Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Tracing the arc of American ‘exception-ism’ for India
• Spring cleaning – on Regulations on Graduate Medical Education (GMER)
• The concerns about India-U.S. digital trade
• A model for quality and inclusive education
• How India’s renewed ties with Egypt can help its global standing
• PM Modi pushes for Uniform Civil Code: How it can impact different communities

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Tracing the arc of American ‘exception-ism’ for India

Source– The post is based on the article “A lifeline for Indian science” published in the “The Hindu” on 28th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2- Bilateral groupings and agreements

Relevance- India and US bilateral relationship

News- The article explains the recent improvement in Indo-US relationship and exceptions made by the US for India to forge a closer partnership.

What is the trajectory of the Indo-US relationship in the recent past?

The growth of the relationship between India and the United States started 25 years ago, when the U.S. imposed sanctions against India for nuclear weapons in May 1998.

Since then, the relationship between India and America has grown year-on-year.

It was built by five American Presidents (Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden) and three Indian Prime Ministers (Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, Narendra Modi) over the first two decades of the 21st century.

The Clinton-Vajpayee-era gave impetus to summit-level diplomacy in the relationship. The Manmohan-Bush and Manmohan-Obama relationship highlighted nuclear diplomacy. Modi-Obama and Modi-Trump worked on trade and military diplomacy.

During Modi’s recent state visit to Washington, the two nations forged ahead with technology diplomacy.

Which are the exceptions made by the US specifically for India in the first quarter of this century?

Civil nuclear deal– In 1998, Mr. Clinton signed a waiver to the sanctions on both India and Pakistan.

The Bush administration pushed for civil nuclear exemptions. It resulted in the India-U.S. Joint Statement in 2005, a waiver under the Non-Proliferation Act, the Henry Hyde Act and the 123 Agreement with India.

The Obama visit to Delhi in 2010 announced another set of exceptions for India on export controls and high technology trade and transfers under the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

These exceptions were made even though India never joined the NPT Treaty regime and nor signed the CTBT. These were also “India-specific” waivers not available to other non-NPT countries such as Pakistan.

Russian angle– After CAATSA of 2017, the Trump administration avoided sanctioning India for the Russian S-400 missile system, but sanctioned Turkey and China for the same purchases.

In the wake of the Russian war in Ukraine, the U.S. did not apply secondary sanctions against India for its considerable oil imports or defence engagement from Russia. This is indeed an exception.

Religious freedom– Finally, the U.S. has accorded International Religious Freedom Act exemptions to India for the past four years.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has made repeated recommendations to place India on a list of “Countries of Particular Concern”. But the State Department has not complied.

Why has the U.S. institutionalised such a broad-based waiver policy for India over two-and-a-half decades?

The first reason is the promise of ties with India. It is the world’s most populous nation, inclusive, pluralistic democracy for most of its history with a record in non-proliferation.

Second, there is India’s attractiveness as an economic market and a military buyer.

Third, is India’s boundary problems from Beijing. India can be a more dependable partner than European allies in providing a counter to China.

Fourth, is the Indian American diaspora. It has distinguished itself as a professional, prosperous and unproblematic community. It is the biggest votary of better India-U.S. ties.

What are the biggest challenges in this relationship?

The exceptions made for India can be reversed at any time. Former close partners of the U.S., such as Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia have experienced the same.

The geopolitical context of ties, driven by a desire to counter China, or rein in Russia is also an American construct. It is not followed by India.

Spring cleaning – on Regulations on Graduate Medical Education (GMER)

Source– The post is based on the article “Spring cleaning” published in “The Hindu” on 28th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Issues related to development and management of education

News – The National Medical Commission has withdrawn the new Regulations on Graduate Medical Education (GMER) without any explanation.

What are some facts about new GMER regulations?

The regulations have introduced a longitudinal programme based on attitude, ethics, and communication competencies for young medical students.

It lays stress on ethical values, being responsive to patient needs, and improved communication, early clinical experience.

It had specified that lectures would not exceed a third of the schedule. The bulk of the course would include interactive sessions, practical, clinical experience, and case studies.

It calls for a family adoption program through village outreach, for each MBBS student, and a ‘pandemic module’.

It has advocated for the reduction of the overall time period for students to complete the MBBS course to nine years, fixed number of attempts to clear papers, and common counselling for admission from 2024.

If a student failed to clear any exam, she could have appeared in the supplementary examination. The students, if successful, could have proceeded with the same batch.

What is the necessity of a new GMER?

The new regulations aimed at making medical education more learner-centric, patient-centric, gender-sensitive, outcome-oriented and environment-appropriate.

The GMER was notified in 1997. It is the right time to take a relook at these, and adapt them to changing requirements of demography, socio-economic contexts, and advancements in science and technology.

New GMER will enable the country’s medical students to be future-ready.

The concerns about India-U.S. digital trade

Source– The post is based on the article “The concerns about India-U.S. digital trade” published in “The Hindu” on 28th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Bilateral groupings and agreements

Relevance- India and US bilateral relationship

News– During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s U.S. state visit, cooperation on technology emerged as a prominent outcome.

What is the current status of India-U.S. technology trade?

In FY2023, the U.S. emerged as India’s biggest overall trading partner. The bilateral trade was $128.55 billion in 2022-23.

However, digital or technology services did not emerge as a prominent sector of bilateral trade. The U.S. had a $27 billion deficit in trade in digital services with India in 2020.

In the recent past, the two countries have been ramping up their tech partnership through moves like the iCET.

Under the iCET, India and the U.S. also established a Strategic Trade Dialogue. It is focused on addressing regulatory barriers and aligning export controls for smoother trade and deeper cooperation in critical areas.

What are the concerns raised by U.S. tech firms?

The CCIA in its note has talked about the “significant imbalance” and “misalignment” in the U.S.-India economic relationship.

The U.S.’s market access, trade and openness to Indian companies to operate in the U.S. has not been reciprocated by the Indian side. The Indian government has deployed a range of tools by their protectionist industrial policy.

It cites the example of India’s guidelines on the sharing of geospatial data. It provides preferential treatment to Indian companies.

It has also expressed discontent over India’s moving away from longstanding democratic norms and values, and government censorship and control over political speech.

What are US firms’ concerns over taxation measures in India?

U.S. tech firms have concerns related to the “equalisation levy” that India charges on digital services.

In 2020, the Centre came out with the ‘Equalisation Levy 2.0’. It imposes a 2% tax on gross revenues received by a non-resident e-commerce operator from the e-commerce services to Indian residents.

The equalisation levy led to double taxation and further complicated the taxation framework. Besides, there are questions about the constitutional validity and compliance with international obligations.

What are US firms’ concerns about India’s IT Rules 2021?

The IT Rules place compliance burden on social media intermediaries (SMIs) and platforms. several U.S. firms end up falling under the ambit.

Some points of concern raised are the impractical compliance deadlines and content take-down protocols. The IT Rules require intermediaries to take down content within 24 hours upon receiving a government or court order.

The platforms are also required to appoint a local compliance officer.

There is a major criticism against the government’s institution of the three-member Grievance Appellate Committees to hear user complaints.

What has been flagged in the new draft of the data protection law?

There are ambiguities about cross-border data flows, compliance timelines, and data localisation requirements.

Data localisation requirements by governments significantly increase operating costs of companies. These can be seen as discriminatory by foreign companies.

Foreign tech companies like Meta or Amazon operating in India find it convenient to store their data wherever they have their servers.

Section 17 of the draft Act says that cross-border flow of data will only be allowed for a list of countries notified by the Centre. On what basis will these countries be notified and what the terms for such transfers will be is not mentioned in the draft.

What have firms said about the Telecom bill?

As per CCIA, the draft Telecommunications Bill, 2022 would redefine “telecommunication services” to include a wide range of internet-enabled services. These services have little resemblance to the telephony services.

The current draft of the Bill puts both Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and Over-the-top (OTT) communication services under the definition of telecommunication services.

The proposed law would subject a number of platforms to obligations such as licensing requirements; government access to data; encryption requirements, internet shutdowns, seizure of infrastructure, and possibly monetary obligations for the sector.

What are the other policy barriers?

Last year, the Parliamentary Committee on Finance Proposed the adoption of a “Digital Competition Act” to address anti-competitive practices by big tech companies.

The CCIA says that the proposal appeared to be largely targeted at U.S. tech companies.

A model for quality and inclusive education

Source– The post is based on the article “A model for quality and inclusive education” published in “The Hindu” on 28th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Issues related to development and management of education

News– The National Institutional Ranking Framework, adopted by the Ministry of Education to rank institutions of higher education in India reveals the consistent success of Tamil Nadu in providing higher education.

What are some facts about NIRF?

The NIRF employs a ranking metric comprising five parameters with varying weightage to assess the quality of colleges.

These parameters are Teaching- (1) Learning and Resources Graduation Outcome, (2) Research and Professional Practices, (3) Outreach and Inclusivity and (4) Perception.

Each of these parameters has several components, which again have varying weightage.

The number of colleges participating in the NIRF ranking has grown from 535 in 2017 to 2,746 in 2023.

NIRF ranking has already gained wide traction and credibility. Many good-quality colleges participate in the exercise. A place in the top 100 would bring them repute and increase demand for admission.

What is the performance of the state as per NIRF-ranking of 2023?

Of the top 100 NIRF-ranked colleges in 2023, Tamil Nadu has the largest share (35). Delhi (32) comes next, followed by Kerala (14) and West Bengal (8). These four States collectively contribute to 89% of the top colleges.

Bigger States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha do not have a single college in the top 100.

Is the performance of Tamil Nadu in congruence with its motto of development with social justice?

Chennai accounts for only nine colleges. Coimbatore competes with Chennai. Tiruchirappalli, with five colleges is next. The remaining 12 colleges are widely spread across 11 places. So, there are no wider regional disparities.

The largest beneficiaries from Chennai, Coimbatore, and Tiruchirappalli are likely to be urban dwellers.

Yet, the top-ranked colleges from these cities are serving the poor and disadvantaged social groups. This is because Tamil Nadu has one of the highest reservation quotas. It has been quite effective in its implementation of the reservation policy.

More than one-third of the top-ranked colleges are dispersed across places. They provide an opportunity for quality education for students who do not have the economic resources and social networks to study in colleges from Chennai, Coimbatore, and Tiruchirappalli.

What are lessons from Tamil Nadu success in prodigy quality higher education?

Tamil Nadu’s impressive and consistent performance in higher education shows that quality and inclusion can be achieved together and consistently.

It should prompt other southern States, having a reasonably inclusive and effective social welfare architecture, to introspect why they lag far behind. It should inspire them to take action to rectify issues.

How India’s renewed ties with Egypt can help its global standing

Source: The post is based on the article “How India’s renewed ties with Egypt can help its global standing” published in “The Indian Express” on 28th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India.

News: The renewed India-Egypt collaboration empowers both nations to expand economic and geopolitical influence.

Read more – India Egypt Relations – Recent Developments

How renewed India-Egypt ties help both nations economically?

The partnership between India, the fifth largest economy in the world, and Egypt, the second largest economy in Africa, provides a strong foundation for trade and manufacturing activities.

It provides a gateway for India to access African markets, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

By establishing Indian industrial zones in the Suez Canal region, Egypt’s position in global supply chains would be further strengthened. India can leverage its manufacturing capabilities and tap into the growing markets in Africa, across sectors like electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and electronics.

How renewed India-Egypt ties help both nations geopolitically?

Egypt’s proactive diplomacy with key African nations has solidified its standing as a significant player within the continent. India can build on Egypt’s expanding presence in Africa and elevate its own position on the global stage.

Both Egypt and India are emerging voices in the Global South. India has actively sought partnerships with like-minded nations within the G20 to establish a middle ground between the West, Russia, and China. Likewise, Egypt has positioned itself as a prominent advocate for the Global South, particularly in Africa, further strengthening its influence and international standing.

India can showcase its defense capabilities and support Egypt in developing its own defense industry. Egypt’s existing defense alliances with African nations make it a crucial gateway for India to expand its defense capabilities and access important markets, particularly in Africa.

PM Modi pushes for Uniform Civil Code: How it can impact different communities

Source: The post is based on the article “PM Modi pushes for Uniform Civil Code: How it can impact different communities” published in “The Indian Express” on 28th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Indian Polity – Directive Principles of State Policy

News: After the Law Commission invited views on the UCC (Uniform Civil Code), PM Modi has pushed for it.

What is the UCC?

Currently, India’s personal laws are complex and varied with each religious community following its own specific regulations. UCC is the idea of having a common code of personal laws for people of all religions.

UCC also finds mention in Article 44 of the Constitution under Part IV dealing with DPSPs (Directive Principles of State Policy).

What was the debate in the Constituent Assembly?

Several Muslim members of the assembly suggested adopting a common civil code that would apply with prior consent. However, Dr. Ambedkar strongly opposed the suggestion.

Mohamad Ismail proposed that the personal law of a community should not be changed without the prior approval of the community.

Naziruddin Ahmad pointed out that every religious community would be affected by the UCC as each community has its own religious beliefs and practices.

B Pocker Sahib Bahadur brought attention to the diversity of personal laws and KM Munshi stated that impact of the UCC is not just limited to minorities, but it affects the majority community too.

Finally, Dr. Ambedkar assured that the UCC would not be enforced upon the people and underlined the possibility that a future Parliament could apply UCC in a purely voluntary manner.

What have the Law Commissions said?

The 21st Law Commission issued a consultation paper on the issue. The paper titled “Reforms of Family law” argued for reforming family laws across religions through amendments and codification to limit ambiguity in interpretation and application.

Since over three years has passed since the paper’s publication, the 22nd Law Commission considered it necessary to start fresh deliberations over the subject in the light of its importance, relevance and various court orders.

What has the Supreme Court said?

In a number of rulings, the Supreme Court has supported the introduction of UCC.

In the landmark Shah Bano case of 1985, the Supreme Court upheld the right of a Muslim woman to seek alimony.

In Sarla Mudgal vs Union of India (1995), the Supreme Court again stressed the need for UCC.

In October 2022, the Centre, responding to a plea before the Supreme Court for uniformity in personal laws, said that it is under constitutional obligation to introduce a UCC and the matter would be placed before the 22^nd Law Commission.

GS Paper 3

Focus on the millets value chain for fortified nutritional security

Source: The post is based on the article “Focus on the millets value chain for fortified nutritional security” published in Live Mint on 28^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Agriculture

Relevance: measures needed to boost millet consumption

News: India is the world’s largest millet producer. India’s Pearl Millet production accounts for 40% of the world’s millet production.

What are millets and what are its benefits?

Read Here: India’s Wealth: Millet For Health – Explained

Millets can be grown on less fertile and acidic soils where wheat cannot be produced. Pearl and finger millets can also act as an excellent substitute for rice cultivation on land where there is high soil salinity.

However, despite its multiple benefits, the area under cultivation of millets has declined over the years.

What are the reasons behind low production and consumption of millets?

Read Here: Millet Production in India – Explained

Due to the rapid urbanization, the taste and preferences of consumers changed over time, shifting more towards ready-to-eat food using refined wheat flour.

As a result, India’s per capita millet consumption fell drastically from 32.9kg to 4.2kg, while wheat almost doubled from 27kg to 52kg, between 1962 and 2010.

Further, studies have also shown that households in India have lack of knowledge on how to incorporate millets in their diets. Taste is another reason many people resist eating millets.

What measures have been taken by the government to boost millets consumption?

The Indian government named millets as ‘Shree Anna’ in the Union Budget 2023-24.

The government also announced support for the Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad, as a centre of excellence for sharing best practices, research and technologies at the international level.

Click Here to Read More

What more can be done to boost the consumption of millets?

Rather than focusing only on one segment of the millets (spreading health awareness), there is a need to focus on the entire value chain.

This includes improved varieties while assuring millets better shelf lives, efficient processing and access to markets, branding, packaging, awareness programmes, and also collaborations with ready-to-eat brands.

There is also a need for breakthroughs in productivity to make these crops more competitive and stimulate commercial demand. The efforts taken to boost poultry egg demands in India can also be taken into consideration.

What lesson can be learnt from the poultry egg industry?

During the 1980s, poultry farmers in India faced a problem of low egg demand due to the country’s predominantly vegetarian culture.

At that time, B.V. Rao (father of the Indian poultry industry) took inspiration from the Amul cooperative model to form a cooperative egg model. Thus, the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) was formed.

However, the main challenge faced was low demand for poultry eggs. To overcome the challenge, the NECC collaborated with a top advertising agency and developed a creative jingle, “Sunday ho ya Monday, roz khao ande,”

It resonated well with the country’s middle class and per capita consumption of eggs significantly increased over time. Hence, a similar kind of aggressive campaign is needed for millets to boost its demand and consumption in India.

Flood control – Coherent policy needed to address recurring floods

Source: The post is based on the article “Flood control – Coherent policy needed to address recurring floods” published in Business Standard on 28^th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Disaster Management

Relevance: concerns with increasing floods and measures needed to address them.

News: There has been a significant increase in the incidence of floods due to the climate change in India. These incidents highlight the need for effective flood-mitigation action.

What are some of the facts about floods?

Unlike some other disasters, such as earthquakes, which can neither be predicted nor prevented, floods, in most cases, are predictable. They can also be restrained to minimise the losses.

Around 12 percent of the country’s geographical area is known to be flood-prone. Out of these, around 80 per cent of land can be protected against flooding. However, required efforts have not yet been made.

What are the reasons behind increasing floods in India?

First, the catchment regions of rivers and their tributaries have seen uncontrolled deforestation and degradation of vegetation, which has increased siltation and limiting the ability to store water. The discharge of waste into the rivers has added to this problem.

Second, the riverbeds and their floodplains, which are supposed to be buffer zones, have also been encroached upon.

Third, the regulation of water flows in river systems through coordinated opening and shutting of floodgates of dams has been lacking.

Fourth, urban floods have also increased these years due to lack of proper town planning, improperly maintained drainage systems, illegal encroachments, etc.

Must Read: Urban Floods: Causes, Impacts and Remedies – Explained

What are the challenges in tackling floods in India?

a)) there is no single agency to oversee the flood-management task across the country, b) there is also no specific statutory provision for flood management in the Indian Constitution, c) while the India Meteorological Department makes rainfall predictions, the job of flood forecasting is entrusted to the Central Water Commission, d) post flooding, rescue and relief work is carried out by national- and state-level disaster-management agencies while rehabilitation and restoration works are handled by local civic bodies, e) flood management is also not present in any of the Constitution’s three lists.

These are some of the challenges that hinders proper flood management in India.

What can be the way ahead?

The challenges need to be addressed urgently, and in a holistic manner, to combat the recurring floods.

A high-level expert panel, similar to the Rashtriya Barh Ayog (National Commission on Floods) of the 1970s can also be set up, to thoroughly analyze all the issues related to floods and propose a practical action plan to address them.

Bad Billions’ BFF: Socialism

Source: The post is based on the article “Bad Billions’ BFF: Socialism” published in “Times of India” on 28th June 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indian Economy: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

News: An analysis on billionaire wealth across developed and developing countries reveals that socialist policies can backfire by concentrating rather than spreading wealth. It also favors those who inherit wealth over entrepreneurial individuals.

What was the focus of the analysis?

The focus of the study was leading markets – developed and emerging countries. The analysis measured changes in billionaire wealth as a share of GDP.

It categorized billionaire wealth as inherited and earned or self-made. It tagged the billionaires in rent-seeking industries like real estate or commodities as “bad billionaires“, and the billionaires in productive sectors like technology and manufacturing as “good billionaires“.

It assumed that populist revolt is most likely to target wealth seen as excessively large and inherited rather than earned, and more likely corrupt than productive.

What are the findings of the analysis?

Worldwide, the number of billionaires has increased sharply over the last two decades. There were 500 billionaires worth a total of less than $1tn in 2000; in 2023 there are more than 2,500 worth over $12tn.

Billionaires remain a potential protest target, particularly in countries with evidence of growing anti-rich sentiment. These include nations with deep socialist roots, including France, Sweden, Russia and India.

France is the world’s heaviest spending welfare state. It has seen protests earlier this year as billionaire wealth nearly doubled over the last five years to 21% of GDP (85% inherited). Sweden’s billionaire wealth equals 24% of GDP, and nearly two-thirds of it is inherited.

The United States experienced a surge in billionaire wealth, reaching 18% of GDP in the last five years. This led to the rise of politicians calling for wealth redistribution and support for President Biden’s push for new wealth taxes.

Among emerging markets, in India and Russia, total billionaire wealth exceeded 20% of GDP.  Russia had the highest share of “bad billionaire” wealth at 62%. India saw a decline in the presence of bad billionaires but experienced a boom in good billionaires, particularly in manufacturing.

Nations like South Korea, Taiwan, and Poland had less bloated billionaire classes. These countries restrained wealth inequality through small state intervention or embracing capitalism after breaking from socialist systems.

How do socialist policies lead to the concentration of wealth?

Increasing regulation favours the super-rich because they have the lobbyists and money to navigate the impact of regulations.

Since 2000, a significant portion of funds injected into their economies by the governments to sustain growth has fueled the expansion of financial markets. Since the super-rich own most of the financial assets, they gained the most.

The findings put into question the belief that a more socialist government is the solution to the challenges faced by capitalism.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

‘Sedition law must to retain India’s integrity

Source: The post is based on the article “‘Sedition law must to retain India’s integrity” published in The Hindu on 28th June 2023

What is the News?

The 22nd Law Commission headed by Justice Awasthi has recommended retaining Sedition Law (Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code) with safeguards to prevent its misuse. 

Note: At present, Sedition Law is under suspension following directions issued by the Supreme Court in 2022.

What is Sedition?

Click Here to read

Why has the 22nd Law Commission recommended retaining Sedition Law?

Firstly, Sedition law is an important tool to safeguard the “safety and integrity of India” given the situation in many parts of the country, from Kashmir to Kerala and Punjab to the Northeast.

Secondly, special laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the National Security Act (NSA) operated in different fields and did not cover the offence of sedition and therefore, the specific law on sedition needed to be there too.

Thirdly, sedition law being a colonial legacy is not a valid ground for its repeal and several countries including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Germany had their own such laws.

What are the recommendations given by the 22nd Law Commission to prevent the misuse of Sedition Law?

Procedural safeguards: Preliminary inquiry would be held by a police officer of the rank of inspector or above.

– The inquiry would be done within seven days from the occurrence of the incident and the preliminary inquiry report would be submitted to the competent government authority for permission for lodging of FIR in this regard.

– On the basis of the preliminary report, if the competent government authority finds any convincing evidence with regard to the commissioning of the offense of sedition, it may grant permission. It is only after the grant of permission that the FIR under Section 124A of the IPC shall be lodged.

Issue Guidelines: Central government may issue guidelines that are to be followed in case of the commission of a sedition offence and the said guidelines may clarify as to under what circumstances the said offence was committed.

Punishment Term: Under the existing provision of Section 124A, punishment can be up to three years imprisonment, with or without a fine, which may go up to imprisonment for life, with or without a fine.

– Law commission has recommended that this punishment of up to three years with or without a fine may be increased to seven years with or without a fine.

Mines Ministry to Unveil “List of Critical Minerals for India

Source: The post is based on the article “Mines Ministry to Unveil “List of Critical Minerals for India” published in PIB on 27th June 2023

What is the News?

The Central government will be releasing for the first time “the list of Critical Minerals for India”.

What are Critical Minerals?

Click Here to read

What is the objective behind releasing the list of Critical Minerals for India?

Firstly, the list is designed to identify and prioritize minerals that are essential for various industrial sectors such as high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defense.

Secondly, the list will serve as a guiding framework for policy formulation, strategic planning, and investment decisions in the mining sector.

Thirdly, this initiative also aligns with the larger vision of achieving a ‘Net Zero’ target for India through the Government’s commitment to creating a robust and resilient mineral sector.

What are the challenges India faces in assuring resilient critical minerals supply chains?

India’s dependence on foreign countries for critical minerals: Manufacturing renewable energy technologies would require increasing quantities of minerals, including copper, manganese, zinc, and indium.

– Similarly, the transition to electric vehicles would require increasing amounts of minerals, including copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements.

– However, India does not have many of these mineral reserves, or its requirements may be higher than the availability, making India dependent on foreign partners to meet domestic needs.

Russia-Ukraine war: Russia is a significant producer of nickel, palladium, titanium sponge, & scandium and Ukraine is one of the major producers of titanium. The war between the two countries has implications for these critical mineral supply chains.

Policy issues: Many critical and strategic minerals constitute part of the list of atomic minerals in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957.However, the present policy regime reserves these minerals only for public sector undertakings.

What is the way forward for India in critical minerals?

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act 1957 needs to be amended to exclude critical minerals such as atomic minerals.

Critical minerals must be prospected, explored, and mined on priority, as any delays may hinder India’s emissions reduction and climate change mitigation timeline.

India must actively engage in bilateral and plurilateral arrangements for building assured and resilient critical mineral supply chains.

The assessment of critical minerals for India needs to be updated every three years to keep pace with changing domestic and global scenarios

Rani Durgavati Gaurav Yatra’ concludes in Madhya Pradesh: The story of the queen who fought the Mughal

Source: The post is based on the article “Rani Durgavati Gaurav Yatra’ concludes in Madhya Pradesh: The story of the queen who fought the Mughals” published in Indian Express on 27th June 2023

What is the News?

Madhya Pradesh Government has launched the six-day Rani Durgavati Gaurav Yatra and marked June 24 as a day of sacrifice.

Who was Rani Durgavati?

Rani Durgavati (1524 – 1564) was the ruling Queen of Gondwana from 1550 until 1564. She was born in Mahoba’s Chandela dynasty. 

She is chiefly remembered for defending her kingdom against the Mughal Empire.

Rani Durgavati was married to Dalpat Shah, the son of the Gond King Sangram Shah of the kingdom of Garha-Katanga. This kingdom is noted as one of the most powerful kingdoms of the Gond tribe.

The Chandelas of Mahoba and Rajgonds of Garha-Mandla dynasties became allies through this marriage.

Dalpat Shah died in 1550 and due to the young age of their son, Durgavati took the reins of the Gondwana kingdom. 

War with Mughal: In 1562, Akbar conquered Malwa and made it a Mughal dominion. Consequently, the state boundary of the Rani touched the Mughal Empire. 

Rani’s contemporary was a Mughal General, Khwaja Abdul Majid Asaf Khan. The prosperity of Rani Durgavati’s state lured him, and he invaded Rani’s state after taking permission from the Mughal emperor Akbar.

When Rani heard about the attack, she decided to defend her kingdom with all her might. She maintained that it was better to die respectfully than to live a disgraceful life.

However, soon the Mughals fortified the area and overwhelmed the Gonds. While fighting them in battle, she is believed to have stabbed herself with her dagger to not surrender to the Mughal forces.

Legacy: In 1983, the Government of Madhya Pradesh renamed the University of Jabalpur as Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya in her memory.

– The government of India issued a postal stamp commemorating her death on 24 June 1988.

– The train between Jabalpur Junction and Jammutawi is known as Durgavati Express after the name of the Queen.

– Indian Coast Guard 2018 commissioned ICGS Rani Durgavati, the third Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) of its kind.

Our study shows growing zone of active tectonic deformation in northern Haryana plains south of Himalayas

Source: The post is based on the article “Our study shows growing zone of active tectonic deformation in northern Haryana plains south of Himalayas” published in Down To Earth on 27th June 2023

What is the News?

A study has found signs of active tectonic deformations in the Piedmont alluvial plains of northern Haryana.

What is Tectonic Deformation?

Tectonic deformation refers to the changes in the Earth’s crust caused by the movement and interaction of tectonic plates. 

What was the study conducted by the researchers?

The study investigated the piedmont zone between the Ghaggar and Yamuna river basins in the frontal parts of the northwest Himalayas of Haryana.

It focused on the piedmont alluvial plains and covered parts of Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar districts in Haryana and Mohali district in Punjab.

– Note: Piedmont plains are situated at the foot of mountains or hills. 

How was this study conducted?

This study was conducted using satellite data and validated by geophysical ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys. 

GPR is an important tool, ideally suited for obtaining high-resolution profiles of the subsurface over a depth range of a few meters to several tens of meters.

What did the researchers find?

Researchers have found active signs of tectonic deformations in the piedmont alluvial plains of northern Haryana.

This active deformation zone could become a future seismic hazard zone.

The study also said that this active tectonics and geodynamic framework of the area may have played a role in the extinction of the Vedic Saraswati river that once flowed through the region. 

The origin of Fast Radio Bursts

Source: The post is based on the article “Do dead stars crash with the light of 500 million suns?” published in The Hindu on 28th June 2023

What is the News?

Astrophysicists have developed a new theory about the origin of fast radio bursts (FRBs). 

What are Fast Radio Bursts(FRBs)?

FRBs are bright bursts of radio waves that blaze for a few milliseconds before vanishing without a trace.

The first FRB was spotted in 2007. Since then, scientists have spotted more than 600 of these in their telescopes.

However, their origins are still unknown, and their appearance is highly unpredictable.

What is the present theory on the origin of these Fast Radio Bursts(FRBs)?

​​One of the leading theories developed to explain the origin of Fast Radio Bursts(FRBs) is that they are caused by magnetars, a type of slowly rotating neutron star. 

Unfortunately, there has been no way to prove whether the theory is correct.

What is the new theory developed by researchers to explain the origin of Fast Radio Bursts(FRBs)?

Researchers have said that FRBs could be triggered by a collision between two neutron stars and are released just before they crash into each other. 

This impact could set off two different kinds of signals: wrinkles in space-time called gravitational waves and FRBs.

What is the significance of this study?

This theory will help in explaining the intense radio light ‘seen’ in the host galaxies of some FRBs. Some astronomers attribute this radio light to the glow around high energy events, such as a gigantic black hole at the center of the galaxy, devouring stars.

These findings will also help in the study of gravitational waves, which were first observed in 2015.

Moreover, the upcoming space-based gravitational wave detector Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) could provide further insights into these high-energy cosmic events and the structure of the universe.

ExplainSpeaking: What is Greedflation? Does India also have it?

Source: The post is based on the article “ExplainSpeaking: What is Greedflation? Does India also have it?” published in Indian Express on 27th June 2023

What is the News?

There is a growing consensus across the world that Greedflation is spiking inflation.

What is Inflation?

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What is Greedflation?

Greedflation simply refers to a situation where corporate greed fuels inflation. 

Instead of the traditional wage-price spiral, it is the profit-price spiral that drives inflation. 

This can result in a significant rise in the overall price level, leading to a decline in the purchasing power of the currency and contributing to inflation.

In developed countries like Europe and the US, there is a growing consensus that greedflation is the main reason contributing to inflation.

Is Greedflation happening in India?

The Indian corporate sector has generated superlative profits in the post-pandemic period. Profits during recent times have been nearly thrice the profits corporates earned earlier.

Higher profits then can come only from: 1) higher sales (with the same profit margins) 2) higher profit margins (with the same level of sales) or 3) a combination of higher sales and higher profit margins.

What is contributing to higher profits of corporates in India?

According to CMIE, 60% of the growth in net profit can be attributed entirely to the increase in profit margin. 

The increase in sales contributed an additional 36% and the rest was a bonus from a combination of the two.

Do these higher profits point to the existence of greedflation in India?

Data shows the existence of a sharp spike in profits.So, prima facie there is a very good chance that corporate greed also played a key role in spiking the inflation rate in India.

E Sewa Kendras – Bridging the digital divide & ensuring justice for All

Source: The post is based on the article “E Sewa Kendras – Bridging the digital divide & ensuring justice for All” published in PIB on 27th June 2023

What is the News?

Around 815 eSewa Kendras have been set up under 25 High Courts.

What are eSewa Kendras?

e-Sewa Kendras have been created in the High Courts and in one District Court in each State on a pilot basis.It is being expanded to cover all court complexes. 

It is being set up at the entry point of the court complexes.

It enables litigants to obtain information with respect to case status and to obtain copies of judgments and orders. These centers also extend assistance in the e-filing of cases.

These Kendras represent a significant step for the common man and his right to access to justice.

About India’s first e-Resource Center:

In 2020, India’s first e-Resource Center named “Nyay Kaushal” was inaugurated at Nagpur in Maharashtra.

The e-Resource Centre will facilitate the e-filing of cases in the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, and District Courts across the country. 

It will also assist the lawyers and litigants in accessing online e-Courts services and shall help those who cannot afford the technology.

Indian Ocean Dipole: What is it, how it can limit El Nino effects

Source: The post is based on the article “Indian Ocean Dipole: What is it, how it can limit El Nino effects” published in Indian Express on 28th June 2023

What is the News?

The  El Nino phenomenon is likely to impact the Indian monsoon this year.

Therefore, high hopes are pinned on the development of a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and its ability to counterbalance the El Nino effect.

What is El Nino?

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What is the Indian Ocean Dipole(IOD)?

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The IOD was identified as an independent system only in 1999.

A positive IOD event is often seen developing at times of an El Nino while a negative IOD is sometimes associated with La Nina.

During El Nino, the Pacific side of Indonesia is cooler than normal because of which the Indian Ocean side also gets cooler. That helps the development of a positive IOD.

What is the impact of the Indian Ocean Dipole(IOD)?

A positive IOD helps rainfall along the African coastline and also over the Indian sub-continent while suppressing rainfall over Indonesia, southeast Asia and Australia.The impacts are opposite during a negative IOD event.

Compared to El Nino Southern Oscillation(ENSO) events, the impacts of IODs are much weaker.

Can Positive Indian Ocean Dipole(IOD) offset the impact of El Nino this year?

Positive IOD does have the potential to offset the impacts of El Nino to a small measure in neighboring areas and it has at least once in the past (1997) delivered on this potential.

Currently, El Nino is already firmly established in the Pacific Ocean this year.But the IOD is still in the neutral phase.

All international climate models suggest a positive IOD event may develop in the coming months

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had also said there was an 80% chance of a positive IOD in the coming months.

Hence, high hopes are pinned on the development of a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and its ability to counterbalance the El Nino effect.