Newspaper Must Read Articles of The Day– 2 October 2015

The Hindu

National

• India will set emissions reduction target: Javadekar – India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) will contain an emissions reduction target, as well as a target for reducing energy intensity. Mr. Javadekar said India is no match to China when it comes to economic growth or GDP per capita. Therefore, India has to put economic growth before committing itself to cut down emissions. (Government Policies – GS Paper II & Environment – GS Paper III)

• Mid-day meals rules lay stress on quality, regularity – The Centre notified the mid-day meals rules on Thursday, making running quality tests and sticking to nutritional standards mandatory. The State governments will be held accountable for non-delivery of service. If a school fails to serve food to students for three consecutive school days or five days a month, the State government will have to pay a “food security allowance” as compensation. Having invited criticism from the Comptroller and Auditor-General for poor implementation of the Centrally sponsored scheme, the Ministry has now insisted on monthly random testing for quality at accredited laboratories. (Welfare Schemes – GS Paper II)

• Swachh Bharat: plan to produce power, compost from solid waste – On the first anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission, the Urban Development Ministry on Thursday announced some crucial policy changes since it is planning to generate electricity and compost from municipal solid waste. The article looks into different changes that are mooted to bring more credibility to the policy changes made to Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). (Government Policies – GS Paper II)

• Right Livelihood Award for Inuit activist – Right Livelihood Award- Swedish human rights prize; Sheila Watt-Cloutier- work to protect the Inuit of the Arctic and defend their right to maintain their livelihoods and culture, which are acutely threatened by climate change; Ugandan activist Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera – fights for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersexual (LGBTI) communities; Italian doctor Gino Strada – founded the medical charity “Emergency” that helps rehabilitate war victims.; Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands, Tony de Brum, and the islands’ entire population won the Right Livelihood Honorary Award – their vision and courage to take legal action against the nuclear powers for failing to honour their disarmament obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. (General Awareness)

International 

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Business

• SEBI allows higher overseas investment by AIFs, VCs – The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and Venture Capital Funds to invest up to 25 per cent (earlier 10%) of their investible funds in foreign companies having ‘Indian connection.’ Among others, such entities would include companies having a front office overseas, but back office operations in India. (Indian Economy – GS Paper III)

Opinion-Editorial

• Towards a shared weltanschauung – The article looks into Cultural & Political relationship between India and Germany. The article also lays down the agenda and challenges in the upcoming visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to India, and the issue that will dominate the meet. The visit will not be just about what German business can do for India. It will equally be about what Indian talent can do for Germany.  (International Affairs – GS Paper III)

• The old chorus and a false note – The article takes note of change in the line of reaction of India at United Nations General Assembly to Pakistan raising Kashmir issue. The article states that Indian vying for permanent membership of United Nations Security Council should take an initiative to solve Kashmir issue by starting bilateral discussions. This will help gain credibility in global politics (India & its Neighbours – GS Paper II)

• Making India free of smoky kitchens – The article states that there is recognition now that access to modern energy — clean cooking and electricity — has a critical impact on the quality of life and hence is a provision number 7 under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  PM Modi Digital India aspires to provide electricity to all by 2022. However, there is relative silence on the issue of clean cooking fuels.Cooking has proven to cause one of the biggest health hazards in India: Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) caused by combustion of traditional biomass for cooking killing many especially women and children. The article looks into present intervention and their outcomes in providing for clean cooking fuels. Article also looks into what needs to be done for the same. (Environment – GS Paper III & Government Policies – GS Paper II)

Indian Express

Editorials & Columns

• The big bond reform – There has been lot focus on repo rate, but the real reform in monetary policy framework has been the RBI raising limits for foreign investors holding government bonds. The RBI has also allowed foreign investors into state government bonds for the first time. This serves the purpose: more foreign buying should push down yields, further widening the gap between bank lending rates and bond yields. Lower yields are nudging corporations towards bonds, helping disintermediation of the banking system, and improving the depth and breadth of the bond market. (Indian Macroeconomy – GS Paper III)

• It happened in Bikaner – The article looks into one of the best practise by civil society in the district of Bikaner to make it defecation free. The article states what Swachh Bharat Mission can learn from this best practises. (Government Policies – GS Paper II)

• The anti-climax – In the wake of voluntary disclose of Black Money amounting to Rs. 3,700 crore the article looks into what can be done for effective solution to black money. The article states that there is a need of striking at the root of this evil, such as in the form of false invoicing of imports and exports, benami and real estate transactions in India. The article states that despite having recognised that real estate in India is a major source of the generation of black money, there has been a great reluctance to bring this sector under regulatory watch. (Money Laundering and its Prevention – GS Paper III)

• Cleaner sweep – The article looks into under achievements of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in last one year since its launch. The mission is  lagging behind in its waste collection, transportation and disposal goals. SBM is criticised for it being too focused on building physical facilities and is scant on detail on how behavioural change could be effected. The article further recommends what needs to be done for success of SBM. (Government Policies – GS Paper II)

LiveMint

• Sustainable development goals – The article looks into the shortcomings of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs have been criticized for being too many in number and not prioritizing sufficiently. The more serious problem  is they are far too vague in order to mandate results on the ground. The article looks into different provision of SDGs and challenges in achieveing them. (Social Empowerment – GS Paper I, Government Policies – GS Paper II, Environment – GS Paper III)

• Needed: Quantitative evidence of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has provision for monitoring survey but one doesnt exist thereby making it difficult to study the efficacy of the program. Also, the data which are available by how many latrines are constructed where as what is needed is to bring about behavioural change making people use latrines constructed. Also, with 4 years left in PM defecation free India target, there need to be analysis whether we will be able to achieve target in time bound manner. (Government Policies – GS Paper II)

• Cleaning up Nagaland – The article looks into the working of NGO, Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation(ACAUT) working against the rebels in Nagaland. Rebels in Nagaland run parallel government wherever they can without interference of Indian government and levy taxes also. The NGO works against this unabated taxation. (Internal Security – GS Paper III, Working of NGOs – GS Paper II)

• The Volkswagen story: What it means for India – In the wake of fudging of emission norms by Volkswagen, the article looks into the functioning of India’s pollution control when compared to US. The article states that in India pollution regulators act as mere agents to give clearances and not a regulator who is concerned with environment quality of country. The article asks India to have a proactive regulator for environment. (Environment – GS Paper III, Government Bodies – GS Paper II)

• No resolution to stalled projects – The article looks into the issue of stalled projects whose stock has increased this quarter. Land acquistion is the biggest obstacle followed by lack of clearances. An increasing number are stalled because of unfavourable market conditions and lack of promoter interest. The article explores the reason behind this and also looks at the new investments and spike in announced projects. (Indian Economy – Industries – GS Paper III)