w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.

c om

Current
Affairs
(CONSOLIDaTION)

MARCH 2024
(Part – I)
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Contents
Polity and Governance.........................................................................................................1
z Centre Notifies Rules for CAA Implementation....................................................................................................... 2
z Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme and UCPMP 2024................................ 4
z Election Commission of India.................................................................................................................................. 6
z Subsidy Extension for PMUY ................................................................................................................................... 7
z Reforming India’s Undertrial Bail System................................................................................................................ 8
z Dispute over the Shanan Hydropower Project........................................................................................................ 9
z Holistic Progress Card............................................................................................................................................ 11
z What is a Holistic Progress Card (HPC)?................................................................................................................ 12
z FIR and General Diary............................................................................................................................................ 13
z PM-JANMAN Housing for PVTGs........................................................................................................................... 15
z Amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020...................................................................... 18
z Amul a Pillar of India’s Dairy Sector...................................................................................................................... 19
z Parliamentary Privileges and Related Cases.......................................................................................................... 20
z India’s Cooperative Sector..................................................................................................................................... 23
z Rajya Sabha Elections ........................................................................................................................................... 25
z Karnataka’s Temple Tax Amendment Bill ............................................................................................................. 27
z Repealing of Assam Muslim Marriage Act............................................................................................................. 29
z NITI Aayog GROW Report and Portal.................................................................................................................... 31

Economic Scenario.............................................................................................................35
z Comprehensive Framework for a Regulatory Sandbox......................................................................................... 36
z National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation Limited...................................................... 37
z BioCNG Production from Dung.............................................................................................................................. 39
z Unemployment in India......................................................................................................................................... 41
z Initiatives to Promote Sustainable Agriculture...................................................................................................... 43
z Local Currency Trade between India-Indonesia.................................................................................................... 46
z Government Proposes Higher Reporting Limits for Ministry Expenditure............................................................ 49
z Penicillin G and PLI Scheme................................................................................................................................... 51
z Coal Logistics Plan and Policy................................................................................................................................ 52
z Market Monopoly and Anti-Competitive Practices............................................................................................... 54
z Thailand’s Concern over India’s Agriculture Subsidy............................................................................................. 56
z Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23......................................................................................... 58
z UAE’s Exit from FATF Grey List.............................................................................................................................. 59

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International Relations.......................................................................................................61
z India Sri Lanka Relations........................................................................................................................................ 61
z Nordic-Baltic Cooperation..................................................................................................................................... 63

Social Issues.......................................................................................................................65
z Levels and Trends in Child Mortality..................................................................................................................... 65
z Challenges Faced by the Gig Workers................................................................................................................... 67
z Snakebite Envenoming.......................................................................................................................................... 70
z Abortion................................................................................................................................................................ 71
z Enhancing Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities............................................................................................ 73
z World Poverty Clock.............................................................................................................................................. 75
z Women, Business and the Law 2024..................................................................................................................... 76
z Growing Obesity in India....................................................................................................................................... 78
z Rare Disease Day 2024.......................................................................................................................................... 79
z Marriage Can’t be Grounds to Sack Women from the Military............................................................................. 81

Science & Technology.........................................................................................................84

z New Satellite-Based Toll Collection System.......................................................................................................... 84
z India’s 5G Fighter Aircraft and LCA Tejas............................................................................................................... 85
z Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle Technology........................................................................ 86
z New Rocket Launchport in Tamilnadu.................................................................................................................. 88
z Carbon Footprint of Artificial Intelligence............................................................................................................. 91
z Genome India Project............................................................................................................................................ 94
z Claude 3 AI Chatbot............................................................................................................................................... 95
z Obelisks................................................................................................................................................................. 96
z Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A............................................................................................................................ 97
z Laser Cooling of Positronium................................................................................................................................. 99
z India’s first Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry.................................................................................................. 99
z Sustainable Funding for Research and Development.......................................................................................... 101

Environment and Ecology.................................................................................................105

z Tiger Safari in Tiger Reserve................................................................................................................................ 105
z Human-Animal Conflict....................................................................................................................................... 107
z Coral Bleaching in Great Barrier Reef.................................................................................................................. 110
z The Unjust Climate: FAO..................................................................................................................................... 112
z Groundwater Contamination in India.................................................................................................................. 114
z India’s Battle Against Single-Use Plastics............................................................................................................. 116
z Status of Leopards in India 2022......................................................................................................................... 119
z Himalayas More Prone to Extreme Weather Events........................................................................................... 122
z Nitrogen Pollution............................................................................................................................................... 124
z Article 371A and Its Impact on Coal Mining in Nagaland.................................................................................... 127

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Security............................................................................................................................130
z INS Jatayu in the Lakshadweep Islands............................................................................................................... 130
z DefConnect 2024................................................................................................................................................. 131
z Exercise MILAN 2024........................................................................................................................................... 133

Art and Culture..............................................................................................................134

z ASI Survey of Bhojshala Complex........................................................................................................................ 134
z Temple Discoveries Highlight Chalukya Expansion.............................................................................................. 135
z GI Tag to Majuli masks, Manuscript and Narasapur Crochet Lace Craft............................................................. 137

History.............................................................................................................................139
z Sabarmati Ashram Redevelopment Project........................................................................................................ 139

Geography.......................................................................................................................141
z Surge in Demand of Copper................................................................................................................................ 141

Ethics...............................................................................................................................143
z Ethical Implications of Judge Resigning for Politics............................................................................................. 143

Miscellaneous..................................................................................................................145
z France Considers Legalising Assisted Dying......................................................................................................... 145
z Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for 2022 and 2023................................................................. 146
z Bureau of Energy Efficiency................................................................................................................................. 146
z Belgium Recognises Ecocide as a Crime.............................................................................................................. 149
z Leap Year............................................................................................................................................................. 149

Rapid Fire Current Affairs.............................................................................................151

z Internet in Remote Tribal Villages (VSAT)........................................................................................................... 151
z Lead Iodide Perovskites....................................................................................................................................... 152
z SEBI Warns Against Fraudulent Trading Platforms.............................................................................................. 152
z Empowering the Sikh Community....................................................................................................................... 152
z GI Tag to Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi.......................................................................................................................... 153
z Rural Digital Empowerment................................................................................................................................ 153
z Vocal for Local initiative...................................................................................................................................... 154
z PB-SHABD............................................................................................................................................................ 154
z Marine Security Belt 2024................................................................................................................................... 154
z Haiti..................................................................................................................................................................... 155
z National Speed Breeding Crop Facility................................................................................................................ 156
z Pritzker Architecture Prize 2024.......................................................................................................................... 156
z Karnataka Ban Harmful Food Colouring Agents.................................................................................................. 156
z Connectome........................................................................................................................................................ 157
z Italian Court Ruling Against Returning Sea Migrants.......................................................................................... 157
z Yaounde Declaration........................................................................................................................................... 158

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z Pi Chatbot Powered by Inflection-2.5.................................................................................................................. 158
z India to Become Third Largest Economy by 2031............................................................................................... 158
z Revamped PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna......................................................................................................... 158
z Sea Defenders-2024............................................................................................................................................ 159
z Argentina Withdraws from BRICS Plan................................................................................................................ 159
z Kerala-Owned OTT Platform................................................................................................................................ 159
z EU Fines Apple for Antitrust Violations in App Store.......................................................................................... 160
z Mahatari Vandana Yojana................................................................................................................................... 160
z Blue Line.............................................................................................................................................................. 160
z IRIS: India’s First AI Teacher Robot...................................................................................................................... 160
z James Webb Telescope Spots Oldest Dead Galaxy............................................................................................. 161
z Cavum Clouds...................................................................................................................................................... 161
z Stalled Negotiations on Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.............................................................................. 162
z Decline in Indian Diamond Exports..................................................................................................................... 163
z International Women’s Day................................................................................................................................. 163
z Lineman Diwas.................................................................................................................................................... 163
z Mythical Dwarka.................................................................................................................................................. 163
z Dak Karmayogi Project........................................................................................................................................ 164
z India’s First Underwater Metro Service............................................................................................................... 164
z Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum.......................................................................................................... 165
z Arctic and Great Lakes Ice Trends....................................................................................................................... 165
z Chakshu and the Digital Intelligence Platform.................................................................................................... 167
z Dry Ice.................................................................................................................................................................. 167
z e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi............................................................................................................................................... 167
z World Hearing Day.............................................................................................................................................. 168
z Quality Control Order on Viscose Staple Fibre.................................................................................................... 168
z Bharat Tex 2024................................................................................................................................................... 168
z World Wildlife Day.............................................................................................................................................. 168
z Samudra Laksamana............................................................................................................................................ 169
z India’s First Dolphin Research Centre.................................................................................................................. 169
z National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development............................................................................ 170
z Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Launched for North East............................................................................... 171
z Google Removes a Few Indian Apps from Play Store.......................................................................................... 171
z Successful Flight Tests of VSHORADS Missile by DRDO....................................................................................... 171
z Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund................................................................................... 171
z Shri Morarji Desai Birth Anniversary................................................................................................................... 172
z Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality...................................................................................... 172
z Advancing Pregnancy Care with India-Specific AI Model.................................................................................... 172
z Melanochlamys Droupadi................................................................................................................................... 173
z Mission Utkarsh Against Anaemia....................................................................................................................... 173
z New Chairperson of Lokpal................................................................................................................................. 174
z Chromosomal Disorders from Prehistoric Skeletal Remains............................................................................... 175

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Polity and Governance

Highlights
z Centre Notifies Rules for CAA Implementation z PM-JANMAN Housing for PVTGs
z Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance z Amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules,
Scheme and UCPMP 2024 2020
z Election Commission of India z Amul a Pillar of India’s Dairy Sector
z Subsidy Extension for PMUY z Parliamentary Privileges and Related Cases
z Reforming India’s Undertrial Bail System z India’s Cooperative Sector
z Dispute over the Shanan Hydropower Project z Rajya Sabha Elections
z Holistic Progress Card z Karnataka’s Temple Tax Amendment Bill
z What is a Holistic Progress Card (HPC)? z Repealing of Assam Muslim Marriage Act
z FIR and General Diary z NITI Aayog GROW Report and Portal

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Centre Notifies Rules for CAA Implementation

Why in News?
Recently, the Indian government notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, paving the
way for its implementation after over 4 years since its passage by Parliament in December 2019.
¾ The CAA, 2019 is an Indian legislation that provides a path to Indian citizenship for migrants belonging to six
religious minorities: Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

What are the Rules Issued by the Government Concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act?
¾ Historical Context: The government has previously taken steps to address the plight of refugees, including
amendments to the Citizenship Rules in 2004 and notifications in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018.
¾ CAA Rules 2024: The application process for citizenship under CAA has been made under Section 6B of the Citizenship
Act, 1955. Applicants need to prove their country of origin, religion, date of entry into India, and knowledge of an
Indian language to qualify for Indian citizenship.

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Proof of Country of Origin: Relaxed requirements
€ z The Constitution of India, on 26th January, 1950,
allow various documents, including birth or established categories of people eligible for
educational certificates, identity documents, Indian citizenship.
licenses, land records, or any document proving „ It also granted Parliament the authority to
previous citizenship of the mentioned countries. regulate additional aspects of citizenship,
€ Date of Entry into India: Applicants can provide such as granting and renunciation.
20 different documents as proof of entry into z Under this authority, Parliament enacted the

India, including visas, residential permits, census Citizenship Act, 1955.

slips, driving licenses, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, € The Act specifies that citizenship may be acquired
government or court letters, birth certificates, in India through five methods: by birth in India, by
and more. descent, through registration, by naturalisation
¾ Mechanism for Implementation of Rules: (extended residence in India), and by incorporation
of territory into India.
€ The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has assigned
z Children born in India to ambassadors are not
the task of processing citizenship applications under
the CAA to the Postal department and Census eligible for Indian citizenship based solely on
their birth in the country.
officials under the Union government.
z Background and security checks will be conducted
by Central security agencies like the Intelligence
Bureau (IB).
€ Final decisions on applications will be made by
empowered committees led by the Director (Census
Operations) in each State.
€ These committees will include officials from
various departments, including the Intelligence
Bureau, Post Master General, State or National
Informatics Centre, and representatives from the About: The Citizenship Act, 1955 was amended
State government’s Department of Home and in 2019 to grant citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist,
Divisional Railway Manager. Jain, Parsi, or Christian migrants from Pakistan,
Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
z District-level committees, headed by the
€ Under the amendment, migrants who entered India
Superintendent of the Department of Post, will
on 31st December 2014, and had suffered “religious
sift through applications, with a representative
persecution or fear or religious persecution” in
from the District Collector’s office as an invitee.
their country of origin would be made eligible for
¾ Processing of Applications: The Empowered Committee accelerated citizenship.
and District Level Committee (DLC), instituted by the € It exempts the members of the six communities
Centre, will process citizenship applications, bypassing from any criminal case under Foreigners Act, 1946
state control. and Passport Act, 1920 which specify punishment
€ DLC will receive applications, and the final decision for entering the country illegally and staying on
will be made by the Empowered Committee, headed expired visas and permits.
by the Director (Census Operations). ¾ Relaxations: Under the Citizenship Act, 1935, one of
What is the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019? the requirements for citizenship by naturalization is
that the applicant must have resided in India during
¾ Citizenship in India: Citizenship is the legal status and the last 12 months, as well as for 11 of the previous
relationship between an individual and a state that 14 years.
entails specific rights and duties. € The 2019 amendment relaxes the second
€ Citizenship in India is listed in the Union List under requirement from 11 years to 6 years as a specific
the Constitution and thus is under the exclusive condition for applicants belonging to these six
jurisdiction of Parliament. religions, and the aforementioned three countries.

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¾ Exemptions: CAA will not apply to regions mentioned ¾ Secularism and Social Cohesion: The CAA’s focus
under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, on religion as a criterion for citizenship eligibility
which include Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, has raised broader concerns about its impact on
Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. secularism and social cohesion in India.
€ Additionally, areas covered by the Inner Line Permit € Critics argue that privileging certain religious
system (ILP) are also exempt from the CAA. communities over others undermines the secular
z The concept of Inner Line separates the tribal- principles upon which the Indian state was founded
majority hills of the Northeast from the plains and could exacerbate communal tensions.
areas. To enter and stay in these areas, an Inner ¾ Exclusion of few Religious Communities: The exclusion
Line Permit (ILP) is needed. of certain religious communities from the CAA and
z Currently, Inner Line Permit regulates visit of all its subsequent rules, such as Sri Lankan Tamils and
persons, including Indian citizens, to Arunachal Tibetan Buddhists, who faced religious persecution
Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. in their home countries, raises concerns.
€ This exclusion is intended to protect the interests
Note: The Matua community of West Bengal (Hindu
of tribal and indigenous communities in the North-
refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), have
Eastern region, ensuring that individuals residing
welcomed the CAA rules. The notification coincides with
in these areas cannot seek citizenship under the
the birth anniversary of Harichand Thakur, a founder
provisions of the CAA, 2019.
of the Matua sect, born in 1812 in present-day
What are the Concerns Related to the CAA, Bangladesh.
2019?
¾ Constitutional Challenge: Critics argue that it violates Revamped Pharmaceuticals
Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees
the right to equality before the law and prohibits Technology Upgradation
discrimination based on religion. Assistance Scheme and
€ The CAA’s provision of granting citizenship based
on religion is seen as discriminatory. UCPMP 2024
¾ Potential for Disenfranchisement: The CAA is often
Why in News?
linked to the National Register of Citizens (NRC),
a proposed nationwide exercise to identify illegal The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry
immigrants. of Chemicals and Fertilizers, announces the Revamped
€ Critics fear that a combination of CAA and a faulty Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance
NRC could disenfranchise several citizens who are Scheme (RPTUAS).
unable to prove their documentation. ¾ It aims to upgrade the technological capabilities of
z More than 19.06 lakh people were left out of the pharmaceutical industry in alignment with global
the final draft of the Assam NRC released in standards.
August 2019. ¾ Additionally, the DoP released the Uniform Code
¾ Impact on Assam Accord: In Assam, there is a specific for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP)
concern regarding the compatibility of the CAA with 2024. The code aims to ensure responsible marketing
the Assam Accord, 1985. practices and curb misleading promotional activities.
€ The Accord established criteria for determining
What are the Key Highlights of the RPTUAS?
citizenship in Assam, including specific cut-off
dates for residency. ¾ Objective:
€ The CAA’s provision of a different timeline for € The Department of Pharmaceuticals through

granting citizenship could conflict with the RPTUAS aims to contribute to the growth of the
provisions of the Assam Accord, leading to legal pharmaceutical industry and ensure compliance
and political complications. with global manufacturing standards.

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¾ Key Features: What are the Revised Schedule M and WHO-
€ Broadened Eligibility Criteria: GMP Standards?
z Expanded eligibility beyond Micro, Small, and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to include any ¾ The Union Health Ministry’s notification in January
pharmaceutical manufacturing unit with a 2024 introduced revisions to Schedule M of the
turnover of less than Rs 500 crores. Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, focusing on robust
„ Preference remains for MSMEs, supporting quality control measures for pharmaceutical and
smaller players in achieving high-quality biopharmaceutical products.
manufacturing standards. € Schedule M prescribes Good Manufacturing
€ Flexible Financing Options: Practices (GMP) for pharmaceutical products.
z Introduces subsidies on a reimbursement basis,
z GMP was first incorporated in Schedule M of
offering more flexibility than the traditional
credit-linked approach. the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 in the
€ Comprehensive Support for Compliance:
year 1988 and the last amendment was done
in June 2005.
z Supports a wide range of technological
upgrades in line with revised Schedule-M and „ With the amendment, the words ‘Good
World Health Organization (WHO)- Good Manufacturing Practices’ (GMP) have been
Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, replaced with ‘Good Manufacturing Practices
including HVAC systems, testing laboratories, and Requirements of Premises, Plant and
clean room facilities, etc. Equipment for Pharmaceutical Products’.
€ Dynamic Incentive Structure:
¾ The revised Schedule M emphasizes adherence to
z Offers incentives based on turnover, ranging
from 20%, 15%, and 10% of investment under GMP and incorporates requirements for premises,
eligible activities for turnovers less than Rs. plant, and equipment. This ensures alignment with the
50.00 crore, Rs. 50.00 to less than Rs. 250.00 World Health Organization (WHO) GMP Standards.
crore, and Rs. 250.00 to less than Rs. 500.00 € GMP is the mandatory standard that builds and
crore, respectively. brings quality into a product by way of control
€ State Government Scheme Integration:
on materials, methods, machines, processes,
z Allows integration with state government personnel, facility/environment, etc.
schemes to provide additional top-up assistance.
¾ The updated Schedule M introduces a pharmaceutical
€ Enhanced Verification Mechanism:
quality system (PQS), quality risk management
z Implements a robust verification mechanism
through a Project Management Agency to ensure (QRM), product quality review (PQR), qualification
transparency and accountability. and validation of equipment, and a computerised
storage system for all drug products.
Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation
Assistance (PTUAS) Scheme Recent Cases of Quality Issues in the Indian
Medicines
¾ PTUAS helps drug companies upgrade their facilities
to produce medicines that meet global standards. ¾ In December 2023 the data from the Central Drugs
It was launched in July 2022. Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), shows
¾ Incentives under the Scheme: that at least 6% of cough syrup samples from 54
Indian manufacturers failed a mandatory quality
€ Interest Subvention:
test for export.
z Up to a maximum of 5% per annum (6% for
€ Gambia, Uzbekistan, Cameroon, and the World
units owned and managed by Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes) of interest Health Organization (WHO) expressed concerns
subvention for the loan component eligible following the deaths of children who had taken
under the scheme, capped at Rs. 10 crore. these medications.
z This subsidy is applicable for a maximum period ¾ In April 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control
of 3 years on the reduced balance for loans and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug
sanctioned by scheduled commercial banks Administration (USFDA) raised concerns over a
/financial institutions, both in the public and drug-resistant bacteria strain allegedly linked to
private sectors. eye drops imported from India.

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What are the Key Provisions of UCPMP 2024? ¾ Schemes Related to the Pharma Sector:
¾ Restrictions on Inducements: € Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks Scheme.

€ Medical representatives are prohibited from € Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices Promotion
using inducements to gain access to healthcare and Development Scheme (PMPDS).
professionals. € Production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for
¾ Prohibition of Payments and Gifts: pharmaceuticals.
€ Companies are barred from offering cash, monetary € National Medical Device Policy 2023.
grants, or pecuniary benefits to healthcare
professionals or their family members.
€ Pharmaceutical companies are forbidden from giving
Election Commission of India
gifts or any pecuniary advantages to individuals
Why in News?
qualified to prescribe or supply drugs.
Recently, the Election Commissioner of India resigned
¾ Evidence-Based Claims:
from his post, just days ahead of the announcement of
€ Claims about a drug’s usefulness must be supported
the Lok Sabha elections.
by up-to-date evidence, and terms like “safe” and
“new” must be used appropriately. What is the Election Commission of India?
¾ Transparent CME Programs Only: ¾ About:
€ Pharmaceutical companies can only engage with € The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an
healthcare professionals (HCPs) for Continuing autonomous constitutional authority responsible for
Medical Education (CME) through well-defined, administering Union and State election processes
transparent, and verifiable guidelines. in India.
¾ Strict Compliance: z It was established in accordance with the

€ The UCPMP will be circulated for strict compliance Constitution on 25th January 1950 (celebrated
by all pharmaceutical companies and associations. as National Voters’ Day). The secretariat of the
commission is in New Delhi.
€ All associations must constitute an Ethics Committee
for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices. € The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha,
Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in
Pharmaceutical Industry in India India, and the offices of the President and Vice
¾ Industry Scenario: President in the country.
€ The Economic Survey 2022-23 mentions that India z It is not concerned with the elections to
is ranked 3rd worldwide in the production of panchayats and municipalities in the states.
pharma products by volume and 14th by value. For this, the Constitution of India provides for
€ The Pharma Industry is expected to reach USD a separate State Election Commission.
130 Bn by 2030. India is a major exporter of ¾ Constitutional Provisions:
Pharmaceuticals, with over 200+ countries served € Part XV (Article 324-329): It deals with elections
by Indian pharma exports. and establishes a commission for these matters.
€ The nation is the largest provider of generic € Article 324: Superintendence, direction and control
medicines globally, occupying a 20% share in of elections to be vested in an Election Commission.
global supply by volume, and is the leading € Article 325: No person to be ineligible for inclusion
vaccine manufacturer globally. in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral
z India supplies over 50% of Africa’s requirement roll-on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.
for generics, 40% of generic demand in the € Article 326: Elections to the House of the People
US and 25% of all medicine in the UK. and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be
€ India also accounts for approximately 60% of based on adult suffrage.
global vaccine demand. 70% of WHO’s vaccines € Article 327: Power of Parliament to make provision
are sourced from India. with respect to elections to Legislatures.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 7
€ Article 328: Power of Legislature of a State to Anoop Baranwal vs Union of India Case, 2023
make provision with respect to elections to such
¾ A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC)
Legislature.
unanimously ruled that the appointment of the
€ Article 329: Bar to interference by courts in
Chief Election Commissioner and the Election
electoral matters.
Commissioners shall be made by the President on
¾ Structure of ECI: the advice of a Committee consisting of the Prime
€ Originally the commission had only one election Minister, the Leader of the Opposition of the Lok
commissioner but after the Election Commissioner Sabha and Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Amendment Act 1989, it was made a multi- € In case no leader of the Opposition is available,
member body. the leader of the largest opposition Party in the
€ The Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Lok Sabha in terms of numerical strength will be
Election Commissioner (CEC) and such number a part of such committee.
of other election commissioners, if any, as the ¾ The Parliament passed the Chief Election
President may from time-to-time fix. Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners
€ Presently, it consists of the CEC and two Election (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of
Commissioners (ECs). Office) Act, 2023, in response to the directive of
z At the state level, the election commission is the Supreme Court in the Anoop Baranwal v Union
helped by the Chief Electoral Officer. of India case, 2023.
¾ Appointment & Tenure of Commissioners:
€ The President appoints CEC and Election
Subsidy Extension for PMUY
Commissioners as per the CEC and Other ECs
(Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term Why in News?
of Office) Act, 2023.
The Union Cabinet extended the subsidy of Rs 300
€ They have a fixed tenure of six years, or up to the
per 14.2-kg cylinder under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
Yojana (PMUY) for up to 12 refills per year till the end
€ The salary and conditions of service of the CEC
of 2024-25.
and ECs will be equivalent to that of the Cabinet
Secretary. What is Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
z Under the 1991 Act, it was equivalent to the (PMUY)?
salary of a Supreme Court Judge. ¾ About:
¾ Removal: € In May 2016, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
€ They can resign anytime or can also be removed Gas introduced the ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’
before the expiry of their term. (PMUY) to provide clean cooking fuel like LPG to
€ The CEC can be removed from office only through rural and deprived households.
a process of removal similar to that of a SC judge z This aimed to replace traditional cooking fuels
by Parliament, while ECs can only be removed on like firewood and coal, which had negative
the recommendation of the CEC. impacts on the health of rural women and the
¾ Limitations: environment.
€ The Constitution has not prescribed the qualifications € Under Ujjwala 2.0 (Phase-2 of PMUY), a special
(legal, educational, administrative or judicial) of provision has been made for Migrant Families to
the members of the Election Commission. avail of new connections using Self-Declaration
€ The Constitution has not specified the term of the instead of Proof of Address (PoA) and Ration
members of the Election Commission. Card (RC).
€ The Constitution has not debarred the retiring ¾ PMUY Benefits:
election commissioners from any further € Government provides Rs. 1600 for a 14.2kg cylinder
appointment by the government. connection or Rs. 1150 for a 5kg cylinder.

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The PMUY provides a subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2

€ are kept in judicial custody, while their case is
kg cylinder of LPG to eligible beneficiaries. This being heard in court.
subsidy is available for up to 12 refills per year € The overcrowding rate in Indian prisons is at
and is credited directly to the beneficiaries’ bank 118%, reflecting systemic issues within the criminal
accounts. justice system.
€ PMUY beneficiaries receive the first LPG refill and ¾ Bail Adjudication:
stove (hotplate) free of cost from Oil Marketing € Bail adjudication relies heavily on court discretion,
Companies (OMCs). considering the specifics of each case.
¾ Phase-I Achievements: Target of 8 crore connections € The Supreme Court provides guidelines for this
achieved by September 2019. discretion, emphasising the need for granting
¾ Phase-2 (Ujjwala 2.0): Launched in August 2021, the bail but also allowing denial based on factors
target of 1 crore additional connections achieved in like the gravity of the offence and the likelihood
January 2022. of absconding.
€ Subsequently, the Government decided to release z Courts often lean towards denying bail or
60 lakh more LPG connections under Ujjwala 2.0 imposing strict conditions, despite the guidelines
and the target of 1.60 crore under Ujjwala 2.0 advocating for bail release.
connections was achieved in December 2022. z Courts frequently do not provide reasons
Thus taking overall connections under the scheme for denying bail, leaving the rationale behind
to 9.6 Crore. decisions unclear.
€ The Government of India has approved the release
€ Marginalised individuals are disproportionately
of an additional 75 lakh connections under the affected by these broad exceptions, facing either
PMUY Scheme, taking the overall target to 10.35 bail denial or stringent conditions.
Crore, (10.2 Crore has been achieved as of 7th
¾ Challenges in Bail Compliance:
March 2024).
€ Many undertrials stay in prison even after receiving
bail due to difficulties in meeting bail conditions.
Reforming India’s Undertrial z Lack of resources to arrange money or property

Bail System and find local sureties are major obstacles to

compliance.
Why in News? z Other factors such as lacking residence and
identity proof, being abandoned by family, and
The Supreme Court of India’s acknowledgement in
struggling to navigate the court system also
the case of Satender Kumar Antil vs Central Bureau Of
hinder compliance.
Investigation, 2022, highlights the inefficacy of India’s
bail system and its role in exacerbating the crisis of € Supporting undertrials in meeting bail conditions

undertrial incarceration. and ensuring court appearances is crucial, especially

for those facing structural disadvantages.
¾ This recognition underscores the pressing need for
reforming bail laws to address systemic challenges € Existing bail laws fail to address these challenges

within the criminal justice system. adequately.

€ Data from the Fair Trial Programme (FTP) in Yerwada
What are the Concerns Regarding India’s Bail and Nagpur shows that Existing bail laws fail to
System? address these challenges adequately.
¾ High Undertrial Population: z In 14% of cases, undertrials couldn’t comply

€ Over 75% of India’s prison population comprises with bail conditions, resulting in continued
undertrials, indicating a significant problem with imprisonment.
the bail system. z In almost 35% of cases, it took over a month

z An undertrial prisoner is someone who is accused after bail was granted for undertrials to meet
of a crime but has not been convicted. They bail conditions and secure release.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 9
¾ Lack of Safeguards: which aims to release individuals awaiting trial.
€ The Supreme Court emphasises the importance € Thus there is a need for reforming the bail system,
of safeguards against arbitrary arrest to reduce however, reforms should be based on understanding
the need for seeking bail. the problem through empirical evidence.
z Arbitrary arrest and detention is the arrest or
Note:
detention of a person without evidence of a
¾ The Fair Trial Programme (FTP) is a criminal justice
crime or proper due process.
initiative based at the National Law University
€ However, these safeguards often exclude many
individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, in Delhi. The FTP’s goal is to ensure fair trials for
who make up the majority of undertrial prisoners. undertrial prisoners.
€ Data from the FTP highlights this issue: of the € The FTP trains and mentors young professionals,

undertrials (2,313) represented by the FTP, 18.50% such as lawyers and social workers, to collaborate
were migrants, 93.48% did not own any assets, with the State Legal Services Authority.
62.22% did not have any contact with family, and
10% had a history of previous incarceration. Police Custody And Judicial Custody
z This data indicates a significant portion ¾ Police custody means the accused is held by the
unjustifiably excluded from arrest protections, police in a lock-up to prevent tampering with
contributing to the high number of undertrials evidence or influencing witnesses after an FIR is
in prisons. filed for a cognizable offence.
¾ Flawed Assumptions: ¾ Judicial Custody means an accused is in the custody
€ Current bail system assumes all arrested individuals of the concerned Magistrate. It is for serious
can afford bail or have influential social connections. offences, where the court may detain the accused
z It believes financial risk is necessary to ensure to prevent tampering with evidence or witnesses
the accused appears in court. after the police custody period ends.
€ This contradicts the principle of “bail not jail”,

Aspect Police Custody Judicial Custody

Lock-up of a police station or with investigating

Custody Location Jail under custody of Magistrate
agency

Appearance before Within 24 hours before the concerned

Until there is an order from the Court for bail
Court Magistrate

After public prosecutor satisfies the court that

At the time of arrest by a police officer after
Commencement the custody of the accused is necessary for
receiving a complaint or filing an FIR
investigation

90 days for offences punishable with life

24 hours (extendable to 15 days by the
Maximum Duration imprisonment, death, or imprisonment for not
appropriate Magistrate)
less than ten years; 60 days for other offences

Dispute over the Shanan Hydropower Project

Why in News?
Recently, the central government ordered that the status quo be maintained on the Shanan hydropower project,
over which Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have made competing claims.

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● Punjab has moved the Supreme Court over € In the past few years, Himachal Pradesh has
this issue. contended that the project should stay with it
What is the Shanan Project and the Claims of once the lease ends.
Different Parties over it? € The Himachal Pradesh government has raised
concerns, alleging that the project is in a deteriorating
¾ Historical Background:
condition due to a lack of repair and maintenance
€ During the British era in 1925, Punjab was granted a
by Punjab.
lease for the 110-MW hydropower project situated
€ The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh had stated
in Jogindernagar, Mandi district of Himachal
Pradesh on river Uhl, a tributary of the Beas River. that they would not allow Punjab to stake claim
on the project after the lease period and wrote
€ Lease Agreement:
to his Punjab counterpart last year and also took
z The lease agreement was formalised between
up the issue with the Union Ministry of Power.
Raja Joginder Bahadur, the ruler of Mandi at
the time, and Col BC Batty, who represented ¾ Claims of Punjab:
the British government and served as the Chief € Ownership and Possession Claim:
Engineer of Punjab. z Punjab has presented its case in the Supreme
€ Project Utility: Court, asserting that it is the rightful owner and
z The hydropower project served the energy needs in lawful possession of the Shanan Power House
of the undivided Punjab and Delhi before India Project under the central notification of 1967.
gained independence. z The state government, through the Punjab
„ Following the partition, the supply to Lahore State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL), currently
was halted, and the transmission line was exercises control over all assets associated with
terminated at Verka village in Amritsar. the project.
€ Legal Control under Punjab Reorganisation Act, € Legal Action Requested:
1966: z Under Article 131 the government of Punjab has
z During the reorganisation of states in 1966, the requested a “permanent Prohibitory Injunction”
hydropower project was transferred to Punjab, from the Supreme Court.
as Himachal Pradesh was then designated as
z This injunction is sought to prevent the Himachal
a Union Territory.
Pradesh government from interfering with
„ Punjab was officially allocated the project
the “lawful peaceful possession and smooth
through a central notification issued on 1st
May 1967, by the Union Ministry of Irrigation and Power.
functioning” of the Project.
¾ Interim Measure Ordered by the Centre:
z The notification specified that Punjab’s legal
control over the project was governed by the € A day before the conclusion of the 99-year-old lease
provisions outlined in the Punjab Reorganisation agreement, the Central government intervened
Act, 1966. by issuing an order to maintain the status quo on
¾ Claim of Himachal Pradesh: the Project. This measure was implemented to
ensure the continuous operation of the project.
€ Before the lease of 1925, which granted the project
to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh had both ownership € The directive was issued by the Ministry of Power.
and operational rights over the project. It invoked the powers vested under Sections 67
z The 1925 lease only granted operational and 96 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966,
rights to Punjab for a specific period and not in conjunction with Section 21 of the General
ownership rights. Clause Act, 1887.

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Inter-State River Water Disputes:

€ Inter-State Water Dispute (ISWD) Act, 1956: In case, a particular state or states approach the Centre for the
constitution of the tribunal, the Central Government should try to resolve the matter by consultation among
the aggrieved states. In case, if it does not work, then it may constitute the tribunal.
z The Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956 was amended in 2002, to include the major recommendations of
the Sarkaria Commission.
z The amendments mandated a one-year time frame to set up the water disputes tribunal and also a 3-year
time frame to give a decision.

Holistic Progress Card

Why in News?
Recently, the National Council for Educational and Research Training (NCERT) has introduced a new ‘Holistic
Progress Card’ (HPC), which will measure, apart from academic performance, a child’s progress in interpersonal
relationships, self-reflection, creativity, and emotional application in classrooms.

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Note: The HPCs have been devised by Performance ¾ Need:

Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for € Departing from the traditional emphasis on

Holistic Development (PARAKH), a standard-setting memorisation, the HPC prioritises the evaluation
body under the NCERT, for the foundational stage of higher-order skills, including analysis, critical
(Classes 1 and 2), preparatory stage (Classes 3 to 5) and thinking, and conceptual clarity among students.
middle stage (Classes 6 to 8), as per suggestions by the € Aligned with the NEP’s directives, the National

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Curriculum Framework for School Education
(NCF-SE) was introduced in 2023, advocating for a
shift towards assessing student progress through
What is a Holistic Progress the systematic collection of evidence.
z Additionally, the NCF SE promotes peer and
Card (HPC)? self-assessment methods to empower students
¾ About: in monitoring their own learning journey.
€ To gain a comprehensive understanding of
€ The HPC is a new approach to evaluating students’
students’ core competencies, the NCF SE suggests
academic performance that moves away from
incorporating diverse classroom assessment
traditional reliance on marks or grades. methods, such as projects, debates, presentations,
€ Instead, it adopts a comprehensive 360-degree experiments, investigations, and role plays.
evaluation system that takes into account various The design of HPC is in harmony with these
aspects of a student’s development and learning recommendations.
experience. What is PARAKH?
¾ Features: ¾ About:
€ Under the HPC model, students are actively engaged € PARAKH has been launched as part of the
in class activities where they are encouraged implementation of the National Education Policy
to apply a range of skills and competencies, (NEP), 2020 that envisaged a standard-setting
demonstrating their understanding of concepts. body to advise school boards regarding new
€ The difficulty level they encounter while performing assessment patterns and latest research, and
tasks is also considered in the assessment process. promote collaborations between them.
z It will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT.
€ Teachers play a crucial role in assessing students’
€ It will also be tasked with holding periodic learning
strengths and weaknesses across different
outcome tests like the National Achievement Survey
dimensions, such as collaboration, creativity,
(NAS) and State Achievement Surveys.
empathy, attention, and preparedness.
€ It will work on three major assessment areas:
€ This allows teachers to identify areas where students large-scale assessments, school-based assessment,
may need additional support or guidance. and examination reforms.
€ One distinctive feature of the HPC is that it involves ¾ Objective:
students in the evaluation process. € Uniform Norms & Guidelines: Setting norms,
z Students are encouraged to assess their own standards and guidelines for student assessment
performance as well as that of their peers, and evaluation for all recognised school boards
providing insights into their learning experiences of India.
and the learning environment. € Enhance Assessment Pattern: It will encourage
and help school boards to shift their assessment
€ Moreover, the HPC integrates parents into the
patterns towards meeting the skill requirements
assessment process by soliciting their input on of the 21st century.
various aspects of their child’s learning, including
€ Reduce Disparity in Evaluation: It will bring
homework completion, classroom participation, uniformity across the state and central boards
and balancing screen time with extracurricular which currently follow different standards of
activities at home. evaluation, leading to wide disparities in scores.

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€ Benchmark Assessment: The benchmark assessment ¾ Constitutional Provisions:
framework will seek to put an end to the emphasis € Article 45 of the Directive Principles of State Policy
on rote learning, as envisaged by the National (DPSP) initially stipulated that the government
Education Policy (NEP) 2020. should ensure free and compulsory education for
all children up to the age of 14 within 10 years of
What is NCF for School Education?
the Constitution’s commencement.
¾ About:
€ Furthermore, an amendment to Article 45
€ The National Curriculum Framework for School broadened its purview to include early childhood
Education (NCF-SE) is developed based on care and education for children under six years old.
the vision of the NEP 2020, and to enable its € Due to the non-fulfillment of this goal, the 86th
implementation. Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002 introduced
€ The formulation of NCF-SE will be undertaken by Article 21A, elevating elementary education to
the NCERT. The NCFSE document shall henceforth the status of a fundamental right instead of a
be revisited and updated once every 5-10 years, directive principle.
considering the frontline curriculum.
What are the Government Initiatives Related
¾ Objectives:
to Educational Reforms?
€ The NCF-SE serves as a guideline for developing
syllabi, textbooks, and teaching practices in India. ¾ National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning
€ Its objectives include shifting from rote ¾ Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
(memorization by repetition) learning, connecting ¾ PRAGYATA
education to real-life situations, making ¾ Mid Day Meal Scheme
examinations more flexible, and enriching the ¾ Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
curriculum beyond textbooks. ¾ PM SHRI Schools
€ The NCFSE also aims to make learning enjoyable,
child-centred, and self-reliant, and promote
democratic values. It provides guidelines for FIR and General Diary
counseling secondary school students and is
mandated for all age groups. Why in News?
The Supreme Court(SC) of India in the case Shailesh
What are the Legal and Constitutional Kumar v. State of UP (now State of Uttarakhand) 2024
Provisions Related to Education in India? has clarified the legal position regarding the registration
¾ Legal Provisions: of First Information Reports (FIRs) and General Diary
entries by the police.
€ The government has implemented the Sarva Shiksha
¾ The apex court has held that information disclosing
Abhiyan (SSA) as part of the Right to Education
the commission of a cognisable offence needs to
(RTE) Act for the primary level (6-14 years).
be recorded as an FIR in the designated FIR book,
€ Moving to the secondary level (age group 14-18), rather than being documented in the General Diary
the government has extended the SSA to secondary maintained by the Police under the Police Act, 1861.
education through the Rashtriya Madhyamik ¾ The court emphasised that a General Diary entry
Shiksha Abhiyan. cannot precede the registration of an FIR unless a
€ Higher education, encompassing undergraduate preliminary inquiry is deemed necessary.
(UG), postgraduate (PG), and MPhil/PhD levels, is What is an FIR?
addressed by the government through the Rashtriya
¾ A first information report (FIR) is a written document
Uchhattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) to meet the
prepared by the police when they receive information
requirements of higher education.
about the commission of a cognisable offence.
z All these schemes have been subsumed under the € A cognisable offence is one in which the police
umbrella scheme of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. can arrest a person without a warrant.

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€The term FIR is not defined in the Indian Penal € In such cases, the police may enter the information
Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), in the General Diary and inform the informant
1973, or in any other law, but in police regulations accordingly.
or rules, information recorded under Section 154
What is a General Diary?
of CrPC is known as First Information Report (FIR).
€ that FIR registration is mandatory for cognizable
¾ A General Diary is a record of all the activities and
offences under Section 154 of the CrPC. Additionally, incidents that take place in a police station on a
it emphasised daily basis.
€ Section 44 of the Police Act, 1861 empowers the
¾ Exceptions to the Rule of Registering an FIR: The
SC ruling in Lalita Kumari v.Government of Uttar State Government to prescribe the form of the
Pradesh & Others, (2014) held that FIR registration General Diary and the manner in which it shall
is mandatory for cognizable offences under Section be maintained.
154 of the CrPC. Additionally, it emphasised that in ¾ The General Diary contains various details such as the:
certain cases, a preliminary inquiry may be necessary € Arrival and departure of police officers
before registering an FIR. These cases are: € Arrest of persons
€ Matrimonial/family disputes € Seizure of property
€ Commercial offences € Receipt and disposal of complaints
€ Medical negligence cases € Any other information that the officer in charge of
€ Corruption cases the police station may consider necessary to record.
€ Cases where there is abnormal delay/laches in ¾ Supreme Court Rulings: In CBI v. Tapan Kumar Singh
initiating criminal prosecution, for example, over (2003), the Supreme Court ruled that a General Diary
3 months delay in reporting the matter without Entry may be treated as FIR in an appropriate case,
satisfactorily explaining the reasons for delay. where it discloses the commission of a cognisable
€ The preliminary inquiry must be completed within offence.
7 days. Note:
¾ The Supreme Court has also held that if the information ¾ Case Diary is maintained by the investigating officer
given to the police does not disclose the commission for a specific case, while the General Diary records
of a cognisable offence, then the police are not bound all legal events within a police station’s jurisdiction.
to register an FIR.

Aspect General Diary Entry FIR

Record complaints and incidents for
Register a cognisable offence for
Purpose administrative purposes or future
investigation
reference
Nature of Offense Both cognisable and non-cognisable Only for cognizable offences
Documentation Internal police record For public record
Copies are not provided to the complainant Copies provided to the complainant,
Distribution or Judicial Magistrate; sent to superior superior officers and Judicial
officers Magistrate
Magistrate may inspect General Diary upon Magistrate receives copies of FIR for
Judicial Oversight
request oversight
Complainant's Signature
Not required Required
Required

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¾ Geographical Challenges:
PM-JANMAN Housing for € Identifying eligible beneficiaries in remote and

PVTGs inaccessible areas poses logistical challenges. Lack

of infrastructure and communication networks in
Why in News? tribal regions may impede data collection efforts and
delay the implementation of the housing scheme.
The housing component of Pradhan Mantri Janjati
¾ Dynamic Population Dynamics:
Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyaan (PM-JANMAN), aimed at
providing housing for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal € Tribal populations, especially PVTGs, often exhibit

Groups (PVTGs), faces significant challenges hindering migratory patterns in search of employment and
its smooth implementation. livelihood opportunities.
z This dynamic nature of population movement
What are the Challenges Hindering the complicates the task of accurately estimating
implementation of PM-JANMAN? and identifying eligible beneficiaries, requiring
¾ Data Discrepancies: adaptive strategies to ensure comprehensive
€ Discrepancies have emerged between the data coverage.
provided by the Centre and the figures identified What is PM-JANMAN?
by the states. This disparity in data poses a
significant hurdle in accurately identifying potential ¾ About:
beneficiaries. € PM-JANMAN, launched on 15th November 2023,

€ The Centre relied on the PM Gati Shakti portal

on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, focuses on 11 critical
for estimating the total population of 75 PVTG, interventions through 9 ministries to improve the
resulting in varying figures. socio-economic welfare of PVTGs.
z The estimates jumped from 28 lakh to 44.64 lakhs € PM-JANMAN comprises Central Sector and Centrally

within a short span, indicating inconsistencies Sponsored Schemes to improve the socio-economic
in data collection. conditions of PVTGs.
€ State governments were given a limited timeframe € The scheme has a total outlay of Rs 24,104 crore

to conduct their surveys, leading to rushed and to be spent over a three-year period, of which
incomplete data collection processes. nearly 80% is only for the construction of houses
z States like Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura
and roads.
have raised concerns about beneficiaries being z An allocation of Rs 15,000 crore has been made

left out due to discrepancies in the data. for the next three years under the Development
„ For example, Madhya Pradesh has found
Action Plan for the Scheduled Tribes (DAPST)
50,000 additional eligible households outside to implement the housing component of PM-
the villages notified by the Centre. JANMAN.
¾ Slow Progress: ¾ Vision:
€ PM-JANMAN envisions improving the socio-
€ The simultaneous collection of beneficiary data and
project implementation has led to delays in the economic status of PVTGs by bridging gaps in
housing component of PM-JANMAN. Out of the health, education, and livelihoods.
targeted 5 lakh houses, only 1.59 lakh have been z The focus is on enhancing basic infrastructure

sanctioned, significantly missing the initial target. in PVTG communities, habitations, and families,
¾ Election Year Pressure: aligning with existing schemes of nine Ministries/
Departments.
€ The scheme is being implemented at a rapid pace,
especially with the upcoming General Elections 2024. ¾ Scope:
The urgency to show progress may compromise € The mission’s primary scope is to comprehensively

thorough planning and execution, potentially enhance the living conditions of PVTG by ensuring
affecting the quality and inclusivity of the housing they have access to essential amenities and services.
distribution. This includes:

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¾ Foundational Features of PM-JANMAN:

€ Inter-Ministerial Convergence:

z In a unique approach, 9 Ministries of the Government of India collaborate under the leadership of the
Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
„ Each Ministry oversees the implementation of its schemes while collectively ensuring comprehensive
coverage and welfare of the most vulnerable tribal communities.
¾ Alignment of Schemes/Programs:
€ Existing norms of schemes within concerned Ministries are modified to address the specific needs of tribal
communities.
z Revised guidelines are issued to ensure that the objectives of PM-JANMAN are effectively integrated into
ongoing programs.
¾ Coverage of the Scheme:
€ PM-JANMAN aims to reach 75 PVTGs residing in 18 states and 1 UT who continue to lag in socio-economic
indicators of educational, health and livelihood.
z The focus is on providing holistic support to tribal communities across various domains, including health,
education, and livelihoods.
¾ Identification of Gaps:
€ Through physical surveys conducted by state governments, gaps in each intervention area are identified.

z Data is updated on the PM Gati-shakti Portal, enabling cross-verification by relevant Ministries and State
Departments to ensure accuracy and completeness.
¾ Provision of Funds:
€ The source of funds for each of the 11 interventions is the DAPST grants allocated to respective Ministries/
Departments under their identified schemes covered by PM-JANMAN.
z Flexibility is provided under the DAPST mechanism to ensure dedicated funds availability for the successful
implementation of the mission.
¾ Reward Mechanism:
€ Performance evaluation is conducted through the ranking of districts based on monthly incremental changes
in performance indicators.
€ The purpose is to foster a sense of competition among district teams, with the top three districts and Ministries
recognised and rewarded for their outstanding performance.

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Note:
¾ The DAPST is a strategy for tribal development in India. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and 41 other ministries
and departments allocate funds to tribal development projects under DAPST.
€ These projects include education, health, agriculture, irrigation, roads, housing, electrification, and employment.

What are the other Initiatives for PVTGs?

¾ Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
¾ Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.
¾ PM PVTG Mission.

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in metropolitan areas, from 15 to 7 days in other

Amendments to the municipal areas, and from 30 to 15 days in rural
areas.
Electricity (Rights of
However, in rural areas with hilly terrain,
Consumers) Rules, 2020
z

the time period for new connections or for

modifications in existing connections will
Why in News?
remain thirty days.
Recently, the Ministry of Power has notified
¾ Additional Rights for Consumers in Residential Colonies
amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers)
and Flats:
Rules, 2020, to accelerate the installation of Rooftop Solar
Projects and empower consumers – with provisions on € Owners residing in co-operative group housing
connections in residential societies and solving complaints societies, multi-storied buildings, residential
on meter readings. colonies, etc., will have the option to choose from the
What are the Major Amendments in Electricity distribution licensee either individual connections
for everyone or a single-point connection for the
Rules, 2020?
whole premises.
¾ Easier and Faster installation of Rooftop Solar Systems:
€ The exercise of the option will be based on
€ Exemption has been given for the requirement
a transparent ballot to be conducted by the
of technical feasibility study, for systems up to a
capacity of 10 kW. Distribution Company.
€ For systems of capacity higher than 10 kW, the
€ Parity has also been brought in the tariff charged
timeline for completing the feasibility study has to consumers who get electricity supplied through
been reduced from 20 to 15 days. single-point connection and to those who avail of
z A technical feasibility study typically involves individual connections.
assessing factors such as site suitability, structural € Metering, billing, and collection will be done
integrity of the building, available sunlight separately for:
exposure, electrical infrastructure compatibility,
z Individual electricity consumption sourced from
and potential obstacles or challenges that may
the distribution licensee
affect the installation and operation of the
solar panels. z Individual consumption of backup power supplied
€ It is mandated that the distribution system
by the residential association
strengthening necessary for rooftop solar PV z Electricity consumption for common areas of
systems up to 5 kW capacity will be done by the such residential associations, which is sourced
distribution company at its own cost. from the distribution licensee.
€ Further, the timeline for the distribution licensee ¾ Mandatory Additional Meter in cases of Complaints:
to commission Rooftop Solar PV systems has been
€ In cases where consumers raise complaints
reduced from 30 to 15 days.
about meter reading not aligning with their
¾ Separate Connections for Electric Vehicle Charging
actual electricity consumption, the distribution
Stations:
licensee is now required to install an additional
€ Consumers can obtain separate electricity
meter within five days from the date of receipt
connections for charging their Electric Vehicles (EVs).
of the complaint.
z This aligns with India’s goal of reducing carbon
emissions and reaching Net Zero by the year z This additional meter will be used to verify
2070. the consumption for a minimum period of
€ The time period for obtaining a new electricity three months, thus reassuring consumers and
connection has been reduced from 7 to 3 days ensuring accuracy in billing.

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What are the Other Government Initiatives ¾ Amul products are now exported to over 50 countries,
for Solar Energy? with a network of over 18,000 milk cooperative
committees and over 36,000 farmers. Processing
¾ National Solar Mission over 3.5 crore litres of milk daily, Amul also facilitates
¾ Solar Park Scheme online payments exceeding Rs 200 crores to livestock
¾ Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan breeders.
(PM-KUSUM)
What is India’s White Revolution or Operation
¾ International Solar Alliance Flood?
¾ Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana
¾ Background:
€ The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB),
Amul a Pillar of India’s Dairy chaired by Verghese Kurien (‘Father of White
Revolution in India’), was established in 1965 to
Sector revolutionize India’s dairy industry. Inspired by
the successful “Anand Pattern”, NDDB launched
Why in News? the White Revolution, also known as Operation
The Prime Minister participated in the Golden Jubilee Flood in 1970, connecting rural milk producers
celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing with urban consumers through dairy cooperatives.
Federation (GCMMF) and highlighted the success of z This initiative transformed India into the world’s
Anand Milk Union Limited (Amul) which comes from largest milk producer, significantly boosting
GCMMF. milk production and improving its management
efficiency.
What is the History of Amul?
z Operation Flood transformed the dairy-deficient
¾ Amul was established in 1946 as the Kaira District nation into the global leader in milk production.
Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Limited in Anand, € The nationwide Operation Flood unfolded in three
Gujarat. phases over three decades.
¾ It was founded by Tribhuvandas Patel, with the support ¾ Phases of Operation Flood:
of Morarji Desai and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. € Phase I (1970-1980):
¾ In 1950, Amul (Anand Milk Union Limited) was formed z Financed by the sale of skimmed milk powder
as a brand for the dairy products produced by the and butter oil gifted by the European Union
cooperative. (then European Economic Community) through
¾ Amul is managed by the GCMMF, which is jointly owned the World Food Programme.
by more than 3.6 million milk producers in Gujarat. z Operation Flood linked 18 milksheds with

¾ Amul pioneered the adoption of the Anand Pattern, an consumers in major metropolitan cities.
economic organisational model designed to empower z Initiated the foundation of a self-sustaining
small producers through collective action. system of village cooperatives.
€ This approach fosters integration among producers, € Phase II (1981-1985):

enabling economies of scale while preserving z Increased milksheds from 18 to 136 and expanded
individual autonomy in decision-making. outlets to 290 urban markets.
¾ Amul’s success story garnered international attention, z Established a self-sustaining system of 43,000
becoming a case study in cooperative economics and village cooperatives, covering 4.25 million milk
rural development. producers.
¾ Amul played a pivotal role in India’s White Revolution, z Significantly increased domestic milk powder

which aimed to increase milk production and make production, promoting self-reliance.
India self-sufficient in milk. € Phase III (1985-1996):

€ Amul spearheaded the White Revolution in India, z Enabled dairy cooperatives to expand and

starting with the introduction of milk powder strengthen infrastructure for procuring and
manufacturing in 1955. marketing milk.

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zEmphasised veterinary healthcare services, ¾ National Programme for Dairy Development.

feed, and artificial insemination. ¾ Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana
z Added 30,000 new dairy cooperatives and ¾ Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to Livestock Farmers
peaked milksheds to 173 in 1988-89. ¾ Rashtriya Gokul Mission
¾ Post-Operation Flood:
¾ National Livestock Mission
€ In 1991, India underwent liberalisation, privatisation
and globalisation reforms, allowing for private What are the Challenges Faced by the Indian
participation in various sectors, including dairy. Dairy Sector?
z Foreign equity of up to 51% was allowed in ¾ Low Milk Yield:
milk products, except for malted products. € Milk yield per animal in India is significantly lower
€ The initial phase saw the proliferation of unregulated than the global average. This can be attributed to
dairies, leading to concerns of adulterated and factors like poor quality feed and fodder, traditional
contaminated milk. cattle breeds, and lack of proper veterinary care.
€ The Milk and Milk Products Order (MMPO) was ¾ Issues in Milk Collection and Processing:
instituted in 1992 to regulate the sector and € Challenges in collection, pasteurization, and
introduce oversight. transportation of milk pose significant hurdles,
z MMPO is a regulatory order of the Government particularly in ensuring safe milk handling in
of India that regulates the production, supply, informal dairy setups.
and distribution of milk and milk products. The
¾ Adulteration Concerns:
MMPO was promulgated under the provisions
€ Adulteration of milk remains a persistent issue
of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
due to difficulties in quality control.
„ The order’s objective is to maintain and
increase the supply of milk and milk products. ¾ Profit Disparities:
€ Milk producers often receive low purchase prices
€ The industry witnessed significant growth in
processing capacity, primarily driven by large compared to market rates, leading to disparities in
private players. profit distribution within the value chain.
¾ Current Milk Production: ¾ Cattle Health Challenges:
€ India is the highest milk producer i.e., ranks first € Frequent outbreaks of diseases like Foot and

position in the world contributing twenty-four Mouth Disease, Black Quarter infection, and
percent of global milk production in the year Influenza significantly impact livestock health and
2021-22. lower productivity.
€ In the last 10 years, milk production increased by ¾ Limited Crossbreeding Success:
almost 60% and per capita milk availability has € Crossbreeding indigenous species with exotic
increased by about 40%. stocks to improve genetic potential has achieved
z The top 5 milk-producing states are Rajasthan, limited success.
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and
Andhra Pradesh.
Parliamentary Privileges and
€ The Indian dairy sector is growing by 6% per year
as compared to the global average of 2%. Related Cases
€ India’s Export of Dairy products was 67,572.99
Metric Ton (MT) to the world worth USD 284.65 Why in News?
Mn during the year 2022-23. Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) overturned a
25-year-old majority opinion in the P V Narasimha Rao
What are the Initiatives Related to the Dairy
v State (CBI/Spe) Case, 1998 also known as the JMM
Sector? (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) bribery case. The SC stated
¾ Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development that the bribery is not protected by parliamentary
Fund (AHIDF). privileges.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 21
¾ The previous ruling had stated that lawmakers z The Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption
who accepted bribes could not be prosecuted for Act, deals with ‘offence relating to public servant
corruption if they followed through with voting or being bribed’.
speaking in the House as agreed. € Therefore, the immunity provided under Articles
What was P V Narasimha Rao Case and Recent 105 and 194 of the Constitution does not extend
to cases of bribery.
Ruling of Supreme Court?
z This decision signifies a shift towards prioritising
¾ Case Background: accountability and integrity in governance over
€ In the 1993 P V Narasimha Rao case, certain stability alone, aiming to uphold the ideals of
members (MPs) of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha a responsible, responsive, and representative
(JMM) were accused of accepting bribes in exchange democracy in India.
for voting against a No-Confidence motion.
What are the Parliamentary Privileges?
€ This case highlighted allegations of corruption
within the parliamentary system, raising concerns ¾ About:
about the integrity of legislative processes and the € Parliamentary privileges are special rights,
accountability of elected representatives. immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the
¾ Court’s Observation in 1998 Case: members of the Parliament and their committees.
€ The Supreme Court’s ruling in 1998 established z These privileges are defined in Article 105 of

immunity for MPs (Members of Parliament) and the Indian Constitution.

Member of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from z Article 194 guarantees same privileges to the
prosecution in bribery cases as long as they fulfilled Members of Legislative Assemblies of states.
their end of the bargain. € Under these privileges, the members of Parliament
z The Supreme Court held that the bribe takers are exempted from any civil liability (but not
who cast their vote against the no-confidence criminal liability) for any statement made or act
motion were immune from criminal prosecution done in the course of their duties.
under Parliamentary Privilege (Article 105(2)). € Parliament has not made any special law to
€ This decision underscored the importance of exhaustively codify all the privileges. They are
stability in governance and the functioning of rather based on five sources:
parliamentary democracy. z Constitutional provisions
€ The court’s observation prioritised the smooth z Various laws made by Parliament
operation of the government over individual z Rules of both the Houses
accountability, suggesting that prosecuting
z Parliamentary conventions
lawmakers for bribery could potentially disrupt
z Judicial interpretations
the stability of the government.
¾ Court’s Observation in 2024 Case: ¾ Privileges of Individual Member:
€ Freedom of Speech in Parliament (Article 105(1))
€ The 7-Judge Constitution Bench overturned the
5-Judge Bench verdict of P.V. Narasimha Rao v. € Immunity to a Member from any proceedings in

State Case, 1998. any court in respect of anything said or any vote
z Wherein it was established that the Member
given by him in Parliament or any Committee
of Parliaments and Member of Legislative thereof [Article 105(2)].
Assemblies enjoyed immunity if they cast vote € Immunity to a person from proceedings in any

in the House after taking bribes for it. court in respect of the publication by or under
€ The SC emphasised the detrimental impact of
the authority of either House of Parliament of any
bribery on democratic principles and governance. report, paper, votes or proceedings (Article 105(2)).
€ Prohibition on the Courts to inquire into the
€ The court highlighted that accepting a bribe is a
separate criminal act, unrelated to the core duties validity of any proceedings in Parliament on the
of lawmakers within the Parliament or legislative ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure.
assembly. [Article 122(1)].

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Freedom from arrest of Members in civil cases

€ speech, immunity from arrest, and the right to
during the continuance of the meeting of the punish breaches of privilege.
House or of a Committee thereof and forty days € These privileges are outlined in the Constitution
before its commencement and forty days after Act, 1867 and the Parliament of Canada Act.
its conclusion (Section 135A of the Code of Civil ¾ Australia:
Procedure, 1908).
€ The Parliament of Australia follows similar principles,
¾ Collective Privilege of House: with privileges enshrined in its Constitution.
€ Right of the House to receive immediate intimation Members enjoy freedom of speech, immunity
of the arrest, detention, conviction, imprisonment from arrest, and the right to regulate their own
and release of a Member. proceedings.
€ Immunity from arrest and service of legal process
What is the Need to Codify Parliamentary
within the precincts of the House without obtaining
the permission of the Chairman/ Speaker. Privileges?
€ Protection of publication of the proceedings of a ¾ Need to Codify Parliamentary Privileges:
secret sitting of the House. € Clarity and Precision: Codification would provide

€ The evidence tendered before a Parliamentary a clear and precise definition of parliamentary
Committee and its report and proceedings cannot privileges. It would specify what constitutes a
be disclosed or published by anyone until these violation of privileges, eliminating any ambiguity.
have been laid on the Table of the House. z A statute would establish a precise threshold

€ Members or officers of the House cannot give beyond which no penalty may be meted out
evidence or produce in courts of law, documents for privilege violations.
relating to the proceedings of the House without € Enhanced Accountability: Clearer guidelines
the permission of the House. for parliamentary privilege would facilitate
better accountability mechanisms, enabling
Note:
parliamentarians to exercise their privileges
¾ The Supreme Court in the State of Kerala Vs. K.
responsibly while also subjecting them to
Ajith Case, 2021, observed, that “privileges and
appropriate scrutiny and oversight.
immunities are not gateways to claim exemptions
€ Modernization and Adaptation: Codifying
from the general law of the land, particularly as
parliamentary privilege would provide an
case of, the criminal law which governs the action
opportunity to update and modernize existing laws
of every citizen.”
to reflect contemporary governance practices and
¾ In July 2021, the Supreme Court rejected the Kerala
societal norms, ensuring that legislative privileges
government’s plea to withdraw criminal cases
remain relevant and effective in a rapidly evolving
against its MLAs who were charged in the assembly.
political landscape.
What are the International Practices Regarding € Checks and Balances: Codification would introduce

Parliamentary Privileges? checks and balances on privileges, preventing their

misuse. It would curb unnecessary curtailment
¾ The United Kingdom:
of press freedom.
€ The Parliament at Westminster enjoys similar
¾ Need not to Codify Parliamentary Privileges:
privileges, including freedom of speech, immunity
€ Risk of Encroachment on Parliamentary Autonomy:
from arrest, and the right to regulate its own
proceedings. Codifying parliamentary privilege could potentially
lead to encroachments on the autonomy of the
€ These privileges are established through a
legislature by subjecting parliamentary affairs to
combination of statute, common law, and precedent.
greater judicial scrutiny or government intervention.
¾ Canada:
€ Against Constitutional Mandate: Article 122 deals
€ The Parliament of Canada also has established
with the restrictions on courts not to inquire
privileges for its members, including freedom of into proceedings of Parliament. It further states

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 23
the following: The validity of any proceedings in owned, controlled and run by and for their members
Parliament shall not be called in question on the to realise their common economic, social, and cultural
ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure. needs and aspirations.
€ Loss of Flexibility: Codification may restrict the € India has one of the world’s largest cooperative
flexibility of parliamentary privilege, making it networks, with over 800,000 cooperatives spread
challenging to adapt to unforeseen circumstances across various sectors like agriculture, credit, dairy,
or changing political dynamics that may require housing, and fisheries.
a more nuanced approach to legislative affairs. ¾ Evolution of Cooperative Sector in India:
€ Complexity and Lengthy Process: The process € First Five-Year Plan (1951-56): Highlighted the
of codifying parliamentary privilege could be promotion of cooperatives for comprehensive
complex and time-consuming, requiring extensive community development.
deliberation and consensus-building among € Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002:
stakeholders, including legislators, legal experts, Provides for the formation and functioning of
and civil society organizations. multi-state co-operatives.
€ 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011:

India’s Cooperative Sector Established the right to form cooperative societies

as a fundamental right (Article 19).
Why in News? z Introduced a new Directive Principle of State
Policy on Cooperative Societies (Article 43-B).
Recently, the Indian Prime Minister inaugurated the
z Added a new Part IX-B to the Constitution titled
pilot project of World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan, which
is currently launched in 11 Primary Agricultural Credit “The Co-operative Societies” (Articles 243-ZH
Societies (PACS) across 11 states. to 243-ZT).
z Empowered Parliament to enact laws governing
¾ It marks a significant development in the cooperative
multi-state cooperative societies (MSCS) and
sector.
delegated authority to state legislatures for
What are the Features of the Grain Storage other cooperative societies.
Plan? € Establishment of Union Ministry of Cooperation

¾ About: The Grain Storage Plan aims to establish 700 (2021): Assumed responsibility for cooperative
lakh tonnes of storage capacity over the next 5 years, affairs, previously overseen by the Ministry of
with an investment of ₹1.25 lakh crore. Agriculture.
€ Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment)
€ This involves creating agricultural infrastructure at
the PACS level, including decentralised godowns, Act, 2022: It aims to enhance regulation for multi-
custom hiring centres, processing units, Fair Price state cooperative societies.
Shops, etc., by integrating various existing schemes z Introduces the Co-operative Election Authority

of the Government of India. to oversee board elections in multi-state co-

operative societies.
¾ Expected Outcomes: Enabling farmers to store their
z Requires multi-state co-operative societies to
produce at PACS godowns, offering bridge finance
for the next crop cycle or selling at MSP to avoid obtain government permission before redeeming
distress sales. their shareholding.
z Calls for the establishment of a Co-operative
€ Increased grain storage reduces post-harvest
losses, improving farmer earnings and ensuring Re h a b i l i tat i o n , Re co n st r u c t i o n , a n d
food security at the grassroots level, benefiting Development Fund, funded by profitable
consumers. multi-state co-operative societies, to revive
struggling ones.
What is the Status of the Cooperative Sector in z Permits state co-operative societies to merge
India? into existing multi-state co-operative societies,
¾ About: Cooperatives are people-centred enterprises subject to state laws.

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¾ Examples of Cooperatives in India: €Limited Infrastructure: Lack of proper storage

€ Primary Agricultural Credit Societies: They are facilities, processing units, and market linkages
the grass root level arms of the short-term co- hinder the growth and competitiveness of small
operative credit structure. cooperatives, particularly in rural areas.
z It serves as the final link between the ultimate
¾ Social and Cultural Factors:
borrowers (farmers) on the one hand and the € Low Awareness and Participation: Lack of

higher financing agencies, namely the Scheduled awareness about the cooperative model and its
Commercial Banks, and the RBI/NABARD on benefits among potential members limits their
the other hand. participation.
€ Social Inequalities: In some cases, social hierarchies
€ AMUL (Anand Milk Union Limited): A dairy giant
and a pioneer in India’s White Revolution, AMUL and caste-based divisions create barriers for
is a federation of millions of milk producers in equitable participation and representation within
Gujarat. Its success transformed India into the cooperatives.
world’s largest milk producer. What Measures can be taken to Enhance the
€ IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative): One Cooperative Sector in India?
of the world’s largest fertiliser cooperatives, IFFCO ¾ Infrastructure Development: There is a need for greater
plays a significant role in providing quality fertilisers investment in the development of infrastructure such
and agricultural inputs to farmers across India. as warehouses, cold storage facilities, and processing
€ HOPCOMS (Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative units to strengthen value chains and enhance market
Marketing and Processing Society): Well-known access for cooperative products.
for its network of farm produce outlets, ensuring € Also, there is a need to promote the adoption of
fair returns for farmers. technology and digitalization to improve efficiency
€ Lijjat Papad (Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad): in cooperative operations and management.
An inspiring women’s cooperative empowering ¾ Cooperatives as Innovation Hubs: Shifting the
women through papad (Indian lentil cracker) perception of cooperatives away from merely traditional
production and rural, to hubs of experimentation and innovation.
Note: The Supreme Court in the Bengal Secretariat € Also, there is a need to highlight cooperatives

Cooperative Society vs Aloke Kumar case proposed to working with cutting-edge agricultural techniques
empower the Parliament in respect of multi-state co- and focusing on renewable energy.
operative societies and the State Legislatures in case ¾ Cooperative “Influencers”: Identifying and nurturing
of state co-operative societies to make appropriate law. young, tech-savvy cooperative members to be
advocates and thought leaders, changing the image
What are the Major Challenges Faced by of cooperatives through social media and online
Cooperatives in India? platforms.
¾ Governance and Management Issues: ¾ Cooperative Acceleration Zones: Designating specific
€ Limited Professionalism: Many cooperatives lack
geographic areas as cooperative acceleration zones
professional management structures, leading to where regulations are temporarily relaxed and
inefficient operations and decision-making. incentives are given to encourage diverse cooperative
experimentation with new business models.
€ Political Interference: Political interference in
¾ Cooperative-led Tourism Initiatives: Developing
the functioning of cooperatives undermine their
cooperative-run eco-tourism and community-based
autonomy and impact their ability to serve members’
tourism initiatives in rural areas, allowing travelers to
interests effectively.
experience local culture, traditions, and livelihoods.
¾ Capital and Resource Constraints:
€ Empowering local communities to manage tourism
€ Inadequate Funding: Cooperatives often struggle activities collectively, generating income, preserving
to access sufficient capital for expansion, natural resources, and promoting sustainable
modernization, and development of new ventures. development.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 25
z Out of the total, 12 are directly nominated by
Rajya Sabha Elections the President from the fields of art, literature,
science, Social service.
Why in News? z Rajya Sabha seats are distributed among states
The Rajya Sabha elections in the States of Uttar based on their population. For example, Uttar
Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka witnessed Pradesh has a quota of 31 Rajya Sabha seats
cross-voting by MLAs (Mmeber of Legislative Assembly) while Goa has just one.
belonging to different parties. This has once again raised € Indirect Election System: The Members of the
concerns about the sanctity of the election process. state legislative assemblies choose Rajya Sabha
How are Rajya Sabha Elections Held? members through an indirect election system of
proportional representation by means of a Single
¾ Background:
Transferable Vote (STV).
€ As per Article 80 of the Constitution, representatives
z In this system, the voting power of each MLA
of each State to the Rajya Sabha are elected
indirectly by the elected members of their is determined by the population of their
Legislative Assembly. respective constituencies.
€ The polls for Rajya Sabha will be required only if
€ Quotas: To be elected, a candidate must secure a
the number of candidates exceed the number specific number of votes known as quotas. The
of vacancies. quota is determined by dividing the total valid
€ Till 1998, the outcome of Rajya Sabha elections
votes by the number of seats available plus one.
was usually a foregone conclusion, the parties z In states with multiple seats, the initial quota is

with a majority in the state assembly often had calculated by multiplying the number of MLAs
their candidates win unopposed due to a lack of by 100, as each MLA’s vote is valued at 100.
competition. € Preferences and Surplus: When filling out the
z However, the June 1998 Rajya Sabha elections ballot paper with names of candidates from
in Maharashtra witnessed cross-voting that various parties, MLAs rank their preferences
resulted in the loss of a Congress party against each candidate — with 1 indicating the
candidate. top preference (the first preferential vote), 2 for
¾ Amendment to the Representation of the People the next, and so forth.
Act, 1951: z If a candidate receives enough first preferential
€ In order to rein in the MLAs from such cross-voting, votes to meet or exceed the quota, they are
an amendment to the Representation of the People elected.
Act, 1951 was carried out in 2003. z If a winning candidate has surplus votes, those
z Section 59 of the Act was amended to provide votes are transferred to their second choice
that the voting in elections to Rajya Sabha shall (marked as number 2). If multiple candidates have
be through an open ballot. surpluses, the largest surplus is transferred first.
€ The MLAs of political parties are required to € Elimination of Fewer Votes: To prevent wasted
show their ballot paper to the authorised agent votes, if the required number of candidates are
of their Party. not elected after surplus transfers, the candidate
€ Not showing the ballot paper to the authorised with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their
agent or showing it to anyone else will disqualify unexhausted ballot papers are redistributed among
the vote. the remaining candidates.
€ Independent MLAs are barred from showing their z An “exhausted paper” refers to a ballot paper
ballots to anyone. with no further preferences recorded for
¾ Process of Election in Rajya Sabha: continuing candidates.
€ Seat Allocation: The Rajya Sabha has a strength z This process of surplus vote transfers and
of 250 members representing States and Union eliminations continues until enough candidates
Territories including Delhi and Puducherry. reach the quota to fill all available seats.

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26 CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m

Note: This instruction regarding voting is usually issued

€
by the party whip.
Shailesh Manubhai Parmar v Election ¾ Applicability of Tenth Schedule:
Commission of India Case, 2018: € However, the Election Commission clarified in July
¾ SC denied the None Of The Above (NOTA) option 2017 that the provisions of the Tenth Schedule,
to the electors in the Rajya Sabha election. including the anti-defection law, are not applicable
¾ The SC stated that making NOTA applicable in Rajya to Rajya Sabha elections.
Sabha elections is contrary to Article 80(4) of the € Therefore, political parties cannot issue any whip
constitution. to their members for Rajya Sabha elections, and
€ Article 80(4) states that the representatives of each members are not bound by party instructions in
state in the Council of States shall be elected by these elections.
the elected members of the legislative assembly What is Cross Voting?
of the state in accordance with the system of
proportional representation by means of the ¾ Background:
single transferable vote. € Rajendra Prasad Jain won a seat in Bihar through
cross-voting by Congress MLAs (in exchange for
JMM bribery case, 1998: bribes) later, Jain’s election was declared void by
¾ The SC had to interpret the provisions of Article the Supreme Court in 1967.
105(2) of the Constitution, which provides immunity ¾ About Cross Voting:
to lawmakers for their speech and votes in Parliament € Cross voting refers to a situation in which a member
or any committee thereof. of a legislative body, such as a Member of Parliament
€ The Supreme Court, laid down in the JMM bribery or a Member of a Legislative Assembly, belonging
case judgment of 1998, that lawmakers who to one political party, votes for a candidate or a
took bribes were immune from prosecution for party other than their own during an election or
corruption if they go ahead and vote or speak any other voting process.
in the House as agreed. € In the context of Rajya Sabha elections in India,
¾ In March 2024, a Seven-judge Bench overruled the cross voting can occur when members of a political
judgment by a five-judge Bench in a 25-year-old party vote for candidates from other parties instead
JMM bribery case, declaring that parliamentary of the candidates nominated by their own party.
privilege or immunity will not protect legislators who € This can happen due to various reasons, including
take bribes to vote or speak in Parliament or State disagreement with the party’s candidate selection,
Legislative Assemblies from criminal prosecution. inducements or pressures from other parties,
€ Privileges and immunities are not gateways to personal relationships with candidates from other
claim exemptions from the general law of the land. parties, or ideological differences.
Does Anti-Defection Law Apply to Rajya Sabha What are the Implications of Cross Voting?
Elections? ¾ Negative Implications:
¾ Tenth Schedule and “Anti-Defection” Law: € Undermining Representation: Cross-voting can

€ The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, introduced undermine the representation of the electorate.
by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act in z MLAs are expected to vote in alignment with the
1985, contains provisions related to the “anti- party’s interests or the will of their constituents.
defection” law. When they deviate from this, it can lead to the
€ It states that a member of Parliament or a election of candidates who may not have the
state legislature who voluntarily gives up the support of the majority.
membership of their political party or votes € Corruption: Cross-voting often occurs due to bribery
against the instructions of their party is liable for or other corrupt practices, as illustrated in the
disqualification from the House. example of Rajendra Prasad Jain’s election. This

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 27
undermines the integrity of the electoral process €However, in the same case the court held that an
and erodes public trust in democracy. elected MLA of a political party would not face
z Jain won a seat in Bihar through cross-voting disqualification under the Tenth Schedule for
by Congress MLAs (in exchange for bribes) voting against their party candidate.
later Jain’s election was declared void by the € He/she may at the most attract disciplinary action
Supreme Court in 1967. from their political party.
€ Party Discipline: Cross-voting reflects a lack of ¾ Ravi S. Naik and Sanjay Bandekar vs. Union of India,
party discipline, indicating internal divisions within 1994:
political parties. It weakens party cohesion and € The SC held that voluntarily giving up membership
stability, making it difficult for parties to pursue under the Tenth Schedule is not synonymous with
coherent policy agendas.
only formally resigning from the party to which
€ Democratic Values: Cross-voting goes against the member belongs.
the democratic principle of accountability, where
€ The conduct of a member both inside and outside
representatives are expected to uphold the interests
the house can be looked into to infer if it qualifies
of their constituents and the broader public good.
as voluntarily giving up membership.
It prioritizes personal gain or party politics over
democratic principles.
¾ Potential Positive Implications: Karnataka’s Temple Tax
€ Independence: Cross-voting can signal a degree
Amendment Bill
of independence among elected representatives,
allowing them to vote according to their conscience Why in News?
or the interests of their constituents rather than
strict party lines. The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and
Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was
z This can lead to more nuanced decision-making
passed by the State Legislative Assembly and then the
and representation.
Council, it will now be sent to the Governor for approval.
€ Checks and Balances: Cross-voting, if driven by
€ The Bill was meant to amend multiple provisions
genuine differences in opinion or ideology, can
serve as a check on the dominance of a single in the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and
party or faction within the legislative body. Charitable Endowments Act (KHRI&CE), 1997.
z It can prevent the concentration of power What are the Key Highlights of the Bill?
and promote greater balance and diversity of
¾ Alteration of Taxation System:
viewpoints.
€ The Bill, aimed to alter the taxation of Hindu
€ Accountability: In some cases, cross-voting may
temples.
reflect dissatisfaction with party leadership or
€ It proposed diverting 10% of gross income from
policies, forcing parties to introspect and address
internal grievances. This can ultimately lead to temples making over Rs 1 crore annually to a
greater accountability and responsiveness to the common pool for temple maintenance.
electorate. z Previously, the allocation was 10% of the net
income for temples earning over Rs 10 lakh
What are SC’s Ruling Related to the Tenth annually.
Schedule and Rajya Sabha Election?
z Net income is calculated based on the profits of
¾ Kuldip Nayar vs. Union of India, 2006: the temple after accounting for its expenses,
€ The Supreme Court (SC) upheld the system of whereas gross income simply refers to the total
open ballot for Rajya Sabha elections. amount of money the temple makes.
€ It reasoned that if secrecy becomes a source for € The Bill also suggested allocating 5% of income
corruption, then transparency has the capacity from temples earning between Rs 10 lakh and Rs
to remove it. 1 crore to the common pool.

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28 CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m

€These changes would have generated an additional ¾ Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the
Rs 60 crore from 87 temples with incomes over Rs potential violation of rights guaranteed under Article 26.
1 crore and 311 temples with income exceeding € Article 26 grants religious denominations autonomy
Rs 10 lakh. to manage their religious affairs and establish
¾ Utilisation of Common Fund: institutions for religious and charitable purposes.
€ The common fund may be utilised for purposes ¾ It is feared that the bill will lead to corruption and
including religious studies and propagation, temple mismanagement of temple funds and assets by the
maintenance, and other charitable causes. government-appointed Rajya Dharmika Parishath.
€ The common fund pool was created in 2011, by
¾ It garnered criticism from the opposition, alleging
amending the 1997 Act. governmental overreach and financial exploitation
¾ Composition of Committee of Management: of temples.
€ The Bill suggested adding a member skilled in
Temple Revenue Handling in Other States
Vishwakarma Hindu temple architecture and
sculpture to the “committee of management” of ¾ Telangana’s Model:
temples and religious institutions. € Telangana follows a system akin to Karnataka’s,

z Under Section 25 of the KHRI& CE 1997 Act, where a “Common Good Fund” is created under
temples and religious institutions are required to Section 70 of the Telangana Charitable and
form a “committee of management” consisting Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments
of nine people, including a priest, at least one Act, 1987.
member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled € Temples earning more than Rs 50,000 annually
Tribe, two women, and one member of the are mandated to contribute 1.5% of their income
locality of the institution. to the state government.
¾ Rajya Dharmika Parishat: z These funds are utilized for temple maintenance,
€ The Bill empowered the Rajya Dharmika Parishat renovations, veda-pathasalas (religious
to appoint committee chairpersons and handle schools), and establishing new temples.
religious disputes, temple statuses, and trustee ¾ Kerala’s System:
appointments. Additionally, it mandated the
€ Kerala employs a distinct approach where
creation of district and state committees to oversee
temples are predominantly managed by state-
infrastructure projects for temples earning over
run Devaswom (temple) Boards.
Rs 25 lakh annually.
z The state has five autonomous Devswom
What are the Concerns Regarding the Bill? Boards overseeing over 3,000 temples, with
¾ The Bill may also be challenged on the grounds of board members typically appointed by the
discrimination, as it applies only to Hindu temples, ruling government, often politicians.
and not to other religious institutions. z Each Devswom Board operates with a budget
€ The Bill may also face scrutiny under Article 14 of allocated by the state government and
the Constitution, which guarantees equality before isn’t obliged to disclose revenue figures.
the law and equal protection of the laws, and Separate laws govern the administration
prohibits arbitrary and unreasonable state action. and management of temples under each
¾ Critics argued that such interference could potentially Devswom board, except for Travancore and
infringe on the constitutional rights granted under Cochin, which are governed by a shared
Article 25. Act(Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious
€ Article 25 ensures individuals’ freedom to profess, Institutions Act, 1950).
practice, and propagate religion, subject to public What is the Historical Background of State
order, morality, and health.
Regulation of Temples?
z Article 25(2) (a) empowers the State to regulate
or restrict those activities of any religious ¾ The British government’s Religious Endowments Act
practice which are economic, political, financial of 1863 aimed to secularize temple management by
in nature or any other activity which is secular. transferring control to local committees.

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¾ In 1927, the Justice Party enacted the Madras Hindu ¾ Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC):
Religious Endowments Act, marking one of the earliest € The SGPC is a Sikh-led committee that manages
efforts by an elected government to regulate temples. Sikh Gurdwaras in India and abroad.
¾ In 1950, the Law Commission of India recommended z SGPC is directly elected through election by the
legislation to prevent misuse of temple funds, leading to Sikh sangat i.e. Sikh male and female voters above
the enactment of the The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious 18 years of age who are registered as voters
and Charitable Endowments (TN HR&CE) Act, 1951. under the provisions of the Sikh Gurdwaras
€ It provides for the creation of a Department of
Act, 1925.
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments for ¾ Waqf Act of 1954:
the administration, protection, and preservation € The Waqf Act of 1954 established the Central Waqf

of temples and their properties. Council, which advises the Central Government
¾ The TN HR&CE Act was enacted, but its constitutional
on the administration of Auqaf (assets that are
donated) and the working of state Waqf Boards.
validity was challenged before the Supreme Court.
z State Waqf Boards exercises control over
In the landmark Shirur Mutt case (1954), the Court
upheld the overall law, though it struck down some mosques, graveyards and religious waqfs in
provisions. A revised TN HR&CE Act was legislated their state. The primary function of Wakf Board
is to ensure its properties and revenue are
in 1959.
appropriately managed and utilized.
How are other Religious Institutions Managed „ Waqf is a permanent dedication of movable
in India? or immovable properties for religious, pious
or charitable purposes as recognized by
¾ The Places of Worship Act, 1991:
Muslim Law.
€ It was enacted to freeze the status of religious
places of worship as they existed on 15th August
1947, and prohibits the conversion of any place Repealing of Assam Muslim
of worship and ensures the maintenance of their Marriage Act
religious character.
z The Act excludes ancient and historical Why in News?
monuments, archaeological sites, and remains Recently, the Assam Government approved Assam
governed by the Ancient Monuments and Repealing Ordinance 2024, repealing the Assam Muslim
Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Marriage and Divorce Registration Act of 1935.
z It also doesn’t cover settled cases, resolved ¾ Following the decision, Muslim marriage or divorce
d i s p u te s , o r c o nve rs i o n s b e fo re i t s registration can happen only through the Special
implementation. Specifically, the Act doesn’t Marriage Act, 1954.
apply to the place of worship known as Ram
What is the Assam Muslim Marriage and
Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid in Ayodhya,
including associated legal proceedings. Divorce Registration Act, 1935?
¾ Constitution of India: ¾ The Act is in line with the Muslim Personal Law,
enacted in 1935. The Act lays down the process for
€ The constitution under Article 26 states that
registration of Muslim marriages and divorces.
religious groups have the right to establish and
¾ A 2010 amendment replaced the word ‘voluntary’ in
maintain institutions for religious and charitable
the original Act with ‘compulsory’, making registration
purposes, manage their own affairs in religious
of Muslim marriages and divorces compulsory in the
matters, and own, acquire, and administer property.
state of Assam.
€ Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and other religious
¾ The Act authorises the state to grant licences to
denominations utilize these constitutional “any person, being a Muslim” to register marriages
guarantees to the fullest and manage their and divorces, with Muslim registrars deemed to be
institutions. public servants.

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¾ It lays down the process through which marriage and € Concerns were raised about the implications
divorce applications can be made to the registrar, and of complete repeal, including the likelihood of
the process for their registration. increased instances of unregistered marriages.
What are the Reasons Behind the Repealing of Why has the Muslim Personal Law been in the
Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Public Eye in Recent Years?
Registration Act of 1935? ¾ Legal Reform and Judicial Intervention:
¾ Alignment with Contemporary Norms: € There have been significant legal reforms and
€ The Act was viewed as outdated and not in line judicial interventions in matters related to Muslim
with modern societal norms. It allowed for the personal law.
registration of marriages if the bride and groom z Landmark cases such as the Triple Talaq case
had not reached the legal marriageable age of 18 (Shayara Bano v. Union of India) in 2017 and
and 21, respectively, which contradicted current subsequent cases have brought issues like
legal standards regarding marriageable age. instant divorce, polygamy, and women’s rights
¾ Crackdown on Child Marriage: in Muslim marriages into the spotlight.
€ The government-linked this decision to its ongoing € These cases have prompted debates on the need
efforts to combat child marriage. By repealing the for reform within Muslim personal law to align
Act, which contained provisions allowing underage with constitutional principles of equality and justice.
marriages to be registered, the government aims ¾ Gender Justice and Women’s Rights:
to eradicate child marriage in Assam.
€ Concerns about gender justice and women’s
¾ Informal and Misuse of Authority: rights within Muslim personal law have gained
€ The act provided an informal mechanism for prominence.
marriage registration, which led to potential z Debates focus on issues such as triple talaq,
misuse by kazis (government-registered officials which allows husbands to instantly divorce
responsible for conducting marriages). their wives without legal proceedings, and
€ There were allegations of underage marriages and the practice of nikah halala, where a woman
divorces being facilitated without proper grounds, must marry and divorce another man before
highlighting the need for reform. remarrying her former husband.
¾ Move towards Uniform Civil Code (UCC): € These practices have faced criticism for being
€ The decision to repeal the Act is also seen as a discriminatory and unjust towards women.
step towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code ¾ Societal Change and Activism:
(UCC) in Assam, similar to the recent move by
€ Changing societal attitudes and increased activism
Uttarakhand.
around gender equality have contributed to greater
€ The government aims to streamline marriage laws
scrutiny of Muslim personal law.
across different communities and bring them under
€ Women’s rights activists, scholars, and civil society
a common legal framework.
organizations have advocated for reforms within
What are the Arguments Against the Repeal of Muslim personal law to ensure gender equality
the Act? and protection of women’s rights in matters of
€ The Act provided a simple and decentralised marriage, divorce, maintenance, and inheritance.
process for marriage registration (with 94 kazis ¾ Political Dynamics:
spread across the state), whereas, there are € Muslim personal law has also become a political
complexities of the Special Marriage Act, which issue, with various political parties and interest
may deter some individuals, particularly the poor groups taking positions on matters such as triple
and illiterate, from registering their marriages. talaq and uniform civil code.
€ The Act faced criticism and legal challenges from € Debates around these issues often intersect with
various quarters, including advocates and political broader political agendas, leading to heightened
parties. public attention and discourse.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 31
¾ Constitutional Principles: €When it came to distinguishing between laws
€ There is a growing recognition of the need to uphold made for the Hindus and those for the Muslims,
constitutional principles of equality, justice, and they laid out the statement that “clear proof of
non-discrimination in matters of personal law. usage will outweigh the written text of the law”
€ Calls for reform within Muslim personal law are in the case of Hindus. For the Muslims on the
often framed within the context of constitutional other hand, the writings in the Quran would be
rights and the need to ensure equal treatment for of foremost importance.
all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation. € Since 1937 therefore, the Shariat Application Act
mandates aspects of Muslim social life such as
What is Muslim Personal Law?
marriage, divorce, inheritance and family relations.
¾ About:
€ The Act lays out that in matters of personal dispute
€ Muslim Personal Law refers to the body of laws
the state shall not interfere.
that govern the personal matters of individuals
¾ Personal Laws in Other Religions:
who adhere to the Islamic faith.
€ The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 which lays out
€ These laws cover various aspects of personal life,
guidelines for property inheritance among Hindus,
including marriage, divorce, inheritance, and
family relationships, among others. Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs.
€ The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 lays
€ Muslim Personal Law is derived primarily from
the Quran, the Hadith (sayings and actions of the out rules to be followed by the Parsis according
Prophet Muhammad), and Islamic jurisprudence. to their religious traditions.
¾ Issues with Muslim Personal Laws: € The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 had codified laws

€ According to Sharia or the Muslim personal law,

related to marriage among Hindus.
men are allowed to practice polygamy that is,
they can have more than one wife at the same NITI Aayog GROW Report
time, up to a total of four.
€ ‘Nikah halala’ is a process in which a Muslim
and Portal
woman has to marry another person and get
divorced from him before being allowed to marry Why in News?
her divorced husband again. Recently, the Greening and Restoration of Wasteland
€ A Muslim man can divorce his wife by uttering with Agroforestry (GROW) report and portal was
Talaq once for three months. This practice is called launched by NITI Aayog (National Institution for
Talaq-e-Hasan. Transforming India).
z “Triple talaq” allows a husband to divorce his
What are the Key Highlights of the GROW
wife by repeating the word “talaq” (divorce)
three times in any form, including email or
Report?
text message. ¾ GROW Report Objective:
z In Islam, talaq and khula are two terms for € The GROW report aims to facilitate restoration
divorce for men and women respectively. A man projects for achieving national commitments of
can part ways through ‘talaq’ while a woman Land Degradation Neutrality and restoring 26
can separate with her husband through ‘Khula’. million hectares of degraded land by 2030, as
¾ Application in India: well as creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5
€ The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Act was passed in 1937 with the aim to formulate ¾ Extent of Wastelands in India:
an Islamic law code for Indian Muslims. € The report highlights that India possesses
€ The British who were at this point in time governing approximately 55.76 million hectares of
India, were trying to ensure that Indians were ruled wastelands, comprising 16.96% of the total
according to their own cultural norms. geographical area (TGA) of the country.

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€ These degraded lands have suffered from reduced productivity and biodiversity due to various natural and human-
induced factors. However, the report suggests greening and restoring these wastelands through agroforestry.

¾ Agroforestry as a Solution: Policy of 2014, which aims to enhance productivity,

€ The report also underscores the potential benefits profitability, and sustainability through this agro
of converting underutilised areas, especially ecological land use system.
wastelands, for agroforestry. z This aligns with global commitments like the Paris
z Currently, agroforestry covers 8.65% of India’s Agreement, Bonn Challenge, UN Sustainable
total geographical area, totalling about 28.42 Development Goals, United Nations Convention
million hectares and about 6.18% and 4.91% of on Combating Desertification (UNCCD), Green
India’s land are highly and moderately suitable India Mission and more.
for agroforestry, respectively.
What is the GROW Portal?
z As per Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana ¾ The GROW portal is hosted on the Bhuvan platform,
are the top large-sized states for agroforestry ensuring universal access to state and district-level
suitability, while Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, data related to agroforestry suitability.
and Nagaland ranked highest among the € Through the portal, users can access detailed maps
medium-sized states. and assessments of agroforestry suitability across
€ The report identifies the policy and institutional different regions of India.
support required for scaling up agroforestry ¾ The portal utilises thematic datasets derived from
interventions in wastelands. remote sensing and Geographic Information System
¾ Policy Framework: (GIS) technology, offering comprehensive information
€ The report emphasises India’s National Agroforestry on factors influencing agroforestry suitability.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 33
¾ One of the key features of the portal is the Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI), which provides a standardised
index for prioritising agroforestry interventions at the national level.
¾ The portal offers insights into the current extent of agroforestry in India, highlighting its geographical spread and
total coverage.

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What is Agroforestry? €As a follow- up to the policy, the Sub-Mission on

agroforestry (SMAF) under National Mission for
¾ About:
Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was launched in
€ Agroforestry is a land use management system
2016-17 to encourage and expand tree plantation
that combines trees and shrubs with crops and
on farmland, with the motto of “Har Medh Par
livestock. It combines agricultural and forestry
Ped”, along with crops/ cropping system.
technologies to create more sustainable land-use
¾ Impacts of Agroforestry:
systems.
€ Economic Impact:
€ Agroforestry has been an integral part of Indian
agriculture, fulfilling diverse needs such as wood z Agroforestry systems demonstrate positive yield

demand, fuelwood, fodder, and subsistence growth for fruits, timber, and crops, contributing
requirements. to enhanced agricultural productivity.
€ Agroforestry is practised by both small and marginal z Agroforestry proves economically viable, offering

farmers in rainfed conditions and large farmers additional income streams from diversified
under irrigated conditions, albeit with variations livelihood sources, including timber, fuelwood,
in adoption rates. and fodder.
¾ Evolution of Agroforestry Policies and Initiatives: ¾ Social Impact:

€ The initiation of All India Coordinated Research z Agroforestry systems, particularly those

Project (AICRP) on Agroforestry in 1983 marked the emphasizing fruit crops, contribute to improved
formal integration of agroforestry into agricultural nutrition and health status among communities.
and forestry research agendas. z While women’s participation in agroforestry is

€ Major policy initiatives in India, such as the National significant, there’s a need for further research
Forest Policy 1988, the National Agriculture Policy to understand the impact of agroforestry on
2000, National Bamboo Mission 2002, National gender dynamics and women’s empowerment.
Policy on Farmers 2007, and Green India Mission € Environmental Impact:

2010, have consistently highlighted the importance z Agroforestry enhances soil fertility, nutrient
of agroforestry. cycling, and soil organic carbon, contributing
€ Agroforestry gained momentum after India adopted to sustainable land management practices.
the National Agroforestry Policy (NAP) 2014. z Agroforestry systems improve water-use

z The NAP is a policy framework that aims to efficiency, mitigate soil erosion, and contribute
improve agricultural livelihoods by integrating to watershed management and conservation
trees, crops, and livestock into the same plot of efforts.
land. The policy was launched in February 2014 z Agroforestry serves as a significant source of
during the World Congress on Agroforestry, biomass energy while also sequestering carbon,
held in Delhi. aiding in climate change mitigation efforts.
z India became the first country in the world to z Agroforestry promotes biodiversity conservation
adopt a comprehensive agroforestry policy by providing habitat, supporting species
in 2014. movement, and reducing deforestation rates.
nnn

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Economic Scenario

Highlights
z Comprehensive Framework for a Regulatory Sandbox z Penicillin G and PLI Scheme
z National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation z Coal Logistics Plan and Policy
Limited z Market Monopoly and Anti-Competitive Practices
z BioCNG Production from Dung z Thailand’s Concern over India’s Agriculture Subsidy
z Unemployment in India z Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23
z Initiatives to Promote Sustainable Agriculture z UAE’s Exit from FATF Grey List
z Local Currency Trade between India-Indonesia
z Government Proposes Higher Reporting Limits for Ministry
Expenditure

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36 CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m

It can provide a structured avenue for the regulator

€
Comprehensive Framework to engage with the ecosystem and to develop
innovation-enabling or innovation-responsive
for a Regulatory Sandbox regulations that facilitate delivery of relevant,
low-cost financial products.
Why in News?
¾ Target Applicants:
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised € Target Applicants for entry to the RS include
the timeline for the completion of various stages of a fintechs, banks, and companies partnering with or
Regulatory Sandbox (RS) to nine months from the providing support to financial services businesses,
previous seven months. among others.
¾ The updated framework for an RS also requires sandbox Adoption of Regulatory Sandboxes in India
entities to ensure compliance with provisions of the
¾ Fintech Focus: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
introduced the first regulatory sandbox program
What is the Regulatory Sandbox (RS)? in 2019.
¾ Background: € It facilitates live testing of innovative financial

€ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) set up an inter-

products and services in a controlled environment
under RBI supervision.
regulatory Working Group in 2016 to look into
and report on the granular aspects of FinTech ¾ Thematic Cohorts: The RBI sandbox operates on
and its implications so as to review the regulatory a thematic cohort basis. Each cohort focuses on
framework and respond to the dynamics of the a specific area like retail payments, cross-border
rapidly evolving FinTech scenario. transactions, or MSME lending.
€ Key Design Aspects of RS:
€ The report recommended introducing an appropriate
framework for a Regulatory Sandbox (RS) within z RS cohorts: Based on thematic cohorts

a well-defined space and duration where the focussing on financial inclusion, payments
financial sector regulator will provide the requisite and lending, digital KYC, etc.
regulatory guidance, to increase efficiency, manage z Regulatory relaxations: RBI may grant some

risks and create new opportunities for consumers. relaxations such as liquidity requirements,
¾ About: board composition, statutory restrictions etc.
€ A Regulatory Sandbox (RS) refers to live testing of z Exclusion from RS: Indicative negative list

new products or services in a controlled regulatory includes credit registry, cryptocurrency, initial
environment for which regulators may or may coin offerings etc.
not permit certain regulatory relaxations for the ¾ Telecom Sandbox: The government introduced
limited purpose of testing. a “Millennium Spectrum Regulatory Sandbox”
€ The RS is an important tool that enables more
initiative. This includes a Spectrum Regulatory
dynamic, evidence-based regulatory environments Sandbox (SRS) and Wireless Test Zones (WiTe Zones).
which learn from and evolve with, emerging € These initiatives aim to simplify regulations for

technologies. telecom R&D activities and explore new spectrum

bands for technological advancements.
€ It enables the regulator, financial service providers
and customers to conduct field tests to collect What are the Associated Benefits and
evidence on the benefits and risks of new financial Challenges Related to Regulatory Sandbox?
innovations while monitoring and containing
¾ Benefits:
their risks.
€ Regulatory Insights: Regulators can obtain first-
¾ Objectives:
hand empirical evidence on the benefits and risks
€ The objective of the RS is to foster responsible of emerging technologies and their implications,
innovation in financial services, promote efficiency enabling them to take a considered view on
and bring benefit to consumers. potential regulatory changes.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 37
Enhanced Understanding for Financial Providers:
€ and Development Corporation Limited (NUCFDC), an
Incumbent financial service providers might umbrella organisation for urban cooperative banks (UCB).
improve their understanding of how new financial ¾ NUCFDC has received Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s
technologies might work, potentially helping them approval to function as a non-banking finance
to appropriately integrate such new technologies company and a self-regulatory organisation for the
with their business plans. urban cooperative banking sector.
€ Cost-Effective Viability Testing: Users of an RS have
What are Urban Cooperative Banks?
the potential to test the product’s viability without
the need for a larger and more expensive roll-out. ¾ About: Cooperative banks are financial institutions
that are owned and operated by their members,
€ Financial Inclusion Potential: FinTechs provide
who are also the bank’s customers.
solutions that can potentially further financial
€ In order to support the financial needs of a
inclusion in a significant way.
community such as a village or a specific community,
€ Thrust Areas for Innovation: Areas that can
people come together to pool resources and provide
potentially get a thrust from the RS include
banking services such as loans.
microfinance, potentially innovative small savings,
z In India, they are registered under the Cooperative
remittances, mobile banking, and other digital
payments. Societies Act of the State concerned or the
Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
¾ Challenges:
€ Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) refers to primary
€ Flexibility and Time Constraints: Innovators may
cooperative banks located in urban and semi-
face challenges with flexibility and time during urban areas.
the sandbox process, potentially impacting their
¾ History:
ability to adapt and iterate quickly.
€ The urban cooperative banking movement in India
€ Case-by-Case Authorizations: Securing customised
originated at the end of the 19th century, influenced
authorizations and regulatory relaxations on an
by successful cooperative experiments in Britain
individual basis can be a lengthy process, often
and Germany.
involving subjective assessments, which may result
z The “Anyonya Sahakari Mandali” in the princely
in delays in experimentation.
State of Baroda is believed to be the earliest
€ Limitations on Legal Waivers: The RBI or its
mutual aid society in India.
Regulatory Sandbox cannot offer legal exemptions,
€ Also, the first urban cooperative credit society
which might limit innovators looking to reduce
was registered in Canjeevaram (Kanjivaram) in
legal risks while experimenting.
the erstwhile Madras province in October, 1904.
€ Post-Sandbox Regulatory Approvals: Even after
¾ Regulator: The Reserve Bank regulates the banking
successful sandbox testing, experimenters may
functions of Urban Cooperative Banks under the
still require regulatory approvals before their
provisions of Sections 22 and 23 of the Banking
product, services, or technology can be permitted
Regulation Act, 1949.
for wider application, potentially prolonging the
€ Also, State Cooperative Banks, District Central
time to market.
Cooperative Banks and Urban Cooperative Banks,
which are registered with Deposit Insurance and
National Urban Cooperative Credit Guarantee Corporation are insured.
Finance and Development ¾ Four Tier Structure:
€ In 2021 RBI appointed N. S. Vishwanathan
Corporation Limited committee that suggested a 4-tier structure for
the UCBs.
Why in News? z Tier 1 with all unit UCBs and salary earner’s UCBs
Recently, the Union Minister for Cooperation (irrespective of deposit size) and all other UCBs
inaugurated the National Urban Cooperative Finance having deposits up to Rs 100 crore.

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Tier 2 with UCBs of deposits between Rs 100

z €Tier 2 to 4 UCBs have to maintain a minimum
crore and Rs 1,000 crore, capital to risk weighted assets of 12% of RWAs
z Tier 3 with UCBs of deposits between Rs 1,000 on an ongoing basis.
crore and Rs 10,000 crore, and € UCBs with a minimum net worth of Rs.500 million

z Tier 4 with UCBs of deposits more than Rs and maintaining Capital to Risk (Weighted) Assets
10,000 crore. Ratio of 9% and above are eligible to apply for
¾ Minimum Capital and RWA: Tier 1 UCBs operating in voluntary transition to Small Finance Banks.
a single district should have a minimum net worth of ¾ Current Status: Currently, there are 1,514 UCBs
₹2 crore. For all other UCBs the minimum net worth in India, accounting for 11% of the total credit to
should be ₹5 crore. agriculture. The total deposit base of UCBs stands
€ Tier 1 UCBs have to maintain a minimum capital to
at ₹5.26 trillion.
risk weighted assets ratio of 9% of Risk Weighted
Assets (RWAs) on an ongoing basis.

Note: NABARD is entrusted with the responsibility vulnerable sectors contribute to high levels of NPAs,
for conduct of statutory inspections of State Cooperative impacting profitability and stability.
Banks, District Central Cooperative Banks and Regional ¾ Limited Technology Adoption: Limited technological
Rural Banks under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. infrastructure and digital capabilities hinder UCBs’
ability to offer modern banking services and compete
¾ The regulatory powers continue to be vested with
with larger commercial banks.
the Reserve Bank of India.
€ Inadequate investment in technology leads to
What are the Major Issues Related to the inefficiencies, operational risks, and difficulties in
UCBs? meeting evolving customer expectations.
¾ Fraud and Mismanagement: Instances of fraud,
¾ High Non-performing Assets: Non-performing
embezzlement, and mismanagement have been
assets (NPAs) remain a significant concern for UCBs
reported in several UCBs (like Urban Co-operative
(2.10%). Poor credit appraisal practices, inadequate
Bank, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh), eroding depositor
risk management frameworks, and exposure to
confidence and tarnishing the sector’s reputation.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 39
€ In the financial year 2022-23, RBI cancelled licences conversion into volatile fatty acids), acetogenesis
of 8 cooperative banks. (production of acetic acid, CO2 and hydrogen)
and methanogenesis (biogas generation).
BioCNG Production from € Biogas digesters reduce methane emissions from
animal waste, which can help mitigate greenhouse
Dung gas impact.
Why in News? z A single cow can emit between 150 to 260
Banaskantha District Co-operative Milk Producers’ pounds of methane per year. With over 1.5
Union, Gujarat are converting dung into Bio CNG billion cattle raised globally for meat and milk
(compressed natural gas) and fertiliser, supplementing production, the industry is responsible for an
farmers’ income. This initiative addresses waste estimated 14.5% of global human-caused
management while creating new revenue streams for greenhouse gas emissions.
dairy farmers.
¾ Biogas Purification and Compression:
¾ The BioCNG outlet on the Deesa-Tharad highway in
Gujarat’s Banaskantha district is a pioneering initiative, € Raw biogas is purified to remove CO2, H2S, and
being India’s first and only gas-filling station operating moisture through various processes.
on dung sourced from cattle and buffaloes. € The purified biogas, compressed to 96-97% methane,
How are Farmers Harnessing the Value of is stored and farmers sell it as BioCNG at Rs 72/kg.
Dung? ¾ Utilization of Slurry for Fertilizer Production:
¾ Dung Facts: € After biogas production, the slurry undergoes
€ An average adult bovine animal discharges 15-20 dewatering in a solid-liquid separator.
kg of fresh dung daily, while calves give out 5-10 kg. z The separated solid residue is decomposed
z A bovine refers to a domestic animal of the aerobically and sold as PROM (phosphate-rich
species Bos taurus (cattle) or Bubalus bubalis organic manure) by incorporating rock phosphate
(water buffalo).
and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria.
€ Fresh dung contains 80-85% water; one kg weighs
hardly 200 grams on drying. z Alternatively, the decomposed solid residue
can be used for compost production by adding
€ Fresh dung contains methane along with water,
making it essential for biogas production in neem and castor cake, sugarcane press mud,
anaerobic digestion (breaks down biodegradable and microbial consortia.
material without oxygen and produces biogas). z The liquid part is reused for mixing in the digester
z Methane, a key component of biogas, is produced or sold as liquid-fermented organic manure.
in the rumen of bovines (the first of four
¾ Scalability and Replicability:
stomach compartments in bovines) during the
fermentation of plant material they consume. € The BioCNG model is replicable and scalable,
z Bacteria-like microbes in the rumen, known as utilising dung from district member unions.
archaea, utilise carbon dioxide and hydrogen € Gujarat’s Kaira Union’s decentralised model
produced during carbohydrate fermentation involves installing Flexi Biogas plants, targeting
to generate methane. 10,000 installations.
¾ Biogas Production Process:
€ Individual farmers benefit from smaller Flexi
€ Fresh raw dung is mixed with water in equal
plants for personal use and potentially generate
quantities to form a slurry. The slurry undergoes
anaerobic digestion in a sealed vessel reactor additional income.
over 35 days. z Whether through large-scale BioCNG plants
z The digestion involves four successive stages: or smaller decentralized models, the potential
hydrolysis (break-down of organic matter for additional income from dung utilization is
into simple molecules), acidogenesis (their growing.

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Biogas:
¾ Biogas is a renewable energy source that’s produced when organic matter breaks down in the absence of oxygen.
This process is called anaerobic digestion.
¾ Biogas is also known as renewable natural gas (RNG) or biomethane. It’s made up of mostly methane (CH) and
carbon dioxide (CO2).

What are the Key Challenges that Need to be public-private partnerships, technology transfer,
Addressed? and capacity-building programs.
¾ Storage Systems for Biogas:
¾ Feedstock Management:
€ BioCNG needs to be stored and distributed efficiently
€ Ensuring a consistent supply and quality of organic
feedstock for animals. to reach end-users, whether for cooking, heating,
€ Implementing effective waste segregation and
or electricity generation.
collection systems. z Proper storage systems, such as gas holders or

¾ Operational Efficiency: cylinders, are required to ensure a consistent

€ Individual farmers and smaller cooperatives might
supply of BioCNG.
lack the knowledge and resources for proper ¾ Social Acceptance:
maintenance and monitoring of BioCNG plants. € Overcoming the misconception that dung gas is

z Training programs and readily available technical unhygienic and unsafe is essential for widespread
support and establishing standardised operating adoption.
procedures and quality control measures are € Educational outreach and showcasing the hygienic
crucial. process are key to promoting decentralised biogas
¾ Technical and Financial Barriers: models among rural farmers.
€ Access to financing options like subsidies, grants,
What are India’s Initiatives Related to Biogas?
or low-interest loans can help overcome initial
capital barriers for setting up BioCNG plants. ¾ Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable
€ Technical challenges, such as a lack of skilled labour
Transportation” (SATAT) Scheme
and infrastructure, can be addressed through ¾ GOBARdhan

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¾ National Biogas Programme: What are the Key Highlights of the Report?
€ The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) ¾ India’s Unemployment Rate:
is supporting the installation of biogas plants and
€ India’s unemployment rate for individuals aged 15
its use as a source of alternative fuels for cooking
and above has dropped to 3.1% in 2023, marking
purposes in the country, including rural areas,
the lowest in the past three years.
under the National Biogas Programme.
z The unemployment rate was at 3.6% in 2022
€ Under this scheme, MNRE is providing Central
and 4.2% in 2021.
Financial Assistance (CFA) for setting up of biogas
€ There is a decline in the unemployment rate
plants, ranging from Rs. 9800/- to Rs. 70,400/- per
biogas plant based on the size of the plant (1-25 among females to 3% in 2023 from 3.3% in 2022
cubic meter/day plant capacity). and 3.4% in 2021.
z Similarly, for males, it decreased to 3.2% in 2023
from 3.7% in 2022 and 4.5% in 2021.
Unemployment in India ¾ Recovery in Employment Scenario:
€ There is a recovery in the employment scenario
Why in News?
post the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), increased economic activity after the lifting of
conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), lockdowns by the Centre and states.
in 2023, India’s unemployment rate has dropped ¾ Urban and Rural Unemployment:
significantly, marking the lowest in the past three years.
€ Urban areas witnessed a reduction to 5.2% in 2023
¾ The PLFS gives estimates of Key employment and from 5.9% in 2022 and 6.5% in 2021, while rural
unemployment Indicators like, the Labour Force areas experienced a decrease to 2.4% in 2023
Participation Rates (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio from 2.8% in 2022 and 3.3% in 2021.
(WPR), Unemployment Rate (UR), etc and the Activity
€ The LFPR in Current Weekly Status (CWS) for
Status- ‘Usual Status’ and ‘Current Weekly Status’.
individuals aged 15 and above in urban areas rose
Note: to 56.2% in 2023, showing an upward trajectory
¾ Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is from 52.8% in 2022 and 51.8% in 2021.
defined as the percentage of persons in the labour ¾ Economic Growth:
force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) € This positive employment data comes on the heels

in the population. of recent reports indicating India’s economic growth

¾ Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined
surging to 8.4% in the third quarter of 2023-24.
as the percentage of employed persons in the € Sectors such as manufacturing, mining & quarrying,

population. and construction played a pivotal role in driving

this growth, as per data released by the NSO.
¾ Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the
€ The NSO’s second advance estimate pegs India’s
percentage of persons unemployed among the
growth at 7.6% for the entire fiscal year 2023-24,
persons in the labour force.
surpassing the initial projection of 7.3% released
¾ Activity Status- Usual Status: The activity status of a in January 2024.
person is determined based on the activities pursued
by the person during the specified reference period.
What is the Periodic Labour Force Survey?
€ When the activity status is determined based
¾ About:
on the reference period of the last 365 days € The National Statistics Office (NSO) is conducting

preceding the date of the survey, it is known as PLFS to produce annual statistics of employment
the usual activity status of the person. and unemployment characteristics for both rural
and urban areas, along with quarterly estimates
¾ Activity Status- Current Weekly Status (CWS): The
for urban areas.
activity status determined based on a reference
z The first annual report based on the data
period of the last 7 days preceding the date of the collected in PLFS during July 2017- June 2018
survey is known as the CWS of the person. was published in May 2019.

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¾ Objective of PLFS: € U n d e re m p l o y m e nt : W h i l e n o t st r i c t l y
€ To estimate the key employment and unemployment unemployment, this concept pertains to individuals
indicators (viz. Worker Population Ratio, Labour employed in positions that underutilize their skills
Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate) in or provide insufficient working hours, contributing
the short time interval of three months for the to a sense of economic inefficiency.
urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ € Hidden Unemployment: Refers to individuals
(CWS). who are not actively seeking employment due
€ To estimate employment and unemployment to discouragement or other factors but could
indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ and CWS in both potentially enter the job market if conditions
rural and urban areas annually. improve.
Disguised Unemployment: It arises because
What is Unemployment? €
more labourers work in the factory/land than are
¾ About: required. Hence productivity i.e., production per
€ Unemployment refers to the condition where unit of labour will be less.
individuals capable of working are actively seeking
employment but are unable to secure suitable jobs. What are the Major Causes of Unemployment
€ An unemployed person is someone who is part of
in India?
the labour force, and possesses the requisite skills ¾ Population Size:
but currently lacks gainful employment. € India’s substantial population amplifies the
€ Basically, an unemployed person is someone of competition for employment opportunities, putting
working age, jobless, able and available to work, additional pressure on the job market.
and actively looking for a job. ○ Managing this demographic chal-
¾ Measurement of Unemployment: lenge necessitates a comprehensive
€ The unemployment in the country is commonly approach to economic development
calculated using the formula: and job creation.
z Unemployment rate = [Number of Unemployed
¾ Skills Mismatch:
Workers / Total Labour Force] x 100. € A predominant cause, where the skills possessed

„ Here, the ‘total labour force’ includes the

by the workforce may not align with the evolving
employed and the unemployed. Those who demands of the job market. Addressing this issue
are neither employed nor unemployed — requires initiatives focused on enhancing education
students, for example— are not considered and vocational training programs.
a part of the labour force. ¾ Informal Sector Dynamics:
¾ Types of Unemployment: € The prevalence of the informal sector introduces

€ Structural Unemployment: Rooted in mismatches complexities in tracking and addressing

between the skills possessed by the workforce unemployment. Efforts to formalise and regulate
and the requirements of available positions, this this sector can contribute to a more accurate
form of unemployment highlights systemic issues representation of employment conditions.
within the labour market. ¾ Policy Implementation Challenges:
€ Cyclical Unemployment: Tied to economic cycles, € Well-intentioned policies may face challenges in
this type escalates during economic downturns effective implementation, impacting their ability
and diminishes during periods of expansion, to generate employment. Streamlining policy
showcasing the sensitivity of job availability to execution and ensuring alignment with ground
macroeconomic conditions. realities are imperative.
€ Fr ic tional Un e m p l oy m e nt / Tran s itio na l ¾ Global Economic Factors:
Unemployment: Also called transitional € Influences from the global economy, such as trade
unemployment, arising from the natural transition dynamics and geopolitical shifts, can impact
between jobs, this type reflects the temporary period India’s employment scenario. Crafting policies
individuals spend searching for new employment that enhance economic resilience to external
opportunities. factors is essential.

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What are the Government’s Initiatives Related to €The portal also includes features such as fertilizer
Employment? management, a nutrient dashboard, and heat
maps of nutrients.
¾ Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood
€ The initiative allows for real-time monitoring of
and Enterprise (SMILE)
progress, automatic capture of geo-coordinates
¾ PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta
during sample collection, and registration of plot
Sampann Hitgrahi)
details.
¾ Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
¾ School Soil Health Programme:
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
€ The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
¾ Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
(DA&FW) in collaboration with the Department
¾ Start Up India Scheme of School Education and Literacy, initiated a pilot
¾ Rozgar Mela project. This project involved the establishment of
¾ Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee 20 soil laboratories in rural Kendriya and Navodaya
Scheme- Rajasthan. Vidyalaya schools.
z Study modules and training were provided to
students and teachers. A mobile application
Initiatives to Promote was customised for the school program, and the
Sustainable Agriculture portal has a dedicated section for the program
to document all student activities.
Why in News? z Under this program school students will collect

In a significant stride towards revolutionising the soil samples, and test them in school labs, and
agricultural sector and promoting sustainable farming create Soil Health Cards.
practices, the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers „ Students educate farmers on Soil Health Card
and Union Minister for Rural Development jointly recommendations, fostering critical thinking
inaugurated four key initiatives in New Delhi. and practical learning.
¾ These initiatives, including the Revamped Soil Health z The Soil Lab Programme also aims to instil
Card Portal & Mobile Application, School Soil Health a sense of responsibility and respect for the
Programme, Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme environment in students, teaching them about
(KSCP), and CFQCTI Portal for Fertilizer Sample Testing, sustainable agriculture and the impact of human
hold the promise of transforming the agricultural activities on soil health.
landscape of the country. € Now, this programme has been scaled up in 1000

What are the Inaugurated Initiatives for Soil schools. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya
and Eklavya Model Schools have been taken under
Health Management?
this programme.
¾ Revamped Soil Health Card Portal and Mobile z The DA&FW, in collaboration with the National
Application: Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
€ The Soil Health Card portal has been revamped and (NABARD), will set up soil labs in these schools.
a mobile application has been introduced for soil ¾ Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme (KSCP):
sample collection and testing. The portal includes
€ A MoU between the Ministry of Agriculture
a registry of soil labs with real-time status and
& Farmer Welfare and the Ministry of Rural
geo-coordinates mapping.
Development initiated the KSCP, which aims to
€ It also provides real-time data on soil sample
transform rural India through the empowerment
collection, lab testing, and Soil Health Card of Krishi Sakhi.
generation.
z The programme includes a Krishi Sakhis Training
€ The new portal features a centralised dashboard
Programme to certify 70,000 Krishi Sakhis as
at national, state, and district levels, as well as “Para-Extension Workers.”
Geographic Information System (GIS) analytics.

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z Krishi Sakhis are practising farmers and trained fertilizer quality, and agricultural sustainability,
para-extension professionals. They serve as these initiatives seek to enhance farmer livelihoods
farmers’ friends, guiding Natural Farming and and improve their economic well-being.
Soil Health Management. ¾ Credibility of Organic Farming:
z Krishi Sakhis play a pivotal role in implementing € Efforts to enhance the credibility of organic farming
various schemes such as the National Mission through initiatives like the Soil Health Card Portal
of Natural Farming (NMNF) and the Pradhan and Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme are
Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). expected to boost confidence in organic products
z Certified Krishi Sakhis act as para-extension and encourage their adoption.
workers, facilitating awareness creation and ¾ Quality and Efficacy of Fertilizers:
capacity building among farmers.
€ Initiatives to address concerns related to the quality
z They serve as a link between farmers, Krishi and efficacy of fertilizers, as seen in the CFQCTI
Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and the Agriculture
Portal, aim to safeguard the interests of farmers
and Allied Departments.
by ensuring the use of reliable inputs.
z Krishi Sakhis receive training in agroecology,
natural resource management, crop diversity, What are the Concerns Regarding Soil Health
and health and nutritional security. in India?
z They conduct awareness generation meetings ¾ Soil and water are fundamental resources for
on topics such as natural farming and soil health sustenance, with over 95% of food originating from
management. them.
z The programme has trained close to 3500 Krishi € The symbiotic connection between soil and water
Sakhis and is being implemented in 13 states, is crucial for agricultural systems and for achieving
contributing to sustainable agriculture and rural the United Nations Agenda 2030.
development.
€ Current climatic changes and human activities
z Krishi Sakhis serve as catalysts for transformation, are exerting excessive pressure on soil and water
nurturing sustainable agriculture and reshaping resources.
rural India.
¾ In India, around 50% of the country’s net sown area is
¾ CFQCTI Portal: rainfed, contributing to 40% of total food production.
€ The Central Fertilizer Quality Control and Training
¾ Soil health in India faces challenges such as low
Institutes’ (CFQCTI’s) portal introduces facilities for
nutrient levels, with an average soil organic carbon
sample collection and testing, ensuring quality
(SOC) of around 0.54%.
control in fertilizer management.
¾ Land degradation is a significant issue, with about 30%
€ The portal facilitates the generation of OTP for
of the total geographical area affected, leading to
sample verification, automatic allocation to labs,
deficiencies in plant nutrients and impacting nutrition
and issuance of analysis reports, streamlining the
intake among the population.
process of quality assessment.
¾ Nutrient depletions and deficiencies, along with
What Impact Do These Initiatives Envisage? inappropriate fertiliser application, result in declining
¾ Promotion of Sustainable Agricultural Practices: productivity.
€ These initiatives aim to promote sustainable € Sustainable food production requires practices
agricultural practices, such as organic farming, to like adequate replenishment of nutrients, tailored
ensure long-term environmental and economic fertiliser applications based on soil analyses, and
benefits. increasing organic content in soil.
¾ Enhancement of Farmer Livelihoods: ¾ India loses an estimated 3 billion tonnes of soil
€ By addressing concerns related to soil health, annually due to water and wind erosion.

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Other Initiatives Related to Conserving Soil Local Currency Trade

¾ Five-Pronged Programme of Soil Conservation: between India-Indonesia
€ India’s five-pronged strategy for soil conservation
which includes making soil chemical-free, Why in News?
saving soil biodiversity, enhancing soil organic
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank
matter, maintaining soil moisture, mitigating
Indonesia (BI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
soil degradation, and preventing soil erosion.
(MoU) for establishing a framework to promote the use
¾ Soil Health Card scheme: of local currencies (the Indian Rupee (INR) and the
€ The government of India’s Soil Health Card Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)) for cross-border transactions.
scheme, launched in 2015, displays soil health ¾ Earlier in 2023 India and Malaysia announced that
indicators and associated descriptive terms, they will settle trade in INR in addition to other
which guide farmers in making necessary soil currencies.
amendments.

What are the Key Highlights of the MoU between RBI and Bank Indonesia?
¾ The primary objective of the MoU is to facilitate bilateral transactions in INR and IDR, covering all current account
transactions, permissible capital account transactions, and other economic and financial transactions as mutually
agreed upon by both countries.
¾ The framework enables exporters and importers to invoice and pay in their respective domestic currencies,
thereby fostering the development of an INR-IDR foreign exchange market. This approach optimizes costs and
settlement time for transactions.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 47
€ It is expected to promote trade between India and Indonesia, deepen financial integration, and enhance the
historical, cultural, and economic relations between the two nations.

India-Indonesia Relations
¾ Commercial Relations:
€ Indonesia has emerged as the second largest trading partner of India in the ASEAN region.

z Bilateral trade has increased from USD 4.3 billion in 2005-06 to USD 38.84 billion in 2022-23.

¾ Political Relations:
€ Both countries were chief supporters of independence for Asian and African countries, leading to the Bandung
Conference of 1955 and the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961.
€ Since India adopted the ‘Look East Policy’ in 1991, there has been rapid development in bilateral relations.

€ Both countries are members of G20, East Asia Summit and the United Nations.

¾ Cultural Relations:
€ The Hindu, Buddhist and later Muslim faiths travelled to Indonesia from the shores of India. The stories from
the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata form a source of Indonesian folk art and dramas.
€ There are approximately 100,000 people of Indian origin in Indonesia, mainly located in Greater Jakarta,
Medan, Surabaya, and Bandung.

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What are Efforts for the Internationalisation of Balance of Payments (BoP)

the Rupee? ¾ The Balance of Payments (BoP) is a crucial indicator
¾ Liberalisation of Capital Markets: of a country’s economic health, summarising its
€ India increased the availability of rupee-denominated international transactions with the rest of the world.
financial instruments, such as bonds (Masala Bond) € Those transactions that happen between Indian
and derivatives, to enhance the rupee’s appeal. residents and Foreigners or nonresident Indians
¾ Promotion of Digital Payment Systems: (NRIs) are recorded in India’s balance of payment.
€ Initiatives like the Unified Payments Interface
¾ Structure: The BoP is broadly divided into two
(UPI) have facilitated digital transactions in rupees. main accounts:
€ Current Account: This account reflects the flow of
€ Recently, Sri Lanka and Mauritius have adopted UPI.
goods, services, income, and current transfers.
¾ Special Vostro Rupee Accounts (SVRAs):
z It deals with transactions that do not change
€ India permitted authorized banks from 18 countries
the overall assets or liabilities of Indian
(Ex. Russia and Malaysia) to open Special Vostro residents abroad or foreign residents in India.
Rupee Accounts (SVRAs) for settling payments It includes:
in rupees at market-determined exchange rates.
„ Exports and Imports of goods and services
€ Objectives of the Mechanism are lower transaction
„ Investment income (interest, dividends)
costs, greater price transparency, faster settlement
and compensation of employees
time, and overall promotion of international trade.
„ Current transfers (gifts, aid, Remittances)
¾ Currency Swap Agreements:
€ Capital Account: This account captures
€ Signed by the RBI with several countries (Ex.
transactions involving capital assets.
Japan, Sri Lanka and SAARC members) enables
z It records transactions that directly impact a
the exchange of rupee and foreign currency
country’s foreign assets and liabilities.
between respective central banks, bolstering the
z Acquisition or disposal of non-produced non-
international usage of the rupee.
financial assets (land, intellectual property)
¾ Bilateral Trade Agreements:
z Includes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),
€ The government’s signing of bilateral trade
Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), Investing
agreements with other countries has facilitated in businesses abroad, borrowing from foreign
greater cross-border trade and investment, entities, and deposits made by NRIs in Indian
promoting the use of the rupee in international banks are examples of capital account
transactions. transactions.

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¾ Forex Reserves: ¾ This proposed revision in financial limits marks the
4th instance since Independence. The last revision
€ Indian forex reserves are vital assets held by the
occurred in 2005 but came into effect in 2006.
RBI in foreign currencies.
z They serve as a financial cushion, ensuring What are the New Financial Limits Proposed by
liquidity to meet external obligations and the Finance Ministry?
stabilize the nation’s currency and economy. ¾ New Service and New Instruments of Service:
€ Components of Indian Forex Reserves: € New Service (NS) denotes expenditure resulting

z Foreign Currencies: from a new policy decision not previously

„ The Indian forex reserves mainly consist of
brought to Parliament’s notice, encompassing
foreign currencies such as the US Dollar, new activities or investments (Article 115(1)(a)
Euro, and British Pound. These currencies of the Constitution).
€ New Instrument of Service (NIS) refers to a relatively
provide liquidity and facilitate international
trade transactions. significant expenditure stemming from a notable
expansion of an existing policy.
z Gold Reserves:
¾ New Limit:
„ It is an essential hedge against inflation and
€ For expenditures between Rs 50 crore and Rs 100
a safety net during economic uncertainties.
crore, reporting to Parliament is mandatory, but
‹ India has 800.78 tonnes of gold reserves.
approval is not needed upfront.
z Special Drawing Rights (SDRs):
z Prior parliamentary approval is required only if
„ SDRs are international reserve assets the the spending surpasses Rs 100 crore.
IMF has created. They supplement the € The reporting limit for ‘New Instrument of
foreign exchange reserves of the member Service’ has been fixed at up to 20% of the original
countries. appropriation or up to Rs 100 crore, whichever
‹ The SDR is based on a basket of is higher.
international currencies comprising the z Parliament’s approval becomes mandatory
USD, Japanese yen, euro, pound sterling for amounts exceeding 20% of the original
and Chinese Renminbi. appropriation or above Rs 100 crore, subject to
z Reserve Portion in IMF: savings within the same grant section.
„ The reserve portion in the IMF represents Note: Previously, the limits were very low between Rs
India’s quota in the International Monetary 10 lakh to Rs 2.5 crore and the value differed across
Fund. It reflects India’s position and voting nearly 50 items of expenditure.
power within this global financial institution.
What are the Potential Benefits and Drawbacks
„ Impact on Indian Forex Reserves:
of Increasing the Financing Limit?
Strengthens international standing.
¾ Potential Benefits:
€ Reduced Frequency of Supplementary Demands:
Government Proposes Higher In recent years, PAC and CAG highlighted increased
Reporting Limits for Ministry supplementary spending without proper reporting
or approval.
Expenditure z By raising the financial limits for spending, the
need for Supplementary Demands for Grants
Why in News? would decrease. This streamlines the budgetary
The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has process.
recently endorsed the Finance Ministry’s proposal to € Reduced Administrative Bottlenecks: The revision

increase the financial thresholds for expenditure on ‘New in financial limits reduces bureaucratic hurdles
Service’ and ‘New Instruments of Service’ by government associated with seeking approvals for relatively
ministries and departments. smaller expenditures.

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z This promotes efficiency in decision-making and ¾ Members: The PAC consists of a maximum of 22
implementation processes within government members, with 15 elected by the Lok Sabha and up
departments and agencies. to 7 members from the Rajya Sabha.
€ Adaptation to Economic Growth: With an expected € Members are chosen annually through proportional

GDP growth rate of 6-7% year-on-year, the size of representation via a single transferable vote.
the budget is anticipated to increase substantially € The chairperson is appointed by the Lok Sabha
in the coming years. speaker, and the term of office for members is
z Raising financial limits ensures that the budget 1 year.
can accommodate the evolving needs of a z The chairperson is predominantly from the

growing economy. opposition party.

¾ Potential Drawbacks: What are the Different Types of Grants
€ Undermining Budgetary Discipline: There is a under Article 115?
risk that higher financial limits could be exploited ¾ Supplementary Grant:
for misuse or misallocation of funds if adequate € Purpose: When unforeseen expenses arise during
oversight mechanisms are not in place. the current financial year, and the allocated
z This may lead to instances of corruption or budget for a specific service is insufficient, a
wasteful spending. supplementary grant is sought.
z It may also result in budgetary overshooting or € Approval Process: The government presents an

deficits, impacting overall fiscal health. estimate of the additional funds required before
€ Lack of Accountability: Increased financial Parliament for approval before the end of the
autonomy for ministries and departments might financial year.
result in reduced accountability for how public ¾ Additional Grant:
funds are utilized. € Purpose: This grant is requested when a need

z This could make it challenging to track arises for additional expenditure on a completely
expenditures and ensure that they align with new service not foreseen in the original budget
intended purposes. for the current financial year.
€ Impact on Parliamentary Oversight: Raising financial € Approval Process: Similar to the supplementary

limits might reduce the frequency of parliamentary grant, the government presents an estimate of
scrutiny over government expenditures, limiting the required funds before Parliament for approval
opportunities for meaningful debate and oversight. before the end of the financial year.
z This could weaken the checks and balances ¾ Excess Grant:
essential for transparent governance. € Purpose: This grant deals with situations where
the actual expenditure on a service has exceeded
What is the Public Accounts Committee? the amount originally budgeted and sanctioned
¾ About: The Public Accounts Committee is an entity by Parliament.
composed of selected members of parliament, € Approval Process: Unlike the previous two,
established by the Parliament of India, with the an excess grant is presented after the end of
primary mandate of scrutinizing the revenue and the financial year in which the expenses were
expenditure of the Government of India. incurred. The Ministry of Finance and Ministry
€ Its primary responsibility lies in auditing the of Railways present a “Demand for Excess Grant”
reports provided by the Comptroller and Auditor to Parliament for their consideration.
General (CAG), with the assistance of the CAG z Before the demands for excess grants are
during investigations. submitted to the Lok Sabha for voting, they
z Notably, none of its members are permitted to must be approved by the Public Accounts
hold ministerial positions in the government. Committee of Parliament.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 51
¾ Delay in Revival:
Penicillin G and PLI Scheme € Previously, there was little urgency to revive
Penicillin manufacturing domestically, as cheaper
Why in News? alternatives were readily available in the global
India will start manufacturing the common antibiotic market.
Penicillin G in 2024, three decades after India’s last plant € The disruption in the supply chain during the
shut down. This is one of the successes of the government’s pandemic served as a wake-up call, highlighting
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme launched during the necessity for self-reliance.
Covid-19 to promote domestic manufacturing. z Consequently, the government initiated the
¾ Penicillin G is the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient PLI scheme to bolster domestic manufacturing.
(API) used in manufacturing several common antibiotics. € The substantial initial costs pose a significant
¾ APIs, also called bulk drugs, are significant ingredients barrier, particularly fermented ones like Penicillin
in the manufacture of drugs. The Hubei province of G, requiring considerable capital investment, with
China is the hub of the API manufacturing industry. profitability often taking years to achieve.
€ Moreover, China has already emerged as a
dominant supplier, having significantly expanded
its manufacturing capabilities over the past three
decades.
€ To compete with their prices would necessitate
substantial investments in larger facilities.
¾ Impact of PLI Schemes:
€ There has been a significant decrease in API imports
following the implementation of the PLI scheme.
Why did Penicillin Manufacturing Stop in India? z For example, paracetamol, the imports have

¾ Closure of Manufacturing: halved compared to pre-pandemic levels.

€ Penicillin G, along with numerous other active € However, despite this decline, a substantial portion

pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) manufactured of APIs, particularly for antibiotics, is still imported,
in India, faced discontinuation due to the influx highlighting the need for further development in
of competitively priced Chinese alternatives domestic API manufacturing.
flooding the market. € The PLI scheme offers incentives, including a 20%

€ During the 1990s, at least five companies were support for the first four years, 15% for the fifth
engaged in the production of Penicillin G within year, and 5% for the sixth year for fermentation-
the country. However, the significantly lower based bulk drugs like antibiotics, enzymes, and
prices of Chinese counterparts rendered Indian hormones such as insulin.
manufacturers economically nonviable, leading z These drugs, which involve fermentation in
to the closure of their operations. their production process, are considered more
z Many sizable manufacturing plants had to be challenging to manufacture.
liquidated for scrap. z Additionally, chemically synthesised drugs are
€ Additionally, the Drug Prices Control Order, which eligible for a 10% incentive over six years on
enforced price caps on essential medicines, further eligible sales.
incentivized the adoption of cheaper imported
What is the Production Linked Incentive
products.
Scheme (PLI)?
z For Example, India initially sold Paracetamol
at approximately Rs 800 per kilogram, but the ¾ About:
entry of Chinese competitors slashed prices to € The PLI scheme was conceived to scale up domestic
nearly Rs 400 per kilogram, rendering domestic manufacturing capability, accompanied by higher
production economically unviable.. import substitution and employment generation.

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€Launched in March 2020, the scheme initially Policy,” a transformative initiative aimed at modernising
targeted three industries: coal transportation.
z Mobile and allied Component Manufacturing
What is the Coal Logistics Plan and Policy?
z Electrical Component Manufacturing and
¾ Background: Coal logistics has long been a persistent
z Medical Devices.
issue in India, particularly during the summer months
€ Later, it was extended to 14 sectors. when power plants face shortages of coal amid rising
€ In the PLI scheme, Domestic and Foreign companies electricity demand.
receive financial rewards for manufacturing in € Transportation of coal has frequently posed
India, based on a percentage of their revenue challenges, leading to the need for railways to
over up to five years. implement special measures to prevent supply
¾ Targeted Sectors: disruptions.
€ The 14 sectors are mobile manufacturing, ¾ About: The Coal Logistics Plan and Policy aims to
manufacturing of medical devices, automobiles enhance coal logistics by making it more affordable,
and auto components, pharmaceuticals, drugs, efficient, and environmentally friendly.
specialty steel, telecom & networking products,
○ It encompasses various aspects such
electronic products, white goods (ACs and LEDs),
as storage, loading, unloading, and
food products, textile products, solar PV modules,
delivery of coal to power plants, steel
advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery, and drones
mills, cement factories, and washer-
and drone components.
ies.
¾ Incentives Under the Scheme: € It proposes a strategic shift towards a railway-based
€ The incentives given, are calculated on the basis system in First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects,
of incremental sales. aiming for a 14% reduction in rail logistic costs, and
z In some sectors such as advanced chemistry an annual cost-saving of Rs 21,000 Crore.
cell batteries, textile products and the drone ¾ Expected Outcomes: It is expected to minimise air
industry, the incentive to be given will be pollution, alleviate traffic congestion, and reduce
calculated on the basis of sales, performance carbon emissions by approximately 100,000 tonnes
and local value addition done over the period per annum.
of five years.
€ Moreover, a 10% saving in the average turnaround
€ The emphasis on R&D investment will also help the
time of wagons nationwide is expected.
industry keep up with global trends and remain
competitive in the international market. What is the Status of the Coal Sector in India?
¾ Success in Smartphone Manufacturing: ¾ Coal: Coal is a naturally occurring, combustible
€ In FY 2017-18, mobile phone imports were USD sedimentary rock composed primarily of carbon,
3.6 billion, while exports were a mere USD 334 along with hydrocarbons.
million, resulting in a -USD 3.3 billion trade deficit. € It forms through the accumulation and decomposition

€ By FY 2022-23, imports reduced to USD 1.6 billion, of plant material over millions of years. Under
while exports surged to nearly USD 11 billion, pressure and heat, this organic matter undergoes
yielding a positive net exports of USD 9.8 billion. physical and chemical changes, transforming into
coal.
Coal Logistics Plan and ¾ Coal Reserves in India: India’s coal reserves are
concentrated in the eastern and central parts of the
Policy country.
€ The major coal-producing states are Odisha,
Why in News? Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, along with parts of
India has taken a groundbreaking step in its coal Madhya Pradesh, and they account for 75% of
sector with the unveiling of the “Coal Logistics Plan and domestic raw coal dispatches in India.

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¾ Types of Coal and Clusters in India: ¾ Health Risks: Exposure to coal dust, particulate
€ Anthracite: With a carbon content ranging from matter, and harmful emissions from coal-fired power
80% to 95%, it is present in limited quantities plants poses health risks to communities living near
primarily in Jammu and Kashmir. coal mines and power plants, leading to respiratory
€ Bituminous coal: Containing between 60% to 80%
diseases and other health issues.
carbon, it is predominantly found in regions such ¾ Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation: Acquiring land
as Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, for coal mining projects often involves displacement
and Madhya Pradesh. of communities and disruption of livelihoods.
€ Lignite: It is characterised by its carbon content of € Proper rehabilitation and resettlement of affected

40% to 55% and high moisture levels, and is primarily populations remain a challenge, with many
found in areas including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, communities facing social and economic hardships.
Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir. ¾ Technological Constraints: Despite advancements
€ Peat: With a carbon content below 40%, it in clean coal technologies, such as carbon capture
represents the earliest stage of the transformation and storage (CCS), the widespread adoption of these
from organic matter, such as wood, into coal. technologies in India remains limited due to high costs
¾ Significance of Coal for India: Coal is the most important and technical challenges.
and abundant fossil fuel in India. It accounts for 55% ¾ Transition to Renewable Energy: The coal sector in
of the country’s energy needs. India faces challenges amidst the country’s commitment
€ The country’s industrial heritage was built upon
to transitioning to renewable energy sources and
indigenous coal. Currently, 70% of India’s power reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
demand is met by thermal power plants, which € Finding a balance between ensuring energy security

are mostly powered by coal. and meeting climate change mitigation objectives
€ Over the past four decades, commercial primary
is a significant hurdle.
energy consumption in India has surged by € At COP28, India advocated for a “phase down” of

approximately 700%. coal power instead of a complete “phase out.”

€ Current per capita consumption stands at around Why India Advocates for Phasing Down Coal
350 kilograms of oil equivalent per year, still lower Instead of Phasing Out?
than developed countries.
¾ Energy Security: Coal currently plays a crucial role in
¾ Coal Imports in India: Present import policy allows
India’s energy security, providing a significant portion
for the unrestricted import of coal under Open
of the country’s electricity generation.
General License.
€ Phasing out coal abruptly could lead to disruptions
€ Consumers, including the steel, power, and cement
in energy supply, impacting industries, businesses,
sectors, as well as coal traders, can import coal
and households.
based on their commercial requirements.
¾ Economic Considerations: Coal mining and related
€ Steel sector primarily imports coking coal to
industries support millions of jobs and contribute
supplement domestic availability and improve
significantly to India’s economy.
quality.
€ A sudden shift away from coal could result in job
€ Other sectors like power and cement, along with
losses and economic instability in coal-dependent
coal traders, import non-coking coal to meet their
regions.
respective needs.
€ Also, currently, renewable energy sources like
What are the Challenges Related to Coal for solar and wind are not as cost-effective as coal.
India? ¾ Infrastructure Investment: India has made substantial
¾ Environmental Impact: Coal mining and combustion investments in coal-based infrastructure, including
contribute to air and water pollution, greenhouse power plants and associated facilities.
gas emissions, deforestation, and habitat destruction. € Phasing out coal prematurely would lead to stranded
Addressing these environmental impacts while ensuring assets and wasted investments, adversely affecting
energy security is a significant challenge. the economy.

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as precedents for addressing antitrust concerns

Market Monopoly and Anti- and enforcing fair competition in digital markets.
Competitive Practices How Does the Play Store Work?
¾ Google’s operating system Android runs on
Why in News? Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola and Oppo among
Recently, a dispute has emerged between Google other smartphones.
and app developers, where Google removed almost a ¾ Some of the Google apps and Play Store come pre-
dozen firms out of its marketplace for Android apps. installed in the phones that a user buys.
¾ The dispute incorporate concerns over Market ¾ But in order to add a new app, the user has to visit
Monopoly and Anti-Competitive practices, with the Play Store and download it.
Google’s firm grip over the Android app ecosystem ¾ Apps on Google have three options to accept
serving as a focal point of contention. payments for digital services, Google’s billing system,
alternative payment where the company charges
What is the Issue Between Google and App the commission and consumption mode where the
Developers? developer redirects the user to an external website
¾ Background and Context: to accept payments.
€ Google’s Android platform and its app marketplace, What is Market Monopoly?
Google Play, dominate the Indian smartphone ¾ About:
ecosystem.
€ Market monopoly refers to a situation in which a
€ Indian app developers rely heavily on Google Play
single company or a group of companies dominates
for distribution and monetization of their apps, and controls a significant share of a particular
making them susceptible to Google’s policies market or industry.
and fees.
€ In a monopoly, there is only one seller or producer
€ The dispute stems from Google’s imposition of fees
that provides a specific product or service, and there
ranging from 11% to 30% on in-app purchases of are no close substitutes available to consumers.
digital services, which developers consider excessive
€ This gives the monopolistic entity substantial
and harmful to innovation and competition.
market power, allowing it to influence the market
¾ Issues and Concerns: conditions, set prices, and control the supply of
€ Indian app developers, including major players goods or services.
like Bharat Matrimony and Disney+ Hotstar, have ¾ Features of Market Monopoly:
challenged Google’s fees in court, citing economic
€ Single Seller or Producer:
burden and lack of choice.
z In a monopoly, there is only one entity that
z The Competition Commission of India (CCI)
dominates the entire market. This company is
has fined Google for anticompetitive practices, the exclusive provider of a particular product
indicating regulatory scrutiny over its market or service.
dominance and pricing policies.
€ High Barriers to Entry:
€ The conflict underscores broader concerns about
z Monopolies often arise when there are significant
platform monopolies and their impact on small
barriers preventing new competitors from
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), innovation,
entering the market. Barriers may include high
and consumer welfare.
startup costs, exclusive access to resources,
¾ International Comparisons:
government regulations, or strong brand loyalty.
€ Similar disputes between tech giants and app
€ No Substitutes:
developers have occurred globally, with Apple
z Consumers have limited or no alternative
facing scrutiny over its App Store fees and practices.
options for the product or service offered by
€ Legal and regulatory actions in jurisdictions like
the monopolistic company. There are no close
the European Union and the United States serve substitutes available in the market.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 55
€ Market Power and Pricing Control: ¾ Price Fixing Agreements:
z The monopoly has considerable market power,
€ Price fixing involves an agreement between
allowing it to control prices without significant competitors to set a specific price for their
fear of competition. This can lead to higher prices products or services. This eliminates competition
for consumers and potentially reduced output. and artificially inflates prices, violating antitrust
€ Influence Over Supply: laws.
z The monopoly has control over the supply of
the product or service. It can determine the
What are the Indian and International
quantity produced and adjust supply to impact Initiatives to Deal with Market Monopoly?
market conditions. ● Indian:
€ Lack of Competition: Competition Act, 2002: The Competition Act,
€

z Due to the absence of competitors, monopolies 2002, is the primary legislation in India addressing
operate in an environment where there is no antitrust issues. It was enacted to promote and
direct competition for their specific product or sustain competition in markets, prevent anti-
service. This lack of competition can result in competitive practices, and protect the interests
reduced incentives for innovation and efficiency. of consumers.
z Competition Amendment Bill, 2022: The
What are the Key Terms Related to Anti-
Competitive Practices? proposed amendment aims to further strengthen
the regulatory framework, address emerging
¾ Predatory Pricing:
challenges, and enhance the effectiveness of
€ Predatory pricing occurs when a company competition law enforcement.
intentionally sets its prices below cost in
€ Competition Commission of India (CCI): CCI is the
order to drive competitors out of the market.
regulator of competition under the Competition
Once competitors are eliminated, the company Act, 2002 in the Indian market. It is responsible for
can raise prices to recoup losses and enjoy a enforcing the provisions of the Competition Act
monopolistic position. 2002. It consists of a Chairperson and Members
¾ Cartels: appointed by the Central Government.
€ Cartels are associations of independent z The CCI investigates and takes actions against
businesses or countries formed to regulate anti-competitive practices, abuse of dominant
production, pricing, and marketing of goods or position, and anti-competitive agreements.
services. € Competition Appellate Tribunal and NCLAT: The

€ Cartels are typically illegal and are known for Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) was
fostering anti-competitive behaviour. initially responsible for hearing appeals against
CCI decisions.
¾ Mergers:
z However, in 2017, the government replaced
€ Mergers involve the combination of two or more
COMPAT with the National Company Law
companies into a single entity. While not all
Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which now handles
mergers are anti-competitive, some may reduce
appeals related to competition matters.
competition in a particular market, leading to
¾ International Initiatives:
regulatory scrutiny.
€ OECD Competition Committee: The OECD
¾ Price Discrimination:
(Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
€ Price discrimination occurs when a seller charges Development) addresses anti-competitive
different prices to different customers for the practices through various initiatives, including the
same product or service. While not always illegal, OECD Competition Committee, which facilitates
it can be considered anti-competitive if it harms discussions and cooperation among member
competition. countries on competition-related issues.

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€ United Nations Conference on Trade and the Interaction between Trade and Competition
Development (UNCTAD): It provides guidance Policy.
on competition policy and law through its z The aim is to ensure that competition policies
Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition do not create unnecessary barriers to trade.
Law and Policy, supporting countries in implementing
effective competition frameworks.
z It also deals with the policies to Protect
Thailand’s Concern over
consumers from abuse and Curb regulations India’s Agriculture Subsidy
that stifle competition.
€ International Competition Network (ICN): The Why in News?
ICN is a network of competition authorities from Recently, Thailand’s ambassador to the World Trade
around the world. It facilitates communication Organisation (WTO) accused India of exporting rice at
and cooperation among member jurisdictions to unfairly low prices funded by Government Subsidy. .
address global competition challenges.
¾ Thailand stated that India’s Public Distribution
z The ICN provides a platform for sharing best System (PDS), under which the government procures
practices and developing guidelines on various essential food items from producers and sells them
aspects of competition law. to the public at low rates, is not for the people but
€ World Trade Organization (WTO): While primarily for “capturing” the export market.
focused on trade issues, the WTO addresses
competition policy through its Working Group on

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 57
What are Thailand’s Concerns Regarding What is India’s India’s Concerns Related to
India’s Agriculture Subsidy? WTO Subsidy Norm?
¾ Trade Distortion and Impact on Global Food Prices: ¾ Comparison with Developed Countries:
€ Thailand views India’s Public Stockholding
€ India emphasises the stark difference between
Programme (PSH) as highly subsidised, distorting
global food prices. the subsidies it provides to farmers compared to
developed countries like the US and EU (European
z Trade distortion is a situation where prices and
production are higher or lower than levels that Union).
would usually exist in a competitive market. € While India’s subsidy per farmer is relatively low
€ Subsidized agricultural production can lead to at USD 300, the subsidies provided by the US and
overproduction and lower prices, making it difficult EU can be as high as USD 40,000 per farmer.
for unsubsidized competitors like Thailand to z This comparison highlights the disparity in
compete in the global market.
support provided to farmers between developed
¾ Violation of WTO Regulations:
and developing countries.
€ India’s breach of the de minimis limit for rice
¾ Breach of De Minimis Limit:
subsidies is a violation of WTO regulations. This
breach not only affects the competitive landscape € India acknowledges that it breached the 10% de
but also undermines the principles of fair trade minimis limit for subsidies, which triggered the
established by the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture. “peace clause” established in 2013.
z The WTO norms say that the support given
€ The interim peace clause was put in place in 2013
should be within the 10% de minimis limit.
under the Bali Agreement to protect developing
India informed the WTO that the value of its
rice production in 2019-20 was USD 46.07 billion countries from being challenged for breach of
while it gave subsidies worth USD 6.31 billion subsidy levels.
or 13.7%, as against the permitted 10%. € However, India has questioned the way subsidies
¾ Desire for Agricultural Trade Liberalization: are calculated at the WTO, saying it is calculated
€ As part of the Cairns Group, Thailand advocates at a fixed and outdated 1986-88 price, which
for agricultural trade liberalization. overestimates the subsidy.
€ The group seeks to reduce trade barriers and € India is seeking to change it at the WTO negotiations
subsidies that distort global agricultural markets, on agriculture.
including lobbying against India to dismantle or
reduce the scope of its Minimum Support Price ¾ Need for Permanent Solution:
(MSP) scheme. € India, along with a group of developing countries,

Development Box advocates for a permanent solution regarding

public stockholding for food grains.
¾ Article 6.2 of the Agriculture Agreement under WTO,
€ This solution aims to provide greater flexibility to
allows developing countries additional flexibility in
providing domestic support. developing countries in providing farm support
without facing challenges for breaching subsidy
¾ The type of support that fits into the developmental
levels.
category are measures of assistance, whether direct
or indirect, designed to encourage agricultural and What are Cairns Group and G-33 Group?
rural development and that are an integral part of the
¾ Cairns Group:
development programmes of developing countries.
€ Established: 1986 in Cairns, Australia
¾ They include investment subsidies which are
generally available to agriculture in developing € Members: 19 agricultural exporting countries,

country members, agricultural input subsidies including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada,
generally available to low-income or resource- Pakistan, and New Zealand.
poor producers in developing country members, z India is not a Member of Cairns Group.
and domestic support to producers in developing € Stance: Advocates for liberalization of agricultural
country members to encourage diversification trade, meaning they generally support reducing
from growing illicit narcotic crops. tariffs, subsidies, and other trade barriers that

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hinder the free flow of agricultural products across € It is designed to collect information on the
borders. They believe this will benefit all countries consumption of goods and services by households.
by promoting efficiency and economic growth. € The data collected in HCES is also utilized for
¾ G-33 Group: deriving various other macroeconomic indicators
€ Established: Prior to the 2003 Cancun ministerial such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), poverty
conference rates, and Consumer Price Inflation (CPI).
€ Members: Originally 33 developing countries, z NITI Aayog has stated that the latest consumer
currently around 48, including India, China, and expenditure survey indicated that poverty has
Cuba. come down to 5% in the country.
€ Stance: Advocates for special treatment for € The findings of the last HCES, conducted in 2017-
developing countries in agricultural trade 18 were not released after the government cited
negotiations. “data quality” issues.
z They argue that developing countries need more ¾ Information Generated: Provides information on the
flexibility to protect their domestic agricultural typical spending on both goods (including food and
sectors and ensure food security, even if it means non-food items) and services.
maintaining some trade barriers. € Additionally, assists in calculating estimates
z They are also concerned about the potential for household Monthly Per Capita Consumer
negative impacts of full trade liberalization on Expenditure (MPCE) and analyzing the distribution
their livelihoods and rural development. of households and individuals across different
MPCE categories.
What is the WTO’s Peace Clause?
¾ Highlights of the Recent Survey: The estimates of
¾ As an interim measure, the WTO members agreed on
average monthly per capita consumption expenditure
a mechanism called the ‘Peace Clause’ in December
were generated without imputing the value figures
2013 and pledged to negotiate a permanent solution.
of the items received free by the households through
¾ Under the Peace Clause, WTO members agreed to various social welfare programmes such as Pradhan
refrain from challenging any breach in the prescribed Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
ceiling by a developing nation at the dispute settlement
€ Increase in MPCE: It reveals a 33.5% increase in
forum of the WTO.
MPCE in urban households since 2011-12, reaching
¾ This clause will stay till a permanent solution is found ₹3,510, while rural India’s MPCE increased by
to the food stockpiling issue. 40.42% to ₹2,008.
z In 2022-23, 46% of rural household expenditure
Household Consumption and 39% of urban household expenditure were
on food items.
Expenditure Survey 2022-23
Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Statistics and Program
Implementation disclosed the general results of the All
India Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
conducted from August 2022 to July 2023.
What are the Highlights of the Recent
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey?
¾ About: The Household Consumption Expenditure
Survey (HCES) is conducted by the National Statistical
Office (NSO) every 5 years.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 59
Distribution of MPCE by Population Percentiles:
€
The bottom 5% of India’s rural population, ranked UAE’s Exit from FATF Grey List
by MPCE, has an average MPCE of Rs. 1,373 while
it is Rs. 2,001 for the same category of population Why in News?
in the urban areas. The recent removal of the United Arab Emirates
z The top 5% of India’s rural and urban population, (UAE) from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey
ranked by MPCE, has an average MPCE of Rs. list has sparked optimism for investment landscapes,
10,501 and Rs. 20,824, respectively. particularly in India’s Non-Banking Financial Companies
€ State-wise MPCE Variations: Sikkim has the
(NBFCs).
highest MPCE in both rural (₹7,731) and urban
areas (₹12,105), while Chhattisgarh has the lowest How does the UAE’s Exit from Grey List Impact
with ₹2,466 for rural households and ₹4,483 for Investments in Indian NBFCs?
urban households. ¾ Investment Policies: A Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
z The rural-urban difference in average MPCE, circular in 2021 outlined investment regulations for
among the states is the highest in Meghalaya NBFCs, distinguishing between investments from
(83%) followed by Chhattisgarh (82%). compliant and non-compliant FATF jurisdictions.
€ UT-wise MPCE Variations: Among the UTs, MPCE
€ Investments from non-compliant jurisdictions
is the highest in Chandigarh (Rural Rs. 7,467 and faced restrictions on acquiring significant influence
Urban Rs. 12,575), whereas, it is the lowest in
in Indian NBFCs.
Ladakh (Rs. 4,035) and Lakshadweep (Rs. 5,475)
¾ Impact on UAE Investors: The UAE’s removal from
for rural and urban areas respectively.
¾ Food Spending Trends: Since the 1999-2000 survey, the
the FATF grey list facilitates easier investment for
share of expenditure on food has gradually declined UAE-based investors in Indian NBFCs.
and the share of non-food items has increased for ¾ Cross-Border Investment Facilitation: The eased
both urban and rural households. restrictions encourage cross-border investments
z A decline in food spending is understood as an between India and the UAE, benefiting both the
increase in incomes, which then means having countries’ financial sectors.
more money for other expenditures like on ¾ Increase in FPI and FDI: The UAE’s exit may reduce
medical, clothing, education, conveyance, Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements for foreign
durables, fuel, entertainment, among other things. portfolio investment (FPIs) from the region, potentially
z The recent survey result showed that the boosting FPI inflows into India (expected to double).
share of cereals and pulses within overall food € Removal of UAE from grey list may lead to increased
consumption expenditure has been reducing, foreign direct investment (FDI) contributing to
both in rural and urban households. economic growth. This competition could drive
„ Among the non-food items, the share of
innovation and attract more investments to both
spending on conveyance was the highest. regions.
„ Till 2022-23, fuel and light used to see the
highest consumption spending among the What is a Non-Banking Financial Company
non-food items. (NBFC)?
What is the National Statistical Office? ¾ About: An NBFC is a company registered under the
¾ About: Formed in 2019 by merging the Central Companies Act, 1956, involved in various financial
Statistical Office (CSO) and the National Sample activities such as providing loans and advances,
Survey Office (NSSO). acquiring shares, stocks, bonds, debentures, and
€ C. Rangarajan Committee first suggested the securities issued by the government or local authorities.
establishment of NSO as the nodal body for all € NBFCs do not include institutions primarily
core statistical activities. engaged in:
€ It currently works under the Ministry of Statistics z Agricultural or industrial activities
and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). z Purchase or sale of goods (other than securities)
¾ Function: Collects, compiles, and disseminates z Providing services
reliable, objective, and relevant statistical data. z Dealing in immovable property.

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¾ Difference Between Banks & NBFCs:

€ While banks can accept demand deposits from customers, NBFCs are not permitted to do so.

€ NBFCs are not part of the payment and settlement system, unlike banks.

€ NBFCs cannot issue cheques drawn on themselves, which banks are authorised to do.

€ The deposit insurance facility provided by Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available
to NBFC depositors, unlike bank depositors.
What is FATF?

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 61

International Relations
Highlights
z India Sri Lanka Relations z Nordic-Baltic Cooperation

¾ Geopolitical Context:
India Sri Lanka Relations € The project reflects geopolitical dynamics, with
India offering grant assistance (insteasd of China’s
Why in News? loan based project) in response to concerns about
Recently, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority and a Chinese-backed project in the region.
Indian company U-Solar Clean Energy Solutions have € This reflects a broader competition for influence
signed a contract for building “Hybrid Renewable Energy between India and China in the Indian Ocean region.
Systems” in Delft or Neduntheevu, Nainativu and € The project not only addresses energy needs but
Analaitivu islands off the Jaffna peninsula in Sri Lanka. also has geopolitical implications, demonstrating
¾ The project is supported through grant assistance of the strategic importance of energy infrastructure
USD 11 million grant from the Government of India. in the region.
¾ The Sri Lankan Cabinet earlier cleared Sinosoar-
Etechwin Joint Venture in China, a project from China,
to execute renewable energy projects in these three
islands in Sri Lanka, which now has been replaced
by India.
What is the Hybrid Renewable Energy System
Project of Sri Lanka?
¾ About:
€ It involves the construction of hybrid renewable
energy systems, combining various forms of energy
including solar, wind, battery power, and standby
How have Relations Between India and Sri
diesel power systems.
Lanka Been?
€ This initiative is part of India’s broader support
for energy projects in Sri Lanka, particularly in the ¾ Historical Ties:
northern and eastern regions. € India and Sri Lanka have a long history of cultural,
z The National Thermal Power Corporation and religious, and trade ties dating back to ancient times.
the Adani Group are also involved in other € There are strong cultural ties between the two
renewable energy projects in different parts countries, with many Sri Lankans tracing their
of Sri Lanka. heritage to India. Buddhism, which originated in
¾ Capacity: India, is also an important religion in Sri Lanka.
€ The project aims to address the energy needs of ¾ Financial Assistance from India:
the inhabitants of the three islands. It includes € India provided approximately USD 4 billion worth
530 kW of wind power, 1,700 kW of solar power, of aid to Sri Lanka during an unprecedented
and 2,400 kWh of battery power and 2,500 kW of economic crisis, which was crucial for the country
stand by diesel power system. to survive the crisis.

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€ Sri Lanka was hit by a catastrophic financial crisis €Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from India
in 2022, the worst since its independence from amounted to around USD 1.7 billion over the years
Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign from 2005 to 2019.
exchange reserves. ¾ Defence:
¾ Role in Debt Restructuring: € India and Sri Lanka conduct joint military (Mitra

€ India has played a role in collaborating with the Shakti) and Naval exercise (SLINEX).
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and creditors ¾ Participation in Groupings:
to help Sri Lanka in restructuring its debt. € Sri Lanka is also a member of groupings like BIMSTEC
€ India became the first country to hand over its letter (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical
of support for financing and debt restructuring and Economic Cooperation) and SAARC in which
of Sri Lanka. India plays a leading role.
¾ Joint Vision for Connectivity: ¾ Tourism:
€ Both countries have agreed on a joint vision that € In 2022, India was the largest source of tourists

emphasises comprehensive connectivity, including for Sri Lanka with over 100,000 tourists.
People to People connectivity, renewable energy What is the Significance of India and Sri Lanka
cooperation, logistics, port connectivity, and grid
Relations?
connectivity for electricity trade.
¾ Focus on Regional Development:
¾ Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement
€ India’s progress is intricately linked with its
(ETCA):
neighbouring nations, and Sri Lanka aims to enhance
€ Both countries are exploring the possibility of
its own growth by integrating with the Southern
an ETCA to integrate their economies and foster
economy, in South Asia.
development.
¾ Geographical Location:
¾ Agreement on a Multi-Project Petroleum Pipeline:
€ Sri Lanka, positioned near India’s southern coast
€ Both India and Sri Lanka have agreed to establish
across the Palk Strait, holds a crucial role in the
a multi-product petroleum pipeline from the
relationship between the two nations.
southern part of India to Sri Lanka.
€ The Indian Ocean is a strategically important
€ This pipeline aims to ensure an affordable and
waterway for trade and military operations, and
reliable supply of energy resources to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s location at the crossroads of major
Recognition of energy’s critical role in economic shipping lanes makes it a critical point of control
development and progress is driving the focus on for India.
establishing the petroleum pipeline.
¾ Ease of Doing Business & Tourism:
¾ Adoption of India’s UPI:
€ The enhancement of digital payment systems
€ Sri Lanka has now adopted India’s UPI service, across the two nations will promote economic
which is a significant step towards enhancing integration and simplify business transactions
fintech connectivity between the two countries. between India and Sri Lanka.
€ The use of rupee for trade settlement is further € This advancement will not only streamline trade but
helping Sri Lanka’s economy. These are concrete also improve connectivity for tourism exchanges
steps to help Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and between the two nations.
growth.
What are the Challenges in India-Sri Lanka
¾ Economic Ties:
Relations?
€ India is Sri Lanka’s third largest export destination,
after the US and UK. More than 60% of Sri Lanka’s ¾ Fisheries Dispute:
exports enjoy the benefits of the India-Sri Lanka € One of the longstanding issues between India and

Free Trade Agreement. India is also a major Sri Lanka is related to fishing rights in the Palk
investor in Sri Lanka. Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. Indian fishermen

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 63
have often been arrested by Sri Lankan authorities z China has made investments as the South Asia
for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary and Commercial and Logistics Hub (SACL) at Colombo
engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters. Port, led by China Merchants Port Holdings.
€ This has led to tensions and occasional incidents z Faxian Charity Project, involves distributing
involving fishermen from both countries. food rations and offering aid to vulnerable
¾ Katchatheevu Island Dispute: communities in Sri Lanka.
€ The Katchatheevu issue revolves around the
ownership and usage rights of the uninhabited Nordic-Baltic Cooperation
island of Katchatheevu, located in the Palk Strait
between India and Sri Lanka. Why in News?
z In 1974, an agreement between the Prime At Raisina Dialogue 2024, 8 Nordic-Baltic countries
Ministers of India and Sri Lanka recognized (NB8) participated together as representatives of the
Katchatheevu as part of Sri Lanka’s territory, Nordic-Baltic cooperation.
altering its ownership.
z However, the agreement allowed Indian
fishermen to continue fishing in the surrounding
waters, dry their nets on the island and permitted
Indian pilgrims to visit a Catholic shrine there.
€ Despite historical usage by fishermen from both
countries, a supplementary pact in 1976 defined
maritime boundaries and exclusive economic
zones, imposing restrictions on fishing activities
without explicit permission.
¾ Border Security and Smuggling:
€ The porous maritime boundary between India and
Sri Lanka has been a concern in terms of border
security and the smuggling of goods, including
narcotics and illegal immigrants.
¾ Tamil Ethnic Issue:
€ The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, particularly involving
the Tamil minority, has been a sensitive topic in
What is Nordic-Baltic Cooperation?
India-Sri Lanka relations. India has historically
been concerned about the welfare and rights of ¾ About: The Nordic-Baltic cooperation is an informal
the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. regional cooperation format established in 1992,
bringing together 5 Nordic (Finland, Sweden, Norway,
¾ China’s Influence:
Denmark, and Iceland) and 3 Baltic countries (Estonia,
€ India has expressed concerns about China’s Latvia, and Lithuania).
increasing economic and strategic influence € It was named the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) in 2000
on Sri Lanka, including Chinese investments in on the initiative of Toomas Hendrik Ilves (former
infrastructure projects and the development of Estonian Foreign Minister).
the Hambantota Port. This has sometimes been € Sweden holds the chairmanship of the NB8 in 2024.
viewed as a challenge to India’s own interests in
¾ Key Report: One of the main documents on NB8
the region. Some Chinese Projects in Sri Lanka are:
cooperation is the NB8 Wise Men Report, also known
z In 2023, Sri Lanka reached an agreement with as the Birkavs-Gade Report, which provides concrete
the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China to cover guidelines for promoting cooperation between the
about USD 4.2 billion of its outstanding debt. eight countries.

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¾ NB8 and India: Collaboration between Nordic-Baltic € Additionally, in 2011, an agreement was reached
countries and India spans various fields including to convene meetings between the prime ministers
innovation, green transition, maritime affairs, health, of the NB8 countries and the United Kingdom,
intellectual property rights, technology, space and evolving into what is now recognised as the
tourism. Northern Future Forum.
¾ NB6: When the Baltic countries became members
€ In November 2023, the 2nd CII (Confederation of
of the European Union in 2004, the NB6 format was
Indian Industries) India Nordic-Baltic Business created.
Conclave was held in New Delhi, aiming to foster € This includes the European Union member states of
collaboration between India and the NB8. the NB8, namely Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Latvia,
¾ Outreach of NB8: Since 2003, there have been regular Lithuania and Estonia, and provides a framework
meetings at the political directors’ level between the for informal meetings to discuss topical EU issues.
NB8 countries and the United States, known as the z Iceland and Norway are not members of the
e-PINE format. European Union.

nnn

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 65

Social Issues
Highlights
z Levels and Trends in Child Mortality z World Poverty Clock
z Challenges Faced by the Gig Workers z Women, Business and the Law 2024
z Snakebite Envenoming z Growing Obesity in India
z Abortion z Rare Disease Day 2024
z Enhancing Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities z Marriage Can’t be Grounds to Sack Women from the Military

zFurthermore, 2.1 million children, adolescents,

Levels and Trends in Child and youth aged 5–24 also died that year.
Mortality ¾ Magnitude of Lives Lost:
€ Between 2000 and 2022, the world lost 221 million

Why in News? children, adolescents, and youth, with nearly the

entire population of Nigeria being a staggering
Recently, the United Nations Inter-agency Group for
comparison.
Child Mortality Estimation, has released a report titled-
z Neonatal deaths (death of a baby within 28
Levels and Trends in Child Mortality, which highlighted
days of birth) accounted for 72 million of these
that the annual number of global under-five deaths in
under-five deaths, and deaths among children
2022 declined by more than half from the 2000 estimate
aged 1–59 months numbered 91 million.
— from 9.9 million to 4.9 million.
€ The trend of under-five deaths has increased in the
What are the Key Highlights of the Report? neonatal period from 41% in 2000 to 47% in 2022.
¾ Historic Low in Child Mortality: ¾ Inequality in Survival Chances:
€ The annual number of under the age of five deaths € Children face unequal chances of survival based
dropped to 4.9 million in 2022, representing a on factors such as geographical location, socio-
significant achievement in the global effort to economic status, and whether they live in fragile
reduce child mortality. or conflict-affected settings.
€ This is coupled with a decline of more than half € These disparities highlight persistent and entrenched

in the global under-five mortality rate (U5MR) inequities among vulnerable populations of children.
since 2000. ¾ Regional Disparities:
z The decline in under-five mortality has been € While global rates of child mortality are declining,
consistent, driven by sustained commitment there are significant regional disparities.
from various stakeholders including governments, z 35 million children under the age of 5 will lose
organisations, local communities, healthcare their life before 2030 and sub-Saharan Africa
professionals, and families. will bear most of the death toll.
¾ Persistent High Death Toll: € Countries will not meet the UN-mandated
€ Despite the progress, the annual death toll Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets
among children, adolescents, and youth remains on time.
unacceptably high. z If, however, every country realised the SDG-

€ In 2022, 2.3 million under-five deaths occurred 5 vision of an end to preventable under-five
during the first month of life, and an additional deaths and met the relevant mortality targets
2.6 million children died between the ages of 1 on time, 9 million more children would survive
and 59 months. to age five.

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Under current trends, 59 countries will miss the

€ ¾ Implement Surveillance Guidelines: Ensuring effective
SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) under-five implementation of maternal and perinatal deaths
mortality target and 64 countries will miss the surveillance guidelines can help in identifying trends,
neonatal mortality target. risk factors, and opportunities for intervention.
¾ Recommendations: € This includes timely reporting and analysis of

€ Several low- and lower-middle-income countries

maternal and perinatal deaths to inform policy
have outperformed the global decline in under- and practice.
five mortality, in some cases slashing their rates What are India’s Initiatives for Women Nutrition
by more than two thirds since 2000. and Preventing Child Mortality?
z These inspiring outcomes demonstrate the high ¾ POSHAN Abhiyaan: The government of India has
returns when investments are made in maternal, launched the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) or
newborn and child health and survival. POSHAN Abhiyaan to ensure a “Malnutrition Free
€ They also provide important proof that if sustained India” by 2022.
and strategic action is taken – even in resource € Further, in order to enhance the effectiveness
constrained settings – levels and trends in under and efficiency of the Poshan Abhiyaan, Mission
five mortality will shift and lives will be saved. SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the
What can be done to Curb Child Mortality? integrated nutrition support programme was
announced in budget 2021-2022 for all States/
¾ Increase Access to Family Planning Services: Providing
UTs.
comprehensive family planning services can help
prevent unintended pregnancies, which can reduce € Steps have been taken to improve nutritional
the risk of preterm births and stillbirths. quality and testing in accredited labs, strengthen
delivery and leverage technology under Poshan
¾ Improve Antepartum Services: Enhancing antenatal
Tracker to improve governance.
care services, including regular health and nutrition
check-ups for pregnant women, can contribute to ¾ Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: Launched in 2018,
healthier pregnancies and reduce the likelihood of the mission aims at accelerating the annual rate of
preterm births and stillbirths. decline of anaemia from one to three percentage
€ Ensuring access to iron folic acid supplementation
points.
for pregnant mothers can also improve maternal ¾ Mission Shakti: ‘Mission Shakti’ comprises two sub-
and foetal health. schemes ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’ for safety and
¾ Identification and Management of Risk Factors: security of women and empowerment of women
Implementing effective screening programs to identify respectively.
and manage risk factors associated with preterm births € The schemes of One Stop Centres (OSC), Women
and stillbirths can help mitigate adverse outcomes. Helplines (181-WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
€ This includes managing conditions such as (BBBP) and Nari Adalat are part of ‘Sambal’
hypertension, diabetes, and infections during sub- scheme.
pregnancy. € The components of Pradhan Mantri Matru
¾ Improve Data Recording and Reporting: Enhancing Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Palna, Shakti Sadan,
data collection systems to accurately record and Sakhi Niwas and Hub for Empowerment of Women
report preterm births and stillbirths is crucial for are part of ‘Samarthya’ sub scheme.
understanding the magnitude of the problem and ¾ Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
implementing targeted interventions effectively. Scheme: It was launched in 1975 and the scheme
€ Adopting standardised classification systems, such aims at providing food, preschool education, primary
as the International Classification of Diseases, for healthcare, immunisation, health check-up and
reporting perinatal mortality can improve data referral services to children under 6 years of age
quality and comparability. and their mothers.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 67
at the doorstep’ policy of certain e-commerce
Challenges Faced by the Gig platforms.
Workers € Many drivers and delivery persons struggle to
take regular days off, with less than 37% of drivers
Why in News? belonging to a union.
¾ Issues with Platforms:
Recently, a study was conducted by the People’s
€ Workers face issues such as ID deactivation and
Association in Grassroots Action and Movements, and
the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers, customer misbehaviour, negatively impacting
Which highlights the challenges encountered by the Gig their ability to work effectively.
Workers such as app-based cab and delivery drivers/ € A significant majority of drivers and delivery persons

persons in India. report negative effects from customer behaviour.

¾ Recommendations:
What are the Key Highlights of the Study?
€ The report recommended regulations to ensure
¾ Long Working Hours: that companies establish fair and transparent
€ Almost a third of app-based cab drivers work payment structures to protect gig workers from
for over 14 hours a day, with more than 83% being underpaid or exploited by companies.
working more than 10 hours and 60% working € Payment of a minimum wage to platform workers
over 12 hours. will help guarantee a fixed component in the
€ Social disparities exacerbate the situation, with income.
over 60% of drivers from Scheduled Castes (SC) z In instances of blocking the IDs of workers,
and Scheduled Tribes (ST) working for over 14 such practices should not be allowed and IDs
hours a day. of workers cannot be indefinitely blocked.
¾ Low Pay: € The platforms need to address rising voices of
€ Over 43% of gig workers earn less than Rs 500 a income insufficiency and respond to worker
day or Rs 15,000 a month after deducting all costs. demands such as reducing the amount of
€ Additionally, 34% of app-based delivery persons commission they charge per transaction or making
earn less than Rs 10,000 a month. These income separate payments for workers’ fuel bill, which
disparities contribute to existing social inequalities. keeps inflating as fuel prices rise.
¾ Financial Strain: € The study recommends stronger social security for

€ 72% of cab drivers and 76% of delivery persons app-based workers and government oversight on
face difficulty managing expenses, with 68% of cab the fairness of algorithms and mechanisms used
drivers’ overall expenses exceeding their earnings, by platforms to monitor workers.
potentially leading to debt-like situations. Who are Gig Workers?
¾ Unsatisfactory Compensation:
¾ Gig Workers:
€ Over 80% of app-based cab drivers were unsatisfied
€ Gig workers are individuals who work on a
with the fares offered by the companies, while
temporary, flexible basis, often for multiple clients
over 73% of app-based delivery persons were
or companies, performing tasks or providing services.
dissatisfied with their rates.
€ They are typically independent contractors rather
€ The survey claims that employers are deducting
than traditional employees, which means they
between 31-40% of the commission rate per ride
have more control over when, where, and how
of drivers, while the officially claimed figure by the
they work.
companies themselves is 20%.
¾ Gig Economy:
¾ Work Conditions:
€ A free market system in which temporary positions
€ Due to demanding work hours, drivers are physically
are common and organisations contract with
exhausted and at increased risk of road traffic
independent workers for short-term engagements.
accidents especially due to the ‘10-minute delivery

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Why is it Essential to Provide Social Security Benefits to Gig Workers?

¾ Economic Security:
€ The ‘demand-based only’ nature of the sector results in a lack of job security and uncertainty attached to the
continuity of income making it even more reasonable to provide social security benefits like unemployment
insurance, disability coverage, and retirement savings programs.
¾ More Productive Workforce:
€ Lack of access to employer-sponsored health insurance and other healthcare benefits leaves gig workers
vulnerable to unexpected medical expenses; prioritising their health and well-being will create a healthier
and more productive workforce.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 69
¾ Equity in Opportunities: rights and entitlements regarding social security
€ Exemption from traditional employment protections benefits.
creates disparities where gig workers face z Raising awareness and providing education
exploitative working conditions and inadequate about the importance of social security,
compensation. Providing social security benefits eligibility criteria, and the application process
will level the playing field. is a challenging task.
¾ Long-term Financial Security:
What can be done to Ensure Social Security of
€ Without employer-sponsored retirement plans,
Gig Workers?
gig workers may struggle to save enough for their
future. Enabling gig workers to save for retirement ¾ Implementing Code on Social Security, 2020:
will reduce the risk of future financial hardship € Although the Code on Social Security, 2020, contains
and dependence on public assistance programs. provisions for gig workers, crcthe rules are yet to
What are the Main Challenges in Providing be framed by the States and not much has moved
in terms of instituting the Board. These should thus
Social Security Benefits to Gig Workers?
be taken up expeditiously by the government.
¾ Classification and Excess Flexibility:
¾ Adopt International Examples:
€ Blurred boundaries between self-employment and
€ The UK has instituted a model by categorising gig
dependent employment, and freedom to work
workers as “workers,” which is a category between
for multiple firms or quit at will, make it difficult
employees and the self-employed.
to determine the extent of company obligations
towards gig workers. z This secures them a minimum wage, paid
holidays, retirement benefit plans, and health
€ The gig economy is characterised by its flexibility,
insurance.
allowing workers to choose when, where, and
how much they work. € Similarly, in Indonesia, they are entitled to accident,
z Designing social security benefits that
health, and death insurance.
accommodate this flexibility and meet the ¾ Expanding Employer Responsibilities:
diverse needs of gig workers is a complex task. € Strong support for gig workers should come from
¾ Funding and Cost Distribution: the gig companies that themselves benefit from
€ Traditional social security systems rely on employer this agile and low-cost work arrangement.
and employee contributions, with employers z The practice of classifying gig workers as self-
typically bearing a significant portion of the costs. employed or independent contractors needs
z In the gig economy, where workers are often to be eliminated.
self-employed, identifying appropriate funding z Companies must be provided equal benefits
mechanisms becomes complex. as that of a regular employee.
¾ Coordination and Data Sharing: ¾ Government Support:
€ Efficient data sharing and coordination among gig € The government should invest in systematically
platforms, government agencies, and financial increasing exports in high-skill gig work such as in
institutions are necessary to accurately assess gig the education, financial advisory, legal, medicine or
workers’ earnings, contributions, and eligibility customer management sectors; by making it easier
for various social security programs. for Indian gig workers to access global markets.
z However, as gig workers often work for multiple
€ Also, it would require collaboration between
platforms or clients, it becomes challenging to governments, gig platforms, and labour organisations
coordinate and ensure proper coverage. to establish fair and transparent mechanisms for
¾ Education and Awareness: sharing the responsibility of providing social
€ Many gig workers may not fully understand their security benefits.

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Government’s Initiatives Related to Gig Workers z Strengthening of emergency care services at

District Hospitals/ CHCs including services for
¾ The Code on Social Security, 2020, contains a separate
ambulances, institutionalisation of Regional
section on ‘gig economy’ and imposes an obligation
Venom Centre’s and inter-sectoral coordination.
on gig employers to contribute to a Social Security
Fund to be handled by a government-led board. € Wildlife Health: The strategic action for wildlife
health component includes education awareness,
¾ The Code on Wages, 2019, provides for universal
antivenom distribution, strengthening of the key
minimum wage and floor wage across organised
stakeholders, systematic research and monitoring
and unorganised sectors, including gig workers.
and snake venom collection and snake relocation.
€ Animal and Agriculture Component: The strategic
Snakebite Envenoming action for animal and agriculture component
includes prevention of snakebites in livestock,
Why in News? community engagement etc.
Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare What is Snakebites Envenoming (SE)?
has launched a National Action Plan for Prevention and
Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-SE), under the ¾ About:
‘One Health’ approach. € Snakebite Envenoming (SE) is classified by the World
Health Organisation (WHO) as a High-Priority
What is the National Action Plan for Prevention
Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD).
and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-
€ SE is a potentially life-threatening disease that
SE)? typically results from the injection of a mixture
¾ About: of different toxins (venom) following the bite of
€ The NAP-SE provides a broad framework for a Venomous Snake.
management, prevention and control of Snakebite z It can also be caused by having venom sprayed
envenoming in India. into the eyes by certain species of snakes that
€ This NAP-SE echoes the global voice of reducing have the ability to spit venom as a defence
the deaths due to snakebite envenoming by half measure.
and envisages all strategic components, roles and € Snakebite poses a significant daily health risk in
responsibilities of concerned stakeholders. rural tropical and subtropical regions of Africa,
€ The NAP-SE is a guidance document for the states/ the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America,
UTs and stakeholders to develop their own action particularly for the hundreds of millions of people
plan, specific to their needs and aims at systematic in rural and peri-urban communities reliant on
reduction of snakebite envenoming risk through agriculture and subsistence activities for survival.
sustained availability of anti-snake venom, capacity
¾ B
building, referral mechanism and public education.
€ Many snakebite victims, mostly in developing
¾ Aim:
countries, suffer from long-term complications
€ To prevent and control snakebite envenoming in
such as deformities, contractures, amputations,
order to halve the numbers of deaths and cases
visual impairment, renal complications and
of disability that it causes by 2030.
psychological distress.
€ To progressively reduce the morbidity, mortality
¾ Prevalence:
and its associated complications in humans due
to Snake bite. € In India, around 50,000 deaths occur of an estimated

¾ Strategic Actions:
3-4 million snake bites annually which accounts
for half of all snakebite deaths globally.
€ Human Health: The strategic action for human
z Only a small proportion of snake bite victims
health component includes ensuring provision
of anti snake venom at all health facilities, across countries report to the clinics and
strengthening surveillance of snakebite cases and hospitals and actual burden of snake bite is
deaths in humans. grossly underreported.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 71
As per the Central Bureau of Health Investigation
€
(CBHI) reports (2016-2020), the average annual
frequency of snakebite cases in India is around
3 lakhs and about 2000 deaths occur due to
snakebite envenoming.
€ In India, around 90% of snake bites are caused by
the ‘big four’ among the crawlers - common krait,
Indian cobra, Russell’s viper and saw scaled viper.
¾ WHO’s Roadmap for SE:
€ WHO launched its roadmap in 2019 with an aim to
halve death and disability from snakebite by 2030.
z In order to create a sustainable market for
antivenoms there is a need for a 25% increase
in the number of competent manufacturers What are Neglected Tropical Diseases
by 2030. (NTDs)?
z WHO has planned a pilot project to create a ¾ NTDs are a group of infections that are most common
global antivenom stockpile. among marginalized communities in the developing
z Integrating snakebite treatment and response regions of Africa, Asia and the Americas.
into national health plans in affected countries, ¾ They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as
including better training of health personnel viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms.
and educating communities. ¾ NTDs are especially common in tropical areas where
¾ Indian Initiatives: people do not have access to clean water or safe
€ Much before the WHO roadmap was launched, ways to dispose of human waste.
researchers from Indian Council of Medical Research ¾ These diseases generally receive less funding
(ICMR) started community awareness and health for research and treatment than malaises like
system capacity building from the year 2013. tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS and malaria.
€ In alignment with WHO’s Snakebite Envenoming € Examples of NTDs are: snakebite envenomation,

Strategy and the United Nations’ Sendai Framework scabies, yaws, trachoma, Leishmaniasis and
for Disaster Risk Reduction, India ratified a National Chagas disease etc.
Action Plan in 2015 to combat this issue.
What is the One Health Concept?
¾ One Health is an approach that recognises that the
health of people is closely connected to the health
of animals and our shared environment.
¾ One Health’ vision derives its blueprint from the
agreement between the tripartite-plus alliance
comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation
for Animal Health (OIE).
¾ It’s purpose is to encourage collaborations in
research and sharing of knowledge at multiple levels
across various disciplines like human health, animal Abortion
health, plants, soil, environmental and ecosystem
health in ways that improve, protect and defend Why in News?
the health of all species. Recently, the French lawmakers have overwhelmingly

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approved a bill to enshrine abortion rights in France’s ¾ Legal Provisions Related to Abortion in India:
constitution, making it the only country to explicitly
€ Until the 1960s, abortion was prohibited in India,
guarantee a woman’s right to voluntarily terminate a
pregnancy. and violating this led to imprisonment or fines
under Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code.
¾ The approved bill amends Article 34 of the French
Constitution, explicitly stating that “the law determines z The Shantilal Shah Committee was set up
the conditions by which the freedom of women to in the mid-1960s to investigate the need for
have recourse to an abortion, which is guaranteed.” abortion regulations.
Note: The bill was brought forth in response to concerns z Based on its findings, the Medical Termination
about the erosion of abortion rights globally, particularly of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 was enacted,
highlighted by the US Supreme Court’s decision in Roe
allowing safe and legal abortions, safeguarding
v Wade case to overturn long standing abortion rights
in 2022. women’s health, and reducing maternal mortality.
z The Supreme Court recognized martial rape
What is Abortion?
as a ground for abortion, even though marital
¾ About: rape itself is not recognized, in a progressive
€ Abortion is the deliberate termination of a move for women’s reproductive rights.
pregnancy, typically performed during the first
€ The MTP Act, 1971, allows abortion up to 20 weeks
28 weeks of gestation. It can be achieved through
of gestation, with the consent of the woman and on
various medical procedures or medications,
the advice of one registered medical practitioner
depending on the stage of pregnancy and the
preferences of the individual seeking abortion. (RMP). However, the law was updated in 2002
and 2021.
€ Abortion can be a highly contentious and debated
topic, often involving ethical, moral, religious, and z The MTP Amendment Act, 2021 permits
legal considerations. abortion from 20 to 24 weeks of gestation for
¾ Proponents: specific cases like rape survivors, with approval
€ Proponents of abortion rights argue that it is from two doctors.
a fundamental reproductive right that allows z It sets up state level Medical Boards to decide if
individuals to make choices about their own bodies, a pregnancy may be terminated after 24 weeks
health, and future. in cases of substantial fetal abnormalities.
€ They emphasise the importance of access to safe ¾ It extends the failure of contraceptive clauses to
and legal abortion services in preventing unwanted unmarried women (initially only married women),
pregnancies, protecting women’s health, and
allowing them to seek abortion services on grounds
supporting reproductive autonomy.
of their choice, irrespective of their marital status.
¾ Opponents:
€ Consent requirements vary based on age and mental
€ Opponents of abortion, often referred to as “pro-
state, ensuring medical practitioner oversight.
life,” believe that abortion is morally wrong and
should be restricted or prohibited entirely. ¾ The Constitution of India, which guarantees the right
to life and personal liberty to all citizens under Article
€ They typically argue that life begins at conception
and that terminating a pregnancy is equivalent to 21. This right has been interpreted by the Supreme
taking a human life, thus violating the rights of the Court of India to include the right to reproductive
unborn foetus. choice and autonomy for women.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 73

Note: In Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs. the Union Of India Case, 2017, the Supreme court recognized the
constitutional right of women to make reproductive choices, as a part of personal liberty under Article 21 of the
Indian Constitution.

What are the Concerns Related to Abortion? z However, the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare’s 2019-20 report on Rural Health
¾ Cases of Unsafe Abortions:
Statistics indicates that there is a 70% shortage
€ Unsafe abortions are the third leading cause of of obstetrician-gynaecologists in rural India.
maternal mortality in India, and close to 8 women
die from causes related to unsafe abortions each
day, according to the United Nations Population
Enhancing Accessibility for
Fund (UNFPA)’s State of the World Population Persons with Disabilities
Report 2022.
€ The women outside marriages and in poor families Why in News?
are left with no choice but to use unsafe or illegal Recently, the Central Public Works Department
ways to abort unwanted pregnancies. (CPWD) has prioritised improving accessibility for persons
with disabilities (PwDs) in public buildings. Despite the
¾ Preference for a Male Child:
enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act
€ The selective abortion of female foetuses is most in 2016, challenges remain, leading the CPWD to
common where male children are valued over implement measures to ensure adherence to accessibility
female children, especially in parts of East Asia standards.
and South Asia (particularly in countries such as
What is the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
China, India and Pakistan).
(RPwDs) Act, 2016?
¾ Shortage of Medical Expert in Rural India:
¾ About:
€ According to a 2018 study in the Lancet, 15.6
€ The RPwDs Act, 2016, implements the United
million abortions were accessed every year in Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
India as of 2015. Disabilities, ratified by India in 2007.
€ The MTP Act requires abortion to be performed z It replaced the Persons with Disabilities (Equal
only by doctors with specialisation in gynaecology Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full
or obstetrics. Participation) Act, 1995.

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€In India, there were around 26.8 million persons guidelines, ensuring accessibility for persons with
with disabilities or Divyangjan, constituting 2.21% disabilities.
of India’s total population (2011 Census). z The comprehensive guidelines cover planning,
€ The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) estimates tendering, and specifications for various
that 2.2% of the Indian population is disabled. accessibility features such as ramps, grab rails,
z NSSO 76th round, 2019 states that additionally, the lifts, and toilets with considerations for persons
incidence of disability in the Indian population with disabilities.
during a 365-day period per 1,00,000 people z All building plans must align with these
was recorded to be 86. guidelines to ensure equal access for persons
¾ Expanded Definition of Disability: with disabilities.
€ Disability is defined based on an evolving and € Existing buildings are mandated to undergo
dynamic concept. retrofitting within five years to meet accessibility
€ In the RPWD Act, 2016, the types of disabilities standards, promoting better inclusivity for persons
increased from 7 to 21, with a provision for the with disabilities.
Central Government to add more. Note: The 21 disabilities, in RPWD Act, 2016, include
¾ Rights and Entitlements: Blindness, Low-vision, Leprosy Cured Persons, Hearing
€ Appropriate governments tasked with ensuring Impairment (deaf and hard of hearing), Locomotor
equal rights for persons with disabilities. Disability, Dwarfism, Intellectual Disability, Mental
€ Additional benefits such as reservation in higher Illness, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy,
education (minimum 5%), government jobs Muscular Dystrophy, Chronic Neurological Conditions,
(minimum 4%), and allocation of land (minimum Specific Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia), Multiple
5%) provided for persons with benchmark disabilities Sclerosis, Speech and Language Disability, Thalassemia,
and those with high support needs. Hemophilia, Sickle Cell Disease, Multiple Disabilities
€ Free education guaranteed for every child with
including deaf-blindness, Acid Attack victim, and
a benchmark disability between 6 and 18 years. Parkinson’s disease.
z Government-funded and recognized educational What are the Other Initiatives Related to the
institutions mandated to provide inclusive Empowerment of the Disabled?
education to children with disabilities.
¾ Unique Disability Identification Portal.
€ Emphasis on making public infrastructure and
facilities accessible to persons with disabilities, ¾ DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme.
enhancing their participation and inclusion. ¾ Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting
¾ Mandates for Public Buildings: of Aids and Appliances.
€ Rule 15 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ¾ National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities.
Rules, 2017 mandates the central government ¾ Divya Kala Mela 2023.
to establish guidelines and standards for public ¾ Accessible India Campaign
buildings to ensure accessibility for persons with
disabilities. What are the Concerns Regarding Accessibility
z These standards encompass the physical
in Public Buildings?
environment, transport, and information and ¾ PwDs and activists report that the guidelines established
communication technology for persons with in 2016 have not been effectively implemented.
disabilities. Furthermore, the newer 2021 guidelines are facing
z Every establishment, including public buildings, similar neglect from state governments.
must adhere to these standards based on the € Analysts state that no state has yet incorporated
2016 harmonised guidelines. the harmonized guidelines into their building by-
€ Recent amendments to Rule 15 require laws, indicating a widespread failure to address
establishments to comply with the 2021 harmonised accessibility issues.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 75
¾ Experts highlight a lack of awareness and accountability
among engineers of public works departments World Poverty Clock
responsible for implementing accessibility guidelines.
¾ Funds for retrofitting projects are available, but many Why in News?
states and cities have not submitted applications for According to the latest data from the World Poverty
them, indicating a failure to prioritise accessibility Clock, India has successfully reduced the proportion of
initiatives.
its population living in ‘extreme poverty’ to below 3%.
¾ The Central Public Works Department’s memo lacks
¾ It signifies a substantial step towards accomplishing
clarity and may lead to unnecessary resource wastage,
the first of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
further hindering the effective implementation of
(SDGs) set by the United Nations, with the target
accessibility measures.
year of 2030.
Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
¾ The CPWD was originally established in July 1854 What are the Key Findings of the World
as the Ajmer Provisional Division. Its primary Poverty Clock?
objective was to execute public works, encompassing ¾ About:
disciplines such as architecture, engineering,
€ The World Poverty Clock tracks real-time poverty
project management, and building construction
estimates until 2030 for almost all countries,
and maintenance.
monitoring progress toward ending extreme
¾ Currently, CPWD operates under the Ministry of
poverty.
Urban Development and has a nationwide presence.
€ The Clock shows the worldwide number of people
¾ CPWD serves as the prime engineering bloc of the
in extreme poverty, sorting them by age, gender,
Union government, consisting of three divisions:
Buildings and Roads (B&R), Electrical and Mechanical and rural or urban residency, capturing both
(E&M), and Horticulture. those escaping poverty and those falling into it
every second.
¾ In 2016, CPWD embraced modern dust-free
construction methods, particularly the monolithic z The escape rate calculates the current rate of
system, for all projects exceeding a budget of Rs poverty reduction in the world.
100 crore. € It is backed by the International Fund for
€ The monolithic system involves pouring concrete Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Germany’s
for beams and slabs together, forming a unified Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
construction component. Development.

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¾ Methodology and Key Findings: a significant reduction in multidimensional

€ It computes poverty rates by considering income poverty in India, dropping from 29.17% in 2013-
levels, with the poverty threshold established at 14 to 11.28% in 2022-23, leading to 24.82 crore
USD 2.15 per day. individuals escaping multidimensional poverty
z The USD 2.15-a-day poverty line, reflecting
over the 9-year period.
national poverty lines in some of the poorest € The paper analysed multidimensional poverty
countries, is commonly known as the extreme trends in India from 2005-06 to 2022-23, using
poverty line. National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data and
z It is used to monitor progress towards the World projection methods for years without NFHS data.
Bank’s goal of reducing the share of people living
in extreme poverty to less than 3% by 2030.
Women, Business and the
€ The population in India experiencing extreme
poverty declined to approximately 3.44 crore in Law 2024
2024 from 4.69 crore in 2022, accounting for 2.4%
of the total population. Why in News?
z These figures confirm a claim by the CEO of Recently, the World Bank (WB) Group has released
NITI Aayog that less than 5% of Indians are a report titled-Women, Business and the Law 2024,
projected to be below the poverty line, with presenting in-depth analysis of the challenges obstructing
extreme destitution nearly eradicated, based women’s entry into the global workforce, hindering their
on the Household Consumption Expenditure ability to contribute to prosperity for themselves, their
Survey (HCES), 2022-23. families and their communities.
What is Women Business and Law 2024
Report?
¾ Its indexes align areas of the law and public policy
instruments with the economic decisions that women
make throughout their lives and careers, identifying
where and in what areas women continue to face
hurdles.
¾ Indicators: It has 10 indicators- Safety, Mobility,
Workplace, Pay, Child Care, Marriage, Parenthood,
Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension.
€ Safety from violence and access to childcare
services are very crucial indicators.
What are the Key Highlights of the Report?
¾ Legal Frameworks Index:
€ Among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) high-income economies,
¾ Other Global Targets: 11 scored 90 or above, with Italy leading at 95,
€ SDG target 1.1 aims for global poverty eradication followed by New Zealand and Portugal with 92.5.
by 2030, setting the ambitious goal for all countries, € By contrast, more than 37 economies provide
regions, and groups to reach zero poverty at the women with less than half of the legal rights
same international poverty line. enjoyed by men, affecting approximately half a
¾ Niti Aayog Recent Paper On Poverty: billion women. Notably, high-income economies
€ A recent NITI Aayog discussion paper revealed have an average score of 75.4.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 77
€ Upper-middle-income economies follow closely, ¾ Childcare:
with an average score of 66.8. The gap in scores € Women spend an average of 2.4 more hours a day
between the highest- and lowest scoring economies on unpaid care work than men, much of it on the
is most pronounced in high-income economies, care of children.
with a substantial difference of 75 points. € Only 78 economies,fewer than half, provide some
¾ Women Enjoy Fewer Legal Rights than Men: financial or tax support for parents with young
€ Women around the world enjoy only 64% of children.
the legal protections that men do, when legal z Only 62 economies—fewer than a third—have
differences involving violence and childcare are quality standards governing childcare services,
taken into account. This is even lower than the without which women might think twice about
previous estimate of 77%. going to work while they have children in their
¾ Gap Between Legal Reforms and Actual Outcomes care.
for Women: ¾ Significant Obstacles for Women:
€ Even though many countries have enacted laws € Women face significant obstacles in other areas.
promoting gender equality, there is a significant In the area of entrepreneurship, for example, just
gap between these laws and the actual experiences one in every five economies mandates gender-
of women. sensitive criteria for public procurement processes,
€ 98 economies have enacted legislation mandating meaning women are largely cut out of a USD
equal pay for women for work of equal value. 10-trillion-a-year economic opportunity.
z Yet only 35 economies, fewer than one out € In the area of pay, women earn just 77 cents for

of every five, have adopted pay-transparency every USD 1 paid to men. The rights gap extends
measures to address the pay gap. all the way to retirement. In 62 economies, the
¾ Poor Performances by the Countries: ages at which men and women can retire are not
the same.
€ Togo has been a standout among Sub-Saharan
€ Women tend to live longer than men, but because
economies, enacting laws that give women roughly
77% of the rights available to men, more than any they receive lower pay while they work, take time
other country in the continent. off when they have children, and retire earlier,
they end up with smaller pension benefits and
z Yet Togo, so far, has established only 27% of
greater financial insecurity in old age.
systems necessary for full implementation.
z This rate is average for Sub-Saharan economies. How did India Perform in Women, Business and
€ In 2023, governments were assertive in advancing the Law 2024 Report?
three categories of legal equal-opportunity reforms, ¾ India’s rank has marginally improved to 113, with a
Pay, Parental Rights, and workplace protections. score of 74.4%. While the country’s score has remained
z Still, nearly all countries performed poorly in constant since 2021, its ranking witnessed a decline
the two categories being tracked for the first from 122 in 2021 to 125 in 2022 and further to 126
time—access to childcare and women’s safety. in the 2023 index.
¾ Women’s Safety: ¾ Indian women have just 60% of the legal rights
€ The greatest weakness is in women’s safety, with
compared to men, slightly below the global average
the global average score being just 36. Women have of 64.2%.
barely a third of the necessary legal protections € However, India outperformed its South Asian

against domestic violence, sexual harassment, counterparts, where women have only 45.9% of
child marriage, and femicide. the legal protections enjoyed by men.
€ Although 151 economies have laws in place ¾ When it comes to constraints on freedom of movement
prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace, and constraints related to marriage, India got a full
just 39 have laws prohibiting it in public spaces. score.
This often prevents women from using public ¾ India receives one of its lowest scores in the indicator
transportation to get to work. evaluating laws impacting women’s pay.

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To enhance this aspect India could explore measures

€ What are the Key Highlights of the Study?
such as mandating equal pay for equivalent work,
¾ India’s Statistics:
permitting women to work at night on par with
men and enabling women to engage in industrial € Obesity:
jobs on an equal footing with men. z The Lancet revealed that in 2022, 12.5 million
¾ When it comes to supportive frameworks, India children (7.3 million boys and 5.2 million girls)
scored higher than both the global and South Asian aged between 5-19 years in India were classified
averages. as grossly overweight, marking a significant
increase from 0.4 million in 1990.
What are the Recommendations of the Report?
z In the prevalence of obesity category for girls
¾ Eliminating discriminatory laws and practices hindering and boys, India ranked 174th in the world in 2022.
women from working or initiating businesses could
z Among adults, in women, the obesity rate
result in a more than 20% increase in global gross
increased from 1.2% in 1990 to 9.8% in 2022
domestic product.
and men from 0.5% to 5.4% in the same period.
€ It has the potential to double the rate of global
growth in the upcoming decade. € Undernutrition:
¾ Effective implementation of equal-opportunity laws z The prevalence of undernutrition has also
depends on an adequate supporting framework, remained high in India, as a result, India has
including strong enforcement mechanisms, a system become one of the countries with a high “double
for tracking gender-related pay disparities, and the burden,” of Malnutrition.
availability of healthcare services for women who „ 13.7% of women and 12.5% of men were
survive violence. underweight.
¾ It is more urgent than ever to accelerate efforts to z Thinness, a measure of being underweight in
reform laws and enact public policies that empower children, in Indian girls is the highest in the
women to work and start and grow businesses. world, with a prevalence of 20.3%.
¾ Increasing women’s economic participation is the „ It was the second highest in Indian boys,
key to amplifying their voices and shaping decisions with a prevalence of 21.7%.
that affect them directly.
¾ Global:
The total number of children, adolescents and
Growing Obesity in India
€
adults worldwide living with obesity has surpassed
one billion.
Why in News?
z In total, 159 million children and adolescents,
A recent study published in The Lancet has shed light and 879 million adults were obese in 2022.
on the alarming increase in obesity rates among children,
€ The combined burden of underweight and
adolescents, and adults over the past few decades
obesity has increased in most countries, driven
worldwide.
by an increase in obesity, while underweight and
¾ This comprehensive analysis was conducted by the NCD
thinness remain prevalent in South Asia and
Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) in collaboration
parts of Africa.
with the World Health Organization.
€ In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight
¾ The study looked at body mass index (BMI) to
understand how obesity and underweight have and obesity was highest in island nations in the
changed worldwide from 1990 to 2022. Caribbean Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries
in the Middle East and North Africa.
Note: NCD-RisC is a network of health scientists around
€ The countries with the highest combined prevalence
the world that provides rigorous and timely data on
of thinness and obesity in 2022 were Polynesia,
major risk factors for non-communicable diseases for
Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes and
all of the world’s countries.
Chile and Qatar for boys.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 79
Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in South Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where
z
thinness remained prevalent despite having declined.
¾ Factors Contributing Obesity:
€ Women are more prone to gaining weight because they often don’t have time for exercise and prioritise their
family’s nutrition over their own.
€ They also tend to get less sleep due to household responsibilities.

€ Additionally, unhealthy junk food is cheaper and more readily available than nutritious options, leading to
increased obesity rates, even among those with lower incomes in places like Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Goa.
What are Overweight, Thinness, and Obesity?
¾ Body Mass Index:
€ BMI is a measure of weight-to-height commonly used to classify underweight, overweight, and obesity in adults.

€ It is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters (kg/m²).

z For example, an adult weighing 58 kg and standing 1.70 m tall will have a BMI of 20.1 (BMI = 58 kg / (1.70
m * 1.70 m)).
¾ Obesity and Overweight:
€ Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk.

€ Overweight is a condition of excessive fat deposits and Obesity is a chronic disease that occurs when the
body stores excess calories as fat.
z Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, musculoskeletal
disorders, and certain cancers.
z Childhood obesity is associated with serious health complications and an increased risk of premature
onset of related illnesses.
€ Obesity is one side of the double burden of malnutrition, and today more people are obese than underweight
in every region except the South-East Asia Region.
¾ Thinness and Underweight:
€ Thinness and Underweight refers to having a lower-than-normal body weight relative to height. It is often
associated with insufficient calorie intake or underlying health conditions.
€ Underweight is one of the four broad sub-forms of undernutrition.

z An adult is considered underweight if their BMI is less than 18 kg/m2. School-aged children and adolescents
are considered underweight if their BMI is two standard deviations below the mean.
z Undernutrition manifests in four broad forms: wasting, stunting, Underweight, and micronutrient
deficiencies.
€ Being underweight can lead to various health problems, including osteoporosis, skin, hair, or teeth issues,
frequent illnesses, fatigue, anaemia, irregular periods, premature births, impaired growth, and increased
mortality risk.

What are India’s Initiatives Related to Nutrition? ¾ Anganwadi

¾ Eat Right Mela ¾ Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme
¾ Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
¾ Fit India Movement
¾ Eat Right Station Certification
¾ Mission Poshan 2.0
Rare Disease Day 2024
¾ Mid-Day Meal Scheme Why in News?
¾ Poshan Vatikas Recently, Rare Disease Day was observed on the last

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80 CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m

day of February. This international awareness day is ¾ Characteristics and Impact of Rare Diseases:
dedicated to raising awareness of rare diseases and their € Rare diseases present with a broad diversity
significant impact on patients and their families. of disorders and symptoms, varying not only
What is Rare Disease Day? between diseases but also among patients with
the same disease.
¾ Rare Disease Day is a globally coordinated movement
€ The chronic, progressive, degenerative, and often
dedicated to advocating for equity in social opportunity,
life-threatening nature of rare diseases significantly
healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for
individuals with rare diseases. affects patients’ quality of life.
€ Lack of effective cures exacerbates the pain and
¾ The theme for Rare Disease Day 2024 is “Share Your
Colours,” which emphasizes collaboration and support. suffering endured by patients and their families.
¾ It was established in 2008 and observed annually on ¾ Challenges Faced by Individuals with Rare Diseases:
28th February (or 29 in leap years). Rare Disease Day € Delayed diagnosis due to lack of scientific knowledge

is coordinated by the European Organisation for Rare and quality information.

Diseases (EURORDIS) and over 65 national alliance € Inequalities in access to treatment and care leading
patient organization partners. to social and financial burdens.
¾ It serves as a focal point for advocacy work on local, € Common symptoms can mask underlying rare
national, and international levels, engaging individuals, diseases, leading to initial misdiagnosis.
families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, € According to EURORDIS, 5 years is the time it
researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, takes on average for rare disease patients to get
and the general public. a diagnosis.
What is a Rare Disease? z 70% of people with rare diseases wait more

¾ About: than 1 year to get a confirmed diagnosis after

€ Rare diseases are loosely defined as occurring
coming to medical attention.
infrequently in the population, with prevalence € Physicians’ lack of awareness and training in

varying between nations. interpreting rare disease signs and symptoms

€ The World Health Organization defines rare
contributes to diagnostic challenges.
diseases as often debilitating lifelong conditions What is the Landscape of Rare Diseases in
with a prevalence of 1 or less per 1000 population. India?
€ Different countries have their own definitions; for
instance, the US considers diseases affecting fewer ¾ Impact:
than 200,000 patients rare, while the European € India represents one-third of global rare disease

Union sets the limit at no more than 5 in 10,000 cases, encompassing over 450 identified diseases.
people. € Despite this significant prevalence, rare diseases

€ India currently does not have a standard definition, remain largely overlooked in India, with limited
but the Organisation of Rare Diseases India (ORDI) awareness, diagnosis, and drug development.
has suggested that a disease is to be defined as € Over 8 to 10 crore Indians are estimated to suffer
rare if it affects 1 in 5,000 people or less. from rare diseases, with over 75% being children.
¾ Global Rare Diseases Burden: ¾ Challenges in Policy and Implementation:
€ 300 million people worldwide are affected by € The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
rare diseases. formulated a national policy for rare diseases in
€ Rare diseases affect approximately 3.5% to 5.9% 2017 but withdrew it in 2018 due to implementation
of the population. challenges.
€ 72% of rare diseases are genetic, with over 7000 € The revised first National Policy for Rare Diseases
characterized by diverse disorders and symptoms. (NPRD) was announced in 2021, but problems
€ 75% of rare diseases affect children. 70% of rare persist, including the absence of a clear definition
diseases have their onset during childhood. for rare diseases.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 81
¾ Treatment Accessibility and Funding: €Group 3: Diseases with definitive treatment
€ Less than 50% of identified rare diseases in India available, but challenges exist in patient selection
are treatable, with approved treatments available and high treatment costs.
for only about 20 diseases. ¾ NPRD, 2021 has the provision for financial support
€ Access to approved treatments is limited to of up to Rs. 50 lakhs for patients suffering from any
designated Centres of Excellence (CoEs), which category of rare diseases and for treatment in any
are few (12) in number, unevenly distributed, and of the CoE mentioned in NPRD-2021, outside the
often lack coordination. Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogaya Nidhi(RAN).
€ The NPRD guidelines provide limited financial
€ RAN offers a maximum financial assistance of
assistance per patient, insufficient for lifelong Rs 20 lakh for patients suffering from specified
management and therapy of chronic rare diseases. rare diseases.
¾ Challenges in Fund Utilization:
€ Budget allocations for rare diseases have increased
but remain low, with Rs 93 crore allocated for Marriage Can’t be Grounds to
2023-2024. Sack Women from the
€ Confusion and disparities in fund utilization among
CoEs highlight inefficiencies in resource allocation. Military
z A staggering 51.3% of allocated funds remain
unutilized, despite patients urgently needing Why in News?
treatment. Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has directed the
€ Some CoEs struggle with underutilization of Ministry of Defence to pay Rs 60 lakh in compensation
allocated funds, while others exhaust their budgets to a former permanent commissioned officer in the
quickly, leading to unequal access to treatment. Military Nursing Service (MNS).
z For instance, Mumbai exhausted all its funds ¾ It is ruled that the officer was “wrongly” released
while treating only 20 out of 107 patients, Delhi from service in 1988 on grounds of her marriage.
utilized less than 20% of its funds.
Note: As of Aug 2023, over 7,000 women personnel
€ The burden of funding treatment often falls on
are serving in the Indian Army followed by 809 in the
patients and their families, with governmental
Indian Air Force and 1306 in the Navy.
support falling short.
€ Patients and advocacy groups call for sustainable What are the Key Facts of the Case?
funding from both the central and state governments ¾ Background:
to support rare disease treatment.
€ Former permanent commissioned officer of the
z Sustainable funding is crucial for patients,
MNS, was released from employment in 1988 on
especially those who have exhausted their
grounds of her marriage, as stipulated by Army
allotted funds and are struggling to continue
Instruction No. 61 of 1977 titled “Terms and
treatment.
Conditions of Service for the Grant of Permanent
National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021 Commissions in the Military Nursing Service.” It
¾ The NPRD, 2021 aims to reduce the prevalence and was later withdrawn by a letter dated 9th August,
incidence of rare diseases. 1995.
¾ Rare diseases are categorized into three groups: € It governed the terms and conditions of MNS.
Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 based on treatment z Clause 11 dealt with the termination of an
requirements. appointment on certain grounds. These included
€ Group 1: Disorders amenable to one-time “being pronounced by a medical board to be
curative treatment. unfit for further service in the Armed Forces”;
€ Group 2: Diseases requiring long-term/lifelong getting married; misconduct; breach of contract,
treatment with relatively lower treatment costs. or if services are found unsatisfactory.”

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82 CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m

€ In 2016, she sought recourse through the Armed € These officers had completed fourteen years of
Forces Tribunal (AFT), established under the service as SSC officers but were not considered
Armed Forces Tribunal Act of 2007 to adjudicate for the grant of Permanent Commissions (PCs)
disputes related to commission, appointments, and were subsequently discharged from service.
enrollment, and conditions of service. The AFT z In 2020, the SC held that serving women Short

deemed her termination “illegal” and directed Service Commission Officers in the Indian Navy
her reinstatement with back wages. were entitled to Permanent Commission at par
with their male counterparts.
€ However, the Central government contested this
¾ Secretary, Ministry of Defence vs. Babita Puniya
ruling by moving the Supreme Court in the case Case, 2020:
titled ‘Union of India & Others vs. Ex. Lt. Selina
€ In February 2020, SC upheld the demands of
John’. women in the SSC, stating that seeking a Permanent
¾ SC’s Observations: Commission (PC) or a full-length career was
€ The SC stated that her release from the service “justified”.
was “wrong and illegal”. € Before the ruling, only male officers on Short Service

€ The court also rejected the Centre’s argument, Commission (SSC) could opt for PC after 10 years
of service, leaving women unable to qualify for a
based on a rule in force at the time.
government pension.
z Such rule was ex facie manifestly arbitrary, as
€ The court’s decision brought women officers in 10
terminating employment because the woman streams of the Army at par with men.
has got married is a coarse case of gender ¾ Government’s Arguments:
discrimination and inequality.
€ The Centre argued that the issue was a matter of
Policy Framework to Recruit Women Military policy, adding that Article 33 of the Constitution
Officers allows fundamental rights to be restricted when
¾ Women officers were initially inducted into the it comes to the armed forces.
Indian Army under the Women Special Entry Scheme € It also argued that there were “dangers involved in

(WSES) in 1992. serving in the army” and adverse service conditions

€ Under WSES, they served for five-year periods in
including “absence of privacy in field and insurgency
areas, maternity issues and child care”.
certain streams, like the Army Education Corps
z The case was first filed in the Delhi HC by
and the Corps of Engineers.
women officers in 2003 and the HC awarded
¾ However, they faced restrictions on certain roles,
Permanent Commissions to women officers in
such as infantry and armored corps.
all branches where they were serving in 2010.
¾ In 2006, WSES was replaced by the Short Service
¾ Following the 2020 Ruling:
Commission scheme, which allowed women officers
€ Following the 2020 ruling, the Army constituted
the option to switch from WSES to SSC.
the Number 5 Selection Board, directing the Army
€ Men under SSC were commissioned for ten to induct all eligible female officers as Permanent
years, extendable up to fourteen years. Men in Commission (PC) officers.
SSC have an option to opt for a PC. € The special board came into effect in September

How has the SC Acted in Favour of Women 2020, led by a senior general officer. It also includes
a woman officer of the rank of brigadier.
Officers in the Armed Forces?
€ Here, women officers qualifying for the screening
¾ Union of India v. Lt Cdr Annie Nagaraja Case, 2015: process will be granted PC status, subject to being
€ In 2015, seventeen women officers who had joined in the acceptable medical category.
the Indian Navy as Short Service Commissioned ¾ Permanent Commission for Women In Indian Coast
(SSC) officers in various cadres (such as Logistics, Guard:
Law, and Education) filed writ petitions before the € In Priyanka Tyagi v. Union of India Case, 2024,

Delhi High Court. SC underscored the necessity for the Central

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 83
government to ensure that eligible women officers ¾ Global Scenario: When women officially became
receive permanent commission in the Indian eligible for combat positions in the American military
Coast Guard. in 2013, it was widely hailed as another step towards
€ The Attorney General presented arguments citing the equality of sexes. In 2018, the UK military lifted
operational challenges in granting permanent a ban on women serving in close combat ground
commissions to women officers. roles, clearing the way for them to serve in elite
z However, the Court dismissed these arguments,
special forces.
emphasising that in the year 2024, such What is MNS?
justifications hold no merit. ¾ MNS is the only all women corps of the Armed
€ The SC further urged the Centre to develop a Forces. The MNS, an integral part of the Armed
gender-neutral policy on this matter, calling for Forces Medical Services (AFMS), encompasses
a departure from patriarchal norms.
the Army Medical Corps (AMC) and Army Dental
z This instance underscores the ongoing struggle for
Corps (ADC).
gender equality and the necessity for proactive
measures to ensure women’s inclusion and ¾ The mission of Military Nursing Service is ‘Excellence
empowerment in all spheres of society, including in patient care’ both in peace and war.
the armed forces. € Officers of Military Nursing Service have always
What is the Significance of Increasing the been resilient in meeting the ever changing and
Representation of Women in the Armed expanding demands of AFMS clientele in health
care services and became the front line warriors
Forces?
in the healthcare system.
¾ Gender is not a Hindrance: As long as an applicant
is qualified for a position, one’s gender is arbitrary. ¾ Personnel of the AFMS serve in India’s medical
In the modern high technology battlefield, technical establishments and have actively participated in
expertise and decision-making skills are increasingly United Nations Peacekeeping Missions abroad.
more valuable than simple brute strength. ¾ Military nurses marched in the 2024 Republic Day
¾ Military Readiness: Allowing a mixed gender force parade for the first time, they were still denied the
keeps the military strong. The armed forces are status of ex-servicemen.
severely troubled by falling retention and recruitment
€ In February 2024, the Punjab and Haryana HC
rates. This can be addressed by allowing women in
ruled that MNS officers cannot be denied ex-
the combat role.
serviceman status under the Punjab Recruitment
¾ Effectiveness: The blanket restriction for women
limits the ability of commanders in theatre to pick of Ex-Servicemen Rules, 1982.
the most capable person for the job. € Under this, officers who were released from
¾ Tradition: Training will be required to facilitate the service on completion of their term with a
integration of women into combat units. Cultures gratuity (as SSC officers do), are categorised as
change over time and the masculine subculture can ex-servicemen.
evolve too.
nnn

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Science & Technology

Highlights
z New Satellite-Based Toll Collection System z Claude 3 AI Chatbot
z India’s 5G Fighter Aircraft and LCA Tejas z Obelisks
z Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle Technology z Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A
z New Rocket Launchport in Tamilnadu z Laser Cooling of Positronium
z Carbon Footprint of Artificial Intelligence z India’s first Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry
z Genome India Project z Sustainable Funding for Research and Development

New Satellite-Based Toll z Toll amounts are deducted from a digital wallet
linked to the OBU, ensuring seamless and
Collection System cashless transactions.

Why in News? € Enforcement measures including gantries equipped

with CCTV cameras along highways to monitor
Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
compliance and deter evasion tactics.
of India announced in Parliament that the government
intends to roll out a new highway toll collection system € The new system will likely coexist with the existing
based on the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) FASTag-based toll collection initially. A decision on
before the model code of conduct for the 2024 election mandating OBUs for all vehicles is yet to be made.
becomes effective. ¾ Benefits:
What is the New Proposed Highway Tolling € Smoother Traffic Flow: Elimination of toll plazas is
System? expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion,
especially during peak hours.
¾ Salient Features:
€ Faster Commutes: Frictionless toll collection should
€ The proposed highway tolling system utilises the
GNSS, including the Indian satellite navigation lead to quicker travel times and a more efficient
system GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented highway network.
Navigation) for accurate location tracking. € Fairer Billing: The system aims to offer users the
z The GNSS is a term used to refer to any satellite- benefit of paying tolls only for the actual distance
based navigation system, including the US’ travelled, promoting a pay-as-you-use model.
Global Positioning System (GPS). ¾ Challenges:
z It uses a large constellation of satellites to
€ Payment Recovery: Recovering tolls from users
provide more accurate location and navigation with depleted digital wallets or those who tamper
information to users globally as compared to
with the system remains a concern.
the GPS alone.
€ Enforcement Infrastructure: Setting up a nationwide
€ Implementation involves fitting vehicles with an
network of Automatic Number-Plate Recognition
On-Board Unit (OBU), or tracking device, which
communicates with satellites to determine location. (ANPR) cameras for enforcement purposes requires
significant infrastructure development.
€ Coordinates of national highways are logged using
digital image processing, allowing software to € Privacy Concerns: Data security and user privacy
calculate toll rates based on distance travelled. need to be addressed effectively.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 85
FASTag 5G fighter jets have stealth capabilities and can
€
cruise at supersonic speeds without engaging
¾ FASTag is a device that employs Radio Frequency
afterburners.
Identification (RFID) technology for making toll
payments directly while the vehicle is in motion. € It stands out from fourth-generation (4G) peers

¾ FASTag (RFID Tag) is affixed on the windscreen of due to its multi-spectral low-observable design,
the vehicle and enables a customer to make toll self-protection, radar jamming capabilities, and
payments directly from the account which is linked integrated avionics.
to FASTag. € 5G jets are possessed by Russia (Sukhoi Su-57),
€ It is operated by the National Highway Authority China (Chengdu J-20), and the US (F-35).
of India (NHAI) under the supervision of the ¾ Need for India:
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
€ The IAF currently has around 30 fighter squadrons
GAGAN against the sanctioned strength of 42.
¾ GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) is
z The squadrons of MiG-21s, MiG-29s, Jaguars,
an initiative by the Indian Government for Satellite-
and Mirage 2000s are scheduled to be phased
based Navigation Services in India.
out by the middle of the next decade.
¾ It aims to enhance the accuracy of global navigation
€ India must enhance its air defences against China
satellite system (GNSS) receivers through reference
signals. and Pakistan, with China possessing 3,304 aircraft,
¾ The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the while India and Pakistan have 2,296 and 1,434
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have aircraft, respectively.
collaborated to develop the GAGAN as a regional € India aims to enhance its self-sufficiency in defence,
Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS). focusing on strengthening its air force and replacing
¾ The GAGAN’s goal is to provide a navigation system ageing aircraft, albeit with the recognition that
to assist aircraft in accurate landing over the Indian acquiring fighter jets and other equipment is a
airspace and the adjoining area and applicable to time-consuming process.
safety-to-life civil operations. GAGAN is interoperable € India is developing the Advanced Medium
with other international SBAS systems.
Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with five prototypes to
be collaboratively manufactured by ADA, HAL,
India’s 5G Fighter Aircraft and private industries, building on the success
of the LCA Tejas.
and LCA Tejas z Once it acquires these fifth-generation fighters,
India will join a select group comprising the US,
Why in News?
Russia, and China.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved
a Rs 15,000 crore project to design and develop India’s What are the Features of Advanced Medium
fifth-generation fighter multirole jet, the Advanced Combat Aircraft (AMCA)?
Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). ¾ Nodal Agency: The Aeronautical Development Agency
¾ In a related incident, a Court of Inquiry has been (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development
initiated to investigate the cause of an Indian Air Organisation (DRDO) will be the nodal agency for
Force Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas crash during executing the programme and designing the aircraft.
an operational training sortie in Rajasthan. € Manufactured By: State-owned Hindustan

What are the Fifth-generation Fighter Jets? Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

¾ About: ¾ Features:
€ Stealth: The 25-tonne twin-engine aircraft is set
€ Fifth-generation (5G) fighters are aircraft capable
of operating in heavily contested combat zones, to surpass current Indian Air Force fighters in size,
characterised by the presence of the most advanced and will feature advanced stealth to outmatch
air and ground threats, both current and anticipated. global 5G stealth fighters.

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€ Fuel and Weapon: The aircraft will have a large, ○ LCA Tejas Mk-1A: This is an improve-
concealed internal fuel tank of 6.5-tonne capacity, ment over the LCA Tejas Mk1 with a
and an internal weapons bay for a range of weapons, higher thrust engine.
including indigenous weapons.
€ Engine: The AMCA Mk1 will feature the US-built Multiple Independently
GE414 engine (90 kilo Newton class), while the more
advanced AMCA Mk2 will use a more powerful Targetable Re-entry Vehicle
110 kN engine developed by DRDO’s-Gas Turbine Technology
Research Establishment (GTRE) in collaboration
with a foreign defence major. Why in News?
● Development Timeline: The ADA aims for the
India has recently made a significant advancement
aircraft’s first flight in 4-5 years, with full de-
in missile technology, joining the select group of nations
velopment expected to take around 10 years;
possessing Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry
five prototypes will precede HAL’s manufactur-
Vehicle (MIRV) capabilities.
ing, involving the private industry.
¾ This milestone was achieved through the successful
What are the Features of Light Combat Aircraft flight test named Mission Divyastra, conducted by
(LCA) Tejas? the Defence Research and Development Organisation
¾ About: (DRDO). It marked the first time the indigenously
developed Agni-5 missile integrated MIRV technology.
€ The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme
was started by the Government of India in 1984 What are the Key Facts About MIRV
when they established the ADA to manage the Technology?
LCA programme.
¾ Inception:
z It replaced the ageing Mig 21 fighter planes.
€ MIRV technology originated in the United States,
¾ Designed by:
with the deployment of a MIRVed Intercontinental
€ ADA under the Department of Defence Research Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in 1970.
and Development.
€ MIRV allows a single missile to carry multiple
¾ Manufactured by: warheads (3-4), each capable of targeting different
€ State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). locations independently.
¾ Features: € MIRV technology enhances the missile’s

€ The lightest, smallest, and tailless multi-role effectiveness by increasing the number of potential
supersonic fighter aircraft in its class. targets it can engage.
€ Designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to- z MIRVs can be launched from both land-based

surface, precision-guided, weapons. platforms and sea-based platforms, such as

€ Air-to-air refueling capability. submarines, expanding their operational
flexibility and range.
€ Maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg.
¾ Global Adoption and Proliferation:
€ It can attend the maximum speed of Mach 1.8.
€ Nations possessing MIRV technology include major
€ The range of the aircraft is 3,000km
nuclear powers such as the United States, the
¾ Variants of Tejas:
United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and India,
€ Tejas Trainer: 2-seater operational conversion
while Pakistan tested the technology (Ababeel
trainer for training air force pilots. Missile) in 2017.
€ LCA Navy: Twin- and single-seat carrier-capable
€ The test flight of Agni-5 marked the first time that
for the Indian Navy. the MIRV technology was tested in India, which
€ LCA Tejas Navy MK2: This is phase 2 of the LCA aims to deploy multiple warheads at different
Navy variant. locations in a single launch.

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The Agni-5 weapon system is equipped with
z challenging to defend against compared to
indigenous avionics systems and high-accuracy traditional missiles.
sensor packages, which ensured that the re- ¾ Challenges:
entry vehicles reached the target points within € Deploying MIRV technology presents complex
the desired accuracy. challenges, including the miniaturisation of
¾ Strategic Significance: warheads, the development of advanced guidance
€ MIRVs were initially designed to enhance offensive systems, and ensuring the reliability of individual
capabilities rather than to defeat ballistic missile re-entry vehicles.
defences. z Addressing these challenges is crucial for
€ Their ability to deploy multiple warheads maintaining the effectiveness and reliability of
independently makes them significantly more MIRV systems in strategic operations.

Agni-5 Missile
¾ Agni is an Inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed indigenously by the DRDO.
¾ It is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has a target range of more than 5,000 km. It uses a three-stage
solid-fuelled engine.
€ Agni-5 has been successfully tested several times since 2012. In December 2022, DRDO also tested the night-
time capabilities of Agni-5.
¾ Missiles in Agni Family:
€ Agni I: Short-range ballistic missile (Range more than 700 km).

€ Agni II: Medium-range ballistic missile (Range more than 2000 to 3500 km).

€ Agni III: Intermediate-range ballistic missile (Range more than 3000 km).

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€Agni IV: Intermediate-range ballistic missile (Range more than 3500 km).
€Agni-P (Agni Prime): A nuclear-capable, two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile (Range 1,000
to 2,000 km).
¾ The next upgrade of the Agni missile, Agni-6, is expected to be a full-fledged intercontinental ballistic missile
with a range well over 7,000 km.

New Rocket Launchport in This specialisation allows for more efficient

€
utilization of resources and infrastructure tailored
Tamilnadu to specific mission requirements.
¾ Support for Private Players:
Why in News?
€ The establishment of a new launchport provides
Recently, the Indian Prime Minister laid the foundation
private players with dedicated infrastructure to
stone of the second rocket launchport of the Indian Space
develop space-qualified subsystems, build satellites,
Research Organisation (ISRO) at Kulasekarapattinam in
Tamil Nadu. and launch vehicles.
€ This encourages private investment and participation
What is the Need for a New Launchport? in the space sector, fostering innovation and
¾ Capacity and Overburdening: competition.
€ The opening of the space sector to private players
is expected to lead to a significant increase in
What is the Significance of Kulasekarapattinam
commercial launches. Launchport?
€ This surge in demand could potentially overwhelm ¾ Geographical Advantage:
existing launch facilities, such as the Satish Dhawan € Geographically, scientifically, and strategically, the
Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR (Sriharikota Range) in Kulasekarapattinam launchport provides a natural
Sriharikota. advantage to ISRO’s future launches pertaining to
€ Therefore, establishing a new launch port ensures the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
that there is sufficient capacity to accommodate
€ Allowing a direct southward and smaller launch
the increased number of launches without
overburdening existing facilities. trajectory for the lightweight SSLVs carrying less
fuel, the Kulasekarapattinam facility will boost
¾ Diversification of Launch Services:
ISRO’s attempts to enhance payload capacities.
€ By dedicating the SDSC SHAR primarily for bigger
¾ Optimised Trajectory:
and heavy-lift-off missions, and creating the
Kulasekarapattinam launchport for smaller payloads, € Launches from Kulasekarapattinam can follow a

the ISRO can diversify its launch services. straight southward flight path, as opposed to the

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longer trajectory followed by launches from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, which necessitates
skirting eastwards around Sri Lanka (dogleg manoeuvring).
€ This optimised trajectory minimises fuel consumption, particularly crucial for SSLVs with limited onboard fuel
capacity.
¾ Equatorial Location:
€ Like the SDSC SHAR, Kulasekarapattinam is also situated near the equator.

€ Launch sites near the equator benefit from the Earth’s rotation, which imparts a significant velocity boost to
rockets during liftoff.
€ This boost in velocity allows for increased payload capacity, particularly advantageous for missions aiming for
geostationary orbit.

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What is a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle? 500km planar orbit from Satish Dhawan Space
Centre (SDSC).
¾ About:
„ A planar orbit, also known as a low Earth
€ Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a three
orbit (LEO), is an orbit around the Earth that
stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid
lies close to the Earth’s equatorial plane. In
Propulsion Stages and a liquid propulsion-based
this type of orbit, the satellite’s path forms
Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage.
a relatively flat plane around the Earth..
z SSLV is capable of launching 500kg satellites in

¾ Key Features:
€ Low cost,

€ Low turn-around time,

€ Flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites,

€ Launch demand feasibility,

€ Minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 91
¾ Significance: What are the Features of SHAR?
€ The Era of small satellites: ¾ SHAR is situated along the east coast of Andhra
z Earlier, the bigger satellite payloads were given Pradesh and is located 80 km off Chennai.
importance, but as the sector grew many € It currently provides launch infrastructure to

players emerged like Businesses, government all ISRO missions.

agencies, universities, and laboratories began ¾ It is equipped with a solid propellant processing
to send satellites. setup, static testing, and launch vehicle integration
facilities, telemetry services, tracking and command
z Mostly all of them fall in the category of small
network to oversee the launch, and a mission
satellites. control centre.
€ The Rise in Demand: ¾ SHAR has two launch complexes that are routinely
z The demand for the launch of small satellites used to launch the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
has increased at a rapid pace in the last eight (PSLV), the Geosynchronous Space Launch Vehicle
to ten years, due to the ever-growing need for (GSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle Mk-III (renamed as LVM3).
space-based data, communication, surveillance,
¾ The maiden launch of the First Launch Pad, built in
and commerce.
the early 1990s, was in September 1993.
€ Saves cost:
¾ Operational since 2005, the Second Launch Pad
z Satellite manufacturers and operators do not saw its maiden launch in May 2005.
have the luxury of waiting months for space
on a rocket or paying exorbitant trip charges.
Carbon Footprint of Artificial
Therefore, Organizations are increasingly
Intelligence
„

developing a constellation of satellites in

space. Why in News?
„ Projects like SpaceX’s Starlink and One Web
As artificial intelligence (AI) technology grows, its
are assembling a constellation of hundreds energy-intensive operations pose significant
of satellites. environmental concerns. Despite challenges,
€ Business Opportunity: advancements like Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) and
lifelong learning offer promising avenues to reduce AI’s
z With the rise in demand, the rockets could be
carbon footprint while leveraging its potential to address
launched frequently with less cost, this provides climate change.
a business opportunity for space agencies like
ISRO to tap the potential of the sector as most
What are the Spiking Neural Networks and
of the demand comes from companies that are
Lifelong Learning?
launching satellites for commercial purposes. ¾ Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs):
€ SNNs are a type of artificial neural network (ANNs)
¾ Journey of SSLV:
inspired by the human brain’s neural structure.
€ In August 2022, the first SSLV mission (SSLV-D1)
€ Unlike traditional ANNs, which use continuous
encountered failure when it attempted to deliver numerical values for processing data, SNNs operate
two satellites, EOS-02 and AzaadiSat. based on discrete spikes or pulses of activity.
€ However, six months later, in February 2023, ISRO z Just as Morse code uses specific sequences of

succeeded with its second attempt, SSLV-D2. dots and dashes to convey messages, SNNs use
patterns or timings of spikes to process and
z The rocket effectively placed three satellites
transmit information, similar to how neurons
into a 450 km circular orbit after a 15-minute
in the brain communicate through electrical
journey. Both launches took place from SHAR. impulses called spikes.

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€ This binary, all-or-none characteristic of spikes € The proliferation of data centres, driven by the
allows SNNs to be more energy-efficient than increasing demand for AI, is significantly contributing
ANNs, as they consume energy only when a spike to the world’s energy consumption.
occurs, unlike artificial neurons in ANNs which are z By 2025, it’s estimated that the IT industry,
always active. fueled by AI advancements, could consume
z In the absence of spikes, SNNs exhibit remarkably up to 20% of all electricity produced globally
low energy consumption, contributing to their and emit approximately 5.5% of the world’s
energy-efficient nature. carbon emissions.
z SNNs have shown the potential to be up to 280 ¾ AI Training Emissions:
times more energy-efficient than ANNs due
€ Training large AI models, such as GPT-3 and GPT-4,
to their sparsity in activity and event-driven
consumes substantial energy and emits considerable
processing.
carbon dioxide (CO2).
€ The energy-efficient properties of SNNs make them
€ Research indicates that training a single AI model
suitable for various applications, including space
exploration, defence systems, and self-driving cars, can emit CO2 equivalent to several cars over their
where energy resources are limited. lifetimes.
z GPT-3 emits 8.4 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Since
€ Ongoing research aims to optimise SNNs further
and develop learning algorithms to harness their the AI boom started in the early 2010s, the
energy efficiency for a wide range of practical energy requirements of AI systems known as
applications. large language models (the type of technology
¾ Lifelong Learning (L2):
that’s behind ChatGPT) have gone up by a factor
of 300,000.
€ Lifelong Learning (L2) or Lifelong Machine Learning
(LML) is a machine learning paradigm that involves ¾ Hardware Consumption:
continuous learning. It involves accumulating € AI’s computational demands rely heavily on

knowledge from previous tasks and using it to specialised processors, like GPUs provided by
help with future learning and problem-solving. companies such as Nvidia, which consume
€ L2 serves as a strategy to mitigate the overall substantial power.
energy demands of ANNs throughout their lifetime. z Despite advancements in energy efficiency,

z Training ANNs sequentially on new tasks leads these processors remain formidable consumers
to forgetting previous knowledge, necessitating of energy.
retraining from scratch with changes in the ¾ Cloud Computing Efficiency:
operating environment, thus increasing AI- € Major cloud companies, essential for AI deployment,
related emissions. pledge commitments to carbon neutrality and
€ L2 encompasses a collection of algorithms enabling energy efficiency.
AI models to undergo sequential training on
z Efforts to improve energy efficiency in data
multiple tasks with minimal forgetting.
centres have shown promising results, with
z This approach facilitates continual learning,
only a modest increase in energy consumption
leveraging existing knowledge to adapt to despite a significant rise in computing workloads.
new challenges without the need for extensive
¾ Environmental Concerns:
retraining.
€ Despite AI’s promising future, concerns persist
Why is the Carbon Footprint of Artificial regarding its environmental impact, with experts
Intelligence High? urging greater consideration of the carbon footprint
¾ Growing Energy Consumption: in AI deployment.
€ The carbon footprint of artificial intelligence is z The rush for AI advancement may overshadow

the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that immediate environmental concerns, highlighting
are generated by the creation, training, and use the need for a balanced approach towards
of AI systems. sustainability in AI development and deployment.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 93
Water Footprint of AI ¾ Remote Data Collection: AI-powered robots gather data
in extreme environments like the Arctic and oceans,
¾ The water footprint of AI is determined by the
enabling research and monitoring in inaccessible areas.
water used for electricity generation and cooling
in data centres running AI models. ¾ Energy Efficiency in Data Centers: AI-driven solutions
€ The water footprint consists of direct water
optimise data centre operations to reduce energy
consumption (from cooling processes) and indirect consumption while maintaining safety standards.
water consumption (for electricity production). € For example, Google has created artificial intelligence
¾ Factors affecting the water footprint include AI model that’s able to save the amount of electricity it uses
type and size, data centre location and efficiency, to power its data centres. Using machine learning
and electricity generation sources. developed by the firm’s AI research company,
¾ Training a large AI model like GPT-3 can consume DeepMind, it was possible to reduce the energy
up to 700,000 litres of fresh water, equivalent to used for cooling the centres by a staggering 40%.
producing 370 BMW cars or 320 Tesla electric vehicles. How AI Can Be Made Sustainable?
€ Interactions with AI chatbots like ChatGPT can
¾ Transparency in Energy Usage:
consume up to 500 ml of water for 20-50 Q&A
sessions. € Standardising measurements of AI carbon
footprints enables developers to assess electricity
€ GPT-4, with a larger model size, is expected to
increase water consumption, but exact figures consumption and carbon emissions accurately.
are hard to estimate due to data availability. z Initiatives like Stanford’s energy tracker and
¾ Data centres use water-intensive cooling systems Microsoft’s Emissions Impact Dashboard
due to the heat generated, requiring freshwater for facilitate monitoring and comparison of AI’s
cooling and power generation. environmental impact.
¾ Model Selection and Algorithmic Optimization:
How AI Can Help in Addressing Climate
Choosing smaller, more focused AI models for
Change? €
simpler tasks conserves energy and computational
¾ Enhanced Climate Modelling: AI can analyse vast resources.
amounts of climate data to improve climate models and
make more accurate predictions, aiding in anticipating € Utilising the most efficient algorithms for specific
and adapting to climate-related disruptions. tasks reduces energy consumption.
¾ Advancements in Material Science: AI-driven research z Implementing algorithms that prioritise energy
can develop lighter and stronger materials for wind efficiency over computational accuracy minimises
turbines and aircraft, reducing energy consumption. electricity usage.
€ Designing materials with reduced resource usage, ¾ Advancements in Quantum Computing:
and improved battery storage, and enhanced carbon € The exceptional computing power of quantum
capture capabilities contributes to sustainability systems holds the potential to accelerate training
efforts. and inference tasks for both Artificial Neural
¾ Efficient Energy Management: AI systems optimise Networks (ANNs) and Spiking Neural Networks
electricity usage from renewable sources, monitor (SNNs).
energy consumption, and identify efficiency
€ Quantum computing offers superior computational
opportunities in smart grids, power plants, and
capabilities that could facilitate the discovery of
manufacturing.
energy-efficient solutions for AI on a significantly
¾ Environmental Monitoring: High-end trained AI systems
larger scale.
can detect and predict environmental changes like
floods, deforestation, and illegal fishing in real-time. z Harnessing the power of quantum computing
€ Contributes to sustainable agriculture by identifying
could revolutionise the efficiency and scalability
crop nutrition, pest, or disease issues through of AI systems, contributing to the development
image analysis. of sustainable AI technologies.

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¾ Renewable Energy Adoption: ¾ This huge dataset of 8 petabytes will be stored at the
€ Major cloud providers should commit to operate Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) in Faridabad.
the data centres with 100% renewable energy. € Inaugurated in 2022, the IBDC is India’s first national

¾ Advancements in Hardware Design: repository for life science data.

€ Specialised hardware like Google’s Tensor Processing ¾ Significance:
Units (TPUs) enhances the speed and energy € An India-specific genetic database is crucial because
efficiency of AI systems. mutations like MYBPC3, linked to early cardiac
z Developing more energy-efficient hardware arrest, are more prevalent locally than globally,
tailored specifically for AI applications contributes affecting 4.5% of the Indian population.
to sustainability efforts. € India, boasting the world’s largest genetic
¾ Innovative Cooling Technologies: laboratory, plays a pivotal role in driving the
€ Liquid immersion cooling and underwater data country’s burgeoning biology sector, which has
centres offer energy-efficient alternatives to seen exponential growth from USD 10 billion in
traditional cooling methods. 2014 to over USD 130 billion in 2024, shaping
€ Exploring cooling solutions like underwater India’s future trajectory.
data centres and space-based data centres Note: The first whole human genome was sequenced
harness renewable energy sources and minimise with the collaboration of an international team. It took
environmental impact. 13 years and $3 billion, and was completed in 2003.
¾ Government Support and Regulation: India announced its first complete human genome in
€ Establishing regulations for transparent reporting 2009.
of AI’s carbon emissions and sustainability. ¾ However, now, it takes only about 5 days to sequence
€ Providing tax incentives to incentivize the adoption an entire human genome and perform all the
of renewable energy and sustainable practices in quality checks.
AI infrastructure development.
What is Genome Sequencing?
¾ Gene and DNA: DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is the
Genome India Project molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the
development, functioning, growth, and reproduction
Why in News? of all known living organisms and many viruses.
The Genome India Project, a project funded and € Genes are specific segments of DNA that contain
coordinated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the instructions for producing proteins, which are
announced that it had finished sequencing 10,000 Indian essential for various biological functions.
genomes.
¾ Genome: The genome represents the entirety of
What is the Genome India Project? an organism’s hereditary information, serving as a
¾ DBT initiated the ambitious Genome India Project (GIP) biological instruction manual inherited from parents.
on 3rd January 2020. It is led by the Centre for Brain € Composed of four nucleotide bases: adenine (A),

Research at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T), the
and involves collaboration with 20 institutions. genome contains approximately 3 billion base
¾ The project involves whole-genome sequencing and pairs in humans.
data analysis of 10,000 individuals to understand € This complex sequence encodes essential
disease nature in the Indian population and develop information governing an individual’s physical
predictive diagnostic markers. characteristics, susceptibility to diseases, and
€ India’s population of 1.3 billion comprises over 4,600 other biological traits.
population groups, many of which are endogamous ¾ Genome Sequencing: Genome sequencing is the
(Matrimony in Close Ethnic Groups), contributing process of determining the precise order of nucleotides
to genetic diversity and disease-causing mutations. within an organism’s genome.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 95
Whole genome sequencing is a laboratory procedure
€
that determines the order of all four bases in the Claude 3 AI Chatbot
genome of an organism in one process.
¾ Procedure of Genome Sequencing: Why in News?
€ Firstly, the researchers extract DNA from a sample, Recently, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) start-up
typically obtained from blood. Anthropic announced its latest family of AI models called
€ Then, the DNA is fragmented into smaller, more Claude 3, stating that it “sets new industry benchmarks
manageable pieces, which are then tagged with across a wide range of cognitive tasks”.
fluorescent markers. ¾ The family includes three state-of-the-art AI models
z These tagged fragments undergo sequencing in the ascending order of capabilities – Claude 3 Haiku,
using specialised equipment known as DNA Claude 3 Sonnet, and Claude 3 Opus.
sequencers, which read the sequence of
nucleotide bases. Note:
€ Finally, computational algorithms are employed to
¾ Anthropic is an OpenAI rival started by former
reconstruct the complete genetic sequence from leaders at the ChatGPT maker.
the generated data, providing valuable insights ¾ While OpenAI has closely tied itself to its business
into the individual’s genetic makeup. partner Microsoft, Anthropic’s primary cloud
¾ Applications: computing partner is Amazon.
€ Biomedical Research: Genome sequencing aids What is Claude 3?
in understanding the genetic basis of diseases,
identifying disease-causing mutations, and ¾ About Claude:
discovering potential drug targets. € Claude is a group of Large Language Models (LLMs)

z It helps researchers study genetic variations

developed by Anthropic.
associated with complex diseases such as cancer, z LLMs are a specific class of generative AI models

diabetes, and neurological disorders. that are trained to understand and generate
€ Pharmacogenomics: Genome sequencing helps in human-like text.
predicting how individuals will respond to different € The chatbot is capable of handling text, voice
drugs based on their genetic makeup. messages, and documents.
z This information can optimise drug selection, € The chatbot is capable of generating faster,
dosage, and treatment strategies leading to contextual responses compared to its peers.
more effective and personalised therapies.
¾ Training:
€ Agricultural Genomics: Genome sequencing is
€ Claude sources include the Internet and some
utilised in crop improvement programs to identify
licensed datasets using two methods, Supervised
genes responsible for desirable traits such as
Learning (SL) and Reinforcement Learning (RL).
disease resistance, yield, and nutritional content.
€ In the SL phase, the LLM produces responses to
z It aids in breeding efforts to develop improved
crop varieties with enhanced agronomic traits. prompts, and then self-assesses them based on
a set of guiding principles.
€ Evolutionary Biology: Genome sequencing
provides insights into the evolutionary history and z It later revises the responses — and according

relationships among species. to its makers, this process is aimed at reducing

z It helps in studying genetic diversity, population
the harmful effects of the AI’s outputs.
dynamics, and evolutionary adaptations in € RL phase involves training the model based on

different organisms. AI-generated feedback, in which the AI evaluates

€ Conservation Biology: Genome sequencing assists responses based on a set of constitutional principles.
in conservation efforts by assessing genetic diversity, z These methods, and the general approach, has
identifying endangered species, and developing been chosen with the aim of making Claude
strategies for species preservation and management. helpful and harmless.

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¾ Claude 3: ¾ Obelisks were identified through an extensive analysis

€ Among the new releases, Claude 3 Opus is the most of RNA sequences from bacteria in the human gut,
powerful model, Claude 3 Sonnet is the middle using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology.
model that is capable and price competitive, and Note:
Claude 3 Haiku is relevant for any use case that
¾ NGS is a Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing
requires instant responses.
technology that uses parallel sequencing to determine
z Claude Sonnet powers the Claude.ai chatbot the sequence of multiple small fragments of DNA.
for free at present and users only need an It is used to determine the order of nucleotides in
email sign-in. entire genomes or targeted regions of DNA or RNA.
z However, Opus is only available through € Nucleotides are organic molecules that are the
Anthropic’s web chat interface and if a user basic building blocks of nucleic acids DNA and
is subscribed to the Claude Pro service on the Ribonucleic acid (RNA).
Anthropic website.
¾ Limitations of Claude 3:
What are Obelisks?
€ Claude 3 performs well in tasks such as answering ¾ Obelisks are a new class of virus-like entities. They
factual questions and optical character recognition are composed of diverse RNA molecules that reside
(OCR), meaning the ability to extract text from within the human body and the global microbiome.
images. ¾ Obelisks exhibit highly symmetrical, rod-like structures
z Reportedly, the new model is good at following resembling the iconic monuments (Obelisk).
instructions and completing tasks like writing ¾ Their genetic sequences are approximately 1,000
Shakespearean sonnets. nucleotides long, with no detectable similarities to
€ However, it struggles with complex reasoning and known biological agents.
mathematical problems at times. It also exhibited ¾ The new study analyzed RNA data from gut and oral
biases in its responses, such as favouring a certain bacteria but couldn’t determine which bacteria hosted
racial group over others. a given obelisk.
€ While initial findings suggest a possible link to
the bacterial species Streptococcus sanguinis,
Obelisks commonly found in the human mouth.
Why in News? ¾ The discovery of obelisks raises questions about their
genome replication, transmission, pathogenicity,
Scientists at Stanford University have identified a
evolution, and potential roles in human health and
new, remarkably simple form of life, which they have
disease.
named “obelisks.”
€ Further research is needed to unravel the mysteries
¾ These obelisks bridge the gap between viruses and
surrounding Obelisks, shedding light on their
viroids in terms of complexity, adding a new category
ecological significance and impact on human health.
to the existing spectrum of life forms.

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Feature Viruses Viroids

Discovered by Theodor Diener in 1971 while
Dmitry Ivanovsky was the first to discover
Discovery studying the pathogen causing potato spindle
viruses at the end of the 19th century.
tuber disease.
Each virion contains a nucleic acid (DNA Consists of naked RNA without a lipid layer
Composition or RNA) core surrounded by a protein coat, or protein coat, primarily composed of a
sometimes with a lipid layer outside. single-stranded circular RNA molecule.

Size Varied in size, generally smaller (30-50 nm). Smaller compared to viruses.

Primarily infect plant cells, causing various

Can infect a wide range of organisms,
Host Range diseases characterized by stunted growth,
including plants and animals.
leaf distortion, and other symptoms.
Enter a cell as RNA, force the cell to produce
more copies of itself, and then infect other
Depends on host cells to replicate and
Replication Method cells, primarily through mechanical
propagate themselves.
transmission, seed transmission, pollen, and
insect vectors.
Contains either DNA or RNA, which may Contains RNA, but does not code for any
Genetic Material
code for proteins. protein.
Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd), Citrus
Influenza virus, rabies virus, Herpes virus,
Examples exocortis viroid (CEVd), Coconut cadang-
SARS-CoV-2.
cadang viroid (CCCVd).

Causes: It is primarily inherited (genetic) and follows

Gene Therapy for ¾
an X-linked recessive pattern, meaning the gene
Hemophilia A responsible for factor VIII production is located on
the X chromosome.
Why in News? € Males have one X and one Y chromosome, while
Recently, the Union Minister of Science & Technology females have two X chromosomes.
addressing the National Science Day 2024 programme z If a male inherits an X chromosome with the
stated that India conducted its first human clinical trial
defective gene from his mother, he will have
of gene therapy for hemophilia A (FVIII deficiency) at
Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore. hemophilia A.
¾ India’s progress in science and technology (S&T) was z Females with one defective copy typically do

also highlighted at the event. not experience symptoms because the other X
chromosome usually provides enough factor VIII.
What is Hemophilia A?
z However, females can have hemophilia A if
¾ About: Hemophilia is a group of rare bleeding disorders they inherit two defective copies, one from
caused by a congenital deficiency in specific clotting
each parent (much less common).
factors. The most prevalent form is Hemophilia A.
¾ Symptoms: The severity of hemophilia A varies
€ Hemophilia A results from a deficiency in a crucial
blood clotting protein known as factor VIII. depending on the level of factor VIII activity in the
blood. Common symptoms can include:
€ Due to this deficiency, individuals experience
prolonged bleeding after injuries, as their blood € Easy bruising and excessive bleeding from minor

takes longer to clot than usual. injuries (cuts, scrapes)

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Bleeding in the joints (especially knees, elbows,

€ € By shining light on a substance, scientists can
and ankles), causing pain, swelling, and stiffness analyze the unique way it interacts with molecules,
€ Bleeding after surgery or dental procedures. revealing its chemical composition and structure.
¾ Treatment: The treatment involves replacing the ¾ The purpose of celebrating this day is to enhance
missing blood clotting factor so that the blood can clot scientific temper, popularization of science and
properly. This is typically done by injecting treatment encouraging innovative activities by infusing scientific
products, called clotting factor concentrates, into a temperament in the masses and creating a positive
person’s vein. The two main types of clotting factor scientific research culture.
concentrates available are:
€ Theme for National Science Day 2024: ‘Indigenous
€ Plasma-derived Factor Concentrates: Derived from
Technologies for Viksit Bharat.’
human plasma, which is the liquid component
of blood containing various proteins, including What are India’s Recent Advancements in
clotting factors. Science and Technology?
€ Recombinant Factor Concentrates: Introduced
¾ India has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup
in 1992, recombinant factor concentrates are
ecosystem, boasting over 100 unicorns, showcasing
genetically engineered using DNA technology
remarkable entrepreneurial growth.
and do not rely on human plasma.
z They are free from plasma or albumin, eliminating
¾ The bio-economy sector has witnessed an extraordinary
the risk of transmitting bloodborne viruses. 13-fold increase in the past decade, reaching a
€ However, gene therapy is now gaining prominence.
staggering USD 130 billion in 2024.
z In recent trials, they used a new method that
¾ India ranks among the top five countries for scientific
involves using a special type of virus called a research publications and holds the 40th position in
lentiviral vector to insert a gene that produces the Global Innovation Index (GII), highlighting its
FVIII into the patient’s own stem cells. commitment to innovation.
z These modified stem cells then produce FVIII ¾ Groundbreaking initiatives like the Aroma Mission and
when they develop into specific types of blood Purple Revolution have revolutionized agriculture,
cells. fostering a thriving community of agri-startups.
¾ Acquired Hemophilia A: While Hemophilia A is ¾ The development of Maya OS by the Indian Defence
typically inherited, it can also be acquired later in life Research and Development Organisation has bolstered
as a result of auto-antibodies targeting factor VIII. cybersecurity measures, protecting against online
€ This condition, known as acquired hemophilia A, threats from foreign entities.
is rare and differs from the congenital form in its ¾ India’s intellectual property landscape is experiencing
onset and progression.
a surge, with patent filings surpassing 90,000, marking
Note: World Haemophilia day is celebrated on 17th the highest in two decades.
April every year, aiming to increase awareness about ¾ The successful Chandrayaan-3 Mission has showcased
hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. The India’s prowess in space exploration, paving the way
day is celebrated in the honor of Frank Schnabel,
for the historic Gaganyaan mission.
founder of the World Federation of Haemophilia (WHF).
¾ Related Government Initiatives:
What is National Science Day? € India Semiconductor Mission
¾ The National Science Day is celebrated on 28 th € Artificial Intelligence Mission
February every year to commemorate the discovery
€ Unified Payment Interface
of ‘Raman Effect’ in 1928 by Sir Chandrasekhara
Venkata Raman, which led to the Nobel Prize being € INS Vikrant
awarded to him in 1930. € Bharat 6G project
€ Raman effect is a method for identifying materials € Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology
based on how they scatter light. (India and US)

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€One way to resolve this would be to cool down
Laser Cooling of Positronium the positronium which would slow its particles
so more accurate measurements of its properties
Why in News? could be taken.
The AEgIS collaboration has achieved a significant ¾ Laser Cooling:
breakthrough by demonstrating the laser cooling of € It is a method of temperature reduction based
Positronium. on particles absorbing and emitting photons. If
¾ The experiment was performed at the European laser light is directed along the path of incoming
Organisation for Nuclear Research, more popularly particles, those particles will absorb the photon,
known as CERN, in Geneva. and re-emit it in a random direction that changes
What are the Key Highlights of the Study? its momentum and slows it down.
z Scientists first proposed the method of laser
¾ About AEgIS:
cooling for positronium decades ago in 1988.
€ Anti-hydrogen Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry,
€ Experimentalists achieved laser cooling of
Spectroscopy (AEgIS) is a collaboration of physicists
Positronium atoms, reducing their temperature from
from a number of countries in Europe and from
~380 Kelvin to ~170 Kelvin using an alexandrite-
India.
based laser system.
€ In 2018, AEgIS became the first in the world to
¾ Significance and Future Prospects:
demonstrate the pulsed production of antihydrogen
atoms. € Laser cooling of Positronium opens avenues for

¾ Aim: spectroscopic comparisons necessary for Quantum

Electrodynamics (QED) studies.
€ This is an important precursor experiment to the
€ High-precision measurements of the properties
formation of antiHydrogen and the measurement of
Earth’s gravitational acceleration on antihydrogen and gravitational behaviour of antimatter could
in the AEgIS experiment. reveal new physics and provide insights into the
€ This scientific feat could open prospects to produce
matter-antimatter asymmetry.
a gamma-ray laser that would eventually allow € The creation of a Bose-Einstein condensate of

researchers to look inside the atomic nucleus and antimatter, proposed as a means to produce
have applications beyond physics. coherent gamma-ray light, holds promise for
¾ Positronium: fundamental and applied research, including
peering into the atomic nucleus.
€ Positronium, comprising a bound electron (e-)
(matter) and positron (e+) (matter), is a fundamental z In a Bose-Einstein condensate, matter (or

atomic system. antimatter) is in a coherent state analogous to

z Electrons and positrons are leptons. They interact
photons in a laser beam, and individual atoms
through electromagnetic and weak forces. lose their independent identity. This allows
many atoms to be stored in a small volume.
€ Since Positronium is only made up of electrons and
positrons, and no usual nuclear matter, it has the
unique distinction of being a purely leptonic atom. India’s first Indigenous
z Due to its very short life, it annihilates with a
half life of 142 nano-seconds. Its mass is twice
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry
the electron mass.
Why in News?
¾ Cause of Choosing Laser Cooling as the Method:
Recently, Prime Minister of India flagged off India’s
€ Positronium is the lightest known particle system,
and it’s extremely unstable. When produced in first indigenously built hydrogen fuel cell ferry boat in
the clouds for experimental studies, positronium virtual.
zips around at a huge range of velocities, making ¾ The hydrogen cell-powered inland waterway vessel
it really difficult to pin down. launched under the Harit Nauka initiative.

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What are the Other Key Highlights About the solutions and aligning with the nation’s net-zero
Ferry? commitments.
¾ About: Note: The V.O. Chidambaranar Port is the first Green
€ The vessel’s flagging off was a key component of
Hydrogen Hub Port of the country and the projects
a major program that involved the foundation include a desalination plant, hydrogen production and
stone laid for a ₹17,300-crore project, including bunkering facility.
the outer harbor at the V.O. Chidambaranar Port. What is the Harit Nauka initiative?
€ The vessel has been built at the Cochin Shipyard.
¾ About:
¾ Importance:
€ The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
€ It will make urban mobility smooth and easy unveiled the Harit Nauka guidelines for inland
through inland waterways. The vessel underscores vessels in January 2024.
the pioneering step for embracing clean energy

¾ Guidelines:
€ As per the guidelines, all states have to make efforts to use green fuels for 50% of inland waterways-based
passenger fleets in the next one decade, and 100% by 2045.
€ This is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as per the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

¾ Globally, the shipping industry is increasingly transitioning to green fuels due to environmental regulations,
sustainability goals, and advancements in green fuel technologies.
¾ Hydrogen and its derivatives are gaining attention for promising zero-emission fuels for the industry.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 101
What is a Hydrogen Fuel Cell?
¾ About:
Sustainable Funding for
€ Hydrogen fuel cells are a clean, reliable, quiet, and Research and Development
efficient source of high-quality electric power.
€ They use hydrogen as a fuel to drive an
Why in News?
electrochemical process that produces electricity, National Science Day, celebrated annually on 28th
with water and heat as the only by-products. February, honours the discovery of the Raman Effect and
z Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements acknowledges scientists’ contributions to India’s
on earth for a cleaner alternative fuel option. development.
¾ Significance: ¾ It highlights the importance of Science in Fostering
€ Zero Emission Solutions: It is one of the best Zero
Sustainable Development.
Emission solutions. It is completely environment What is National Science Day?
friendly with no tailpipe emissions other than water.
¾ About:
z Tailpipe emissions: Emission of something such
€ National Science Day is observed on the day
as gas or radiation into the atmosphere.
Indian Physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman
€ Quiet Operation: The fact that the fuel cells
discovered the Raman Effect.
make little noise means that they can be used in
z The Raman Effect is the phenomenon where
challenging contexts, such as in hospital buildings.
light gets scattered when passed through a
¾ Initiatives Taken: The Union Budget for 2021-22 has
transparent material, leading to changes in
announced a National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM) wavelength and energy.
that will draw up a road map for using hydrogen as
€ In 1928, on 28th February CV Raman discovered
an energy source.
the Raman Effect.
¾ Other Initiatives for Renewable Energy:
€ He also received the Nobel Prize in Physics in
€ Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM)
1930 due to his significant contribution to the
€ International Solar Alliance field of Physics.
€ PM- KUSUM ¾ Theme: Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat
€ National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy ¾ Significance:
€ Rooftop Solar Scheme € The day is observed to raise awareness about

Net-Zero Target the importance of scientific applications in our

¾ It is referred to as carbon neutrality, which does not daily lives.
mean that a country would bring down its emissions € The day also aims to celebrate and acknowledge

to zero. Rather, it is a state in which a country’s the efforts and achievements of scientists in
emissions are compensated by the absorption and human welfare.
removal of greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. € The best way to observe National Science Day is
€ Further, absorption of the emissions can be by understanding the way science and technology
increased by creating more carbon sinks such have progressed and exploring the spaces where
as forests. more efforts need to be made.
€ While the removal of gasses from the atmosphere
How much is India Spending on Research and
requires futuristic technologies such as carbon
capture and storage. Development (R&D)?
¾ More than 70 countries have promised to become ¾ India’s Declined R&D Expenditure:
Net Zero by the middle of the century i.e., by 2050. € India’s expenditure on Research and Development

¾ India has promised to cut its emissions to net zero (R&D) has declined to 0.64% in 2020-21 of GDP
by 2070 at the Conference of Parties (COP)-26 (Gross Domestic Product), down from 0.8% in
Summit of UNFCCC. 2008-2009 and 0.7% in 2017-2018.

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This decrease is concerning, especially considering repeated calls from government agencies to double R&D
z
spending.
€ The 2013 Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy aimed to increase Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) to
2% of GDP, a goal reiterated in the 2017-2018 Economic Survey.
z However, the reasons for the reduction in R&D spending are unclear. Potential factors may include insufficient
coordination among government agencies and a lack of strong political will to prioritise R&D expenses.
¾ Developed Countries’ R&D Expenditure:
€ Comparatively, most developed countries allocate between 2% and 4% of their GDPs to R&D.

€ In 2021, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member-countries averaged 2.7%
of GDP on R&D, with the U.S. and the U.K. consistently exceeding 2% over the past decade.
z To drive meaningful development through science, experts advocate for India to allocate at least 1%, ideally
3%, of its GDP annually to R&D until 2047.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 103

What are the Challenges in Sustainable The broader issue of India’s under-spending
€

Funding for R&D? on research and development exacerbates the

impact of under-utilization, indicating a need for
¾ Under-utilisation of Budgets: both increased funding and improved efficiency
€ Despite allocations, departments such as the in spending.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Department ¾ Uncertain Government Budget Allocation:
of Science and Technology (DST), and Department
€ Government funding for science is uncertain and
of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) have subject to changes in political priorities, economic
consistently under-utilised their budget allocations. conditions, and competing demands for resources
z In 2022-2023, DBT used only 72% of its estimated across various sectors.
budget allocation, DST used only 61%, and DSIR € Non-prioritisation of R&D funding within government
spent 69% of its allocation. budgets, leading to insufficient allocations compared
¾ Delays in Disbursements: to other sectors.
€ The lack of capacity also results in delays in grant z This could be due to a lack of recognition of the
and salary disbursements, impacting the progress importance of scientific research for national
of scientific research and development projects. development and innovation.

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¾ Insufficient Private Sector Investment: ¾ Venture Capital and Angel Investors:

€ In 2020-2021, the private sector industry contributed € Encouraging venture capital firms and angel investors
36.4% of the GERD whereas the Union government’s to invest in R&D projects with high potential for
share was 43.7%. commercialisation can provide a significant source
z In economically developed countries, a major of funding.
share (70% on average) of R&D investment € Startups and small enterprises often drive innovation
comes from the private sector. and can benefit from private investment to scale
€ The hesitancy of private-sector funding may be their research efforts.
because of the poor capacity to evaluate R&D ¾ Government Initiatives:
in India, ambiguous regulatory roadmaps that € It is important to accelerate the implementation of
can deter investors, lack of clear exit options for initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research
investors in sectors such as biotechnology, and Foundation, ensuring adequate funding and efficient
fears of intellectual property rights theft. utilization to support R&D activities.
How can India Improve Its R&D Spending? What are the Government Initiatives related to R&D?
¾ Consistent Investment: ¾ Development of Centres of Excellence.
€ Science requires consistent, large-scale investment ¾ Creation of National Research Foundation
to bear fruit. For India to reach ‘developed nation’
¾ VAIBHAV Fellowship
status, it needs to spend more to scale R&D than
developed countries spend to maintain that status. ¾ Global Innovation Index 2023: India secured the
¾ Philanthropic Funding: 40th position in the latest GII 2023.
€ Encouraging wealthy individuals, corporations, and ¾ Atal New India Challenge 2.0
foundations to invest in R&D through philanthropy ¾ Announcement of New Science Awards (Vigyan
can significantly boost funding.
Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar).
€ Establishing dedicated funds or grants for scientific
¾ Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDFs): The government
research can attract donations from those interested
in contributing to societal progress. has increased the number of Post-Doctoral
¾ Industry-Academic Collaboration: Fellowships (PDFs) from 300 annually to 1000.
€ Facilitating partnerships between academia and € In addition, the SERB-Ramanujan Fellowship,
industry can leverage resources and expertise SERB-Ramalingaswami re-entry Fellowship and
from both sectors. SERB-Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty
€ Industry can provide funding, equipment, and
Scheme (VAJRA) have been devised to promote
real-world problems for research, while academic
brain gain by attracting bright researchers of Indian
institutions offer scientific knowledge and talent.
Government incentives or tax breaks can incentivise origin to work and contribute to STI (science,
such collaborations. technology and innovation) ecosystem in India.

nnn

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Environment and Ecology

Highlights
z Tiger Safari in Tiger Reserve z India’s Battle Against Single-Use Plastics
z Human-Animal Conflict z Status of Leopards in India 2022
z Coral Bleaching in Great Barrier Reef z Himalayas More Prone to Extreme Weather Events
z The Unjust Climate: FAO z Nitrogen Pollution
z Groundwater Contamination in India z Article 371A and Its Impact on Coal Mining in Nagaland

be undertaken inside a sanctuary except with the

Tiger Safari in Tiger Reserve prior approval of the National Board for Wild Life
constituted under the Act.
Why in News? ¾ Establishment:
The Supreme Court expressed inclination towards € The concept of a tiger safari was introduced in
approving the establishment of a Tiger Safari at Pakhrau, the 2012 Guidelines for Tourism by the National
Uttarakhand in the buffer area of Corbett Tiger Reserve Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), allowing
(CTR). for such establishments in the buffer areas of
¾ The court emphasised that safari parks are intended tiger reserves.
only for local tigers that are injured, conflicted, or € NTCA guidelines of 2016 permitted the establishment

orphaned, and not those sourced from zoos. of “Tiger Safaris” in buffer and fringe areas of tiger
¾ The court gave the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reserves for injured, conflicted, or orphaned
a three-month deadline to conclude its investigation tigers, stipulating that no tigers should be obtained
into alleged irregularities within CTR. from zoos.
€ In 2019, the NTCA permitted animals to be sourced
Note: from zoos for tiger safari, granting the Central
¾ In its interim order related to the case challenging Zoo Authority (CZA) the authority to select these
the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, animals.
the Supreme Court stated that the creation of zoos
What are the Needs and Concerns Related to
or safaris by any government or authority must
receive final approval from the apex court. Building a Tiger Safari in the Forest?
¾ Need:
What Does a Tiger Safari Really Mean?
€ The 2012 NTCA guidelines supported safari parks
¾ About: as a strategy to alleviate the tourism pressure
€ A tiger safari is an expedition undertaken to observe within tiger reserves, which can stress wildlife.
tigers in their natural habitat. € There is resistance to transferring animals that are
€ These safaris typically take place in protected not suited for the wild, like those that are injured,
areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, orphaned, or caught in conflicts, to distant zoos.
particularly in India, which is home to over 70% z Safari parks provide a way to keep such animals
of the world’s wild tiger population. captive within their natural environment.
¾ Definition: € Buffer areas were designated to accommodate

€ The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 does not define activities supporting the livelihood and development
“tiger safari”. needs of local communities.
¾ The act mandates that “no construction of commercial z Safari parks contribute to generating income and

tourist lodges, hotels, zoos and safari parks shall fostering local support for tiger conservation.

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¾ Concerns
€ Housing zoo tigers or other captive animals within tiger habitats poses a risk of disease transmission to wild
tigers and other wildlife.
€ Keeping captive animals in different locations doesn’t change their captive status. Creating safari parks for
“rescued” tigers in reserves might focus more on the welfare of individual tigers than on conserving the species,
which could disturb natural habitats.
z The concept of displaying “rescued” tigers in safari parks diverges from the norm of keeping distressed
animals away from public view.
z The 2016 guidelines were cautious about this policy shift, mandating assessment by the NTCA for every
“recovered/treated animal” before placement in safari parks.
€ The Supreme Court held that the NTCA’s interpretation of tiger safaris as essentially zoos within tiger reserves
contradicts the purpose of tiger conservation.
€ Efforts to reduce tourist crowds around tigers in reserves have often failed, with new safari routes attracting
even more visitors.

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Corbett Tiger Reserve
¾ About:
€ It is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in Corbett National
Park (first National Park of India), which is part of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
z The national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.

€ The core area forms the Corbett National Park while the buffer contains reserve forests as well as the
Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
€ The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological provinces.

€ Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain and Kosi are the major rivers flowing through the Reserve.

¾ Other Major Protected Areas of Uttarakhand:

€ Nanda Devi National Park.

€ Valley of Flowers National Park.

z Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

€ Rajaji National Park.

€ Gangotri National Park.

Rajaji National Park

¾ About:
€ Location: Haridwar (Uttarakhand), along the foothills of the Shivalik range.

€ Background: Three sanctuaries in the Uttarakhand i.e. Rajaji, Motichur and Chila were amalgamated into
a large protected area and named Rajaji National Park in the year 1983 after the famous freedom fighter C.
Rajgopalachari; popularly known as “Rajaji”.
€ Features:

z This area is the North Western Limit of habitat of Asian elephants.

z Forest types include sal forests, riverine forests, broad–leaved mixed forests, scrubland and grassy.

z It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2015.

z It is home to the Van Gujjars tribes in the winters.

Human-Animal Conflict
Why in News?
Amid repeated deaths from animal attacks and rising anger over them, Kerala has declared the Human-Animal
Conflict as a state-specific disaster.
¾ This declaration signals a significant shift in how the government addresses this pressing issue, altering the
responsibilities and authorities involved.
How State Handle Human-Animal Conflict as a State-Specific Disaster?

Aspect Current Management Proposed Change (State Specific Disaster)

Forest department under the Wild- State disaster management authority under the
Responsibility
life Protection Act, 1972. Disaster Management Act

Decision Making State Disaster Management Authority (Chief Min-

Chief Wildlife Warden
Authority ister at State Level)

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District Level Au- District Collector as the executive District Collector as a Chairperson of District Disas-
thority magistrate ter Management Authority
Intervention Capa- Enhanced powers to take decisive actions under
Limited by Wildlife Protection Act
bility Disaster Management Act 2005
Decisions may be questioned in Limited judicial interference due to provisions of
Judicial Oversight
court under wildlife laws Disaster Management Act
Only the Supreme Court or High Court can enter-
Courts can entertain suits under
Jurisdiction of Courts tain suits related to actions under Disaster Man-
relevant wildlife laws
agement Act, 2025 (Section 71).
Authority to override other norms, including
Norms Override Limited under Wildlife Protection
wildlife laws, during the declared disaster period
Capability Act
(Under Section 72)

¾ As per section 71 of the Disaster Management Act, no where people and wildlife coexist. Attacks by large
court (except the Supreme Court or a High Court) shall predators such as lions, tigers, and bears can result
have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in serious injury or death.
in respect of anything done by relevant authorities in € Ecological Damage: Human-animal conflict can
pursuance of any power conferred by this Act. have a negative impact on the environment. For
€ Section 72 of the Act says that the provisions of example, when humans kill predators, it can lead
this Act will have an overriding effect on any other to an increase in prey populations, which can
law during the specific period that a disaster has then cause ecological imbalances.
been declared.
€ Conservation Challenges: Human-animal conflict
¾ Other State-Specific Disasters: can also pose a challenge to conservation efforts,
¾ In 2015, Odisha declared snakebite a state-specific as it can lead to negative perceptions of wildlife
disaster. and make it difficult to implement conservation
¾ In 2020, Kerala declared Covid-19 as a state specific measures.
disaster. € Psychological Impacts: Human-animal conflict
€ Besides, heat waves, sunburn and sunstroke can also have psychological impacts on people,
have been declared so in 2019, the phenomenon especially those who have experienced attacks
of soil piping in 2017, and lightning and coastal or property damage. It can lead to fear, anxiety,
erosion in 2015. and trauma.
What is Human-Animal Conflict? What Strategies Can be Implemented to
¾ About: Mitigate Human-Animal Conflict?
€ Human-animal conflict refers to situations where
¾ Habitat Management:
human activities, such as agriculture, infrastructure
€ Protecting and restoring natural habitats for
development, or resource extraction, come into
wildlife can reduce their need to encroach on
conflict with wild animals, leading to negative
human settlements in search of food and shelter.
outcomes for both humans and animals.
€ This can involve creating wildlife corridors,
¾ Implications:
establishing protected areas, and implementing
€ Economic Losses: Human-animal conflict can
sustainable land-use practices.
result in significant economic losses for people,
especially farmers and livestock herders. Wild ¾ Crop Protection Measures:
animals can destroy crops, damage infrastructure, € Implementing techniques such as fencing, scare
and kill livestock, leading to financial hardship. devices, and crop diversification can help protect
€ Threats to Human Safety: Wild animals can pose crops from wildlife damage, reducing economic
a threat to human safety, especially in areas losses for farmers.

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¾ Early Warning Systems: ¾ The Biological Diversity Act, 2002: India is a part
€ Developing and deploying early warning systems, of the United Nations Convention on Biological
such as alerting communities about the presence Diversity. It ensures that the Biological Diversity Act
of wildlife nearby, can help prevent human-wildlife complements rather than contradicts existing laws
conflicts and mitigate threats to human safety. concerning forests and wildlife.
¾ Community Engagement and Education: ¾ National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016): It focuses
€ Educating local communities about coexisting with
on strengthening and enhancing the protected area
wildlife, raising awareness about the importance network, on the conservation of Endangered wildlife
of conservation, and providing training in and their habitats, on controlling trade in wildlife
conflict resolution techniques can foster greater products and on research, education, and training.
understanding and tolerance toward wild animals. ¾ Project Tiger: Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored
¾ Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Scheme, launched in 1973. It provides havens for
tigers in the country’s national parks.
€ Setting up conflict resolution mechanisms, such
as wildlife conflict response teams or hotlines, ¾ Project Elephant: It is a centrally sponsored scheme
can facilitate timely interventions and minimise and was launched in February 1992 for the protection
conflicts between humans and animals. of elephants, their habitats and corridors.
¾ National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
What are the Government Measures to Tackle It lays down guidelines to be followed by different
Human-Animal Conflict? Ministries or Departments of Central Government
¾ The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: The act provides for the purpose of integrating measures for disaster
the legal framework for the activities, Prohibition prevention or mitigation of its effects in their
of hunting, Protection and management of wildlife development plans and projects
habitats, and establishment of protected areas etc.

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Coral Bleaching in Great Barrier Reef

Why in News?
Recent aerial surveys conducted by Australian authorities confirm widespread coral bleaching across two-thirds
of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), signalling a dire threat exacerbated by climate change. Urgent action is needed to
mitigate the impacts and protect this vital marine ecosystem.
Great Barrier Reef (GBR)
¾ The GBR is the world’s largest coral reef system. It’s located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
€ The GBR stretches across 2,300 km and is made up of around 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands.

¾ The GBR is home to 400 types of coral, and 1,500 species of fish. It’s also home to endangered species such as
the dugong and the large green turtle. The GBR is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was inscribed in 1981.
€ In 2023, the UNESCO Heritage Committee refrained from listing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef as a site “in
danger” but warned that the world’s biggest coral reef ecosystem remained under “serious threat” from
pollution and the warming of oceans.
¾ Widespread mass bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef was first seen in 1998 and happened again in 2002, 2016,
2017, 2020, 2022 and now in 2024.

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What Factors are Contributing to the Coral
Bleaching in GBR?
¾ Temperature Stress:
€ Warmer water temperatures can trigger coral
bleaching, causing corals to expel the algae
(zooxanthellae) living in their tissues and turn white.
z Above-average sea surface temperatures over
an extended period have led to significant heat
stress on the reef, exacerbating the bleaching
phenomenon.
€ Bleached coral isn’t dead, but weakened and
susceptible to starvation and disease. Persistent
stress can lead to coral death.
¾ Climate Change Impact:
€ Rising ocean temperatures, exacerbated by climate
change, increase coral susceptibility to stress and
mortality, leading to widespread bleaching events
globally due to El Niño conditions.
¾ Other Environmental Stressors:
€ Cold water temperatures, pollution, runoff, and
extreme low tides can also induce coral bleaching,
highlighting the multifaceted nature of this
phenomenon.
¾ Algae Relationship:
€ Coral bleaching occurs when the symbiotic
relationship between corals and algae is disrupted,
impacting the corals’ food source and making them
vulnerable to disease.
What are the Implications of Coral Bleaching?
¾ Ecological Impact:
€ Coral reefs (also called Rainforest of seas) are
vital ecosystems that support a diverse range of ¾ Food Security:
marine life. Coral bleaching can lead to the loss of € Coral reefs provide food and livelihoods for millions
habitat and biodiversity, affecting fish populations, of people worldwide. Coral bleaching threatens
marine plants, and other organisms that depend the availability of seafood and can disrupt the
on coral reefs for survival. livelihoods of communities dependent on fishing
¾ Economic Consequences: and reef-related tourism.
€ Coral reefs are important for coastal protection,
¾ Climate Change Indicator:
tourism, and fisheries. Coral reef ecosystems € Coral bleaching serves as a visible indicator of

provide society with resources and services climate change impacts on marine ecosystems.
worth USD 375 billion per year. The degradation ¾ Loss of Ecosystem Services:
of coral reefs due to bleaching can have economic € Coral reefs provide essential ecosystem services,
repercussions, impacting industries such as tourism including shoreline protection, nutrient cycling,
and fishing, which rely on healthy reef ecosystems. and carbon sequestration.

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€ Bleaching diminishes the ability of reefs to provide data to examine the impacts of climate stressors
these services, affecting the overall health of marine on incomes, labour, and adaptation strategies,
ecosystems and coastal communities. differentiating based on wealth, gender, and age.
What are the Key Findings of the Report?
The Unjust Climate: FAO ¾ Impact of Extreme Weather on Poor Rural Households:
€ Every day of extreme heat results in poor rural
Why in News?
households losing 2.4% of on-farm incomes,
Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization of 1.1% of crop value, and 1.5% of off-farm income
the United Nations (FAO), has released a report titled- compared to non-poor households across India and
The Unjust Climate, shows how the effects of Climate 23 other LMICs (Lower Middle Income Countries).
Change on income and adaptation in rural areas vary € A 1°C increase in long-term temperatures would
with gender, wealth and age. push rural poor households to rely more on
¾ FAO analyzed socioeconomic data from over 100,000 climate-dependent agriculture, leading to a 33%
rural households representing more than 950 million decrease in off-farm incomes.
people across 24 LMICs (Lower Middle Income € Similarly, every day of extreme Precipitation causes
Countries). poor households to lose 0.8% of their incomes
¾ The study integrated this information with 70 years of relative to non-poor households, mainly driven
georeferenced daily precipitation and temperature by losses in off-farm incomes.

¾ Income Inequality Widening Due to Climate Stressors:

€ In an average year, poor households lose 5% of their total income due to Heat Stress and 4.4% due to floods
compared to better-off households.
€ Floods and heat stress widen the income gap between poor and non-poor households in rural areas by
approximately USD 21 billion and USD 20 billion a year, respectively.

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¾ Maladaptive Coping Strategies: € Agricultural policies also miss the opportunity to
€ Extreme weather events push poor rural households address gender equality and women’s empowerment
to adopt maladaptive coping strategies, including and intersecting vulnerabilities such as climate
distress sale of livestock and redirecting expenditures change.
away from their farms. z An analysis of agricultural policies from 68 low-

€ Poor households reduce their investments in and middle-income countries done by FAO in
agriculture relative to non-poor households when 2023 showed that about 80% of policies did not
faced with floods and droughts, as they redirect their consider women and climate change.
scarce resources away from agricultural production
What are the Recommendations of the Report?
towards immediate consumption needs.
€ These maladaptive coping strategies are likely
¾ It is suggested that addressing these challenges requires
to make them more vulnerable to future climate targeted interventions to empower various rural
stressors than non-poor rural households. populations to engage in climate-adaptive measures.
¾ It is imperative to invest in policies and programmes that
address the multidimensional climate vulnerabilities
of rural people and their specific constraints, including
their limited access to productive resources.
¾ It is recommended to link social protection programmes
to advisory services that can encourage adaptation
and compensate farmers for losers, such as cash-based
social assistance programs.
¾ Gender-transformative methodologies that directly
challenge discriminatory gender norms, could also
tackle the entrenched discrimination that often
prevents women from exercising full agency over
economic decisions that impact their lives.
What are the FAO’s Initiatives to Tackle the
Impact of Climate Change?
¾ Inclusive climate actions are embedded in FAO’s
Strategy and Action Plan on Climate Change and in the
FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031, where tackling
the impact of climate change is mainstreamed in efforts
to achieve the four betters: better production, better
nutrition, better environment and better life for all.
¾ FAO’s Global Roadmap for Achieving SDG (Sustainable
Development Goal) 2 without breaching the 1.5 °C
¾ Inadequate Inclusion in National Climate Policies: threshold, establishes that gender inequalities, climate
€ Rural people and their climate vulnerabilities are actions and nutrition are simultaneous considerations,
largely absent in national climate policies. and actions must encompass these dimensions and
€ Less than 1% of Nationally Determined Contributions promote inclusivity for women, youth and Indigenous
(NDC) and national adaptation plans (NAP) of the 24 Peoples.
analysed countries mention poor people, and only
What is the Food and Agriculture
about 6% refer to farmers in rural communities.
Organization?
€ Only 7.5% of tracked climate finance in 2017-18
went towards climate change adaptation, with ¾ About:
less than 3% allocated to agriculture, forestry, € FAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations
and other land uses. that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

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z World Food Day is celebrated every year around Note:

the world on 16th October. The day is celebrated
¾ India is one of the world’s largest users of
to mark the anniversary of the founding of the groundwater, where groundwater contributes to
FAO in 1945. more than 60% of the country’s irrigation resources.
€ It is one of the UN food aid organisations based ¾ This over-extraction of groundwater is non-
in Rome (Italy). Its sister bodies are the World renewable since recharge rates are less than
Food Programme and the International Fund for extraction rates and replenishing this resource can
Agricultural Development (IFAD). take thousands of years.
¾ Initiatives Taken: What are the Sources of Groundwater
€ Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems Contamination?
(GIAHS).
¾ Naturally Occurring Contaminants: High levels of
€ Monitors the Desert Locust situation throughout arsenic, fluoride, iron, and uranium exist naturally
the world. in some geological formations, contaminating
€ The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is groundwater.
the body responsible for all matters regarding € In terms of arsenic and iron pollution, West Bengal
the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food and Assam are the worst affected states respectively.
Standards Programme. ¾ Agriculture: Excessive use of fertilisers, pesticides,
€ The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources and herbicides leach harmful chemicals into the
for Food and Agriculture was adopted by the Thirty- water table.
First Session of the Conference of the FAO in 2001. ¾ Industrial Waste: Untreated industrial effluents often
¾ Flagship Publications: find their way into groundwater sources, introducing
heavy metals and other toxins.
€ The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
(SOFIA). ¾ Urbanisation: Leaky sewage systems and improper
waste disposal in urban areas contribute to groundwater
€ The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO).
pollution.
€ The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the
¾ Saltwater Intrusion: In coastal areas, over-pumping
World (SOFI). of groundwater can cause saltwater from the ocean
€ The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA). to infiltrate freshwater aquifers, rendering the water
€ The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets unusable for drinking or irrigation.
(SOCO). € Rajasthan has the highest number of rural
habitations affected by (salinity) contamination.

Groundwater Contamination What is the Central Ground Water Authority?

¾ About: The authority has been constituted under
in India Section 3 (3) of the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986 to regulate and control the development
Why in News? and management of groundwater resources in
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently expressed the country.
dissatisfaction over the Central Groundwater Authority’s ¾ Major Functions:
(CGWA) response to the widespread issue of toxic arsenic € To regulate, control, manage and development

and fluoride in groundwater across India. of groundwater in the country and to issue
¾ Groundwater contamination due to arsenic is prevalent necessary regulatory directions for the purpose.
in 230 districts across 25 states of India while that € Exercise of powers under section 4 of the

caused due to fluoride is prevalent in 469 districts Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for the
appointment of officers.
across 27 states.

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What are the Primary Agents Responsible for ¾ Fluoride: In India, fluorosis is a prevalent issue due to
Contaminating Groundwater? the consumption of water with high fluoride content.
€ Excessive fluoride intake can result in neuromuscular
¾ Arsenic: While arsenic occurs naturally, it is also
present in human-made forms used in agriculture, disorders, gastrointestinal problems, dental
mining, and manufacturing. deformities, and skeletal fluorosis, characterised
by painful and stiff joints.
€ Seepage from industrial and mining discharges,
€ Knock-knee syndrome, marked by outward bending
as well as from fly ash ponds in thermal power
plants, can introduce arsenic into groundwater. of the legs from the knees, can also occur.
€ Chronic exposure to arsenic can cause black foot
disease.

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¾ Nitrates: Excessive nitrate levels in drinking water What are the Current Government Initiatives
react with haemoglobin, forming non-functional Related to Groundwater Management?
methaemoglobin and hindering oxygen transport, ¾ Atal Bhujal Yojana
leading to methemoglobinemia and blue baby ¾ Jal Shakti Abhiyan
syndrome. ¾ Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme
€ High nitrate levels can also contribute to the (NAQUIM)
formation of carcinogens and accelerate ¾ Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
eutrophication. ● Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Amendment Bill, 2024
z Blue Baby Syndrome cause a bluish
● National Green Tribunal
discolouration of the skin in babies, not just ● Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
methemoglobinemia, due to excessive nitrate ● Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
levels in drinking water.
z Methemoglobinemia is a condition where an India’s Battle Against Single-
abnormal form of haemoglobin (methemoglobin)
is present in the blood, reducing its ability to
Use Plastics
carry oxygen.
Why in News?
¾ Uranium: Uranium, weakly radioactive with a long
India had committed to phase out Single-Use Plastics
physical half-life, is found in concentrations above
(SUP) by 2022, three years later, while some progress
WHO guidelines in localised pockets in India. has been made with the ban on selected SUP items,
€ In regions like Rajasthan and northwestern states, challenges persist.
uranium is primarily present in alluvial aquifers, ¾ According to a report launched during the 6th United
while in southern states like Telangana, it originates Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-6), the
from crystalline rocks such as granite. thriving street food sector across India depends
€ Elevated uranium levels in drinking water can heavily on single-use plastics.
cause kidney toxicity. What are the Key Highlights of the Report
¾ Radon: Recently, in some areas of Bengaluru, Released at UNEA-6 Regarding SUP?
groundwater used for drinking has been found to ¾ Street Food Sector’s Reliance on SUP:
contain significantly high levels of radioactive radon. € Single-use plastics such as plates, bowls, cups, and
€ Radon originates from radioactive granites and containers are extensively used in India’s street
uranium, which undergoes decay to radium and food sector. Despite their affordability, these items
radon. contribute significantly to the country’s waste
management challenge.
€ The presence of radon in air and water can damage
lung tissues, increasing the risk of lung cancer. ¾ Benefits of Reuse System: The findings reveal the
reuse system offers a compelling business case with
¾ Other Trace Metals: Water may also be contaminated by
various benefits:
trace metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, copper,
€ Reduced costs: Both vendors and customers
chromium, and nickel, which possess carcinogenic
experience cost savings.
properties.
€ Waste reduction: The system significantly reduces
€ Water contaminated with cadmium can cause Itai the amount of packaging material needed.
Itai disease, also called ouch-ouch disease. € Financial viability: The report highlights a potential
€ Mercury in water causes Minamata (a neurological 21% return on investment with a payback period
syndrome) in humans of 2-3 years.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 117
Additional considerations: Material choice,
€ ¾ On the current trajectory of production, it has been
retention time, return rate, deposit amounts, projected that single-use plastic could account for
and government incentives are crucial factors for 5-10% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
optimizing the system’s effectiveness.
What is the Current Landscape of Single-Use
¾ Recommendation:
Plastics?
€ Adopting a reusable packaging system in India’s
street food sector presents a win-win solution. ¾ Share of Banned Single-Use Plastic Items:
€ India banned 19 identified single-use plastic items
€ It is both economically viable and environmentally
sustainable, benefiting all stakeholders and paving in 2021, but it fell short of addressing the broader
the way for a more resilient and sustainable future spectrum of single-use plastics still in circulation.
for Indian cities. € The annual share of banned single-use plastic items
is roughly 0.6 million tonnes per year.
What is Single-Use plastic?
€ The remaining single-use plastic items, comprising
¾ It refers to a “plastic item intended to be used once mostly packaging products, are covered under the
for the same purpose before being disposed of or Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy
recycled.” introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest
€ Single-use plastic has among the highest shares of and Climate Change (MOEFCC) in 2022.
plastic manufactured and used — from packaging of z The EPR policy specifies target collection and
items to bottles (shampoo, detergents, cosmetics), recycling, ignoring the fact that some single-use
polythene bags, face masks, coffee cups, cling film, plastics that are not banned (such as multilayered
trash bags, food packaging etc. packaging) are non-recyclable.

¾ India’s share in Plastic Production: € This waste, predominantly single-use in nature, is

€ According to the report Plastic Waste Makers dumped or even burnt at roadsides, choking drains
Index 2019, India was the 13th largest investor in and flowing into the rivers from where it disperses
into the ocean, harming marine life directly or
single-use plastic polymer production globally.
indirectly as it degrades into micro- and nano-
€ India ranked 3rd globally, contributing 5.5 million sized particles over months, years and decades.
tonnes of single-use plastic (SUP) waste, and ranked
94th with per capita single-use plastic waste of 4 What are the Challenges in Tackling Single-Use
kg per year, indicating that the SUP ban in India Plastic?
addresses roughly 11% of the entire gamut of ¾ Lack of Alternatives:
single-use plastic waste. € One of the major hurdles in phasing out single-

¾ India’s Mismanagement in Plastic Waste: use plastics is the limited availability of viable
€ The UNEP’s country-wise plastic data revealed alternatives.
€ While there are some alternatives available, they
that India mismanages 85% of its plastic waste.

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may not be cost-effective, convenient, or widely those issuing challans, on what to look for
accessible, making it difficult for consumers and during inspections. Equip inspection teams with
businesses to transition away from single-use instruments like gauge meters. Ensure reporting
plastics. on inspection scale in various facilities.
¾ Economic Considerations: ¾ Mandate Public Disclosure of Environmental
€ Single-use plastics are often preferred for their Compliance:
affordability and convenience. Transitioning to € The CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) and
alternatives may require investments in research, MOEFCC should mandate local governments
development, and infrastructure, which can be and states to provide quarterly updates on their
costly for both businesses and governments. websites, including information on environmental
€ Additionally, consumers may be unwilling to pay compensation, units shut, and fines imposed.
higher prices for alternative products. € States should also submit enforcement reports to
¾ Infrastructure: the CPCB fortnightly. The CPCB should ensure this
€ Adequate waste management infrastructure is information is included in its Annual Report as
essential for managing the disposal and recycling per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016,
of plastics. However, many regions, particularly and share data collected from private players and
in developing countries, lack the necessary state authorities.
infrastructure for proper waste management,
¾ Stop the Micron Business:
leading to plastic pollution and environmental
€ Carry bags irrespective of thickness should be
degradation.
¾ Policy and Regulation: banned. This has been done successfully in
countries that are weaker economies than India
€ While some governments have implemented
such as various East African countries, for example,
regulations to restrict the use of single-use plastics,
Tanzania and Rwanda.
enforcement and compliance can be challenging.
€ The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh through its
€ There may also be resistance from industries that
rely on single-use plastics, as well as from consumers Non-biodegradable Garbage Control Act of 1998
who are accustomed to their convenience. has completely banned the production, distribution,
¾ Consumer Behavior: storage and use of carry bags.
z This is not just a policy on paper but has been
€ Changing consumer behavior and attitudes towards
single-use plastics is crucial for reducing their use. implemented at scale in the entire state of
Himachal Pradesh.
€ However, this can be difficult to achieve, as habits
are deeply ingrained, and there may be a lack of ¾ Invest in the SUP Alternative Market:
awareness about the environmental impacts of € The scarcity of alternatives is a major obstacle to
single-use plastics. moving away from SUP. The market will transition
¾ Impact on Livelihoods: when cost-effective and convenient options become
€ In some cases, bans or restrictions on single-use widely available.
plastics may have unintended consequences for € However, substitutes are currently not abundant.
livelihoods, particularly for those employed in This scarcity is largely due to the government’s
industries that rely on the production or sale of past neglect in promoting the alternative industry,
single-use plastics. while also attempting bans at the national and
€ Efforts to phase out single-use plastics must consider state levels.
the socio-economic implications and provide
support for affected individuals and communities. How are other Countries Dealing with SUP?
¾ Sign Resolution:
What Measure can be Taken to Deal With the
€ In 2022, 124 countries, parties to the United
Issue of Single-Use Plastic?
Nations Environment Assembly, including India,
¾ Enforce Laws: signed a resolution to draw up an agreement which
€ Upgrade the capacity of officials, especially will in the future make it legally binding for the

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 119
signatories to address the full life of plastics from What are the Key Highlights of the Report on
production to disposal, to end plastic pollution. the Status of Leopards in India 2022?
€ As of July 2019, 68 countries have plastic bag bans
¾ Overall population:
with varying degrees of enforcement.
¾ Countries which Ban Plastic:
€ India’s leopard population rose by 8% from 12,852
in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022.
€ Bangladesh:
€ About 65% of the leopard population is present
z Bangladesh became the first country to ban
thin plastic bags in 2002. outside protected areas in the Shivalik landscape.
Only about a third of the leopards are within
€ New Zealand:
protected areas.
z New Zealand became the latest country to ban
plastic bags in July 2019. z The Shivalik landscape refers to the outermost
€ China:
range of the Himalayas, known as the Shivalik
Hills or the Shivalik Range. This range extends
z China issued a ban on plastic bags in 2020 with
phased implementation. across several states in northern India, including
Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana,
€ US:
Punjab, and parts of Jammu and Kashmir and
z Eight states in the US have banned single-use
Uttar Pradesh.
plastic bags, beginning with California in 2014.
Seattle became the first major US city to ban ¾ Regional variation:
plastic straws in 2018. € Central India shows a stable or slightly growing
€ European Union: population of leopards (2018: 8071, 2022: 8820),
z In July, 2021, the Directive on Single-Use Plastics Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains experienced
took effect in the European Union (EU). decline (2018: 1253, 2022: 1109).
z The directive bans certain single-use plastics z In Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains, there is
for which alternatives are available, single-use a 3.4% decline per annum, while the largest
plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks and growth rate was in Central India and Eastern
cotton buds cannot be placed on the markets Ghats of 1.5%.
of the EU member states. ¾ State-level distribution:
z The same measure applies to cups, food
€ Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of leopards
and beverage containers made of expanded
(3,907), followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, and
polystyrene, and all products made of oxo-
degradable plastic. Tamil Nadu.
z In Odisha the number of leopards dropped from
760 in 2018 to 562 in 2022, and in Uttarakhand,
Status of Leopards in India the population declined from 839 in 2018 to
2022 652 in 2022.
z Kerala, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Goa
Why in News? too reported population declines.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate ¾ Benefits From Tiger Conservation Efforts:
Change has released a report on the Status of Leopards € The Central India and Eastern Ghats landscape is
in India 2022. The survey covered 20 States of India, and
home to the largest population of leopards, which
focussed on about 70% of the animals’ expected habitat.
is growing due to protective measures within the
¾ Recently, the Union Government, while commemorating
framework of tiger conservation.
the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, has approved the
establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance € The report highlights that leopard densities are
(IBCA) with headquarters in India with a one-time higher in Tiger Reserves compared to areas outside
budgetary support of Rs.150 crore for a period of Protected Areas, despite the regulatory pressure
five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28. exerted by tigers on leopards.

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¾ Common Threats:
€ Common threats are poaching of prey for bush meat, targeted poaching for tiger and leopard skins and body
parts and habitat loss due to mining and other human activities.
z In Odisha, as many as 59 leopard skins were seized from wildlife smugglers between 2018 and 2023.

€ Additionally, road accidents are a significant cause of leopard fatalities.

What is the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)?

¾ About:
€ The IBCA is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition aimed at conserving big cat species and their habitats.

€ It brings together 96 big cat range countries, non-range countries interested in big cat conservation, conservation
partners, scientific organizations, and businesses.
¾ Objective:
€ The primary goal of the alliance is to collaborate on efforts to secure the future of big cats, including Tigers,
Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, pumas, jaguars, and cheetahs, and the landscapes they inhabit.

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€IBCA would work towards mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. It will advocate for policy initiatives
that align biodiversity conservation efforts with local needs and contribute towards the attainment of United
Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals within member countries.
¾ Structure:
€ The grouping’s structure will consist of an Assembly of Members, a Standing Committee and a Secretariat,
with its headquarters in India.
¾ Conservation Efforts of India:
€ Project Lion

€ Project Leopard

€ Cheetah Reintroduction Project

€ Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

€ Snow Leopard Conservation:

€ Conservation efforts include habitat protection, community engagement, research, and anti-poaching measures.

€ Collaboration with neighbouring countries and international organizations helps in safeguarding this high-
altitude predator.

What are the Key Points Related to Leopards?

¾ Scientific Name: Panthera pardus
¾ About:
€ The leopard is the smallest of the Big Cat family (of genus Panthera namely the Tiger, Lion (Panthera leo),
Jaguar, Leopard, and Snow Leopard), and is known for its ability to adapt in a variety of habitats.

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€A nocturnal animal, feeds on smaller species of € CITES: Appendix-I

herbivores found in its range, such as the chital, € Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-I
hog deer and wild boar.
€ Melanism is a common occurrence in leopards,
wherein the entire skin of the animal is black in
Himalayas More Prone to
colour, including its spots. Extreme Weather Events
z A melanistic leopard is often called a black
panther and is mistakenly thought to be a Why in News?
different species. The Himalayan Region, prone to cloudbursts and
¾ Habitat: extreme weather events, is experiencing accelerated
€ It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, impacts of Global Warming.
in small parts of Western and Central Asia, on the
How are the Shifts in Weather Patterns
Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia.
Increasing the Frequency of Extreme Events?
z The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)
is a leopard widely distributed on the Indian ¾ Shift in Monsoon Patterns:
subcontinent. € There is evidence suggesting a shift in southwest

¾ Threats: monsoon patterns, with deviations occurring more

frequently in the Indo-Gangetic plain rather than
€ Poaching for the illegal trade of skins and body parts.
the southern half of the sub-continent.
€ Habitat loss and fragmentation
€ This includes excessive rainfall in the arid and
€ Human-Leopard conflict
semi-arid western half of India and deficient rainfall
¾ Conservation Status: in the eastern half and coastal areas, indicating a
€ IUCN Red List: Vulnerable reversal of historical precipitation patterns.

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¾ Temperature Rise in the Arabian Sea: ¾ Glacial Melting and Glacier Lake Outbursts:
€ The uppermost layer of the Arabian Sea has € Rising temperatures in the Himalayas have caused
experienced abnormal warming, leading to glaciers to melt rapidly, leading to the formation
increased evaporation and potentially altering of glacial lakes.
the behaviour of the southwest monsoon. € The increasing frequency and ferocity of cloudbursts
€ This warming trend has also contributed to more are causing these lakes to overflow or burst their
Cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea, including banks, resulting in floods and loss of lives and
some making landfall on the west coast of India. property downstream.
¾ Between 2001 and 2019, there has been a 50% z The number of such lakes in Uttarakhand and
increase in the frequency of cyclones in the Arabian east of Himachal Pradesh, has increased from
Sea. About half of these dissipate before they land. 127 in 2005 to 365 in 2015.
¾ Extreme Rainfall and Cloudbursts: ¾ Loss of Glacial Ice:
€ Cloudbursts are not just intense rain showers, € The Himalayas have already lost more than 40%
but a genetically different form of rain. Even in of their ice, and this trend is expected to continue,
heavy showers, the raindrops are usually about 2 with projections indicating a potential loss of up
mm in diameter. to 75% by the end of the century.
€ Their size grows to between 4-6 mm during severe z This loss of ice is affecting the vegetation line,
thunderstorms and cloudbursts. Being heavier, these agricultural practices, and water resources in
raindrops fall faster, thus they trigger landslides the region.
with their tremendous pounding power.
What can be the Adaptation Measures to
z Number of thunderstorms, cloudbursts and
Tackle the Impact of Climate Change?
hailstorms has increased from between two and
4 per annum during the four decades between ¾ There is a growing need for improved monitoring of
1970-2010, to 53 in Himachal Pradesh alone glaciers and glacial lakes, as well as better forecasting
in 2023. and early warning systems for landslides and glacial
lake outbursts.
€ However, these measures alone may not be
sufficient to address the long-term impacts of
climate change in the Himalayas.
¾ Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and
transitioning to renewable energy sources are seen
as essential steps to mitigate the effects of global
warming and safeguard the Himalayan region and
its inhabitants.
¾ There should be Sustainable Construction Activities
in the Himalayas region, which can withstand any
calamitous event if it occurs. Some of the steps are-
€ Understanding Terrain Characteristics: Recognising
the impact of slope, drainage, and vegetation
cover on the stress that an area can endure is
fundamental. By delineating zones based on
these factors, authorities can better manage
construction activities and mitigate risks associated
with unstable terrain.
€ Assessing Climate Vulnerability: Given the
increasing frequency of extreme weather events
like floods and landslides, it’s essential to project

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future climate scenarios and identify vulnerable ¾ Mishra Committee Report 1976:
areas. Projections and simulations can help in € Named after MC Mishra, the then Garhwal
devising strategies to adapt to and mitigate the commissioner in erstwhile Uttar Pradesh. It
impacts of climate change. provided findings on land subsidence in Joshimath.
€ Managing Development Impacts: Development € Recommendations included imposing restrictions
projects, particularly hydropower ventures, often on heavy construction work, blasting, excavation
have significant ecological consequences in hilly for road repairs and other construction activities,
regions. Regulations should incorporate risk and tree felling in the region.
assessments and consider cumulative impacts to
safeguard against forest degradation, changes in
river courses, and loss of biodiversity.
Nitrogen Pollution
Enhancing Adaptive Capacity: As hill town
€
Why in News?
populations grow, their ability to cope with climate
change diminishes due to various challenges such Recent research has stated that by 2050, one-third
as water scarcity, inadequate infrastructure, and of global river sub-basins are projected to face severe
limited livelihood options. scarcity of clean water due to nitrogen pollution.
z Improving adaptive capacity involves bolstering What is Nitrogen Pollution?
services and infrastructure while prioritising ¾ About: Nitrogen pollution refers to the excessive
sustainable solutions with community presence of nitrogen compounds in the environment,
involvement. primarily in water bodies like rivers and lakes.
What are the Government Initiatives Related € According to the United Nations Environment

to the Himalaya? Programme (UNEP), each year, 200 million tonnes

of reactive nitrogen, 80% of the total, is lost to
¾ National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem the environment.
(2010):
€ One of the main drivers of nitrogen pollution has
€ Covers 11 states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, been the rising consumption of nitrogen-based
Sikkim, all northeast states, and West Bengal) and fertiliser, which doubled between 1978 and 2014
2 UTs (Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh). globally.
€ Part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change z The amount of reactive nitrogen produced
(NAPCC), comprising eight missions. by humans is now greater than the amount
¾ Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme created through natural processes.
(IHCAP): ¾ Sources of Nitrogen Pollution:
€ It aims to enhance the resilience of vulnerable € Agricultural Activities: One of the main drivers of
communities in the Indian Himalayas by nitrogen pollution has been the rising consumption
strengthening the capacities of Indian institutions in of nitrogen-based fertilizer, which can leach into
climate science, with a specific focus on glaciology groundwater or runoff into surface water bodies.
and related areas € Industrial Processes: Manufacturing processes,
¾ SECURE Himalaya Project: particularly those involved in the production of
€ Integral to the “Global Partnership on Wildlife nitrogen-based chemicals and fertilisers, release
Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable nitrogen compounds into the environment.
Development” (Global Wildlife Program), funded z Combustion of fossil fuels in industries also

by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). emits nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.
€ Focuses on promoting sustainable management € Livestock Farming: Livestock waste, primarily from

of alpine pastures and forests in the high-range manure and urine, contains nitrogen compounds
Himalayan ecosystems. such as ammonia.

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z Improper storage and management of livestock € Biomass Burning: Wildfires and burning of cow
waste can lead to nitrogen runoff, contaminating dung cake as a fuel release nitrogen oxides (NOx)
water bodies and contributing to eutrophication. and nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere.
z The livestock sector currently emits 65 teragrams z These emissions contribute to air pollution
(Tg) of nitrogen per year, equivalent to one-third and can have regional and global impacts on
of current human-induced nitrogen emissions. atmospheric chemistry and climate.

¾ Major Impacts of Nitrogen Pollution: z Nitrate contamination of drinking water can

€ Eutrophication: Excess nitrogen acts as a nutrient also pose health risks, particularly to infants,
fertiliser for aquatic plants, leading to excessive by causing methemoglobinemia or “blue baby
growth of algae and other aquatic vegetation.
syndrome.”
This phenomenon is known as eutrophication
and leads to algal blooming. € Ozone Depletion: Nitrous oxide (N2O) released
z This creates oxygen-depleted zones (dead into the atmosphere can lead to the depletion
zones), where aquatic life suffocates and dies. of the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects
€ Human Health Impacts: Nitrogen pollution can
the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
have direct and indirect effects on human health.
z Depletion of the ozone layer can increase the
z High levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air
can exacerbate respiratory conditions such as risk of skin cancer, cataracts, and other health
asthma and increase the risk of respiratory problems in humans, as well as harm marine
infections. ecosystems and agricultural crops.
„ An estimated 77% of people breathe annual
z It also leads to the creation of tropospheric
average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide
beyond safe levels. ozone which creates respiratory illnesses.

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¾ Related Government Initiatives:

€ Bharat Stage (BS VI) Emission Standards: Stricter emission standards for vehicles and industries aim to curb
the release of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which are precursors to air and water pollution.
€ Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS): This policy incentivizes the use of controlled-release fertilisers, encouraging
more efficient nutrient management.
€ Soil Health Cards: Issued to farmers, these cards provide soil nutrient status and customised fertiliser
recommendations, promoting balanced nutrient application.
€ Nano Urea: It is a fertiliser patented and sold by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO),
and has been approved by the government for commercial use.
z Nano urea reduces the unbalanced and indiscriminate use of conventional urea and increases crop productivity.

Note: In March 2019, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a resolution calling for sustainable nitrogen
management.

What are the Key Points Related to Nitrogen?

¾ About: Nitrogen is the most prevalent element in living organisms. It is a constituent of amino acids, proteins,
hormones, chlorophylls, and many vitamins.
€ There is an inexhaustible supply of nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere, but most living organisms cannot use
the elemental form directly.
€ Nitrogen must be ‘fixed’ (converted to ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates) before plants can take it up.

¾ Nitrogen Fixation: Nitrogen fixation on earth is accomplished in three different ways:

€ By N-fixing microbes (bacteria and blue-green algae)

€ By industrial processes (fertilizer factories)

€ To a limited extent by atmospheric lighting.

¾ Major Compounds of Nitrogen:

Compound Source Benefits Effects

As a Greenhouse gas, 300

times more potent than
Used in rocket propel-
carbon dioxide - Causes de-
Agriculture, industry, lants.
Nitrous Oxide (N20) pletion of the stratospheric
combustion Used in medical proce-
ozone layer, which shields
dures as laughing gas.
humanity from harmful ul-
traviolet radiation

Makes up 78% of the air Maintains a stable atmo- Harmless and chemically un-
Di-Nitrogen (N2)
we breathe sphere for life on Earth reactive
Causes eutrophication and
affects biodiversity,
Forms particulate matter in
Foundation for amino
the air,
Manure, urine, fer- acids, proteins, and en-
Ammonia (NH3) affecting health by causing
tilisers, biomass burning zymes- Commonly used
shortness of breath, affect-
as fertiliser
ing lung function, and exac-
erbating respiratory diseases
such as asthma

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 127

Forms particulate matter

in the air and affects health
when ending up in ground-
Wastewater, agriculture, Widely used in fertilisers
Nitrate (NO3) water, causing what’s known
oxidation of NOx and explosives
as blue baby syndrome,
Leads to eutrophication in
water bodies
Combustion from trans- Major air pollutant, contrib-
Nitric Oxide and Nitro- Essential in human phys-
port, industry, energy uting to heart disease and
gen Dioxide iology (NO)
sector respiratory illness

Way Forward
¾ Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Implementing techniques like precision agriculture (applying the right amount
of fertiliser in the right place) and cover cropping (planting vegetation during off-seasons to prevent soil erosion
and nutrient runoff) can help minimize fertiliser use and reduce pollution.
¾ Improved Wastewater Treatment: Upgrading and expanding wastewater treatment infrastructure ensures proper
treatment and disposal of industrial and urban sewage, preventing nitrogen-rich compounds from entering water
bodies.
¾ Incentivizing Green Infrastructure: Offering incentives and subsidies for the implementation of green infrastructure
projects, such as green roofs, rain gardens, and permeable pavements, which help mitigate nitrogen runoff by
absorbing and filtering stormwater.
¾ Enhancing Public Awareness: Raising awareness about responsible water and nitrogen management practices
amongst farmers, industrial operators, and the general public is crucial to promoting sustainable practices and
reduce pollution.

Article 371A and Its Impact on Coal Mining in Nagaland

Why in News?
In Nagaland, Article 371A of the Indian Constitution poses a major obstacle to regulating coal mining. This
provision, upholding Naga customary law, complicates government efforts to oversee small-scale mining, especially
after recent fatalities in a rat-hole mine explosion.
What is Article 371A of the Indian Constitution?
¾ Article 371A was introduced into the Constitution (Part XXI) as part of the 13th Amendment in 1962, granting
special provisions to Nagaland (then Naga Hills and Tuensang Area).
¾ Article 371A states that no act of Parliament shall apply to Nagaland in respect of the religious or social practices
of the Nagas, the Naga customary law and procedure, the administration of civil and criminal justice involving
decisions according to the Naga customary law, and the ownership and transfer of land and its resources, unless
the Nagaland Legislative Assembly decides otherwise by a resolution.
¾ This means that the state government has limited authority and jurisdiction over the land and its resources, which
are owned and controlled by the local communities and governed by their customary laws and practices.

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How is Rat-Hole Mining Regulated in z According to Section 6.4(ii) of the Nagaland Coal
Nagaland? Policy (First Amendment) of 2014, these licences
are restricted to mining areas not exceeding 2
¾ Coal Mining in Nagaland:
hectares, with an annual coal production cap
€ Nagaland possesses significant coal reserves totalling
of 1,000 tonnes and a prohibition on heavy
492.68 million tonnes, but dispersed erratically
machinery usage.
and inconsistently in small pockets spread over
a large area. € Rat-hole mining operations necessitate consent
from relevant departments, including Forest
€ The Nagaland Coal mining policy, established
in 2006, permits rat-hole mining due to the and Environment, ensuring compliance with
scattered nature of coal deposits, making large- environmental regulations.
scale operations unfeasible. € Despite proper clearances and defined mining
z Rat-hole mining is a method of extracting coal
plans issued by the State government, instances
from narrow horizontal tunnels or rat-holes, of illegal rat-hole mining persist in Nagaland.
which are often dug by hand and are prone to z The dependence of local communities on coal
accidents and environmental hazards. mining for sustenance further complicates
€ Rat-hole mining licences, known as small pocket regulatory efforts, as stringent regulations
deposit licences, are exclusively granted to may impact livelihoods, necessitating a delicate
individual landowners for limited durations and balance between economic interests and
specific conditions. environmental concerns.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 129
¾ Article 371A and Controlling Rat-Hole Mining in Nagaland:
€ This Article 371A grants Nagaland special rights over its land and resources, making it difficult for the governments
to impose regulations that might be perceived as infringing on these rights.
€ The Nagaland government struggles to effectively regulate small-scale mining operations, particularly those
practised by individual landowners due to the limitations posed by Article 371A.
€ The recent deaths in a rat-hole mine highlight the safety risks associated with unregulated mining practices.
These incidents raise concerns about the lack of proper safety measures and highlight the urgency for effective
regulations.
Note:
¾ The Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT), banned rat hole mining in 2014 as it causes environmental
degradation and is a threat to the life of miners. The Tribunal termed it as unscientific.

nnn

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Security
Highlights
z INS Jatayu in the Lakshadweep Islands z Exercise MILAN 2024
z DefConnect 2024

on the islands, INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti, was

INS Jatayu in the commissioned in 2012.
Lakshadweep Islands ¾ INS Jatayu will be equipped with additional
infrastructure, including an airfield and personnel
Why in News? housing, to support naval operations and ensure
comprehensive security coverage.
The commissioning of INS Jatayu, an upgraded naval
base in the Lakshadweep Islands, marks a significant ¾ Minicoy Island, where INS Jatayu is located, sits at the
development in India’s maritime security strategy, intersection of crucial Sea Lines of Communications
particularly in the context of growing Chinese influence (SLOCs) like the Eight Degree Channel and the Nine
in the Indian Ocean Region. Degree Channel, making it susceptible to maritime
¾ Additionally, the Indian Navy commissioned its first pollution due to heavy maritime traffic.
MH-60R multi-role helicopter squadron Indian Naval € Eight Degree Channel separates Indian Minicoy

Air Squadron (INAS) 334 at Kochi, a major capability island from Maldives.
boost for its rotary fleet and its anti-submarine warfare € The Nine Degree Channel separates the island
capabilities. of Minicoy from the Lakshadweep archipelago.
What are the Key Highlights of INS Jatayu? The Lakshadweep Islands
¾ INS Jatayu, formerly Naval Detachment Minicoy, is ¾ India’s smallest Union Territory, Lakshadweep ( ‘a
commissioned as an upgraded naval base on Minicoy hundred thousand islands’ in Sanskrit and Malayalam)
Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago. is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands located
€ It will operate under the operational control of the
between 220 km and 440 km from Kochi.
Naval Officer in Charge (Lakshadweep), Southern ¾ The islands, only 11 of which are inhabited, have
Naval Command. a total area of only 32 sq km. It is directly under
¾ The base enhances the operational reach of the Indian the control of the Centre through an administrator.
Navy in the Indian Ocean, bolstering its capabilities ¾ The Lakshadweep is part of a chain of coralline islands
for anti-piracy, anti-narcotics, and surveillance in the Indian Ocean that includes the Maldives
operations. to the south, and the Chagos archipelago farther
€ Situated in Minicoy, the southernmost atoll of the
beyond, to the south of the equator.
Lakshadweep archipelago, INS Jatayu strategically What are the Key Highlights of the INAS 334
overlooks vital Sea Lines of Communications
Squadron?
(SLOCs), strengthening India’s maritime presence
in the region. ¾ The Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 334 is the first
¾ In light of China’s increasing presence in the Indian squadron of the MH-60R helicopters, also known as
Ocean, INS Jatayu reinforces India’s ability to the “Seahawks”. The squadron was commissioned at
counterbalance and deter any attempts to undermine INS Garuda, Kochi.
its maritime dominance and territorial integrity. ¾ The squadron is a part of the 24-aircraft Foreign
¾ INS Jatayu will effectively be the country’s second Military Sales (FMS) contract signed with the United
naval base in Lakshadweep. The Navy’s first base States government in February 2020.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 131
¾ The MH 60R Seahawk, a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter, is designed for various roles including:
€ Anti-submarine warfare, Anti-surface warfare, Search and rescue , Medical evacuation and Vertical replenishment.

¾ Deployment of Seahawks in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) strengthens the Indian Navy’s maritime presence,
dissuading potential threats and ensuring a secure environment in this strategically crucial region.
Commands of Indian Navy
It has three operational and one theatre commands. Each command is headed by a Flag Officer Commanding-
in-Chief holding the rank of Vice Admiral.

¾ Andaman and Nicobar Command, 2001: It is a unified tri-services theatre command based at Port Blair, A&N
Islands.
€ It includes the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard.

DefConnect 2024 Indian innovation ecosystem to contribute to

defence technology.
Why in News? ¾ Panel Discussions:
€ DefConnect 2024 hosts panel discussions on
Recently, the Ministry of Defence has organised
DefConnect 2024, aimed at promoting innovation, pertinent topics related to defense innovation
entrepreneurship, and Self-Reliance in defense production. and entrepreneurship.
€ These discussions provide insights into the Indian
¾ The event serves as a platform to showcase the
latest advancements in defense technology, foster defence landscape, future trends, opportunities
collaboration between the public and private sectors, for startups, and strategies to promote diversity
and encourage investment in defence startups and inclusion in the sector.
¾ Felicitation of Women Entrepreneurs:
What are the Key Highlights of the DefConnect
€ In recognition of the contributions of women
2024? entrepreneurs to the defense innovation ecosystem,
¾ Technology Showcase: DefConnect 2024 features a special felicitation
€ The event features a technology showcase organized ceremony for women entrepreneurs associated
by iDEX-Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), with iDEX.
where various startups present cutting-edge ¾ iDEX Internship Program:
innovations in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, € As part of efforts to nurture young talent and groom
Robotics, Cybersecurity, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the next generation of innovators, DefConnect
and Wearable Technology. 2024 launches a rolling internship program under
€ This showcase underscores the potential of the the iDEX initiative.

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This program aims to provide hands-on experience

€ What is Acing Development of Innovative
and mentorship to aspiring innovators in defense Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme?
technology.
¾ About:
¾ Launch of Initiatives:
€ The ADITI scheme worth Rs 750 crore for the
€ DefConnect 2024 witnesses the launch of various
period 2023-24 to 2025-26 falls under the iDEX
initiatives aimed at promoting innovation and self- (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework
reliance in defence production, such as the ADITI of Department of Defence Production (DDP),
(Acing Development of Innovative Technologies Ministry of Defence.
with iDEX) Scheme and DISC 11 (Defense India
€ Under the scheme, start-ups are eligible to receive
Startup Challenge).
grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for their research,
€ These initiatives underscore the government’s
development, and innovation endeavours in
commitment to fostering a vibrant defense defence technology.
innovation ecosystem.
€ The scheme will nurture the innovation of youth,
Note: and help the country leap forward in the field of
¾ Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX): technology.
€ iDEX, launched in 2018, is an initiative taken by the ¾ In the first edition of ADITI, 17 challenges – Indian
government to contribute towards modernization Army (3), Indian Navy (5), Indian Air Force (5) and
of the Defence Industry. Defence Space Agency (4) - have been launched.
€ It aims to promote innovation and technology ¾ Objective:
development in Defence and Aerospace by € It aims to develop about 30 deep-tech critical and
engaging Industries (which includes MSMEs,
strategic technologies in the proposed timeframe.
start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes
€ It also envisages to create a ‘Technology Watch
& academia).
Tool’ to bridge the gap between the expectations
€ iDEX will be funded and managed by Defence
and requirements of the modern Armed Forces
Innovation Organization (DIO), and will function
as the executive arm of DIO. and the capabilities of the defence innovation
ecosystem.
€ iDEX Prime is a specific program under the broader
iDEX initiative, focusing on larger, more complex What is the Significance of State of the Art
challenges requiring greater financial support. Technology in Defence?
€ Funding: iDEX Prime offers significantly higher
¾ Strategic Advantage:
grants compared to other programs under iDEX.
€ Cutting-edge technology provides a strategic
€ There are different editions of iDEX Prime
advantage to nations in terms of defence capabilities.
catering to specific needs:
€ Advanced weaponry, surveillance systems,
z iDEX Prime (X): This edition has larger
challenges and grants compared to the regular communication networks, and cyber capabilities
iDEX Prime. can significantly enhance a country’s ability to
deter potential threats and protect its interests.
z iDEX Prime (SPRINT): This edition focuses
on faster development cycles and shorter ¾ Operational Effectiveness:
deadlines for specific problem statements € State-of-the-art technology enables military forces
from the Indian Navy. to operate more efficiently and effectively.
¾ Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO): € This includes precision-guided munitions, advanced

€ Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), is a not reconnaissance and surveillance systems, and
for profit organisation formed under section 8 sophisticated command and control systems, all of
of the Companies Act 2013. which contribute to mission success and minimise
€ It is funded by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited collateral damage.
(HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). It ¾ Adaptability and Flexibility:
provides high-level policy guidance to iDEX. € In modern warfare, adaptability and flexibility are

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crucial. State-of-the-art technology allows for rapid ¾ The International Maritime Seminar was themed
adaptation to changing threats and environments. ‘Partners across Oceans: Collaboration, Synergy,
€ Systems that can be upgraded or reconfigured Growth’
quickly provide a significant advantage in dynamic € Sea Phase involves the participation of ships,
situations. and aircraft from friendly nations, Indian Navy’s
¾ Force Multiplier: carriers, and other units.
€ Advanced technology acts as a force multiplier,
enabling smaller forces to achieve disproportionate What are the Recent Major Developments
effects. With the right technology, a smaller, well- Related to the Indian Navy?
equipped force can effectively counter a larger, ¾ Commissioning of New Ships:
less advanced adversary.
€ INS Vikrant: India’s first indigenously-built aircraft
¾ National Sovereignty and Autonomy:
carrier, a major milestone in achieving self-reliance
€ Relying on indigenous state-of-the-art technology
in defense manufacturing.
enhances a nation’s sovereignty and autonomy.
€ INS Mormugao: A stealth guided-missile destroyer,
Dependence on foreign suppliers for critical defense
technology can compromise national security part of the Project 15B for enhancing anti-surface
interests and limit strategic decision-making. warfare capabilities.
€ INS Vagir: A new Kalvari-class submarine, bolstering
What are Government Initiatives Regarding
the Navy’s underwater power.
Defense?
€ INS Sandhayak: It is the first Survey Vessel Large
¾ First Negative Indigenisation
(SVL) ship commissioned into the Indian Navy
¾ Positive Indigenisation List recently.
¾ New FDI Policy in Defence Sector ¾ Recent Acquisition Programs:
¾ Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 € Project 17A Frigates: Advanced stealth frigates
¾ Defence Industrial Corridors under construction at indigenous shipyards.
€ Project 75I Submarines: Program to build six

Exercise MILAN 2024 indigenously-designed submarines with advanced

stealth and firepower
Why in News? ¾ Submarine Rescue Advancements:
Exercise MILAN 2024 recently concluded with the € Acquisition of advanced Deep Submergence
closing ceremony held aboard the INS Vikrant, marking Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) by the Indian Navy in 2018
the end of the Sea Phase off Visakhapatnam. and 2019 from the United Kingdom, enhancing
What is MILAN 2024? submarine rescue capabilities.
z India is among the 12 countries possessing
¾ MILAN 2024 is the 12 th edition of the biennial
Multilateral Naval Exercise held at Visakhapatnam, this niche technology, highlighting its strategic
under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command. importance.
€ The central aim of MILAN is to enhance professional € Also, induction of two indigenous Diving Support

interaction between friendly navies and gain Vessels (DSVs) by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd,
experience in multilateral large-force operations Visakhapatnam, further strengthened submarine
at sea. rescue operations.
€ It made a beginning in the Andaman and Nicobar z DSRV system’s capabilities include locating
Islands in 1995. The navies of Indonesia, Singapore, submarines up to 1,000 metres depth using
Sri Lanka and Thailand participated in this edition. advanced sonar technology and remotely
¾ The 2024 exercise consisted of two phases: operated vehicles.
€ Harbour Phase featuring International Maritime
Note: The Indian Navy recently announced that it had
Seminar, city parades, tech exhibitions, expert
successfully engaged a land target with the BrahMos
exchanges, youth officer gatherings, and sports
events. missile at an enhanced range of 900 km.
nnn

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Art and Culture

Highlights
z ASI Survey of Bhojshala Complex z GI Tag to Majuli masks, Manuscript and Narasapur Crochet Lace Craft
z Temple Discoveries Highlight Chalukya Expansion

ASI Survey of Bhojshala ¾ High Court’s Order:

€ The court noted that the temple’s character remains
Complex mysterious until determined. All parties agree on
the need to clarify the monument’s nature, a task
Why in News? assigned to the ASI under the Monument Act, 1958.
The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court z The court mandated the ASI to promptly conduct
has ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to a comprehensive scientific survey, excavation,
conduct a scientific survey of the Bhojshala Temple-Kamal and investigation using advanced methods like
Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district to clarify its GPR-GPS and carbon dating, encompassing not
original nature. only the site but also its 50-meter peripheral
What is the Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula ring area.
Mosque Complex? What are the Methods Adopted by the ASI for
¾ About: Excavation?
€ The Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque
¾ Invasive Methods:
complex was originally a temple of goddess Sarasvati
€ Excavation, the most invasive archaeological
built by Parawara King Bhoja in 11th Century AD.
technique, involves digging using stratigraphic
€ The mosque is built using structural members of
principles to gather information about the past
the temple. The monument also retains some slabs
while simultaneously destroying it.
inscribed with Sanskrit and Prakrit literary works.
z Stratigraphy is adopted by archaeologists to peel
€ Noted as a great patron of art and literature, King
off layers in reverse order and understand the
Bhoja is said to have established a school, now
logical formation of the archaeological record.
known as Bhojashala.
¾ Non-Invasive Methods: Non-invasive methods are
€ Under an agreement with the ASI, Hindus perform
used when investigations are undertaken inside a
puja in the temple every Tuesday, and Muslims
built structure and no excavation is permitted. It has
offer Namaz every Friday.
several Methods:
¾ Dispute:
€ Active Methods: Inject energy into the ground
€ The controversy revolves around the original status
and measure the response. The methods provide
of the site as a temple.
an estimate of the ground’s material properties,
€ The petitioner cites an ASI report claiming that
such as density, electrical resistance, and wave
the original Bhojshala and Vagdevi temples velocity.
were demolished to build a mosque. A survey
z Seismic Techniques: Use shock waves to study
was requested to determine the actual history
of the site. subsurface structures.
z E l e c t ro m a g n et i c M et h o d s : M e a s u re
€ One respondent challenged the suit’s maintainability,
citing the principle of res judicata (a thing adjudged), electromagnetic responses after energy injection.
noting a similar petition was dismissed by the High € Passive Methods: Measure existing physical

Court’s Principal Bench in 2003. properties.

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z Magnetometry: Detect magnetic anomalies ¾ It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham- the
caused by buried structures. first Director-General of ASI. Alexander Cunningham
z Gravity Surveying: Measure gravitational force is also known as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”.
variations due to subsurface features.
€ Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR):
z ASI uses GPR to produce a 3-D model of buried Temple Discoveries Highlight
archaeological features.
Chalukya Expansion
z GPR operates by introducing a short radar
impulse from a surface antenna and records
the time and magnitude of return signals from
Why in News?
the subsoil. Archaeologists from the Public Research Institute
z Radar beam spreads like a cone, causing of History, Archaeology, and Heritage (PRIHAH) have
reflections before the antenna passes over unearthed two ancient temples dating back to the Badami
the object. Chalukyan period, along with a rare inscription, in
z Radar beams spread out in a cone, leading to Mudimanikyam village of Nalgonda district, Telangana.
reflections that may not directly correspond
to physical dimensions, creating false images. What are the Major Highlights of the Recent
€ Carbon Dating: Excavation?
z Determine organic material age by measuring
¾ Temples: Located at the end of the village, the two
carbon content (C-14).
temples date back to between 543 AD and 750 AD,
What are the Limitations of Various Methods corresponding to the rule of the Badami Chalukyas.
in Archaeological Surveys? € They showcase unique architectural styles, blending
¾ Similar physical properties of different materials can Badami Chalukyan and Kadamba Nagara style in
generate the same response, leading to ambiguity the Rekha nagara format.
in identifying targets.
€ In one temple, a panavattam (base of a Shiva
¾ The data collected is limited and contains measurement
lingam) in the sanctum sanctorum has been found.
errors, making it challenging to accurately estimate
the spatial distribution of properties. € In another, a Vishnu idol was recovered.
¾ Archaeological structures are often made of ¾ Inscription: The discovery also includes an inscription,
heterogeneous materials with complex geometry, labeled as ‘Gandaloranru’, dating back to the 8th or
making data interpretation challenging. 9th Century AD.
¾ Geophysical tools might not accurately reconstruct ¾ Significance: Previously, the Jogulamba temples at
target images, especially in complex scenarios.
Alampur and the submerged sites of Yeleswaram
¾ In cases like disputes over religious sites, emotional
were considered the farthest reaches of the Badami
and political factors can influence interpretations
and decisions. Chalukya influence.
€ The new discovery extends the known boundaries
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
of the Chalukya kingdom significantly.
¾ ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier
organization for the archaeological research and
protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.
¾ It administers more than 3650 ancient monuments,
archaeological sites, and remains of national
importance.
¾ Its activities include carrying out surveys of
antiquarian remains, exploration and excavation of
archaeological sites, conservation and maintenance
of protected monuments, etc.

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What are the Key Features Related to the € After Pulakeshin II’s reign, the Eastern Chalukyas
Chalukya Dynasty? emerged as an independent kingdom in the eastern
Deccan, centred around Vengi (in present-day
¾ About: The Chalukya dynasty governed significant
Andhra Pradesh) until the 11th century.
territories in southern and central India from the 6th
to the 12th centuries. € The rise of the Rashtrakutas in the 8th century
overshadowed the Chalukyas of Badami in the
€ It comprised three distinct dynasties: the Chalukyas
western Deccan.
of Badami, the Eastern Chalukyas, and the Western
z However, their legacy was revived by their
Chalukyas.
descendants, the Western Chalukyas, who
€ The Chalukyas of Badami, originating in Vatapi
ruled from Kalyani (modern Basavakalyan in
(modern Badami in Karnataka), ruled from the
Karnataka) until the late 12th century.
early 6th century until the mid-8th century, reaching
their zenith under Pulakeshin II.

¾ Foundation: Pulikesin I (c. 535-566 CE) is credited with fortifying a hill near Badami, laying the foundation for the
Chalukya dynasty’s ascendancy.
€ The city of Badami was formally founded by Kirtivarman (566-597), serving as the epicentre of Chalukya power
and culture.
¾ Polity and Administration: The Chalukyas implemented a structured administrative system, dividing their realm
into political units for effective governance.
€ These divisions included Vishayam, Rastram, Nadu, and Grama.

¾ Religious Patronage: The Chalukyas were notable patrons of both Saivism and Vaishnavism.
€ Beyond mainstream Hinduism, the Chalukyas also patronized heterodox sects, such as Jainism and Buddhism,
exemplifying their commitment to religious diversity.
z Ravikirti, the poet-laureate of Pulikesin II, was a Jain scholar.

z According to the traveller Hiuen Tsang, there were many Buddhist centres in the Chalukya territory wherein
more than 5000 followers of the Hinayana and Mahayana sects lived.

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¾ Architecture: Historically, in Deccan, Chalukyas
introduced the technique of building temples using GI Tag to Majuli masks,
soft sandstones as medium. Manuscript and Narasapur
€ Their temples are grouped into two: excavated Crochet Lace Craft
cave temples and structural temples.
z Badami is known for both structural and Why in News?
excavated cave temples. The traditional crochet lace craft of Narasapur in
z Pattadakal and Aihole are popular for structural Andhra Pradesh receives a Geographical Indications (GI)
temples. tag to preserve its unique identity amidst competition
from machine-made lace from China.
¾ Literary: Chalukya rulers utilised Sanskrit for official
¾ Similarly, Majuli masks and manuscript painting in
inscriptions, showcasing their commitment to classical
Assam gain GI recognition, enhancing their cultural
literature and language. significance and safeguarding against decline.
€ Despite Sanskrit’s prominence, the Chalukyas ¾ These GI tags aim to rejuvenate and promote tra-
also acknowledged the significance of regional ditional crafts, ensuring their continued legacy and
languages like Kannada, recognizing them as the heritage preservation.
language of the people. What are the Key Highlights About Narasapur
¾ Painting: Chalukyas adopted the Vakataka style Crochet Lace Craft?
in painting. Paintings are found in a cave temple
dedicated to Vishnu in Badami.
Aihole Inscription of Pulikesin II:
¾ Situated in the Megudi temple at Aihole, Karnataka,
the Aihole inscription provides invaluable insights
into Chalukya history and achievements.
€ Aihole is considered as the cradle of Indian
temple architecture.
¾ Crafted by the renowned poet Ravikriti, the inscription
is a lyrical tribute to the Chalukya dynasty, particularly
¾ Narasapur Crochet Lace Craft:
King Pulakesin II, lauded as the embodiment of
€ The crochet lace craft originated in 1844 and
truth (Sathyasraya).
endured challenges like the Indian famine (1899)
¾ The inscription chronicles the Chalukya dynasty’s
and the Great Depression (1929). By the early
triumphs over adversaries, including the renowned 1900s, more than 2,000 women were involved in
defeat of Harshavardhana. lace crafting in the Godavari region, highlighting
its cultural importance.
€ The craft involves transforming thin cotton threads
into intricate artefacts using delicate crochet
needles of varying sizes.
z Artisans use a single crochet hook to create
loops and interlocking stitches, forming delicate
lace patterns.
€ Narsapur’s hand-made crochet industry produces a
diverse range of products made of lace— garments,
home furnishings and accessories including Doilies,
Pillow covers, Cushion covers, Bedspreads, Table-
runners, Table cloths, Hand purses, Caps, Tops,
Stoles, Lampshades, and Wall hangings.

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Narsapur’s crochet lace products find their way to

€ sattras (Monastery) to embrace contemporary
global markets, with exports reaching destinations contexts.
such as the UK, USA, and France. z Sattras were founded by Srimanta Sankardev
¾ Geographical Indication (GI) Tag: and his disciples to serve as centres of religious,
€ The Department of Promotion of Industry and social, and cultural reform.
Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of z Majuli, with its 22 sattras, is a hub for these
Commerce and Industry registered the craft in the cultural practices. The mask-making tradition is
Geographical Indications Registry (GIR), certifying predominantly found in four sattras: Samaguri
that the craft is geographically limited to 19 Sattra, Natun Samaguri Sattra, Bihimpur Sattra,
mandals in West Godavari and Dr. B.R.Ambedkar and Alengi Narasimha Sattra.
Konaseema districts in the Godavari region.
z Narsapur and Palacole are the major trade points
for lace products in West Godavari district. In
Konaseema region, Razole and Amalapuram
are known for the craft.
¾ Challenges Faced by Narasapur Artisans:
€ The craft market has been stagnant since the
Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a lack of new
orders and decreased production.
€ While over 15,000 women are associated with
the craft, only around 200 are actively involved
in regular production.
¾ Majuli Manuscript Painting:
€ Machine-made lace products from China have
€ The manuscript paintings of Majuli are a form of
dominated the market, posing a significant threat
to the demand for Narasapur lace products. religious art closely linked to the island’s Vaishnavite
culture, centred around worship.
What are Majuli masks and Majuli Manuscript € One of the earliest examples of this art form is
Painting? attributed to Srimanta Sankardev, depicting the
¾ Majuli Masks: Adya Dasama of the Bhagwat Purana in Assamese.
€ Majuli masks are intricately crafted masks made
It continues to be practised in every sattra in Majuli.
by hand using traditional techniques. € Majuli Manuscript Painting are inspired by the

€ The handmade masks are traditionally used to

Pala school of Painting art.
depict characters in bhaonas (a traditional form z Pala art refers to the style of Buddhist art that

of entertainment, with religious messages), or developed in the Pala Empire of eastern India
theatrical performances with devotional messages (8th-12th centuries). It is characterized by its
under the neo-Vaishnavite tradition, introduced vibrant colors, detailed work, and emphasis
by the 15th-16th century reformer saint Srimanta on religious themes.
Sankardeva.
z The masks can depict gods, goddesses, demons,
animals and birds — Ravana, Garuda, Narasimha,
Hanuman, Varaha Surpanakha all feature among
the masks.
€ Made from a variety of materials including bamboo,
clay, dung, cloth, cotton, and wood, the masks
can vary in size from covering just the face to
encompassing the entire head and body of the
performer.
€ Traditional practitioners are modernizing Majuli
mask-making by moving beyond the confines of

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History
Highlights
z Sabarmati Ashram Redevelopment Project

mills strike and Kheda Satyagraha (1918), the Khadi

Sabarmati Ashram movement (1918), the Rowlatt Act and Khilafat
Movements (1919), and the Non-Cooperation
Redevelopment Project movement (1920) while living in Sabarmati.
Why in News? € Vinoba Bhave lived in a cottage at Sabarmati
Recently, on the 94th anniversary of the Dandi March, Ashram called “Vinoba Kutir”.
the Prime Minister of India laid the foundation for the ¾ Architectural and Philosophical Significance:
Sabarmati Ashram Redevelopment Project in Ahmedabad. € Gandhi designed the ashram himself, embodying
¾ The Sabarmati Ashram Redevelopment Project is a simplicity, self-sufficiency, and communal living.
Rs 1,200 crore initiative to restore, conserve, and
€ Constructed using local materials and traditional
rebuild the original Sabarmati Ashram founded by
Mahatma Gandhi. techniques, the ashram exemplified Gandhi’s
principles of sustainability and harmony with nature.
What is the Historical Significance of the
¾ Legacy and Symbolism:
Sabarmati Ashram?
€ The Sabarmati Ashram stands as a testament to
¾ Establishment:
Gandhi’s enduring legacy and his pivotal role in
€ Founded in 1917 by Mahatma Gandhi, the Sabarmati
Ashram is situated on the western bank of the India’s freedom struggle.
Sabarmati River, near the village of Juna Vadaj € It remains a pilgrimage site for admirers of Gandhian
in Ahmedabad. philosophy, offering insights into his life, teachings,
z Gandhi set up five settlements during his lifetime, and principles.
two in South Africa (Phoenix Settlement in
What is the Dandi March?
Natal, and Tolstoy Farm outside Johannesburg),
and three in India. ¾ Origins:
€ The tradition of making salt in India dates back to
z Gandhi’s first Ashram in India was established in
the Kochrab area of Ahmedabad in 1915, and ancient times, primarily carried out by farmers,
the others are Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad), who were often referred to as salt farmers.
and Sevagram Ashram (in Wardha). z Over time, salt became a commercial

€ It is currently managed by the Sabarmati Ashram commodity, and the British imposed a salt tax,
Preservation and Memorial Trust (SAPMT). making it a symbol of colonial exploitation.
¾ Role in India’s Independence Movement: € Mahatma Gandhi recognized the salt tax as a

€ The ashram served as a base for Gandhi’s socio-

particularly oppressive measure and saw it as
political activities and experiments with truth an opportunity to mobilise the masses in a non-
and non-violence. violent protest against British rule.
€ On March 2, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter
z It witnessed the launch of several seminal
movements, including the Dandi March in 1930. to Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, informing
him of his intention to break the salt law as an
€ Apart from the Dandi March, Gandhiji also launched
the Champaran Satyagraha (1917), the Ahmedabad act of civil disobedience.

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€The Dandi March, also known as the Salt € On April 6, 1930, Gandhi symbolically broke
Satyagraha or Salt March, marked a pivotal the salt law by picking up a handful of salt
moment in the country’s fight for independence from the shores of Dandi, starting the civil
from British colonial rule. disobedience movement against the British
¾ Dandi March: salt monopoly.
€ The Dandi March commenced from the Sabarmati z Gandhi chose 6 April to start the mass breaking

Ashram in Ahmedabad on March 12, 1930, with of the salt laws for a symbolic reason - it was
Mahatma Gandhi leading. the first day of National Week, which began
z The 24-day march spanned four districts and
in 1919 when Gandhi planned the national
passed through 48 villages. hartal (strike) against the Rowlatt Act.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 141

Geography

Highlights
z Surge in Demand of Copper

chrysycolla and dioptase) and as pure native copper.

Surge in Demand of Copper € Most commercial copper ore deposits contain an
average grade of 0.8% copper, while copper ore in
Why in News? India has an average copper content of around 1%.
As demand for copper grew by 16% yearly-on-year ¾ Mining Methods: There are two primary methods of
in FY23, policymakers and corporations have increasingly copper mining: open-pit and underground mining.
turned their attention to the critical role of copper in € Open-pit mining dominates, constituting 80% of
spurring economic growth. global copper mining operations.
What are the Key Points Related to Copper? ¾ Copper Deposits in India: Mainly located in Singhbhum
(Jharkhand), Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh), and
¾ About: Copper is a malleable, ductile metal known
Jhunjhunu and Alwar (Rajasthan) districts.
for its excellent heat and electricity conductivity. It
possesses corrosion resistance and antimicrobial € Minor deposits are found in Agnigundala (Andhra
properties. Pradesh), Chitradurg and Hasan (Karnataka), and
South Arcot (Tamil Nadu) districts.
€ Malleability refers to the ability of a material to
be pressed, or rolled into thin sheets without ¾ India’s Copper Appetite: India’s demand for copper is
breaking or cracking. soaring due to rising infrastructure projects, renewable
energy initiatives, and urbanisation.
€ Ductility is the property of a material that allows
it to be stretched or drawn out into a thin wire € Despite this, the country heavily relies on copper
without losing its strength or breaking. imports due to limited domestic reserves.
¾ Applications: It is widely utilised in construction, € To address this, the government is promoting
consumer durables, transportation, and industrial investments in smelters and refineries while Indian
manufacturing. companies are acquiring copper mines abroad to
secure a stable supply and reduce dependence on
€ It is also Integral to clean energy technologies
international markets.
such as solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs), and
energy-efficient motors. z Recently, the Ministry of Mines has proposed
sending an Indian industry delegation to
€ It is a 100% recyclable metal (allows for a circular
copper-rich Zambia to discuss potential copper
economy).
exploration and mining projects in the southern
¾ Occurrence and Composition: It is naturally found
African country
in various forms in the Earth’s crust.
€ Recognizing copper’s criticality, the government has
€ It can be found in sulphide deposits (as chalcopyrite,
included it in its list of critical minerals, highlighting
bornite, chalcocite, covellite), in carbonate deposits
the need to reduce import dependence.
(as azurite and malachite), in silicate deposits (as

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€It was formed to consolidate all copper exploration

and exploitation projects from the National Mineral
Development Corporation Ltd.
€ HCL is India’s only vertically integrated copper
producing company.
¾ Copper’s Key Importance:
€ Copper as an Economic Barometer: Copper prices
reflect demand/supply dynamics, monetary
markets, and speculation, making it a global
economic indicator.
z Unlike sector-specific commodities, copper is
integral across all economic sectors.
€ Copper for Energy Efficiency: Copper plays a vital
role in promoting energy efficiency in buildings.
z Its excellent thermal and electrical conductivity
make it ideal for wiring, heat exchangers, and
roofing, leading to reduced energy consumption
¾ Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL): Established in 1967
for heating, cooling, and lighting.
under the Companies Act, It is a Miniratna Category-I
z By minimising energy losses throughout a
enterprise operating under the Ministry of Mines,
building’s lifespan, copper contributes to a
Government of India.
more sustainable future.
Note:
¾ Chile is the top copper producer in the world, with 27% of global copper production. In addition, the country
is home to the two largest mines in the world, Escondido and Collahuasi.

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Ethics

Highlights
z Ethical Implications of Judge Resigning for Politics

Judges must be free from interference or influence

€
Ethical Implications of Judge from any outside parties, including political entities.
Resigning for Politics € The decision of the judge to align himself with
a political party shortly after his resignation/
Why in News? retirement calls into question the independence of
his previous judicial decisions and raises concerns
Recently, the former Calcutta High Court judge has
about the influence of political considerations on
resigned and joined a political party, sparking a
the judiciary’s functioning.
conversation on the propriety of such a move by a judge.
¾ Conflict of Interest:
¾ The concerns raised by the Judge’s resignation from
€ Judges are expected to avoid conflicts of interest
the judiciary to join politics have significant ethical
and maintain the integrity of the judicial process.
implications that affect the perception of judicial
€ His involvement in political activities, particularly
propriety, impartiality, and the integrity of the judiciary.
after making controversial statements and rulings
Note: In 1967, former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Koka while on the bench, raises concerns about potential
Subba Rao resigned three months before he was to conflicts of interest.
retire to contest the presidential election as the
¾ Public Trust and Confidence:
Opposition candidate.
€ The judiciary relies on public trust and confidence
¾ Supreme Court Justice Baharul Islam resigned six
weeks before retirement in 1983 to contest the to fulfill its role in society. When judges engage in
Lok Sabha polls. actions that undermine the perception of judicial
integrity and impartiality, it erodes public trust in
What are the Ethical Concerns Related to the the entire judicial system.
Resignation of a Judge for Politics? € Justice’s transition from the judiciary to active

¾ Judicial Impartiality: involvement in politics may lead to scepticism and

€ Judges are expected to remain neutral and make
cynicism among the public regarding the judiciary’s
decisions based solely on the facts and the law, independence and integrity.
without being influenced by personal biases or ¾ Issue of Post-Retirement Appointments:
external pressures. € Over the years, some retired judges have accepted

€ The sitting judge’s decision to join a political government posts after retirement. This practice
party after being involved in controversies raises blurs the clear demarcation between the judiciary
questions about his impartiality while presiding and the executive.
over cases involving political matters. What is Restatement of Values of Judicial Life
€ This undermines public confidence in the judiciary’s
1997?
ability to dispense justice fairly.
¾ The Supreme Court of India adopted the Restatement
¾ Judicial Independence:
of Values of Judicial Life in 1997, outlining ethical
€ Judicial independence is crucial for maintaining
standards and principles for judges. Some key points
the rule of law and democracy. from the Restatement include:

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€ Impartiality: Justice must not only be done but € In the United Kingdom, while there is no law
also be seen to be done. Judges’ behaviour should preventing judges from taking post-retirement
reaffirm people’s faith in the judiciary’s impartiality. jobs, no judge has done so, reflecting a different
€ Avoiding Conflicts: Judges should avoid close approach to the issue of post-retirement roles.
associations with individual members of the Bar,
refrain from hearing cases involving family members What can be Done to Address Judges Taking
who are lawyers, and not enter public debates on Post Retirement Jobs?
political matters. Implement a Cooling-Off Period:
¾
€ Financial Benefits: Judges should not seek financial € Similar to the suggestion of former Chief Justice R
benefits unless clearly available and should not M Lodha, there should be a mandatory cooling-
speculate in shares or engage in trade or business. off period between a judge’s retirement and their
€ Public Gaze: Judges must always be conscious that eligibility for any post-retirement assignment.
they are under public scrutiny, and their actions € This period would help mitigate potential conflicts
should benefit the high office they occupy. of interest and ensure impartiality.
Post-Retirement Assignments for Judges: ¾ Recommendations of Law Commission:
¾ While the Indian Constitution doesn’t explicitly € The recommendations of the 14th Law Commission

prohibit judges from taking up post-retirement Report, 1958, highlighted this concern and
assignments, there have been suggestions for advocated for a system that ensures financial
implementing a cooling-off period to mitigate security to the judges without compromising
potential conflicts of interest. independence.
¾ Former CJI R M Lodha recommended a cooling-off ¾ Enhance Judicial Ethics and Standards:
period of at least 2 years. € Strengthening the ethical guidelines and standards

€ Officials who retire from sensitive positions are for judges, both during their tenure and post-
barred from accepting any other appointment retirement, can help maintain the integrity and
for some time, normally two years. impartiality of the judiciary. Judges should be
€ These cooling-off periods in posts are premised encouraged to prioritise public trust and confidence
on the snapping off of the nexus between in the judiciary over personal interests.
previous incumbency and new appointment by ¾ Increase Transparency:
the interposition of a sufficient time gap. € There should be greater transparency in the process

¾ International Practices: Comparatively, in the United of appointing retired judges to post-retirement

States, Supreme Court justices do not retire but positions.
hold their positions for life to prevent conflicts € This includes disclosing the criteria for selection,
of interest. ensuring open competition for these roles, and
making public the reasons behind each appointment.
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Miscellaneous
Highlights
z France Considers Legalising Assisted Dying z Belgium Recognises Ecocide as a Crime
z Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for 2022 and 2023 z Leap Year
z Bureau of Energy Efficiency

France Considers Legalising zActive euthanasia involves deliberately using

lethal substances or actions to end a person’s life.
Assisted Dying ¾ Countries with Legalised Assisted Dying or/and
Euthanasia:
Why in News?
€ Netherland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain allows
France, after recently adding abortion as a
both euthanasia and assisted suicide for anyone
constitutional right, is now considering legalising a form
who faces “unbearable suffering” that has no
of assisted dying called “aid in dying”.
chance of improvement.
¾ The proposed bill will have strict conditions, allowing
€ Switzerland bans euthanasia but allows assisted
assisted dying for individuals with incurable illnesses
expected to cause death in the short- or middle-term. dying in the presence of a doctor or physician.
€ The United States has different laws in different
¾ The country already allows passive euthanasia.
states. Euthanasia is allowed in some states like
What is Assisted Dying and Passive Washington, Oregon, and Montana.
Euthanasia? € India allows for passive Euthanasia.
¾ Assisted Dying: Assisted dying involves individuals z In Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug v. Union of
who are terminally ill seeking medical assistance India Case, 2011, Supreme Court recognised
to obtain lethal drugs, which they then administer passive euthanasia in this case (for Aruna
themselves to end their own lives. Shanbaug, who was in vegetative state) by which
€ It typically occurs when patients are facing it had permitted withdrawal of life-sustaining
unbearable suffering due to a terminal illness and treatment from patients not in a position to
wish to have control over the timing and manner make an informed decision.
of their death.
The Supreme Court of India legalised passive
€ The primary distinction of assisted dying is that
euthanasia,In Common Cause V/s Union of
individuals actively participate in the process
India Case, 2018, citing the importance of a
of ending their lives with the aid of medical
‘living will.’
professionals.
„ The ruling allows mentally competent adults
¾ Passive Euthanasia: Passive euthanasia occurs when
life-sustaining treatments are withheld or withdrawn, to refuse medical treatment or opt not to
allowing the patient to die naturally. receive it, thus embracing a natural death,
under specific circumstances.
€ This may involve decisions to stop medical
interventions such as ventilators, feeding tubes, „ The court emphasised that dignity in the

or medications that sustain life. dying process is integral to the right to life
€ Passive euthanasia is often considered distinct
guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution.
from active euthanasia because it does not involve z In 2023, the Supreme Court revised rules for

directly causing the patient’s death but rather passive euthanasia to simplify and expedite
allows death to occur by natural means. the process.

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„ SC eliminated the requirement for a judicial z Initially known as the Presidential Awards,
magistrate to validate a living will, stating they were later incorporated into the Sangeet
that attestation by a notary or a gazetted Natak Akademi Awards after the formation of
officer is adequate. the Akademi.
€ Each award includes purse money of Rs. 1.00
lakh, a Tamrapatra (copper plaque), and an
Sangeet Natak Akademi Angavastram (shawl).
Fellowships and Awards for € Currently, the number of awards to be conferred
annually is 41, and till date, over 1298 artists have
2022 and 2023 been honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Awards.
Why in News?
Sangeet Natak Akademi
Recently, the President of India presented Sangeet
Natak Akademi (SNA) Fellowships and Awards for the ¾ The SNA, established in 1953, is the apex body in
years 2022 and 2023 in New Delhi. India dedicated to the preservation and promotion
of the rich intangible heritage expressed through
What are the Sangeet Natak Akademi music, dance, and drama.
Fellowships and Awards? € It was created by a resolution of the (then)

¾ Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship: Ministry of Education, Government of India, in

1952 with Dr P.V. Rajamannar as its first Chairman.
€ The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi
Ratna Sadasyata) is the most prestigious honour ¾ The management of the Akademi is overseen by its
General Council, with the Chairman appointed by
conferred by the SNA.
the President of India for a five-year term.
z Established individuals in the fields of music,
¾ The registered office of the Akademi is located
dance, and drama are considered for this
at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi. Operating as an
fellowship. However, the criteria stipulate
autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, the
that individuals below the age of 50 are not
Sangeet Natak Akademi holds a significant position
ordinarily considered for this honour.
in promoting and preserving India’s cultural heritage.
€ The Akademi Fellowship includes purse money
¾ The SNA gives the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva
of Rs. 3.00 lakhs, a Tamrapatra (copper plaque), Puraskar to artists under 40 who have excelled
and an Angavastram (shawl). in dance, music, and theatre. The award was
z Recommendations for the fellowship are received introduced in 2006. The SNA’s Chairman gives the
from the current fellows of the Akademi and winner a prize of Rs. 25,000 besides a Tamrapatra
members of the General Council of the Akademi. and Angavastram.
€ The fellowship initially had 30 seats until 2008. ¾ More than 100 rare art forms that were on the
In 2010, the General Council amended the rules verge of extinction are now being revived through
to add 10 more seats, to be filled over five years training programmes under the name of ‘Kala
with two seats added annually. Deeksha’ by the Akademi.
¾ Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards:
€ The SNA Awards have a rich history spanning over Bureau of Energy Efficiency
70 years. These awards aim to honour practitioners,
gurus, and scholars in the field of music, dance, Why in News?
and drama, representing the nation’s highest The 22nd Foundation Day of the Bureau of Energy
achievement in these art forms. Efficiency was recently celebrated with the theme “Energy
€ The Awards in Hindustani and Carnatic music Transition through Electrification and Decarbonization
were instituted as early as 1951, even before the in India” and the State Energy Efficiency Index 2023 was
establishment of the Akademi. released.

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What is the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) € In SEEI 2023, states and UTs are classified as ‘Front
2023? runner’ (>=60), ‘Achiever’ (50-59.75), ‘Contender’
(30-49.75), and ‘Aspirant’ (<30) according to their
¾ About: total scores.
€ It is the 5th edition of the index, developed by the € States and UTs are also classified into four groups
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body based on their total final energy consumption (TFEC)
under the Ministry of Power, in association with the for peer-to-peer performance comparison: Group
Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE). 1 (>15 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE)),
€ It evaluates the performance of 36 states and UTs Group 2 (5-15 MTOE), Group 3 (1-5 MTOE), and
across seven demand sectors using 65 indicators, Group 4 (<1 MTOE).
including qualitative, quantitative, and outcome- z The top-performing states in each group are

based measures. Karnataka (Group 1), Andhra Pradesh (Group

2), Assam (Group 3), and Chandigarh (Group 4).

¾ Key Findings of SEEI 2023:

€ Front runner (>=60):

z Seven states in ‘Front runner’ category in SEEI 2023: Karnataka (score 86.5), Andhra Pradesh (83.25), Haryana,
Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Telangana.
€ Achiever (50-59.75):

z Two states, Assam and Uttar Pradesh are in the ‘Achiever’ category,

€ Contender (30-49.75):

z Three states, Goa, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu, are in the ‘Contender’ category.

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€ Aspirant (<30):
z Maharashtra and Haryana most improved states, with score increases of 18.5 and 17 points, respectively.

€ 15 states have improved their scores compared to SEEI 2021- 22.

€ Substantial decline in score observed in Rajasthan, primarily attributed to lack of reported data.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

¾ BEE was established on 1st March 2002, under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, under the
Ministry of Power.
¾ The mission of BEE is to assist in developing policies and strategies for energy efficiency with the primary objective
of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy.
¾ Functions: It is responsible for regulatory and promotional functions outlined in the Energy Conservation Act,
2001.
¾ BEE has helped India reduce its energy consumption by around 3.5%.

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 149
The definition was provided by the Independent
€
Belgium Recognises Ecocide Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide,
formed by the Stop Ecocide Foundation.
as a Crime
¾ Ecocide is considered a form of environmental crime
Why in News? and is often associated with significant negative impacts
on biodiversity, ecosystems, and human well-being.
The Federal Parliament of Belgium has made history
€ Recognizing ecocide as a crime aims to hold
by becoming the first country in the European Continent
individuals and corporations accountable for their
to recognise ‘ecocide’ as a national as well as an
actions and to prevent further environmental
international crime.
degradation.
¾ The law targets individuals in positions of decision-
¾ Ecocide is a crime in 12 countries, with nations mulling
making power and corporations, aiming to prevent
laws around criminalising environmental damage
and punish severe environmental degradation such
that is wilfully caused and harms humans, animals
as extensive oil spills.
and plant species.
Note:
What is India’s Stance on Criminalising Ecocide?
¾ Belgium is a federal and constitutional monarchy
¾ Ecocide as Law: Some Indian court judgments have
divided into two main linguistic and cultural regions:
referenced the term ‘ecocide,’ the concept has not
Flemish (Dutch)-speaking Flanders and French-
been formally incorporated into Indian law.
speaking Wallonia.
€ Chandra CFS and Terminal Operators Pvt. Ltd. v.
¾ Belgium is called the ‘Cockpit of Europe’ because
The Commissioner of Customs (2015): The court
it is where the largest number of European battles
noted that certain sections of people have been
have taken place in history.
continuing ecocide by removing valuable timbers.
¾ Its capital, Brussels, is also the seat of the European
€ T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union Of India
Union (EU).
& Ors (1997): Supreme Court called attention
to an “anthropogenic bias” and argued that
“environmental justice could be achieved only if
we drift away from the principle of anthropocentric
to ecocentric.”
€ However, India has yet to take concrete steps
towards enacting legislation specifically targeting
ecocide.
¾ Existing Legal Framework: India’s environmental legal
framework includes statutes like the Environmental
(Protection) Act of 1986, The Wild Life (Protection)
Amendment Act, 2022, and the Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 (CAMPA).
€ Despite these laws, there remains a gap
in addressing ecocidal activities directly,
necessitating the incorporation of ecocide as a
distinct criminal offence

What is Ecocide?
¾ Ecocide is defined as “unlawful or wanton acts
Leap Year
committed with knowledge that there is a substantial
likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-
Why in News?
term damage to the environment being caused by In 2024, February 29th marks Leap Day, an additional
those acts.” day added to the calendar during leap years. This extra

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day, known as Leap Year Day, extends the year to a total € Pope Gregory XIII initiated calendar reform in
of 366 days. 1582, removing ten days to realign the calendar
What is a leap year? with the solar year.
€ To prevent future errors, the Gregorian calendar
¾ Leap Year:
introduced a refined leap year rule, omitting three
€ A leap year has 366 days in a year as opposed
leap years every 400 years.
to the regular 365 days. The extra day is added
to February, the shortest month of the year, as ¾ Math of Leap Year:
February 29. € Leap years are always multiples of four like 2016,
€ A solar calendar signifies one complete orbit of the 2020, 2024, but a year that is a multiple of four is
Earth around the Sun. The Earth’s orbit takes about not always a leap year.
365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds € The Gregorian leap year rule states that the year
to simplify, a regular year is rounded to 365 days. number must be divisible by four, except for end-
z To account for the extra time, rounded up to
of-century years (ending in ‘00’), which must be
six hours, 24 hours (one full day) are added to divisible by 400.
every fourth year.
z This means that the year 2000 was a leap year,
€ Without leap years, the calendar would become
although 1900 was not. 2024, 2028, 2032 and
out of sync with the seasons over time.
2036 are all leap years.
z The extra day keeps calendars and seasons
from gradually falling out of sync and impacting € This extra rule is needed because adding a leap
harvesting, planting and other cycles based day every four years actually overcompensates
on the seasons. for the slight difference in the solar year. It turns
¾ Evolution of Leap Years: out that adding a leap day every four years adds
€ The Julian calendar’s approximation of the solar
a little too much time, about 44 minutes more
year led to accumulating errors over time, primarily than necessary.
due to a slight overcompensation. z So, by skipping leap years for centuries that
€ By the 16th century, the calendar was approximately aren’t divisible by 400, we fine-tune the calendar
10 days ahead of the solar year, prompting the to stay even closer to the actual solar year and
need for reform. keep the seasons in check.
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Rapid Fire Current Affairs

Highlights
z Internet in Remote Tribal Villages (VSAT) z Decline in Indian Diamond Exports
z Lead Iodide Perovskites z International Women’s Day
z SEBI Warns Against Fraudulent Trading Platforms z Lineman Diwas
z Empowering the Sikh Community z Mythical Dwarka
z GI Tag to Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi z Dak Karmayogi Project
z Rural Digital Empowerment z India’s First Underwater Metro Service
z Vocal for Local initiative z Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum
z PB-SHABD z Arctic and Great Lakes Ice Trends
z Marine Security Belt 2024 z Chakshu and the Digital Intelligence Platform
z Haiti z Dry Ice
z National Speed Breeding Crop Facility z e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi
z Pritzker Architecture Prize 2024 z World Hearing Day
z Karnataka Ban Harmful Food Colouring Agents z Quality Control Order on Viscose Staple Fibre
z Connectome z Bharat Tex 2024
z Italian Court Ruling Against Returning Sea Migrants z World Wildlife Day
z Yaounde Declaration z Samudra Laksamana
z Pi Chatbot Powered by Inflection-2.5 z India’s First Dolphin Research Centre
z India to Become Third Largest Economy by 2031 z National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development
z Revamped PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna z Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Launched for North East
z Sea Defenders-2024 z Google Removes a Few Indian Apps from Play Store
z Argentina Withdraws from BRICS Plan z Successful Flight Tests of VSHORADS Missile by DRDO
z Kerala-Owned OTT Platform z Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund
z EU Fines Apple for Antitrust Violations in App Store z Shri Morarji Desai Birth Anniversary
z Mahatari Vandana Yojana z Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality
z Blue Line z Advancing Pregnancy Care with India-Specific AI Model
z IRIS: India’s First AI Teacher Robot z Melanochlamys Droupadi
z James Webb Telescope Spots Oldest Dead Galaxy z Mission Utkarsh Against Anaemia
z Cavum Clouds z New Chairperson of Lokpal
z Stalled Negotiations on Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project z Chromosomal Disorders from Prehistoric Skeletal Remains

Internet in Remote Tribal Villages (VSAT)

Recently, The Ministry of Tribal Affairs plans to collaborate with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
to deploy V-SAT (very small apperture terminal) stations on a pilot basis for approximately 80 tribal villages in
Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
¾ The initiative aims to provide Internet services to geographically remote tribal villages that have been historically
difficult to connect due to challenging terrain. It will facilitate e-governance and improve connectivity in remote
areas.

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¾ Apart from this, the Ministry also discussed proposals trading platforms falsely asserting ties with its registered
for partnerships with institutes such as AIIMS Delhi, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs).
IIT Delhi, IIM Calcutta, and IISc Bengaluru. ¾ Pretending as SEBI-registered FPIs, they entice
€ Partnerships with AIIMS Delhi include conducting individuals to download applications promising access
advanced research on tribal health issues, to stock purchases, IPO subscriptions, and exclusive
particularly on Sickle Cell Anaemia. ‘institutional account benefits.’
€ Additionally, plans are in place to establish a € These platforms lure individuals through online
training facility with the Indian Institute of Science trading courses, seminars, and mentorship programs,
in Bengaluru to offer courses on semiconductors exploiting social media platforms like WhatsApp
to tribal students. or Telegram.
Read More: Indian Space Research Organisation ¾ SEBI clarified that the FPI route is not accessible to
(ISRO) resident Indians, with limited exceptions outlined in the
SEBI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) Regulations, 2019.
Lead Iodide Perovskites € Also, there is no provision for an Institutional
Account.
¾ A study led by Bharat Ratna Professor C.N.R. Rao ¾ FPIs encompasses financial investments made by
explores atomic rearrangements in lead iodide foreign individuals, corporations, and institutions
perovskites during phase transitions caused by in Indian financial assets like stocks, bonds, and
temperature and pressure changes. mutual funds.
€ Perovskite structure: perovskite refers to any € Unlike Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which
material that has a crystal structure like the involves long-term ownership of assets, FPI is
mineral perovskite. Ex: Lead Iodide Perovskites primarily driven by the aim of achieving short-
and calcium titanium Perovskites. term gains and portfolio diversification.
¾ Lead iodide perovskites exhibit excellent optoelectrical
properties, making them promising materials for
solar cells. However, their instability (decomposition
in humid air) is a concern due to structural changes
under varying conditions.
€ Despite instability issues, it has commercial
potential due to their unique crystalline structures
and optoelectronic properties.
€ Lead iodide perovskites’s energy conversion
efficiency can be higher than even that of
commercial silicon-based solar cells Read more: Securities and Exchange Board of India
¾ Addressing instability could lead to more efficient (SEBI), Foreign Portfolio Investors
renewable energy generation using lead iodide
perovskites in solar cells, LEDs, X-ray shielding, and
Energy Storage Systems. Empowering the Sikh
Read More: Viability Gap Funding Scheme for Battery Community
Energy Storage Systems
In a move to empower the Sikh community, on the
occasion of Sikh New Year, the Union Minister of Minority
SEBI Warns Against Affairs launched a comprehensive skill development,
Fraudulent Trading Platforms leadership, and entrepreneurship promotion program.
¾ The program is part of the “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas,
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” initiative under the
has issued a cautionary statement regarding deceptive Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 153
Scheme through the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management ¾ A GI tag is a label used on products linked to a specific
Committee (DSGMC), which is a Statutory Body geographic area, ensuring only authorised users from
established for the welfare of the Sikh community. that region can use the product’s name.
€ It targets 10,000 youth and women for modern
€ It guards against imitation and lasts for 10 years
skills training in employment-oriented job roles,
promotes Sikh artisans, fosters women’s leadership once registered.
and entrepreneurship, and provides education for € The Department for Promotion of Industry and
school dropouts. Internal Trade (DPIIT) manages GI registration in
€ The program aims to assist socio-economically India under the Geographical Indications of Goods
disadvantaged groups within the Sikh community Act, 1999, in line with the TRIPS agreement.
and promote communal and social harmony.
€ State-of-the-Art Gurmukhi Script learning centres
will be established in Khalsa colleges under the
University of Delhi for preserving and promoting
the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the
Sikh community.
z The Gurmukhi script was developed from the
Śāradā script, standardised and used by the
second Sikh guru, Guru Angad.
z The Śāradā script is part of the Brahmic family
of scripts. Read more: Geographical Indication Tag
¾ The Ministry will provide infrastructure and ancillary
services, including developing Studios/Smart
Classrooms under the PM Jan Vikas Karyakram. Rural Digital Empowerment
Read more: Welfare Schemes for the Minority
The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), under
Communities, Sikhism
the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed
a tripartite MoU with Prasar Bharati and Open Network
GI Tag to Cuttack Rupa for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to democratise digital
Tarakasi services access in rural India.
The renowned Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi (Silver Filigree) ¾ The tripartite MoU aims to expand affordable and
has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, accessible digital services nationwide, leveraging the
marking its distinct heritage and craftsmanship. BharatNet infrastructure under USOF.
¾ Dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, where filigree ¾ USOF’s role in providing high-speed broadband in
adorned jewellery as early as 3500 BCE, its journey to
Gram Panchayats and villages will complement Prasar
Cuttack potentially via Persia and Indonesia speaks
Bharati’s OTT platform, offering linear channels, Live
volumes about cultural exchange through maritime
trade routes. TV, and on-demand content.
€ Filigree is ornamental work especially of fine wire ¾ Prasar Bharati will curate content for its OTT platform,
of gold, silver, or copper applied chiefly to gold utilising its extensive legacy, consumer reach, and
and silver surfaces. brand recognition.
¾ Alongside Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi, other crafts like
¾ ONDC will contribute technical expertise and
Banglar muslin (West Bengal), Narasapur crochet lace
infrastructure for enabling digital commerce in various
(Andhra Pradesh), and Kutch rogan craft (Gujarat)
have also earned GI status, emphasising the diversity sectors, expanding beyond e-commerce to include
and excellence of India’s traditional crafts. education, health, finance, and agriculture.

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Read more: Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), Prasar Bharati, ONDC and its Potential

Vocal for Local initiative ● PB-SHABD will serve as a single-point source of

news content for smaller news organisations
Recently, the NITI Aayog (National Institution for lacking extensive networks.
Transforming India) launched the ‘Vocal for Local’ ● SHABD service is offered free for the first year,
initiative under its Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP). providing news stories in major Indian languag-
¾ Initiative aims to boost sustainable growth by es across fifty categories.
showcasing indigenous products through ‘Aakanksha.’ ● The minister highlighted the revamped plat-
A dedicated window on the GeM portal facilitates forms for Doordarshan News and Akashvani
e-commerce for local products. News, and updated News on the Air mobile
€ As a part of this initiative, indigenous local products app, emphasising their role in democratising
from 500 Aspirational Blocks have been mapped access to news and fostering collaboration
and consolidated under Aakanksha. within the media industry.
● Prasar Bharati is India’s largest public broad-
¾ The CEO of NITI Aayog urged district collectors and
casting agency. It is a statutory autonomous
block-level officials to collaborate with partners such as
body set up by the Prasar Bharati Act, 1997.
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Open Network
○ The Prasar Bharati Corporation’s main
for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to facilitate sustainable
objective is to provide autonomy to
growth of microenterprises in Aspirational Blocks.
Doordarshan and Akashvani to “edu-
¾ The ABP is a development initiative announced in the
cate and entertain the public.
Union Budget 2022-23, it aims to provide direction,
Read more: Broadcasting only through Prasar Bharati
guidance, and support for social and economic
advancement in the most underdeveloped regions
in India and to direct development benefits towards Marine Security Belt 2024
marginalised and vulnerable sections of the population.
Iran, Russia, and China began a joint naval drill in
Read more: Aspirational Blocks Programme the Gulf of Oman. The drill, called “Marine Security Belt
2024”. The drill, which includes warships and aviation, is
PB-SHABD their fourth joint military exercise since 2019.
¾ Naval representatives from Pakistan, Kazakhstan,
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Azerbaijan, Oman, India, and South Africa are acting
launched the Prasar Bharti - Shared Audio Visuals for as observers during the exercise.
Broadcast and Dissemination (PB-SHABD), a news-shar-
¾ The Gulf of Oman is a western extension of the Arabian
ing service from Prasar Bharati, aimed at transforming
Sea and is situated in the Middle East between the
news dissemination in India.
countries of Iran, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

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¾ The Gulf connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then empties into the Persian Gulf.
€ The Gulf of Oman is bordered by Pakistan and Iran in the north; by the United Arab Emirates in the west and
by Oman in the south.

Read more: China-Iran Strategic Cooperation Pact

Haiti
Recently, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his intention to resign, once a transitional presidential
council is created.
¾ About:
¾ It is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
¾ It occupies the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, sharing a border with the Dominican Republic on
the eastern side.

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€ Haiti is also neighbored by Jamaica to the west ¾ NABI is the first Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute,
and Cuba to the northwest. established in India on 18th February 2010.
z Official Languages: French, Haitian Creole. € The NABI has significantly contributed to ‘Atal Jai

z Major Mountain Ranges: Massif de la Selle, Anusandhan Biotech (UNaTI) Mission, Poshan
Massif du Nord. Abhiyan, and Biotech Kisan Hubs for Jammu &
z It is the world’s first independent Black-led Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab,
republic. Haryana etc.
€ The nation underwent about two centuries of Read More: Technology in Indian Agriculture
Spanish colonial rule and more than a century
of French rule.
Pritzker Architecture Prize
2024
Recently, Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto was
declared the winner of the prestigious 2024 Pritzker
Architecture Prize, often called the “Architecture Nobel”.
This award is the highest international honour in the field.
Yamamoto is the ninth laureate from Japan.
¾ The prize was established by Jay A Pritzker and his
wife Cindy in 1979 to honour living architects whose
work demonstrates talent, vision, and commitment
to humanity and the built environment.
¾ Riken Yamamoto’s architectural vision prioritises
family and community, with a focus on the visible
and tangible aspects of architecture.
€ Yamamoto’s designs often incorporate innovative
concepts such as “relational living” and preserving
natural landscapes, as seen in projects like Hotakubo
National Speed Breeding Housing and the Yokosuka Museum of Art.
Crop Facility ¾ Balkrishna Doshi, is the first Indian architect to win
a Pritzker Prize (2018). His renowned work is the
Recently, the Union Minister of Science & Technology, Aranya Low-Cost Housing Complex, located in the
inaugurated the first-of-its-kind “National Speed Breeding city of Indore.
Crop Facility” at the premier National Agri-Food € The complex connects a community through a
Biotechnology Institute (NABI) in Mohali. cluster of buildings stitched together by a network
¾ The facility will be used to develop new varieties such of courtyards and pathways.
as wheat, rice, soybean, pea, tomato, etc., by using
a precisely controlled environment to achieve more
than four generations of a crop per year. Karnataka Ban Harmful Food
¾ The facility will help agricultural and biotechnology Colouring Agents
researchers for improved crop varieties, plant breeders
and farmers in adopting varieties of superior yield Recently, the Karnataka Government has announced
and nutritional traits. a ban on the use of harmful colouring agents in popular
¾ The facility will cater to all the States of India but it food items like cotton candy and Gobi Manchurian.
will especially be useful for the North Indian States ¾ The ban targets Rodamine B in cotton candy and
like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and the imposes restrictions on Tartrazine usage in Gobi
UT of J&K. Manchurian.

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€ Rhodamine B is a chemical compound commonly € Despite the brain’s complexity and data volume, the
employed in synthetic dyes for colouring silk, connectome simplifies scientists’ understanding,
jute, leather, cotton, and wool, as well as in the facilitating advancements in neuroscience and
cosmetics and plastics industries. neurological health research.
€ Tartrazine is a bright yellow azo dye that is more
€ Mapping the connectome aids in comprehending
stable and a cheaper alternative to natural food
brain function and the impact of conditions like
dyes.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
¾ According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority
and Alzheimer’s disease on neural processes.
of India (FSSAI), no colouring matter should be
added to food unless permitted in the Food Safety Read more: Brainoware, Mysterious Cells in Human
and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Brain
Additives) Regulation, 2011.
Read more: Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India
Italian Court Ruling Against
Returning Sea Migrants
Connectome Italy’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, ruled
The human brain, comprising billions of neurons, that it is illegal to return rescued sea migrants to Libya.
forms a complex network vital for our existence and ¾ The court’s ruling is based on the principle of non-
cognition. Understanding this intricate network, known refoulement that forbids the forced return of people
as the connectome, offers profound insights into brain to countries where their lives or rights are at risk.
function and neurological disorders.
€ The court’s ruling affirms Libya as unsafe for
¾ Connectome Concept represents a comprehensive
migrants, highlighting the risk of “inhuman and
map of neural connections, akin to a blueprint
illustrating the electrical and chemical signals degrading treatment” in detention centres under
exchanged between neurons. coastguards and militias if returned.
¾ A neuron consists of a cell body containing the ¾ Italy’s top court ruling that it is illegal to return sea
nucleus, dendrites for receiving input, and an axon migrants to Libya aligns with Article 98 of the United
for sending messages, sometimes enveloped by a Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
myelin sheath for faster signal transmission. € This article obligates states to help anyone found
at sea in danger of being lost and to rescue those
in distress if they can do so without serious danger
to their own ship or people.

€ Neurons communicate through synapses, where

dendrites receive chemical signals, convert them
to electrical impulses, and transmit them through
axons to other neurons. Read more: UNCLOS Maritime Zones, Conflict in Libya

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€ Inflection 2.5, competes with leading LLMs like

Yaounde Declaration GPT-4 while using only 40% of its computational
power for training.
Recently, the Yaoundé Declaration marked a
significant milestone in the fight against malaria, as health ¾ Unlike ChatGPT and Gemini, Pi is designed as a
ministers from 11 African countries pledged to end malaria companion rather than a personal assistant, offering
deaths. support, intelligence, and companionship.
¾ The total number of malaria cases globally increased Read more: Large Language Models
from 233 million in 2019 to 249 million in 2022.
¾ Africa witnessed a significant rise in malaria cases India to Become Third
during this period, reaching 233 million cases. Africa
accounts for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% Largest Economy by 2031
of malaria-related deaths. CRISIL, a major rating agency in India, forecasts the
¾ While progress against malaria has stagnated in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to be
WHO Africa region, the 11 African countries involved 6.8% in the next fiscal year (FY25).
in the Yaounde conference account for over 70% of ¾ CRISIL expects India’s economic growth to moderate
the global malaria burden. slightly from the current fiscal year (FY24) due to
€ The declaration aims to strengthen health factors like higher interest rates but still sees a healthy
infrastructure, expand personnel capacity, and 6.8% growth for FY25.
enhance program implementation. They also seek ¾ Over the next seven years, CRISIL predicts an average
to foster partnerships for funding, research, and
annual growth rate of 6.7%, potentially propelling
innovation.
India to become the world’s third-largest economy
¾ Despite the declaration, experts highlight the need for by 2031, trailing behind the US and China.
concrete action on the ground. The African Union’s
€ India, with a GDP size of USD 3.7 trillion, is currently
goal to control and eliminate malaria by 2030 faces
the fifth largest economy in the world, after the
significant financial gaps, with USD 1.5 billion needed
US, China, Japan and Germany.
to sustain basic malaria services and additional funds
required for climate adaptation in the health sector. ¾ The projected growth is expected to elevate India’s
per capita income (reach $4,500 by 2031), allowing
Read more: 2023 World Malaria Report, World
it to reach upper-middle-income status by 2031.
Malaria Day
¾ Crisil’s India Outlook report projects that between
fiscal 2025 and 2031, the size of the Indian economy
Pi Chatbot Powered by will inch closer to the USD 7 trillion mark.
Inflection-2.5 Read more: India’s Economic Outlook

Pi, the world’s ‘friendliest’ chatbot, powered by the

new Inflection-2.5 large language model (LLM), has Revamped PM-Surya Ghar
emerged as a breakthrough in conversational AI Muft Bijli Yojna
technology, offering deep and meaningful interactions.
¾ Pi, developed by Inflection AI, a California-based The Centre has tweaked the new ₹75,000-crore PM-
company, offers empathetic, helpful, and safe Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna (Prime Minister’s Rooftop
conversations, setting it apart from other chatbots. Solar: Free Electricity Scheme)
€ Inflection 2.5 is an upgrade to a large language ¾ Originally intended to fully subsidise installation of 1-3
model (LLM) created by Inflection AI. Kilowatt (KW) solar systems in 1 crore households,
¾ Inflection 2.5 allows Pi to access and process information the scheme now offers up to 60% coverage of costs,
from the real-time web, providing users with up-to- with households required to cover the remainder,
date answers to questions. albeit with accessible loans.

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The scheme envisaged to generate up to 300
€ ¾ The initial stage of enlargement involves extending
units of free electricity every month which would invitations to countries such as Argentina, Egypt,
translate to benefits of ₹15,000-18,000 annually Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to join BRICS.
for households.
€ More than 40 nations have shown keen interest
¾ India had aimed to install 40 GW of rooftop solar by
2022 but has only achieved approximately 12 GW in becoming members of BRICS.
thus far.
€ Currently a rooftop solar system costs about
₹50,000 per KW.
Read more: Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana

Sea Defenders-2024
Recently, the maritime security exercise ‘Sea
Defenders-2024’ was held between the Indian Coast
Guard (ICG) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG)
at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
¾ The Exercise included a variety of scenarios including
a Pollution Response Demonstration, in which
Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft showcased
their expertise in responding to oil spills and other
environmental hazards at sea.
€ It also simulated Visit Board Search and Seizure
(VBSS) Operations for inspecting vessels suspected
of illegal activity.
¾ Furthermore, the joint exercise provided a platform
for personnel from both coast guards to refine their Read More: 15th BRICS Summit
firefighting and damage control skills, fostering a spirit
of collaboration and camaraderie.
Read more: Indian Coast Guard
Kerala-Owned OTT Platform
Recently, Kerala has launched a government-owned
Argentina Withdraws from OTT platform called CSpace, aimed at promoting quality
films with artistic and cultural value.
BRICS Plan
¾ CSpace, emphasised its role in promoting Malayalam
Recently, Argentina, under the leadership of President cinema and culture.
Javier Milei, has decided not to join the BRICS bloc of
developing economies, despite being scheduled to join. € The platform will only stream films already released
¾ Argentina was among six countries invited in August in theatres to avoid harming the interests of
to join the BRICS bloc, which currently consists of producers and exhibitors.
Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. ¾ CSpace will be managed by the Kerala State Film
€ Argentina was set to join on 1st January 2024. Development Corporation (KSFDC), with transparency
€ These points highlight Argentina’s decision under in profit-sharing and viewer statistics.
Milei’s leadership to distance itself from the BRICS
¾ A 60-member curator panel, will select content based
and align more closely with the United States
and Israel, reflecting a shift towards right-wing on its artistic, cultural, and infotainment merit.
populism in its foreign policy. Read More: OTT Platform

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€ The other initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s

EU Fines Apple for Antitrust well-being are the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana
Yojana, Lakhpati Didi, Jan Dhan Accounts, Mudra
Violations in App Store Loans, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Ujjwala.
The European Union’s recent 1.8 billion euro fine
against Apple sheds light on the tech giant’s alleged Blue Line
antitrust violations, specifically regarding its treatment
of competitors and the imposition of fees within its App Recently, the borders between Israel and Lebanon
Store ecosystem. have been under intensified attack by Hezbollah.
¾ Apple was accused of unfairly favouring its own music ¾ The border between Israel and Lebanon, known as
streaming service, “Apple Music”, over competitors the “Blue Line,” was set by the United Nations in
like Spotify by restricting their ability to inform users 2000 after Israel withdrew its military from southern
about alternative subscription options and by imposing Lebanon.
significant fees for in-app purchases. € It’s not an official international border but a

¾ The European Commission found that Apple’s actions demarcation line.

violated European Union antitrust laws, particularly ¾ Originally, it was the boundary established by Britain
regarding the abuse of its dominant market position and France in the 1920s, between Lebanon, Syria
and anti-steering provisions that hindered competition. and Palestine.
¾ The fine underscores the EU’s stance against anti- ¾ Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and
competitive practices and sets a precedent for future militant group based in Lebanon. It emerged in the
tech antitrust cases. 1980s as a response to the Israeli occupation of
southern Lebanon. It is also designated as a terrorist
¾ Apple denies antitrust allegations, stating no evidence
organisation by several countries, including the United
of anti-competitive behaviour, and plans to appeal
States and Israel.
the EU decision.
Read more: Market Monopoly and Laws in India

Mahatari Vandana Yojana

In a move towards women empowerment, the Prime
Minister recently launched the Mahatari Vandana Yojana
in Chhattisgarh.
¾ The scheme aims to ensure the economic empowerment
of women, provide them with financial security,
promote gender equality, and strengthen their decisive
role within families.
¾ All married women above the age of 21 as of 1st
January 2024, including widows, divorced, and deserted Read More: Israel-Lebanon: Maritime Border Deal
women, are eligible to benefit from this scheme.
€ Eligible married women in Chhattisgarh will receive IRIS: India’s First AI Teacher
financial aid of Rs 1000 per month through Direct
Benefit Transfer (DBT). Robot
€ Approximately 70 lakh women are expected to A school in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala has unveiled
benefit from the Mahatari Vandana Yojana in a groundbreaking innovation in education with the
Chhattisgarh, contributing to their socio-economic introduction of India’s first Generative Artificial
upliftment. Intelligence(AI) teacher robot named ‘Iris’. Developed

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in collaboration with Makerlabs Edutech, Iris aims to € Its mass is comparable to that of the Small
transform traditional teaching methods through Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a dwarf galaxy near
personalised learning experiences for students. the Milky Way.
¾ Insights suggest abundant gas cloud collapses in the
early universe facilitated star formation, but internal
factors like supermassive black holes or gas depletion
can halt this process.
€ Gas depletion may result from rapid consumption
without replenishment, leading to galaxies
transitioning from star-forming to dormant states.
€ The dynamic nature of the early universe implies
potential rejuvenation of dead galaxies, subject
to further observations.
¾ JWST is an international collaboration between NASA,
the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian
Space Agency which was launched in December 2021.
¾ Equipped with voice assistant and IRIS engages students
in interactive learning activities. € It is currently at a point in space known as the

¾ IRIS responds to user queries, provides explanations, Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point, approximately 1.5
and delivers educational content through personalised million km beyond Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
interactions. € It’s the largest, most powerful infrared space

€ With a 4-wheel chassis and 5 degrees of freedom telescope ever built and is successor to the Hubble
(DoF) movements, IRIS can move freely and engage Telescope.
in hands-on learning activities. Read more: James Webb Telescope spots 6 Monster
¾ IRIS promises to enhance learning outcomes and Galaxies
inspire students in new ways, ushering in a future
where AI complements traditional teaching methods.
€ Generative AI refers to deep-learning models that
Cavum Clouds
can generate high-quality text, images, and other Cavum clouds, also known as hole-punch clouds or
content based on the data they were trained on. fallstreak holes, have long captivated observers with their
¾ In August 2023, India inaugurated its first-ever AI unusual appearance, often sparking speculation about
school in Kerala. extraterrestrial origins.
Read more: Generative Artificial Intelligence ¾ Recently, it was found that Cavum clouds are formed
when aircraft pass through mid-level altocumulus
James Webb Telescope Spots clouds containing supercooled liquid water droplets.
€ Altocumulus Clouds are mid-level clouds (ranging
Oldest Dead Galaxy 2-7 kms) that form white or grey patches or layers.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has recently They often have a wavy or lumpy appearance.
uncovered fascinating insights into the universe’s history ¾ As the planes disrupt the air around them, the droplets
by capturing the oldest-known dead galaxy, which ceased freeze into ice crystals, which eventually become heavy
star formation approximately 13 billion years ago, 700 and fall out of the sky, leaving voids in the cloud layer.
million years after the Big Bang event that gave rise to
€ The falling ice crystals are visible as wispy trails of
the universe.
precipitation called virga.
¾ The dead galaxy underwent a short but intense period
€ This phenomenon was captured recently by NASA’s
of star formation between 30 and 90 million years,
abruptly ceasing star formation between 10 and 20 Terra satellite showing cavum clouds over the Gulf
million years before the JWST’s observation. of Mexico off Florida’s west coast.

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long-term power sharing between India and Nepal,

progress on the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP)
remains at a standstill.
¾ The impasse surrounding the PMP, particularly
concerning the equitable distribution of benefits,
poses a challenge to the advancement of relations
between India and Nepal.
¾ In January 2023, India and Nepal signed a bilateral
agreement for the export of 10,000 MW of power
in the next 10 years.
¾ Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) is a bi-
national hydropower project to be developed on the
Mahakali River bordering India and Nepal.
€ India and Nepal had signed a Treaty known as
Stalled Negotiations on Mahakali Treaty in February, 1996. Implementation
of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project is the
Pancheshwar Multipurpose centrepiece of the Mahakali Treaty.
Project
Despite the recent signing of an agreement on

Read more: India and Nepal Relations

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Decline in Indian Diamond Lineman Diwas

Exports The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Ministry of
Power, pays tribute to the nation’s power sector frontline
India’s diamond export is anticipated to witness a
workers on the fourth edition of Lineman Diwas (4th
significant downturn, with projections indicating a
March 2024) in New Delhi.
decrease to a 5-year low of approximately USD 15-16
¾ Lineman Diwas celebrates the dedication and service
billion in 2023-24.
of linemen and ground maintenance staff who ensure
¾ This bleak outlook is attributed to subdued demand
uninterrupted electricity distribution nationwide.
from major markets such as the U.S. and China,
€ The theme for Lineman Diwas ‘Seva, Suraksha,
which collectively contribute around 65% of India’s
Swabhiman’ underscores the linemen’s commitment,
diamond exports.
sacrifice, and contribution to society.
¾ Factors including the emergence of alternative
€ The event facilitated the exchange of safety best
spending options, the growing popularity of lab-
practices, showcasing safety equipment and tools,
grown diamonds (LGDs), and geopolitical tensions
and screening videos to reinforce workplace safety
further exacerbate the export slowdown.
protocols.
€ LGDs are manufactured in laboratories, as opposed
¾ The CEA is constituted under the repealed Electricity
to naturally occurring diamonds. However, the
(Supply) Act, of 1948, which has since been substituted
chemical composition and other physical and
by Section 70 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
optical properties of the two are the same.
€ The primary functions of the Central Electricity
¾ Major Diamond Producing Countries: Russia, Botswana,
Authority include providing advice on policy matters
Canada, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic
and plans for the development and regulation of
of the Congo. the electricity systems.
€ In India, Surat is dubbed as the Diamond City.
It holds a commanding position in processing
precious gems, with roughly 90% of the world’s
rough diamonds cut and polished in the city.
Read more: Lab-grown Diamonds

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is an annual celebration
observed on 8th March every year, dedicated to honouring
the achievements of women and advocating for gender
equality worldwide.
¾ This global event serves as a reminder of the progress
made towards women’s rights and the ongoing
challenges that women still face in many aspects of life.
Read more: India’s Power Sector in 2030
¾ The celebration’s origin lies in the labour movements
of Europe and North America. The first International
Women’s Day was held in March 1911. Mythical Dwarka
€ It was celebrated for the first time by the United The Indian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Dwarka,
Nations in 1975. Gujarat, was marked by a blend of inaugurating the
¾ Theme 2024: Inspire Inclusion Sudarshan Setu and cultural exploration of the city of
Read more: International Women’s Day Dwarka.

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¾ Present-day Dwarka is a coastal town located at the given by India Post to top-performing employees in
mouth of the Gulf of Kutch, facing the Arabian Sea. the Department of Posts.
€ It is home to the 13th-century Dwarkadheesh € The awards were introduced in 1984 to recognize
temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. outstanding performance and encourage postal
€ However, the exact location of this ancient city employees
remains a subject of debate among scholars. Read more: Dak Karmayogi Project
¾ Various expeditions, both on land and underwater,
have been conducted since the 20th century. However, India’s First Underwater
the findings have often been inconclusive, leaving the
exact location and authenticity of Dwarka shrouded Metro Service
in mystery.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Kolkata Metro’s
Read more: Sudarshan Setu Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section, marking the
inauguration of India’s first underwater transportation
Dak Karmayogi Project tunnel.
¾ The section, passing below the Hooghly River,
The Department of Posts, Government of India, showcasing the nation’s engineering prowess hosts
marked a significant achievement with the release of a the deepest Metro station (the Howrah metro station
Special Cover marking the completion of the second Phase at 30 metres) in India.
of Dak Karmayogi Project.
¾ The Hooghly River, also known as the Bhagirathi-
¾ The Dak Karmayogi is an e-learning platform to
Hoogly and Kati-Ganga Rivers, is one of the significant
enhance the competencies of about 4 lakh Gramin rivers in West Bengal. It is a distributary or arm of
Dak Sevaks and Postal Department employees. the Ganges River, about 260 km long. Formed in
€ This portal has been developed ‘In-House’ under Murshidabad, where Ganga splits into two parts –
the vision of Mission Karmayogi. while the part flowing through Bangladesh is called
¾ The Meghdoot Awards are a national-level award the Padma. The other part is the Hooghly.

Read more: Atal Setu Nhava Sheva Sea Link, Sudarshan Setu

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Global Cervical Cancer

Elimination Forum
The first ever Global Cervical Cancer Elimination
Forum (GCF) in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, secured
nearly USD 600 million in funding from the World Bank,
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and UNICEF.
¾ The funds will be utilised to enhance global access
to vaccination, screening and treatment for cervical
cancer.
¾ The Forum aims to catalyse governments, donors,
civil society, and others to commit to cervical cancer
elimination and galvanize the global community.
¾ Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts in the cervix,
which is the lower end of the uterus that connects
it to the vagina. It’s caused by a long-lasting (human
papillomavirus) HPV infection, which is a common
virus transmitted through sexual contact.
€ Cervical cancer is ranked as the fourth most
prevalent cancer among women globally.
€ Despite available tools for prevention and
elimination, it claims a woman’s life every 2 minutes
Read more: Expanding Cervical Cancer Prevention
globally, with over 90% of cervical cancer deaths in
Initiatives, HPV Vaccine for Cervical Cancer
2022 occurring in low- and middle-income nations.
¾ WHO’s Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination,
Arctic and Great Lakes Ice
launched in November 2020, targets, by 2030:
Trends
€ 90% of girls vaccinated against HPV by age 15
A recent study forecasts the Arctic’s initial ice-free
€ 70% of women screened with a high-performance
conditions by August or September of 2030, regardless
test by ages 35 and 45 of emission scenarios, with the possibility of recurring
€ 90% of women with cervical disease receive occurrences by mid-century (2035–2067).
treatment. ¾ In recent years, the Arctic Ocean had around 3.3 million
km2 of sea ice at its minimum in September 2023.
¾ Indian Government intends to initiate a three-phase
€ Arctic sea ice reaches its minimum extent in
vaccination drive against human papillomavirus September every year.
(HPV) for girls aged 9-14, aiming to mitigate the risk
of cervical cancer.

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¾ Concurrently, the Great Lakes, comprising Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario have witnessed notably
reduced ice cover for 2 consecutive years.
€ They are renowned as Earth’s ‘freshwater tower,’ and are now witnessing unprecedented declines in ice cover,
attributed to global warming and the El Nino phenomenon.
z The year 2023 was designated as the hottest on record, largely influenced by El Nino.

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¾ According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority
Chakshu and the Digital of India (FSSAI), the United States Food and Drug
Intelligence Platform Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), dry ice must never
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) be touched or ingested due to its potential to cause
introduced two initiatives, Chakshu and the Digital severe damage to both skin and internal organs.
Intelligence Platform (DIP), to combat spam and fraud ¾ Dry ice’s unique sublimation property, transitioning
calls through the Sanchar Saathi portal. from solid to gas, makes it versatile for various
¾ Chakshu (meaning eyes) is accessible at sancharsaathi. applications:
gov.in/sfc, facilitating citizens to report suspicious € It is crucial for preserving perishable items like food
communications. and medical supplies during transport, maintaining
€ The platform allows users to report various types ultra-low temperatures.
of fraud, including those related to bank accounts, € It also finds use in industrial cleaning processes
payment wallets, SIM cards, gas and electricity like dry ice blasting.
connections, KYC updates, impersonation, and
Read more: Food Safety and Standards Authority
sextortion.
of India
¾ The primary objective of Chakshu is to enable proactive
reporting of suspicious activities, contributing to the
prevention and mitigation of telecom-related fraud e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi
and spam calls.
Recently, the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food &
€ Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is
working on developing an app for the Chakshu Public Distribution launched the ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’
platform, further streamlining the reporting (Digital Gateway) of Warehousing Development and
process for users. Regulatory Authority (WDRA) to leverage technology
for easing farmers’ warehousing logistics and ensuring
¾ The DIP is a secure and integrated platform created by
fair prices for their produce.
the DoT for curbing the misuse of telecom resources
and data through intelligence sharing and information ¾ The ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ platform simplifies the digital
exchange among the stakeholders covering a wide process, allowing farmers to store their produce at
spectrum of telecom service providers, law enforcement any registered WDRA warehouse for up to six months
agencies (LEAs), banks and financial institutions. at 7% interest per annum.
€ It would be a non-public data-sharing resource € This initiative, featuring a no collateral, extra

for “Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), LEAs, banks security deposit policy, aims to prevent distress
and financial institutions, social media platforms, sales by farmers, enabling better post-harvest
identity document issuing authorities etc. storage opportunities.
Read more: World Telecom Day 2023 ¾ The Minister highlighted that the integration of e-Kisan
Upaj Nidhi and e-NAM enables farmers to leverage
interconnected markets, extending benefits beyond
Dry Ice government Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Recently, mistaking dry ice for a mouth freshener ¾ WDRA was established in October 2010, under the
at a Gurugram restaurant caused a severe incident, Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act,
emphasising the lethal nature of the substance. 2007, with the aim of developing and regulating
¾ Dry Ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide, is commonly warehouses, promoting negotiability of warehouse
used as a cooling agent for food products like ice receipts, and facilitating orderly growth of the
cream, frozen desserts etc. But it poses a significant warehousing business in India.
health risk if not handled properly. € WDRA operates as a statutory authority under the
€ It sublimes into carbon dioxide gas, which, if inhaled Department of Food and Public Distribution, with
in large quantities, can lead to breathlessness its headquarters located in New Delhi.
(hypercapnia) and other serious complications. Read more: Minimum Support Price (MSP)

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€ The implementation of QCO holds significant

World Hearing Day importance in regulating the influx of sub-quality
and cheaper imports to ensure customers get
¾ National institutes and Regional Centers, under the
quality products
Department of Empowerment of Persons with
€ Small and medium-sized spinning mills faced
Disabilities, conducted awareness programs to
promote an inclusive society and empower individuals challenges due to restricted access to cheaper
to overcome hearing challenges. VSF imports.
¾ Industry representatives advocate for reversing QCOs
¾ World Hearing Day (WHD) is celebrated on the
3rd March each year to raise awareness on how to on raw materials, proposing enforcement solely on
prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear finished products.
and hearing care across the world. Read more: Quality Control Orders
€ Globally, over 80% of ear and hearing care needs
remain unmet. Bharat Tex 2024
¾ Theme of WHD 2024: Changing mindsets: Let’s make
ear and hearing care a reality for all! Bharat Tex 2024, the largest global textile event in
India, concluded at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, inspired
€ Normal hearing range: 0-20 dBHL (Decibel Hearing
by the 5F Vision of the Prime Minister of India.
Level).
¾ The ‘5F’ Formula encompasses - Farm to fibre; fibre
€ A person who is not able to hear as well as someone
with normal hearing – hearing thresholds of 20 dB to factory; factory to fashion; fashion to foreign.
or better in both ears is said to have hearing loss. ¾ The event was organised by a consortium of 11 Textile

z Hard of hearing refers to people with hearing

Export Promotion Councils and supported by the
loss ranging from mild to severe. Deaf’ people Ministry of Textiles.
mostly have profound hearing loss, which- ¾ Leading textile states including Uttar Pradesh,
implies very little or no hearing. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana,
Read More: World Hearing Day Tamil Nadu and Karnataka actively participated with
dedicated pavilions.
¾ Bharat Tex served as a launchpad for initiatives like the
Quality Control Order on ‘Innovative Business Practices and Economic Models
Viscose Staple Fibre in the Textile Value Chain in India’ (IndiaTex) and
Textile Grand Innovation Challenge, aiming to drive
Significant shifts have occurred in the textile supply innovation and sustainability in the textile industry.
chain in less than a year since the enforcement of a strict € IndiaTex is a four-year UN Environment Programme
Quality Control Order (QCO) on viscose staple fibre (VSF) project that aims to accelerate the transition of the
in India. Indian textile sector towards circularity.
¾ VSF imports dropped by 65% after the enforcement ¾ Multiple Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs)
of the QCO in April 2023. were signed across various domains, including academic
€ VSF is a natural, biodegradable, semi-synthetic collaboration, research, product development, and
fibre that has similar characteristics to cotton. It’s market linkage.
made from wood or cotton pulp and is versatile, Read more: PM MITRA Scheme and Textile Sector
easily blendable, and light and breathable.
€ It is widely used in apparel, home textiles, dress
material, knitted wear and non-woven applications. World Wildlife Day
¾ A QCO is a non-tariff trade barrier that bars United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) is
manufacturers, importers, and distributors from celebrated every year on 3rd March to celebrate the vast
storing or selling a product without a licence from array of wild animals and plants on our planet and raise
the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that certifies awareness about the threats they face.
specific quality standards being met.

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¾ The 2024 theme is: Connecting People and Planet: Samudra Laksamana
Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.
€ It highlights the growing role of technology in The Samudra Laksamana (Bilateral Maritime Exercise)
protecting wildlife. From tracking endangered between India and Malaysia was recently concluded off
species to monitoring illegal wildlife trade, digital the coast of Visakhapatnam.
tools are offering new hope for safeguarding ¾ It involved the participation of the Indian Naval Ship
biodiversity. Kiltan and Royal Malaysian Ship KD Lekir aimed to
¾ On 20th December 2013, during the 68th Session of reinforce ties and promote interoperability between
the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), 3rd the two navies.
March was established as WWD. ¾ The other exercises between India and Malaysia are:
€ This date commemorates the signing of the € Exercise Udarashakti: Air Force

Convention on International Trade in Endangered € Exercise Harimau Shakti: Army

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.
Read more: World Wildlife Day

Read more: Samudra Laksamana

India’s First Dolphin Research Centre

India’s inaugural National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) marks a significant milestone in the conservation
efforts for the endangered Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica).
¾ Located strategically near the Ganga river in Patna, Bihar, the NDRC aims to be a hub for comprehensive research
on various aspects of Gangetic dolphins, including behaviour, survival skills, and causes of mortality.

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€ Bihar is home to around half of the estimated 3,000 Gangetic dolphins in India.
¾ The Ganges river dolphin, discovered in 1801, historically inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-
Sangu river systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
€ Recent studies in the Ganga River Basin show their presence in the mainstream and tributaries like Ghagra,
Kosi, Gandak, Chambal, Rupnarayan, and Yamuna.

Read more: Gangetic River Dolphin

National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development

Recently, the Union Finance Minister chaired a meeting to evaluate the performance of National Bank for Financing
Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID),
¾ NaBFID, established by the Government of India in April 2021, is the nation’s 5th All India Financial Institution
(AIFI), aimed at fostering long-term non-recourse infrastructure financing.
¾ NaBFID serves both developmental and financial objectives, facilitating credit flow and enhancing infrastructure
finance accessibility.
€ It plays a pivotal role in advancing India’s infrastructure sector by addressing financing gaps through innovative
tools like longer tenor loans, blended finance, and partial credit enhancement.
¾ The other 4 AIFIs in India are:
€ National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

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€National Housing Bank (NHB) ¾ The issue revolves around Google’s requirement for
€Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) developers to pay fees for in-app purchases made
€ Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank)
by their customers.
€ In-app purchasing allows users to buy goods or
Read more: National Bank for Financing Infrastructure
and Development services within a mobile app. This includes virtual
items, premium features, subscriptions, and more.
Payments are made directly through the app, often
Electronic Data Interchange using stored payment methods. It’s a common way
(EDI) Launched for North East for app developers to generate revenue.
¾ Google adjusted its fees for in-app purchases in India,
¾ Union Minister for Finance launched the Electronic ranging from 11 to 26%, but the delisted companies
Data Interchange (EDI) at Land Customs Stations (LCS) failed to meet these revised terms.
of the North East Region (NER) aiming to enhance
Read more: CCI Penalty on Google, Google Unveils
regional trade and foster economic growth by making
Project Gemini
the movement of goods and customs clearances
more efficient.
¾ The implementation of Electronic Data Interchange Successful Flight Tests of
(EDI) is set to empower trade community members
and stakeholders in customs clearance by reducing
VSHORADS Missile by DRDO
dwell time and costs in cross-border trade. Recently, the Defence Research and Development
€ The export basket at these LCSs consists primarily Organization (DRDO) conducted two successful flight
of minerals and agricultural produce, whereas tests of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System
the import basket includes processed food items, (VSHORADS) missile.
cement, and plastic products. ¾ These tests were carried out from a ground-based
¾ Digitizing these LCSs along the India-Bangladesh portable launcher off the coast of Odisha at the
and India-Myanmar borders, established from 1948 Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, and targeted high-
onwards to boost trade and travel, complements the speed unmanned aerial targets in various interception
Act East Policy, enhancing market linkages and regional scenarios.
development through secure, paperless transactions
¾ VSHORADS, a Man Portable Air Defence System
and online payments.
(MANPAD), is an indigenous creation developed by
€ The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with
(CBIC) has successfully enabled Electronic Data other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.
Interchange (EDI) at various LCSs along the Indo-
¾ The missile incorporates advanced technologies such
Bangladesh and Indo-Myanmar borders, overcoming
as a miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and
challenges posed by remote locations without
integrated avionics.
Optical Fibre or Mobile Networks.
¾ Propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor, the missile
Read more: Act East Policy
is designed to neutralize low-altitude aerial threats
at short ranges while ensuring easy portability due
Google Removes a Few to highly optimized design.
Indian Apps from Play Store Read more: Very Short-Range Air Defence System

Google has delisted a few popular Indian apps from

its Play Store, citing non-compliance with its billing Women Exporters in the
policies. Digital Economy (WEIDE)
¾ The recent Supreme Court of India order declined
to prevent Google from delisting apps from its Play Fund
Store, paving the way for app removal if they don’t ¾ The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the
comply with Google’s billing policy.

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International Trade Centre (ITC) launched a ¾ Desai emphasised the importance of improving the
USD 50 million Women Exporters in the Digital living standards of the poor and underprivileged,
Economy (WEIDE) Fund to assist women in accessing enacted progressive legislation to help peasants and
opportunities in international trade and the digital tenants, believed in the rule of law for all, and upheld
economy, coinciding with the 13th Ministerial truth as an article of faith.
Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
€ The Women Exporters in the Digital Economy
(WEIDE) Fund aims to assist women-led businesses
and entrepreneurs in developing and least-
developed countries to adopt digital technologies
and enhance their online presence.
€ The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has allocated USD
5 million as the first donor to the fund.
¾ The WTO-ITC SheTrades Summit convened over 250
women entrepreneurs from 60+ countries, along
with business leaders and development partners, to Read more: Morarji Desai
discuss solutions and access new markets in a green
and digital trading system, featuring masterclasses Alliance for Global Good –
by experts.
Gender Equity and Equality
Read more: National and Global Efforts for Women’s
Equality Recently, the Ministry of Women & Child Development,
Government of India launched the logo and the website
for the Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and
Shri Morarji Desai Birth Equality.
Anniversary ¾ It marks a significant milestone in the global pursuit
of gender equality. Launched in Davos 2024 (54th
The Prime Minister paid tributes to Shri Morarji Desai annual World Economic Forum), it is a testament
on his birth anniversary. to India’s unwavering commitment to the cause of
¾ Born on 29th February 1896 in Bhadeli village, Gujarat. women-led development.
Graduated from Wilson Civil Service in Bombay and € The alliance aims to consolidate global best
served as a Deputy Collector for twelve years. practices, foster knowledge exchange, and attract
¾ Morarji Desai was an Indian politician and activist investments in women’s health, education, and
who served as the fourth Prime Minister of India entrepreneurship, in line with various Sustainable
from 1977 to 1979. Development Goals (SDGs).
€ The Forty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution ¾ It is being supported by influential partners like the
of India was enacted during his tenure as Prime Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and anchored
Minister. by institutions such as the CII Centre for Women
Leadership
¾ Morarji Desai joined Congress during the Civil
Disobedience Movement. Imprisoned thrice and Read more: Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity
and Equality
actively participated in individual Satyagraha and
Quit India Movement.
€ He became Chief Minister of Bombay in 1952 Advancing Pregnancy Care
and also served as Minister for Commerce and with India-Specific AI Model
Industry, then Finance Minister. Resigned under the
Kamraj Plan and led the Administrative Reforms Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology
Commission. Became Prime Minister in 1977. Madras and the Translational Health Science and

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w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH, PART-I 2024 173
Technology Institute, Faridabad, have collaborated to ¾ Melanochlamys droupadi secrete transparent mucus,
develop an India-specific artificial intelligence model shielding them from sand grains while crawling
named Garbhini-GA2, tailored for accurately determining beneath smooth sand, making its body rarely visible.
the gestational age (GA) of foetus in the second and ¾ The ZSI states that while species in this group are
third trimesters of pregnancy.
typically found in temperate regions of the Indo-
¾ GARBH-Ini GA-2 is based on genetic algorithms. A Pacific Oceanic realm, three species are truly tropical:
genetic algorithm is an optimisation technique inspired Melanochlamys papillata from the Gulf of Thailand,
by evolution and natural selection principles. Melanochlamys bengalensis from West Bengal and
€ In addition to aiding neonatal care, Garbhini- Odisha coast, and the Melanochlamys droupadi.
GA2 also contributes to precise epidemiological
estimates.
€ It minimises the margin of error in accurately
determining the age of a foetus within the Indian
population by nearly threefold.
¾ This initiative is a part of the GARBH-Ini programme,
addressing the critical need for precision in prenatal
care.
€ The GARBH-Ini is a flagship programme of the
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt of India.
It advocates for the health of both mothers and
€

children while also creating predictive tools for

Mission Utkarsh Against
identifying preterm birth risks. Anaemia
¾ Published in the Lancet Regional Health Southeast
Asia, this research marks a significant stride towards The Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Women
improving pregnancy care in India. and Child Development have partnered to enhance the
Read more: Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) nutrition of adolescent girls through Ayurveda
Amendment Act, 2021 interventions as a part of Mission Utkarsh.
¾ Under Mission Utkarsh, 15 central ministries or
Melanochlamys Droupadi departments will work to elevate districts at the
bottom, to state and national averages.
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has named a
€ In the first phase, the focus may be on improving
new marine species ofhead-shield sea slug with ruby
the anaemic status of adolescent girls (14-18 years)
red spot which was discovered along the coasts of West
Bengal and Odisha, after President Droupadi Murmu, in five aspirational districts of five states namely
named Melanochlamys droupadi. Assam (Dhubri), Chhattisgarh (Bastar), Jharkhand
¾ Species of the genus Melanochlamys are characterised (Paschimi Singhbhum), Maharashtra (Gadchiroli),
morphologically by a short, blunt and cylindrical and Rajasthan (Dhaulpur).
body and a smooth dorsal surface with two dorsal ¾ The objective is to combat anaemia and work towards
equal or unequal shields, named the anterior cephalic achieving an “Anaemia Mukt Bharat” (Anaemia
and posterior shield. Free India).
¾ The species is small, brownish-black, with a ruby red
€ Anaemia is a medical condition characterised by a
spot at the hind end, and is a hermaphrodite.
deficiency of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the
¾ Reproduction of the species is observed between
blood, leading to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity
November and January.

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New Chairperson of Lokpal

Recently, former Supreme Court Justice Ajay
Manikrao Khanwilkar was appointed as the chairperson
of Lokpal. This came nearly two years after the post was
vacant.
¾ The chairperson and members of the Lokpal are
appointed by the President after obtaining the
recommendations of a Selection Committee having
the Prime Minister as its chairperson.
¾ Apart from a chairperson, the Lokpal can have eight
members, four judicial and four non-judicial.

Read more: Anaemia Mukt Bharat

Read More: Lokpal and Lokayukta

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Chromosomal Disorders from Prehistoric Skeletal Remains

Recently, the researchers have identified chromosomal disorders in prehistoric skeletal remains dating back
approximately 5,500 years, shedding light on the presence of genetic conditions such as Down syndrome and Edwards
syndrome in ancient populations.
¾ Individuals with chromosomal trisomy carry three copies of a chromosome, leading to conditions like Down
syndrome (trisomy 21) and Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18).
€ Down syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21. It’s
the most common chromosomal anomaly in humans and can cause intellectual disabilities and health issues.
€ Edwards syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when a baby is born with three copies of chromosome
18 instead of two. It causes physical growth delays during fetal development.
¾ Some cases date back to ancient periods, including the Bronze Age (about 2,700 BCE) and the Neolithic period
(about 3,500 BCE).
€ In early Iron Age Spain (800-400 BCE), three cases of Down syndrome and one case of Edwards syndrome were
detected, suggesting a potentially higher frequency of trisomy carriers in those societies.
Read more: Genome Sequencing in India
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