issues as a compliance exercise rather than a critical risk-management issue.

Since July 2022, SVBFG has failed its liquidity stress tests repeatedly. Management Did not necessary actions were not executed until March 2023.

Interest rate risk too was poorly managed. The bank had crossed its interest rate risk limits since 2017.

What are the supervisory failures responsible for this crisis?

There were supervisory failures also. For governance, SVBFG got a “Satisfactory” rating, despite repeated supervisory observations about inadequate oversight.

The bank had large, uninsured deposits, yet managed a “Strong” rating on liquidity. Despite breaching interest rate risk limits repeatedly, it got a “Satisfactory” rating on the item.

How weak regulatory oversight is responsible for this crisis?

The report says joint oversight by the FRB and the 12 Federal Reserve Banks is a factor. The Board delegates authority to the Reserve Banks. But, Bank supervisors look to the FRB for approval before making a rating change. Getting a consensus is time-consuming.

The philosophy of “light touch” regulation and supervision is an issue. Multiple regulators and supervisors are another problem.

There is also the “revolving door” syndrome. The regulators join private banks, then jump back to the regulator in a senior capacity. The relationship between regulators and banks is cause of concern.

How can RBI improve the regulatory and supervisory oversight over banks?

The RBI is better in regulatory and supervisory capacity than its counterparts in the West. Its intrusive approach is a better safeguard for banking stability than the light touch regulations. However, supervision can only be a third layer of defence against bank instability. Regulations are the primary layer, followed by the board.

The RBI must find ways to get bank boards to do a far better job. A radical change would be to alter the way independent directors are appointed at banks.

At present, the promoter or CEO has the dominant say in the appointment of independent directors.

One independent director may be chosen by institutional investors and another by retail shareholders from a list of names proposed by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau.

Until there are independent directors who are distanced from the promoter and management, it’s unrealistic to expect board oversight to improve.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

SC verdict on the Shiv Sena case: Key takeaways from Supreme Court’s Maharashtra verdict

Source: The post is based on the following articles

“The SC ruling on Sena vs. Sena” published in The Hindu on 12th May 2023

“Key takeaways from Supreme Court’s Maharashtra verdict” published in the Indian Express on 12th May 2023.

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has passed a unanimous judgment on the various issues related to the split in Shiv Sena in June 2022.

What was the case before the Supreme Court?

In June 2022, a group of Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde rebelled against the then Uddhav Thackeray.

When it became evident that the rebel would call for a trust, the Shinde received disqualification notices from the then deputy speaker.

The faction moved to the Supreme Court challenging the disqualification notices served on them by the Deputy Speaker.

Thereafter, petitions were also filed by the Thackeray group challenging the then Maharashtra Governor’s decision to call for a trust vote and the swearing-in of Mr. Shinde as Chief Minister. The election of the new Speaker was also challenged. 

What is the SC verdict on the Shiv Sena case?

MLA disqualifications: The Supreme Court did not interfere with the proceedings related to the disqualification of 16 MLAs including the present Chief Minister.

– The court stated that the issue of disqualification should be decided by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly as per established procedures in law.

Note: The Speaker is the authority to adjudicate petitions for disqualification under the 10th Schedule. 

Appointment of the whip: The court deemed the appointment of the whip by the split-led faction to be illegal.

The Speaker should have conducted an independent inquiry to verify the decision of the political party regarding the appointment of the whip.

On Governor calling for floor test: The court said that the Governor was not justified in calling upon Thackeray to prove his majority on the floor of the House because he did not have objective material before him to reach the conclusion.

But the Court also said that status quo ante cannot be restored because Mr Thackeray did not face the floor test and resigned from the post.

The distinction between Legislature Party and Political Party: Questions arose on whose whip is binding, if the whip appointed by the political party and the one acting on behalf of the legislature party giving different instructions.

The present ruling faction argued that the legislature party and the political party are inextricably intertwined. But the court said the two could not be conflated.

The court said that as per provisions of the Representation of the People Act, an association of individuals calling itself a political party has to be registered with the EC.

The SC verdict on the Shiv Sena case said that Parliament had recognised the independent existence of a legislature party to the limited extent of providing a defence to the actions of legislators of the political party.

The court also said that a whip interacts with members of the legislative party to communicate the directions of the political party. It held that it is the political party and not the legislature party which appoints the Whip and the Leader of the party in the House.

Therefore, it said the Speaker must recognise only the whip and leader who are duly recognised by the political party.

Concurrent Jurisdiction of Speaker and EC: The court rejected the contention that the Election Commission was barred from deciding on the party symbol dispute until the Speaker decided the disqualification pleas.

The court stated that both the Speaker and the EC can adjudicate issues concurrently.

Mpox no longer a global health emergency: WHO

Source: The post is based on the article “Mpox no longer a global health emergency: WHO” published in The Hindu on 12th May 2023

What is the News?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Mpox (formerly monkeypox) no longer constitutes a global health emergency.

What is Mpox?

Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. 

Symptoms: Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

Transmission: Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.

Laboratory confirmation of mpox is done by testing skin lesion material by PCR.

Treatment: Mpox is treated with supportive care.Vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox and approved for use in some countries can be used for mpox in some circumstances.

– In 2022–2023 a global outbreak of mpox was caused by a strain known as clade IIb.

Prevention: Mpox can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with someone who has pox. Vaccination can help prevent infection for people at risk.

SC verdict on control over services: What tilted scales in Delhi’s favour

Source: The post is based on the article “SC verdict on control over services: What tilted scales in Delhi’s favour” published in Indian Express on 12th May 2023

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously in favour of the Delhi government on the issue of who controls the bureaucracy in the national capital.

What was the issue before the Supreme Court?

In 2015, a Union Home Ministry notification said that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi shall exercise control over “services”. 

The Delhi government challenged this before the Delhi High Court which in 2017 upheld the notification. On appeal, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court referred the issue to a larger constitutional Bench.

In 2018, a five-judge Constitution Bench in a unanimous verdict laid down the law that governs the relationship between Delhi and the Centre. The ruling was in favour of the Delhi government.

While the Constitution bench decided the larger questions, the specific issues were to be decided by a two-judge Bench. 

In 2019, two judges delivered a split verdict on the specific issue of “services.” The split verdict then went to a five-judge Constitution Bench, which has now delivered its verdict.

What was the issue before the Supreme Court?

The limited issue for the consideration of this Constitution Bench only relates to the scope of legislative and executive powers of the Centre and Delhi with respect to the term services.

Simply put, the court had to decide if it was the Delhi government or the Union government that had legislative and executive control over the capital’s bureaucracy.

What was the Central and State Government’s stand on the issue?

The Central Government has consistently maintained that because Delhi is the national capital and the face of the country, it must have control over administrative services, which include appointments and transfers.

On the other hand, the Delhi government has argued that in the interest of federalism, the elected representatives must have power over transfers and postings.

What was the Supreme Court’s verdict on this issue?

The Supreme Court has held that the Delhi government will have legislative and executive control over administrative services in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) except with regard to public order, police and land.

The court said that the Delhi government, much like other States, represents the representative form of government and any further expansion of the Union’s power will be contrary to the Constitutional scheme.

The Court pointed out that if officers stop reporting to ministers or do not follow their instructions, the principle of collective responsibility will be affected.

Moreover, if the officers feel that they are insulated from the control of the elected government that they are serving, then they become unaccountable or may not show commitment towards their performance.

What is the stalemate over the U.S. debt ceiling?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is the stalemate over the U.S. debt ceiling?” published in The Hindu on 12th May 2023

What is the News?

The U.S Treasury Secretary has notified US Congress that the country could default on its debt as early as June 1, 2023.

What is Debt Ceiling?

Debt Ceiling is also known as the debt limit. It is a law that limits the total amount of money the government can borrow to pay its bills.

This includes paying for federal employees, the military, Social Security and Medicare, as well as interest on the national debt and tax refunds.

Every so often the US Congress votes to raise or suspend the ceiling, so it can borrow more. The debt ceiling has been raised, extended, or revised 78 times since 1960, most recently in 2021.

The cap currently stands at roughly $31.4tn (£25.2tn). The US Treasury Secretary has warned that without more borrowing, the US will not have enough money to meet all of its financial obligations as soon as 1 June.

What happens if the US Defaults on its debt?

There is no set post-default scenario since the U.S. has never actually defaulted on its debt before.

However, if it defaults now, it would be a “catastrophic” situation for American and global financial markets. 

With trillions of dollars of global financial assets tied to the value of the US bonds, any default in debt payments could see bond prices plummet. 

This will weaken the dollar as well. And as over half the world’s foreign currency reserves are held in dollars, the value of these reserves will also drop.

Governors can’t play a role in intra-party disputes, says court

Source: The post is based on the article “Governors can’t play a role in intra-party disputes, says court” published in The Hindu on 12th May 2023

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has said that the Governor is not empowered under the Constitution and the laws to enter the political arena and play a role either in inter-party disputes or in intra-party disputes.

What was the issue before the Supreme Court?

Click Here to read

What did the Supreme Court say about the role of the Governor?

The court held that by calling the floor test, the then Maharashtra governor did not act in accordance with the law as he had no objective material to doubt the confidence of the then government in the House.

The court said the Governor had acted upon an inference that a section of the Shiv Sena wished to withdraw their support to the government.

However, the communication by some of the MLAs only expressed discontent about the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.

It said that the power of the Governor to act without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers is of an extraordinary nature, and must be exercised with circumspection within the limits of law.

It also said that the Governor is not empowered to enter the political arena and play a role in inter or intra-party disputes.

This is because neither the Constitution nor the laws enacted by Parliament provide for a mechanism by which disputes among members of a particular political party can be settled. 

Ministry of Power & Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change to develop Carbon Credit Trading Scheme for Decarbonisation

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Power & Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change to develop Carbon Credit Trading Scheme for Decarbonisation” published in PIB on 12th May 202

What is the News?

The Government of India is planning to develop a Carbon Credit Trading Scheme for Decarbonisation.

What are Carbon Markets?

Carbon markets are trading systems in which carbon credits are sold and bought. 

Companies or individuals can use carbon markets to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing carbon credits from entities that remove or reduce greenhouse gas emissions

There are broadly two types of carbon markets: compliance and voluntary.

Compliance markets: They are created as a result of any national, regional and/or international policy or regulatory requirement.

Voluntary carbon markets: It refers to the issuance, buying and selling of carbon credits, on a voluntary basis.

What is the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme?

Being developed by: Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power along with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

Aim: To develop the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) with the objective to decarbonise the Indian economy by pricing the GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions through the trading of Carbon Credit Certificates.

Features: The ICM will develop methodologies for the estimation of carbon emissions reductions and removals from various registered projects, and stipulate the required validation, registration, verification, and issuance processes to operationalize the scheme.

– Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) guidelines for the emissions scheme will also be developed after consultation. 

– A comprehensive institutional and governance structure will be set up with specific roles of each party involved in the execution of ICM.

Significance: By accelerating the transition to a low carbon economy, the ICM will facilitate the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) goal of reducing the Emissions Intensity of the GDP by 45 percent by 2030 against 2005 levels.

MyGov collaborates with IHM Pusa to launch ‘YUVA PRATIBHA – Culinary Talent Hunt’

Source: The post is based on the article “MyGov collaborates with IHM Pusa to launch ‘YUVA PRATIBHA – Culinary Talent Hunt” published in PIB on 12th May 2023

What is the News?

MyGov in collaboration with the Institute of Hotel Management, Pusa will launch – YUVA PRATIBHA – Culinary Talent Hunt

What is YUVA PRATIBHA – Culinary Talent Hunt Initiative?

YUVA PRATIBHA – Culinary Talent Hunt is a great initiative for citizens across India to display their culinary talent and skills and gain national recognition.

The aim of this initiative is to: 1) To bring out lost recipes and promote the culinary talent of Indian youth, 2) To create awareness of the contribution of nutri-cereals (millets) for food security and nutrition, 3) To promote national outreach of millets and 4) To incorporate millets in food preparation.

Eligibility: The contest is open to the citizens of India within the age group of 18 to 40 years.

– The dish should be home-cooked, wherein 50 percent of the ingredients should be millet.

Significance: The fusion of millets in this competition provides a unique opportunity for participants to showcase their creativity and innovation in cooking with healthy and sustainable ingredients, promoting awareness about their versatility.