India celebrated

her 74th Repub-

lic Day on
26th January.

CURRENT AFFAIRS 30
JANUARY 2023
WWW.INSIGHTSONINDIA.COM
 Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the

INSIDE States, issues and challenges

• Governor-CM rift in TN 21
• Coming Soon: 16th Finance commission 23
Judiciary
GS1 •
•
Supreme Court upholds demonetisation 25
SC verdict on MPs, MLAs’ right to freedom of speech 26
Indian culture • High-powered committee for Ladakh 27
• SC direction on road safety 28
• 50 ASI-protected monuments disappear 8
• Judicial take on same-sex marriage 29
Modern Indian history - Personalities • Loan recovery via Lok Adalat 30
• Gandhi may die but Gandhism will remain forever 9
Salient features of Indian Society
• UNDESA World Social Report 2023 10
Diversity of India
• Republic Day parade: Celebrating Sovereignty 11
Issues face by Women
• Wrestling the way out 12
• Menstrual leave: Time to talk period 13
Demography
• China’s population drop 14
Distribution of key natural resources
• Monocropping: Impact on Biodiversity 15
• ONGC to map India’s geothermal resources 16
• Case for reforming Collegium: Suggestions by Law Minis-
ter31
• Inclusivity in Judiciary 31
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
• NCPCR drafted guidelines for assessing minors  33
Government policies and interventions
• Green Hydrogen Mission 33
• New UGC Norms 34
• Regulation of online gaming 35
• Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program (V-VMP)
 36
• Jharkhand’s 1st survey of migrants  37
• Coal India Ltd’s M-Sand Projects 17 • Content of “National Importance”  38

Geophysical phenomena Issues related to Education

• Black carbon aerosols  18 • Bright spots, areas of concern in ASER 2022 39
• Deep-water circulations of the Indian Ocean 19 • Schools without barriers 40
• All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021

GS2 
Issues related to Health
41

Indian Constitution • What plagues rural healthcare? 42

• Plan to eradicate measles, rubella  43
• Mandatory minimum sentences 20
• Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 44
• Living Will and Passive Euthanasia 20

2 www.insightsonindia.com
Issues relating to poverty and hunger. • The danger of deep fakes 70
• Malnutrition risking children’s lives: WHO 45 • Crypto awareness campaign 71
• Travails of trans-fat 72
Governance
• The case of online child abuse 46 Environmental Conservation
• New Forest (Conservation) Rules vs Forest Rights Act 73
India and its neighborhood- relations.
• 50 years of the Stockholm Conference 74
• The Indus Waters Treaty 46
• Bee: Positive impact on Biodiversity 75
Bilateral relations
• The Qatar conundrum 48
• India-Maldives relation 49
• India’s ties with Egypt 51
Effect of policies and politics
• On the legality of Israel’s occupation 52
• META fined under EU’s GDPR 53
International institutions, agencies and fora
• Blacklisting of terrorists: What does this mean? 54
• UNSC: Paralysed and Outdated 55

GS3
Indian Economy
• Indian rupee’s fall against the US dollar 56
• MFIs prime role in India’s economic growth
57
• Start-ups powering India’s Space Odyssey 2.0 59 • Human disturbance altering habitats, routines of ani-
Economy and issues relating to development. mals 76
• Ken-Betwa River link project 60 • Protests over ESZ classification 78
• Fighting The Big G 61 • Alien Plants and Tiger Habitats 79
Employment • Understanding Kerala’s man-elephant conflict  79
• Forest cover improvement: A target missed 81
• Remote work saved jobs during COVID: ILO report  62
• Cheetahs from South Africa 82
Inclusive growth and issues.
Environmental pollution and degradation
• Oxfam inequality report on wealth tax 63
• National Clean Air Programme 83
• Inclusive circular economy
64 • Light polluting the Dark Sky 84
• Fukushima wastewater 86
Government Budgeting.
• The nuts and bolts of a Union Budget 65
Disaster and disaster management.
• Surging crowds, charges of police laxity  86
Agricultural produce

GS4
• Cultivated idea: Urban farming  66
Changes in industrial policy and their effects on indus-
trial growth.
Human Values
• One Nation-One Standard 67
• Fake news regulation 68 • Role of Religious Leaders in addressing contemporary is-
sues87
Infrastructure: Energy • In Good Faith: Pranam vs Pramana  88
• Risk of transition towards clean energy 69 • Ethical animal research 89
Science and Technology Attitude

www.insightsonindia.com 3
• The woman who defied realpolitik 90 • Shumang Leela: Manipur 101
Influence and relation with thought and behaviour • Mughal Gardens: now Amrit Udyan 101
• Guidelines to social media influencers 92 Games
Ethical concerns and dilemmas • Information related to Hockey 102
• UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber and the controversy 93 Festival in News
Corporate governance • Purple Fest 103
• Software sector’s Antyodaya approach 94 • Magh Bihu 103
• Big Tech & news publishers  95 • Bharat Parv 2023  103
Modern History/Personality

Facts for Prelims; •

•
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
Architect BV Doshi passes away
103
104

GS1 Geography
• New Plateau Discovered 104
• Rare dinosaur eggs found in Narmada Valley  105
Indian Heritage and Culture
• Over 90 fossil nests belonging to India’s largest dinosaurs
• “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India96 uncovered105
• Earth’s inner core 105
Places in News
• Mapping 106
Society and Social Justice
• Criteria change in Gender Gap Reports 112
• Migration events that brought genetic diversity  112

GS2
Polity
• e-SCR project 112
• State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2022-23 113
• Education for Democracy 113
• 13th Amendment (13A) to Sri Lanka’s Constitution 114
• Supreme Court judgments in 13 Indian languages 114
• Need for reforming bail processes 114
Government Initiative and Policies
• Parasnath hill and Shetrunjay hill 97
• Sagol Kangjei 97 • Kalasa-Banduri Canal Construction Project 115
• ‘Music in the Park’ 97 • Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership
Agreement (MMPA) 115
• Thiruvalluvar Day 98
• Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) 116
• Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmen-
tation Drive (PRASHAD) 98 • Eat Right Station 116
• Buddhist monastery complex at Bharatpur 98 • Ethylene Glycol (Quality Control) Order, 2022 116
• Andaman Islands named after Param Vir Chakra recipi- • Advanced Traffic Management System 117
ents99 • National assessment regulator: PARAKH 117
• Assam’s Charaideo Moidams 99 • Chargesheet and FIR 118
• Monument Mitra Scheme 100 • Central Government Health Scheme  118
• Etikoppaka toy craft 100 • PM-KISAN118
• Criteria for declaring National Monuments 100 International News and Organization
• Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas 101 • Voice of Global South Summit 119

4 www.insightsonindia.com
• Bhopal Declaration 119 • ‘Green’ tech to rid air filters of germs 135
• World Economic Forum Initiatives 120 • India’s scientific developments in 2022 – A Recap 135
• India - Sri Lanka: ties during crisis 120 • Wassenaar Arrangement 136
• T+1 settlement cycle  120 • Water filter to remove microplastics 137
• New electrolytes can help better ammonia synthesis137

GS3 •
•
Animals that turn transparent?
Laser to guide lightning bolts
137
138
• What is a ‘pantranscriptome’? 138
Economy • Mercury’s superconductivity 138
• Utkarsh 2.0 121 • Norovirus  139
• Integrated Banking Ombudsman scheme 121 • Ukraine War: CERN has shortened runs 139
• Reserve Bank of India puts on hold NUE licensing 122 • Nitride Semiconductors 140
• Tax scheme misuse 122 Technology
• National Coal Index 123
• Can India’s BharOS replace Android, iOS? 140
• National Textile Corporation 123
• Railways’ AI-based project  141
• Expected loss-based approach for loan loss provisioning
by banks 123 Health
• Waterways Network 124 • Lumpi-ProVacind Vaccine 141
• Etalin hydroelectric project (EHEP) 124 • Ozempic 142
• Grameen Udyami Scheme 125 • Kala-azar cases decline 142
• Application Supported by the Blocked Amount (ASBA) • A novel spray to prevent COVID-19 infection 143
system125 • India can lead efforts to find a new TB vaccine 143
• Nature Risk profile (NRP) 126 • Immune imprinting 143
• Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) 126 • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) 144
• Additional Tier-1 bonds and the case against Yes Bank • Hormonal therapy to cure Breast Cancer 144
127 Space
• Google and CCI  127
• WALLABY 145
• WTO’s new Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies 127
• Snapdragon Satellite 145
• SEBI’s information database on municipal bonds 128
• ‘Shukrayaan’ 145
• National Asset Reconstruction Company 128
• Agri Commodity Trade 129
• India Stack’s digital public goods 129
• Short Selling 130
• Mega projects for Andaman and Nicobar 131
• Kashmir’s Pashmina shawls 131
• World Economic Situation and Prospectus 2023 report
132
• XR Startup Program 132
• Aviation gasoline export by IOC 133
• India may use emergency law to lift coal power output
133
Agriculture
• 212 indigenous livestock breeds 133
• Solitary waves near Mars  146
• Cardamom samples exceeding the level of insecticide
• Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope  146
residue 134
• James Webb telescope discovers its first exoplanet 146
Science and Technology • NASA’s Nuclear Rocket Plan  147
• Satyendra Nath Bose 134 • ‘Green comet’ after 50,000 years 147
• SMART Program for Ayurveda 135 • Aditya L1 148
• Gelbots135
Environment

www.insightsonindia.com 5
• Zero poaching incidents in Assam 148 • Saltie census 2023 156
• Silent Valley bird species go up to 175 148 • Greater Scaup 157
• Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2023 149 • Spot Bellied Eagle Owl 157
• Govt exempts key infra projects from wildlife fund rules • Kewda Oil 157
 149 • Mahabali frog 158
• Bhopal Ramsar wetland 150 • Mass mortality of Olive Ridley turtles  158
• Sankhya Sagar Wetland 150 • Noble’s Helen 158
• Methanol blended Diesel (MD15) 151 • Invasive plant species in Kerala’s wildlife habitat 159
• Genetically Engineered Trees 151 • Red-Headed Vultures and Black Vultures 159
• Kelp forests  152 Defence
• Village Defence Committees (VDC) 160
• VARUNA’ – 2023 160
• Leopard 2 tank 160
• Exercise Cyclone-I 161
• INS Vagir  161
• Military Exercise 161
• Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)
 162
• Veer Guardian 2023 162

Content for Mains

Enrichment (Eth-
ics/Essay):
Society
• Prajjwala Challenge 162
• Foster farmer: Feel Good 163
• Rajasthan’s ‘Tree teacher’ 163

• Manipur’s heimang  152

Pollution and Waste
• Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS
v1.0) 153
• Pollution map based on roadside dust 153
• ‘Nitrate radicals’ 154
Climate Change
• Urban Forestry and Urban Greening in Drylands 154
• The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ)154
Species in News
• Virovore155
• Asian Elephants 155
• New dwarf boa 156
• Zebrafish  156

6 www.insightsonindia.com
• A gentler Workplace 163
• Oxfam Report 163
• Tribes get documents  164
• Foster farmer: Feel Good  164
Women Empowerment
• Mission Parivartan 164
• Aymanam 164
Space
• Parastronaut 165
• Walter Cunningham dead 165
Governance
• Dwarka: How a Delhi district stopped the ground from
sinking 166
Environment
• Chinampas: Floating Gardens made of Plastic bottles
 166
Health
• Case Study: Cuban HealthCare 166
Ethics
• Doctor Didis of Jharkhand 166
• What makes you happy? 167
• An episode on ‘Peace’ 167
• Personalities 168
• Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) 171
Keywords
• Cyborg 171
• Quotes172
Sports
• Pelé: Birth of a legend 173

www.insightsonindia.com 7
 • Submergence by reservoir/dams: 12 are submerged
GS1 by reservoirs/dams
• Difficulties in tracing in remote locations: 24 are un-
traceable
Indian culture

Recommendations by the Standing Committee

50 ASI-PROTECTED MONUMENTS DIS- • Mandatorily survey all the CPMs sites physically:
APPEAR ASI had previously admitted that a comprehensive
physical survey of all monuments has never been
conducted after Independence
Context:
• Provide budgetary allocation and assess security re-
The Ministry of Culture recently told Parliamentary Stand-
quirements
ing Committee that 50 of India’s 3,693 Centrally Protected
Monuments (CPM) were missing • Involving local community including local Pancha-
yats and Police
• Previously in 2013, a CAG report said that at least
• Use of technology such as GPS, Geo-location, and
92 centrally protected monuments across the coun-
Geo-tagging to trace monuments
try had gone missing. But since then, 42 CPMs have
been identified by ASI. • Enhance manpower of ASI: ASI currently faces an
acute manpower shortage to physically man all the
• Examples of monuments missing: Barakhamba
big and small monuments which may fall under a
Cemetery (Delhi), Guns of Emperor Sher Shah, Tin-
particular region
sukia (Assam); the Ruins of Copper Temple, Paya,
Lohit (Arunachal Pradesh) etc.
Previous recommendation by CAG: A periodic inspection
of each protected monument is carried out by a suitably
What are protected monuments? ranked officer.
A protected monument means an ancient monument which
is declared to be of national importance by or under the An-
cient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, Can the ‘missing CPM’ be deleted from the List of na-
1958. tional Monuments?
• Deleting the lost/untraceable monuments from the
• AMASR Act regulates the preservation of monu- protected list is possible but is a long-drawn process
ments and archaeological sites of national impor-
• The deletion requires denotification of the said
tance.
monument under Section 35 of the AMASR Act.
• The Act protects monuments and sites that are more
• However, experts say that deleting untraceable
than 100 years old, including temples, cemeteries,
monuments is not advisable from the list, because
inscriptions, cannons, etc.
once that is done, there would be no imperative to
• According to the provisions of the AMASR Act, ASI find them.
officials are supposed to regularly inspect the mon-
uments, assess their conditions, issue show cause
notices for removal of any encroachment, etc. About ASI:
Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is an attached of-
fice of the Ministry of Culture (MoC) and is in charge of
How can a monument go “missing”? the protection and maintenance of centrally protected
Many of the monuments documented more than a century monuments (declared under Ancient Monuments and
ago can no longer be found at their designated sites. The Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958).
reasons can be: • The ASI was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cun-
• Government focus on the social issue rather than ningham when he realised the need for a permanent
heritage: In the decade following the indepen- body to oversee archaeological excavations and conser-
dence, the focus of successive governments was on vation.
health, education and infrastructure, rather than • Lord Curzon (1899-1905) passed the law in
1904 (Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904)
protecting heritage. that made the destruction of Ancient Monuments as
 Even within the scope of heritage, the aim an offence and directed officials to collect and preserve
was to uncover more monuments and sites, ancient monuments.
instead of conservation.
• Rapid urbanization: 14 monuments have been lost National Monuments Authority (NMA) (set up under
to rapid urbanisation the AMASR Act, 2010) also comes under MoC and is re-

8 www.insightsonindia.com
 sponsible for the protection of such sites through regu-
lation of areas around the CPM

Insta Links
• The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and
Remains (Amendment) Act, 2010
• The abysmal state of heritage conservation
• Govt to tweak ancient monuments act to make it flexible

Mains Link:
Q. Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the
moment. Discuss. (10M) (UPSC CSE 2018)

Prelims Link:
• National Heritage
• AMASR Act – recent changes

Modern Indian history - Personalities

GANDHI MAY DIE BUT GANDHISM WILL

REMAIN FOREVER

Context:
The nation paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 75th
death anniversary (30th January 1948). The day is also ob-
served as Martyrs’ Day.

Gandhiji’s role in Freedom Struggle:

Outside India:
• Natal protest - Gandhi organized Indian resistance,
fought anti-Indian legislation in the courts and led
large protests against the colonial government.
• Satyagraha Against registration certificates
• It was in South Africa that Mahatma Gandhi first
forged the distinctive techniques of non-violent
protest known as Satyagraha.

In India:
• Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
Gandhian Ethics:
• Ahmedabad mill strike (1918) Follow the link below
• Kheda Satyagarha (1918) Gandhian Ethics and Its Relevance Now
• Rowlatt Satyagraha
• Khilafat and Non-cooperation movement
• Civil disobedience movement
• Protest against the Macdonald award
• Quit India Movement

www.insightsonindia.com 9
 Conclusion:
As we celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, its apt to re-
call how the Gandhian values of non-violence, inclusive-
ness and communal harmony enabled India to establish
a unique democracy achieving momentous economic and
social transformation through the ballot box rather than
through the barrel of the gun.

Insta Curious:
World Leprosy Day always takes place on the last Sun-
day of January. This date was chosen by French humani-
tarian, Raoul Follereau as a tribute to the life of Mahat-
ma Gandhi, who did much work with persons affected
by leprosy and died at the end of January 1948.

Insta Links: MK Gandhi

Mains Link:
Q. Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Ma-
hatma Gandhi in the present times. (UPSC 2018)

Q. Highlight the difference in the approach of Subhash

Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for
freedom. (UPSC 2016)

Salient features of Indian Society

UNDESA WORLD SOCIAL REPORT 2023

Context:
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Affairs (UN DESA) published the World Social Report 2023,
with the theme “Leaving No One Behind in an Aging World”.

Background:
• Rooted in the UN Charter and guided by the trans-
formative 2030 SDGs, the UN DESA (New York City,
1948) upholds the development pillar of the UN.
• UN DESA helps countries make informed decisions
by providing information through publications and
databases and international deliberations at the UN
General Assembly, ECOSOC, etc.
• The World Social Report (since 1997 and previously
Report on the World Social Situation) has served as
a background document for policy analysis of so-
cio-economic trends.
• Since 2001, the periodicity of the report has been
changed from a four-year cycle to a two-year cycle
(biennial).

10 www.insightsonindia.com
 • In 2022, the world marked the twentieth anniversa- • This change brings both challenges and opportuni-
ry of the adoption of the Madrid International Plan ties as countries strive to achieve the SDGs.
of Action on Ageing.
• To commemorate this, the 2023 Report explores the
economic and social implications of the ageing of
the human population.

Highlights of the 2023 Report:

• Population ageing is a defining global trend of the
time, which has begun or is expected to begin soon
in all countries and areas.
• People are living longer (an inevitable result of the
demographic transition), and more are older than
ever before.
• Spectacular improvements in health and survival
and reductions in fertility have driven this momen-
tous shift.

Strength Weakness Opportunities Threats

Population ageing ● Decrease in the share of Demand for long-term Impose significant social, eco-
signals the extraor- working-age people in the care is soaring in many nomic, fiscal, and health-relat-
dinary collective suc- total population. countries ed costs on present and future
cess of the world in ● Dependency, vast in- generations.
improving living equalities, diverse needs,
conditions for bil- the COVID-19 crisis, the
lions of people. war in Ukraine, and Cli-
mate change.

Two policy actions suggested by the report: Diversity of India

• To promote labour market participation and in-
creased productivity, uphold good health and pre-
vent poverty. REPUBLIC DAY PARADE: CELEBRATING
• To reduce inequality and promote economic secu- SOVEREIGNTY
rity at older ages in a fiscally sustainable manner,
taking into account both pensions and health care.
Context:
India celebrated her 74th Republic Day on 26th January.
Conclusion:
The national policies aimed at creating equitable, inclusive Background:
societies for people of all ages, and prioritising the rights and • 1st parade, 1950: Held in the present day ‘Major
well-being of older people are the need of the hour. Dhyan Chand National Stadium’.
• The ceremony included the official swearing-in of
Insta Links: As India ages, keeping an eye on the elderly India’s first President, a marching contingent of over
3000 men, Liberator planes of the Indian Air Force
flying overhead, etc.
Mains Links:
• 1955 onwards: The parade shifted to Rajpath (now
Q. Critically examine the effects of globalisation on the Kartavya Path).
aged population in India. (UPSC 2013)
• The parade from the former Viceroy’s residence
(Rashtrapati Bhawan now) to the memorial for Brit-
ish Indian soldiers (India Gate now) also underwent
an Indianization process.

www.insightsonindia.com 11
What’s on the display at the 74th Republic Day parade
in New Delhi?
• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the chief
guest at this year’s parade.
• The drive for atma nirbharta or self-sufficiency in
India’s military might. For example, the Indian Army
showcased the Made-in-India main battle tank Ar-
jun, the NAG missile system, the K-9 Vajra-T gun
system, the AKASH air defence system, and the
Brahmos missile. Also, this was the 1st time that no
Russian weapons were on display.
• In a display of women’s empowerment, the march-
ing contingents of the Indian Air Force and the Indian
Navy were led by women officers for the first time.
 Assam Rifles — India’s oldest paramilitary Insta Links: Egypt President in New Delhi for Republic Day:
force, highlighted the message of gender Significance of his visit, and India’s ties with Egypt
equality.
 The Navy’s contingent also included three
women and six men Agniveers, from the Issues face by Women
Agnipath scheme.
• The theme of nari shakti or female power carried
beyond the armed forces contingents into the pa-
WRESTLING THE WAY OUT
rade’s cultural tableaux as well. For example,
 Tripura’s tableau focuses on women’s role Context:
in creating sustainable livelihoods through Women are made to face the barrels of buoyant sexism on
tourism and organic farming. a daily basis, be it at work or even at home. Recently, Indian
women wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik accused
BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president
Significance of the Republic Day military parade: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment.
Display of power:
• There is a historical link between strong displays of
Issues faced by women in sports:
soldiers and weaponry, national pride and projec-
The word ‘pressure’ is central to a sportsperson’s life: the
tion of power to the nationals and the world.
need to perform better or at least at par with a previous
time; the juggling of time between sport and study; the
Symbol of victory against colonial rule: stress of endorsements. However, women have added lay-
• The military parade was chosen as an integral part of ers of pressure:
Republic Day celebrations to mark the day as - • Gender Pay disparity: The first challenge that fe-
 India’s new constitution officially coming male athletes have to face is being paid half or less
into effect of what is given to their male counterparts.
 A day of victory (against colonial rule) for • Being objectified: From coaches to commentators,
the Indian state and its people and the com- to the audience, women are looked at as commodi-
ing of a new, sovereign and strong republic ties showcasing themselves for men’s pleasure, not
as entities of potential and talent.
Significance of the non-military elements in the Re-  Eg: India’s popular badminton player Jwala
public Day parade: Gutta faced issues related to objectification
and body shaming.
A symbol of unity in diversity:
• Lack of access to facilities: A lack of access to ad-
• The Republic Day parade includes non-military ele-
equate playing facilities near their homes, makes it
ments like the iconic tableaux.
more difficult for girls to engage in sports.
• The tableaux are a way to celebrate India’s diversi-
• Safety and transportation issues: Sports require a
ty: and express regional identities while promoting a
place to participate – and for many girls, especially
sense of national identity.
in dense urban environments, that means travelling
to facilities through unsafe neighbourhoods or lack-
ing any means to get to a good facility miles away.

12 www.insightsonindia.com
  Eg: Manipur is a sporting powerhouse, but
48 % of female athletes travel over 10km to Case of Dutee Chand:
reach the practice facility
Dutee Chand was to be the first Indian woman in 36
• Social stigma: Girls in sports may experience bul- years to run a 100m at the Rio Olympics. Acting on an
lying, social isolation, and negative performance anonymous tip, she was asked to get tested for hyper-
evaluations. androgenism, wherein a woman’s body produces more
• Mental Health: Mental safety is essential. Institutes testosterone than is acceptable under the International
and coaches must provide access to sports psychol- Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) guidelines.
ogists. According to the IOC Mental Health in Elite Not only was she banned from competing against oth-
Athletes Toolkit(2021), anxiety and depression are er women in the Commonwealth Games, but the world
more common in women athletes. was also suddenly questioning her gender identity. Her
• The disparity in Access to Quality Training & Infra- personal life became a sham and her professional life
structure: The availability of quality, trained coaches was a mess. However, Dutee refused to cower down,
may be lacking in their community or these coach- and refusing therapy, has challenged the IAAF regula-
es may be more focused on the boys’ programs that tions at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
have more money for training. Equipment and even
uniforms aren’t funded for many girls’ programs at
the same levels as boys. Thus, their ability to im-
prove and enjoy the sport is diminished.
• Inadequate Budget Allocated for Women in
Sports: Budgets are being slashed in all sports, espe-
cially for women leading to poor infrastructure.
• Lack of positive role models: Today’s girls are bom-
barded with images of external beauty, not those
of confident, strong female athletic role models.
To some girls, fitting within the mould that they are
constantly told to stay in is more important than
standing out.
 For instance, it is estimated that the prev-
alence of eating disorders among women
athletes is 6% to 45%, while for men ath- Insta Curious: International Charter of Physical Educa-
letes it ranges from 0 to 19% [IOC Mental tion, Physical Activity and Sport by UNESCO affirms
Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit (2021)]. that ‘equal opportunity to participate and be involved
at all supervision and decision-making levels in physical
education, physical activity and sport, whether for the
Why girls need to be encouraged in sports: purpose of recreation, health promotion or high perfor-
• They learn important life skills such as teamwork, mance, is the right of every girl and every woman that
leadership, and confidence. must be actively enforced’.
• It enhances their self-image
• Girls’ involvement in sports is related to higher levels
of family satisfaction.
Insta Links:
• High school female athletes have more positive
body images than non-athletes. • women-participation-in-sports
• Reduces chances of diseases in the long run.
The ethical aspect of sexual harassment in sports: MENSTRUAL LEAVE: TIME TO TALK PERI-
• Lack of trust in the association.
OD
• Reduce participation
• Shows a lack of empathy and morals from the per-
petrator’s side. Context:
Kerala government announced that to grant menstrual
Few positive examples: leave for female students in all state universities as part of
• The athletics federation has an international-level the government’s “commitment to realise a gender-just so-
sportswoman (Anju Bobby George) as Vice Presi- ciety”
dent, which is the highest.
• Girls of age 18 years and above are eligible to avail
• PT Usha leads IOA now.
60 days of menstrual leave in a year.

www.insightsonindia.com 13
 • The attendance percentage of girl students is sealed Insta Links: Menstruation Benefit Bill 2017
at 73% as against the usual 75%.
Mains Links:
Significance of the move: Q. Comment on the issue of mandatory menstrual leave
• A move towards acknowledging and addressing the
and also analyse the design of a new framework for the
often-debilitating pain and discomfort that many
same in our country. (15M)
are often forced to work through.
• Creating inclusive and accommodative classrooms
and workplaces. Demography
Concerns:
• Create further discrimination in a traditional soci- CHINA’S POPULATION DROP
ety where menstruation remains a taboo, a special
period leave could become another excuse for dis-
crimination.
Context:
• According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics,
• Persistent risk of medicalising a normal biological
its population fell to 1,411.8 million in 2022, from
process, which could further entrench existing bias-
1,412.6 million in the previous year.
es against women.
• This is a landmark event, for a country that is soon
• Reluctance in hiring women due to perceived fi-
set to be surpassed by India (as per UN projections,
nancial and productivity cost of mandatory period
India’s population is expected to reach 1,428.6 mil-
leaves.
lion in 2023) as home to the greatest number of peo-
ple.
Previous efforts towards this direction:
The effort to introduce such policies in India is not new.
What has been behind these shifts?
India: Mortality:
• 1992: Bihar government two days of menstrual • A country’s population increases with a reduction
leave a month in the relative number of deaths, while population
• 2017: Menstrual Benefits Bill 2017 was introduced growth slows/reverses with declining fertility rates.
in Parliament to provide monthly two days • The crude death rate (CDR) - the number of persons
of menstrual leave to both public and private dying per year per 1,000 population - was 23.2 for
employees during menstruation. China in 1950 (22.2 for India). It fell to single digits of
• 2020: Zomato introduced menstrual leaves for up 7.3 in 2020 (7.4 for India).
to ten days a year for its women and transgender • Another mortality indicator is life expectancy at
employees. birth. Between 1950 and 2020, it went up from 43.7
Global: to 78.1 years for China and from 41.7 to 70.1 years
• Japan was the first country to implement this policy for India.
in 1947. Fertility:
• Globally, menstrual leave policies exist in countries • The total fertility rate (TFR) - the number of babies
like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Indonesia, an average woman (aged 15-49) bears over her life-
Zambia, Sweden and Mexico. time - was as high as 5.8 for China and 5.7 for India
in 1950.
 According to its 2020 Census, China’s TFR
InstaCurious: was 1.3 births per woman.
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to menstrual  The TFR has fallen sharply for India too (from
hygiene products and education, which can have a neg- 3.4 to 2 between 1992-93 and 2019-21).
ative impact on a person’s health, education, and over- • A TFR of 2.1 is considered as “replacement-level fer-
all well-being. It can lead to health complications, the tility” - a woman having two children replaces her-
perpetuation of myths and taboos, absenteeism from self and her partner with two new lives.
school or work and can affect the education and eco-
nomic opportunities of those who experience it.
Why is India’s population increasing, while China’s
shrinking?
• China’s One-Child Policy (1980 to 2015): This has
helped China to prevent nearly 400 million births.

14 www.insightsonindia.com
 • Sustained lows necessary: De-growth requires TFRs to remain below replacement levels for extended periods and
it will reflect only after a couple of generations.
 China’s TFR dipped below replacement first in 1991, which was almost 30 years before India’s.

Potential implications of these shifts

For China For India

Negative: Decline in the working-age population (less tax Opportunity: The share of the working-age population will
revenues, savings potential - poor growth). That’s why Chi- peak at 57% towards the mid-2030s.
na officially ended its one-child policy in 2016.
Challenges: In the absence of meaningful employment op-
Positives: Overall labour supply still exceeds demand. portunities for the youths, the demographic dividend can
well turn into a demographic nightmare.

Mains Links:
What is the importance of non-human primates?
Q. Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and • Non-human primates are of central importance to
point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. tropical biodiversity and various ecosystem func-
(UPSC 2021) tions.
• They are humans’ nearest biological relatives and
Distribution of key natural resources play a significant role in many societies’ livelihoods,
cultures and religions, the paper said.
• These primates help in the pollination, seed disper-
MONOCROPPING: IMPACT ON BIODI- sion and seed germination of many plants and they
VERSITY are essential seed predators in some ecosystems.

Context: Solutions suggested:

Impact of Monoculture Rubber Plantation on non-Human • Building eco-friendly rubber plantations: combin-
Primates and Plant Diversity in South Tripura. ing rubber trees with fruit trees.
• Various plants should also be kept intact to provide
Major findings: shelter or food for arboreal.
• The conversion of tropical forests into monoculture • The agroforestry system – mixing rubber trees with
plantations has a major effect on non-human pri- economically viable species.
mates and plant species.
 E.g., Turning the forests into natural rubber
plantations in Tripura is negatively impact- Other impacts of Monoculture farming:
ing non-human primate species and vege- • Growing same species year after year, can lead to
tation in the region. unsustainable environments, disease pressure and
• Humans are overusing the world’s tropical forests: reducing particular nutrients in the soil.
As per the WWF, every year, about 140,000 square • Monocropping can lead to deforestation
kilometres of forests have been lost • It reduces the availability of certain nutrients and
 A large proportion of primary forest in India degrades the soil.
has been converted into monoculture plan- • Also lead to soil exhaustion when the soil becomes
tations like tea, oil palm, teak and natural depleted of the nutrients.
rubber
• Impact on animals: The number of monkeys in the
rubber plantation area is much lower than in the
nearby forests and the primates spend less time in
rubber plantations
 Due to the growing rubber plantations, they
do not get enough food, which makes their
survival difficult. This threatens the species
and the primates can go extinct, disrupting
the environment’s natural state.

www.insightsonindia.com 15
 bon-free, continuous, uninterrupted, and environ-
ment-friendly.
• It is the only renewable energy available 24x7 to
mankind not requiring storage and unaffected by
day-night or seasonality variance.
• Geothermal resources in India have been mapped
by the Geological Survey of India (GSI)
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy estimates
that India could have 10 GW of geothermal power
potential.

Primates: They are a member of the most developed

and intelligent group of mammals, including humans,
monkeys, and apes.
Fourteen species of nonhuman primates occur in In-
Types of Geothermal Power Plants
dia—six species of macaques, five of langurs, two of
There are three types of geothermal power plants where
looses, and one species of gibbon (ape)
we can harness the heat of the earth to produce electricity.
• Dry steam powerplant
• Flash steam power plant
Mains Links:
• Binary cycle power plant
Q. What do you understand by Monoculture farming?
As flash steam power plant requires a high enthalpy range
Analyse its impact on the agroecology of the country, how
and hence they cannot be used in India.
can one stop it from depleting the natural resources? (250
Words)
Benefits of Geothermal Energy:
• renewable,
ONGC TO MAP INDIA’S GEOTHERMAL • provides a continuous, uninterrupted supply
RESOURCES
Disadvantages:
Context: • High initial capital requirement.
ONGC plans to map the geothermal energy sources of India. • Location-specific energy source, associated with
• The focus on geothermal energy is crucial to meet other emissions like sulphur dioxide and hydrogen
the climate target of 500 GW of installed renew- sulphide.
able energy capacity and net zero carbon emission • May cause disasters – earthquakes
by 2070.
• ONGC’s diversification efforts is a part of its ‘Energy
Strategy 2040’. Status of Geothermal Energy in India
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has estab-
lished India’s first Geothermal field development
About Geothermal Energy: project at Puga village in Ladakh.
• Geothermal energy is an energy source that is
• Tata Power will be setting up a geothermal plant in
stored in the form of heat beneath the earth’s sur-
Gujarat of about 5MW plant.
face, which is clean, renewable, sustainable, car-

16 www.insightsonindia.com
 • National Thermal Power Corporation is planning to Need for M Sand
construct a 300MW of geothermal power plant proj- • Due to high demand, regulated supply and a com-
ect in Chhattisgarh. plete ban on sand mining during monsoon to pro-
tect the river ecosystem.
• The Supreme Court banned illegal mining on river-
beds in 2017
• Sand Mining Framework prepared by the Ministry
of Mines envisages alternative sources of sand in the
form of Manufactured Sand (M-Sand) and sand from
Overburden (OB) of coal mines.

Why Coal India Ltd?

During Opencast mining of Coal India, the overlying soil and
rocks are removed as waste to extract coal and the frag-
mented rock (Overburden or OB) is heaped in dumps. Most
of the waste is disposed of at the surface which occupies a
considerable land area and requires extensive planning and
control to minimize the environmental impact of mining.
Difference between M Sand and Natural River sand

Insta Links: Geothermal Energy

Mains Link:
Q. Examine the various obstacles to an energy-secure In-
dia. How can the government ensure energy security while
honouring its net zero commitments?

Process of extraction of M-Sand:

COAL INDIA LTD’S M-SAND PROJECTS

Context:
Coal India Ltd (CIL) has envisaged processing the fragmented
rock (known as Overburden Rocks (OB) for sand production
in mines.
• OB material contains about 60% sandstone by vol-
ume which is harnessed through crushing and pro-
cessing of Overburden.

What is M Sand?
M sand is a form of artificial sand, manufactured by crushing
large hard stones, mainly rocks or granite, into fine particles, Benefits of Manufactured Sand (M-Sand):
which are then washed and finely graded. It is widely used as • Cost-effectiveness: As it can be produced in large
a substitute for river sand for construction purposes. quantities at a lower cost.

www.insightsonindia.com 17
 • Consistency: in grain size and shape, which can be (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
beneficial for construction projects. (c) 3 and 4 only
• Environmental benefits: Helps reduce the need for (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
mining natural sand, which can have negative envi-
Answer - B
ronmental impacts.
 Using the overburden from coal mines can
help to repurpose materials that would oth- Monazite is an atomic mineral that occurs naturally in
erwise be considered waste. the coastal sands of three districts: Tirunelveli, Thoo-
 Lesser Sand extraction from the river will thukudi, and Kanyakumari. Hence statement 3 is incor-
reduce erosion of channel beds & banks and rect.
protect the water habitat
 Help maintain the water table
Q. With reference to the management of minor miner-
als in India, consider the following statements: (UPSC
• Reduced water consumption: as it does not require 2019)
washing before use. 1. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing
• Better workability: as it’s more angular and has a law in the country.
rougher surface. 2. State Governments have the power to grant mining
• Concerns regarding M Sand: leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the
• Due to its smooth and angular textures, it leads to formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals
more water and cement requirements. lie with the Central Government.
• If the M Sand contains a large number of micro fine 3. State Governments have the power to frame rules to
particles, it can affect the strength and workability prevent the illegal mining of minor minerals.
of concrete. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
About Sand:
Sand is a mixture of small grains of rock and granular mate- (c) 3 only
rials which is mainly defined by size, being finer than gravel (d) 1, 2 and 3
and coarser than silt. Answer: A
• Sand is classified as a “minor mineral”, under The
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Under MMDR Act, the State government have framed
Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) their own mining concession rules. So, statement 2 is
• Administrative control over minor minerals vests incorrect.
with the State Governments

Insta Links: M Sand Geophysical phenomena

Mains Links: BLACK CARBON AEROSOLS

Q. Is sand mining illegal in India? Discuss the impacts of
sand mining and suggest the way forward. (250 words) Context:
Black carbon aerosols have indirectly affected the mass
gain of the Tibetan Plateau glaciers by changing long-range
Prelims links water vapour transport from the South Asian monsoon re-
Q. With reference to India, consider the following gion.
statements: (UPSC 2022) • The South Asia region adjacent to the Tibetan Pla-
1. Monazite is a source of rare earth. teau has among the highest levels of black carbon
2. Monazite contains thorium. emission in the world.
3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal
sands in India. About Black Carbon:
4. In India, Government bodies only can process or • Black carbon is a short-lived climate pollutant with
export monazite. a lifetime of only days to weeks after release in the
Which of the statements given above are correct? atmosphere.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only • Black carbon is formed by the incomplete combus-

18 www.insightsonindia.com
 tion of fossil fuels, wood, and other fuels Mains Link:
Impact of Black Carbon on Cryosphere Q. What is Black Carbon? Explain the impact of recently
• Rapid melting of Glaciers witnessed black carbon spikes in the Himalayan glaciers.
 Asian Brown Cloud (ABC): A man-made
cloud of carbon emissions, dust, and other
pollutants causes less sunlight, less rain, and DEEP-WATER CIRCULATIONS OF THE IN-
an inverse warming effect, which causes gla- DIAN OCEAN
cier melting to accelerate.
• Glacier retreat: Gangotri glacier retreated 850 me- Context:
ters between 1996 and 1999; as a result of black car- New studies have shown that the global overturning cir-
bon deposits due to stubble burning and forest fires culation controls ocean heat distribution and atmospheric
• Increasing Glacial lakes carbon dioxide levels, thus playing a critical role in global cli-
• Changes in Snow Albedo mate.
• Livelihood impact
• Respiratory and cardiovascular health impacts on What does the new study show?
humans Studies have indicated that tectonically driven changes in
the ocean gateways such as the closure of the Central Amer-
ican Seaway (a body of water that once separated North
Short-term and Long-term impacts America from South America), since the late Miocene peri-
od, had a dramatic impact on the GOC.

What is Global Overturning Circulation (GOC)?

• It is the equatorward transport of cold, deep waters
and the poleward transport of warm, near-surface
waters.
 Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
(AMOC) is one part of this circulation apart
from Pacific Deepwater, Southern Ocean
Way Forward: Meridional Overturning Circulation etc.
• Policies in place to reduce black carbon emissions  AMOC has undergone exceptional weak-
– Enhancing fuel-efficiency standards, phasing out ening in the last 150 years compared to the
diesel vehicles, promoting electric cars etc. previous 1500 years. Climate models sug-
gest that the AMOC will weaken over the
• Aggressively curbing black carbon emissions 21st Century as greenhouse gases increase
• New economically and technically feasible policies • It is a Thermohaline circulation (THC) and distrib-
can help to contain glacier melt. utes heat and nutrients throughout the world’s
• Regional cooperation to protect these resources will ocean basins.
pay important dividends for the health and well-be-
ing of the people in the region.
Mechanism
GOC carries warm surface waters from the tropics towards
Insta Links: Black carbon the Northern Hemisphere, where it cools and sinks. It then
returns to the tropics and then to the South Atlantic as a
bottom current. From there it is distributed to all ocean ba-
sins via the Antarctic circumpolar current.
Prelims Link: UPSC 2021
What is blue carbon?
(a) Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems.
(b) Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricul-
tural soils.
(c) Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas.
(d) Carbon present in the atmosphere
Answer: (a)

www.insightsonindia.com 19
Reasons behind the slowing down of AMOC • It acts as a deterrent for serious or harsh offenses
The slowing down is anthropogenic impact, and these abrupt by ensuring that the perpetrator doesn’t go unpun-
changes are destabilizing the AMOC, which could collapse ished.
the system. There are various reasons behind the current Against:
slowing down
• This leads to overcrowding of prisons and is unfair
1. Global warming can cause a weakening of the major
as the convict’s mitigating circumstances, such as if
ocean systems of the world.
they are a first-time offender or the sole breadwin-
2. Melting of Glaciers - Arctic ice called the “Last Ice ner in the family, are often overlooked.
Area” has been melting. The freshwater from the melting ice
reduces the salinity and density of the water. As the water is
unable to sink as it used to, it weakens the AMOC flow. Insta Links: Death penalty
3. Warming of the Indian Ocean - As the Indian Ocean
warms faster and faster, it generates additional precipita-
tion, thus reducing the precipitation in the Atlantic Ocean, Mains Links:
causing higher salinity in the waters of the tropical Atlantic. Q. Examine the issues in awarding a death sentence to
This saltier water, as it comes north via AMOC, will get cold a convict in the “rarest of rare” cases. What reforms are
much quicker than usual and sink faster. needed in humanising the sentencing process? 250 Words

Mains Links LIVING WILL AND PASSIVE EUTHANASIA

Q. What is Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
(AMOC)? Why is it slowing down, and what are its implica- Context:
tions? (10M) A five-judge SC bench decided to modify the existing rules
for “living wills”.
Meaning of ‘Living Will’: Living will is a person’s right to
GS2 make an advance directive about the course of his or her
treatment, including the removal of life support, if such a
situation arises.
Indian Constitution
Evolution of the concept of ‘Living Will’ in India:
MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES • Law Commission of India (2006) in its 196th Report:
A patient’s decision to not receive medical treatment
did not constitute an attempt to commit suicide un-
Context: der Section 309 IPC. Also, a doctor who obeys the in-
A CJI -led bench has decided to examine a petition challeng- structions of a competent patient to withhold/with-
ing mandatory minimum sentencing in the case of gang draw medical treatment does not commit a breach
rape of a minor below the age of 12. of professional duty.
• Aruna Shanbaug case (2011): The SC allowed pas-
About Mandatory minimum sentences: sive euthanasia for the nurse lying in a vegetative
As per the 2016 ruling in ‘Mohd Hashim vs State of UP And state at a hospital in Mumbai.
Others’. • K.S. Puttaswamy case/ the Right to Privacy case
• The concept of mandatory minimum sentencing re- (2017): - Article 21 includes the concept of individ-
fers to “a sentence which must be imposed with- ual dignity and thus allows passive euthanasia.
out leaving any discretion to the court. It means a • Common Cause case (2018): The SC decided that
quantum of punishment that cannot be reduced passive euthanasia will be legally allowed hence-
below the period fixed. forth in India and also laid down guidelines for living
Such sentences are prescribed for all sexual offenses under wills.
the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) • “We declare that an adult human being having the
Act except the offense of sexual harassment. mental capacity to take an informed decision has
the right to refuse medical treatment including with-
drawal from life-saving devices. The right to die with
What are the arguments for and against? dignity is a part of the right to live with dignity.”
For:
• It limits the scope for judicial discretion and arbi-
Meaning of active and passive euthanasia:
trariness, thereby enhancing the cause of justice.

20 www.insightsonindia.com
 • Active euthanasia: involves an active intervention to end a person’s life with substances or external force, such as
administering a lethal injection.
• Passive or negative or non-aggressive euthanasia is the denial of medical care necessary for maintaining life, such
as the denial of antibiotics when the patient is likely to die without them.

What changes after the SC’s recent order?

As per 2018 guidelines This cumbersome process will now be eased
• A living will was required to be signed by an individual
seeking euthanasia in the presence of two witnesses.
• It was to be further countersigned by a Judicial Magis-
trate of First Class (JMFC).
• The treating physician was to constitute a board com-
prising three expert medical practitioners, with at least
20 years of experience.
• If the board grants permission, the will had to be for-
warded to the District Collector for his approval.
• The Collector then forms another medical board of
three expert doctors, including the Chief District Med-
ical Officer.
• Only if this second board agreed with the hospital • The requirement for the Magistrate’s approval has
board’s findings → the decision be forwarded to the been replaced by an intimation to the Magistrate.
JMFC → JMFC will visit the patient and examine wheth- • The medical board must communicate its decision
er to accord approval. within 48 hours (no time limit earlier).
• A notary or gazetted officer can sign the living will
in the presence of two witnesses instead of the
Magistrate’s countersign.
• In case the medical boards set up by the hospital
refuses permission, it will now be open to the kin
to approach the High Court which will form a fresh
medical team.

Different countries, different laws: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the
• NETHERLANDS, LUXEMBOURG, and BELGIUM allow States, issues and challenges
both euthanasia and assisted suicide (active eutha-
nasia) for anyone who faces “unbearable suffering”
that has no chance of improvement. GOVERNOR-CM RIFT IN TN
• SWITZERLAND bans euthanasia but allows assisted
dying in the presence of a doctor or physician.
Context:
• CANADA had announced that euthanasia and assist- There has been a dispute between the Tamil Nadu Governor
ed dying would be allowed for mentally ill patients, and the state government recently.
however, the decision has been widely criticised.
• The US has different laws in different states. Eutha-
nasia is allowed in some states like Washington, Or- Background:
egon, and Montana. • The Governor, while delivering his customary ad-
dress to the House, omitted certain paragraphs
• The UK considers it illegal and equivalent to man-
from the text prepared by the State government.
slaughter.
 He left out the references to national and re-
gional stalwarts and the phrase “Dravidian
Ethical issues associated with Euthanasia: model of governance”.
As we’ve covered this topic previously, kindly follow the  He skipped describing Tamil Nadu as “a hav-
link to know more: The Ethics of Euthanasia en of peace” - in terms of the law-and-order
situation, its ability to attract foreign invest-
ments, etc.

www.insightsonindia.com 21
 • The CM moved a motion to take on record only the Similar instances in the past of Governor- State gov-
transcript distributed to legislators, prompting the ernment tussles:
Governor to walk out of the House. • In Kerala, at least three Governors had skipped sec-
• The state government has sought the President’s in- tions during their Assembly address since January
tervention to ensure that the Governor acts as per 1969.
Article 163 (1) [Council of Ministers to aid and ad- • In 1965, the then West Bengal Governor, annoyed
vise Governor] of the Constitution. by the Opposition’s interruptions, walked out of the
Assembly without addressing the House.
What triggered the tussle? • In 1960, then-President Rajendra Prasad made cer-
• Since the Governor took office the ruling party tain corrections in the printed copies of the address.
(DMK) has demanded his resignation for failing to • In 1988, then President R. Venkataraman, changed
forward a Bill to the President. (in his address) the expression “My government”
• The Assembly passed a Bill to exempt government to “The government” as the original practice was a
seats in undergraduate medical and dental cours- part of the British legacy.
es from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test • Former President Pranab Mukherjee (2012-2017),
(NEET). did not shy away from making suggestions at the ap-
• Even though the Bill is presently pending Presiden- propriate for a.
tial assent, other Bills are awaiting the Governor’s
approval

Governor’s address - The larger issue

Meaning Constitutional provisions Convention Implications of Governor deviating
from the speech
• It includes a review Article 176 (Special address The governor must Widens the trust deficit
of the previous by the Governor): The Gover- read the entire speech
year, goals for the nor shall address the Legisla- without alteration May lead to a Constitutional crisis
session and policy tive Assembly or both Houses because it is funda-
and legislative mea- (in the case of a State having mentally the message • Governor violating Article 163.
sures that the gov- a Legislative Council), assem- of the government, • The state government may
ernment intends to bled together at the for which the gover- choose not to defend the address,
execute in the next thus losing the confidence of the
• Commencement of the nor’s office bears no
year. house.
first session after each responsibility.
• It is produced and general election to the
submitted to the Legislative Assembly and
Governor in ad- • Commencement of the
vance by the state first session of each year
government.

Article 87: Special address by

the President

Conclusion: According to the British constitutional law expert Ivor Jennings, the Governor can correct errors and suggest
changes or revisions to the address, but the Cabinet has the final say.

22 www.insightsonindia.com
 Related topic: History of TN
Context: TN Governor sparked a dispute by stating his preference for the word ‘Tamizhagam’ to refer to the state rather
than Tamil Nadu.
Tamizhagam or ancient TN during Sangam Age:

A short history of Tamil Nadu:

● Social activist E V Ramasamy/ Periyar (1879-1973) started the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 to reclaim the
identity and self-respect of Tamils.
● He envisaged an independent Dravida homeland of Dravida Nadu, comprising Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and
Kannada speakers.
● He launched a political party called the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) and opposed the imposition of Hindi and empha-
sised the need for a cultural identity of the Tamil nation.
● It was on January 14, 1969, that the Madras State was officially renamed Tamil Nadu, under the then Chief Min-
ister CN Annadurai, who was silent on the demand for an independent Dravida Nadu.
● He instead decided to work for greater autonomy for Tamil Nadu and better cooperation among the southern
states.

Insta Links: The office of the Governor to notify the terms of reference (ToR) of the constitutional
body.
Mains Links:
Q. Though not very useful from the point of view of a con- Background:
nected political history of South India, the Sangam litera- • The 15th Finance Commission (FFC chaired by NK
ture portrays the social and economic conditions of its time Singh) was set up in (November 2017) with a man-
with remarkable vividness. Comment. (UPSC 2013) date to make recommendations for the five-year
period from 2020-21.
 The Commission is usually granted about
COMING SOON: 16TH FINANCE COM- two years to deliberate on its terms of ref-
MISSION erence, consult States and frame its recom-
mendations.
 The government should ideally have its re-
Context: port by October 2025 to consider it in time
The government will soon kick off the process to set up the for Budget 2026-27, where it will have to
16th Finance Commission, with the Finance Ministry likely place its action taken report on the Commis-

www.insightsonindia.com 23
 sion’s report. What is the Finance Commission?
• Despite the Constitution’s mandate to establish an ● It is a constitutional body constituted every 5
FC every five years, breaking the trend, the 15th FC’s years by the President of India under Article
term was extended by a year, ending in 2025–2026. 280 of the Indian Constitution to define the Cen-
• In late 2019, the Commission was asked to give a tre-state’s financial relations.
standalone report for 2020-21 and another report
for an extended five-year period till 2025-26. Why is there a need for an FC?
• Since the FFC report covered six years (instead of ● The Indian federal system allows for the division
five), the next FC must be selected this year. of power and responsibilities between the Cen-
• The last time an FC was granted a six-year time frame tre and states.
was for the 9th FC, formed in June 1987. ● Correspondingly, the taxation powers are also
• The 10th FC was still constituted in June 1992 with- broadly divided between the Centre (collects the
in the five-year deadline specified by Article 280 of majority of the tax revenue) and states (responsi-
the Constitution, which has not been the case this ble for delivering public goods in their areas).
time. ● Sometimes, due to this and also due to vast re-
gional disparities, states may incur expenditures
higher than the revenue generated by them.
The first step towards establishing 16th FC: ● To address these imbalances, the FC recommends
• While the ToR (Terms of Reference) for the 16th FC the extent of central funds to be shared with
will be worked out after internal government de- states.
liberations steered by the Finance Ministry, the ap- ● Thus, it is considered the balancing wheel of fis-
pointment of an Officer on Special Duty to drive the cal federalism in India.
process.
• This officer typically becomes the member-secre-
tary of the Commission, once it is constituted.

The key challenges for the 16th FC:

• The co-existence of another permanent constitu-
tional body - the GST Council.
 The Council’s decisions on tax rate changes
could alter the revenue calculations made
by the FC for sharing fiscal resources.
• The government usually accepts recommendations
on States’ share of tax devolution and the trajecto-
ry for fiscal targets and ignores most other sugges-
tions. For instance,
 The government ignored the FFC’s sugges-
tion of creating a Fiscal Council.
 The government has accepted the FFC’s rec-
ommendation to set up a non-lapsable fund
for internal security and defence ‘in princi-
ple’, but its implementation still has to be
worked out.

Way ahead:
• A recourse mechanism can be put in place for the
Commission to revisit its numbers due to the GST
Council’s decisions.
• The governments must rise beyond politics to delib- Insta Links:
erate and implement FC’s recommendations, which
are sound in terms of policy and economics. Navigating the storm: On the Fifteenth Finance Commission

Mains Links:
Q. How have the recommendations of the 14th France

24 www.insightsonindia.com
Commission of India enabled the States to improve their Arguments for and against demonetisation presented in
fiscal position? (UPSC 2021) the SC:
Against (by petitioners) For (by RBI and government)
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2014) • As per Section 26(2), • The said Section does
the recommendation not talk about the pro-
Which of the following are associated with ‘Planning’ in
should have emanat- cess of initiation.
India?
ed from the RBI. • The quorum as deter-
1. The Finance Commission
• In this case, the gov- mined by RBI General
2. The National Development Council
ernment had advised Regulations, 1949, was
3. The Union Ministry of Rural Development the central bank, fol- met for the Central Board
4. The Union Ministry of Urban Development lowing which it made meeting.
5. The Parliament the recommendation. • Though consultations
Select the correct answer using the code given below: • Earlier governments with the RBI began in Feb
1. 1, 2 and 5 only had demonetised cur- 2016, the process was
2. 1, 3 and 4 only rency (in 1946 and kept confidential.
3. 2 and 5 only 1978), by way of a law • The RBI had not agreed
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 made by Parliament. to the previous demon-
Ans: 3 etisation decisions, but
the earlier governments
made the law.

Judiciary
The SC’s (4:1) verdict on demonetisation:

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEMONETI-

SATION

Context:
The Supreme Court upheld the government’s decision to
demonetise currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 by a 4:1
majority.
• The Centre’s notification was valid and satisfied
Background: the test of proportionality - a reasonable nexus be-
• On November 8, 2016, the PM of India announced tween the objectives and the means to achieve the
that the two notes would no more be legal tender, objectives.
with immediate effect. • From the record, it appears that there was a consul-
 Introduced new notes of Rs 2,000 and Rs tative process between the central government and
500 for public circulation. RBI for over 6 months before the decision was taken.
 Two primary reasons: to curb fake curren- • The Decision-making process cannot be faulted
cy notes and reduce black money stored as merely because the proposal emanated from the
cash. centre (as the government and RBI are not in ‘isolat-
• Though supported by many, 58 petitions have been ed boxes’) and the court cannot replace the wisdom
filed in the SC challenging various aspects. of the executive with its wisdom.
• The petitioners accused that Section 26(2) of RBI • The action taken by the Central Government has
Act, 1934, was not followed: On the recommenda- been validated by the Specified Bank Notes (Cessa-
tion of the [RBI] Central Board, the Central Govern- tion of liabilities) Act, 2017, which prohibited and
ment may, by notification in the Gazette of India, penalised the holding or transferring or receiving of
declare that any series of bank notes of any denom- demonetised currency.
ination shall cease to be legal tender.
• The court was to consider whether the recommen-
dation for the policy came from the government or The dissenting judgement:
the RBI. • While the measure was “well-intentioned”, it was to
be declared unlawful purely on legal grounds as the
record demonstrates that there was no indepen-

www.insightsonindia.com 25
 dent application of mind by RBI. • The survivors then filed a writ petition before the
• Violation of Section 26(2), as the proposal for de- SC and t he court raised an important question -
monetisation, is to emanate from the central board “Whether restrictions can be imposed on a public
of the RBI and the demonetisation has to be done functionary’s right to freedom of speech and ex-
through legislation rather than through executive pression?”.
notification.
The majority judgement:
Conclusion: • Even if the remarks are related to state affairs or in-
Most policy decisions carry the risk of unintended conse- tended to protect the government, the government
quences, which must be carefully balanced against the po- is not legally responsible for them.
tential benefits of such decisions. • While citizens had the right to petition the Court for
violations of Articles 19 and 21 (right to life), a state-
ment made by the Minister that was inconsistent
Insta Links: Demonetisation
with citizens’ rights may not by itself be actionable.
• However, if it results in an omission (error) or com-
SC VERDICT ON MPS, MLAS’ RIGHT TO mission (command) of an offence by a public official,
remedies can be sought.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Context: The dissenting opinion:

The SC held there is no reason to impose “additional restric- • Freedom of speech and expression is a much-need-
tions” on the right to free speech {under Article 19(2) of the ed right so that citizens are well-informed and edu-
Indian Constitution} of ministers, including MLAs and MPs. cated on governance.
• As a result, the dissenting judge agreed with the ma-
jority that further restrictions on speech were un-
Article 19 (Protection of certain rights regarding freedom necessary.
of speech, etc.): • If the statements made by a Minister are derogato-
(1) All citizens shall have the right- ry, the government should be legally liable.
(a) to freedom of speech and expression; • The word ‘fraternity’ in the Preamble of the Consti-
(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms; tution, ensures that the dignity of individuals cannot
(c) to form associations or unions; be harmed by an unwarranted speech by fellow citi-
(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India; zens, including public officials.
(e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of
India; Conclusion:
(g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occu- Hate speech strikes at the foundational values of society.
pation, trade or business. However, common law remedies are present to address
(2) Nothing in 19 (1) (a) shall affect the operation of any those issues and creating another set of guidelines or laws
existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, as is a matter for Parliament to deliberate (the dissenting opin-
far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions in the in- ion).
terests of the -
● Sovereignty and integrity of India, Insta Links:
● Security of the State,
Is the freedom of speech absolute?
● Friendly relations with foreign States,
● Public order,
Mains Links:
● Decency or morality, or
● In relation to contempt of court, defamation or Q. Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in light of the
incitement to an offence. latest judgement of the Supreme Court on the Right to Pri-
vacy. (UPSC 2017)

Background:
• The case (Kaushal Kishor v the State of UP), relates
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2017)
to the Bulandshahar rape incident of 2016, in which
the then Minister of the State termed the incident a Q. Which one of the following objectives is not embod-
‘political conspiracy and nothing else’. ied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India?

26 www.insightsonindia.com
 (a) Liberty of thought • The Ladakh region has several distinct cultural her-
(b) Economic liberty itages by communities such as Drokpa, Balti and
(c) Liberty of expression Changpa, among others, which need to be pre-
served and promoted.
(d) Liberty of belief
Ans: b
What is the government’s stand?
• Not keen to give any special status to Ladakh, the
MHA informed a parliamentary standing commit-
HIGH-POWERED COMMITTEE FOR LA- tee recently that the objective for inclusion of the
tribal population under the sixth schedule is to
DAKH ensure their overall socio-economic development,
which, the UT administration has already been tak-
Context: ing care of and that sufficient funds are being pro-
Recently a high-powered committee has been formed in the vided to Ladakh to meet its overall developmental
Union Territory of Ladakh. requirements.
• The Ladakh administration recently increased the
Need for the committee: reservation for the Scheduled Tribes in direct re-
• There has been increasing demand for the inclusion cruitment from 10% to 45% which will significantly
of Ladakh under the 6th Schedule. help the tribal population in their development.
• Civil society groups in Ladakh have been demanding
the protection of land, resources and employment
for the past three years after the special status of
the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir under Ar-
ticle 370.
• The committee will discuss measures to protect the
region’s unique culture and language taking into
consideration its geographical location and strate-
gic importance; ensure the protection of land and
employment for the people of Ladakh; strategies
for inclusive development and discuss issues relat-
ed to the empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous
Hill District Councils of Leh and Kargil.
Insta Links: Ministry evades direct reply on demand to in-
clude Ladakh under the 6th schedule
Sixth Schedule
The sixth schedule under Article 244 of the Constitution
protects the autonomy of tribal populations through the
creation of autonomous development councils which can Insta Prelims
frame laws on land, public health and agriculture. As of Q. The provisions in the Fifth Schedule and Sixth Sched-
now, ten autonomous councils exist in Assam, Meghalaya, ule in the Constitution of India are made in order to
Tripura and Mizoram. (UPSC 2015)
(a) protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes
NCST Recommendation: (b) determine the boundaries between States
• The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (c) determine the powers, authority and responsibilities
(NCST) has recommended that the Union Territory of Panchayats
(UT) of Ladakh be included in the Sixth Schedule of (d) protect the interests of all the border States
the Constitution. Answer: A
Q. Which of the following provisions of the Constitu-
Reasons behind the demand: tion of India have a bearing on Education?
• It is estimated that more than 90% of Ladakh’s 1. Directive Principles of State Policy
population is tribal. The primary Scheduled Tribes 2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies
(STs) in Ladakh are Balti Beda, Bot (or Boto), Brokpa 3. Fifth Schedule
(or Drokpa, Dard, Shin), Changpa, Garra, Mon and 4. Sixth Schedule
Purigpa. 5. Seventh Schedule

www.insightsonindia.com 27
 Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: C

SC DIRECTION ON ROAD SAFETY

Context:
A Bench led by the Chief Justice of India (D.Y. Chandrachud)
agreed that urgent steps need to be taken to enforce Section
136A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Background:
• Section 136A was introduced into the Motor Vehi-
cles Act in 2019 to keep an electronic eye on errant Way ahead for India:
drivers. • Evidence-based preventive interventions. For ex-
• In this respect, the SC directed its committee (led by ample, black spots or accident-prone areas on roads
Justice A.M. Sapre) to meet with the Road Transport where mishaps happen without the fault of drivers,
Secretary and frame State-specific guidelines. need to be marked.
• In its reply, the Centre stated that it has already • Sundar Committee’s recommendations need im-
framed Rules under sub-section (2) of Section mediate implementation. For example, establishing
136A, which provides for rules for the electronic a centralised national body for road safety and es-
monitoring of road safety including speed cameras, tablishing decentralised responsibility at the district
CCTV cameras, speed guns, etc. level.
• WB launched a “Toolkit on Enabling Gender Re-
sponsive Urban Mobility and Public Spaces in In-
Data on Road accidents in India:
dia”, suggesting a four-pillared approach.
• According to NCRB data, over 1.5 lakh people died
from road accidents in 2021 and nearly 90% of
deaths on the road were due to speeding, overtak-
ing and dangerous driving.
• According to the World Bank’s data from 2019, In-
dia ranked first among the top 20 countries for road
accidents.

The WB’s report on women’s mobility in India:

• For women, the fear of sexual assault is another
cause for concern when they traverse public spaces
after dark.
• 84% of women’s trips were estimated to be by pub-
lic transport, and more women tend to walk to work
compared to men.

Steps taken by the Indian government:

• The 2021 National Road Safety Board Rules require
the formation of technical working groups to address
issues such as crash investigation and forensics.

28 www.insightsonindia.com
 Brasilia declaration: lated the 14th Amendment guaranteeing equal pro-
tection under the law.
The Brasilia Declaration, adopted at the second global
high-level conference on road safety held in Brazil, lays  The decision led to a nationwide legalisation
down recommendations on strengthening existing legisla- of same-sex marriage.
tions, adopting sustainable transport and strengthening • Australia, Ireland, Switzerland: Following a referen-
the post-crash response. dum, Australia’s Parliament passed a law recognis-
ing the same-sex-marriage.
In the declaration, participants reasserted their commit-  In Ireland and Switzerland too, a popular
ment to reducing the deaths caused due to traffic accidents vote by the majority led to formal recogni-
tion of LGBTQ marriages.
to half by the year 2020.
• South Africa became the first African country to
legalise same-sex marriages in 2006, as the highest
This target was set under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
court found the ‘Heterosexual-Only Marriage’ policy
Development.
to be violative of the equal rights enshrined in the
constitution.
Insta Links: World Bank’s new toolkit on Enabling Gender • Taiwan became the first Asian country to recognise
Responsive Urban Mobility same-sex marriage.
• Argentina became the first Latin American country
JUDICIAL TAKE ON SAME-SEX MAR- to allow same-sex marriages nationwide.
• Canada: Same-sex couples in Canada have enjoyed
RIAGE
the legal benefits of marriage since 1999. In 2005,
the Canadian Parliament passed nationwide legisla-
Context: tion to this effect.
The SC transferred to itself (for an authoritative ruling) pe-
titions pending in various HCs seeking legal recognition of
same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act (SMA)
1954 and making the law gender-neutral.

The Special Marriage Act, 1954:

• It provides for civil marriage (or “registered mar-
riage”) for the people of India and all Indian na-
tionals in foreign countries, irrespective of the re-
ligion or faith followed by either party.
• Marriages solemnized under the Act are not gov-
erned by personal laws.

Background:
• Batches of petitions, filed after the Navtej Johar
case (which decriminalised homosexuality by read-
ing down section 377 of the IPC), were pending be-
fore the Delhi, Kerala and Gujarat HCs.
• These petitions argue that non-recognition of same-
sex marriage amounted to discrimination impacting
the dignity and self-fulfilment of LGBTQ+ couples.
• They also challenge the mandatory requirement to
issue public notice and objection to marriage con-
templated under the SMA and the Foreign Marriage
Act, exposing same-sex couples to the risks of ostra- Insta Links: Legalising Same-Sex Marriage
cism, persecution and violence.
Mains Links:
What happens in other countries? Q. Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in light of the
• US: In 2015, the US SC recognised gay marriage, as latest judgement of the Supreme Court on the Right to Pri-
limiting marriage solely to heterosexual couples vio- vacy. (UPSC 2017)

www.insightsonindia.com 29
 (SARFAESI Act 2002): Under this, banks can take
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2019) control of securities pledged against the loan and
Which Article of the Constitution of India safeguards manage or sell them to recover dues without any
one’s right to marry the person of one’s choice? court intervention.
(a) Article 19
(b) Article 21 Why cases referred to Lok Adalats increased dramat-
(c) Article 25 ically?
(d) Article 29 • Banks send stressed accounts worth up to Rs.20 lakh
Ans: b to Lok Adalats, which are organised by banks in col-
laboration with the district legal service authority.
• The number of cases referred to Lok Adalats is high
since the cost of recovery through this route is low-
LOAN RECOVERY VIA LOK ADALAT er than through DRTs or SARFAESI.
• However, the rate of recovery through this route has
been very low (2.3% in 2021-22 and 4% in 2020-21),
Context: as it is very difficult to recover loans from default-
• In 2021-22, the number of non-performing assets ers in the small-ticket loan segment.
(NPAs) referred by banks to various recovery chan-
nels, including Lok Adalat and the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code (IBC), increased fourfold over
2020-21.
• Among all channels, the number of stressed ac-
counts reported to Lok Adalats by banks increased
dramatically in 2021-22.

Insta Links: Why NPAs are not just about bank governance

Background:
Bank’s Loan recovery mechanisms: Prelims Links: (UPSC CSE 2017)
• Lok Adalat: Conducted by NALSA, the awards of Lok Which of the following statements best describes the
Adalat are final and binding on all parties term ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed
• IBC: Introduced in 2016 and amended in 2021, IBC Assets (S4A)’, recently seen in the news?
provides a time-bound process of resolving the in- 1. It is a procedure for considering the ecological
solvency of corporate debtors (330 days) costs of developmental schemes formulated by the
Government.
• Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs): Along with Debts
Recovery Appellate Tribunals (est. Under Recovery 2. It is a scheme of RBI for reworking the financial
of debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993) for expeditious structure of big corporate entities facing genuine diffi-
adjudication and recovery of debts. culties.
3. It is a disinvestment plan of the Government re-
• Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial As-
garding Central Public Sector Undertakings.
sets and Enforcement of the Security Interest Act

30 www.insightsonindia.com
 4. It is an important provision in The Insolvency and cessitates remedial actions (other than im-
Bankruptcy Code’ recently implemented by the Govern- peachment).
ment. • The SC has initiated a contempt case against the
Ans: 2 government for not adhering to the timelines set
out in the MoP and court rulings.

CASE FOR REFORMING COLLEGIUM: Government’s stand:

• The MoP is under finalisation by the Government in
SUGGESTIONS BY LAW MINISTER consultation with the SC Collegium.
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and
Context: Justice voiced concern, given that the MoP had been
The Union Minister for Law and Justice has written to the pending for more than seven years.
CJI suggesting that a nominee of the government should be
included in the collegium that makes recommendations for
the appointment of judges. What does the Law Minister’s suggestion imply?
• Government representatives should be a part of
the SC (CJI and four senior-most judges of the apex
Background: court) and HC (Chief Justice and two senior-most
The suggestion to the CJI comes in the backdrop of - judges of a particular HC) Collegiums.
• An ongoing tussle between the government and the • A departure from the NJAC
judiciary on the issue of the appointment of judges.
• A Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) is pending fi-
The opposition to the suggestion:
nalisation.
• This remedy is a poison pill for an independent ju-
diciary.
What is the MOP? • A representative of the Government alone attacks
• It is the official playbook agreed upon by the gov- not only the independence of the judiciary but also
ernment and the judiciary and governs the collegi- the competitive balance between the ruling party
um system of appointing judges. and the opposition.
• Since the collegium system evolved through a series
of SC rulings (First (1981), Second (1993) and Third
(1998) Judges Cases), the MoP is the bedrock of the
process of appointments.
• The MoP was sought to be re-negotiated after the
SC struck down (4:1) 2015 the National Judicial Ap-
pointments Commission (NJAC).
• Draft MoPs, which include eligibility criteria, a new
secretariat and a mechanism to deal with complaints
against proposed candidates, were exchanged
during 2015-17.

The bone of contention in the MoP and SC’s take on

the appointment process:
• The insertion of a “national security” clause that
may prevent an appointment was a major point of
contention. Insta Links: The impasse over the appointment of judges
• The SC in a 2017 judgement (a suo motu contempt
proceeding against Justice C S Karnan, then a judge
of the Calcutta HC) highlights,
 The need to revisit the process of selection
INCLUSIVITY IN JUDICIARY
and appointment of judges to the constitu-
tional courts. Context:
 The necessity to establish an effective legal • The SC Collegium headed by CJI reiterated its deci-
regime to deal with situations where the sion to appoint five advocates as HC judges, includ-
conduct of a constitutional court judge ne-

www.insightsonindia.com 31
 ing a senior advocate (Saurabh Kirpal), who if ap- • “The social & geographical diversity must find its
pointed, could be India’s first openly gay judge reflection at all levels of the judiciary as diversity
• Earlier the government had sought reconsideration on the bench promotes diversity of opinions & ef-
of these names ficiency. People from different backgrounds enrich
• The importance of diversity and inclusivity in the ju- the Bench with their diverse experiences.”: For-
diciary mer CJI Ramana.
• Constitutional Morality vs Majoritarian and Social Conclusion:
Morality Several judgments have advanced and advocated for the
• Transformative Constitutionalism and a Living Con- rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. We must not sacrifice
stitution constitutional morality at the altar of social morality. The
SC’s decision to make public the Government’s objections
What are the objections made by the government? shed some light on the process, but it also heightens ten-
• A candidate’s sexual orientation and his “foreign-na- sions with the Centre. Questions will be raised as to why the
tional” partner. Collegium released only three objections, rather than all.
• An advocate sharing content critical of the PM on
social media.
Quotes:
Government’s position behind these objections: “We cannot change history but can pave a way for a
According to the Union Law Ministry, despite the fact that better future. The Constitution is a living organism and
homosexuality is no longer a crime in India, same-sex mar- it has to be given life. It is time to bid adieu to prejudi-
riage is still not recognized in either codified statutory law or cial perceptions deeply ingrained in societal mindset.”-
uncodified personal law. Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India

On what grounds Collegium reiterated its decision:

• The SC (in Navtej Singh Johar case 2018), has estab-
InstaCurious:
lished the constitutional position that every individual is
entitled to maintain their own dignity and individuality, DOCTRINE OF MANIFEST ARBITRARINESS:
based on sexual orientation. If a law is drastically unreasonable, capricious, irrational
or without adequate determining principle, excessive &
• It would be clearly contrary to the SC’s constitutional
disproportionate, it would be manifestly arbitrary.
principles to reject the candidacy on the basis of sexual
orientation. Eg: Navtej Singh Johar’s judgement held that Section
377 was “manifestly arbitrary”
• There is no reason to believe that the candidate’s Swiss
national partner would be hostile to India because his
home country is friendly.
• All citizens have the right to free speech and expression, The Collegium system and the process for appointing
and the views critical to government do not disentitle a judges to the higher judiciary:
candidate from holding a constitutional office so long as
• The Collegium system (headed by the incumbent CJI)
s/he is a person of competence, merit and integrity.
is the way by which judges of the SC and HCs are ap-
pointed and transferred.
Significance of appointing a judge of different sexual • The Collegium system is not rooted in the Consti-
orientation: tution or a specific law promulgated by Parliament,
• His appointment will add value to the Bench of the rather it has evolved through judgments of the SC.
Delhi HC and provide inclusion and diversity. • The Government’s role:
• Diverse judges challenge and enhance one another’s ▪ Names recommended for appointment reach the
perspectives. Government only after approval by the Collegium.
▪ The role of the government in this entire process
Significance of Diversity in our Judiciary: is limited to getting an inquiry conducted by the
• It refers to efforts to ensure that the composition of Intelligence Bureau (IB) if an advocate is to be ele-
a nation’s judiciary reflects the diversity of the pop- vated as a judge in an HC or the SC.
ulation it serves ▪ The government may also object to and seek
• Eg: measures to increase the representation of clarification on the Collegium’s choices, but if the
women, minorities, SC/STs, Divyangjan and other Collegium reiterates the same names, the govern-
vulnerable sections like LGBTQ community. ment is bound to appoint them.

32 www.insightsonindia.com
Insta Links: Law Minister’s suggestion to CJI on the appoint- psychology and psychiatry) must be given an opti-
ment of judges: The context and background mal opportunity to interact with the child to build
a rapport.
• A copy of the assessment (conducted within 3
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies months of the child being produced before the JJB)
must be given to the child and a legal aid counsel
must be present during the assessment.
NCPCR DRAFTED GUIDELINES FOR AS-
• The JJB must rely on the Social Investigation Re-
SESSING MINORS port, statements of witnesses and interaction with
parents, guardians, school staff, peer groups and
Context: neighbours.
The NCPCR has come up with draft guidelines on the prelim-
inary assessment of whether certain minors are to be tried
under law as adults in particular cases, under the Juvenile National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCP-
Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. CR):
● It is an Indian statutory body established by an
Act of Parliament - the Commission for Protection
Background: of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
• Previously, all children under the age of 18 were ● The Commission works under the aegis of the
deemed minors by the law, but a provision was add- Union Ministry of Women and Child Develop-
ed to the JJ Act in 2015 that allows a child in conflict ment and became operational in 2007.
with the law to be tried as an adult. ● It is mandated to ensure that all Laws, Policies,
• In cases of heinous offences, a child between the Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms
ages of 16 and 18 may be tried as an adult, and the align with the Child Rights perspective as en-
Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) must perform a prelimi- shrined in the Indian Constitution and the UN
nary assessment to determine whether to try such a Convention on the Rights of the Child.
child as an adult or a minor. ● As defined by the commission, a child includes a
• If tried as an adult, the child may be sentenced to person up to the age of 18 years.
jail, with the exception of death or life imprison-
ment JJ Act, 2015:
● The Ministry of Women and Child Development
introduced the Act to replace the Juvenile Delin-
Need for the NCPCR’s draft guidelines:
quency Law and the Juvenile Justice (Care
• Recently, the SC held that the task of preliminary as-
and Protection of Children) Act of 2000.
sessment under the JJ Act is a “delicate task” and
● One of the main provisions of the Act is that mi-
the assessment requires expertise and direction to
nors in conflict with the law between the ages of
put in place specific guidelines.
16 and 18 can be tried as adults.
• The NCPCR has framed guidelines which describe
the key procedures to conduct the preliminary as-
sessment. Insta Links: Juvenile Justice Act amendment may backfire
• While the course of assessment may differ from
child to child, the guidelines are meant to frame es- Mains Links:
sential components and the basic mechanisms to
address any ambiguity. Q. Is the National Commission for Women able to strate-
gize and tackle the problems that women face in both pub-
lic and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your
The draft guidelines: answer. (UPSC 2017)
• The preliminary assessment has to determine four
aspe cts:
 The physical capacity of the child Government policies and interventions
 Mental capacity
 Circumstances in which the offence was al-
legedly committed GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION
 Ability to understand the consequences of
the alleged offence
Context:
• It also states that the experts (from the field of child
Union Cabinet has approved the National Green Hydrogen

www.insightsonindia.com 33
Mission, which is aimed at making India the global hub for • Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has collabo-
the production of green hydrogen rated with business management consultant The
Green Billions (TGBL) to manage its waste and gen-
erate it into useable green hydrogen (under the
Expected Mission Outcomes: waste-to-hydrogen project)
• Development of Green Hydrogen Production Ca-
pacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per • Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) to mobil-
annum ise finance and speed up green energy development
• Renewable energy capacity addition of about 125
GW in the country by 2030 Benefits of the Mission:
• Over 8 lakh crores in total investments • Creation of export opportunities for Green Hydro-
• Creation of over 6 lakh jobs by 2030 gen and its derivatives
• Saving over 1 lakh crore in fossil fuel import • Decarbonization of Industrial, mobility and energy
• Reduction in about 50 MMT of annual greenhouse sectors
gas emissions by 2030 • Reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels
and feedstock
• Development of indigenous manufacturing capabil-
Components of the Mission: ities
• SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen
• Creation of employment opportunities
Transition Programme) under this, two financial in-
centive mechanisms have been created: • Development of cutting-edge technologies
 Targeting domestic manufacturing of elec-
trolysers About the Mission:
 Production of green hydrogen National Hydrogen Mission was launched on August 15,
• Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP): 2021, with a view to cutting down carbon emissions and in-
Under this Public-private partnership framework creasing the use of renewable sources of energy.
for R&D will be facilitated under the mission. • Nodal Agency: The Ministry of New and Renewable
• Green Hydrogen Hubs: Regions capable of support- Energy (MNRE) will formulate the scheme guidelines
ing large-scale production and/or utilization of hy- for implementation.
drogen will be identified and developed as Green • All concerned ministries, departments, agencies
Hydrogen Hubs and institutions of the Central and State Govern-
• Policy Framework: An enabling policy framework ments will undertake focused and coordinated steps
will be developed to support the establishment of
the green hydrogen ecosystem.
• Standards and regulations framework will be also InstaLinks:
developed Prelims Link:
• A coordinated skill development programme will
1. About Green Hydrogen.
also be undertaken
2. How is it produced?
• Support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors
3. Applications.
and production pathways
4. Benefits.
5. About the Hydrogen Energy Mission.
India’s status for Green Hydrogen:
Mains Link:
• India has just begun to generate green hydrogen
with the objective of raising non-fossil energy ca- Discuss the benefits of Green Hydrogen.
pacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030.
• Oil India Limited (OIL) recently commissioned In-
dia’s first 99.99% pure green hydrogen plant in NEW UGC NORMS
eastern Assam’s Jorhat
• NTPC (in Kawas, Surat) has started India’s 1st Green Context:
Hydrogen Blending operation in Piped Natural gas The University Grants Commission (UGC) released the draft
(PNG) Network. UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign High-
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board er Educational Institutions in India) Regulations 2023.
(PNGRB) has given approval for a 5% blending of
green hydrogen with PNG (later to be scaled to 20%)
Background:

34 www.insightsonindia.com
The National Education Policy, 2020, envisages a legislative abroad to study, leading to an outflow of an estimat-
framework to allow top global universities to operate in In- ed $28-30 billion.
dia. • Around 40 million students in India, currently pur-
suing higher education, will have access to global
Highlights of the draft: quality education.
• It seeks to allow foreign universities -
 To set up their campuses in India. Concerns:
 Decide their admission process, fee struc- • The national security clause is too restrictive in
ture (to be reasonable), etc. nature. However, any aggrieved party will have the
 To repatriate funds (to be governed by the right to approach the judiciary.
Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999) • Campuses in Gujarat’s GIFT will remain outside the
to their parent campuses.
purview of the UGC regulations.
• The operation of Foreign Higher Educational Insti-
tutions shall not be contrary to the -
 Sovereignty and integrity of India Insta Links: Institutions of Eminence (IoEs) to set up cam-
puses abroad
 Security of the State
 Friendly relations with foreign States
 Public order, decency, morality Mains Links:
 Standards of higher education in India Q. How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the
• Top 500 global rankings or “reputed” universities functioning of the education system in the country? Elabo-
are eligible to apply and will be granted approval to rate on your answer. (UPSC 2020)
operate for 10 years.
• The regulations provide foreign institutions com-
plete autonomy to hire faculty and other staff
REGULATION OF ONLINE GAMING
members either from abroad or in India.
• The UGC will have the right to inspect the campuses Context:
at any time and such campuses will not be outside The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Me-
the purview of anti-ragging and other criminal laws. itY) released draft amendments to the Information Technol-
ogy (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code)
Rules, 2021, in relation to online gaming.

Background:
• An inter-ministerial task force established by the
MeitY to propose the contours of national-level leg-
islation to regulate online gaming had previously
made several recommendations.
• The draft of the proposed amendments has been re-
leased based on these.
The application process:
• A web-based portal maintained by the UGC will re-
ceive proposals → A committee formed by the UGC
will evaluate the applications and make recommen-
dations within 45 days → The selected applicants
will be given about 2 years to set up campuses.
• They will have to mandatorily impart education in
offline mode.

Significance of the draft:

• Allowing foreign universities will ensure diverse
courses, such as in the fields of urban design and
fashion design.
• Reduce forex reserve depletion. In 2022 over What changes are being proposed?
4.5 lakhs (four point five) of Indian students went • Defines an ‘online game’: A game that is offered on

www.insightsonindia.com 35
 the internet and is accessible by a user through a Global practices:
computer resource if s/he makes a deposit with the • China has placed strict limits on the time young peo-
expectation of earning winnings. ple may spend playing online games and an online
 Companies offering such online games will game must obtain approval before its launch.
be handled similarly to social media com- • In the U.S., Internet casino gaming remains illegal in
panies in terms of regulatory compliances every state that doesn’t explicitly legalise the games.
and obligations.
• Germany’s “Youth Protection” laws aimed at regu-
• A self-regulatory body: Online games would be re- lating violent games require developers to replace
quired to register with a self-regulatory body, and realistic red blood with a green version.
only games approved by the authority will be per- • Australia has sought to ban games for including de-
mitted to function lawfully in India. MeitY can recog- pictions of everything from assault to marijuana use.
nise and derecognise all self-regulated bodies.
• Mandatory KYC norms: Online gaming companies
would be compelled to follow the same rules as en- Conclusion: On the one hand, the proposed rules seek to
tities regulated by the RBI. expand the online gaming market and stimulate innovation,
while on the other, they seek to regulate the online gaming
• Banning bets on the outcome: Online gaming com-
market in India in order to protect users’ interests.
panies will not be permitted to accept bets on game
outcomes.
• Chief Compliance Officer: The platforms are expect- VOLUNTARY VEHICLE-FLEET MODERN-
ed to appoint a senior employee, who would coordi- IZATION PROGRAM (V-VMP)
nate with law enforcement agencies to ensure com-
pliance with their orders.
• Nodal Contact Person: To facilitate the necessary Context:
coordination at any point of the day. Grievance re- As per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
dressal: The platforms must have in place an appro- (MoRTH), 11 states and UTs have joined the National Sin-
priate mechanism for the receipt and resolution of gle window system (NSWS) for the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet
grievances. Modernization Program (V-VMP).
• It will encourage private investment in the ecosys-
tem for car recycling
Significance of the proposed changes: • The National Single window system (NSWS) was
• Safeguard the interests of users (especially women created by DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce and Indus-
and children). try)
• Addresses the discourse in the sector about the defi-
nitions of a ‘game of skill’ (used in the Public Gam-
bling Act (1867) but had not been defined) and a What is the vehicle scrapping policy?
‘game of chance’. The term ‘game of skill’ had been. The Vehicle Scrappage Policy is a government-funded pro-
• Endeavours to provide for greater transparency. gramme to scrap old and unfit vehicles and replace them
For example, with modern and new vehicles on Indian roads. The primary
 Operators would have to inform the user goal of the policy is to create an ecosystem for phasing out
about the policy related to the withdrawal unfit and polluting vehicles to achieve a lower carbon foot-
or refund of their deposit. print in the country.
 Addiction is to be combated using repeated
warning messages while playing a certain
game.
• These rules will help curb the menace of anti-na-
tional and illegal offshore gambling platforms.

What are some of the concerns?

• The rules group all gaming intermediaries together,
regardless of size or risk.
• They all require similar compliances, including the
requirement for executives to be based in India.
• This might place an undue burden on young start-
ups and make it difficult for global players to launch
services in India.

36 www.insightsonindia.com
 Context:
The first Jharkhand Migrant Survey (JMS) was recently con-
ducted across 24 districts of the state.

Background:
• The initiative is part of the state’s Safe and Responsi-
ble Migration Initiative (SRMI), which was launched
in 2021-end and includes the preparation of a data-
base of migrant workers.
• Apart from Jharkhand, Kerala too has been a pio-
neer in this field, followed by states like Tamil Nadu
and Punjab.

Purpose of Conducting the Survey:

• Evidence-based informed policy-making for target-
ed welfare delivery: data from the survey will help
design appropriate state policies to address wel-
fare issues of migrant workers in the state
• To map the major sectors of engagement for mi-
grant workers,
• Find the social security benefits available to their
Related News families and
Over 75 thousand approvals were granted on National • Identify the health hazards they face.
Single Window System Portal for various Central and • To check last-mile service delivery and understand
State/UTs clearances how safe migration is being facilitated
• Various government schemes including Vehicle
Scrapping Policy, Indian Footwear and Leather Devel-
opment Policy (IFLDP), and Sugar and Ethanol Policy on- Overview of Migration:
boarded on NSWS • Migration is the movement of people away from
• NSWS was launched in September 2021 (Ministry their usual place of residence, across either internal
of Commerce and Industry) (within the country) or international (across coun-
• Currently, Investors can apply for approvals from tries) borders.
27 Central Ministries/Departments and 19 States/UTs
• As per the 2011 Census data, India had 45.6 crore
on the portal.
• The portal is envisioned as a one-stop shop for in- migrants in 2011 (38% of the population) compared
vestors for taking all the regulatory approvals and ser- to 31.5 crore migrants in 2001 (31% of the popula-
vices related to investments. tion).
• NSWS initiative is an example of the ‘Whole of • 99% of total migration was internal and immigrants
Government’ approach with different Central Minis- (international migrants) comprised 1%.
tries/Departments, States and UTs coming together to
facilitate investor-related clearances on a single portal,
with transparency and accountability, enhancing the Patterns of Migration:
ease of doing business exponentially. • Internal migrant flows can be classified on the basis
of origin and destination.
Insta Links:  i) rural-rural (largest - 54%), ii) rural-urban,
Vehicle scrappage policy
iii) urban-rural and iv) urban-urban.
Prelims Link: • Another way to classify migration is: (i) intra-state,
1. Key features of the policy. and (ii) inter-state.
2. Applicability.  In 2011, intra-state movement account-
3. Incentives. ed for almost 88% of all internal migration
(39.6 crore persons).
Mains Link: Discuss the issues associated with the policy.
 As of 2011, UP (83 lakh residents) and Bihar
were the largest source of inter-state mi-
grants while Maharashtra (60 lakh people)
JHARKHAND’S 1ST SURVEY OF MI- and Delhi were the largest receiver states.
GRANTS

www.insightsonindia.com 37
Reasons for internal migration and Size of the migrant CONTENT OF “NATIONAL IMPORTANCE”
labour force:
• Overall, 8% of people moved within a state for work
Context:
(21% of male migrants and 2% of female migrants).
The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry issued a
• Movement for work was higher among inter-state fresh advisory for the implementation of the Guidelines for
migrants - 50% of male and 5% of female interstate Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India
migrants. 2022.
• As per the Census, there were 4.5 crore migrant
workers in 2011, which, according to the Working
Group Report on Migration, underestimates the mi- Background:
grant worker population. • Uplink is a term used to describe a communication line
used to send electronic messages to satellites.
• On the other hand, downlinking refers to the commu-
Issues faced by migrant labour: nication path utilised to receive the satellite’s electronic
• Article 19(1)(e) of the Constitution, guarantees all communications.
Indian citizens the right to reside and settle in any • The Union Cabinet had approved the 2022 Guidelines to
part of the territory of India, subject to reasonable ease the issue of permissions to the companies/ limited
restrictions in the interest of the general public or liability partnerships (LLPs) registered in India for -
protection of any scheduled tribe.
 Uplinking and Downlinking of TV Channels,
• However, people migrating for work face key chal-
 Setting up of Teleports/ Teleport Hubs,
lenges including:
 Use of Digital Satellite News Gathering
 Lack of social security and health benefits (DSNG)/ Satellite News Gathering (SNG)/
and poor implementation of minimum safe- Electronic News Gathering (ENG) systems,
ty standards law,  Uplinking by Indian News agencies and tem-
 Lack of portability of state-provided ben- porary uplinking of a live event.
efits especially food provided through the
public distribution system (PDS) and
 Lack of access to affordable housing and The benefit of the new guidelines: It will replace those oper-
basic amenities in urban areas. ational since 2011, would -
 Ease of compliance for the permission hold-
er
Steps taken by the government with regard to migrant  Ease of Doing Business
labour:  Simplification and Rationalization, etc.

Highlights of the I&B Ministry’s fresh advisory:

• It mandates ‘public service broadcasting’ of nation-
al and social importance (with effect from March
1, 2023) for private TV channels through voluntary
compliance and self-certification.
• It said the content could include the themes of -
 Education and spread of literacy,
Way ahead: Four labour codes - Code on Wages 2020, In-  Agriculture and rural development,
dustrial Relations Code 2020, Social Security Code 2020 and  Health and family welfare,
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code  Science and technology,
2020 - needs to be notified soon.  The welfare of women and the weaker sec-
tions of society,
Conclusion:  Protection of the environment and cultural
• In India, the Concurrent List includes the subject of heritage and
labour. Therefore, it is necessary for the central and  National integration, etc., and could be ex-
tended to include similar subjects such as
state governments to work together to develop a
water conservation, disaster management,
plan for the welfare of migrant workers etc.
• The content need not be of 30 minutes at a stretch
Insta Links: Remote voting for migrant workers and shall be accounted for cumulatively on a month-
ly basis i.e. 15 hours per month.

38 www.insightsonindia.com
 • The broadcasters have the liberty to modulate their Channels in India 2022
content. For example, the topics of national impor-
tance and social relevance embedded in the pro-
Mains Links:
grammes broadcast by private TV channels would
qualify for their obligation. Q. Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, coupled
• The broadcasters would be required to submit a with a lack of Information and Communication Technology
monthly report on the Broadcast Seva Portal on (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development?
compliance. Examine with justification. (UPSC 2021)
• The broadcasters will have to keep a record of the
content telecast for 90 days. Issues related to Education

Exemptions from the public service broadcasting ob- BRIGHT SPOTS, AREAS OF CONCERN IN
ligation: ASER 2022
• Any content transmitted from midnight to 6 a.m.
• Foreign channels, downlinking in India [in languages
other than those specified in the 8th schedule of the Context:
Indian Constitution]. Following two years of school closures caused by Covid-19,
the recently released 17th Annual Status of Education Re-
• The channels broadcasting [more than 12 hours]
port (ASER) for 2022 contains both bright spots and areas of
sports and devotional/spiritual/yoga content shall
concern.
be exempt from furnishing the monthly reports on
the Broadcast Seva Portal. Background:
● Pratham, a non-governmental organisation (NGO),
Conclusion: has been surveying children aged 6 to 14 and pub-
According to a FICCI-EY report, with television subscriptions lishing ASER since 2005 to track trends in school
estimated to add another 42 million by 2025 from 178 mil- enrolment, attendance, and reading and arithmetic
lion in 2021, public service broadcast is not a bad idea in a abilities.
diverse country with myriad issues. ● This year’s report (published after 2018) surveyed 7
Insta Links: lakh children in 19,060 villages across 616 districts
Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television across the country.

ASER 2022

Bright spots Areas of concern

• School enrolment touched a record high (98.4% in • Drop in learning levels of foundational literacy and nu-
2022, 97.2% in 2018) meracy (FLN)
• The proportion of girls (aged 11-14) not enrolled has • For example, in 2022, the basic reading ability of chil-
reduced (10.3% in 2006, 4.1% in 2018, 2% in 2022) dren in Class 3 dipped by 6.8% points from 27.2% in
• The percentage of children (aged 11 - 14) enrolled in 2018 and the proportion of children in Class 3 who
government schools has risen from 65% in 2018 to could do at least subtraction fell to 25.9% (from 28.2%)
71.7% in 2022
• A small, steady increase in the children availing private
tuitions (from 26.4% to 30.5% between 2018-22)
• Improvement in the AVAILABILITY OF SMARTPHONES
• In 2022, the availability of smartphones in the
homes of enrolled students has nearly doubled
from
• % of CHILDREN NOT GOING TO SCHOOL:
• It has dropped to 2% or below for the first time in
2022
• Even after prolonged school closures during the
pandemic period, the proportion of children not
enrolled in school continued to decline between
2018 and 2022.

www.insightsonindia.com 39
 What can be deduced from the ASER Govt scheme to promote FLN Way ahead
2022 findings?
Why has enrolment in government • The National Education Policy • Integration between the Anganwadi
schools increased? Improvements in 2020 and school systems is critical.
infrastructure; distribution of text- • The National Initiative for Pro- • Particularly the education component
books, midday meals during lock- ficiency in Reading with Under- of the Anganwadi system must be ade-
down; job losses, and the closure of standing and Numeracy (NI- quately funded.
budget private schools in rural areas. PUN) Bharat
• Foundational Literacy and Nu-
Why did private tuition increase? meracy mission
More flexible to adapt (If a person is
unable to pay, they can pay later) and
provided extra assistance to children
when schools were closed.

Conclusion: Solutions to deal with these issues:

FLN is critical for increasing the country’s productivity in • Policy level:
terms of human capital. As a result, the government’s priori-  Actualizing the zero-rejection policy in
ty should be to raise learning and teaching standards. schools (e.g., Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan)
 Infrastructure should include: Equitability,
Usability, Durability, Affordability, Cultural
Insta Links: Needed, education data that engages the poor adaptability, and Aesthetic appeal
parent
• Institutional Level:
 Awareness and sensitization programmes
Mains Links: for children, parents, and caregivers
Q. National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with Sus-  Training trainers for upskilling of school fac-
tainable Development Goal 4 (2030). It intends to restruc- ulty and special educators
ture and reorient the education system in India. Critically  Technical training for local government de-
examine the statement. (UPSC 2020) partments
 A co-learning platform for knowledge-shar-
ing between all
SCHOOLS WITHOUT BARRIERS • Civil Society and organizations:
 UN-Habitat India: ‘Leave No One Behind’
Issues affecting children with disability/disabilities Project (main pillar of Accessible India Cam-
(CWD): paign)
• ‘State of the Education Report for India 2019: Children • ICT Solutions to Support Universal Design for Learn-
with Disabilities’ by UNESCO mentioned that CWD com- ing
prises 1.7% of the total child population in India (Census • Storybooks in local spoken and sign languages
2011).
• Physical:
 Inaccessible school buses
 Inaccessible facilities in schools (drinking
water facilities, canteens, and toilets)
 Inappropriate infrastructure in classrooms
(uncomfortable seating, slippery flooring,
and low illumination)
• Institutional: Lack of policy implementation by agencies
• Social: Misinformed attitudes and perceptions among
parents, teachers, staff, and communities
Conclusion:
• Communication barriers
Developing inclusive and accessible schools will help chal-
• Economic burden and lack of opportunities lenge perceptions about children with disabilities and actu-
alise the zero-rejection policy in schools

40 www.insightsonindia.com
 • Total enrolment in higher education: It has in-
InstaCurious: The UN SDG 4 is to “Ensure inclusive creased to nearly 4.13 crore in 2020-21 from 3.85
and equitable quality education and promote lifelong crore in 2019-20 (an increase of 28.80 Lakh).
learning opportunities for all. • Female enrolment increased from 18.8 million in
2019-20 to 20.1 million in 2020-2021
• SC: There were 2 lakh more SC students who got
Insta Links: Disability Right enrolled in 2020-21 compared to the previous year.
• ST: The year also saw about 3 lakh more ST students
and 6 lakh more OBC students getting enrolled for
Mains Links: higher education.
Q. Unless there is educational inclusion of the disabled, the • According to the survey report, at the undergrad-
goal of inclusiveness and empowerment will remain elu- uate level, enrolment was highest in humanities
sive. Comment in light of recently released the draft of the ( nearly 33%), followed by science ( nearly 15%),
national policy for persons with disabilities. (15M) commerce, and engineering & technology. At the
postgraduate level, the maximum number of stu-
dents opted for social science followed by science
ALL INDIA SURVEY ON HIGHER EDUCA-
• Gender Parity Index (GPI) has increased from 1 in
TION (AISHE) 2020-2021 2017-18 to 1.05 in 2020-21. More women enrolled
themselves on science courses than men
Context:  The Gender Parity Index is a socioeconomic
The Union Ministry of Education released data from index usually designed to measure the rel-
the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), 2020- ative access to education of males and fe-
2021, which showed a 7.5% increase in student enrolments males. This index is released by UNESCO.
across the country. • The top 6 States in terms of Student Enrolment are
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya
Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
About ASIHE Report:
• The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)
was initiated in 2011, during which data for the year Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff in Higher Education:
2010-11 was collected. • The number of teachers has increased by 47,914 in
• The entire survey was conducted through electron- 2020-21 over 2019-20.
ic mode and a dedicated portal http://aishe.gov.in • There are 75 female teachers per 100 male teach-
was developed for this purpose. ers.
• Out-Turn
Key findings from the report: • The total number of pass-outs has increased to 95.4
For the first time, the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Lakh in 2020-21 as against 94 Lakh in 2019-20.
of India have filled their data using an entirely online data
collection platform through the Web Data Capture Format Significance of Higher Education:
(Web DCF) developed by the Department of Higher Educa- • Atmanirbhar Bharat: Self-reliant India needs a con-
tion and the National Informatics Centre (NIC). tinuous supply of trained, skilled human resources
• Demographic Dividend
Number of Institutions • Better Employment opportunities
• The number of universities has increased by 70 • Economic development
during 2020-21, to 1,113 in 2020-21 from 1,043 in • Technological advancements
2019-20. • Solving Societal Issues
• Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, • Plurality, Inclusivity & Diversity: To develop the
Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gu- horizons of the mind, it is important to provide a di-
jarat, Telangana, and Kerala are the top 10 States in versified, plural environment.
terms of the number of colleges.
• Empowerment of Women
• Among the districts, the maximum number of col-
• Initiatives for Higher Education in India:
leges (1058) is situated in Bangalore Urban followed
by Jaipur (671). About 32% of colleges are situated • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
in 50 districts. • Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
• Student Enrolment in Higher Education: • Project Education Quality Upgradation and Inclu-

www.insightsonindia.com 41
 sion Programme (EQUIP) • Primary Health Centres (PHC): SC is succeeded by a
• Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF): At- PHC, which is required to look after the daily needs
tract the talent pool of PhD programmes of 20,000-30,000 people (50,000-75,000 in urban
• Paramarsh/Mentor-Mentee Relationship: Under areas).
this scheme, accredited institutions would help as- • Community Health Centres (CHC): They provide re-
piring institutions that want to get accredited. ferrals and access to specialists, catering to 80,000-
• Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research 120,000 people (0.25-0.5 million in urban areas).
Collaboration (SPARC): It aims to improve the
research ecosystem Key highlights of the Rural Health Statistics 2021-2022:
• Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN): It • There is a shortage of 83.2% of surgeons, 74.2% of
aims to tap the talent pool of scientists and obstetricians and gynaecologists, 79.1% of physi-
entrepreneurs from abroad. cians and 81.6% of paediatricians.
• Formation of Higher Education Financing Agency • Less than half the PHC (45%) function on a 24x7 ba-
(HEFA): It aims to finance the creation of capital as- sis.
sets in premier educational institutions in India. • Of the 5,480 functioning CHCs, only 541 have all four
• Institutes of Eminence (IoE) Scheme: It aims to pro- specialists.
vide opportunities for a few chosen institutions to • SC, PHC and CHC facilities are overburdened across
grow in the direction of being renowned globally for the board, with SCs currently looking after more
their excellence. than 5,000 people, PHCs catering to 36,049 people
• SWAYAM Portal and CHCs to 164,027 people.
• This, coupled with a human resource shortage (like
Way Forward: auxiliary nurse midwives - ANM), plagues access to
• There is a need to shift focus from enrolment to at- adequate and quality healthcare.
tendance.  The shortage was most pronounced in Uttar
• Multi-stakeholder approach: Extensive consultation Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha
involving parents, local self-governments, and civil and Uttarakhand.
society are key.  SCs, PHCs and CHCs had more staff in 2021,
at the height of the deadly second wave of
COVID-19, as compared to now.
Insta Links: Higher Education in India

Other challenges faced:

Mains Link: • Low quality of care
Q. “Commercialization of higher education in India is bound • Poor accountability
to create issues of access and exclusion”. Critically com- • Absenteeism: “Even if the personnel are present,
ment on the statement and suggest measures to address their level of participation in providing health ser-
the related issues. (15M) vices, may not be at desirable levels due to lack of
supplies, inadequate infrastructure facilities, poor
monitoring of the staff, and so on.”-Economic Sur-
Issues related to Health vey 2018-19
• Lack of awareness
WHAT PLAGUES RURAL HEALTHCARE? • Limited access to facilities
• According to the National Health Profile (NHP)
2019, there are only 1.5 government hospitals per
Context:
100,000 population in rural India, compared to 3.5
According to the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s
in urban areas
Rural Health Statistics 2021-2022, India’s rural healthcare
system continues to be plagued by a shortfall on two critical
fronts - doctors and infrastructure. Government initiatives to transform rural healthcare:
• Under Ayushman Bharat, the existing SCs and PHCs
The Indian healthcare system is divided into: are being transformed into AB-Health and Wellness
• Sub-centres (SC): These are the first point of con- Centres (HWCs) to deliver preventive, curative, palli-
tact for a patient, catering to a population of 3,000- ative and rehabilitative services which are universal,
5,000. free and close to the community.
• PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mis-

42 www.insightsonindia.com
 sion (PM-ABHIM) envisages increased investments marked, “Beds do not treat people. Doctors, nurses, and
in public health to provide better access to health in paramedics are the ones who do it.”
rural areas by: Insta Links: Rural Healthcare
 Strengthening of HWCs in villages and cities
for early detection of diseases
Mains Links:
 Support for Block Public Health Units (BPHU)
in 11 high-focus States Q. Appropriate local community-level healthcare interven-
 Integrated district public health laboratories tion is a prerequisite to achieving ‘Health for All’ in India.
in all districts, etc. Explain. (UPSC 2018)
• National Ambulance Service under National Health
Mission (NHM) for free transportation to health fa- PLAN TO ERADICATE MEASLES, RUBELLA
cilities.

Context:
Contribution of the National Rural Health Mission India set a goal (in 2019) to eradicate measles and rubella
(NRHM): (MR) by 2023 after missing the previous deadline of 2020.
• While there has been a decline in the past year, a
huge improvement has been recorded as compared
to 2005, when the government launched the NRHM Measles and Rubella:
(now subsumed under NHM).
• For example, the number of allopathic doctors at
PHCs has increased from 20,308 in 2005 to 30,640 in
2022, which is about a 51% increase.

Conclusion:
• The focus should be placed on improving rural
healthcare infrastructure and human resources. • Rubella isn’t the same as measles, but the two ill-
This will ensure that Indians living in even the most nesses share some signs and symptoms, such as the
remote areas have access to effective healthcare. red rash.
• This would be in line with India’s commitments as a • Rubella is not as contagious or harmful as measles
welfare state and would also aid in the achievement and is brought on by a different virus.
of SDG 3 - Health for All.
• While measles has a high fatality rate, rubella infec-
tion in a pregnant woman will have an impact on the
InstaCurious: foetus, resulting in birth defects.
Human Resources for Health (HRH) • The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly
As per WHO, Human Resources for Health (HRH) are effective in preventing MR and provides lifelong pro-
defined as “the stock of all individuals engaged in the tection against them.
promotion, protection or improvement of population • Over the past two decades, the measles vaccine is es-
health”. This includes both public and private sectors timated to have averted more than 30 million deaths
and different domains of health systems, such as per- globally.
sonal curative and preventive care, non-personal public
health interventions, disease prevention, health promo-
tion services, research, management and support ser- Why is eliminating MR crucial?
vices • WHO: The measles virus is one of the world’s most
contagious human viruses that kills more than
Health systems require human resources for health
1,00,000 children every year globally and rubella is a
(HRH) to ensure healthcare for all. According to the
leading cause of birth defects.
World Health Organisation (WHO), HRH scarcity primar-
ily affects low- and lower-middle-income countries (LICs • An outbreak of measles in Maharashtra in 2022,
and LMICs) like India particularly in Mumbai, killed 15 children among
several hundred who contracted the infection.

What has India done to achieve targets?

• During 2010-2013, India conducted a phased mea-
Quote: sles catch-up immunisation for children aged 9
Dr Devi Shetty, one of India’s most renowned doctors, re-

www.insightsonindia.com 43
 months-10 years in 14 States, vaccinating approxi- 4. None
mately 119 million children. Ans: 2
• Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014 to vac-
cinate the unvaccinated. NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES DAY
• During 2017–2021, India adopted a national strate-
gic plan for MR elimination, and introduced rubel- Context:
la-containing vaccine (RCV) into the routine immuni- WHO published the “Global report on neglected tropical
sation programme, besides launching a nationwide diseases 2023” on World NTD Day — January 30, 2023.
MR supplementary immunisation activity (SIA)
catch-up campaign.
About Neglected Tropical Diseases:
 Additionally, it changed the focus of acute • NTDs are a group of 20 conditions mainly prevalent
fever and rash surveillance from out- in tropical areas where people do not have access
break-based to case-based.
to clean water or safe ways to dispose of human
 Also, the number of laboratories in the MR
waste.
network has more than doubled.
• Caused by: pathogens, including viruses, bacteria,
parasites, fungi, and toxins.
What needs to be done to achieve the target? • NTDs are most common among marginalized com-
• Immunisation at 95% for under one- year olds. munities in the developing regions of Africa, Asia,
• District based approach - and the Americas.
 Give each district a target to achieve the re-
quired rate of immunisation,
 Conduct a robust fever and rash surveillance
programme, testing for MR.
• Progress monitoring and additional inputs to the
districts lagging in implementation.
• Provision of full support (improve their service
conditions, and salaries) to the ground-level staff
(village health nurses, ASHA, Anganwadi and ICDS
workers). Key Findings of the report:
Conclusion: • 16 countries accounted for 80 per cent of the global
• Having strong immunisation infrastructure, States NTD burden.
like Tamil Nadu and Kerala will reach the targets • Highlights the tremendous effects COVID-19 had on
easily, unlike the other States where more effort will community-based initiatives, access to healthcare
be needed to do so. facilities, and healthcare goods supply chains.
• As the saying goes - “a threat of infection anywhere About WHO Neglected Disease roadmap is WHO’s blue-
is a threat everywhere,” India needs to improve its print to drive global efforts in the fight against NTDs in the
surveillance by finding, investigating, collecting, and context of the United Nations Sustainable Development
testing a sample for every suspected case in every Goals.
district across every State and UT.
Global Initiatives:
Insta Links: Measles • London Declaration on NTDs: It was adopted
on 30th January 2012 to recognize the global bur-
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2014) den of NTDs.
Consider the following diseases
1. Diphtheria NTDs in India:
2. Chickenpox • India carries the largest burden of at least 11 of
3. Smallpox these diseases, with parasitic illnesses like ka-
Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in la-azar and lymphatic filariasis affecting millions of
India? people throughout the country – often the poorest
and most vulnerable.
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3 Indian Initiatives to tackle NTDs:
• A WHO-supported regional alliance was established

44 www.insightsonindia.com
 by the governments of India, Bangladesh, and Ne- sulting in a vicious cycle - malnutrition leads to dis-
pal in 2005 to expedite early diagnosis and treat- ease and disease leads to malnutrition.
ment of the most vulnerable populations and im- • Wasting/acute malnutrition, which is the deadliest
prove disease surveillance and control of sandfly form of undernutrition, is a major threat to children’s
populations (Kala-azar). lives and their long-term health and development.
• India has already eliminated several other NTDs, in- • More than 30 million children in the 15 worst-af-
cluding guinea worm, trachoma, and yaws. fected countries suffer from this and 8 million of
these children are severely wasted.
Insta Links: Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) • Meanwhile, critical health, nutrition and other
life-saving services are becoming less accessible.

Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

Efforts taken in this direction:
• Five UN agencies including WHO is calling for accel-
MALNUTRITION RISKING CHILDREN’S erated progress on the Global Action Plan on Child
Wasting.
LIVES: WHO • These agencies are Food and Agriculture Organi-
zation (FAO), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), United
Context: Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Pro-
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), conflict, gramme (WFP) and WHO.
climate shocks, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and rising • The action plan aims to prevent, detect and treat
living costs are rendering increasing numbers of children acute malnutrition among children in the worst-af-
acutely malnourished. fected countries: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad,
Malnutrition: etc.
• Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbal-
ances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. Way ahead:
• It covers 2 broad groups of conditions - • There is the need for urgent decisive and timely ac-
• Undernutrition: It includes stunting (low height tion to prevent this crisis from becoming a tragedy.
for age), wasting (low weight for height), under- • Greater investment in support of a coordinated UN
weight (low weight for age) and micronutrient response is the need of the hour.
deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important
vitamins and minerals).
Malnutrition in India:
• Overweight: It includes obesity and diet-related
● Despite decades of investment to tackle this mal-
noncommunicable diseases (such as heart dis-
aise, India’s child malnutrition rates (which con-
ease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer).
tributes to a third of the global burden of under-
nutrition) are still one of the most alarming in the
world.
● The Global Hunger Index (2022), which is calcu-
lated on the basis of total undernourishment of
the population, child stunting, wasting and child
mortality, places India at the 107th spot among
121 countries.

Insta Links: Malnutrition

Mains Links:
Q. Can the vicious cycle of gender inequality. poverty and
malnutrition to be broken through microfinancing of wom-
en SHGs? Explain with examples. (UPSC 2021).

Findings of the WHO:

• The global food crisis is leading to a health crisis, re-

www.insightsonindia.com 45
Governance abuses.

THE CASE OF ONLINE CHILD ABUSE Major Initiatives for Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in
India:
• POCSO Act, 2012
Context: • Integrated Child Protection Scheme
A study jointly conducted by CRY — Child Rights and You
• Child Abuse Prevention and Investigation Unit
and Chanakya National Law University, Patna stated that
online sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA), has extend- • Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
ed its presence across India during the pandemic and the • Juvenile Justice Act/Care and Protection Act, 2000
extent of such crimes is becoming a matter of concern. • Child Marriage Prohibition Act (2006)
• Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 2016
Key findings from POCSO and Beyond: Understanding • Operation Smile
Online Safety during COVID Report -
• Adolescent girls and boys within 14-18 years, be- Effects of Sexual Abuse on Child:
longing to the lower income strata were figured as • Children fall for post-traumatic stress disorder di-
the most vulnerable age group. agnosis, depression, conduct disorders, attention
• Just 30 per cent of the parents said they would go deficit hyperactivity disorder, and obsessive-com-
to the police station and file a complaint, while 70 pulsive disorder.
per cent ruled out that possibility. • Strong feelings of hopelessness, suicidal ideation,
• Only 16 per cent of parents claimed to be familiar and suicidal attempt.
with any OCSEA-related laws, indicating a lack of in- • Getting detached from family and friends.
formation and faith in the legal system and law en-
forcement.
• Nearly 33 per cent of the parents among the re- Ethical aspects related to Child Abuse:
spondents reported that strangers approached • Deteriorating moral ideologies in the society – rising
their children via Online Platforms. cases of paedophilia.
• Parents trying to not open up with their children or
talk about this in society.
Laws on sharing of online Child Sexual Abusive Mate-
rial (CSAM) in India:
InstaCurious:
• In India, viewing adult pornography in private is not
an offence. Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child (CRC) states the following:
• As per the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2002,
it is punishable to show children any pornographic States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, ad-
content. ministrative, social and educational measures to protect
the child from all forms of physical or mental violence,
injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, mal-
Current system of detecting CSAM in India: treatment or Exploitation, including sexual abuse, while
• Help from foreign agencies in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other
• Operation Megh Chakra and Operation Car- person who has the care of the child.
bon: launched by the CBI.

India’s efforts so far: Insta Links:

• ‘Aarambh India’: a Mumbai-based NGO, partnered
with the IWF, and launched India’s first online re- • Child Abuse
porting portal to report images and videos of child • An online fight where children need to be saved
abuse.
• National cybercrime reporting portal India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Jairam Ramesh Committee made recommendations
on ‘the alarming issue of pornography on social me-
dia and its effect on children and society as a whole’. THE INDUS WATERS TREATY
• State governments are increasingly adopting
“Child-Friendly Policing” to encourage reporting of Context:

46 www.insightsonindia.com
New Delhi has issued a notice to Islamabad seeking modifi- a Neutral Expert and a Chair of the Court of Arbitra-
cation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). tion to resolve the dispute, which as per India poses
practical and legal challenges.
Background:  Pakistan had demanded the constitution of
a Court of Arbitration, while India demand-
• The notice follows Pakistan’s continued “intransi-
ed a Neutral Expert to resolve the dispute.
gence” in implementing the treaty, by raising repeat-
ed objections to the construction of hydel projects
on the Indian side.
• India is invoking Article XII (3) of the treaty to bring
changes to the 1960 pact.

IWT and its dispute redressal mechanism:

• IWT is a water-distribution treaty between India
and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank (WB),
to use the water available in the Indus River and its
tributaries.
• It is often cited as an example of the possibilities of
peaceful coexistence despite the troubled relation-
ship.
• It was signed in Karachi in 1960 by then-Indian PM
Jawaharlal Nehru and then-Pakistani president Ayub
Khan.
• The Treaty gives control over the waters of the three
“eastern rivers” - the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej (BRS)-
to India, while control over the waters of the three
“western rivers” - the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum
-has been given to Pakistan.
• India has about 20% of the total water carried by the
Indus system while Pakistan has 80%. Recent developments:
• The treaty allows India to use the western riv- • India has not fully utilised its rights over the waters
er waters for limited irrigation use and unlimited of the Indus system.
non-consumptive use for such applications as pow- • Over the last few years, there has been a growing
er generation. demand in India to use the IWT as a strategic tool,
• India has the right to generate hydroelectrici- considering that India has a natural advantage be-
ty through run-of-the-river (RoR) projects on the ing the upper riparian state. In the aftermath of the
western rivers which, subject to specific criteria for Uri attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said,
design and operation, is unrestricted. ‘blood & water can’t flow together at the same
• The dispute redressal mechanism provided under time.’
the IWT is a graded 3-level mechanism. • Accordingly, India has been working to start several
• The concerns have to be cleared at the levels of the big and small hydroelectric projects that had either
Indus Commissioners → Neutral Expert → Court of been stalled or were in the planning stages.
Arbitration.
The treaty has remained “uninterrupted” because India re-
spects its signatory and values transboundary rivers as an
Dispute over the hydel projects: important connector in the region in terms of both diplo-
• There has been a longstanding dispute over two hy- macy and economic prosperity.
droelectric power projects - one on the Kishangan-
ga river (a tributary of Jhelum) and the other on the
Chenab (Ratle).
• Pakistan has raised objections to these projects, and
dispute resolution mechanisms under the Treaty
have been invoked multiple times. But a resolution
has not been reached.
• In 2022, the WB announced to concurrently appoint

www.insightsonindia.com 47
 India-Pakistan relations:
The current state:
● Prior to 2016: Characterised by intense engagement, terror attacks, Indian responses, a breakdown of talks and
eventual resumption of talks.
● Post-2016: The Pathankot airbase attack followed by a terror attack in Uri, prompted India to respond via ‘Surgi-
cal Strikes” and practical ‘Freezing of Relations’.
● Pulwama Terror Attack (2019): India retaliated through the Balakot airstrike.
● Abrogation of Article 370: further deepened the divide.
● Age of Cold peace: on the Line of Control, inside Kashmir and in the verbal exchanges between the two sides.
○ A state of relative peace between two countries characterised by mistrust and hostile internal policies
between the two governments and citizens is referred to as cold peace.
● Indications of improved relations: thanks to cricket diplomacy, India may visit Pakistan in 2023 following a 15-
year gap.
● Pakistan’s PM wish to offer a white flag to India in a recent interview for the betterment of the Pakistani econo-
my and its people.
● India’s invitation to Pak PM after 12 years to attend a high-level SCO meet being hosted by India at Goa.

Key challenges ahead for India-Pak relations:

● The China-Pakistan axis in Asian geopolitics: Pakistan and Chinese leaders describe their ties using metaphors
such as “higher than the mountains” and “deeper than the oceans”. Pakistan’s economic dependence on Beijing
has increased in recent years. Due to Pakistan’s current economic crisis as a result of declining foreign exchange
reserves and mounting debt, India may face growing Chinese influence in South Asia as a whole and Pakistan in
particular (CPEC).
● Terror atmosphere: brooded by Pakistan is hampering India’s efforts to peace.

Conclusion:
Multilateral settings are often viewed as opportunities for countries with problematic relations to find a way forward.
India should utilise this opportunity to iron out differences with Pakistan.

Insta Links: Indo-Pakistan relations Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award 2019 (the only
Mains Links: person from the armed forces to receive the hon-
our) for his contributions to improving India-Qatar
Q. “Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in India
ties.
and growing interference in the internal affairs of mem-
ber-states by Pakistan are not conducive for the future • According to the company’s website, it provided
of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Coopera- training, logistics and maintenance services to the
tion).” Explain with suitable examples. (UPSC 2016) Qatari Emiri Naval Force (QENF) - the naval branch
of the armed forces of the State of Qatar.
• The charges against the men have not been made
Bilateral relations public, but their solitary confinement has led to
speculation of their detention in connection with a
security-related offence.
THE QATAR CONUNDRUM

Context: India and Qatar - A history of friendly ties:

Eight former Indian Navy soldiers arrested by Qatari author- • Since diplomatic relations between India and Qatar
ities in August have been imprisoned in Doha for more than were established in 1973, the two countries have
four and a half months. maintained friendly relations.
• Since the visit of India’s PM (Manmohan Singh) in
2008, the first by an Indian PM, the relationship has
Background: strengthened.
• The eight veterans were in a defence services pro-
• When the Qatari Emir (Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al
vider company owned by an Omani national, who
Thani) visited in 2015, five MoUs entailing coopera-
was also arrested along with the eight Indians.
tion in several fields were signed.
• Commander Purnendu Tiwari (retd) received the

48 www.insightsonindia.com
 • An agreement on prisoner repatriation was made, The jailing of the eight ex-Navy personnel:
permitting citizens of India or Qatar who have been The second major challenge signalled that all is not well with
convicted and sentenced for a crime to be extradited the relationship.
back to their home country to serve the remainder
Conclusion:
of their prison sentence.
• The long custody of the veterans for reasons not yet
• The two sides have agreed to celebrate the 50th in the public domain is a test for Indian diplomacy
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic re- and its engagement with the Indian diaspora.
lations in 2023.
• The well-being of Indians abroad should be the pri-
ority by reaching out personally to individuals in
Indian community: need or their families.
It is the largest expatriate group in Qatar which is estimat-
ed to be around 800,000 Indians. They are contributing in
a variety of areas, the most visible of which is the projects
related to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Economic ties:
In 2021, India was one of Qatar’s top four export destina-
tions, as well as one of the top three import sources. The
bilateral trade is about $15 billion, with over $13 billion in
LNG and LPG exports from Qatar.

Defence co-operation:
The India-Qatar Defence Cooperation Agreement, signed in Insta Links: Qatar’s isolation
2008 and officially described as a “pillar” of Indian-Qatar co-
operation, was extended for another five years in 2018.
• The pact included training of the QENF by India, as Mains Links:
well as mutual visits. Q. The question of India’s Energy Security constitutes the
• Two editions of a joint naval exercise called Zair Al most important part of India’s economic progress. Analyze
Bahr have been held. India’s energy policy cooperation with West Asian Coun-
tries. (UPSC 2017)

Recent challenges in the relationship: Prelims Links: (UPSC 2014)

India-Qatar ties in perspective of India-Arab relations:
Q. Turkey is located between
• The eruption of the Qatar diplomatic crisis in 2017
1. Black Sea and Caspian Sea
complicated India’s relations with the Arab Gulf
states. 2. Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea
• The Indian government referred to the rift as an in- 3. Gulf of Suez and Mediterranean Sea
ternal matter involving the Gulf Cooperation Council 4. Gulf of Aqaba and Dead Sea
(GCC) countries. Ans: 2
• The Saudi-led bloc’s closing of sea, land, and air
borders appeared to present Delhi with hurdles in
maintaining trading links with Qatar. INDIA-MALDIVES RELATION
• However, the feared negative consequences of the
dispute never occurred. After Delhi temporarily
Context:
halted exports to Qatar, normal commercial flows
The External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India visited Maldives
between the two countries resumed.
when the presidential election in Maldives is around the cor-
ner.
India is being painted as anti-Muslim:
The first major test of the relationship (after 2017) was a Background:
ruling party’s spokesperson’s derogatory references to the • The incumbent president’s (Solih) announcement to
Prophet on a TV show. Qatar was the first country to react run for a second term, has been opposed within his
and demand a “public apology” from India. party by former president and leader of the Maldivi-
an Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed.

www.insightsonindia.com 49
 • Though Solih’s foreign policy expressly roots for “In- Conclusion:
dia First”, he is also careful about not alienating Chi- • Maldives is an important player of India’s Indian
na. Ocean diplomacy. As a result, India cannot take the
• Yameen had a pro-China tilt and has run an anti-In- Maldives’ anti-India campaign for granted.
dia campaign (‘India Out’ campaign recently) alleg- • India should use its goodwill to persuade both citi-
ing that the MDP government has sold out to India zens and leaders of Maldives of the importance of
and permitted Indian troops to be based on Maldiv- India in Maldives’ development.
ian soil.

Quotes:
What happened during the EAM’s visit? “We are good neighbours. We are strong partners. We
• Inaugurated an international airport developed by have mutually invested in development and progress.
India ($ 136.6-million) at Hanimadhoo in Haaa Da- But we also together have responsibility for peace and
haalu atoll. security in the region.”- EAM Jaishankar
 This is India’s second largest infrastructure
project after the ($500 million) Greater
“Maldives–India relation, goes beyond diplomacy.
Male Connectivity project, which aims to
connect the Maldives capital to three neigh- Our values, our cultures, and our histories are inter-
bouring highlands. twined, making it a traditional relationship. Our cen-
 Both are prestige projects for Delhi that turies-old relationship is grown with political trust,
compete in scale with the Chinese-built economic cooperation and coherent strategic poli-
Male-Hulumale-Hulhule bridge and the Hu- cies between our two countries.”- Solih on his visit
lumale airport. to India in 2021
• Inaugurated an India-funded community centre In
the Foakaidhoo island in the nearby Shaviyani atoll.
• Handed over two sea ambulances to the Maldives
Defence Ministry. Insta Curious: China’s Debt-trap/cheque-book diplo-
• In the Manadhoo island of Noonu atoll, the two macy vs. India’s development cooperation and an em-
sides signed three MoUs, including - powerment model of diplomacy
 A proposed collaboration between Cochin
University and the Maldives National Uni-
versity, and
 A $100 million grant for “high impact com-
munity development” projects.
• The focus of the discussion was on development
cooperation, capacity building and people-to-peo-
ple ties.

Significance of Maldives for India:

• A country crucial to India’s interests in the Indian
Ocean.
• In the past five years, Delhi’s Neighbourhood First
and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Re-
gion) policies have found expression in the improve-
ment of ties.
• Maldives is part of the India-driven Colombo Secu-
rity Conclave.

India’s message to Maldives: Insta Links: India-Maldives relations

• India is a committed partner in the Maldives’s jour-
ney of progress and transformation. Mains Links:
• The “new disruptions” in the current geopolitics Q. Discuss the political developments in the Maldives in the
has made the collaboration even more important. last two years. Should they be of any cause of concern to
India? (UPSC 2013)

50 www.insightsonindia.com
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2014) portant trading partners in Africa, as they have had
Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from a bilateral trade agreement since 1978 based on the
each other by the ‘Ten Degree Channel’? most-favoured nation clause.
● Andaman and Nicobar • The bilateral trade has increased more than five
● Nicobar and Sumatra times (USD 7.26 billion in 2021-22 - a 75% increase
● Maldives and Lakshadweep from FY 2020-2021) in the past 10 years.
● Sumatra and Java
Other areas of cooperation:
Ans: 1 • Agriculture: Egypt is currently facing a shortage of
food grains as its major sources were the warring
Ukraine and Russia. In May last year, India- which
INDIA’S TIES WITH EGYPT had put a ban on the sale of wheat, allowed the ex-
port of 61,000 tonnes of wheat to Egypt.
Context: • Cyber security & IT
This is the first time that an Egyptian President (Abdel Fattah • Healthcare
El-Sisi) has been invited as chief guest for the Republic Day • Culture
celebrations in India. • Youth matters and Broadcasting

India-Egypt relations: Importance of the Egyptian President’s present visit:

History:
For Egypt For India
• India and Egypt share close political understanding
based on a long history of cooperation in bilateral, ● Egypt is facing a mas- ● India is looking at increas-
sive economic crisis ing investments in the
regional and global issues.
due to depleted forex country, especially in major
• Diplomatic relations were established in 1947 (com- reserves. infrastructure projects in
pleted 75 years in 2022). and around the Suez Canal,
● Egypt is eyeing more
• Friendship Treaty between the two countries led to tourist footfall from and special economic zones
the formation of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM in India to boost forex in Alexandria and Cairo.
1961) along with Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito. inflows into their tour-
• High-level exchanges with Egypt continued post ism-dependent econ-
2011 Egyptian Revolution omy.
• The new government led by President (Sisi) took ● Egypt is interested ● India is planning to sup-
over in 2014. in procuring defence ply LCA Tejas, missiles like
• When the Egyptian President paid a State visit to In- equipment from India. Akash, DRDO’s Smart An-
dia in 2016, a joint statement was issued, outlining ● A military contingent ti-Airfield Weapon and ra-
the three pillars- from the Egyptian dars.
 Political-security cooperation, Army will participate
 Economic engagement and scientific collab- in the Republic Day pa-
oration and rade.
 Cultural and people-people ties as the basis ● Education sector: the ● A proposal for establish-
of a new partnership for a new era. Indian higher edu- ing an IIT in Egypt is in the
The recent engagements: cational institutions works
• India has invited Egypt as a special guest for the are planning to set up
G-20 summit. campuses in Egypt
• Exercise Cyclone-I – first ever exercise between In- ● Egypt is viewed as ● Improving ties with Mus-
dian Army and Egyptian Army was held in Jaisalmer a moderate Islamic lim-majority countries
recently. voice by New Delhi
since it has made an
• India and Egypt agreed to elevate their bilateral ties
attempt over the years
to a “Strategic Partnership” covering political, secu-
to play a nuanced and
rity, defence, energy, and economic aspects.
positive role in the
57-member Organisa-
What’s the state of bilateral trade relations? tion of Islamic Cooper-
• Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most im- ation.

www.insightsonindia.com 51
 2. Lake Faguibine
Related Topic: Republic Day 2023 - How India chooses its
chief guest 3. Lake Oguta
Context: 4. Lake Volta
● Being invited as the chief guest at Republic Day Ans: 2
celebrations is the highest honour a country ac-
cords in terms of protocol and the ultimate sign Effect of policies and politics
of friendship.

How is the Republic Day chief guest chosen? ON THE LEGALITY OF ISRAEL’S OCCUPA-
● The process starts nearly six months in advance TION
of the event and all kinds of considerations (polit-
ical, commercial, military, and economic interests
of India) are taken into account by the Ministry of Context:
External Affairs (MEA) before extending the invi- The UNGA passed a resolution (India abstained from the
tation. vote) that asked the body’s highest court, the International
● Another factor for choosing Egypt: the association Court of Justice (ICJ), to render its opinion on the legal conse-
with the NAM which began in the late 1950s, ear- quences of Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian land.
ly 1960s.
● The first Chief Guest of the parade in 1950 was Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land:
President Sukarno of Indonesia, one of the five
founding members of the NAM.
● After due consideration, the MEA seeks the ap-
proval of the Prime Minister and the President on
the matter.
● The MEA does not choose one option but a list of
potential candidates and discretion is of utmost
importance.
● After a candidate is finalised, the Chief of Protocol
(Protocol Division, MEA) works on the details of
the programme and logistics.
• A UNGA resolution had sought to partition the Brit-
What is the significance of a Republic Day invite? Highly
ish mandate Palestine, which was rejected by the
symbolic from the Indian government’s perspective as the
Arabs.
choice is dictated by a number of reasons - strategic and
diplomatic, business interests, and international geo-pol- • The state of Israel was declared in 1948 → first Ar-
itics. ab-Israeli war (1948).
• Historically Palestine was divided into the -
 State of Israel (including West Jerusalem),
InstaCurious:
 West Bank (including East Jerusalem) that
The first ever IAF-EAF Joint Tactical Air Exercise, Dessert was taken over by Jordan and
Warrior, was held in Egypt in 2021.  Gaza Strip (controlled by Egypt).
• Tensions kept rising between Israel and Egypt, Jor-
Insta Links: Crafting a unique partnership with Africa dan, and Syria, which led to the six-day war of 1967.
• The war resulted in Israel capturing the -
Mains Links:  West Bank,
 Gaza Strip (Israel withdrew in 2005, howev-
Q. “If the last few decades were Asia’s growth story, the er, its external borders are still controlled by
next few are expected to be Africa’s.” In the light of this Israel and Egypt),
statement, examine India’s influence in Africa in recent  East Jerusalem,
years. (UPSC 2021)  Syria’s Golan Heights and
 Sinai Peninsula of Egypt (later returned to
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2022) Egypt).
Q. Which one of the lakes of West Africa has become dry and • Israel also declared the whole of Jerusalem as its
turned into a desert? “eternal, undivided capital”.
1. Lake Victoria

52 www.insightsonindia.com
Attempts to restore normalcy: the news in the context of the events related to
• The UNSC passed a resolution in late 1967 stating a) Central Asia
that Israel must withdraw from the territories it b) Middle East
seized in the war. c) South-East Asia
• However, it is yet to happen and the fate of Palestin- d) Central Africa
ian self-determination remains uncertain.
Ans: b

What does the recent resolution seek to do?

• It asked the ICJ to advise on the legal consequences META FINED UNDER EU’S GDPR
of -
 Israel’s occupation, settlement and annex- Context:
ation. • Meta has been slapped with fines totalling €390 mil-
 Israel’s measures aimed at altering the de- lion by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC)
mographic composition, character and sta- for breaching General Data Protection Regulation
tus of the Holy City of Jerusalem. (GDPR).
• There are two possibilities - the ICJ can either lead • Meta’s profit forecasts for 2023 have dropped near-
to a settlement between parties or it can lead to a ly 50%, indicating that both users and advertisers
trial followed by a verdict. While its rulings are bind- are abandoning the platforms (exception - of Insta-
ing, the ICJ has no power to enforce them. gram Reels and WhatsApp).

Conclusion: Background:
• The UN resolution coincides with the return of Ben- • The company’s advertising and data handling prac-
jamin Netanyahu as Israel’s Prime Minister for a sixth tices have been accused of breaching the EU’s over-
time. In his words, “Jewish people have an exclusive arching privacy law - GDPR.
and unquestionable right to all areas of the Land of • The legal permission that Meta sought from users
Israel.” to collect their data for personalised advertising, es-
• There are fears that the new hard-line regime will sentially forced them to accept personalised ads, in
bring damaging impacts for Palestinians. violation of the GDPR.
• As per the GDPR, cross-border cases are handled by
the data protection authority in the country where
the company is based.

Significance of the ruling:

• Strengthens the GDPR’s overarching theme - the
individual’s right over her data and the need for a
person to give explicit consent before their data can
Insta Links: India-Palestine relations: Ignoring the dispos- be processed.
sessed people goes against India’s anti-colonial legacy • The decision could imply that Meta would have to
tweak its apps to ensure that they do not leverage
Mains Links: personal data for advertising.
Q. “India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a
depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.” Discuss.
Impact of the ruling:
(UPSC 2018)
• The likely ripple effect: With a focus on privacy
and requiring individuals to give explicit consent,
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2015)
the GDPR has substantially influenced legislation in
Q. The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in

www.insightsonindia.com 53
 nearly 160 countries. What is the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee?
• Broadening individual’s right over her data: A pair • The committee is part of the UNSC and its job is to
of sub-legislation of GDPR - implement international sanctions against terror-
 The Digital Services Act (DSA) focuses on is- ists.
sues such as regulating hate speech, etc. • It was established as the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanc-
 The Digital Markets Act (DMA) defines a tions Committee in 1999 after UNSC Resolution
new category of “dominant gatekeeper” 1267 designated Al-Qaeda and the Taliban as terror-
platforms and is focused on non-competi- ist bodies.
tive practices and the abuse of dominance/
• In 2011, a separate committee was formed for the
monopoly by these players.
Taliban.

The possible impact of the ruling on India:

What does the UN’s blacklisting of terrorists imply?
• The Government of India is currently working on a
• Resolution 1267 was adopted under Chapter VII of
policy framework for the tech sector, which includes
the UN Charter and requires all UN member states
-
to -
 The new Personal Data Protection bill
 Freeze the assets,
 A comprehensive Digital India Act that
would eventually replace the existing IT Act,  Prevent the entry into or transit through
and their territories, and
 The new Telecom Bill  Prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale
and transfer of arms and military equipment
• Hence, the ruling could have resonance in India too. to any individual or entity associated with
Al-Qaida.
Insta Links: New draft digital data protection bill: How it • It is conducive to enhancing international coun-
compares with the older version and laws elsewhere terterrorism cooperation in response to terrorist
threats.

International institutions, agencies and fora

Significance for India:
• Threats from terrorist organisations in the region
BLACKLISTING OF TERRORISTS: WHAT remain high. (Makki being linked to seven terror at-
tacks in India)
DOES THIS MEAN? • Listings and sanctions by the UNSC are effective
tools to curb such threats and dismantle terror in-
Context: frastructure in the region.
• The UN Security Council’s (UNSC) 1267 Al Qaeda • It validates India’s commitment to a zero-tolerance
Sanctions Committee added Abdul Rehman Makki policy toward terrorism.
to its list of designated terrorists upon China with- • It will also inspire India to press the international
drawing its ‘technical hold’. community to take credible, verifiable, and irrevers-
• Pakistan-based Makki is the deputy chief of the ter- ible action against terrorism.
ror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and the brother-in-law of
its founder (Hafiz Saeed).

Background:
• During India’s two-year (2021-22) tenure at the
UNSC, five names were designated under the ISIL
and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee including Abdul
Rehman Makki.
• These names faced a “technical hold” from China,
while the other 14 members (permanent + non-per-
manent) of the UNSC supported the listing.
• India and the US have listed Makki as a terrorist un-
der their respective national laws.
• In October 2022, Pakistan was removed from the
FATF grey list.

54 www.insightsonindia.com
 FATF:
● It is an intergovernmental organisation founded
in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop pol-
icies to combat money laundering.
● In 2001, its mandate was expanded to include ter-
ror financing.
● Headquarters: It operates from Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
headquarters in Paris.
● Member Countries: It has 39 members (including
India) including two regional organisations - the
EU and GCC (Gulf cooperation council)
● Sessions: Its plenary (decision-making body)
meets three times per year.
What is Veto power in UNSC?
● Lists under FATF: The United Nations Security Council veto power: The five
○ Grey List: It serves as a warning for the permanent members of the UNSC (China, France, Russia,
countries considered a safe haven for the United Kingdom, and the United States) can veto any
supporting terror funding and money “substantive” resolution.
laundering.
○ Black List: High-risk countries and
Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories Why the need for Reforms in UNSC?
(NCCTs) are put on the blacklist. E.g., Iran, • Changing geopolitical realities: Since 1945, the Cold
the Democratic People’s Republic of Ko- War strategic influences have declined; the member-
rea (DPRK) and Myanmar. ship of the UN has increased almost fourfold and the
expectations of what the UN should do have grown.
• Overrepresentation: There is a huge European bias
Insta Links: Sanctions under the UN Security Council Reso-
in P-5 due to the presence of the United Kingdom
lution 1267
and France, including Russia.
• Under-representation: Regions like Latin America,
Mains Links: the Caribbean Group, the Arab World, and Africa do
Q. Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its not have a single permanent member
causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also, suggest mea- • Question of Veto: All five permanent members of
sures required to be taken to eradicate the menace of ter- the UNSC enjoy veto power. But the veto has been
rorism. (UPSC 2021) misused to put national interests ahead of glob-
al interests. Critics of the veto power say that it is
the most undemocratic element of the UN and the
UNSC: PARALYSED AND OUTDATED main cause of inaction on war crimes & crimes
against humanity, as it effectively prevents UN ac-
Context: tion against the permanent members and their al-
UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Csaba Korosi ex- lies. For E.g. in the current Russian case
pressed concern that the UN Security Council does not re- • Non-transparent and non-consultative manner of
flect today’s realities, is paralysed and is unable to discharge functioning.
its basic function of maintaining international peace and se- • North-South Inequality: Only China is representa-
curity. tive of the global south region, whereas the glob-
al north has four nations to represent them at the
What has happened now? UNSC.
Russia, a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN, at- • Growing stresses on the International System: geo-
tacked Ukraine. Russia has vetoed UNSC resolutions on political conflict, climate change, food and energy
Ukraine and voted against a resolution in the UNGA which insecurity, and pandemics have brought out the in-
called on countries not to recognise the four regions of equities and inadequacies of the way the world cur-
Ukraine that Russia has claimed. rently functions.

What is UNSC? Key reforms taken in recent times:

www.insightsonindia.com 55
 Conclusion:
The implementation of the Council’s decisions, and its very
legitimacy, could be enhanced if the Council was reformed
to be more representative, effective, efficient, accountable
and transparent.

Quote: “It’s clear that outdated systems that were cre-

ated to deal with the challenges of the past cannot be
expected to address the multitude of challenges of to-
day’s dynamic and interdependent world. The Security
Council can deliver effective solutions only if it gives a
voice to the voiceless rather than zealously guarding
the status quo of the mighty.” --Deputy Permanent
Representative to the United Nations Security Council
Why India should be given a UNSC seat:
Ambassador R Ravindra
• India’s culture and worldview resonate with the
UN’s vision
• India’s extensive association with the UN since its Insta Links: UNSC
inception
Mains Links: Q. Analyze the factors that lend credibility
• India’s democratic values and credibility of being to India in assuming a permanent seat at the UN Security
the largest democracy Council, amid calls for its reforms. (10M)
• India’s intrinsic strength – Most populous country,
Fifth largest economy and Responsible Nuclear pow-
er GS3
• India as the leader of the ‘Global South’
• Contribution to peacekeeping Indian Economy
• The active role played on various issues of emerging
importance in the UN
INDIAN RUPEE’S FALL AGAINST THE US
DOLLAR
India’s Efforts for reforms:
• India’s NORMS reform (New orientation for a re-
formed multilateral system) in the changing archi-
Context:
The Indian rupee depreciated by around 10% against the US
tecture of global governance, including the UNSC
dollar in 2022.
• As an advocate of the ‘Global South’
• G4 and L69: G-4 (India, Brazil Germany and Japan)
Depreciation reduces the value of a country’s currency when
and L.69 (A group of like-minded countries from
compared with the currency of other countries (say $), mea-
Asia, Africa and Latin America) have tried to push
sured by the exchange rate of the local currency (wrt $)
UNSC for reforms and expansion
• The Indian strategy of “revisionist integration” into
the Security Council consists of two components: The performance of the Indian rupee in 2022 -
(see below image) Worst-performing Asian currency in 2022:
• It witnessed a fall of around 10% against the US dol-
lar, falling to a lifetime low of 83.2 the dollar.
• Compared to the rupee, the Chinese Yuan, Philip-
pine Peso and Indonesian Rupiah fell by around 9%
and the South Korean Won and Malaysian Ringgit
declined by nearly 7 and 6%, respectively.

Reason for this decline in India:

• The US Fed aggressively raised interest rates (by
425 basis points (bps) in 2022) in its fight against in-
flation, leading to a higher interest rate differential
between the US and India

56 www.insightsonindia.com
 • As a result, investors pulled out money from the do-
mestic market and started investing in the US mar- Insta Links: Why is it essential to contain domestic infla-
ket to take advantage of higher rates. tion?
• For example, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) pulled
out Rs 1.34 lakh crore from the Indian markets in Mains Links:
2022, putting pressure on the rupee.
Q. How would the recent phenomena of protectionism and
• The Russian invasion of Ukraine accentuated the
currency manipulations in world trade affect the macroeco-
FPI withdrawals with the global economic slowdown
nomic stability of India? (UPSC 2018)
making inflows tougher.

Prelims Links: (UPSC 2022)

Steps taken to arrest this decline: With reference to the Indian economy, consider the follow-
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) heavily intervened ing statements:
in the foreign exchange (forex) market to defend the
1. An increase in Nominal Effective Exchange Rate
rupee.
(NEER) indicates the appreciation of the rupee.
• As a result, the country’s forex reserves have fallen
2. An increase in the Real Effective Exchange Rate
by $70 billion ($562.81 billion as of December 23, (REER) indicates an improvement in trade compet-
2022) since the beginning of 2022. itiveness.
• However, the central bank is now starting to again 3. An increasing trend in domestic inflation relative to
build up its reserves and that would act as a buffer inflation in other countries is likely to cause an in-
in times of uncertainty. creasing divergence between NEER and REER.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
The outlook on the rupee for 2023: India remains the fast- 1. 1 and 2 only
est-growing economy and Indian Rupee will recover 2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Ans: 3

Explanation: An increase in the Real Effective Exchange Rate

(REER) indicates a loss in trade competitiveness. An increase
in the REER implies that exports become more expensive
and imports become cheaper.

MFIS PRIME ROLE IN INDIA’S ECONOM-

IC GROWTH

Context:
As per the study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers
(PwC) and the Association of Microfinance Institutions of In-
dia, Microfinance institutions (MFI), will play a leading role in
the growth process of India.

What are MFIs?

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are financial companies
that provide small loans to people who do not have any
access to banking facilities. The definition of “small loans”
varies between countries. In India, all loans that are below
Rs. 1 lakh can be considered microloans.

The Origin:
Microfinance institutions (MFIs) came into being in the 90s
as banks’ reluctance to lend to those without credit history

www.insightsonindia.com 57
provided an opportunity to those willing to take the risk and • Minimal or no regulatory structure breeds an envi-
organize rural communities. ronment where customers are increasingly dissat-
isfied with microfinance services, culminating in the
Andhra Pradesh crisis in 2010.
• Regulatory role of RBI wrt MFIs: RBI more or less ca-
ters to commercial and traditional banks more than
it helps MFIs.
• Very little regulation exists for NGO-MFIs and Co-
operatives
• Delinquency among microfinance borrowers
• Dependence on commercial banks
• Over-indebtedness of MFIs
• MFIs have strayed away from their original purpose
of poverty alleviation and social empowerment to
short-term profit-making.
• MFIs are harassing their clients who are usually too
desperate to turn away from the credit being of-
fered. This is true even when credit comes with the
catch of high repayment rates.

Way forward
• MFIs must adopt more flexible operating models,
providing skills training, and offering services such
as the portability of accounts.
Significance of microfinance institutions in the econ-
• RBI’s new regulatory framework for Microfinance
omy
institutions: RBI has recently released its Consul-
• Empowerment of women: About 95 per cent of
tative Document on the Regulation of the Microfi-
loan products extended by microfinance institutions
nance sector aimed at protecting and empowering
are given to women, as well as those with disabil-
borrowers.
ities.
• A diversified menu of microloan products linked
• Access to credit esp. for the poor: It has acted as a
to sustainable income generation activities via mi-
financial support system to low-income households
cro-enterprises or the creation of community-based
by offering credit access to six crore borrowers in
pooled enterprises could make it more attractive
the last few years.
and compatible with the requirements of women.
• Poverty alleviation: Microfinance disrupts the cycle
• Linking developmental initiatives to an institution
of poverty by making more money available. They
(hand-holding) to nurture, monitor, and handhold
provide easy credit and offer small loans to custom-
those activities in the formative stages is crucial for
ers, without any collateral.
sustainability.
• Savings in rural households: It helps the poor and
marginalized section of society by making them
aware of the financial instruments available for Conclusion
their help and also helps in developing a culture of As per the World Bank estimates, more than 500 million
saving. people have improved their economic conditions via micro-
• Creating employment finance-related entities. Strengthening the credit check and
debt collection processes and educating the villagers about
• Social benefits: Families benefiting from microloans
products and consequences is important.
are more likely to provide better and continued ed-
ucation for their children and quality healthcare fa-
cilities for family members. Insta links: Microfinance Regulations
• Digitization: From 2017 onwards, the Indian MFI
industry embraced the digital route by using online
Mains Links:
delivery channels, mobile banking and e-wallets.
Q. By highlighting the significance of microfinance insti-
tutions in the economy, analyze if the present regulatory
Issues concerning MFI: framework can effectively manage these institutions. (15M)

58 www.insightsonindia.com
 START-UPS POWERING INDIA’S SPACE take up end-to-end activities in these do-
mains
ODYSSEY 2.0

Context: Private players’ entry will support the Indian space In-
With the space sector opening up, start-ups have begun to dustry in the following ways:
rapidly transform the industry. • Participation in the private sector will give rise to
new innovations and technology.
• It will provide an opportunity to harness the talent
pool in the country, by providing them with im-
mense opportunities for exploration.
• A reduction in the cost of operation with efficient
practices, building a supply chain to accommodate
the downstream players.
• Also, it will allow procuring non-Indian orbital re-
sources to build their space-based systems for com-
munication services in and outside India.

Private players find smaller satellite markets a more lucra-

tive option.

Advantages of smaller satellites:

• Smaller satellites use industry-grade rather than
space-grade components.
• These smaller satellites are parked closer to earth,
where radiation is lower and have a shorter lifespan.
• Moreover, while an INSAT class satellite will cost at
least ₹400 crores, smaller satellites can be built for
Measures for encouraging the private sector in the just ₹10 crores
space programme: • Above all, they do not need large launch vehicles
• Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisa- such as the PSLV or GSLV, which cost ₹300 crore and
tion Centre (IN-SPACe) in Ahmedabad. ₹450 crores, respectively.
 IN-SPACe is an autonomous, single-window • Potential: According to European Space Agency
nodal agency; formed to promote, autho- data, anywhere between 70,000 to 100,000 satel-
rise, monitor and supervise the space activ-
ities of Non-Governmental Private Entities lites will be launched in the next 15 years and over
(NGPEs) in India. 80% will be small satellites weighing less than 500
 With the formation of IN-SPACE, over 100 kg.
companies have come up in this sector and
in 2022 they raised as much as $110 million.
Role of ISRO in the Private space industry:
• Reforms in the space sector enable more private • The private sector will rely on ISRO for infrastruc-
players to provide end-to-end services. ture—be it launch facilities, tracking systems, tech-
• NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), is mandated to transfer nology transfers and capacity building
the matured technologies developed by the ISRO to • ISRO will focus on non-commercial greater com-
Indian industries. plexity scientific missions such as focusing on
• Change in strategy: the present supply-based mod- deep-space missions and putting an Indian in space
el has been changed to a demand-driven model, through its Gaganyaan mission.
wherein NSIL shall act as an aggregator of user re- • ISRO has set up NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) to han-
quirements and obtain commitments. dle the commercial end of the business.
• Regulatory regime: • ISRO is the 6th largest space agency in the world and
 The first to be updated was the SpaceCom holds an exceptional success rate
and SpaceRS policies, further liberalizing • Indian Space Association (ISpA): ISpA aspires to be
the traditional Satellite Communication and
the collective voice of the Indian Space industry.
Remote Sensing sectors, respectively, thus
enabling entrepreneurs and industries to • The introduction of the Indian Space Activities Bill

www.insightsonindia.com 59
 will give greater clarity to private players on how to (a) 1 only
be an integral part of the space sector. (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 3 only
Limitations of the private sector in space:
Ans: A
• Policy Bottlenecks: India is yet to legislate specific
The satellites in geosynchronous orbits appear to remain
space laws to regulate the private sector. Hence,
permanently fixed in the same position in the sky. Hence,
ensuring openness and clarity about the working
statement 2 is not correct.
framework becomes difficult in the current situa-
tion. GSLV-Mk III is a three-stage launch vehicle with four liquid
strap-ons. The indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper
• Monopolization: Space is capital intensive industry,
Stage (CUS), forms the third stage of GSLV Mk III.
and only a few rich corporates can afford the invest-
ment. Hence, accommodating all players and ensur-
ing an equitable platform becomes difficult. Economy and issues relating to development.
• Funding: India’s space budget of $1.7 billion (in
2022) was minuscule compared to the US’s $30 bil-
lion and China’s $14 billion (which includes $1 billion KEN-BETWA RIVER LINK PROJECT
from its private players).
• Profit Motive: Space in general, should be an en- Context:
abler of Technological equity for citizens. This aspect The Steering Committee of the Ken-Betwa Link Project
becomes difficult to ensure when private entities (KBLP), chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Wa-
operate with profit interest. ter Resources, Ministry of Jal Shakti, held its third meeting
• Intellectual property issue: The lack of a robust recently.
space-centric IPR policy in India, raises issues regard-
ing sharing and diversification of space resources.
What is the KBLP?

Conclusion
At present, India needs a space policy, which can be clear
and liberal on private players. With this proposed new policy
for space, India wants to tap into the private sector, which
could help the industry grow.

Insta Links
Mains Links:
Q. The mission Prarambh, marks the Indian private sector’s
first foray into the promising space launch market, opening
opportunities for the privatisation of space which is heavily
dominated by ISRO. Discuss.

Prelims Links: • It is a “flagship” project that is critical for the water

Q. With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, con- security and socio-economic development of the
sider the following statements: (UPSC 2018) Bundelkhand region (of MP and UP).
1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resourc- • The link will be in the form of a canal that will be fed
es monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to by the new Daudhan Dam on the Ken, to be built
launch communication satellites. within Panna Tiger Reserve.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain perma- • The dam will generate 103 MW of hydroelectric
nently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed power and is expected to irrigate 6.3 lakh hectares
from a particular location on Earth. of land every year.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first
and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the sec- Concerns:
ond and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. • Hydrological and ecological concerns: The ‘surplus
and deficit’ model has little basis in science (as these
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? could be seasonal phenomena too) and it may en-

60 www.insightsonindia.com
 danger the water security of the Panna district (Ken becoming a reality in the country. Discuss the advantages
- a non-perennial river). of river linking and its possible impact on the environment.
 The project has not yet received a complete (UPSC 2017)
forest clearance.
 The NGT is currently hearing a challenge to
the project’s environmental approval. FIGHTING THE BIG G
• The legal problems:
 Approval by the National Board for Wildlife
Context:
violates Section 35(6) of the Wildlife (Pro- Google began to change the business model used in India
tection) Act 1972 - improvement and better to push its Android operating system (OS) and the Google
management of wildlife. Play Store.
 According to the SC, the creation of a high • The change was triggered by the Supreme Court set-
reservoir dam on the Ken River in the Panna ting January 26 as the deadline for Google to comply
National Park and Tiger Reserve for the KBLP with the Competition Commission of India’s rulings.
is ultra vires to the WPA 1972.
 The destructive impact of the proposed dam
on the flow of water into and outside of the The Changes made by Google:
Ken Gharial Sanctuary (downstream of the • In the new model, instead of creating a bouquet
Panna national park) is evident. of apps, smartphone makers can license individual
• Impact on Panna’s tigers and other wildlife: apps from Google.
 The deep gorges of Panna will be drowned if • Google’s search engine will not necessarily be
the new dam is built. the default setting.
 By 2009, there were no tigers in the Panna
Tiger Reserve, necessitating an incredible
effort that lasted almost a decade to rein- What is the ‘walled garden approach’ adopted by Goo-
troduce them. gle:
 The key wildlife species that will be affected Android’s dominance (under-walled garden approach) is
include endangered vultures, mahseer fish, based on a complex model of cross-subsidies. Google offers
and the critically endangered Gangetic gh- free services such as a search engine and email, thereby
arial (Gavialis gangeticus) in the Ken Ghari-
al Sanctuary. making a huge user base. This user base is then monetised
for advertising revenue. Even third-party apps cannot
all wish away Google. Google controls both sides of this
Way ahead: advertising ecosystem- the users as well as third-party app
• The government is developing a larger ‘Panna Tiger developers, making it a walled garden.
Landscape’.
• An “independent” hydrological investigation of the Initiatives taken to break Google’s monopoly:
Ken. • South Korea: It imposed curbs on the proprietary
• Restoring Bundelkhand’s erstwhile Chandel-period billing system of Google and Apple.
lakes and ponds. • EU’s upcoming Digital Markets Act: It will pre-
• The developmental project should not destroy the vent “gatekeepers” from engaging in anti-competi-
ecology of fragile ecosystems and important tiger tive behaviour. It will no longer be business as usual
habitats in the country. for the Android OS ecosystem
• The approach should be eco-centric and not an- Previously, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had
thropocentric. imposed a penalty on Alphabet-owned Google for “abusing
its dominant position” in markets related to the Android
Conclusion: mobile device ecosystem.
Due diligence and expert scrutiny during the project-approv- • The CCI stated that Google contravened competi-
al stage are cornerstones of sound environmental gover- tion law due to mandatory pre-installation of the
nance. entire Google Mobile Suite (GMS) and there was no
option to uninstall the same.
Insta Links: Ken-Betwa link project
What are anti-trust laws?
Mains Links: Antitrust laws are regulations that encourage competition
by limiting the market power of any particular firm. Essen-
Q. Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is

www.insightsonindia.com 61
tially, these laws prohibit business practices that unreason- Nature of work during the COVID-19 crisis:
ably deprive consumers of the benefits of competition, re- • Flexible working hours.
sulting in higher prices for products and services. In India, • Short-time work and work-sharing measures.
The Competition Act, 2002 regulates such activities. • Increased working hours in the healthcare or phar-
maceutical industries.
About CCI • Teleworking contributed to the pandemic response
The Competition Commission of India (CCI, constitut- by reducing social contact.
ed in 2009) is a statutory body of the Government of • Great resignation phenomenon: It is an ongoing
India responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, economic trend (beginning in early 2021) in which
2002. The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices employees (most likely in hospitality, healthcare,
Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) was repealed and replaced by the and education sectors) have voluntarily resigned
Competition Act, 2002, on the recommendations of the from their jobs in mass, in the wake of the pandemic.
Raghavan committee.  The most cited reasons are work-life imbal-
• It consists of one Chairperson and six Mem- ances, wage stagnation amid the rising cost
bers who shall be appointed by the Central Government. of living, limited opportunities for career ad-
• The Competition Act, 2002 (amended in 2007) vancement, hostile work environments, etc.
prohibits anti-competitive agreements, and abuse of
dominant position by enterprises and regulates com-
binations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), Impact: Inclusive short-time work schemes with the highest
which cause or are likely to cause an appreciable ad- possible allowances -
verse effect on competition within India.
• Enabled individuals as well as companies, enterpris-
es and industries to collectively reduce the hours or
Insta Links: Apple faces antitrust case in India over apps is- volume of work.
sue
• Sustained purchasing power and created the possi-
bility of cushioning the effects of economic crises.
Prelims link • Laid the ground for a better and more healthy work-
1. What is an anti-trust case? life balance.
2. CCI- roles, responsibilities and functions • Teleworking helped in maintaining organisational
operations and preserving jobs.
3. Important anti-trust-related cases
4. Competition Commission Act
Suggestions by the ILO:
• ILO member countries need to prescribe policies
Mains link: necessary to remedy the weaknesses of work-
Q. Ensuring fair competition in the Indian digital market ing-time instruments that became apparent during
is in the best interest of every stakeholder involved. Com- the pandemic.
ment. (10M) • Large-scale implementation of telework nearly ev-
erywhere in the world to change the nature of em-
Employment ployment in the near future.

Conclusion:
REMOTE WORK SAVED JOBS DURING • The ‘Great Resignation’ phenomenon has placed
COVID: ILO REPORT work-life balance at the forefront of social and la-
bour market issues in the post-pandemic world.
Context: • There is a substantial amount of evidence that work-
• A report titled ‘Working Time and Work-Life Bal- life balance policies provide significant benefits to
ance Around the World’ has been recently released enterprises, and such policies are a ‘win-win’ for
by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). both employers and employees.
• This first-ever ILO global report on working time fo-
cuses on the actual number of hours of work, work- What is ‘Great Resignation’?
ing-time arrangements and their implications for The Great Resignation, also known as the ‘Big Quit’ and the ‘Great
work-life balance. Reshuffle’, is an ongoing economic trend in which employees have
voluntarily resigned from their jobs en masse, beginning in early
2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights of the report: • A record 4.3 million people resigned in August 2021, up

62 www.insightsonindia.com
 2,42,000 from July, according to the US Bureau of Labor Sta- India-specific findings in the report:
tistics (BLS). • There are now 166 billionaires, up from 106 in 2020.
• The top (30%) earners hold the majority (90%) of
the wealth.

Ramifications of the above findings:

• This can stir the debate for an equalising wealth tax
(a progressive wealth tax where the tax rate increas-
es as the wealth of an individual increase. The goal is
to redistribute wealth and reduce inequality among
citizens.)
• Oxfam argues that indirect taxes are regressive and
suggests -
 A wealth tax - a tax on unrealised capital
gains and higher taxes on corporates.
 Tax on incomes, capital gains and wealth
Underlying factors: are interrelated and the changes cannot be
• COVID Pandemic has led to people working from home, recommended in isolation.
and many resigned to take care of their loved ones during Tax collection depends upon The mix of taxes that a country
periods of sickness. raises as a function of its institutional capacity, the structure
• Burnout: Working from home and being double burdened of the tax base and the desire for simplification.
with psycho-social issues due to isolation and low-leisure
time also led to burnout feeling.
• Anti-work movement: It grew strong in 2021 and im- Case of India - The report raises two important points:
provement in labour conditions and wage hikes were key
• The lower corporate tax rate in lieu of incentives
demands that not being met resulted in resignation.
• Gig economy: Freelance and gig work became strong and the introduction of GST - a costly experiment of
during the pandemic period and many sought gig works tax policy in India.
and moonlighting in new fields.  The corporate tax cuts brought the statutory
• Skilling: moonlighting in new fields also meant leaving tax rate down from 30 to 25.17%, leading to
the conventional job to acquire new skills. a revenue loss of Rs 1.03 lakh crore.
• The GST and its disproportionate impact on the low-
est earners.
Insta Links: New labour codes give a free hand to employ-  The bottom 50% pays six times more indi-
ers: Unions rect tax as compared to the top 10%.
 The current income tax system exempts in-
Mains Links: comes up to Rs 5 lakh from tax and the GST
rate structure places a higher burden on
Q. Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work from Home’ luxuries.
on family relationships. (UPSC 2022)

Inclusive growth and issues. Issues with the Oxfam report’s calculation:
• Although the report carries the right message about
rising inequalities and the need for tax reform, it
OXFAM INEQUALITY REPORT ON gets lost in assumptions.
 For example, India will gain 10% more in
WEALTH TAX taxes than it currently collects indirect taxes
from the introduction of the wealth tax.
Context: • Wealth tax has historically been utilised by nations,
• Evidence of “excessive” wealth concentration and including India, but the revenues were dismal, mak-
uneven income growth is mentioned in the recently ing it an expensive tax to operate.
released Oxfam “Survival of the Richest” report. • Hence, a compartmentalised approach to tax poli-
• The gap in income recovery between the top in- cy that links several taxes that are levied against the
come categories and those at the bottom as a result same base is meaningless.
of the economic crisis post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Way ahead:

www.insightsonindia.com 63
Taxes do not always solve problems, and it is important to
consider the impact of other macroeconomic measures like
low-interest rates and regulatory actions.

Conclusion:
Rather than depending on a tax that depends heavily on
volatile asset values, the same goal can be achieved with a
gradual increase in wealth and income of all. This will reduce
inequalities without penalising the corporates.

InstaCurious: The Gini index measures the extent to

which the distribution of income among individuals or
households within an economy deviates from a perfect-
ly equal distribution. A Gini index of 0 represents perfect Initiatives towards Circular Economy:
equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequali- • Global:
ty. For India, it was 35.7 in 2019(World Bank Data)  Germany and Japan have made the ‘Circular
Economy’ part of their economic planning
 China’s Circular Economy Promotion Law
Insta Links: Inequality in India
• India:
 Recognition of the circular economy con-
Mains Links: cept in the 2022-23 Budget
Q. “Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid  Vehicle Scrappage Policy 2022: Private vehi-
and inclusive economic growth.” Discuss in light of India’s cles older than 20 years will be deregistered
experience. (UPSC 2021) from June 1, 2024, if they fail the fitness
test or their registration certificate is not re-
newed.
INCLUSIVE CIRCULAR ECONOMY  Niti Aayog along with the EU has prepared a
strategy paper on ‘Resource Efficiency’
Context:  Battery Waste Management Rules 2022
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)  Plastic Waste Management (Amendment)
launched a campaign to drive an inclusive circular economy Rules 2022
as part of its initiative to promote sustainability.  e-Waste Management Rules 2022

Key features of the campaign: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates

• The project is a scale-up of existing partnership un-
der UNDP’s flagship Plastic Waste Management
Programme.
• End-to-end management of plastic waste by pro-
moting:
 Segregation of waste at the source
 Collection of the segregated waste
 Setting up Material Recovery Facilities
(MRFs) for recycling all kinds of plastic
waste.
• Partnership with the Private sector will also help
build the capacities of Urban Local Bodies for adopt-
ing the MRFs or Swachhta Kendra.
• Collaboration between municipal corporations,
corporates, Safai Saathis, and people.
• Reach out to 100,000 households for segregation at
the source

7 Pillars of Circular economy:

64 www.insightsonindia.com
 Forces that shape a Budget
Inst Curious: • Demand for a lower rate of taxation and/or a high-
The Kabadiwala (a startup) was founded in 2014 and er rate of exemptions. In other words, people and
offered free doorstep scrap collection services to house- firms lobby to get their tax burden reduced.
holds, retailers, and industries in Bhopal. • Demands from people/firms wanting higher or
newer subsidies.
• Demands which are antagonistic to the first two
Insta Links: categories. They demand that the government
Clean energy should use the battery of a circular economy cuts down on its fiscal deficit (essentially the total
amount of money the government borrows from
the market in order to bridge the gap between its
Mains Links:
total expenditure and its total receipts).
Q. Explain the concept of the circular economy. Giving ex-
amples, discuss its utility in India. (250 Words)
In Parliament, the Budget goes through six stages:
• Presentation of Budget.
Government Budgeting.
• General discussion.
• Scrutiny by Departmental Committees.
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF A UNION BUD- • Voting on Demands for Grants.
GET • Passing an Appropriation Bill.
• Passing of Finance Bill.
Context:
On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will Inst Curious:
present the Union Budget for the next financial year (2023-
• RK Shanmukham Chetty presented the 1st Union
24). Here are the basics of Union Budget.
Budget of independent India on Nov 26, 1947.
• Till 2017 Rail Budget and Union Budget came
Constitutional Provisions separately (Done through Acworth Committee –
• Article 112 of Indian Constitution: The Union Bud- 1924) but now both are merged together.
get for a year is referred to as the Annual Financial • Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gand-
Statement (AFS). hi are the only prime ministers to have presented
• It is a statement of the estimated receipts and ex- a Budget.
penditures of the Government in a Financial Year. • The date of the Union Budget presentation was
• The Budget Division of the Department of Economic changed in 2017 by then finance minister Arun
Affairs in the Ministry of Finance is the nodal body Jaitley from ‘last working day of February’ to
responsible for preparing the Budget. ‘February 1’.
• On 1st Feb 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitha-
Any budget essentially provides some details. raman presented the first paperless budget. This
• The total receipts, Ways and means to raise the rev- was done due to the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic
enue :The total amount of money that the govern- in India.
ment will raise in the coming year.
• Total expenditure: The total amount of money it will
Insta Links: The budgeting process in India
spend.
• Fiscal deficit: The total amount of money it will bor-
row from the market to plug the gap between what Prelims Link: UPSC 2016
it spends and what it earns. Q. Which of the following is/are included in the capital bud-
• Details of the actual receipts and expenditure of the get of the Government of India?
closing financial year and the reasons for any deficit 1. Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, build-
or surplus in that year, and ings, machinery, etc,
• The economic and financial policy of the coming 2. Loans received from foreign governments
3. Loans and advances granted to the States and Union Ter-
year, i.e., taxation proposals, prospects of reve-
ritories
nue, spending programme and introduction of new
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
schemes/projects.
(a) 1 only

www.insightsonindia.com 65
(b) 2 and 3 only gramme to encourage gardening in houses, schools,
(c) 1 and 3 only and government and private institutions.
(d) 1, 2 and 3 • Tamil Nadu government’s “do-it-yourself” kit for
Solution: D city dwellers to grow vegetables on rooftops, houses
and apartment buildings under its Urban Horticul-
ture Development Scheme.
Mains Link: • Bihar has encouraged terrace gardening in five
Q. Distinguish between Capital Budget and Revenue Bud- smart cities through subsidies for input costs.
get. Explain the components of both these Budgets. (UPSC
2021)
Concerns:
• Lack of a strong policy for urban farming.
Agricultural produce
• Rapid urbanisation is also a hindrance. Eg.: Jaunti
village in Delhi, has become an ‘urban village’, mak-
ing its land non-agricultural.
CULTIVATED IDEA: URBAN FARMING

Context: Way ahead:

The “Draft Citizen’s Policy for Urban Agriculture in Delhi” by • Integrating all efforts to promote urban farming is
Delhi-based research non-profit People’s Resource Centre, the key.
was submitted to the Delhi government to provide a holistic • There is a need to make urban agriculture viable.
framework for urban farming. • Farming in urban spaces (water scarcity and pollu-
tion) is not easy.
Background: • Using wastewater (directly or recycled) can address
• Produce cultivated in the city provides 60% of Del- water scarcity and pollution.
hi’s demands for meat, 25% of its milk, and 15% of • Innovative techniques, say, hydroponics (offers a
its vegetable requirements. cleaner approach), can be further promoted.
• However, the National Capital’s land use and farm-  Hydroponics is a method of soilless farm-
ing policies do not take into account how food is ing that uses nutrient solutions to sustain
grown and distributed in urban areas. plants.
 Compared to commercial farming, hydro-
ponics requires 90% less water, which can
Draft Citizen’s Policy for Urban Agriculture in Delhi: be reused. One can grow more plants in the
• Promoting residential and community farming space given.
through rooftop and kitchen gardens,
• Allocating vacant land for agricultural use Conclusion:
• Creating a market Urban farming cannot sustain the large population, but can
• Developing policies for animal rearing and spreading act as a cushion to protect urban residents from inflation,
awareness. vulnerabilities of weather or crises such as COVID-19. Before
Significance: more villages become urban, early interventions can result
• Rapid urbanisation, population explosion and cli- in a sustainable system.
mate change increase the risk of food shortage.
• The M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (2010 Insta Links: Regenerative agriculture: A step towards water
report) notes that 50% of women and children in conservation
urban areas are anaemic due to a lack of adequate
nutrition.
Mains Links:
• In 2020, the UN FAO acknowledged that urban and
peri-urban farming can contribute to local food and Q. How far is the Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in
nutritional needs, enable jobs and reduce poverty. sustaining agricultural production? (UPSC 2019)

Prelims Links: (UPSC 2021)

Steps taken in India to promote urban agriculture: In the context of India’s preparation for Climate-smart Ag-
• Pune’s civic administration’s city farming project to riculture, consider the following statements:
train and encourage people to take up farming. 1. The ‘Climate-Smart Village’ approach in India is a
• Kerala government’s vegetable development pro- part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture

66 www.insightsonindia.com
 and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research pro- • To increase financing sources, promote the Made
gramme. in India brand, enhance local value addition and the
2. The project of CCAFS is carried out under the Con- country’s credibility as a source of quality products.
sultative Group on International Agricultural Research • It has suggested various ways for wider access to
(CGIAR) headquartered in France. finance for the industry such as setting up -
3. The International Crops Research Institute for the  A development finance institution to pro-
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’s vide finance at competitive rates and
research centres.  Considering using some part of forex re-
Which of the statements given above are correct? serves for such funding.
1. 1 and 2 Only • An integrated investment promotion strategy in-
2. 2 and 3 Only volving district, state, national and international
3. 1 and 3 Only market synergies.
4. 1, 2 and 3 • Creating a national digital grid, developing a robust
Ans: 4 data protection regime, setting up a technology
fund, and creating a task force to continuously iden-
tify skill gaps.
Changes in industrial policy and their effects on indus- • Strengthening of the export finance systems for en-
trial growth. hancing export competitiveness.

ONE NATION-ONE STANDARD Other suggestions in the proposed policy:

• Providing performance-based loans and incentives
Context: for innovation and green growth;
• The Department for Promotion of Industry and In- • Leveraging fintech;
ternal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Indus- • Encouraging MSMEs to choose the corporate bond
try, is working on a new industrial policy. market;
• This will be the third industrial policy (after 1956 • Accepting intellectual property rights as collaterals
and 1991), which is likely to replace the 1991 policy, for loans;
which was prepared against the backdrop of the bal- • Enabling supply chain financing;
ance of payment crisis. • Encouraging microfinance institutions to form co-
operative groups and finance micro-enterprises at
affordable rates.
Objectives of the New Industrial Policy:
• In order to address issues and challenges of the in- • Rolling out social security schemes for women
dustry, the policy has identified the following objec- workers
tives - • Inclusion of labour-intensive industries under the
 Focus on competitiveness and capability; production-linked incentive scheme.
 Economic integration and moving up the
global value chain; Insta Links: Why an industrial policy is crucial
 Promoting India as an attractive investment
destination;
 Nurturing innovation and entrepreneur- Mains Links:
ship; and Q. “Industrial growth rate has lagged behind in the overall
 Achieving global scale and standards. growth of Gross-Domestic-Product (GDP) in the post-re-
form period” Give reasons. How far are the recent chang-
es in Industrial Policy capable of increasing the industrial
The proposals of the New Industrial Policy: growth rate? (UPSC 2017)
• It seeks to achieve -
 One Nation-One Standard, Prelims Links: (UPSC 2018)
 Promote startups in every district, Q. Increase in absolute and per capita, real GNP do not
 Create startup innovation zones at the level connote a higher level of economic development, if
of urban local bodies,
(a) industrial output fails to keep pace with agricultural
 Formulation of a national capacity develop-
output.
ment program, and
 Incentivise Indian speciality products by (b) agricultural output fails to keep pace with industrial
creating premium international brands. output.

www.insightsonindia.com 67
 (c) poverty and unemployment increase. regulate the circulation of fake news or rumours that
(d) imports grow faster than exports. can cause panic among citizens.
Ans: c • The Indian Penal Code of 1860 regulates fake news
that causes riots and information that causes defa-
mation.
FAKE NEWS REGULATION
Challenges in curbing fake news:
Context: • At present, there are a total of 692 million active
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technol- internet users in India, including 351 million from
ogy (MeitY) proposed a draft rule - Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of rural India and 341 million from urban India (IAMAI
the amended version of the IT (Intermediary Guide- Report 2022, titled – Internet in India).
lines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.
 Due to end-to-end encryption of messag-
• The proposed rule requires social media platforms es, third parties will not have any access to
to take down content that has been “fact-checked” these messages.
by the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) fact-check  Hence, such fake news comes to the atten-
unit (or any other agency authorised by the Central tion of the administration only if it is report-
Government) as false. ed.
• There is no dedicated fake news law.
Background: • The use of internet shutdowns to curb the spread-
The amended version of the IT Rules 2021 was enlarged to ing of fake news has been an effective way.
include the removal of fake news from online intermediaries.
The larger issue of fake news in India: Concerns related to Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the amended version
of the IT Rules 2021:
Meaning: • Anything contradicted by the government might be
• Fake news is any piece of misleading maliciously used to justify-content takedowns.
false information circulating through print media, • The PIB’s fact-checking unit (established in 2019)
electronic media or social media. verifies news about government ministries, depart-
• ‘Yellow Journalism’ and ‘Tabloid Journalism’ are ments, and schemes.
the terms used for fake news.  But it rarely explains why information has
been identified as false or misleading and,
on some occasions, it tweeted incorrect in-
Motive: formation.
• To increase their viewership and TRP through
eye-catching headlines and cooked-up news.
Way ahead
• To spread propaganda/personal agenda/image
• A very strict fake news law is the need of the hour.
building/defaming someone.
• Linking Aadhar to social media accounts, as sug-
gested by Attorney General could be helpful.
Impact: • Being a digitally responsible citizen -
• Negative impact on law and order of the state as  By just rechecking the information from
well as the safety and security of the citizens. (31 some authentic sources
mob lynchings due to fake news of being child ab-  By applying common sense without getting
ductors) biased
• Breed communal hatred and disturbs the commu-
nal harmony in a society.
Some best practices:
• Affects the election outcomes via fabricated articles,
• Facebook has partnered with a fact-checking web-
audio, videos, and election campaigns. (Fake news
site to check the authenticity of messages circulat-
accused of tampering U.S Presidential elections)
ing through it.
• In 2018, Google news trained 8000 journalists in dif-
Laws to curb fake news: ferent Indian languages to spread awareness about
• Section 66 D of the IT Act 2008 regulates offences Fake news and fact-checking.
related to electronic communication.
• The Disaster Management Act 2005 and the Epi- Insta Links: The picture is clear, it is top-down misinforma-
demic Diseases Act 1897 (especially during Covid-19)

68 www.insightsonindia.com
tion nancial capacity to respond to shocks and
stresses.
Mains Links: • India’s financial sector is heavily exposed to poten-
Q. What are social networking sites and what security im- tial transition risks.
plications do these sites present? (UPSC 2013) • A shortage of expertise in providing apt advice to
the institutions on such a transition.
• Trillion dollars needed to meet power generation
Infrastructure: Energy
commitments from non-fossil fuel sources.
Reasons why economy could be at risk:
RISK OF TRANSITION TOWARDS CLEAN • High upfront costs: The initial investment required
to transition to clean energy, such as building solar
ENERGY or wind power plants.
• Job losses in certain industries could have negative
Context: effects on the economy leading to higher unemploy-
A study in the Global Environmental Change journal, India’s ment.
financial sector is highly exposed to the risks of the economy
• Dependence on foreign technology would rise the
transitioning from being largely dependent on fossil fuels to
import bill, making it unaffordable.
clean energy.
• Lack of infrastructure developing which may be
costly and time-consuming.
Background: • Uncertainty of investments and regulations can
• Coal - accounts for 44% of India’s primary energy make it difficult for companies.
sources and 70% of power generation.
Way ahead:
• The coal-fired power plants have an average age of
• Financiers, regulators and policymakers need to en-
13 years and India has 91,000 MW of new proposed
sure an orderly transition to net zero.
coal capacity in the works, second only to China.
• RBI is expected to launch India’s first-ever sovereign
• According to the Draft National Electricity Plan
green bonds auction worth ₹40 billion.
2022, coal’s share in the electricity generation mix
will decrease to 50% by 2030. • India’s presidency of the G-20 focuses on the energy
transition and sustainable finance.
• India’s “Panchamrit” target to reach net-zero emis-
sions by 2070 and to source half of its electricity • Systematically incorporate data into financial plan-
needs from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. ning, with respect to ESG

Highlights of the study: Conclusion:

• The financial decisions of Indian banks and institu- There is a linkage between financial risk, renewable energy
tional investors are forcing the nation to rely on a technology budgets, and environmental quality as the tran-
more expensive, more polluting source of energy. sition to clean energy can have an impact on all three areas.
For example, Shifting financial resources towards renewables would de-
 Oil and gas extraction accounted for 60% liver huge benefits for India like cheaper electricity, cleaner
of lending to the mining industry, while pe- air, and fewer emissions. Thus, on the other side of risk is a
troleum refining accounted for one-fifth of tremendous opportunity.
debt in the manufacturing industry.
 Only 17.5% of bank lending to the power
sector has been to renewables. InstaCurious:
• Consequently, India has much higher electricity ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance.
from carbon sources than the world average, de- It refers to a set of standards for a company’s operations
spite its vast potential for cheap solar, wind, and that socially conscious investors use to screen potential
small hydropower. investments.
Environmental standards - company’s impact on the
natural world.
Challenges:
• High-carbon industries account for 10% of outstand- Social standards - company’s impact on its employees,
ing debt to Indian financial institutions. customers, and community.
 However, these industries are also heavi- Governance standards - company’s leadership, financial
ly indebted and therefore have the less fi- transparency, and ethical behaviour.

www.insightsonindia.com 69
Related News: cratic institutions with fewer resources (cloud com-
What is Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), and how it im- puting, AI algorithms and abundant data).
pacts the climate
Source: Indian Express Threats:
Read related Link: Europe turns to LNG instead of Rus- • 96% of deepfakes are pornographic videos, reduc-
sian gas: What is it, how it impacts the climate ing women to sexual objects and causing emotional
distress.
Insta Links: India Ranks Third in Renewable Energy Installa- • Deepfake can depict a person as indulging in an-
tions in 2021 tisocial behaviours and can create social discord,
increase polarization, and can even influence the
election outcome
Mains Links:
• Deepfakes can accelerate the trust deficit in tradi-
Q. Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from tional media and could be used by nation-state ac-
sunlight in contrast to conventional energy generation. tors to create chaos in the target country, undermin-
What are the initiatives offered by our government for this ing trust in institutions and diplomacy.
purpose? (UPSC 2020) • Misuse by non-state actors (terrorist organisations),
to stir anti-state sentiments among people.
Prelims Links: • The threat of the liar’s dividend - an undesirable
Q. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Develop- truth is dismissed as deepfake or fake news, giving
ment Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following state- more credibility to denials.
ments is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2015) • Weaponization of deepfakes, use of fake news and
1. It is a Public Limited Government Company. alternative-facts narrative to dismiss an actual piece
2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company. of media and truth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only What countries are doing to combat deep fakes?
(b) 2 only • China: Any doctored content using the technology
(c) Both 1 and 2 should be explicitly labelled so that it can be traced
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 back to its source, as per a new policy.
Answer: C • The European Union: an updated Code of Practice,
that requires tech companies including Google,
Meta, and Twitter to take measures in countering
deepfakes on their platforms.
Science and Technology
 Non-compliance - 6% of annual global turn-
over as fine.
THE DANGER OF DEEP FAKES • The U.S: The bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act to
assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
to counter deepfake technology by conducting an
Context: annual study of deep fakes.
The disinformation threat has a new tool in the form of deep
• In India, there are no legal rules against using deep
fakes.
fake technology. However, specific laws can be ad-
dressed for misusing the tech, which includes Copy-
What are deepfakes? right Violation, Defamation and cybercrimes.
• Deepfakes are digital media - video, audio, and im-
ages edited and manipulated using Artificial Intel-
ligence (AI) to inflict harm on individuals and insti- Case of Canada:
tutions. • While Canada does not have any regulations to tack-
le deep fakes, it is undertaking some of the most
• AI-Generated Synthetic media or deepfakes have
cutting-edge AI research with a number of domestic
clear benefits in certain areas, such as accessibility,
and foreign actors.
education, film production, criminal forensics, and
artistic expression. • Also, Canada is a member and leader in many re-
lated multilateral initiatives (Paris Call for Trust and
• It can be exploited (hyper-realistic digital falsifica-
Security in Cyberspace, Global Partnership on AI),
tion) to damage the reputation, fabricate evidence,
which can be utilised to create deepfake policy in
defraud the public, and undermine trust in demo-
different areas.

70 www.insightsonindia.com
Solutions: • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Tech-
• Media literacy for consumers is the most effective nology (MeitY) has been appointed the nodal in-
tool to combat disinformation and deep fakes. dustry for online gaming in India; for e-sports, the
• Meaningful regulations with a collaborative discus- nodal agency is the Department of Sports, under
sion with all stake holders to disincentivise the cre- the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
ation and distribution of malicious deepfakes. • A glance at the rulings of the Supreme Court and sev-
• Easy-to-use and accessible technology solutions to eral High Courts clearly establishes ‘Games of Skill’
detect deepfakes, authenticate media, and amplify as legitimate business activities protected under
authoritative sources. Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution. These
• Social media platforms are taking cognizance of the rulings have also emphasized a clear distinction be-
deepfake issue, and almost all of them have some tween ‘Games of Skill’ and ‘Games of Chance’.
policy or acceptable terms of use for deepfakes.
Issues with Online Gaming:
Conclusion: • There is confusion about the definitions of a ‘game
We must all take responsibility for being critical Internet me- of chance’ like fantasy games, and a ‘game of skill’,
dia consumers, thinking and pausing before sharing on social a term, which has been used in the Public Gaming
media, and being part of the solution to this ‘infodemic.’ Act (1867) but has not been spelt out.
• There are risks from cybercrimes as well.
• Despite court rulings, online skill games have faced
Insta Links: Countering Deepfakes
restrictions in a few States due to addiction, fi-
nancial losses and the thin line between skill and
Mains Links: chance.
Q. Use of the internet and social media by non-state actors How Cryptocurrency creates regulatory hurdles:
for subversive activities is a major security concern. How • Cybersecurity threats
have these been misused in the recent past? Suggest effec- • Misuse of cryptocurrency is hard to detect
tive guidelines to curb the above threat. (UPSC 2016) • Controlling monetary policy like inflation, growth
would become an issue
CRYPTO AWARENESS CAMPAIGN • The anonymity of transactions may lead to tax eva-
sion
• Geopolitical issues: Countries may manipulate their
Context:
cryptocurrency e.g., Experts say China’s eCNY will
The Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) will
threaten dollar dominance and can be a tool for a
launch an outreach programme soon to create awareness
currency war
of cryptocurrencies and online gaming.
• The high volatility of cryptocurrency and the highly
fragmented market
About Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)
• It is managed by the IEPF Authority, which was set
up in 2016 under the provisions of Section 125 of Measures taken to tackle this at the national level.
the Companies Act, of 2013. • India recently decided to tax cryptocurrencies,
• It comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Corpo- a 30% on the transfer of such assets as well as a
rate Affairs. 1%TDS on every transaction.
• The Authority is entrusted with the responsibility • RBI exploring DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology)
of administration of the IEPF, which, besides pro- based Central Bank Digital Currency.
moting awareness among investors, makes refunds • In July 2022, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recom-
of shares, unclaimed dividends, matured deposits mended a ban on cryptocurrencies citing ‘destabi-
and debentures and so on to rightful claimants. lizing effects on the country’s monetary and fiscal
health’.

About Cryptocurrency:
A digital currency is one in which transactions are verified
and records maintained by a decentralized system using
cryptography, rather than by a centralized authority.

Online gaming

www.insightsonindia.com 71
 About TFA:
• TFAs are unsaturated fatty acids that are of two
types -
 Naturally occurring trans-fat occurs in some
dairy and meat products.
 Industrially produced trans-fat adds hydro-
gen to liquid vegetable oils to make them
more solid. It is found in packaged foods,
baked goods, cooking oils and spreads.
Key Findings from the report:
• Trans fat intake is accountable for up to 500,000
early deaths from coronary heart disease annually.
• Nine countries — Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Ec-
uador, Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and the Republic
Insta Links: of Korea — of the 16 nations with the highest esti-
• Cryptocurrency mated percentage of coronary heart disease fatali-
• Rules regarding online gaming ties attributed to trans-fat consumption do not cur-
rently have best-practices strategy.
• Two best-practices policy options:
Prelims Link: UPSC 2020
 Mandatory national limit of two grams
Q. With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the of industrially produced trans-fat per 100
following statements: grams of total fat in all foods.
1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which  Mandatory national ban on the production
no single user controls. or use of partially hydrogenated oils as an
2. The structure and design of the blockchain are such that ingredient in all foods.
all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
3. Applications that depend on the basic features of block- Harmful effects of TFA:
chain can be developed without anybody’s permission. • TFAs pose a higher risk of heart disease than sat-
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? urated fats - they raise total cholesterol levels, and
(a) 1 only reduce the good cholesterol (HDL), which helps to
(b) 1 and 2 only protect one against heart disease.
(c) 2 only • It is also associated with a higher risk of develop-
ing obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome,
(d) 1 and 3 only
insulin resistance, infertility, and certain types
Answer: d of cancers and can also lead to compromised
fatal development causing harm to the foetus.
Mains Link:
Q. “Internet gaming has turned worse than drugs”. Do Steps taken to regulate TFA:
you agree? Critically examine the statement in light of the National:
announcement made by the World Health Organization • FSSAI launched a “Trans Fat-Free” logo for voluntary
(WHO) to include “gaming disorder” as a mental health labelling to promote TFA-free products in shops for
condition. (250 words) preparations containing TFA not exceeding 0.2 per
100 g/ml.
TRAVAILS OF TRANS-FAT • Campaign “Heart Attack Rewind” to eliminate in-
dustrially-produced trans-fat in the food supply by
the year 2022.
Context:
• FSSAI limits the content to not more than 2% by
Five billion people globally are exposed to harmful trans-
mass of total oils and fats from January 2022.
fat, increasing their heart disease and death risk, according
to a new report “Countdown to 2023” by the World Health • Swasth Bharat Yatra, an initiative started under
Organization (WHO). the “Eat Right” campaign is a Pan-India cyclothon to
engage citizens on issues of food safety, combating
• The report monitors global progress towards the food adulteration and healthy diets.
2023 target for the global elimination of industrial-
ly produced Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA). Global:
• TFA REPLACE strategy by WHO.

72 www.insightsonindia.com
 Environmental Conservation

NEW FOREST (CONSERVATION) RULES

VS FOREST RIGHTS ACT

Context:
The conflict between the government and the National Com-
mission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) over the Forest (Conser-
vation) Rules, 2022, seems to be escalating.
Insta Links: Trans fatty acids (TFA)
Background:
Mains Link: • The Union Environment Ministry notified the Forest
(Conservation) Rules, 2022, under the Forest Con-
Q. What are Trans Fats? Discuss their impact on health and, servation Act, 1980, thus replacing the Forest (Con-
measures taken by the government to decrease the con- servation) Rules, 2003
sumption of trans fats. (250 words)
• NCST had raised concerns about the provision in the
new rules that proposes to do away with the con-
sent clause for the diversion of forest land for other
purposes and recommended putting these rules on
hold.
• However, the government insisted that the rules
were framed under the Forest (Conservation) Act,
1980 and that the NCST’s apprehension of these
rules being in violation of the Forest Rights Act,
2006, is not legally admissible

The Forest (Conservation) Act (FCA), 1980 The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwell-
ers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 or the Forest
Rights Act (FRA), 2006
● It regulates deforestation by prohibiting the felling ● It recognizes forest-dwelling tribal communities’
of forests for any “non-forestry” purpose without and other traditional forest dwellers’ rights to for-
prior approval from the central government. est resources on which these communities rely for
● The clearance process includes obtaining permis- a variety of needs.
sion from local forest rights holders as well as wild- ● It imposes on the Gram Sabha and rights holders
life authorities. the responsibility of biodiversity conservation and
● The Centre has the authority to deny such requests protection, by preventing any destructive practices
or to grant them with legally binding conditions. affecting these resources.
● Under the Act, the Gram Sabha is a highly em-
powered body that allows the tribal population to
have a decisive say in determining local policies and
schemes that affect them.

www.insightsonindia.com 73
 The Forest Conservation Rules, 2003 The Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022
● There are two stages of approval (‘In-Principle’ and ● The Central Government can give its final approval
‘Final’, after given conditions are met) prescribed and thereafter leave it to the state government to
for any application by any entity to use the forest pass an order for de-reservation or diversion or as-
land. signment.
● Nodal Officer —> Divisional Forest Officer and the ● It is then left to the state government now to make
District Collector —> Conservator of Forests —> sure that the claims of forest dwellers are settled.
State Administration —> MoEFCC ● However, the collector is not required to obtain
● The District Collector shall complete the process the consent of Gram Sabhas before the In-princi-
of recognition and vesting of forest rights in accor- ple approval.
dance with the provisions of the FRA (obtain the
consent of each Gram Sabha).

Concern about the new Rules: About Stockholm Conference, 1972

The Gram Sabha’s approval had significant persuasive power • This was the first global convergence on the plane-
and could influence decisions to proceed with the diversion tary environment and natural resources.
process. However, the new Rules eroded Gram Sabha’s role. • Also termed the “Swedish Initiative”, the idea of the
Stockholm Conference was first proposed by Swe-
Insta Links: The Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022 den.
• The theme was ‘Only One Earth’.
• Stockholm Declaration: To build the “interconnec-
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2019)
tions between development, poverty and the en-
Consider the following statements: vironment”.
1. As per a recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, of
• Action Plan for the Human Environment
1927, forest dwellers have the right to sell the bamboo
grown in forest areas.  Global Environmental Assessment Pro-
gramme (watch plan)
2. As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest
 Environmental management activities
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bam-
boo is a minor forest produce.  International measures to support assess-
ment and management activities carried
3. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwell- out at the national and international levels.
ers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows own-
ership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Three Dimensions of the Conference:
1. 1 and 2 only • Countries agreed to not “harm each other’s envi-
2. 2 and 3 only ronment or the areas beyond national jurisdiction”.
3. 3 only • An action plan to study the threat to Earth’s envi-
4. 1, 2 and 3 ronment.
Ans: 2 • Establishment of an international body called the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP) to bring coopera-
Explanation: Statement 1 is not correct. Under the original
tion among countries.
Act, the definition of a tree includes palms, bamboo, stumps,
brushwood, and canes. The amendment act amends this
definition of the tree to remove the word bamboo.

50 YEARS OF THE STOCKHOLM CONFER-

ENCE

Context:
“Stockholm+50: A healthy planet for the prosperity of
all — our responsibility, our opportunity” was held in the
year 2022 to mark the 50 years of the Stockholm Confer-
ence (Report of United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment).

74 www.insightsonindia.com
Significance: Opportunities in the Beekeeping sector
• The Stockholm Conference of 1972 put environmen- • Low investment and highly skilled enterprise mod-
tal issues on the global agenda for the first time. el.
• No country had an environment ministry until 1972. • The demand for good-quality honey has grown
 Today, over 176 countries have environ- • Role in pollination
mental framework laws; 150 countries have • Scaling up beekeeping will double farmers’ income.
enshrined environmental protection or the
right to a healthy environment in their con-
stitutions; and 164 countries have created
cabinet-level bodies responsible for envi-
ronmental protection.
• After 1972, the environment started making head-
lines and public consciousness increased.
Challenges faced by the Beekeeping sector
• Many of today’s conventions on environmental cri- • Indigenous method of beekeeping: This is the primi-
ses trace their origin to the Stockholm Declaration. tive and unplanned method of apiculture.
• Challenges: • Using the Correct Species for Beekeeping
• An uncoordinated response from the nations: • Lack of Technical Knowledge for Efficient Manage-
The world is on track to warm at least 3˚C above ment of Colonies for High Honey Yields
pre-industrial levels by 2100.
• Lack of Infrastructure at the Grass Roots and Na-
• Poverty is the biggest hurdle in the way of adopting tional Level for Beekeeping
sustainable measures for a healthy environment, as
• Poor Quality Control for the Production of Honey:
poverty can’t be eradicated without the use of sci-
contaminated not only by the use of sugar syrup in
ence and technology.
processing but also through pesticide and antibiot-
ics use.
Please Note: • Availability of Genetically Superior Queens for In-
Stockholm Conference is different from Stockholm creased Honey Production
Convention • Lack of sufficient financial help from government
Stockholm Convention: It is a global treaty to protect and lending institutions for the development of bee-
human health and the environment from persistent keeping.
organic pollutants (POPs). • No Control on the Use of Pesticides by Farmers
Leading to Death of Bee Colonies in Field Locations.

Insta Links: 50 years since the Stockholm conference Recommendations by Beekeeping Development Com-
mittee under Bibek Debroy:
• Plantation of bee-friendly flora at appropriate plac-
BEE: POSITIVE IMPACT ON BIODIVERSI- es and engaging women SHG in managing such plan-
TY tations.
• Institutionalizing the National Bee Board and re-
christening it as the Honey and Pollinators Board of
Context:
India under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’
A report highlighted, that the biodiversity of the bee popu-
Welfare.
lation is essential to preserving the ecosystem function of
crop pollination, which is crucial to the availability of food • Recognition of apiculture as a subject for advanced
for humans. research under the aegis of ICAR.
• Training and development of beekeepers by state
governments.
About Bee Cultivation/Apiculture:
• Development of national and regional infrastruc-
• Apiculture is the science and culture of honeybees
ture
and their management.
• Simplifying procedures and specifying clear stan-
• As per the FAO, India ranked eighth in 2017-18 in
dards for ease of exporting honey Hi-tech apiaries
the world in terms of honey production.
for commercial bee-farming
• National Beekeeping and Honey mission was
• Research in the fields of beekeeping, bee-behaviour
launched to achieve the goal of Sweet Revolution.

www.insightsonindia.com 75
 About National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)
● NBHM is a Central Sector Scheme, approved under
the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat announcement, and im-
plemented through National Bee Board (NBB).
● NBHM aims for the overall promotion & develop-
ment of scientific beekeeping in the country to
achieve the goal of ‘Sweet Revolution’ which is be-
ing implemented through NBB.
● Under the scheme, the main thrust is given on
awareness, capacity building/training, focus on
women empowerment through beekeeping and
setting up of requisite infrastructural facilities.

Insta Links: Beekeeping in India

Mains Link:
Q. Discuss the prospects and challenges faced by the Bee-
keeping sector in the country and explain what needs to be
done to realize its full potential of it.

Related News: HUMAN DISTURBANCE ALTERING HABI-

World’s first vaccine for honeybees gets the conditional TATS, ROUTINES OF ANIMALS
nod in the US
Context:
Context: The United States Department of Agriculture A new finding on animal behaviours
(USDA) has granted a conditional license for a vaccine for
An animal must be at the right place, at the right time, to
honeybees to curb American foulbrood (AFB), a fatal bac-
avoid predators, find food, and reproduce successfully.
terial disease for the insect.
About American foulbrood: • As an analogy: The interactions between the animals
in a given ecosystem are like a theatrical production.
• AFB is caused by the spore-forming bacteri-
um Paenibacillus larvae. For the production to be a success, each actor has to
• Infected broods usually die at the pre-pupal or pu- be on stage, in the right place, and they must act and
pal stage. deliver their lines at the right time.
• The disease cannot be cured, meaning that the de-
struction of infected colonies and hives or irradia-
Threats:
tion of infected material is the only way to manage
AFB. • As per the new study, human activities might dis-
turb these ecological interactions and increase in-
terspecies encounters.
How the vaccine will work:
• Impact of farms: Wild animals of different species
The vaccine technology exposes queen bees to inactive
were more likely to come to human-altered land-
(i.e., “dead”) bacteria, which enables the larvae hatched
scapes, like farms than in more undisturbed loca-
in the hive to resist infection
tions, such as national forests.
• The vaccine is mixed in queen candy — the primary
food source for both the queen bees and the atten- • Frequent interaction can lead to intensifying com-
dant bees living in cages. petition for resources or increasing the risk of inter-
• Worker bees consume the vaccine with the queen species disease transmission.
candy, which is then digested and transferred to • Even when the animals do not come face-to-face,
the glands that produce the royal jelly. Worker bees simply hearing or smelling a predator can have “dra-
then feed the royal jelly containing the vaccine to matic effects” on the behaviours of prey species
the queen bee.
• The queen digests the royal jelly and the vaccine
is transferred to her ovaries. She is then released What is an ecological niche?
into the hive. The vaccine gets transferred to the de- In ecology, the term “niche” describes the role an organism
veloping eggs. The developing larvae get vaccinated plays in a community.
and are more immune to infection as they hatch.

76 www.insightsonindia.com
What is an Ecosystem?

In another study (DTE), it has been found that:

• Ants may be unable to adapt to global warming,
leaving them highly vulnerable to the impacts of cli-
mate change. Images credit: Green Humor
• The insects are cold-blooded creatures, also called
ectotherms. Their body temperatures depend on ex- Insta Links
ternal sources like sunlight. Humans (endotherms),
on the other hand, maintain their body tempera- • Rubber plantations in Tripura affecting monkeys,
ture without relying on the environment. vegetation, suggests paper
• Environment
Importance of Ants:
• Ants are often called “ecosystem’s engineers”. These Mains Links:
insects move the soil during nest-building and forag- Q. Conflict between people and animals is one of the main
ing, affecting the level of nutrients in it. threats to the continued survival of many species. Ana-
lyze the causes behind rising cases of man-animal conflict.
(15M)

Prelims Links
Q. Which one of the following terms describes not only
the physical space occupied by an organism but also its
functional role in the community of organisms? (UPSC
2013)
(a) Ecotone
(b) Ecological niche
(c) Habitat
(d) Home range
Image Credit: Earth Reminder Answer: B
Interesting facts about Ants Q. Which one of the following is the best description of
the term ‘ecosystem’? (UPSC 2015)
(a) A community of organisms interacting with one an-
other
(b) That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living
organisms
(c) A community of organisms together with the envi-
ronment in which they live
(d) The flora and fauna of a geographical area
Answer: C

www.insightsonindia.com 77
 PROTESTS OVER ESZ CLASSIFICATION Extent of ESZ:
• An ESZ’s distribution can vary in breadth and extent.
For example, the extent of ESZ from the boundary of
Context: a protected area ranges from 0 to 45.82 km (in Pin
The creation of the Ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ) has
Valley National Park, HP).
sparked protests in Kerala and can be a hint of what is likely
to occur in other parts of the country. • The ESZs span notified forests outside protected
areas, most of which could also come under gram
• ESZ Context: The problem begins with a notification sabhas’ jurisdiction under the FRA.
that ought to have been community-specific but
which a ministry offered as a ‘one size fits all’ solu-
tion. Issues with ESZ:
Not in sync with FRA and PESA:

Background: • The Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, recognises the

• Protected areas cover 5.26% of India’s land area as customary and traditional rights (both individual
108 national parks and 564 wildlife sanctuaries noti- and collective) of forest-dwellers on forest land, in-
fied under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 (WPA). cluding inside protected areas.
• These protected areas are based on the ‘fortress  Under the FRA, a new category of forests
called ‘community forest resource’ (CFR)
conservation model’. For example, activities permit- has been created and has to be managed by
ted in ‘reserve forests’ are not permitted in national the Gram Sabhas.
parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
• Similarly, the Provisions of the Panchayat (Exten-
• Surrounding these protected areas is an area of ap-
sion to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) 1996, empower
prox. 3.4% of the country’s land, falls under the ESZ
Gram Sabhas to safeguard and preserve community
regime.
resources on forest and revenue lands in Scheduled
• Governments have notified 341 ESZs in 29 States Areas.
and 5 UTs, while another 85 ESZs are awaiting no-
• However, the MoEFCC has shown no inclination to
tification.
amend the Indian Forest Act 1927, the Wildlife (Pro-
• Together, protected areas and the ESZs cover 8.66% tection) Act and the EPA 1986 to comply with PESA
of India’s land area. and FRA.

What are ESZ/Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFA)? The case of Kerala:

Meaning: ESZ is intended to protect ‘protected areas’ - na- • The Western Ghats (WG) cover 48% of Kerala and
tional parks and wildlife sanctuaries - by effectively creating nearly 30% of the state is covered by forests.
insulating layers around such protected areas where humans
• There is also a network of lakes, canals and wet-
and nature can be at peace with each other.
lands, as well as a 590-kilometre-long coastline, all
of which are governed by a set of environmental
Objectives of creating ESZ: conservation laws.
• To create a shock absorber by regulating and man- • This leaves little space for its 3.5 crore population,
aging the activities around protected areas. which has a population density of 900 people per
• To serve as a transition zone between areas of high square km (much higher than the national average).
protection and areas of lower protection. • According to an SC directive, at least one km from
the boundary of every protected area in Kerala
Notified and regulated by: They are notified by the Union should be marked as ESZ
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF- • The Kerala State Assembly recently unanimously
CC) and regulated under the Environment Protection Act passed a resolution urging the Central Government
1986 (though the EPA does not mention the word ‘ESZ’). to exempt the state’s human settlements, farmlands,
and public institutions from the ESZ’s scope.

Criteria to designate ESZ:

• Based on species (endemism, rarity, etc) Conclusion:
• Based on the ecosystem (sacred groves, frontier for- • Mining and other activities have long depleted the
ests, etc) nation’s natural resources.
• Based on geomorphological features (uninhabited • As a result, the government’s role should not be lim-
islands, origins of rivers, etc) ited to that of a “facilitator” of economic activity.
• It must strive to achieve long-term sustainable de-

78 www.insightsonindia.com
 velopment by balancing economic development, activities of other species like Humans.
environmental conservation and the rights of forest
dwellers.
Background:
• The study was conducted in Kanha Tiger Reserve
Insta Curious: (MP), comparing uninvaded native forests with old-
The fortress conservation model is based on the belief growth invasions of single and multiple alien plants.
that biodiversity protection is best achieved by creat- • India’s biodiverse ecosystems are threatened by
ing protected areas where ecosystems can function in a variety of alien plants, introduced during British
isolation from human disturbance. It assumes that local colonisation. Lantana alone has pervasively invaded
people use natural resources in irrational and destruc- 44% of India’s forests.
tive ways, and as a result cause biodiversity loss and en- • Apart from their spread in different ecosystems, lit-
vironmental degradation. tle is known and even greater confusion when one
asks about how alien plants impact native ecosys-
tems.
Insta Links: What are the Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZs)?
Highlights of the study:
Mains Links: • Co-occurring invasive plants have a magnified cumu-
lative impact than their individual impacts, causing
Q. How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment ecological homogenisation in invaded regions.
(EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notifi-
• Multiple alien species together affected soil nutri-
cation, 2006? (UPSC 2020)
ents and the abundance of rich grasses and herbs.
• Depletion of the native plant populations → Re-
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2014) duced forage availability for herbivores like sambar
With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the follow- and chital → diseases in the herbivores → threaten
ing statements is/are correct? the sustenance of tiger, leopard and dhole.
1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared
under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
What needs to be done? Prioritise restoration investments
2. The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive in the least invaded regions to retain native biodiversity and
Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities in slowly upscale such restored habitats.
those zones except agriculture.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: 4

ALIEN PLANTS AND TIGER HABITATS

Context:
According to a study conducted by the Wildlife Institute of In-
dia (WII), several alien invasive plants (like Lantana Camara,
Parthenium hysterophorous, Prosopis juliflora, etc) growing
together can have a detrimental effect on the biodiversity
in tiger habitats.
UNDERSTANDING KERALA’S MAN-ELE-
PHANT CONFLICT
Invasive species:
• Invasive/introduced/alien/exotic species are any Context:
non-native species that significantly modify or dis- The larger issue of man-animal conflict needs to be discussed
rupt the ecosystem it colonises. as calls for the capture of an elephant that reacted to overex-
cited tourists in Munnar, Kerala, grow louder.
• Such species may arrive in new areas through natu-
ral migration, but they are often introduced by the

www.insightsonindia.com 79
Man-Animal Conflict: 3. Support the sustainable use of natural resourc-
• Meaning: Struggles that emerge when the pres- es by local communities
ence or behaviour of wildlife poses an actual or per- 4. Address the root causes of conservation
ceived, direct and recurring threat to human inter- problems, such as habitat loss, fragmenta-
ests or needs, leading to disagreements between tion, and degradation.
groups of people and negative impacts on people
and/or wildlife.
The case of Kerala - A success story in managing
man-animal conflict:
Reasons for the conflict: • The magnitude of human-elephant conflict in Kerala is
• Growing human/animal populations overlap with relatively low when compared with its abundance of
established wildlife/human territory, creating a re- wild elephants.
duction of resources. • Of the estimated nationwide population of 30,000 wild
• Fragmentation of habitats and corridors due to le- elephants in 2017, Kerala had about 5,700 (19%). Be-
gal and illegal changes in land use - clearances for tween 2018-2021, elephants killed 2,036 people in India
mining or encroachment for agriculture. and Kerala accounted for only 81 (4%) of these deaths.
• Agricultural Expansion and Changing cropping pat- • Elephants are far-ranging animals.
terns that attract wild animals to farmlands. • But in Kerala,
• Habitat degradation due to the growth of invasive  The frontiers between the wilderness and
alien species, etc. civilisation have remained largely unaltered
• Other Reasons: Infrastructure development, Climate in recent years.
Change, etc.  Changes in agricultural practices in crop-
land. For example, coffee, pepper or tea
plantations, in which jumbos have little in-
Suggestions: terest.
• A Future for All Report 2021 (WWF and UNEP) suggests
Conclusion:
an approach of coexistence between humans and wild-
Proactive perception management, stricter enforcement by
life and the involvement of local communities.
the states and a pragmatic policy for the problem will reduce
• Periodic awareness campaigns: To sensitize, guide and the incidents of man-animal conflict. Healthy ecosystems
advise the general public on man-animal conflict, includ- and the vital services they provide to people depend on
ing dissemination of information through various forms wildlife. Managing human-wildlife conflicts is therefore cru-
of media. cial to achieve the UN Vision for Biodiversity 2050 in which
• Skill-development programs: For people living in and ‘humanity lives in harmony with nature and in which wild-
around the forest. life and other living species are protected’.
• National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-31: It has un-
derscored the need for a landscape-level approach, the
acceptance of rights of use and entry (into forests), and InstaCurious:
an emphasis on people’s participation in conservation, Uttar Pradesh has declared man-animal conflict death
promoting coexistence between wildlife and local as a state disaster.
communities through awareness and education
programs, and identifying and declaring critical
wildlife habitats and migration corridors and
taking measures to protect them from human
encroachment.
• A landscape-based approach is a method of conserva-
tion and management that focuses on preserving and
managing entire ecosystems, rather than individual spe-
cies or habitats. It takes into account the interconnect-
edness of different habitats, species, and ecosystem ser-
vices within a given landscape.
• A landscape-based approach aims to:

1. Maintain the ecological integrity and functional

diversity of the landscape
2. Promote the conservation of biodiversity, in-
cluding endangered species and habitats

80 www.insightsonindia.com
 Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maha-
rashtra.

National Mission for a Green India/ GIM:

• It is one of the eight Missions under the National
Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) launched
in 2014 for a 10 years period with an outlay of Rs
60,000 crore.
• It aims at protecting, restoring and enhancing In-
dia’s forest cover and responding to climate change.
• The target under the Mission is -
 Increasing the forest and tree cover by 5
million hectares (ha) in 10 years.
 Increasing the quality of the existing forest
and tree cover in another 5 million ha of
forest in non-forest lands in 10 years.
 Increasing forest-based livelihood income
for about 3 million households in and
around these forest areas.
• It is implemented under the overall administrative
Insta Links: Man-Animal conflict control of the MoEF&CC and presents a holistic ap-
proach to greening that considers -
 Carbon sequestration goals
FOREST COVER IMPROVEMENT: A TAR-  Maintain diverse ecosystem services and
GET MISSED provisioning services.
• Integrated cross-sectoral approach: Implemented
Context: on both public and private lands, with local com-
According to data accessed via the RTI, India is lagging be- munities playing a crucial part in planning, deci-
hind in the targets to increase the number and quality of sion-making, implementation, and monitoring.
tree and forest-cover plantations set in the Green India Mis-
sion (GIM). Targets under the GIM: From 2015-16 to 2021-22, the Cen-
tre had approved a target of increasing tree/forest cover by
Background: 53,377 hectares and improving the quality of the degraded
• As per the India State of Forest Report-2021, for- forest by 1,66,656 ha.
est and tree cover in the country increased by 2,261
square kilometres since the last assessment in 2019. What are the challenges?
• India’s total forest and tree cover was 80.9 million • The GIM is able to achieve only 2.8% of its plan-
hectares, which accounted for 24.62% of the geo- tation target. For example, tree/forest cover had
graphical area of the country. increased by 26,287 hectares and forest quality im-
• According to India’s National Forest Policy (1988), proved by only 1,02,096 hectares as of December
at least 33% of the country’s total land area should 31, 2022.
be covered by forests in order to ensure ecological • The GIM is grossly underfunded and funds allocat-
stability. ed remain underutilised: the Centre had allocated
• India is tenth in the world in terms of the total area ₹681 crores but only ₹525 crores had been utilised.
covered by forests, but only 120th in terms of the • Afforestation was solely for the purpose of boosting
proportion of that area covered by forests. tree count, rather than taking into account soil and
• 17 States and Union Territories had more than 33% weather conditions.
of their area under forest cover. • Commercial plantations (like eucalyptus) to en-
• The top five States in terms of forest cover as a hance green cover, which couldn’t make up for natu-
percentage of their total geographical area were ral forests and was vulnerable to insect infestations
Mizoram (84.53%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.33%), because they were monocultures.
Meghalaya (76%), etc.
• MP had the largest forest cover, followed by

www.insightsonindia.com 81
 • The last cheetah died in the Koriya district of pres-
InstaCurious: In its new Nationally Determined Contri- ent-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was
bution, India pledged to reduce the emissions intensity declared extinct in 1952.
of its gross domestic product by 45% by 2030, and to get • According to the Wildlife Institute of India’s (WII)
50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel-based sources “Action Plan for Reintroduction of Cheetah in In-
by 2030. dia,” 50 wild cheetahs that are ideal for starting a
new cheetah population would be imported as a
founder stock over five years initially.
Insta Links: State of Forest Report 2021 • The PM of India released the first batch of eight
cheetahs (five females and three males) from Na-
mibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno last year.
Mains: • Some modifications have been made to the cur-
Q. Define the concept of the carrying capacity of an eco- rent bomas (wildlife cages constructed often for the
system as relevant to an environment. Explain how under- treatment or quarantine of animals).
standing this concept is vital while planning for the sustain-
able development of a region. (UPSC 2019)
Significance of reintroducing cheetahs:
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2016) • In- situ Conservation of species.
Which of the following best describe/describes the aim • Beneficial to the entire ecosystem → save its prey
of the ‘Green India Mission’ of the Government of India? base comprising certain threatened species and en-
1. Incorporating environmental benefits and costs dangered species of the grasslands and open forest
into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing ecosystems.
the `green accounting’ • They pose no danger to humans or large livestock.
2. Launching the second green revolution to en-
hance agricultural output so as to ensure food security
Why is KNP given the highest priority for reintroduc-
to one and all in the future
tion?
3. Restoring and enhancing forest cover and re-
• Suitable habitat and adequate prey base.
sponding to climate change by a combination of adapta-
tion and mitigation measures • Assessed to be capable of supporting 21 cheetahs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. • Devoid of human settlements: Villages have been
1. 1 only completely relocated from within the park.
2. 2 and 3 only • Enables the coexistence of the four big cats found
in India - the tiger, lion, leopard, and cheetah, as
3. 3 only
they have in the past.
4. 1, 2 and 3

Ans: 3 Why are cheetahs coming from Africa?

• Asiatic cheetahs found in Iran are categorised as crit-
ically endangered.
CHEETAHS FROM SOUTH AFRICA • The highest genetic variation, which is essential
for a founding population stock, is found in African
Context: cheetahs.
India has signed an agreement with South Africa to translo- • African cheetahs have been determined to be the
cate 12 cheetahs (seven male and five female) to the Kuno ancestors of all other Cheetah lineages.
Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.

Background:
• ‘Cheetah’ (Acinonyx Jubatus Venaticus) originates
from Sanskrit and means ‘the spotted one’.
• The Cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world.
• Its historical range includes the majority of Sub-Sa-
haran Africa and extends eastward to India.
• It is the only large carnivore that went ‘Extinct’ in
India due to overhunting and habitat loss.

82 www.insightsonindia.com
 most cities.

The Launch: In January 2019, the Ministry of Environment,

Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched the Nation-
al Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to prepare clean air action
plans.

The mandate of the National Clean Air Programme

(NCAP) -
• The goal of NCAP (annual average ambient air qual-
ity standards at all locations in the country): 20%–
30% reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration
by taking 2017 as the base year for the comparison
of concentration.
• Under NCAP, 132 non-attainment cities have been
identified across the country based on the Air Qual-
ity data from 2014-2018.
• Preparation of the city-specific action plans includ-
ing measures to strengthen the monitoring network,
reduce vehicular/industrial emissions, and increase
public awareness.
InstaCurious: The other sites recommended for holding
• Implementation of the city-specific action plans to
and conservation breeding of cheetahs in India, in con-
be regularly monitored by Committees at the Central
trolled wild conditions are:
and State level namely Steering Committee, Moni-
1. Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh toring Committee and Implementation Committee.
2. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary – Bhainsrorgarh
Wildlife Sanctuary complex, Madhya Pradesh
3. Shahgarh bulge in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan Objectives of NCAP
• To augment and evolve effective and proficient
4. Mukundara Tiger Reserve as the fenced enclo-
ambient air quality monitoring networks across the
sure, Rajasthan
country for ensuring a comprehensive and reliable
database
• To have efficient data dissemination and public out-
Inta Links: Cheetah reintroduction project reach mechanism for timely measures for the pre-
vention and mitigation of air pollution
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2020) • To have a feasible management plan for the preven-
Which one of the following protected areas is well-known tion, control and abatement of air pollution.
for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp
deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is ex-
Performance of National Clean Air Programme:
clusively graminivorous?
Positive
1. Kanha National Park
• Monitoring station: Out of the targeted 1500 man-
2. Manas National Park
ual monitoring stations to be installed across the
3. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
country, 818 have been installed.
4. Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Region-specific programme: city-specific action
Ans: 1 plan has been developed for all the major cities of
India. For instance, Delhi, Mumbai etc.
Environmental pollution and degradation  131 cities of the country have developed
City Action Plans and Micro Action Plans
• PRANA web portal: The Portal for Regulation of Air
NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME Pollution in Non-Attainment Cities which provides
all information related to various policies/programs/
Context: Four years since the Centre launched the National schemes/activities of the stakeholders along with
Clean Air Campaign (NCAP), analysts found that progress has the progress made towards improvement in air qual-
been slow and pollution has only incrementally reduced in ity across the country.

www.insightsonindia.com 83
 • Improvement: There has been an overall improve- Conclusion
ment in Particulate Matter concentration in 95 cities It is important that NCAP be made legally binding on respon-
including 20 cities conforming to the National Ambi- sible authorities while setting interim (WHO interim targets)
ent Air Quality Standards in the year 2021-22 com- and long-term targets to achieve breathable air equivalent
pared to 2017. to WHO guideline levels over the next decade.

Further, enhancing transparency in the allocation and utili-

sation of finances and tracking the indicators through public-
The issue facing NCAP:
ly available information under the PRANA web portal devel-
• Unsatisfactory performance: The CSE in its nation-
oped by CPCB can be a way forward.
al analysis of PM2.5 levels in cities for which data is
available found that between 2019 and 2021, only
14 of 43 (NCAP) cities registered a 10% or more re- Mains Links:
duction in their PM2.5 level between 2019 and 2021. Q. Highlighting the major mandate and objectives of the
 On the other hand, out of 46 non-NCAP cit- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), evaluate its perfor-
ies, 21 recorded significant improvement in mance in mitigating pollution in Indian Cities. (15M)
their annual PM2.5 value with a 5% or more
decline between 2019 and 2021.
 There is hardly any difference between the Prelims Links
performance of NCAP and non-NCAP cities Consider the following statements:
between 2019 and 2021. 1. The National Clean Air Programme aims for a reduc-
• Funding issue: For disbursing funds, the Central tion in particulate matter concentrations in cities
Pollution Control Board, which coordinates the pro- that don’t meet the National Ambient Air Quality
gramme, only considers levels of PM10, the rela- Standards (NAAQS).
tively larger, coarser particles. However, PM2.5, the 2. India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards
smaller, more dangerous particles, aren’t monitored (NAAQS) meet the WHO’s existing standards.
as robustly in all cities, mostly due to the lack of Which of the above statements is/are correct?
equipment.
(a) 1 only
• Compartmentalizing rural-urban areas: The scheme
(b) 2 only
focuses on air pollution mitigation within cities while
ignoring rural air pollution thus compartmentalizing (c) Both 1 and 2
both. But cities like Delhi are significantly affected by (d) Neither 1 nor 2
rural air pollution, hence making purely city-based
efforts less ineffective. Solution: a)
• Sluggish improvement: The progress is even more The World Health Organisation (WHO) in its first-ever update
sluggish in equipping all manual stations with PM2.5 since 2005 has tightened global air pollution standards in a
monitoring, where only 261 stations have PM2.5 recognition of the emerging science in the last decade that
monitoring facilities. the impact of air pollution on health is much more serious
• Almost a quarter of NCAP cities with real-time than earlier envisaged.
monitoring doesn’t meet the minimum data com-
pleteness requirement: In 2021, 15 out of the 63 The move doesn’t immediately impact India as the Nation-
NCAP cities (24 per cent) did not meet the minimum al Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) don’t meet the
data completeness requirement (60 days of valid 24- WHO’s existing standards. The government has a dedicat-
hour values in each quarter of the year). In 2019, the ed National Clean Air Programme that aims for a 20% to
number was lower: only 16 per cent did not meet 30% reduction in particulate matter concentrations by 2024
the requirement. in 122 cities, keeping 2017 as the base year for the compar-
• No carrying capacity studies: None of the 132 ison of concentration. These are cities that don’t meet the
non-attainment cities has completed their carrying NAAQS when calculated from 2011-2015.
capacity studies. Carrying capacity is the region’s
ability to accumulate and disperse emissions while
maintaining breathable air quality. LIGHT POLLUTING THE DARK SKY
 In 93 cities, the study is either undergoing or
at the MoU/proposal stage. Context:
• In 2022 Ladakh administration created the Han-
le Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR), the first International
Dark Sky Reserve in India.

84 www.insightsonindia.com
 • The HDSR comprises six hamlets within the lution poses a serious threat in particular to noctur-
Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. nal wildlife, having negative impacts on plant and
• The reserve had a responsibility to keep the skies animal physiology. For example,
dark, particularly for the astronomical observatories  It can confuse the migratory patterns of an-
located in the area. imals.
 It interferes with multiple aspects of insect
life and allows insect predators to hunt for
What is a Dark Sky Reserve? longer.
• An area designated as free from light pollution.  Parties to the Convention on Migratory Spe-
• It’s a public or private land possessing an excep- cies have adopted guidelines to address this
tional or distinguished quality of starry nights and issue.
nocturnal environment that is specifically protect- • Adverse effects on human health: It can disturb cir-
ed for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural, cadian rhythms and the production of melatonin,
heritage and/or public enjoyment. leading to sleep disorders and other health prob-
lems (increased risk of breast cancer).
• Energy wastage: lighting is responsible for at least
Background:
one-fourth of all electricity consumption worldwide,
• When SpaceX’s Starlink constellation of small satel-
thus adding to carbon footprint.
lites started to block ground-based telescopes’ views
of the Earth, the notion that the sky is a natural re-
source that could be harmed, gained popularity. Way ahead:
• It highlighted the need for a global agreement to re- Light pollution can be reduced easily by shielding lights prop-
duce light pollution. erly, by
• This skyglow is causing significant ecological, health • Only using light when and where it is required,
and cultural ramifications. • Only use the necessary amount,
• Using energy-efficient bulbs, and
What is light pollution and how bad is it? • Using bulbs with the right spectral power distribu-
• Light pollution is excessive, misdirected or obtrusive tions.
artificial (usually outdoor) light that obstructs star- • International Best Practice: The “Outdoor Lighting
light in the night sky, interferes with astronomical Code” in the United Kingdom, aims to reduce light
research, disrupts ecosystems, has adverse health pollution by encouraging the use of lighting that is
effects and wastes energy. only as bright and as long as necessary for the task.
• Visible light emitted by many sources (except lasers)
is divergent, so the light emitted could find its way
into the sky. Conclusion:
“The erasure of the night sky acts to erase Indigenous con-
• Almost all surfaces in cities also reflect light, meaning
nection to the stars, acting as a form of ongoing cultural and
a portion of entirely down-cast light will be reflected
ecological genocide.”
upwards, contributing to night time light pollution.
• A study found that non-natural light had increased
the brightness of the artificial glow of the night sky,
or skyglow, by 9.2-10% every year between 2011
InstaCurious:
and 2022.
Components of light pollution include:
• Glare – excessive brightness that causes visual
What is the situation in India?
• 19.5% of India’s population experiences a level of discomfort
skyglow that keeps the Milky Way out of sight and • Skyglow – brightening of the night sky over
makes it impossible for human eyes to adjust to the inhabited areas
dark.
• Light trespass – light falling where it is not intended
• The effects include stimulating the cone cells (which
or needed
activate in a well-lit environment/during the day) in
human eyes. • Clutter – bright, confusing, and excessive groupings
of light sources
What are the consequences?
• Harms wildlife and disrupts ecosystems: Light pol-

www.insightsonindia.com 85
Insta Links: Environmental Pollution • The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which
operates the Fukushima facility, has treated the wa-
ter to remove most radioactive isotopes.
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2020)
• Japanese government required the water to have
Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure 1/40th as much tritium as the permitted limit.
to benzene pollution?
1. Automobile exhaust
2. Tobacco smoke Issues with discharging treated water into the Pacific
3. Wood burning Ocean:
4. Using varnished wooden furniture • Difficult to remove tritium from the water.
5. Using products made of polyurethane • Tritium is easily absorbed by the bodies of living
creatures and rapidly distributed via blood.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
• Other radionuclides include isotopes of ruthenium
1. 1, 2 and 3 only
and plutonium, which could persist for longer in the
2. 2 and 4 only bodies of marine creatures and on the seafloor and
3. 1, 3 and 4 only could not be completely removed.
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Ans: 1
Other options available with Japan:
• Store the water for longer and then discharge it as
FUKUSHIMA WASTEWATER tritium’s half-life – the time it takes for its quantity
to be halved through radioactive decay – is 12-13
years. So, at the time of discharge, the water could
Context:
be less radioactive.
Japan is expected to start flushing 1.25 million tonnes of
wastewater from the embattled Fukushima nuclear power
plant into the Pacific Ocean this year, as part of its project to Insta Link: Nuclear Energy
decommission the facility.

Mains Link:
About Nuclear Power:
Q. Though nuclear energy is a source of clean energy but
Nuclear power is electricity generated by power plants that
the vulnerabilities of nuclear reactors make them prone to
derive their heat from fission in a nuclear reactor. Except
disasters. Examine.
for the reactor, which plays the role of a boiler in a fossil-fuel
power plant, a nuclear power plant is similar to a large coal-
fired power plant, with pumps, valves, steam generators, Disaster and disaster management.
turbines, electric generators, condensers, and associated
equipment.
SURGING CROWDS, CHARGES OF POLICE
What was the issue: LAXITY
• In March 2011, after a magnitude 9 earthquake, a
tsunami flooded the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear Context:
power plant in Okuma and damaged its diesel gen- The two back-to-back stampedes at rallies attended by Telu-
erators. gu Desam Party (TDP) chief have put the spotlight on the
• The loss of power suspended the coolant supply to crowd and their management.
reactors at the facility; the tsunami also disabled
backup systems. Crowd process, crowd control and an integrated approach
• The water that the Japanese government wants to to crowd management: Source National Disaster Manage-
flush from the plant was used to cool the reactors, ment Authority (NDMA)
plus rainwater and groundwater. It contains radio-
active isotopes from the damaged reactors and is
thus itself radioactive.
• Japan has said that it will release this water into
the Pacific Ocean over the next 30 years.

Treated Water:

86 www.insightsonindia.com
 Pope Benedict XVI’s view on Environment conserva-
tion:
• Benedict XVI helped to author several books that
share his views on the real meaning of progress and
development, and what that means for our planet
of limited resources.
• Benedict turned heads when he chose electric vehi-
cles for use within the grounds of the Vatican and
his summer home of Castel Gandolfo, as well as for
the Vatican’s police force.
• In 2011, Benedict urged Italian students “to become
guardians of nature and follow in the footsteps of
St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology,”

Use of ICT in crowd management: Child abuse scandals

• Benedict was active in initiating the process to disci-
pline and defrock predator priests.
• He ordered an inquiry into child abuse and kept
“penance Fridays” where he would talk with abuse
survivors.

Good Examples of Religious leaders from India and

around:
Dalai Lama:
• Dalai Lama advocates compassion for animals and
frequently urges people to try vegetarianism or at
Insta Links: Crowd management in temples least reduce their consumption of meat.
• Before the 2009 United Nations Climate Change
Mains Links: Conference, he urged national leaders to put aside
Q. Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster man- domestic concerns and take collective action
agement by the Government of India departing from the against climate change
earlier reactive approach. (UPSC 2020) • At the Culture of Compassion event, the Dalai Lama
said - Warm-heartedness is a key factor for healthy
individuals, healthy families and healthy communi-

GS4 •
ties.
The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1989, and the US Congressional Gold Med-
Human Values al in 2006. Time magazine named the Dalai Lama
one of the “Children of Mahatma Gandhi” and
Gandhi’s spiritual heir to nonviolence.
ROLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN AD- • Quote: “Ecology should be part of our daily life”.
DRESSING CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader):
Direction: • Ravi Shankar is involved in interfaith dialogue and
These examples can be written in GS4 answers – on how re- currently sits on the Board of World Religious Lead-
ligious leaders have a huge impact on the lives of common ers for the Elijah Interfaith Institute. Through inter-
people. faith summits in 2008 and 2010, he has been engag-
ing faith-based leaders for collective action against
HIV.
Context:
Pope Benedict XVI also famously called “The Green Pope”, • He started a prison programme to rehabilitate pris-
who was the leader of the world’s Catholics for almost eight on inmates and help them reintegrate into society.
years, died recently. • Sadhguru:

www.insightsonindia.com 87
 • He advocates for protecting the environment later stage. This constant change in scientific think-
against climate change, leading many initiatives like ing is often pointed out as its weakness, and con-
Project Green Hands (PGH), Rally for Rivers, Cauv- stancy as a strength of tradition.
ery Calling, and the Journey to Save Soil.
Etymology of Pranam and Pramana:
Dawoodi Bohra (Shia Sect of Islam): • Pranam: derived from Sanskrit- “pra” means “for-
• The Bohras actively participate in environmental ward, outward, in front, before” while “ānama”
activism and consider it their religious duty. Nazaf- means “bending or stretching”. Together, prana-
at (which means ‘cleanliness’) is an integral compo- ma means “bending, bowing in front” or “prostra-
nent of the Islamic faith, the Bohras engage in clean- tion”. It’s a common Hindu traditional custom of
up drives, tree planting, and other such initiatives greeting a person.
wherever they reside. • Pramana(Sanskrit word), means “proof” and adds
• The Bohra community launched Project Rise, a “mā” which means measurement to the “pra” and
philanthropy focused on the marginalized and alludes to the concept of objectivity and science.
the poor. Their first initiative, undertaken in col- It’s the means that can lead to knowledge. Three
laboration with Action Against Hunger, sought to of the many pramanas are pratyakṣa (eyewitness/
address malnutrition among those living in Pal- personal experience), anumāna (logical infer-
ghar and Govandi districts. ence), and śabda (expert opinion).
• Ethics for Spiritual Leaders: • Examples of how faith undermines Science:
• Knowledge of Self • Taboos related to menstruation: Rather than treat-
• Acting with genuineness ing it as a biological phenomenon, a lot of semi-re-
ligious customs have been built around it, all ad-
• Understanding Others
versely affecting a girl’s health.
• Winning the trust of everyone
• Health issues around childbirth, breastfeeding,
• Practising Spiritualism with the whole heart. and contraception: a doctor’s scientific advice on
breastfeeding (as early as possible, giving of colos-
Insta Links: Morality and Religion trum, exclusivity, no pre-lacteal feed) and tradition-
al customs recommended by the elders (waiting till
a family member washes breast, use of ghutti, jag-
Mains Link: gery water, discarding of colostrum).
Q. “Ethics derived from religious texts are of no use to civil • Access to safe abortions: a fight between faith and
servants in a secular state.” Do you agree? Comment. science.
• Heliocentric vs Geocentric theory
IN GOOD FAITH: PRANAM VS PRAMANA • The banned practice of Sati.
• Racism – Aryan theory to be superior.
Context:
Examples of when science prevails:
The Covid-19 pandemic saw widespread use of science, but
it also provided a fertile ground for promoting faith and • Acceptance of vaccines and modern contraceptive
questioning science. methods
• A scientific theory is that all humans are the same
species – everyone has red blood and the same in-
Difference between Science and Religion:
ternal organs.
• Freedom to Question vs. Blind Acceptance: In a sci-
ence-based society, unlike in a faith-based society,
people have the freedom to question, seek an- Platforms for dialogue & harmonious coexistence between
swers and then choose their way forward based on the 2 critical pillars of society:
their own understanding & assessment. • Teachers or parents, should encourage children to
• Acceptance of Change: Another important differ- ask questions and give them access to resources to
ence pertains to the acceptance of the change. Sci- enable them to decide for themselves.
ence thrives on change. Whereas, faith and dogma • Health professionals must not belittle faith.
are constants and don’t accept questioning. • We need to understand the need for both for our
• Constant change in Science vs. Constancy in Tradi- societal well-being. & have more faith in science as
tion: What was scientifically appropriate at a given a solver to our pressing problems.
time and has become a tradition, may change at a

88 www.insightsonindia.com
 tissues e.g. organs-on-a-chip
InstaCurious: In today’s society, the 3 forms of prama- • In silico methods i.e. advanced computer-modelling
na are under threat due to the rise of: • Engagement of human volunteers
• Confirmation Bias • Using simulators for medical training.
• Echo Chambers & filter bubbles.
• Post-Truth society Guidelines for Animal Research: As followed by Feder-
al Agency and EU

ETHICAL ANIMAL RESEARCH

Context:
Globally there is concern about ethical issues related to an-
imal research. Recently, a proposed measure in Switzerland
would have made that country the first to ban medical and
scientific experimentation on animals but it failed to pass
with only 21% of voters in favour.

About Animal research:

Animal research or Experimentation involves the use of
animals to develop and test the safety of new medicines,
drugs, cosmetics, medical procedures and other industry
products.

Ethical issues involved in animal research:

• The moral status of an animal.
• Innate rights of animals
• Distinguish between testing on animals and infants
or disabled humans
• The inability of the animals to consent.
• Lack of proven benefits to humans, out of these
methods.

Arguments in favour of Animal research:

• Life-saving cures and treatments
• No proper alternative for testing.
• Overcome ethical considerations involved in the use
of human subjects
• Shorter life cycles of animals.
• Animal treatments are developed during their ex-
perimentation

Arguments against Animal research:

• Time- and resource-intensive
• In many cases, do not correctly predict real-world
human reactions and do not ensure safety
• Anatomic, metabolic, and cellular differences be-
tween animals and humans.
• Alternatives to animal testing:
• In vitro methods i.e. using human cell cultures and

www.insightsonindia.com 89
Ethical aspects followed in other countries:
In the U.S., the Animal Welfare Act protects all warm-blood-
ed animals except rats, mice and birds bred for research.
Rats, mice and birds are protected – along with fish, reptiles
and all other vertebrates – by the Public Health Service Pol-
icy.

The basic national standards for humane treatment, re-

search institutions across 47 countries, including the U.S.,
may seek voluntary accreditation by a nonprofit called the
Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laborato-
ry Animal Care, or AAALAC International. AAALAC accredi-
tation recognizes the maintenance of high standards of ani-
mal care and use.

Conclusion:
Animal research benefits both humans and animals. Nu-
merous medical advances exist because they were initially
studied in animals – from treatments for cancer and neuro-
degenerative disease to new techniques for surgery, organ
transplants and non-invasive imaging and diagnostics. About Ethical Leadership:
Ethical leadership is the practice of demonstrating appropri-
ate conduct inside and outside the office. It is mainly con-
Insta Links: A tougher law to prevent cruelty to animals:
cerned with moral development and virtuous behaviour.
Need and Concerns
Ethical leaders display good values through their words and
actions.
Mains Link:
Q. Discuss how and why compassion can act as an ethical
and practical tool in the conservation of wildlife and na-
ture.

Attitude

THE WOMAN WHO DEFIED REALPOLITIK

Context:
New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern who an-
nounced her resignation citing burnout, offered an alterna-
tive leadership model rooted in a moral vision rather than
political opportunism and rose to become a global hero of
liberalism.
• She is considered a classic example of ethical lead-
ership.

Lessons from the life of Jacinda Ardern:

Motherhood is powerful
• Jacinda Ardern became the second world leader
(After Benazir Bhutto) to ever give birth and sub-
sequently take maternity leave while in office. She
said, “I’m just pregnant, not incapacitated”.

90 www.insightsonindia.com
 • Multitasking: The Prime Minister then made history ing small businesses.
and headlines worldwide when her three-month- Clear vision and humility
old child accompanied her to a United Nations Gen-
eral Assembly in New York City. • Jacinda had earlier mentioned child poverty as the
reason why she joined politics at the age of 17. She
Keeping calm under pressure often visited refugee children as a part of working
• The New Zealand Prime Minister has demonstrated for an international youth organization.
her ability to stay cool numerous times throughout
the coronavirus pandemic, but it was her response
“If you ask me why I’m in politics, my answer would be
to a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that set the tone
simple -- children. I genuinely believe our success as politi-
for her approach to a crisis. During a live television
cians should be based on the status of children. We need
broadcast, the parliament building she was in was
to change how we measure success and our indicators for
hit with a mammoth natural disaster.
action,” she had said in an ardent speech at the Social Good
• Her ability to immediately gather her thoughts and Summit 2018.
address a crisis can be a learning lesson for all of us.
Act swiftly, decisively and do not downplay situations
Trust
• Her decisiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic had • Demonstrate credibility – for instance, by gaining
a huge impact on how the country handled the cri- the necessary knowledge and data and/or drawing
sis and the measures she implemented. upon relevant experience
• Not once did she attempt to downplay the severi- • Show reliability – be honest and do what you say you
ty of the crisis. Instead, she offered facts, educated will do
herself on the data, and made tough choices that
• Create intimacy – share some of yourself and be in-
would ultimately allow New Zealand to handle the
terested in others
pandemic astutely and save many lives.
• Limit self-orientation – keep your self-interest in
Responsible leadership: The PM, along with her ministers check
took a pay cut of 20% for 6 months during the pandemic.
In her own statement – “While it in itself won’t shift the
government’s overall fiscal position, it is about leadership”.
Emotional intelligence
• During the pandemic, Prime Minister Ardern showed
her humane side and fostered the public’s trust by
acknowledging the emotional aspect brought on by
the crisis.
• She even went so far as to reassure children that Strength and solidarity are key
the Easter Bunny was classified as a key worker and
would be able to do their Easter rounds as always. • In March 2019, Jacinda Ardern responded to a series
While this may seem like a small gesture, the fact of terrorist attacks on mosques in Christchurch with
that she incorporated such an emotional response an approach that supported the people of New
into her address showed her humanity and her re- Zealand and quickly banned military-style assault
latability. weapons in the country. The leader refused to name
the shooter in order to avoid giving him notoriety
Effective Communication: The underrated value of listening and assisted in uniting not only the people of Christ-
and asking church but New Zealand as a whole.
• Ardern used regular Facebook Live sessions to • Ms Ardern wore a hijab and went to mourn with
check in with citizens during their relatively brief the grieving families. By keeping the focus on the
time in lockdown. victims rather than the perpetrator, she brought a
• In an incredibly informal, chatty manner, she effort- healing touch to an otherwise tense, polarising mo-
lessly demonstrated consideration and empathy, ment.
whilst also delivering some tough messages, and Inclusivity
providing clear direction to mobilize effort.
• She appointed Nanaia Mahuta, a Maori woman, in
• To support citizens through lockdown, Ardern also
the high-profile portfolio of foreign ministers, while
conducted a series of video interviews in which she
her party vowed that schools in the country would
conversed with experts, including a psychologist
have the Māori language integrated into their cur-
about coping with the stresses of the pandemic,
riculum by 2025.
and an experienced business mentor about support-

www.insightsonindia.com 91
In a world where politics is synonymous with realpolitik, she platforms.
demonstrated that politics informed by a moral vision — • The new guidelines emphasize the increased risk
doing the right thing rather than what best suits one’s inter- of consumers being misled by advertisements and
ests — is not unthinkable. unfair trade practices by some individuals on social
media platforms.
• Non-disclosure of brand affiliations by influencers
Quote:
may invite a penalty of up to Rs 50 lakh.
At the heart of her leadership style:
“Kindness, and not being afraid to be kind, or to fo-
cus on, or be really driven by empathy. I think one of What is ‘Endorsement’?
the sad things that I’ve seen in political leadership is – • Endorsements are a form of advertising that uses
because we’ve placed so much emphasis on notions of famous personalities or celebrities who command a
assertiveness and strength over time – that we’ve prob- high degree of recognition, trust, respect, or aware-
ably assumed that it means you can’t have those other ness among the people.
qualities of kindness and empathy. And yet, when you • Advertisers and clients hope such approval, or en-
think about all the big challenges that we face in the dorsement by a celebrity, will influence buyers fa-
world, that’s probably the quality we need the most.” vourably.
Jacinda Ardern  For example, Sachin Tendulkar endors-
ing motorcycles and biscuits can influence
young men or children who look up to him
as a role model.

InstaCurious:
Transformational leadership is defined as a leadership How often do we follow influencers?
approach that causes a change in individuals and social • A report by iCubesWire Survey, a digital media mar-
systems. In its ideal form, it creates valuable and pos- keting company, suggests that a major percentage
itive change in the followers with the end goal of de- of Indians choose brands based on the suggestions
veloping followers into leaders. It refers to a leadership by influencers.
style that focuses on inspiring and motivating followers • 34 per cent of the respondents of the survey said
to not only achieve their goals but also to develop their they buy products or services after watching the
own leadership potential. social media posts of influencers. This content can
be in the form of reels on Instagram or videos on
popular social media platforms, including YouTube,
Facebook, and Twitter, among others.
Nolan Committee Recommendations – Find the link below.
Who should disclose: Individuals/groups who have access
to an audience and the power to affect their audiences’
Insta Links: Anonymity or Fame
purchasing decisions or opinions about a product, service,
brand, or experience, because of the influencer ‘ s/celeb-
Mains Link: rity ‘ s authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with
their audience.
Q. What are the basic principles of public life? Illustrate any
three of these with suitable examples.
A material connection could include but is not limited to
benefits and incentives, such as:
Influence and relation with thought and behaviour
• Monetary or other compensation.
• Free products with or without any conditions at-
GUIDELINES TO SOCIAL MEDIA INFLU- tached, including those received unsolicited, dis-
counts, and gifts.
ENCERS
• Contest and sweepstakes entries.
• Trips or hotel stays.
Context:
The Centre has released endorsement guidelines for celeb- • Media barters.
rities and social media influencers that mandate compulso- • Coverage and awards.
ry disclosure of monetary or material benefits of a product • Any family, personal, or employment relationship.
or a brand they are promoting through their social media

92 www.insightsonindia.com
 should be held accountable for misleading advertisements
and endorsements? Examine. (250 Words)

InstaCurious:
Ethical consumerism is the practice of making conscious
& informed purchasing decisions based on a company’s
social and environmental impact. It involves considering
factors such as a company’s labour practices, environ-
mental impact, and contributions to society when mak-
ing a purchase.

Acts against misleading advertisements in India: Ethical concerns and dilemmas

• The new guidelines are in alignment with the Con-
sumer Protection Act, of 2019, which was enacted
to protect consumers from unfair trade practices UAE’S SULTAN AL JABER AND THE CON-
and deceptive advertising. TROVERSY
• The department of consumer affairs published
Guidelines for the Prevention of Misleading Ad-
vertisements and Endorsements for Misleading
Context:
The UAE, which will host this year’s annual climate change
Advertisements, 2022. The criteria for valid adver-
conference has named one of its ministers, Sultan Al Jaber,
tisements are outlined in these guidelines, as are the
who is also the CEO of an oil company as the president of the
responsibilities of manufacturers, service providers,
conference.
advertisers, and advertising agencies. These guide-
lines also addressed celebrities and endorsers. It • The fact that the CEO of an oil company has been
states that misleading advertising in any form, for- named to preside over a conference on climate
mat, or medium is illegal. change when the world is attempting to move
away from oil and other fossil fuels is being seen as
a conflict of interest.
Global Scenario: • This is the first time that anyone having a direct con-
• In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission nection to the fossil fuel industry has been appoint-
(FTC) has guidelines for endorsements and testimo- ed as president of the climate change conference.
nials in advertising, which also apply to social media.
These guidelines require that any endorsements or
testimonials be truthful and not misleading and that Conflict Of Interest:
any material connections between the endorser and A “conflict of interest” involves a conflict between the public
the advertiser be disclosed. duty and private interests of a public official, in which the
• In the UK, the Committee of Advertising Practice public official has private-capacity interests, which could
(CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising improperly influence the performance of their official duties
Practice (BCAP) provide guidance on advertising and and responsibilities.
sponsorship across all media, including social media
influencer marketing. In such a situation, the judgement of an individual could be
• Unethical Aspects of Celebrity Endorsement – We impaired. A conflict of interest can exist in many different sit-
had already covered this in one of our previous ar- uations. Conflict of interest is seen as a moral issue and not
ticles – Responsibility of Celebrity Endorsers – Find strictly a legal one.
the link below.

Insta Links:
• Regulating misleading advertisements
• RESPONSIBILITY OF CELEBRITY ENDORSERS

Mains Link:
Q. Do you think that the brand ambassadors of products

www.insightsonindia.com 93
 About Corporate Governance:
• Corporate governance is a set of accepted principles
by the management of the inalienable rights of the
shareholders as the actual owner of the corpora-
tion and of their own role as trustees on behalf of
the shareholders.
• Gandhian economics stands for a commitment to
values, ethical leadership conduct, and transparen-
cy and makes a distinction between personal and
corporate funds in the management of a company.
The primary case for people’s supply chain diversity is always
economic and social justice.

Mechanism to check Conflict Of Interest:

• Declaration: Office bearers may be required to dis- Five areas of diversity:
close interests where they hold pecuniary interests Geographic diversity:
(income from employment, shareholding, and direc- • The map of our engineering education capacity re-
torship) and non-pecuniary interests (membership veals three concentric circles of 28 cities (3,500 en-
of an interest group). gineering colleges with 33% of capacity), 500 cities
• Recusal: In some cases, the office bearers may be (with 2,334 such colleges with 35% of capacity), and
asked not to participate in the discussion or vote the rest spread across India.
on a topic where there may be a conflict of interest. • Less than 20% of incremental annual hires in India’s
• Incompatibility: Office bearers may be prohibited digital industry work in the place where they lived
from holding the office of profit or some types of their lives.
private jobs. There may also be some restrictions • Software employment is expanding beyond its cur-
related to post-tenure employment. rent eight cities to 20 new places.
• Regulation of Gifts and Travel.
Gender diversity:
Mains Link: • The Indian software industry is better than others
at employing women, who make up 34% of its em-
Q. What is meant by conflict of interest? Illustrate with ex-
ployees and 25% of its managers.
amples, the difference between the actual and potential
conflicts of interest (UPSC 2018). • Women are now about 50% of software entry-level
recruitment. Given that women are clearly not 50%
of engineering students, this flow difference indi-
Corporate governance cates that the flexibility, safety, and work environ-
ment of the country’s software industry is a winning
combination.
SOFTWARE SECTOR’S ANTYODAYA AP-
PROACH
Cognitive diversity:
• Only 5% of the Indian software industry is staffed
Context: with non-engineers, but our research suggests that
Our software employers have always been more gender 15% of incremental hires are non-engineering grad-
inclusive than the rest of Corporate India, but market chal- uates.
lenges this year have made their recruitment more inclusive • The industry is now hiring to acquire skills in man-
& forced a bold re-imagination of their people supply chains agement, design, languages, sociology, anthropolo-
in five ways. gy, psychology, etc.
• Mahatma Gandhi often talked about Antyodaya • This has been heralded by factors like the advent of
(the rise of the last person in the line) and Sarvo- ‘low-code/no-code’ platforms.
daya (the rise of all).
In the Imitation Game (a 2014 film), Alan Turing’s character
‘It is wrong to think that business is incompatible with eth- says, “Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine any-
ics. I know that it is perfectly possible to carry on one’s busi- thing of who do the things no one can imagine.”
ness profitably, and yet honestly and truthfully.’ – Mahatma
Gandhi

94 www.insightsonindia.com
Workplace diversity:
• Pre-covid, only 5% of software employees did not Insta Links:
do their daily work from a company office or client
ICICI Videocon fraud – An issue of Corporate Ethics
site.
• However, research suggests the rise of remote work-
ing means this will rise to 20% in the next decade. Mains Link:
Contract diversity: Q. What are the diverse ethical challenges confronting cor-
• Software employers are moving to multiple con- porates today? How focus on corporate ethics and corpo-
centric circles of employment contracts: full-time, rate governance can help in addressing these challenges?
permanent, part-time, consultant, gig, direct fixed Elucidate. (250 words)
term contract, third-party contract, etc.
• Contract diversity varies between six software em- BIG TECH & NEWS PUBLISHERS
ployers: global service companies, Indian service
companies, global captives, domestic market uni-
corns, Indian software as service companies, and Context:
Indian non-tech companies. According to the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minis-
try, as creators of original content, publishers of digital news
• Contract diversity creates better matches between
platforms should receive a fair share of the revenue from
employers and potential employees, besides raising
big-tech platforms that act as aggregators.
longevity, memory, and productivity.
Great books, like The TCS Story by S. Ramadorai, Mav-
erick Effect by Harish Mehta and Engineered in India Background:
by B.V.R. Mohan Reddy highlight how supply chain in- • The statement was made at the Digital News Pub-
novations helped India’s software exports become five lishers Association (DNPA) media conference. DNPA
times higher than our textile exports. is the umbrella organisation for the digital platforms
of 17 top news publishers.
Conclusion:
• Big Tech has enabled unparalleled reach, engage-
As India’s software industry prepares to hire more people in
ment, and innovation in the news media. This has
the next 10 years than in the last 50, it has begun an incred-
created an imbalance in bargaining power between
ible journey of Antyodaya in self-interest that will make its
Big Tech and News media platforms.
competitive advantage even stronger.
Jana Sangh co-founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay suggest-
ed, “The measurement of economic plans and econom- Issues faced by the news industry:
ic growth cannot happen with those who have risen • Post-Covid the financial health of both the digital
above on the economic ladder but of those who are at news industry and its parent - the print news indus-
the bottom.” try, is under strain.
• This led to journalists losing jobs → journalism re-
ducing in quality → a negative feedback loop.
Insta Curious: • The changing dynamics of the news publishing in-
DEI Governance (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Gover- dustry (with technological changes), their business-
nance): It refers to the practices and policies that com- es and their impact on the social lives of citizens
panies put in place to promote diversity, equity, and have raised questions.
inclusion within their organization. It ensures that the • It is obvious that if the traditional news industry con-
company’s decision-making and operations are inclu- tinues to suffer, the future of journalism/Fourth Pil-
sive and reflect the diversity of the stakeholders. It also lar will suffer as well.
helps to ensure that all employees and stakeholders are
treated fairly and with respect regardless of their back-
ground. Suggestions:
The goal of DEI governance is to create a culture where • A fair share of the revenue from the Big Tech plat-
everyone feels valued and respected, where different forms (aggregator of the content) to original cre-
perspectives and ideas are welcomed, and where all ators.
employees have an equal opportunity to succeed. This • Political Will: Political support across party lines is
can include measures such as setting diversity targets essential in markets like India to level the playing
for hiring and promotions and implementing anti-dis- field between Big Tech and the news media
crimination policies. • The upcoming Digital India Act will address this is-
sue of disproportionate control and the imbalance

www.insightsonindia.com 95
 in the dynamics between content creation and con-
tent creators’ monetisation requirements – and the InstaCurious:
power that adtech companies and adtech platforms Neighbouring rights are a type of intellectual property
have. rights that protect the rights of performers, producers
of phonograms, and broadcasting organizations. These
International Scenario: rights are designed to ensure that the creators and per-
• Best practices: Australia, Canada, France and the formers of creative works are fairly compensated for
EU, through legislation and strengthening of their the use of their works. This concept of “ancillary copy-
competition commissions have ensured a fair split right” or “neighbouring rights” creates a framework
of revenue among the creators of news content and for news media to negotiate licensing fees with plat-
the aggregators. forms that use their content.
• The Australian example: It has developed the land-
mark News Media Bargaining Code, which will en-
sure that news media businesses are fairly remuner- Insta Links: New India Debate - Role of Media In India
ated for the use of their content by digital platforms,
such as Google and Facebook. The code aims to
address the bargaining power imbalance between Mains Links:
news media businesses and these digital platforms Q. Though 100 per cent FDI is already allowed in non-news
by requiring them to negotiate payment for the use media like a trade publications and general entertainment
of news content. channels, the government is mulling over the proposal for
• European Union: The Copyright Directive was ad- increased FDI in news media for quite some time. What dif-
opted in 2019, which includes provisions that require ference would an increase in FDI make? Critically evaluate
digital platforms to negotiate fair and proportionate the pros and cons. (UPSC 2014)
remuneration for the use of copyrighted content, in-
cluding news.
• France: It passed a law to enforce the European
Copyright Directive— which granted ‘neighbouring
Facts for Prelims
rights’ to intellectual property owners, potentially
allowing news publishers to negotiate agreements
with Big Tech platforms for featuring their content. GS1
Way ahead: Indian Heritage and Culture
• A policy response to curb unfair competition, which
is reducing revenues, profitability and funding for
quality journalism. “VIRAASAT”- CELEBRATING 75 HAND-
• Political support is critical in markets such as India WOVEN SARIS OF INDIA
because, unlike in countries such as Australia, the
media market was not concentrated, reducing each Context:
publisher’s bargaining power. The Ministry of Textiles is organizing the festival second
phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”
Conclusion:
In a liberal and large democracy like India, it is important A social media campaign has been launched under the
to have diverse and vigorous news media. Thus, for quali- common hashtag #MySariMyPride to support our hand-
ty journalism, credible content and good governance and to loom weavers. Coinciding with the 75 years of Indepen-
secure the future of the 4th pillar of our democracy, issues dence, “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” there will be an exhibi-
faced by the news industry need to be addressed as soon as tion-cum-sale of Handloom Saris by 75 handloom weavers.
possible. A series of activities are planned for the visiting public such
as:
• Viraasat-Celebrating the heritage: Curated display
of handloom saris.
• Viraasat-Ek Dharohar: Direct retail of saris by weav-
ers
• Viraasat Ke Dhage: Live loom demonstration

96 www.insightsonindia.com
 • Viraasat–kal se kal tak : Workshops and talks on sari concerns.
and sustainability
• Viraasat–Nritya Sanskriti: Famous Folk dances of In-
dian culture

SAGOL KANGJEI

Context:
Home Minister inaugurated a 122-foot-tall statue of a polo
player astride a Manipur Pony in Imphal.

Background:
• Modern polo is said to have originated from Sagol
Kangjei, a sport indigenous to Manipur, in which
players ride horses, specifically the Manipur Po-
nies, which are referenced in records dating back to
the 14th century.
PARASNATH HILL AND SHETRUNJAY HILL
• Marjing is considered the God of polo and features
a pony as his carrier.
Context: • The Lai-Haraoba festival of the state depicts the life
Members of the Jain community staged protests across the and times of Khori-phaba, the polo-playing god of
country over demands related to two holy sites — Sammed sports.
Shikhar on Parasnath hill in Jharkhand and Shetrunjay hill
• The Manipur Pony is one of five recognised equine
in Palitana of Gujarat.
breeds of India and has a powerful cultural signifi-
cance for Manipuri society.
Sammed Shikharji Temple: • The Marjing Polo Complex has been developed as a
• It is believed that 20 out of 24 Tirthankars (Jain spir- way to conserve the Manipur Pony.
itual leaders) attained salvation here.
• It is located on the Parasnath Hills in the Giridih dis-
trict of Jharkhand.
• It is important for both the Digambara and Sweth- ‘MUSIC IN THE PARK’
ambara sects of Jainism.
• The hill is the highest mountain in Jharkhand. Context:
• The Hill is named after Parasnath (the 23rd Tirthan- SPIC MACAY organizes its very popular ‘Music in the Park’
kar) series this year under the name “Shruti Amrut” in collab-
• Issue: Parasnath hill being declared a tourist spot oration with the Ministry of Culture and the New Delhi Mu-
and an eco-sensitive zone, neither the Centre nor nicipal Council.
the state consulted the main stakeholders.
Shetrunjay hill: About SPIC MACAY:
• SPIC MACAY- The Society for Promo-
• Situated on the banks of the Shetrunji river
tion of Indian Classical Music and Cul-
• Home to 865 Jain temples ture amongst youth is a voluntary youth move-
• A holy place for Shwetambara Jains. ment that promotes the tangible & intangible
• Issue: Vandalising of a shrine and related security aspects of Indian & world heritage.

www.insightsonindia.com 97
 • It organizes programs and workshops on Indian Clas- • It aims to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a pri-
sical, Folk Music and dance, Yoga, meditation, crafts, oritised, planned and sustainable manner to pro-
and other aspects of Indian culture. vide a complete religious tourism experience.
• It is a movement started in 1977 and has chapters in
over 850 towns across the world.
BUDDHIST MONASTERY COMPLEX AT
BHARATPUR
THIRUVALLUVAR DAY
Context:
Context: Recent excavations at Bharatpur in West Bengal’s Paschim
The Prime Minister, has paid homage to Thiruvalluvar on Bardhaman district have revealed the presence of a Bud-
Thiruvalluvar Day and recalled his noble thoughts. He also dhist monastery.
urged the youth to read the Kural.
Findings from the previous excavations (between 1972 and
About Thiruvalluvar: 1975)
• Thiruvalluvar, also called Valluvar, was a Tamil po- • A large Buddhist stupa was found
et-saint.
• Black and red ware pottery from the Chalcolithic Age
• He contributed the Tirukkural or ‘Kural’ to the San-
• Five beautiful seated sculptures of the Buddha in
gam literature.
Bhumisparsha Mudra -- with all five fingers of the
• Tirukkural is comprised of 133 sections of 10 cou- right hand extended to touch the ground -- were
plets each divided into three books: Aram (virtue), found
Porul (government and society), and Kamam (love).

About Buddhist stupa:

PILGRIMAGE REJUVENATION AND SPIR- A Buddhist stupa is a commemorative monument usually
ITUAL HERITAGE AUGMENTATION DRIVE housing sacred relics associated with the Buddha

(PRASHAD)
About Bhumisparsh Mudra: It symbolizes the Buddha’s en-
lightenment under the bodhi tree, when he summoned the
Context: earth goddess, Sthavara, to bear witness to his attainment of
The citizens’ committee to save Chamundi Hills and its envi- enlightenment.
ronment has resolved to seek permission from the heritage
committee before beginning PRASHAD development work
on the hilltop. About Chalcolithic Period:
The Chalcolithic or Copper Age is the transitional period
between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age. It is taken to
Background: begin around the mid-5th millennium BC and ends with the
• The Chamundi Hills, which are about 3,489 ft. above beginning of the Bronze Age proper, in the late 4th to 3rd
sea level, is located 13 km east of Mysore, Karnata- millennium BC, depending on the region
ka, and the name comes from the Chamundeshwari
Temple at the peak.
• Given Chamundi Hills’ environmental sensitivity,
there have been calls for its preservation through
projects that are not harmful to the local ecology,
such as encouraging the use of public transporta-
tion.

About the PRASAD Scheme:

• The Government of India launched the PRASAD
scheme in the year 2014-2015 under the Ministry
of Tourism.
• This scheme focuses on developing and identifying
pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the reli-
gious tourism experience.

98 www.insightsonindia.com
 ANDAMAN ISLANDS NAMED AFTER • His birthday is celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ on
23rd January.
PARAM VIR CHAKRA RECIPIENTS •
Ethical Lessons from his life:
Context:
• Courage: Indira Gandhi said Subhas Chandra
PM Modi named the 21 largest unnamed islands of Anda- Bose’s ‘restless and dynamic spirit led him to a
man & Nicobar Islands after India’s 21 Param Vir Chakra path that was somewhat different from our own’,
awardees. but ‘he was a path of courage’.
• The ceremony was organised on the occasion of • Value of sacrifice
Parakram Diwas, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s • Value of Struggle
• Patriotism
birth anniversary
• Previously, Ross Island was renamed Netaji Sub-
hash Chandra Bose Dweep in 2018

About Param Vir Chakra

The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration,
awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during
wartime. Param Vir Chakra translates as the “Wheel of the
Ultimate Brave”, and the award is granted for “most con-
spicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy”. It was 1st
awarded in 1947 and last awarded in 1999

About Subhas Chandra Bose: ASSAM’S CHARAIDEO MOIDAMS

• Personal:
• Birth: He was born on 23rd January 1897, in Cuttack
Context:
• He was highly influenced by Vivekananda’s teach- Central government has put forth the name of Assam’s
ings and considered him his spiritual Guru. Charaideo moidams burial sites in addition to United Na-
• His political mentor was Chittaranjan Das. tions Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UN-
• Freedom struggle ESCO) World Heritage Sites list for 2023-24.
• Newspapers: Chittaranjan Das’s newspaper ‘For- • If selected it will be the only cultural heritage site in
ward’ (as Editor) and his own newspaper, Swaraj. the North East to get the coveted status
• Slogans: ‘Jai Hind’, ‘Give me blood and I will give you
freedom’, ‘Chalo Dilli’, ‘Itmad (Faith), Ittefaq (Unity)
What is Charaideo Moidams?
and Kurbani (Sacrifice)
It is also known as the ‘Pyramids of Assam’ and was the
• Bose was the first person to address Mahatma Gand- original capital of the Ahom Kings. It contains sacred burial
hi as the Father of the Nation grounds of Ahom kings and queens and is also the place of
• He opposed the Motilal Nehru Report (dominion the ancestral Gods of the Ahoms.
status for India) and wanted complete indepen-
• Che-Rai-Doi: “Che” means city or town, “Rai” means
dence.
“to shine” and “Doi” means hill. In short, Charaideo
• Became congress president at Haripura in 1938. means, “a shining town situated on a hilltop.”
• He founded a new party, ‘the Forward Bloc’ (to con- • A moidam is a tumulus – a mound of earth raised
solidate the political left in Bengal) over a grave
• Indian National Army: He announced the forma- • Built by: Chaolung Sukhapa (founder of the Ahom
tion of the Azad Hind Government and the Indian dynasty in about 1253 CE)
National Army on 21st October 1943.
• Located at around 30 Km from the historical Siv-
 The INA was first formed under Mohan asagar town in Assam at the foothills of Nagaland
Singh and Japanese Major Iwaichi Fujiwara
and comprised Indian prisoners of war of • Features: It comprises a massive underground vault
the British-Indian Army captured by Japan with one or more chambers having domical super-
in the Malayan campaign and at Singapore. structure and covered by a heap of earthen mounds
• Other Honors in his name: and externally it appears a hemispherical mound.
• Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puras-  90 royal burials at Charaideo in total
kar (disaster management)

www.insightsonindia.com 99
About Ahom Kingdom: • These organizations would be known as “Monu-
It was established in 1228 in the Brahmaputra valley of As- ment Mitras” for their collaboration initiative.
sam, the Ahom kingdom retained its sovereignty for 600
years. The Ahoms ruled the land till the province was an-
nexed to British India in 1826 with the signing of the Treaty ETIKOPPAKA TOY CRAFT
of Yandaboo.
• The Ahom state depended upon forced labour Context:
(Called Paiks). An artist from Andhra Pradesh was conferred Padma Shri –
• Recently, Ahom general and folk hero Lachit Bor- for his work on Etikoppaka wooden toy craft which is also a
phukan’s 400th birth anniversary was celebrated. GI-tagged product from the state.
Traditionally Ahoms are members of the Great Tai
(Tai-Yai) group of people. About Etikoppaka toys:
• The art of making traditional wooden Etikoppaka
toys is more than 400 years old.
• Also known as turned wood Lacquer craft.
• The toys are unique in shape and form.
• They are made of wood and painted with natural
dyes.
• The wood used is from the ‘Ankudi Karra’ (Wrightia
tinctoria) tree which is soft.
• The natural dyes are prepared from seeds, lacquer,
bark, roots, and leaves.
• Other GI products from Andhra Pradesh Kondapal-
li toys, Tirupati laddu, Bobbili Veena, Srikalahasthi
Kalamkari, Uppada Jamdani sarees, and Shadow
puppets.

MONUMENT MITRA SCHEME

Context:
The government to hand over around 1,000 monuments to
the private sector for their upkeep under the Monument
Mitra Scheme.
CRITERIA FOR DECLARING NATIONAL
About Monument Mitra Scheme / Adopt A Heritage: MONUMENTS
• The Scheme was started under the Ministry of Tour-
ism.
Context:
• It is now transferred to the Ministry of Culture in
The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-
respect of the monuments under the Archaeologi-
PM) has suggested that the government should come up
cal Survey of India, the ASI.
with a detailed procedure for declaring ‘Monuments of Na-
• Applies to all Centrally protected heritage proper- tional Importance’ (MNI)
ties.
• Aims at ensuring quality & inclusive provision of
amenities and facilities across heritage, natural, & ‘Monuments of National Importance - Urgent Need
tourist sites through the active participation of pri- for Rationalisation’:
vate and public sector organizations and individu- • Absence of definition of term ‘National Importance’
als. • Allocation of funds for the protection of MNI should

100 www.insightsonindia.com
 be increased mander Bairam Khan.
• ASI should publish a book of notifications for all MNI • Tulsidas made the story of Lord Ram popular among
• Remove unimportant ones: E.g., around 75 British the masses because he wrote in the regional dialect
cemeteries/graves are considered as MNI that most people understood.
• 24 monuments of national importance are untrace- • This attracted the wrath of ancient Sanskrit scholars,
able, but still considered as MNI and Tulsidas recorded his pain in his Kavitawali.
• Minor monuments and antiquities should be deno-
tified as MNI and monuments with local importance
should be transferred to respective states for pro-
tection
• Over 60 per cent of MNI are located in just 5 states
- Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya
Pradesh and Maharashtra. While the city of Delhi
alone has 173 MNI

India currently has 3,695 MNI that are under the pro-
tection of ASI. The Ancient Monuments and Archae-
ological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act), 1958,
(amended in 2010) provides for the declaration and
conservation of ancient and historical monuments and
archaeological sites and remains of national impor-
tance. The Central Government is authorised to main-
tain, protect and promote the monuments.
Criteria for declaration of the monument as national
importance
• Ancient monument or archaeological site is not
less than 100 years old
SHUMANG LEELA: MANIPUR
• It has a special historical, archaeological or artis-
tic interest Context:
• No objection from interested public Shumang Leela is a traditional form of theatre where the
roles of women are played by men, called Nupi Shabis.
RAMCHARITMANAS OF TULSIDAS • In the case of women’s theatre groups, the roles of
men are played by women.
Context:
In news due to a recent controversial statement made by a About Shumang Leela:
state minister against Ramcharitmanas. • ‘Shumang’ means ‘open courtyard’ and ‘Leela’
means play and the literal meaning of Shumang Lee-
The Ramcharitmanas: la is “play of the open courtyard”.
• The poem was written in the 16th century in the • Origin: It started as a comic genre presented before
Awadhi dialect. the kings and noblemen.
• It is divided into seven chapters (Kand) that tell the • Values that the theatre form shows: It attempts
story of Lord Ram from birth to his becoming King to preserve and promote humanism, brotherhood,
of Ayodhya. tolerance, confidence, devotion, truth and justice
• The Ramcharitmanas is based on the Ramayana - through its performances.
sage Valmiki’s great epic.  It is a powerful medium for mass educa-
tion besides giving entertainment and
relaxation.
Goswami Tulsidas:  It has been trying to focus on the issues
• Tulsidas, a Brahmin whose original name was Ram of moral values, unity and integrity
Bola Dubey, composed the Ramcharitmanas on the
bank of the Ganga in Varanasi.
• Tulsidas was a contemporary of Emperor Akbar, and MUGHAL GARDENS: NOW AMRIT UDY-
it is believed that he was an acquaintance of Ab- AN
durrahim Khan-e-Khanan, the son of Akbar’s com-

www.insightsonindia.com 101
Context: of life.”
The iconic Mughal Gardens at the Rashtrapati
Bhavan (President’s House) in Delhi have been renamed as
‘Amrit Udyan’ Games
INFORMATION RELATED TO HOCKEY

Context:
As the FIH Hockey World Cup kicked off in Odisha (in Bhu-
baneswar and Rourkela), here is little information about the
game.

About Hockey:
• Field hockey is a team sport played between two
teams of 11 players each on a rectangular field with
white lines on the blue AstroTurf.
• To score a goal, the scorer has to enter the oppo-
sition D – the D-shaped box 16 yards in front of the
goal. A shot from outside the D is not counted.
• Types of hockey hit: Scoop, Flick, Tomahawk (re-
verse backhand), Jink
• Fouls: The ball touching your feet, tackling from
behind, third-party interference (two players are
not allowed to tackle an attacking player at the
same time), obstruction (when a player or a stick
comes in between the ball and the other player)
and dangerous play.
History of the Garden:
• Fouls are penalized in different ways: Free hits, Pen-
• At the time of the shifting of the Indian capital from
alty Corners, Penalty strokes
Calcutta to Delhi (in 1911), about 4,000 acres of
land were acquired to construct the Viceroy’s House
and a Mughal-style Garden. Is Hockey the National Game of India?
• Sir Edwin Lutyens was given the task of designing Hockey was believed to be the national game of India for de-
the building on Raisina Hill. cades, but the Government of India has clarified that hock-
ey isn’t and never was the official national game of India. In
fact, India does not have a national game.
Persian Char Bagh style
The Mughals (1526-1858) were known to appreciate gar-
dens e.g., Babur (in Babur Nama) says that his favourite kind India’s Performance in Men’s Hockey
of garden is the Persian char Bagh style (literally, four gar- • India was the first non-European team to be a part
dens). of the International Hockey Federation.
• Charbagh is a Persian-style garden layout, in • India’s hockey team is the most successful team
which the main building is put at the centre of a ever in the Olympics, having won a total of eight
quadrilateral garden, divided by walkways or flowing gold medals
water into four smaller parts. • India also has the best overall performance in Olym-
 This style was brought to India by the Mu- pic history with 83 victories out of the 134 matches
ghals played.
• Humayun’s tomb, Nishat Bagh (Sri Nagar) and Taj • They have also scored more goals in the Olympics
Mahal are the examples of this style. than any other team.
• The char Bagh structure was intended to create a • They are also the only team ever to win the Olym-
representation of heaven- in which humans co-exist pics without conceding a single goal, having done
in perfect harmony with all elements of nature so in 1928 and 1956.
• Waterways demarcate the various quadrants of the • Major player: Major Dhyan Chand was an Indian
garden. field hockey player, widely regarded as one of the
greatest field hockey players in history.
• Fountains were often built, symbolising the “cycle

102 www.insightsonindia.com
 Khidrana in 1705. It was after this battle that Khidrana was
Festival in News named Muktsar, or the pool of liberation.
Gangasagar mela
Gangasagar Mela is known as the world’s second-largest hu-
PURPLE FEST man congregation after Kumbh. The event is organized ev-
ery year during Makar Sankranti. The mela is held at Sagar
Island (West Bengal). Recently, West Bengal has demanded
Context:
National Mela status for Gangasagar mela.
The first-of-its-kind inclusive festival in India, ‘Purple Fest:
Celebrating Diversity’ in Goa.
BHARAT PARV 2023
About Purple Fest Goa
• It is first of its kind inclusive festival in India that em- Context:
braces, expresses and celebrates persons with dis- The six-day mega event “Bharat Parv” is being organized by
abilities. the Government of India, as part of the Republic Day Cele-
• Aimed at furthering the spirit of inclusion, the Pur- brations.
ple Fest will feature a variety of exciting live perfor-
mances, sporting events, grand exhibitions, immer-
sive experience zones, accessible movie screenings, About Bharat Parv:
& discussions on vital subjects like inclusive educa- • Bharat Parv was previously held from 2016 and vir-
tion, tourism, employment, & independent living. tually in the year 2021
• In recent days, purple colour has been associated • The physical event is being organized after a gap of
with disability and denotes the contribution of a 2 years.
wider community of disabled people workforce. • The event would have a Food Festival, Handicraft
mela, folk and tribal dance performances, perfor-
mances by cultural troupes, a Display of Republic
MAGH BIHU Day Tableaux, illumination of Red Fort etc.
• Branding and promotion of Dekho Apna Desh,
Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat, G20 and Mission LIFE
Context:
would be undertaken during the event.
Prime Minister greeted the people on the occasion of Magh
Bihu. • Ministry of Tourism has been designated as the
nodal Ministry for the event, the highlights of which
include showcasing of the best Republic Day Parade
About Magh Bihu: tableaux at the venue, cultural performances by the
• It is a harvest festival of Assam where people ex- Zonal Cultural Centres as well as cultural troupes
press gratitude for a good harvest and marks the from States/ UTs, a pan – India Food Court and a pan
end of the harvest season. – India Crafts Bazaar.
• It believes in sharing the gifts of nature as a com-
munity and strengthening a sense of identity and
belonging. Significance Of Bharat Parv:
• To Promote the Spirit Of Freedom
• The festival of Bihu has three forms: Bohag Bihu,
Kati Bihu, and Magh Bihu. Each of these falls in the • To celebrate independence and the history of India.
agriculture calendar. • Extension Of Republic Day Events.
• Promoting India’s Food Diversity
This day is considered auspicious in the Hindu lunar year • Promoting Vocals for Local
as well and is known as the Makar Sankranti, i.e., the day
when the sun begins its northward journey or Uttarayan and Modern History/Personality
transitions into the Hindu zodiac sign of Makara.
On this day the Sun God is worshipped in various parts of
India in the form of different festivals such as Pongal (Tamil SWAMI SAHAJANAND SARASWATI
Nadu), Maghi (Punjab), and Uttarayan (Gujarat)
Context:
Maghi Mela has been celebrated in the city of Sri Muktsar Celebrations commemorating farmer leader Swami Saha-
Sahib in Punjab for centuries in memory of 40 Sikh war- janand Saraswati’s birth anniversary
riors who were killed fighting the Mughals in the Battle of

www.insightsonindia.com 103
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati: About Pritzker Architecture Prize (regarded Nobel Prize for
• He (real name Navrang Rai) was an ascetic, a nation- Architecture)
alist and a peasant leader of India. The Pritzker Architecture Prize (est. 1979) is an international
• The Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (BPKS) was found- architecture award presented annually “to honour a living
ed by Saraswati in 1929 to address peasants’ com- architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a
plaints about zamindari attacks on their occupancy combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commit-
rights, and served as the foundation for the farmers’ ment.
movements in India.
• The All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was established at Geography
the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress
in April 1936, with Saraswati chosen as its first Pres-
ident. NEW PLATEAU DISCOVERED
• Subhash Chandra Bose and the All India Forward
Bloc decided to observe April 28 as All-India Swami
Sahajanand Day in protest of his arrest by the British
Context:
A rare low-altitude basalt plateau housing 76 species of
Raj during the Quit India Movement.
plants and shrubs from 24 different families was discovered
in the Thane region in the Western Ghats.
ARCHITECT BV DOSHI PASSES AWAY
How Plateaus are the repository of information:
Context: • Plateaus in the Western Ghats are significant be-
Renowned architect of post-Independent India, Balkrishna cause of the predominance of endemic species.
Doshi died on January 24. They are classified as a type of rock outcrop and
provide a unique and challenging environment for
species to adapt.
His Contribution: • These outcrops have seasonal water availability,
• To the evolution of architecture: limited soil, and nutrients, making them ideal lab-
 Founder of Ahmedabad’s School of Archi- oratories to study the effects of climate change on
tecture species survival.
 Having worked under Le Corbusier and Lou- • It can help increase awareness of the conservation
is Kahn, he is a pioneer of modernist archi-
tecture in India needs of rock outcrops and their immense biodi-
 He established Indian architecture on the versity value in the global context.
global platform through his humanist ap-
proach to design
• Infrastructure projects: Designer of IIM Bangalore,
IIM Udaipur, NIFT Delhi, Amdavad ni Gufa, CEPT Uni-
versity, NIFT Delhi and the Aranya Low-Cost Housing
development in Indore which was awarded the Aga
Khan Award for Architecture.
• Awards
 2018: He became the first Indian architect
to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize,
which is considered one of the most presti-
gious prizes in architecture.
 2020: Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan.
 Royal Institute of British Architects Royal
Gold Medal for 2022

Ethical lessons from his life:

• Innovations
• Creativity
• Humanity: BV Doshi gave Indian architecture a hu-
man face.
• Compassion: Designing houses for poor

104 www.insightsonindia.com
 RARE DINOSAUR EGGS FOUND IN NAR- like modern-day crocodiles.
• Certain pathologies found in the eggs, such as a rare
MADA VALLEY case of “egg-in-egg”, indicate that titanosaur sauro-
pods had a reproductive physiology that parallels
Context: that of birds and possibly laid their eggs in a se-
A group of Indian researchers found rare cases of fossilized quential manner as seen in modern birds.
dinosaur eggs — an egg within an egg — among 256 newly
discovered eggs from the Narmada Valley.
About Narmada River:
The Narmada, the largest west-flowing river of the Peninsu-
About findings: la, rises near the Amarkantak range of mountains in Madhya
• The discovery suggests that Titanosaurs — one of Pradesh. It is the fifth-largest river in the country and the
the largest dinosaurs to have roamed the Earth — largest one in Gujarat.
displayed a notable reproductive trait unique to
modern-day birds.
• The egg has two yolks; this feature can be seen in EARTH’S INNER CORE
birds, suggesting they share similar reproductive
traits. Context:
Research suggested that Earth’s inner core, a hot iron ball
Region where these fossils were found: the size of Pluto, has stopped spinning faster than the plan-
• This region falls between the easternmost Lameta et’s surface and might now be rotating slower than it.
exposures at Jabalpur in the upper Narmada Valley
(central India) and Balasinor in the west in the low- How does the core spin:
er Narmada Valley (western central India), • The inner core rotates within the liquid outer core.
• Lameta exposure is a sedimentary rock formation • The solid inner core is suspended, floating, in the
known for its dinosaur fossils. molten outer core.
• The Bhedaghat-Lamheta Ghat in Narmada valley has • The inner core’s independent rotation is caused by
made it to the tentative list of UNESCO’s world her- a process called convection.
itages sites. • Its movement is caused by the outer core’s magnetic
torque and balanced by gravitational force.
• The mantle’s immense gravitational pull may be the
OVER 90 FOSSIL NESTS BELONGING TO reason for the pause and shift in the inner core’s ro-
INDIA’S LARGEST DINOSAURS UNCOV- tation.
ERED
How do we study the inner core:
Context: Scientists rely on seismic waves created by earthquakes or
Researchers have uncovered 92 nesting sites containing a sometimes nuclear explosions –to know about the structure
total of 256 fossil eggs in central India’s Narmada Valley be- of the interior of the Earth.
longing to titanosaurs.

About Titanosaurs:
• They were among the largest dinosaurs to have
ever lived.
• Titanosaurs were a diverse group of sauropod dino-
saurs, including genera from all seven continents.
• These were the last surviving group of long-necked
sauropods, with taxa still thriving at the time of
the extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous.
About the findings:
• Researchers six different egg species, suggesting a Image Credits: News 18
higher diversity of titanosaurs than is represented
by skeletal remains from this region.
• These dinosaurs buried their eggs in shallow pits

www.insightsonindia.com 105
Places in News

MAPPING

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Society and Social Justice trance. But in JEE, the results have long highlighted glaring
gendered disparity. This year, for the first time, women make
up 30% of the IIT-JEE applicant pool.
CRITERIA CHANGE IN GENDER GAP RE- In India, women make up 43% of the STEM education pool,
PORTS one of the highest ratios in the world.

Context: MIGRATION EVENTS THAT BROUGHT

The World Economic Forum (WEF) will take into account
the participation of women at the panchayat level to rank
GENETIC DIVERSITY
countries in its future Global Gender Gap reports.
• This will improve India’s position at the global level Context:
(currently India ranks 135 Out Of 146 in the 2022 Tibeto-Burman communities were pre-historic Himalayan
Gender Gap report) settlers, and their East Asian ancestry can be traced back to
Neolithic immigration, mostly from Tibet around 8000 Years
• Previously, India had reiterated the “flaws” in the
Ago, says a genetic study of the population.
ranking system.
The Global Gender Gap Index benchmarks the current state
Impact of this migration: The migration led to genetic drift,
and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions:
endogamy, admixture, isolation, and natural selection that
• Economic Participation and Opportunity have contributed to genetic diversity among the Nepalese
• Educational Attainment population
• Health and Survival
• Political Empowerment Origin of Modern Human
Modern humans originated in Africa within the past 200,000
years and evolved from their most likely recent common an-
About Global Gender Gap Index:
cestor, Homo erectus (‘upright man’)
It is the longest-standing index which tracks progress towards
closing Gender gaps over time since its inception in 2006.

About WEF: GS2

The World Economic Forum is an international non-govern-
mental and lobbying organisation based in Switzerland. It Polity
was founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer and
economist Klaus Schwab.
E-SCR PROJECT

Context:
Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project has been
launched to provide the digital version of the SC’s judge-
ments in the manner as they are reported in the official law
report ‘Supreme Court Reports’

The report aims to provide the entire judgement of SC (from

inception in 1950 to date)

The eCourts Mission Mode Project is a national eGover-

nance project for Information and Communication Technol-
ogy (ICT) enablement of district & subordinate courts of the
country. The objective of the project is to provide designated
services to litigants, lawyers and the judiciary through ICT
enablement of courts.
Related news
Good news for gender parity in science
Girls routinely outperform boys in boards and medical en-

112 www.insightsonindia.com
 Other Key points of the Report ‘State Finances: A Study
of Budgets of 2022-23’:
• States’ gross fiscal deficit will decline to 3.4% of
GDP in 2022-23 (from 4.1% in 2020-21)
• States’ debt will decrease to 29.5% of GDP (from
31.1% in 2020-21)
• It has recommended increased allocation for capital
formation esp. for sectors such as health, education
etc.
STATE FINANCES: A STUDY OF BUDGETS
 Capital formation means- the allocation of
OF 2022-23 resources for asset creation such as plants,
machinery, and human capital. The rate of
capital investment in India was 31.2% in
Context: 2021 (higher than BRICS)
In its latest report titled ‘State Finances: A Study of Budgets

of 2022-23’, RBI has warned that the reversion to OPS by
some States poses a major risk on the “subnational fiscal Q. Who among the following can join the National Pension
horizon” and would result in the accumulation of unfunded System (NPS)? (UPSC 2021)
liabilities in the coming years for them. (a) Resident Indian citizens only
• Among the States, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, (b) Persons of age from 21 to 55 only
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Punjab have so far re- (c) All State Government employees joining the services after
stored the Dearness Allowance (DA) linked OPS for the date of notification by the respective State Governments
their employees. (d) All Central Government employees including those of
Armed Forces joining the services on or after 1st April 2004
Old Pension Scheme (OPS): It was discontinued in Answer: C
2004, however, it guaranteed life-long income af-
ter retirement. Typically, the insured amount is
equal to 50% of the most recently drawn salary. The
EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY
expenditure incurred on the pension is borne by
the government. Context:
India-supported resolution ‘Education for Democracy’ gets
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
National Pension Scheme (NPS):
• The NPS is a voluntary and long-term retirement • The resolution encouraged member states to inte-
investment plan administered by the Pension Fund grate education for democracy into their education
Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), standards and curriculum. It also asked member
Ministry of Finance, Government of India. states to close digital divides.
• It was launched in January 2004 for government
employees and it was decided to discontinue defined What is ‘Education for Democracy’?
benefit pensions/OPS for all employees who joined Education for democracy focuses primarily on democratic
after April 1, 2004. rights and responsibilities and education for active partic-
ipation, in relation to the civic, political, social, economic,
legal and cultural spheres of society.

www.insightsonindia.com 113
Recently, the district of Kollam (Kerala) has become the all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High
country’s first constitution-literate district. Court shall be in the English language until Parliament by law
otherwise provides.

13TH AMENDMENT (13A) TO SRI LANKA’S Article 348 (2) provides that the Governor of the State may,
CONSTITUTION with the previous consent of the President, authorize the
use of the Hindi language or any other language used for any
Context: official purpose of the State, in the proceedings of the High
India has reiterated that full implementation of 13A is “criti- Court
cal” for achieving reconciliation with the minority Tamil com-
munity.
NEED FOR REFORMING BAIL PROCESSES
What is SL’s 13th Amendment? Context:
The 13th amendment, originally certified in 1987, states that SC says that unless the government thinks “out of the box”
Tamil will be one of Sri Lanka’s official languages and that and refrains from fighting every case of bail, it could take the
provincial councils, with substantial authority, will be estab- top court 300 to 700 years to dispose of the current backlog
lished throughout the country.

Origin: It was brought after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement What is bail?
of 1987 for the devolution of power to the Tamil community. Bail is the temporary release of a person accused of a crime
in exchange for a monetary pledge in exchange for the ac-
cused’s appearance in court when the time comes.
In the case of the US: The Thirteenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary • The person who pays the money or undertakes a
servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. money bond acts as the surety.

Issues with the Bail processes:

SUPREME COURT JUDGMENTS IN 13 IN- • Almost every case of bail is being challenged all the
DIAN LANGUAGES way to the Supreme Court, forming more than one-
third of the cases in the Supreme Court
Context: • A huge number of under-trials: As per NCRB data
Supreme Court will release 1,268 judgments in 13 Indian over 77% of prisoners are under trial in India
languages on Republic Day in a bid to make justice adminis- • Supreme Court decided to give priority to pending
tration more accessible to the common man. bail petitions by having every Bench of the court
• The judgments would be made available in the hear 10 bail cases every day before normal work.
court’s e-SCR portal.
In July last year (2022), a Supreme Court judgment urged the
government to bring a new Act exclusively to simplify and
About e-SCR Portal: streamline bail.
• The portal is the repository of the electronic version
of Supreme Court Reports (SCR)
• It provides free access and an elastic search facility Legal aspects:
to about 34,000 of its judgments. • The CrPC does not define the word bail but only
categorises offences under the Indian Penal Code
• Benefits of e-SCR: The move has benefitted law stu-
as ‘bailable’ and ‘non-bailable’.
dents, young lawyers who cannot afford expensive
books which record apex court judgments and even  It empowers magistrates to grant bail for
bailable offences as a matter of right.
the public.
• Articles applicable: Article 20 (Protection against
Related News:
indiscriminate arrest); Article 21 (Protection of Life
The judgements delivered by SC will now be translated into and Personal Liberty); Article 22 (Protection Against
four languages- Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Odia. Also, On- Arrest and Detention)
line e-Inspection Software to facilitate online e-inspection
of digitized judicial files through the internet was launched
at Delhi High court. Quote:
Article 348(1) of the Constitution of India provides that • “In a democracy, there can never be an impression

114 www.insightsonindia.com
 that it is a Police State” and flows through the state of Karnataka in India. It rises in
• Rule of “bail, not jail” the Western Ghats at an elevation of 792.4 m in the state’s
Belgaum district. The river joins the Krishna River at Kudala-
Q. With reference to India, consider the following sangama in the Bagalkot district
statements: (UPSC 2021)
1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custo-
dy of the concerned magistrate and such an accused is
locked up in a police station, not in jail.
2. During judicial custody, the police officer in
charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the
suspect without the approval of the court.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
In Judicial custody, an accused is in the custody of
the concerned Magistrate and lodged in jail. Hence,
statement 1 is not correct.

Government Initiative and Policies COMPREHENSIVE MIGRATION AND

MOBILITY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
KALASA-BANDURI CANAL CONSTRUC- (MMPA)
TION PROJECT
Context:
India will sign a Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Part-
Context:
nership Agreement (MMPA) with Austria during the Indian
Recently centre has given approval for the implementation
External Affairs Minister’s visit to Vienna.
of this project by the Karnataka government. The project
will divert water from two tributaries of the Mahadayi Riv-
er (Mandovi River)- Kalasa and Banduri to the Malaprabha Background:
river. • This is the first trip to Austria by an Indian Foreign
• The project aims to improve the drinking water sup- Minister in 27 years.
ply to four drought-hit districts in Karnataka-- Be- • Austria was confronted with a sharp increase in ille-
lagavi, Bagalkot, Dharwad and Gadag. However, gal migration last year, including over 15,000 illegal
the Goa government has been opposing the project. migrants from India with practically no chance of
asylum.
• While India has been keen to finalise agreements
About Mahadayi River: with European countries to -
The Mahadayi/Mandovi River is described as the lifeline of
 Resolve issues over the long-pending In-
the Indian state of Goa. The Mandovi and the Zuari are the dia-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agree-
two primary rivers in the state of Goa. Mandovi joins with ment.
the Zuari at a common creek at Cabo Aguada, forming the  Facilitate Indian professionals working in
Mormugao harbour. these countries.
 Curb illegal immigration from India.
Mandovi river originates from a cluster of 30 springs at
Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in the Belagavi district of
Karnataka. The river also houses the island of Chorao (Goa) The MMPA will regulate:
where the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located. Dudhsagar • Illegal migration, as it enables the swift return of il-
falls (in Goa) lies on this river. legal migrants.
• Multiple entry visas for professionals and student
exchange programmes, which will be reviewed reg-
About Malaprabha River: ularly by a Joint Working Group (JWG).
The Malaprabha River is a tributary of the Krishna River

www.insightsonindia.com 115
HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCING AGEN-
CY (HEFA)

Context:
HEFA has fallen short of the government’s target of mobiliz-
ing Rs 1 Lakh crore by 2022

Reasons for the shortfall:

• The reluctance of the institute to take loans due to
weak internal source of finances: IIT Bombay ad- EAT RIGHT STATION
ministration had to clarify it was forced to resort to
a fee hike – which triggered student protests – to
repay HEFA loans Context:
• Fund crunch during Covid19 time Indian Railways’ Varanasi Cantt Railway Station has been
awarded a 5- star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification for provid-
• Revision in the funding pattern in 2020
ing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers.
• The ‘Eat Right Station’ certification is awarded by FS-
About HEFA: SAI to railway stations that set benchmarks in pro-
• HEFA was set up by the Centre in 2017 to upgrade viding safe and wholesome food to passengers.
the education infrastructure in the higher education • The apex food regulatory body comes under the
institutions under the Government of India. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
 It has sanctioned 144 loans worth Rs 35,000 • It has 240 parameters concerning food storage and
crore so far, falling short of the government’s hygiene, based on which the certification is accred-
target of mobilising Rs 1 lakh crore by 2022
ited.
• HEFA, which was set up as a non-profit Non-Bank- • They are also rated on a scale of one to five–five
ing Financing Company (NBFC), is a joint venture being the highest level of compliance with the stan-
between the Union Ministry of Education and the dards and regulations in place.
Canara Bank to finance infrastructure development
• India has so far 34 ‹Eat Right› certified stations,
in educational institutions through long-term loans.
including Bhopal and Varanasi Cantt.
 While the premium is paid by the institute,
interest is paid by the government.
• The government expanded the scope of HEFA in ETHYLENE GLYCOL (QUALITY CONTROL)
2018 under the Revitalizing Infrastructure and Sys- ORDER, 2022
tems in Education or RISE by 2022 initiative, bring-
ing schools and medical colleges under its ambit,
and making it the nodal body in infrastructure fi- Context:
nancing in the education sector. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under
the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers issued a gazette
notification titled Ethylene Glycol (Quality Control) Order,
2022
• Recently, Uzbekistan alleged 18 child deaths in Sa-
markand from the consumption of medicinal syrup
manufactured by an Indian drugmaker (Marion Bio-
tech’s cough syrup DoK 1 Max). The syrup is manu-

116 www.insightsonindia.com
 factured containing ethylene glycol. DEG and EG are cheap, so they are sometimes used illegally,
• Previously, In October, four sub-standard In- as a substitute solvent. If consumed in high doses, they can
dia-made products typically used to treat cough cause kidney failure
symptoms had caused the deaths of 66 children in
Gambia (Africa)
ADVANCED TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Under ‘Conformity to standards and compulsory use
of the standard mark’, the order stated: SYSTEM
• Certification and enforcement authority: In respect
of specific goods or articles, the Bureau of Indian Context:
Standards shall be the certifying and enforcing au- NHAI is implementing Advance Traffic Management System
thority. (ATMS) on national highways and expressways for manag-
• Penalty for contravention: Any person who contra- ing incidents of road crashes and enforcement of speed limit
venes the provisions of this Order shall be punish- and other regulations on highways
able under the provisions of the said Act.
About Ethylene glycol: Ethylene glycol is a useful industri- What is ATMS?
al compound found in many consumer products. Examples ATMS involves a set of intelligently integrated roadside
include antifreeze, hydraulic brake fluids, some stamp pad equipment that are connected to ensure a safe and secure
inks, ballpoint pens, solvents, paints, plastics, films, and journey, including smooth traffic movement and timely reac-
cosmetics. It can also be a pharmaceutical vehicle. tion to untoward incidents.

Why is ethylene glycol toxic to humans? About ATMS:

Ethylene glycol’s toxicity mainly results from the accumula- It is an integrated solution to manage highway traffic
tion of its toxic metabolites. Ethylene glycol is a central ner- through real-time information and ensure safety. The system
vous system (CNS) depressant that produces acute effects will check for a valid fitness certificate. It will leverage GIS
similar to those of ethanol. (More in the Infographic below). technology and Network Survey Vehicle data for identifying
safety issues on the highway

NATIONAL ASSESSMENT REGULATOR:

PARAKH

Context:
National Council for Education Research and Training
(NCERT) has notified India’s first national assessment regu-
lator, PARAKH
How can Cough syrups kill children?
If glycerine, a key ingredient in cough syrup, is replaced with
toxic industrial solvents diethylene glycol (DEG) or Ethylene About PARAKH:
Glycol (EG), the cough syrups become toxic. PARAKH has been launched as part of the implementation
of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 that envisaged
a standard-setting body:
How can they end up in cough syrup?

www.insightsonindia.com 117
 • To advise school boards regarding new assessment About CGHS:
patterns and the latest research, and promote col- CGHS was started in 1954 with the aim of providing com-
laborations between them prehensive healthcare to central government employees
• To facilitate students for self-assessment of learning and pensioners and their dependent family members. The
outcomes scheme currently covers more than 4 million beneficiaries
• To remove disparities in the score of students en- in 75 cities
rolled with different boards
Related news:
About NEP 2020 Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Programme
The NEP 2020 intends to boost spending on education by (SHWP) has less than 50% uptake
enhancing the education budget to a level of 6% of the GDP. Context: Almost three years after its implementation, with
It has emphasised the use of the mother tongue or local a robust syllabus from NCERT, less than half of India’s States
language as the medium of instruction till Class 5 while rec- have started weekly classroom sessions with students
ommending its continuance till Class 8 and beyond. Reasons for less uptake: Overwork of government teach-
ers, not all States have set aside the weekly time slot in the
classroom schedule, no formal reporting structure or ac-
CHARGESHEET AND FIR countability
About SHWP:
Context: SHWP under Ayushman Bharat was launched in 2018.
The Supreme Court held that the public cannot be given Aim: It aims to create awareness about age-appropriate
free access to a charge sheet or a final investigation report information about health and nutrition among children in
as it is not a public document. schools.
• Role of teachers: Teachers act as “Health and Wellness
Ambassadors” and disseminate various key information
What is Charge Sheet? by organising culturally sensitive activity-based sessions
A chargesheet is prepared after First Information Reports for one hour per week for 24 weeks a year to promote
and charges an individual for the crimes specified in those joyful learning.
FIR. It shows the names of each person brought into custody • Two teachers, preferably one male and one female, in
the nature of the accusations, and the identity of the accus- every school, are to be designated as HWAs
ers. • Role of students: Students act as Health and Wellness
Messengers in society.
• Every Tuesday is dedicated to Health and Wellness
Distinction: Day in the schools
FIR Chargesheet • Implementation: middle, secondary, and senior sec-
ondary grades across government and government-aid-
Preliminary report Final Report ed schools
Prepared by Victim of Prepared by Investigation Offi- • Syllabus: NCERT+ Ministry of Health+ Ministry of Hu-
Crime cer man Resource Development (HRD)
• Curriculum: It covers 11 core themes including manag-
Filed in Police Station Filed in Court ing emotional and mental health, navigating interper-
For the purpose of in- For the purpose of Trial sonal relationships, and promoting the safe use of the
vestigation internet and social media.
Other similar programmes are the Fit India movement, Eat
Can be withdrawn Can’t be withdrawn
Right campaign, Poshan Abhiyaan, Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya
Program and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Programme.
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HEALTH
SCHEME PM-KISAN

Context: Context:
The National Health Authority (NHA) is in the process of inte- • The Centre may increase the income support provid-
grating the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) with ed to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme from Rs
the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) 6,000 to 8,000 rupees/year.
• Aimed at creating digital health identification of • It is an effort to boost consumption and rural de-
CGHS beneficiaries and storing their digital health mand.
records, thus ensuring quick treatment to the needy Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN):

118 www.insightsonindia.com
 • The number of beneficiaries has crossed 110 million What is the global south?
from 31 million at the beginning of the scheme and The concept of Global North and Global South is used to
financial assistance of more than Rs 2 trillion has describe a grouping of countries along socio-economic and
been provided to needy farmers in over 3 years. political characteristics. The Global South is a term often
• The scheme addressed the liquidity constraints used to identify regions within Latin America, Asia, Africa,
of farmers for buying agricultural inputs, daily con- and Oceania.
sumption, education, health and other incidental ex- • The global south consists of the poorest and least
penses, especially during the Covid pandemic. industrialized countries, which are mainly in the
• A Niti Aayog member suggests converting the PM-KI- southern part of the world.
SAN program into a Universal Basic Income (UBI)
program that covers other vulnerable groups, such
About the Summit:
as farm labourers, etc.
India hosted the summit (as a president of G20) in a bid to
articulate the views of the developing countries regarding
the effects of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
• Aim: For bringing together countries of the global
south and sharing their perspectives and priorities
on a common platform across a whole range of is-
sues.
• Theme: ‘Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose’
• India is offering to become the voice of the Global
South through the agenda of ‘respond, recognise,
respect, and reform’.
• Voice of global South in the ongoing Crisis: Accord-
ing to PM Modi, the world is facing a lasting cri-
sis and there is no clarity about how long this “state
of instability” will last.

BHOPAL DECLARATION

Context:
Bhopal Declaration was released after discussion in the two-
day meeting of Think-20 under G20 in Bhopal

About the Declaration:

International News and Organization It was released after the Think20 (T20) meeting of G20
countries’ think tanks and research centres.

VOICE OF GLOBAL SOUTH SUMMIT

Highlights of the declaration:
• To focus more on inclusive development
Context:
At the concluding session of the virtual Voice of Global South • Care for the welfare of every section of society in
Summit, India unveiled three initiatives to assist the Global comparison to GDP
South in areas ranging from technology to health • Give special attention to children
• Aarogya Maitri project for providing medical sup- • Encourage the model of development led by wom-
plies to any disaster-hit country en
• Global-South Scholarships for students from devel- • Bridge the gap between North and South
oping countries to pursue higher education in India • Work together to ensure the health of all
• Global-South young diplomats forum to connect of- • Importance of localization in achieving G-20 sus-
ficers of foreign ministries with other countries tainable development goals
• Global-South Centre of excellence for R&D • Triangular cooperation of government, society, and
• Global-South Science and Technology for space and private organizations
nuclear energy initiatives sharing

www.insightsonindia.com 119
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM INITIATIVES higher inflation and a steep recession – the worst such crisis
since its independence from Britain in 1948.
Context: • India, China and Japan are Sri Lanka’s three largest
Here we have clubbed all the initiatives announced (or high- bilateral creditors
lighted) in this year’s ongoing World Economic Forum’s Sum- • Sri Lanka has an overall debt of around 52bn US dol-
mit at Davos (Switzerland) lars (nearly 40% is owed to private creditors, of the
rest 60% is owned to bilateral partners: China owns
• Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA): WEF
52%, Japan (19%) and India (12%))
launched GAEA to allow over $3 trillion of financing
needed each year to reach net-zero, reverse nature
loss and restore biodiversity by 2050. The recovery plan:
 The fund is to be accumulated through Pub- Previously experts in Sri Lanka had asked lenders (creditors)
lic-private and philanthropic partnerships to take a ‘Haircut’ on their lending. However, as per the new
(PPPP) plan, none of the official lenders would take a haircut while
• FireAID Initiative: This project was first launched in giving Sri Lanka time to recover with an IMF programme.
January 2022. A recent report (released now) has But private creditors, who hold the largest chunk of Sri Lan-
highlighted its success. ka’s foreign debt, may have to take a haircut.
 It uses Artificial Intelligence to allow better
prediction of wildfires and efficient use of
What is a Haircut?
resources during firefighting operations
When a bank or creditor country takes a ‘haircut’, it means it
 It creates a digital twin for fire response
and management and allows firefighters to accepts less than what was due in a particular loan account.
test hypotheses of intervention measures For example: if a bank was owed Rs 10,000 cr by a borrower
and it agrees to take back only Rs 8,000 cr, it takes a 20%
• WEF has highlighted that countries need to do
three things to the utilization of Fourth Industrial haircut.
Revolution
1. Become Resilient to enable growth, sus-
tainability and inclusivity esp. in the Manu-
facturing sector and supply chains
2. From speed to scale: Large technology
adoption and workforce empowerment
3. Increase collaborations: Esp. with supply
chain partners, industrial ecosystem, and
public sector stakeholders.
• The Fourth Industrial Revolution conceptualizes
rapid change to technology, industries, and societal
patterns and processes in the 21st century due to T+1 SETTLEMENT CYCLE
increasing interconnectivity and smart automation
Context:
About WEF: After China, India (on SEBI’s recommendation) will become
The World Economic Forum is an international non-govern- the second country in the world to start the ‘trade-plus-one’
mental and lobbying organisation based in Cologne, canton (T+1) settlement cycle in top-listed securities.
of Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in 1971 by German
engineer and economist Klaus Schwab. It has broadened its What is the T+1 settlement cycle?
vision to include providing a platform for resolving interna- In simple terms, T+1 settlement means that securities trans-
tional conflicts and climate change. actions will reflect in the Demat account after a day instead
of two days now under the T+2 cycle.
INDIA - SRI LANKA: TIES DURING CRISIS
Benefits of the move:
Context: • Brings operational efficiency
Recently IMF has confirmed receiving India’s written financ- • Faster fund remittances
ing assurance in support of Sri Lanka’s economic revival. • Share delivery
• Ease for stock market participants
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka: • Reduces risks and frees up capital required to collat-
Sri Lanka is grappling with a shortage of foreign currency, eralise the risk

120 www.insightsonindia.com
 • Reduces the number of outstanding unsettled trades
at any point in time
INTEGRATED BANKING OMBUDSMAN
Why are foreign investors opposed?
Foreign investors operate from different geographies lead- SCHEME
ing to time zone differences, information flow processes,
and foreign exchange problems. Foreign investors said they Context:
would also find it difficult to hedge their net India exposure The volume of complaints received under the Reserve Bank
in dollar terms at the end of the day under the T+1 system. of India’s ombudsman schemes and consumer education
• The United States, United Kingdom and Eurozone and protection cells showed an increase of 9.39 per cent
markets are yet to move to the T+1 system. compared to the previous year.

Of the total complaints received in 2021-22, about 42 per

cent were related to the digital modes of payment and
transactions, according to the annual report of Ombudsman
Schemes, 2021-22.

GS3
Economy

About RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme

UTKARSH 2.0 • It amalgamates three ombudsman schemes of RBI
- the banking ombudsman scheme of 2006, the om-
Context: budsman scheme for NBFCs of 2018 and the om-
RBI ‘s Medium-term strategy framework- Utkarsh 2.0 (for budsman scheme of digital transactions of 2019.
2023-2025) was launched recently. • The unified ombudsman scheme will provide re-
dress of customer complaints involving deficien-
• Utkarsh 1.0 was for the period 2019-2022
cy in services rendered by RBI-regulated enti-
ties viz. banks, NBFCs (Non-banking Financial
Companies) and pre-paid instrument players if
the grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of
the customers or not replied within a period of 30
days by the regulated entity.

Utkarsh 2022 is a medium-term strategy in line with the

global central banks’ plan to strengthen the regulatory and
supervisory mechanism.

www.insightsonindia.com 121
 competition and “de-risk” India’s burgeoning digital
payments ecosystem, where much of the settlement
burden has fallen on the non-profit NPCI over recent
years

What is NPCI?
NPCI was established by the RBI and the Indian Banks’ As-
sociation in 2008 modelled on the non-profit payments and
settlement entity run by the Swedish central bank that’s
owned and operated by banks.
• It has developed the country’s key payment rail-
roads, including UPI, the Immediate Payments
System (IMPS), RuPay and the National Finan-
cial Switch (NFS). It’s also credited with power-
ing the Direct Benefit Transfer architecture that
supports the government’s Jan Dhan Yojana.

TAX SCHEME MISUSE

Context:
As per the GST authorities, exporters are misusing the gov-
ernment’s duty drawback scheme (DDS) by claiming it along
with refunds of integrated goods and services tax (GST).
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA PUTS ON HOLD
NUE LICENSING What is the issue?
Over 100 exporters (mainly in apparel, drugs and leather)
Context: have “illegally” drawn benefits from the integrated GST re-
RBI is said to have put on hold licensing of the New Umbrel- fund claims on exports while also claiming under DDS.
la Entity (NUE) network, a fintech institution planned as a • Duty drawback can be only claimed for compensat-
rival to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). ing unrelated taxes and duties and not for GST.
• Six groupings, which included Facebook, Google,
Amazon, Flipkart and others, had applied for NUE
licences, but none of them could meet the RBI’s ex- What is Duty Drawback Scheme?
pectations in bringing a technology breakthrough. The Duty Drawback Scheme provides exporters with a re-
fund of customs duty paid on unused imported goods, or
goods that will be treated, processed or incorporated into
What is Retail Digital Payment System? other goods for export.
The retail payment system facilitates the transfer of funds Claims must be lodged within 4 years from the date the
from consumers to merchants in exchange for goods and goods were exported.
services.

What is NUE?
NUE is an entity (under the Companies Act 2013) that will
manage and operate the new payment system in the retail
sector such as ATMs, POS, UPI etc.
• It will also manage clearing and settlement systems
that could be an alternative to the bank-promoted
NPCI.
• It will be allowed to charge fees for transactions (un-
like the existing NPCI)
• The RBI had in 2020 issued guidelines for corpo-
rates to create for-profit NUEs with an aim to foster

122 www.insightsonindia.com
 NATIONAL COAL INDEX

Context:
While launching the sixth-round commercial coal mines’
auction for 141 coal mines, the ministry of Coal has decided
to annually revise Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) annu-
ally based on the National Coal Index (NCI) for the month of
April at the beginning of the year.

Why the revision in PBG?

Since the prices of coal fluctuate and have increased recent-
ly, the revision of PBG will ensure ease of doing business for
companies and allow more investors in the coal sector.

EXPECTED LOSS-BASED APPROACH FOR

What is PBG?
It is a bank guarantee that needs to be submitted for each
LOAN LOSS PROVISIONING BY BANKS
successfully auctioned coal mine by the winning entity. It
shows that the entity has the capability to carry on the min- Context:
ing activity. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the Discussion Pa-
per that proposed a framework for the adoption of an ex-
pected loss-based approach for provisioning against loan
What is a coal auction? loss by banks in India.
After the cancellation of coal licenses by India’s supreme
court, an auction-based regime was introduced in 2014,
which allowed private sector participation. However, it was About the proposed framework:
limited to captive usage in its own end-use plants. The sec- • RBI proposes to use an Expected loss-based ap-
tor has recently been opened for commercial mining by the proach for provisioning against loan loss by banks
private sector. (This approach is in line with International Financial
reporting standards guidelines)
• Banks would be allowed to design and implement
What is NCI?
their own models for measuring expected credit
It is a price index reflecting the change in the price level of
losses (although RBI will provide broader guidelines)
coal in a particular month relative to the fixed base year
for the purpose of estimating loss provisions in line
(2017-18 in this case)
with the proposed principles.
• The ministry of coal has started the commercial auc- • To enable a seamless transition, as permitted under
tion of coal mines on a revenue-share basis using the Basel guidelines, banks will be provided with an
the National Coal Index option to phase out the effect of increased provi-
sions on Common Equity Tier I capital, over a maxi-
mum period of five years.
NATIONAL TEXTILE CORPORATION • Regional rural banks and smaller cooperative banks
(based on a threshold to be decided based on com-
Context: ments) are proposed to be kept out of the frame-
Union Textile Ministry will form a committee to speed up the work.
redevelopment of land under nine mills of the National Tex-
tile Corporation (NTC) in Mumbai.
What is Provisioning?
• A total of 11 chawls exist on the lands of these nine
Under provisioning, banks have to set aside or provide funds
mills, and residents of these chawls will now get 405
to a prescribed percentage of their bad assets. The percent-
sqft houses as compared with their current 100-150
age of bad asset that has to be ‘provided for’ is called the
sqft houses, he said.
provisioning coverage ratio.
About NTC: • It helps the bank balance the income and survive
National Textile Corporation is a central public sector un-
during bad times and is recorded in the income
dertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Textiles. It
statement as a non-cash expense.
owns 23 working textile mills which produce yarn and fab-
ric. The company was incorporated in 1968.

www.insightsonindia.com 123
What is CET 1 Capital?
Common Equity Tier 1 capital (CET1) is the highest quality
of regulatory capital, as it absorbs losses immediately when
they occur.

WATERWAYS NETWORK

Context:
India’s eyes ₹35kcr investments by
2047 to create a waterways network
ETALIN HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT (EHEP)
What is a waterway?
Waterways include linear water features such as rivers, ca- Context:
nals and streams, as well as water areas such as lakes, res- The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has asked the
ervoirs and docks. Arunachal Pradesh government to file a fresh proposal for
forest diversion and the construction of the EHEP.
Initiatives for the waterway network:
• 111 waterways have been declared as National Background:
Waterways (NW) under the national waterways act • The FAC (under the MoEF&CC) order came amid
2016. Of this 13 are currently operational. reports of noncompliance with its conditions and
• CAR-D (Cargo Data) Portal for tracking all cargo and widespread opposition to the project in the region.
cruise movement on National Waterways • The HEP will necessitate the diversion of 1,165.66
• PANI (Portal for Asset and navigation Information) hectares of forest land and the felling of more than
for information regarding waterways 280,000 trees in the area, which is one of the world’s
mega biodiversity hotspots.

Related News:
MV Ganga Vilas is the first river cruise to connect Uttar About the EHEP:
Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam. It begins • The contentious 3,097-megawatt project is locat-
in Varanasi (UP) and concludes in Dibrugarh (Assam). This ed in the Dibang Valley (a biodiversity hotspot),
cruise will cover a distance of more than 3,200 km across Arunachal Pradesh.
NW1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly), Indo-Bangladesh Proto- • It was proposed (in 2008) to be developed as a
col (IBP) Route 1 and NW2 (Brahmaputra). joint venture between Jindal Power Ltd and the Hy-
dropower Development Corporation of Arunachal
Pradesh Ltd.
• The plan combined two run-of-the-river schemes
with limited storage requiring concrete gravity dams
on rivers Tangon and Dri - tributaries of Dibang river.
• It ran into several controversies over concerns of
ecological damage, forest invasion and tribal dis-
placement (Idu-Mishmi tribes).

124 www.insightsonindia.com
 NSDC under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development
Related News: IE
and Enterprises (MSDE) has supported the setting up of labs
Context: The NGT has initiated cases taking suo motu cog-
and classrooms through Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) in Seva
nisance of (The Indian Express) report on six mega proj-
Bharti Kendra Skill Development Center.
ects where stringent clearance conditions to compensate
for the high environmental impact were sidestepped.
Some of the projects are: APPLICATION SUPPORTED BY THE
● Kulda-Tamnar coal link run by Mahanadi Coal- BLOCKED AMOUNT (ASBA) SYSTEM
fields Limited (MCL) in Odisha
● Tamnar thermal plant operated by Jindal Power
Limited (JPL) in Chhattisgarh Context:
● Dibang hydel project - a planned concrete gravity The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has re-
dam in Arunachal Pradesh leased a consultation paper “Blocking of Funds for Trading in
Secondary Market”
● Lower Subansiri hydel project - the biggest hydro-
electric project undertaken in India so far and is a • It seeks to extend the ASBA system to the second-
run-of-river scheme on river Subansiri, Arunachal ary market
Pradesh

What is the Primary and Secondary Market?

GRAMEEN UDYAMI SCHEME

What is ASBA in the Primary market?
When an investor applies for shares in an IPO/FPO; he/she
Context:
deposits a security amount in a separate fund. It remains in
MoS Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar to attend the felicitation
the investor’s bank account and generates interest. If the
programme of 200 tribal women under the Grameen Udy-
allotment of shares occurs to the investor, then the funds
ami Scheme
are transferred to the company. If it doesn’t occur, the
• Under the programme, the endeavour is to multi- money remains with the investor.
skill India’s youth and impart functional skills to
• This is made possible by ASBA, wherein investors
them for enabling livelihoods
give authorization to banks to block funds available
• Launched by: National Skill Development Corpora- in his/her Bank accounts for purchasing IPO/FPO.
tion (NSDC)

What is the reason behind this move by SEBI?

About NSDC: • ASBA system in the primary market aims to elimi-
NSDC is a non-profit public limited company established nate the need to transfer funds in advance to a bro-
in 2008, under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. The ker. Therefore, it reduces the chances of misuse or
Ministry of Finance established NSDC as a Public Private losses caused by broker defaults.
Partnership (PPP) model.
• However, currently, in the secondary market, inves-
• The Government of India, through the Ministry of tors have to submit collateral or transfer funds in
Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), advance to the broker before executing a trade. This
owns 49% of NSDC, while the private sector owns sometimes leads to misuse.
the remaining 51%.
• The project is being implemented in six states—
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya About SEBI
Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Gujarat. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (statutory;

www.insightsonindia.com 125
founded in 1988; HQ: Mumbai) is the regulatory body for the About S&P:
securities and commodity market in India under the own- S&P Global Inc. is an American publicly traded corporation
ership of the Ministry of Finance within the Government of headquartered in Manhattan, New York City. Its primary ar-
India. eas of business are financial information and analytics.
About Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework:
NATURE RISK PROFILE (NRP) It was adopted last year (December 2022) and includes sev-
eral targets for countries, businesses and other stakeholders
for saving biodiversity including 30x30 Deal, Money for Na-
Context: ture (ensure USD200 billion per year) etc.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and S&P Global
launched ‘Nature Risk Profile’, a new methodology for ana-
News Related to ongoing WEF
lyzing companies’ impacts and dependencies on nature
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad
• It was released at Davos World Economic Forum City (Telangana) to set up its Centre for the Fourth Industrial
Summit Revolution (C4IR) focused on healthcare and life sciences. It
• Its methodology is based on Kunming-Montreal will be the 18th centre in WEF’s network of Fourth IR centres.
Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Also, see yesterday’s FFP for initiatives launched in the WEF
and about the 4th IR
Aim of NRP:
The Nature Risk Profile is aimed at enabling the financial sec-
tor to measure and address nature-related risk by providing
scientifically robust and actionable analytics on nature im-
pacts and dependencies.

Importance:
With half of the world’s GDP highly dependent on nature,
biodiversity loss is a growing concern for global business
leaders. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023
Global Risks Report

CALLER NAME PRESENTATION (CNAP)

Context:
Telecom operators have said that a proposal - CNAP - by the
Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) of India to display call-
ers’ names could have privacy implications.

Background:
Currently, there are some applications (Truecaller) which
offer a similar service. However, all of them are third-party
apps and depend on crowd-sourced data.

What is CNAP?
• The CNAP feature will allow users to know the iden-
tity of the person calling them.
• The basic idea is that if people are aware of the per-
son who is calling them, they can make an informed
About UNEP choice about those calls.
The United Nations Environment Programme (HQ: Nairobi, • At the same time, such a feature could potentially
Kenya) is responsible for coordinating responses to envi- help in curbing harassment and other spam calls.
ronmental issues within the United Nations system. It was
established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Concerns about CNAP:
Stockholm in June 1972. • Privacy concerns: Given that handset manufactur-

126 www.insightsonindia.com
 ers and OS providers have control over the data
obtained through the CNAP, this could result in the
breach of subscriber data privacy.
 Women, in particular, could be the most vul-
nerable
• Technical challenges: The time-division multiplexing
(TDM) based interconnection between telcos does
not support CNAP. Further, there are no standards
for CNAP over 2G/3G networks.
• Could be inaccurate: Several people purchase SIM
cards using forged identity cards and TRAI’s proposal
to use SIM registration data might be fraught with GOOGLE AND CCI
inaccuracies.
Context:
The Supreme Court refused to stay the order passed by the
ADDITIONAL TIER-1 BONDS AND THE National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) direct-
CASE AGAINST YES BANK ing Google to deposit 10% of a penalty of ₹1,337 crore im-
posed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Context:
The Bombay HC quashed the write-off of Additional Tier-1 What is the issue about?
(AT1) bonds worth Rs 8,400 crore issued by Yes Bank Ltd, • Google abused its dominant position in the Android
bringing relief to investors. ecosphere (anti-competitive practices) by mandat-
ing the pre-installation of Google mobile services
including Search, YouTube, Maps, etc.
Background: • As per CCI, Google can’t force equipment manufac-
• Yes Bank, which was on the verge of collapse, was turers to pre-install Google’s app. It can’t restrict
placed under a moratorium by the RBI in 2020 and uninstalling its pre-installed apps.
a new management and board were appointed as
part of a rescue plan worked out by the RBI.
• The central bank allowed a write-off of Rs 8,400 About NCLAT:
crore on AT1 bonds issued by Yes Bank after it was The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal is a tribunal
rescued by the SBI. which was formed by the Central Government of India under
• A SEBI probe found that the bank facilitated the sell- Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013, for hearing appeals
ing of AT1 bonds (as a ‘Super FD’ and ‘as safe as FD’) against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal(s)
from institutional investors to individual investors, (NCLT), with effect from 1st June 2016.
who were not informed about all the risks involved • NCLT is a body having original Jurisdiction. NCLAT is
in the subscription of these bonds. a body having Appellate Jurisdiction.

What are AT1 bonds? WTO’S NEW AGREEMENT ON FISHERIES

• These are unsecured bonds (issued by banks) that
have perpetual tenor (no maturity date). These SUBSIDIES
bonds are typically used by banks to bolster their
core or tier-1 capital. Context:
 Tier I capital is a bank’s highest quality capi- Switzerland has become the first WTO member to formally
tal because it is fully available to cover loss- submit its acceptance of the WTO’s new Agreement on Fish-
es and is made up primarily of share capital eries Subsidies.
and disclosed reserves.
• Acceptance of 2/3rd of WTO members is needed
• They have a call option, which can be used by the for the agreement to come into effect
banks to buy these bonds back from investors.
• The Agreement was adopted at WTO’s conference
• AT1 bonds are subordinate to all other debt and in Geneva (2022)
only senior to common equity. Mutual funds (MFs)
• It is the 1st WTO agreement (for the environment)
were among the largest investors in perpetual debt
and the 2nd agreement reached at WTO since its
instruments.
inception.

www.insightsonindia.com 127
What will Fisheries subsidies do?
• It will prohibit subsidies from being provided for Il-
legal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, SEBI’S INFORMATION DATABASE ON
fishing in high seas and overfished stocks. MUNICIPAL BONDS
• Transition Period Allowance: Developing Countries
and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have been al- Context:
lowed a transition period of two years from the date Markets regulator Sebi has launched an information data-
of entry into force of this Agreement. base on municipal bonds.
• Fund for developing and least-developed countries: Objective: Raise awareness of people; Efforts to develop the
For technical assistance and capacity building bond markets and make the process easy and streamlined.
• Exempted Areas:
 No prohibition if the WTO Member is not
What is an information database?
carrying out IUU.
The information database contains a wide range of informa-
 No prohibition on providing subsidies if
subsidies are implemented to rebuild the tion in the form of statistics and regulations, circulars, guid-
stock to a biologically sustainable level. ance notes and Frequently Asked Questions issued by Sebi in
respect of municipal debt securities.
India’s Stand:
By the principle of ‘Common but differentiated responsibil-
ities’ developed countries (who have provided huge subsi- What are Municipal Bonds?
dies in the past) should take more responsibilities. Municipal bonds (or Muni bonds) are debt securities issued
by states, cities, counties and other governmental entities to
• India is the third-largest fish-producing country in
fund day-to-day obligations and to finance capital projects
the world
such as building schools, highways or sewer systems.
• India aims to achieve a target of producing 22 mil-
Bengaluru floated the 1st Municipal bond in 1997
lion metric tonnes of fish by 2024-25.

Benefits:
It will check large-scale IUU fishing which deprives coastal
countries like India of fisheries resources, thereby signifi-
cantly impacting the livelihoods of our fishing communities.

Indian government initiatives:

Five major Fishing Harbours (Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapat-
nam, Paradip, Petuaghat) developed; Seaweed Park (Tamil
Nadu); Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana; Palk Bay
Scheme; Marine Fisheries Bill, 2021.

NATIONAL ASSET RECONSTRUCTION

COMPANY

Context:
The National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) has
acquired its first stressed asset — Jaypee Infratech — from
lenders led by IDBI Bank.
• NARCL will acquire assets on a 15:85 ratio of cash
and security receipts (SRs).

128 www.insightsonindia.com
 • SRs, which are issued in favour of the transferring these commodities.
lenders, are secured by a government guarantee for
their face value.
How does the derivatives trade in commodities work?
• Agricultural commodities like cotton, paddy, soy-
About NARCL: bean, soya oil, mustard seed, etc., are traded on the
• NARCL/ bad bank Asset Reconstruction Company National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange
(ARC) is a specialized financial institution that buys (NCDEX) and the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX).
Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) from banks and fi- • Derivatives are short-term financial contracts that
nancial institutions so that they can clean up their are bought and sold in the market.
balance sheets. • Profits are made by predicting price movements of
• This helps banks to concentrate on normal banking the asset that underlies the contract.
activities. • The derivatives trade can be in futures and options.
• The asset reconstruction companies or ARCs are reg- In a futures contract, a supplier pledges to sell a cer-
istered under the RBI. tain quantity at a fixed price at a future date.
• It was announced in the Budget for 2021-22. • Also, farmers can put fixed amounts of their produce,
• The plan is to create a bad bank to house bad loans which fits the quality standards of the exchange, to
of ₹500 crores and above. be sold at a fixed price - almost like price insurance.
• Both contracts can be terminated by either the pro-
ducer or the trader by paying a margin price to the
exchange.

AGRI COMMODITY TRADE

Context:
The farmer’s union, Shetkari Sanghatana, launched a protest
over the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) de-
cision to keep the trading of derivatives in seven agricultural
commodities suspended.

Background: INDIA STACK’S DIGITAL PUBLIC GOODS

• In 2021, the capital markets regulator suspended
futures trading in seven commodities, viz., wheat,
paddy (non-basmati), moong, chana, etc., on the ex- Context:
changes, in an effort to reduce food inflation. As many as seven countries will sign up with India to use
India Stack’s digital public goods
• The ban was intended to stop speculative trade in

www.insightsonindia.com 129
 • Non-resident Indians will also be able to use UPI in
Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qa-
tar, the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the UK.
• The government will not charge any fee for offering
the technology platform

Technology on offer by the Indian government:

• Digi Locker is a secure cloud-based platform for the
storage, sharing and verification of documents and
certificates.
• Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP): Related News:
developed by the International Institute of Informa- The Ministry of Finance has recently set up a G20 task force
tion Technology Bangalore on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to create a detailed map
• Instant real-time payments system Unified Pay- of India’s DPI across sectors
ments Interface (UPI)
• Covid vaccination platform CoWIN and Health Stack.
SHORT SELLING
What are Digital Public Goods? Context:
Digital public goods are public goods in the form of soft- Hindenburg Research, which has accused the Adani Group of
ware, data sets, AI models, standards or content that are fraud, is a short seller.
generally free works and contribute to economic digital de-
velopment.
E.g., Aadhaar, UPI or Free and open-source software What is Short-Selling?
(FOSS) are an example of digital public good Short selling, or shorting, is a trading strategy based on the
expectation that the price of the security will fall. While fun-
damentally it is based on the “buy low, sell high” approach,
the sequence of transactions is reversed in short selling — to
sell high first and buy low later. Also, in short selling, the
trader usually does not own the securities he sells, but mere-
ly borrows them.
• Traders in the US use short selling as speculation,
and investors or portfolio managers could use it as
a hedge against the downside risk of a particular
stock.

Benefits:
Adoption of India technology stack like unique identifier
technology, digital payments and Co-Win will help foreign
countries save billions, boost educational access and expe-
dite their digitization process
• It is expected to help Indian start-ups and system
integrators in engaging with foreign countries

What is India Tech Stack?

India Stack comprises open-source software application
programming interfaces (APIs) of government-backed ser-
vices. The open-source model has a plethora of computer
languages, architecture, libraries, and user interfaces.

130 www.insightsonindia.com
 A&N has India’s largest mangroves and that over half the
species of butterflies, 40% of birds and 60% of mammals are
endemic to the region. The project is likely catastrophic for
the island’s sensitive ecology and indigenous hunter-gath-
erer tribes like the Shompen who are already listed as a ‘par-
ticularly vulnerable tribal group’.

Related News:
Name: Hindenburg
Zeppelin Airship disaster: In 1937, a German passenger air-
ship called Hindenburg caught fire while attempting to dock
onto its mooring mast in New Jersey, United States. The di-
saster led to the demise of the airship era.

MEGA PROJECTS FOR ANDAMAN AND

NICOBAR
Related news:
Context: SC panel questions need to revive oil palm plantations in
The representation of nearly 100 former civil servants wrote
Andamans
to President Droupadi Murmu against development plans
Supreme Court-constituted Central Empowered Com-
on Great Nicobar Island.
mittee (CEC) has questioned the need to revive oil palm
• In other news, SC panel questions need to revive oil plantations in Andamans as a similar move in the past has
palm plantations in Andamans. proven to be a total commercial failure.
• National Mission on Edible Oils (Oil Palm) (launched
in 2021-22) with a special focus on North Eastern States
About the Great Nicobar Project and Andaman & Nicobar.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF- • Over 90% of India’s Palm oil cultivation is situated in
CC) last year (November 2022) granted an in-principal clear- the state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
ance for the diversion of 130 sq km of forest in Great Nico- • Oil palm is a native of West Africa.
bar Island for the mega project.
• The project includes a transhipment port, an air-
KASHMIR’S PASHMINA SHAWLS
port, a power plant and a greenfield township.
• Implemented by Andaman and Nicobar Islands In-
tegrated Development Corporation under a vision Context:
plan conceived by the NITI Aayog. It is a fabric that is adored and respected all around the world
as pashmina or cashmere.
• It includes compensatory afforestation on “non-no-
tified forest land” in Haryana.
• About the ecology of A&N: Background:

www.insightsonindia.com 131
 The French empress Josephine, who was given a Kashmiri UNDESA (in partnership with UNCTAD and five regional UN
Kani shawl by her husband, Emperor Napoleon, in the 18th commission) have produced this report.
century, was instrumental in reviving a dying craft in Kashmir
by popularizing it in Europe.
Key observations:
• The world economy was much affected by COVID-19
lockdowns and the war in Ukraine in 2022
• World output growth will decelerate to 1.9% in 2023
(from 3% in 2022)
• On South Asia: The economic outlook has “signifi-
cantly deteriorated due to high food and energy
prices, monetary tightening and fiscal vulnerabili-
ties” with average GDP growth projected to moder-
ate to 4.8% in 2023 from 5.6% in 2022
• On India: Economic growth in India is projected to
moderate in 2023, with higher interest rates weigh-
ing on investment and slower global growth weak-
ening exports
It recommends Reprioritization of public expenditures esp.
in education, health and digital infrastructure; more social
Pashmina: protection,
• The term ‘Pashmina’ has been derived from the Per-
sian word “Pashm” meaning wool.
• It is a GI-certified wool that has its origin in the About UNDESA
Kashmir region of India. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Af-
fairs (UN DESA) (est. 1948; HQ: New York) is part of the UN
• Due to the high quality of the wool used and the la-
Secretariat and assists countries around the world in agen-
bour-intensive process required to make each indi-
da-setting and decision-making with the goal of meeting
vidual piece, pashmina shawls are quite expensive.
their economic, social and environmental challenges (includ-
• The Changthangi goats (Capra Hircus), domesticat- ing SDG Goals)
ed in Ladakh, are the source of the wool used to
weave Pashmina Shawls.
• The Changpa tribes of Ladakh who herd the About UNCTAD
Changthangi goats harvest the raw Pashm. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(est. 1964; HQ: Geneva, Switzerland) is an intergovernmen-
tal organization within the United Nations Secretariat that
Shahtoosh: It is the name given to the wool of the Tibetan promotes the interests of developing countries in world
chiru (Endangered in the IUCN Red List) antelopes. trade.

XR STARTUP PROGRAM

Context:
MeitY Startup Hub and Meta shortlist 120 Startups and In-
novators for the XR Startup Program
• XR Startup Program is a collaboration between MSH
and Meta to discover, nurture, and accelerate Ex-
tended Reality (XR) technology startups and inno-
vators across India.
• The XR Startup Program includes an Accelerator
(for 40 early-age startups) and a Grand Challenge,
aimed towards boosting the emerging tech ecosys-
WORLD ECONOMIC SITUATION AND tem in the country
PROSPECTUS 2023 REPORT
What is XR?
Context: Extended Reality (XR) is the combination of human & com-

132 www.insightsonindia.com
puter-generated graphics interaction, which is in reality as INDIA MAY USE EMERGENCY LAW TO
well as the virtual environment.
LIFT COAL POWER OUTPUT
• In basic terms, Extended Reality is a superset of Aug-
mented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) & Mixed
Reality (MR) Context:
India plans to use an emergency law to force power plants
that run on imported coal to maximise output in prepara-
tion for expected record consumption this summer.

Status of India’s power demand and Coal import:

• India’s power consumption logged a double-digit
growth of over 11 per cent to 121 billion units in
December 2022 compared to the year-ago period.
AVIATION GASOLINE EXPORT BY IOC • Import of coal in India consists mainly of coking
coal and high-grade coal, whose prices are normally
Context: higher than thermal coal (mainly from Indonesia and
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has started the exports of avia- Australia)
tion gasoline (for the 1st time by India) • India is the third-largest producer and consumer of
electricity worldwide, with an installed power ca-
• It is used to operate unmanned aerial vehicles
pacity of 408.71 GW as of October 31, 2022.
(UAVs) and small planes
• The beginning of fuel exports marks the entry of In-
dia into an estimated $2.7 billion global market Why are power plants based on imported coal not
• Currently, the IOC is the sole manufacturer of fuel running at full capacity?
in India • In recent years these plants (including some owned
by Adani Power and Tata Power) have found it diffi-
cult to compete with power generated from cheap
What is Aviation Gasoline Fuel? domestic coal
Aviation gasoline is a high-octane aviation fuel with superior
performance and quality standards compared to imported
fuels. Demand by states:
• Usually, flying schools use this fuel for piston-engine • Maharashtra and Gujarat have registered a steep
aircraft. rise in power demand in recent months, demanded
invocation of the law.
Significance: • The Electricity Act 2003 governs the activities
• Saving on Importing cost relating to the generation, transmission, distribution,
• Indigenous production: The gas named AV gas 100 trading and use of electricity in India.
LL will make training in domestic flying schools eco-
nomical for budding pilots,
• Advantages in modern warfare: Unmanned Aerial Agriculture
Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly being used in mod-
ern warfare, including in Russia-Ukraine.
212 INDIGENOUS LIVESTOCK BREEDS
Aviation gasoline fuel (AVGAS) vs Aviation turbine fuel
(ATF)?
• Aviation gasoline is used for piston-engine aircrafts, Context:
which fly through the rotation of the propellers The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has reg-
which generate the thrust. istered 10 new breeds of livestock species, including cattle,
buffalo, goat and pig. This has taken the total number of in-
• Jet Fuel is used for aircraft with turbine-engine jets
digenous breeds to 212.
which fly with the thrust of expelled air.

The 10 new breeds included three new cattle breeds (Kath-

ani, Sanchori, Masilum), one buffalo breed (Purnathadi),
three goat breeds (Sojat, Karauli, Gujari) and three pig
breeds (Banda, Manipuri Black, Wak Chambil)

www.insightsonindia.com 133
Distribution: dic literature of India.
• Purnathadi buffalo - Vidarbha region of Maharash-
tra.
BHOG – FSSAI
• Kathani, a dual-purpose cattle, is also distributed in
the region. It possesses the good draft ability and is Blissful Hygienic Offering to God (BHOG) encourages plac-
suited to marshy land for paddy cultivation. es of worship to adopt and maintain food safety and hy-
giene in the preparation, serving and sale of prasad.
• Masilum is a small-sized but well-built and sturdy
cattle of Meghalaya. Well adapted to the hill ecosys-
tem, it is reared by the Khasi and Jaintia communi- Science and Technology
ties for sports, manure and socio-cultural festivals.
• Sanchori is found in the Jalore district of Rajasthan.
• Among goats, all three new breeds are from differ- SATYENDRA NATH BOSE
ent regions of Rajasthan.
• Of the new pig breeds, Manipuri Black is a native of Context:
Manipur, Banda is from Jharkhand and Wak Cham- The 129th birth anniversary of Satyendra Nath Bose - a
bil is from the Garo hills of Meghalaya. Mathematician and physicist from India best known for his
work with Albert Einstein to develop what we now know as
the Bose-Einstein statistics, was celebrated on January 1.

His legacy and stellar achievements:

• Satyendra Nath Bose (1 January 1894 – 4 February
1974) was a Bengali mathematician and physicist
specialising in theoretical physics.
• He is best known for his work on quantum mechan-
ics in the early 1920s, in developing the foundation
for Bose-Einstein statistics and the theory of the
Bose condensate.
• A Fellow of the Royal Society, he was awarded India’s
second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhu-
CARDAMOM SAMPLES EXCEEDING THE shan (in 1954) by the Government of India.
LEVEL OF INSECTICIDE RESIDUE • The class of particles that obey Bose statistics, bo-
sons, was named after Bose by Paul Dirac.
Context:
The samples of cardamom supplied by the contractor for use
at the Sabarimala contained insecticide residues exceeding
the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) stipulated by the Food
Safety and Standards (Contaminants Toxins and Residues)
Regulations.
According to the test report, the samples contained insecti-
cide residues ‘fipronil, tebuconazole, and imidacloprid’

About Cardamom:
• Cardamom is a spice made from the seedpods of
various plants in the ginger family. Cardamom pods
are spindle-shaped and have a triangular cross-sec-
tion.
• There are two main types of cardamom: black car-
damom and green cardamom, and there is white
cardamom, which is a bleached version of green car-
damom.
• Species used for cardamom are native throughout
tropical and subtropical Asia. The first references to
cardamom are found in Sumer, and in the Ayurve-

134 www.insightsonindia.com
 • They rely on the principle that gels that swell or
shrink in response to temperature can be used to
SMART PROGRAM FOR AYURVEDA create smart structures.
• Cheap and easy to mass produce
Context:
Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching
Professionals (SMART) program has been launched to boost Uses:
scientific research in Ayurveda colleges and hospitals for • To deliver targeted medicines.
common issues such as Iron Deficiency, Anaemia, Obesity • Deployed as marine robots, patrolling and monitor-
etc. ing the ocean’s surface.
• Minimally invasive technology for biomedical diag-
nosis and treatment.
About NCISM
• It is a statutory body (under NCISM Act, 2020) for
regulating the Indian system of medical education.
‘GREEN’ TECH TO RID AIR FILTERS OF
About CCRAS
• It is an autonomous body for promoting research in
GERMS
Ayurvedic sciences under the Ministry of Ayush.
Context:
A research team at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Ban-
galore, has developed a germ-destroying air filter that can
inactivate germs using ingredients like polyphenols and
polycationic polymers commonly found in green tea.

Why the need?

With prolonged use, air filters become a breeding ground
for captured germs. The growth of these germs clogs the
pores of the filter, reducing their life.

New Technology:
• The air-filtering technique was granted a patent in
2022.
• It is found to be 99.24% effective against SARS-
CoV-2 (delta variant).
• The technology was transferred to AIRTH, a start-up
that is replacing the existing germ-growing air filters.
• Can play a crucial role in the fight against air pol-
lution and mitigate the spread of air-borne patho-
gens such as several coronaviruses.

GELBOTS

Context:
INDIA’S SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS IN
Made out of gelatin, a gelbot is a significant advance in the 2022 – A RECAP
world of ‘soft robotics,’ or robots that are fashioned out of
organic and non-metallic materials. Context:
2022 has been marvellous in India’s scientific arena. Various
About the Gelbots: new developments were witnessed.
• A 3D-printed device
• Move without requiring an extra power source. Direction: Details of this have already been covered previ-
• Feels like a Fruit gum rather than hard metallic sur- ously in our articles
faces of robots.
• Extremely promising materials for soft robotics.

www.insightsonindia.com 135
 Developments Specifications
India’s first privately-built rocket Vikram-S, by Skyroot Aerospace

ISRO’s foray into the commercial market Commercial launch service market by launching 36 OneWeb Satel-
lites on the LVM3 rocket
These Low Earth Orbit satellites along with others in the same fleet
will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity worldwide.
Chandrayaan-2 assesses sodium content on Moon’s Findings of sodium distribution on the moon would help us under-
surface stand the connection between the moon’s surface and its exo-
sphere.
First nasal Covid-19 vaccine developed by Bharat Named iNCOVACC, the vaccine is a replication-deficient recombinant
Biotech adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilised spike pro-
tein.
Indian researchers develop an artificial photosyn- Scientists used an atom-precise nano-cluster which resulted in 93%
thetic system to capture solar energy energy transfer from the light spectrum. This harvested energy from
sunlight could generate current with better yields than previous
technology.
New species of trees, corals, spiders and honey- Corals: Four new species of azooxanthellate corals have been discov-
bees discovered ered for the first time in Indian waters near the Andaman and Nico-
bar Islands.

Tree: Scientists have discovered a new species of an evergreen tree

of the genus Miliusa. The finding is unique because thus far, only two
mature trees have been found in its native environment, underlin-
ing the need for conservation

Honey Bee: Named Apis karinjodian or the Indian black honeybee,

the discovery come 200 years after the last species was discovered in
the Western Ghats.
Unique dinosaur egg poses new questions for evo- A team of University of Delhi researchers discovered a remarkable
lution set of fossilized dinosaur eggs, with one egg nesting within the oth-
er. While eggs-within-eggs are an unusual phenomenon, they are
so far known to occur solely in birds and have never been seen in
reptiles.

WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT member of it.

• NSG (est. 1975) for preventing nuclear proliferation.
India is NOT a member.
Context:
India will assume chairmanship of the plenary of the Was- • Australia Group (est. 1985) to control the develop-
senaar Arrangement for a year on January 1, 2023, just five ment of chemical and biological weapons. India IS a
years after joining the 42-member voluntary export control member of it
regime that monitors transfers of conventional weapons and • Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) (est.
dual-use goods. 1987): To prevent the proliferation of missile and
unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of de-
livering weapons of mass destruction. India IS a
It facilitates Information sharing and standard setting on the
member of it.
conventional arms and dual-use goods and technology.

Other Multi-lateral export Control Regime:

• Zangger Committee (est 1971) for keeping a ‘trig-
ger list’ of nuclear-related materials. India is NOT a

136 www.insightsonindia.com
 synthesis more efficient.
It will useful for industries producing green energy or hy-
drogen.
The inefficiency of the present process:
• The electrochemical ammonia synthesis is largely
limited by the poor solubility of nitrogen (N2) in
the aqueous electrolyte environment as well as the
competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. The ob-
stacle faced was that reduction of N2 has actually
occurred in the aqueous medium.

How new electrolyte works:

• Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and
Technology (INST) Mohali, an autonomous institute
of the Department of Science and Technology (DST),
have introduced a new electrolyte called (NaBF4),
• This electrolyte not only acts as an N2-carrier in the
medium but also works as a full-fledged “co-cat-
alyst” along with active material transition met-
al-doped nanocarbon (MnN4) to deliver a high yield
of ammonia (NH3) at absolutely ambient experi-
WATER FILTER TO REMOVE MICROPLAS- mental conditions.
TICS

Context: ANIMALS THAT TURN TRANSPARENT?

Scientists have developed a new water purification system
that can filter out small plastic particles, as well as other
pollutants, quickly and efficiently. Context:
Recently scientists gleaned insight into how glass frogs –a
species known for this ability – are able to achieve such
About the new technology: transparency.
• The technology is unrivalled with the world’s high-
est purification efficiency, removing more than 99.9
per cent of phenolic microplastics and volatile or- About Glass frogs:
ganic compound (VOC) contaminants in water at Glass frogs live in the American tropics and are nocturnal
ultra-high speeds. amphibians that spend their days sleeping upside down on
• The team synthesized a porous polymer with ex- translucent leaves that match the colour of their backs — a
cellent adsorption performance and photothermal common camouflage tactic. Their translucent skin and mus-
properties by reacting with an inexpensive and ef- cle allow their bones and organs to be visible.
fective precursor.
• It enables a material with fast adsorption of mi- How Glassfrog become transparent:
cro-pollutants in the aquatic environment. • Resting glass frogs increase transparency two- to
• The water treatment membrane coated with the threefold by removing nearly 90 per cent of their
oxidized polymer was confirmed to purify phenolic red blood cells from circulation and packing them
contaminants through sunlight. within their liver, which contains reflective guanine
crystals.
• Whenever the frogs need to become active again,
NEW ELECTROLYTES CAN HELP BETTER they bring the red blood cells back into the blood,
AMMONIA SYNTHESIS which gives the frogs the ability to move around
-- at which point, light absorption from these cells
breaks transparency.
Context: • In most vertebrates, aggregating red blood cells can
A team of Indian scientists has developed a new aqueous lead to potentially dangerous blood clots in veins
electrolyte that can help make electrochemical ammonia and arteries. However, glass frogs don’t experience

www.insightsonindia.com 137
 clotting. • Using a reference genome from a single organism is
not reliable and there exists considerable variation
in the intra-specie genomes.
• This gave birth to the pan- genomics, which divides
the genome of the specie into three parts, core ge-
nome, dispensable genome, and unique genes.
• Transcriptome represents all the RNA molecules
present in a specie or in an organism.
• Building a pan-transcriptome is necessary for study-
ing and analyzing complex genomes and variations
between species.

How it works:
LASER TO GUIDE LIGHTNING BOLTS • RNA’s most commonly recognized function is to
translate DNA into proteins, but scientists now
understand that the vast majority of RNA does not
Context: make proteins, but instead can play roles such as
Scientists have used a laser beam to guide lightning for influencing cell structure or regulating genes.
the first time, hoping the technique to help protect against
• When evaluating an individual’s genomic data for
deadly bolts -- and one day maybe even trigger them.
variation, scientists compare the individual’s ge-
nome to that of a reference made up of a single,
During a storm in the summer of 2021, the scientists were linear strand of DNA bases.
able to photograph their beam driving a lightning bolt for 50 • Using a pangenome allows researchers to compare
meters. an individual’s genome to that of a genetically di-
verse cohort of reference sequences all at once,
About Lightning: sourced from individuals representing a diversity of
Lightning is a very rapid — and massive — discharge of elec- biogeographic ancestry.
tricity in the atmosphere, some of which is directed towards • This gives the scientists more points of comparison
the Earth’s surface. for which to better understand an individual’s ge-
nomic variation.

MERCURY’S SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

Context:
Superconductivity was first discovered in mercury, yet sci-
entists required 111 years to explain how it becomes super-
conducting In 1911, Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onne
s discovered superconductivity in mercury. He found that at
a very low temperature, called the threshold temperature,
solid mercury offers no resistance to the flow of electric cur-
rent.

WHAT IS A ‘PANTRANSCRIPTOME’?

Context:
A new study published in the journal Nature Methods, has
proposed a “pantranscriptome,” which combines a tran-
scriptome and a pangenome -- a reference that contains ge-
netic material from a cohort of diverse individuals, rather
than just a single linear strand.

About Pan Transcriptome:

138 www.insightsonindia.com
The Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS Theory) to explain NOROVIRUS
the superconductivity of Mercury: Details of the theory are
technical in nature and you may skip it from a UPSC point of
view. Context:
The Kerala Health Department confirmed two cases of nor-
ovirus.

About Norovirus:
• Symptoms: Stomach and intestinal inflammation,
leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, di-
arrhoea, and stomach cramps.
• Mode of Transmission – highly contagious, contact
with an infected person, consuming contaminated
food or water, or touching contaminated surfaces
and then touching the mouth, through the air by
tiny droplets when an infected person vomits.
• The virus: Capable of surviving low temperatures,
About Mercury: common during the winter and in colder countries,
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, hence referred to as “winter vomiting disease”.
water and soil. It is released into the atmosphere through • The severity of infection: Estimated to kill 200,000
natural processes such as weathering of rocks, volcanic persons globally every year, with most deaths occur-
eruptions, geothermal activities, forest fires, etc. It is the ring among those below the age of five years and
only metal which remains liquid at room temperature. those over the age of 65 years.
• Vaccines: Not Available
• Prevention method: Practice good hygiene.

UKRAINE WAR: CERN HAS SHORTENED

RUNS

Context:
In the wake of the energy crisis fuelled by the Russia-Ukraine
war, the particle physics laboratory CERN, known for dis-
covering the ‘god particle’ in 2012, has reduced its energy
intake.
• The laboratory has shortened the running period of
About Superconductivity:
its Large Hadron Collider (LHC) by a month
Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity with
no resistance. Unlike the more familiar conductors such as
copper or steel, a superconductor can carry a current indef-
What is LHC?
initely without losing any energy.
The Large Hadron Collider is a giant, complex machine
• Advantages of superconductors: low power dissipa- built to study particles that are the smallest known building
tion, high-speed operation, and high sensitivity blocks of all things.
• Application: E.g., MRI machines, Particle accelera- • Structure: LHC is a 27-km-long track-loop buried
tors, Power utilities, electronics companies, the mil- 100m underground on the Swiss-French border.
itary, and transportation.
• Operation: In its operational state, it fires two
Meissner effect beams of protons almost at the speed of light in
When a material makes the transition from the normal to opposite directions inside a ring of superconducting
the superconducting state, it actively excludes magnetic electromagnets.
fields from its interior; this is called the Meissner effect. Achievements:
• ‘God Particle’ discovery: In scientists at CERN an-
nounced the discovery of the Higgs boson or the
‘God Particle’ during the LHC’s first run.

www.insightsonindia.com 139
  This led to Peter Higgs and his collaborator (ScN) and Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor
François Englert being awarded the Nobel (CMOS) compatibility to develop brain-like computing.
Prize for physics in 2013. This invention can provide a new material for stable,
• The Higgs boson is the fundamental particle associ- CMOS-compatible optoelectronic synaptic functionalities
ated with the Higgs field, a field that gives mass to at a relatively lower energy cost and hence has the potential
other fundamental particles such as electrons and to be translated into an industrial product.
quarks.
• ‘New Physics’ beyond Standard Model: After the
How it works:
discovery of the Higgs boson, scientists have start-
• The human brain is a supreme biological computer
ed using the data collected as a tool to look beyond
that is smaller and more efficient due to the pres-
the Standard Model, which is currently the best the-
ence of a synapse (the connection between two
ory of the most elementary building blocks of the
neurons) that plays the role of both processor and
universe and their interactions.
memory storage unit. In the current era of artificial
intelligence, the brain-like computing approach can
help meet the escalating computational demands.
• Scientists used ScN to develop a device mimicking a
synapse that controls the signal transmission as well
as remembers the signal.
• An artificial optoelectronic synapse with ScN thin
films that can mimic synaptic functionalities like
short-term memory, long-term memory, the tran-
sition from short-term to long-term memory, learn-
ing–forgetting, frequency selective optical filtering,
frequency-dependent potentiation and depression,
Prelims Links Hebbian learning, and logic-gate operations.
Q. The efforts to detect the existence of Higgs boson • It can act as a platform for both excitatory and inhib-
particles have become frequent news in the recent itory functions. The industrial processing techniques
past. What is/are the importance (s) of discovering this of ScN are similar to the existing semiconductor fab-
particle? (UPSC CSE 2013) rication infrastructure. Response to the optical stim-
1. It will enable us to understand as to why ele- uli also has the advantage of possible integration
mentary particles have mass. with photonic circuits known for higher speed and
broader bandwidth than electronic circuits.
2. It will enable us in the near future to devel-
op the technology of transferring matter from one
point to another without traversing the physical Technology
space between them.
3. It will enable us to create better fuels for nu-
clear fission. CAN INDIA’S BHAROS REPLACE AN-
Select the correct answer using the codes given below. DROID, IOS?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only Context:
(c) 1 and 3 only Developed by an IIT Madras-incubated startup, BharOS is
(d) 1, 2 and 3 being pitched as India’s answer to the Google-owned An-
Answer: A droid and Apple’s iOS, the two most dominant mobile oper-
Higgs boson is related to particle physics. ating systems in the world.
Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect: No such evidence has
been found. What is BharOS? How was it made?
• BharOS is an Android Open-Source Project and was
developed by JandK Operations Private Limited, a
NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTORS non-profit organisation incubated at IIT Madras.
• Concerns existed with respect to the collection,
Context: storage, and usage of data that is generated by
Scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Indian smartphone users. BharOS tries to address
Scientific Research (JNCASR) have used scandium nitride these issues.

140 www.insightsonindia.com
How is BharOS different from Android? journey, etc.
• BharOS uses AOSP or Android Open -Source Proj- • The AI does data-driven remote location selection,
ect, the functionalities and the methodologies both completely automates the process of quota distri-
OS use are essentially the same. bution, and suggests optimal quotas for different
• What sets BharOS apart from Android, is that it is ticket combinations based on historical demand.
free from Google Services and Apps. It comes with
no default app (NDA), which allows users to have
more control over permissions that an app can have. Health
• Google has used its preinstalled apps and services
to collect data, sometimes without explicitly asking
a user. Similarly, other apps from Google’s PlayStore
LUMPI-PROVACIND VACCINE
share data with third-party services. BharOS does
not come with any such preinstalled services or Context:
apps, and hence, is deemed to be more secure. Agrinnovate India Limited (AgIn), the commercial arm of
• It also comes with a native over-the-air update DARE, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare granted
(NOTA) feature that keeps the devices safe and with “Non-Exclusive Rights” for Commercial production of “Lum-
organisation-specific Private App Store Services pi-ProVac”, to Institute of Veterinary Biological Products
(PASS), the device gives access to only those apps (IVBP), Pune
which have been thoroughly verified by the organi- • ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) has
zation. developed this vaccine for Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)

How will apps work on BharOS? About Lumpi-ProVac

• It will let users choose what apps they want to use • Lumpi-ProVac is safe in animals and induces LS-
for their own devices. DV-specific antibodies and cell-mediated immune
• Furthermore, it will have its own app store which response.
will allow users to download and install apps, elim- • The vaccine is used for the prophylactic immuniza-
inating the need for the Google App Store. tion of animals against Lumpy Skin Disease, which
• Users may be allowed to sideload apps in a much illicit protection for about one year
easier manner than Android allows. • The vaccine is a homologous, live attenuated vac-
• Barring a few essential apps, BharOS may favour in- cine (see infographic below) to protect against
digenously developed apps or apps that have been Capripoxvirus (which causes LSD).
designed with a particular focus on India and Indi- • The virus is genetically similar to Goatpox and
an users. sheeppox.
• The indigenously-built BharOS paves the way for At- • It is transmitted by flies and mosquitoes or ticks
manirbhar Bharat & could help put a check on Big (blood-feeding insects).
Tech and the duopoly of Google-Apple in the mobile • LSD doesn’t affect humans
ecosystem.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an au-

RAILWAYS’ AI-BASED PROJECT tonomous body responsible for co-ordinating agricultural
education and research in India. The Union Minister of Ag-
riculture serves as its president. It is the largest network of
Context: agricultural research and education institutes in the world.
The Indian Railways has concluded the trial of an Artificial
Intelligence (AI) program built to fix a perennial issue —
long waiting lists for tickets.

How it will work:

• Made by Railways’ in-house software arm Centre for
Railway Information Systems (CRIS), this AI module,
called Ideal Train Profile, was fed with information
like how millions of passengers booked tickets on
these trains, which origin-destination pairs were a
hit and which were flops at what time of the year,
which seats remained vacant for what portion of a

www.insightsonindia.com 141
 pany Novo Nordisk, the drug is used to treat patients
with type-2 diabetes.
• Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor
agonist (GLP-1 RA) drug that increases the secretion
of insulin (which helps decrease blood sugar levels)
after a meal while reducing the production of gluca-
gon (which helps increase blood sugar levels)
• Besides regulating glucose levels in the body, the
drug also aids in weight loss, lowers the risk of hy-
poglycemia, and improves heart health and kidney
function.
• No diabetes drug has been approved in India for
weight loss.

KALA-AZAR CASES DECLINE

Context:
There has been a 98.7 per cent decline in cases of Kala-azar
from 44,533 in 2007 to 834 in 2022 in India
• India is committed to eliminating Kalaa-Azar from
the country by 2023
• Elimination is defined as reducing the annual inci-
dence of Kala Azar (KA) to less than 1 case per 10,000
people at the sub-district level.

About Kala-azar
• Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as ka-
la-azar, is the most severe form of leishmaniasis and,
without proper diagnosis and treatment, is associat-
ed with high fatality.
• It is also a neglected tropical disease (NTD)
• Spread: Caused by protozoan parasites of the Leish-
mania genus (transmitted through the bite of Sand
flies), migrates to the internal organs such as the liv-
er, spleen (hence “visceral”), and bone marrow.
• Signs and symptoms include fever, weight loss,
fatigue, anaemia, and substantial swelling of the
liver and spleen.
• Kala-azar is considered the second deadliest parasit-
ic killer in the world after Malaria
OZEMPIC • Kala-azar is endemic to the Indian subcontinent in
119 districts in four countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India and Nepal)
Context:
• It is endemic to four states Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
Elon Musk tweeted about losing 13.6 kg (30lbs) because of
Jharkhand and West Bengal
Ozempic/Wegovy, fasting and staying away from ‘tasty food’.
• It is a treatable disease with anti-leishmanial med-
The drug is also garnering a lot of attention on social media
icines
platforms such as TikTok as an easy way to lose weight.
• Government steps: National Kala Azar Elimination
Programme; National Vector Borne Disease Control
What is Ozempic? Programme (NVBDCP)
• Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus are the brand
names for an anti-diabetes medication called sema-
glutide. Developed by Danish pharmaceutical com-

142 www.insightsonindia.com
 sidering its accelerated timeline for TB elimination (by 2025)
than the rest of the world.
• TB is the issue of equity: In India, the main risk fac-
tor for TB is undernutrition. TB incidence is higher
in lower economic groups, especially in tribal and
remote rural areas and in the urban poor. This be-
comes an issue of equity.
• REACH, an NGO working in the area of TB
• Recently, WHO announced plans to establish a new
TB Vaccine Accelerator Council to facilitate the li-
censing and use of effective novel TB vaccines.
• BCG is currently the only licensed TB vaccine.

A NOVEL SPRAY TO PREVENT COVID-19

About TB:
INFECTION Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease
that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuber-
Context: culosis are spread from person to person through tiny drop-
Researchers have created new molecules that can be sprayed lets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.
into the nose to block the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering
the lungs and causing infection.

About research:
• Engineers at the Johns Hopkins University in the US
have now created thin, thread-like strands of mol-
ecules called supramolecular filaments capable of
blocking the virus in its tracks.
• The key to this approach is the way that the fila-
ments carry a receptor called angiotensin convert-
ing enzyme-2, or ACE2, which is also found in cells
in the nasal lining, the lung surface, and the small
intestine.
IMMUNE IMPRINTING
• The spike protein of the virus clicks into this recep-
tor, much like a key going into a lock, allowing it to Context:
enter the cell and replicate. Once the virus is locked Immune imprinting in the bodies, might be making new
into the cell, it prevents the cell from executing its boosters far less effective than expected.
normal functions, leading to and exacerbating in- • Two papers, published in the New England Jour-
fections. nal of Medicine (NEJM), pointed out that bivalent
• It is known to researchers that adding extra ACE2 boosters — made to counter both the Omicron
into airways can block virus entry, essentially pre- strains and the original Covid-19 strain — don’t gen-
venting the virus from binding with ACE2 in the erate significantly greater antibody responses than
lungs. an additional dose of the original mRNA vaccines.
• The team’s newly developed filament, called fACE2,
serves as a decoy binding site for the virus, with each
What is immune imprinting?
filament offering several receptors for the COVID-19
• Immune imprinting is a tendency of the body to re-
spike protein to attach to, and silences ACE2’s bio-
peat its immune response based on the first variant
logical functions to avoid potential side effects.
it encountered — through infection or vaccination
— when it comes across a newer or slightly differ-
ent variant of the same pathogen.
INDIA CAN LEAD EFFORTS TO FIND A
• Imprinting acts as a database for the immune sys-
NEW TB VACCINE tem, helping it put up a better response to repeat
infections.
Context: • After the body is exposed to a virus for the first
India needs to develop a new vaccine for tuberculosis, con- time, it produces memory B cells that circulate in

www.insightsonindia.com 143
 the bloodstream and quickly produce antibodies Treatment:
whenever the same strain of the virus infects again. • Combination of lifestyle changes and medication.
• The problem occurs when a similar, not identical, Lifestyle changes such as weight loss, regular exer-
variant of the virus is encountered by the body. In cise, and a healthy diet can help regulate hormones
such cases, the immune system, rather than gener- and reduce symptoms.
ating new B cells, activates memory B cells, which • Medications such as birth control pills, metformin,
produce cross-reactive antibodies that bind to fea- and clomiphene can be used to regulate the men-
tures found in both the old and new strains. These strual cycle, reduce androgen levels, and improve
cross-reactive antibodies offer some protection but ovulation.
are not as effective as the ones produced by B cells
when the body first encountered the original virus.
HORMONAL THERAPY TO CURE BREAST
CANCER

Context:
Recent research at Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Centre has
shed more light on the molecular mechanism through which
progesterone treatment prior to breast cancer surgery is
likely to increase the survival rates of patients.

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer can occur in women and rarely in men. Its
treatment may consist of chemotherapy, radiation, hormone
How to circumvent immune imprinting? therapy and surgery.
• Nasal vaccines might be better at preventing infec-
tions than injected ones: since mucous membranes What is Hormone Therapy for Cancer?
would create stronger protection, despite carrying Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that slows or stops
some imprint of the past. the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow. E.g., some
• Spacing out coronavirus vaccine shots on an annual prostate and breast cancers.
basis.
What is Progesterone?
POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME Progesterone is an endogenous steroid and progestogen
sex hormone involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy,
(PCOS) and embryogenesis of humans and other species.

Context:
The Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IJBB),
CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Poli-
cy Research (NIScPR), has brought out a special issue on the
theme, “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and its Com-
plications”.

About PCOS:
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a multifac-
torial endocrine disorder, which is characterized by
chronic anovulation.
• Irregular periods, hirsutism, and weight gain are
the common symptoms of PCOS.
• It is the pre-eminent cause of infertility, with a world-
wide range of 6-26%, and in India, it is 3.7-22.5%.
• Risk factors: genetics, neuroendocrine system, sed-
entary lifestyle, diet, and obesity.

144 www.insightsonindia.com
 Features:
Related news: Biologicals • According to a report, you can send only 160-char-
Context: National Summit on Quality of Biologicals inaugu- acter messages using Qualcomm’s satellite connec-
rated. tivity feature.
What are Biologicals? • You can type your own messages and choose the re-
Biologicals are a diverse group of medicines which includes cipient from your phone’s contact book which isn’t
vaccines, growth factors, immune modulators, monoclonal possible with iPhone 14.
antibodies, as well as products derived from human blood • Apple allows you to send limited responses to emer-
and plasma. gency services.

Space

WALLABY

Context:
WALLABY, or the Widefield ASKAP L-band Legacy All-sky
Blind survey, is a radio telescope in Western Australia that
is helping astronomers build a three-dimensional map of ‘SHUKRAYAAN’
the night sky, mapping galaxies as far as a billion light years
away.
Context:
Radio astronomy involves tracking the signals from radio
Professor at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
waves and helps detect and trace stellar objects that can-
and advisor to its space science program, said that the or-
not be traced by light.
ganization is yet to receive approval from the Indian govern-
ment for the Venus mission and that the mission could as a
What will it do? result be postponed to 2031.
• Provide pictures of where galaxies are actually lo-
cated in relation to one another in three-dimen-
Other countries’ mission to Venus:
sional space.
• Both the U.S. and the European space agencies
• It will be able to tell apart galaxies that appear clus- have Venus missions planned for 2031 —VERITAS
tered together but are actually millions of light years and EnVision, respectively.
apart.

ISRO had originally hoped to launch Shukrayaan I in mid-

SNAPDRAGON SATELLITE 2023 but cited the pandemic when it pushed the date to De-
cember 2024. Other ISRO missions, including Aditya L1 and
Chandrayaan III, have also been affected by manufacturing
Context: delays and commercial launch commitments.
Qualcomm at CES 2023 has announced Snapdragon Satel-
lite- a satellite-based two-way capable messaging solution
for premium smartphones. The company has collaborated
with Iridium and Garmin to introduce satellite connectivi-
ty for two-way texting in remote or no internet connectivity
areas.

www.insightsonindia.com 145
 About Atomic Hydrogen:
• It is the basic fuel required for star formation in a
galaxy.
• When hot ionized gas from the surrounding medium
falls onto the galaxy, the gas cools and forms atomic
hydrogen.
• It then becomes molecular hydrogen and eventual-
ly leads to the formation of stars.

Key Findings:
• Gravitational lensing was used, in which the light
emitted by the source is bent due to the presence
of another massive body between the target galaxy
and the observer, resulting in the “magnification” of
the signal.  
• The atomic hydrogen mass of this particular galaxy
SOLITARY WAVES NEAR MARS is twice as high as its stellar mass.
• The results demonstrate the feasibility of observing
Context: atomic gas from galaxies at cosmological distances
Scientists have reported the first evidence of the presence in similar lensed systems with a modest amount of
of solitary waves or distinct electric field fluctuations in the observing time.
Martian magnetosphere. • Opens up exciting new possibilities for probing the
The study of these waves is crucial as they directly control cosmic evolution of neutral gas through low-fre-
particle energization, plasma loss, transport, etc., through quency telescopes.
wave-particle interactions.

About Solitary Waves:

• Solitary waves are distinct electric field fluctuations
(bipolar or monopolar) that follow constant ampli-
tude-phase relations. Their shape and size are less
affected during their propagation.
• These pulses are dominantly seen in the dawn and
afternoon dusk sectors at an altitude of 1000–3500
km around Mars. The dominant occurrence of soli-
tary waves in the dawn and dusk sector is still a mys-
tery and needs further investigation.
• As these waves are known to be responsible for the JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE DISCOVERS ITS
plasma energization and its transport in Earth’s FIRST EXOPLANET
magnetosphere, the team is further exploring their
role in the particle dynamics in the Martian magne-
Context:
tosphere and whether such waves play any role in
James Webb Space Telescope has discovered its first new
the loss of atmospheric ions on Mars.     
exoplanet. The planet is named LHS 475 b, and it is roughly
the same size as Earth.

GIANT METREWAVE RADIO TELESCOPE About Exoplanets:

• Exoplanets are planets that orbit other stars and are
Context: beyond our solar system.
Astronomers from McGill University in Canada and the In- • If an exoplanet is too close to the star, it might be too
dian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have used data hot to sustain liquid water.
from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune • If it’s too far, it might only have frozen water.
to detect a radio signal originating from atomic hydrogen in • When a planet is at a distance that enables it to have
an extremely distant galaxy. liquid water, it is said to be in the “Goldilocks zone”.

146 www.insightsonindia.com
Why study exoplanets: ‘GREEN COMET’ AFTER 50,000 YEARS
• Broadens our understanding of other solar systems
• Helps us piece together information about our own Context:
planetary system and origin. A green comet is estimated to come closest to Earth, termed
• To search for living organisms in the universe. the C/2022 E3 (ZTF), the comet was named to refer to those
who first spotted it – astronomers using the wide-field sur-
vey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) in the US.
NASA’S NUCLEAR ROCKET PLAN
The Green Comet:
• Orbits sun in 50,000 years
Context:
NASA is developing bimodal nuclear propulsion – a two-part • The comet comes from the Oort cloud
system consisting of Nuclear Thermal and Nuclear Electric • It gets its beautiful green glow from diatomic carbon
Propulsion (NTP and NEP element; therefore ‘bimodal’) – (pairs of carbon atoms that are bound together) that
that could enable transits to Mars in just 45 days is present in the comet’s head.
• The bimodal nuclear propulsion system uses a • When the ultraviolet rays of solar radiation fall on
“wave rotor topping cycle” the comet, these molecules emit green light.
• Comet C/2022 E3 is visible in the northern hemi-
sphere and as the sky gets darkens in the evening,
it can be seen below and left to the Plough constel-
lation handle.

About comets:
• Comets are frozen rocky or gas-filled objects that
are remnants of the formation of the solar system.
• Due to their composition, characteristics, and the
path they move in, they tend to leave a light “be-
hind them”.

Advantages over conventional chemical propulsion: fuel ef-

ficiency, a higher specific impulse (Isp) rating and unlimited
energy density (virtually).

Oort Cloud:
ISRO’s programme: • The Oort Cloud is a predicted collection of icy ob-
• Indian Space Research Organization started with the jects that surrounds the sun at a distance of about
three-phase development of a 100-Watt Radioiso- one light-year.
tope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) • The existence of the Oort cloud has not been direct-
• RTGs were first used in space during the Cold War in ly observed, but it is thought to be the source of long
1961 for the US’s Transit-4A Mission. period comets that have been observed entering the
inner solar system.

www.insightsonindia.com 147
 ADITYA L1

Context:
The Aditya-L1 mission will be launched by ISRO to the L1 or-
bit (which is the first Lagrangian point of the Sun-Earth sys-
tem)
• Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space mission to observe
the Sun and the solar corona
• L1 orbit allows Aditya-L1 to look at the Sun contin-
uously
• It will be launched aboard a PSLV-XL launch vehicle

The objective of the mission:

To study solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and coro-
na) dynamics and understand the physics of the solar corona
and its heating mechanism. Environment

ZERO POACHING INCIDENTS IN ASSAM

Context:
PM lauds rhino conservation efforts by people of Assam af-
ter zero poaching incidents reported in 2022
• Recently, CITES (in COP19) downgraded the status
of Southern white rhinos from Appendix I to Appen-
dix II
Payloads:
Aditya-L1 has seven payloads in total, of which the primary
payload is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC).
• VELC is a solar coronagraph capable of simultaneous
imaging, spectroscopy and spectro-polarimetry
• Significance: No other solar coronagraph in space
has the ability to image the solar corona as close to
the solar disk as VELC can. It can image it as close to
1.05 times the solar radius.

About Lagrange points:

The Lagrange points are points of equilibrium for small-
mass objects under the influence of two massive orbiting
bodies. At Lagrange points, the gravitational pull of two
large masses precisely equals the centripetal force required
for a small object to move with them. These points in space
can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption need-
ed to remain in position.

SILENT VALLEY BIRD SPECIES GO UP TO

175

Context:
A bird survey conducted at the Silent Valley National Park

148 www.insightsonindia.com
identified 141 species, of which 17 were new. So far, 175 ASIAN WATERBIRD CENSUS (AWC) 2023
species of birds have been spotted in Silent Valley.
• The survey is the 30th anniversary of the first bird Context:
survey in Silent Valley. Wetlands International’s largest annual water bird census
named “Asian Water Bird Census” (AWC) 2023” began on
Bird species found in Silent Valley National Park: January 7, 2023, across Asia and Australasia simultaneously
• Brown wood owl, Banded Bay cuckoo, Malabar and will conclude on January 22, 2023
woodshrike, White-throated kingfisher, Indian
nightjar, Jungle nightjar, and Large cuckooshrike About AWC:
were among the 17 species newly identified in the • AWC (started in 1987) is part of the International
Silent Valley. Waterbird census coordinated by Wetland Interna-
• Silent Valley has several species endemic to high-el- tional
evation areas like Nilgiri laughingthrush, Nilgiri flow- • In India, AWC is coordinated by the Bombay Natural
erpecker, Brown-cheeked fulvetta, Black-and-orange History Society (BNHS) (founded in 1883, an NGO)
flycatcher, Grey-headed canary-flycatcher, greenish and Wetland International (NGO).
warbler, Common chiffchaff, Tytler’s leaf warbler,
Shaheen falcon, Nilgiri wood pigeon, and Malabar
whistling thrush. Significance:
AWC supports the conservation of wetlands and water birds
About Silent Valley National Park worldwide. AWC data is used to promote national water bird
• The park is located in the Nilgiri hills. It is situated and wetland conservation and for other initiatives such as:
in the core of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• Waterbird Population Estimates Programme (WI)
• Silent Valley is home to the largest population of
Lion-tailed macaques, an endangered primate • Global Species Programme (Red List, by IUCN)
specie. • Important Bird Area Programme (BirdLife interna-
• River Kunthi descends from the Nilgiri hills and tional)
traverses the entire length of the valley. • Bonn Convention (for Migratory Species)
• Central Asian flyway Action plan

GOVT EXEMPTS KEY INFRA PROJECTS

FROM WILDLIFE FUND RULES

Context:
The Centre has exempted road, rail, and transmission line
projects from having to deposit 2% and 0.5% of the total
project cost towards the cost of the Wildlife Management
Plan (WMP) and Soil and Moisture Conservation Plan
(SMCP) in a move that will benefit developers, but which has
been criticised by environmentalists

Previous guidelines:
The Union environment ministry under guidelines issued on
June 7, 2022 made it mandatory for all projects to deposit
2% of the total project cost towards the cost of implemen-
tation of WMP and 0.5% for SMCP, as the case may be, to
obtain Stage-II (final forest) clearance under the Forest Con-
servation Act 1980 (FCA).

Why are the changes now?

The government decided to tweak the guidelines for road
and other linear projects such as rail lines, sidewalks, trails,
and transmission lines after it was pointed out that these
projects would end up paying for the entire length of the

www.insightsonindia.com 149
project even though only a small part would pass through believe to be the best upland in North India, forcing tens of
a forest thousands of migratory birds to leave the most prominent
• Now the cost of WMP and SMCP will be proportion- bird site in western Uttar Pradesh.
ate to extent of forest land involved instead of the Reason for draining water out: This was done under pres-
total project cost sure from farmers who complained of water logging in their
fields due to high groundwater levels.
About Haiderpur Wetland
About FCA, 1980: Haiderpur Wetland is spread over an area of about 7000
FCA regulated deforestation and aims to preserve the forest
hectares on the Muzaffarnagar-Bijnor border between the
ecosystem of India and the integrity and territory of the for-
Ganges and the Solani River. It is a part of Hastinapur Wild-
ests. It prohibits the felling of forests for any non-forestry use
life Sanctuary.
without prior permission of the central government.

BHOPAL RAMSAR WETLAND

Context:
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central Pollu-
tion Control Board (CPCB) and Madhya Pradesh Pollution
Control Board (MPPCB) to periodically monitor the activities
of a cruise vessel polluting the Bhoj wetland in Bhopal, MP.

About the issue:

The State government allowed cruises of capacity 50 pas-
sengers (2011) and plans to launch higher-capacity cruises
in 2023. However, cruise vessels have been known to cause
pollution in the lake and are in clear violation of EPA, 1986,
and the state government’s own notification of 2022 (“only
non-motorized boats are permitted”)

About Bhoj Wetland:

The wetland (man-made) is also a Ramsar site with interna-
tional importance and has two lakes, Upper Lake, also called SANKHYA SAGAR WETLAND
Bhojtal and Lower Lake or Chhota Talaab.
• It provides drinking water to over 1 million people Context:
• An artificial lake in MP- Sankhya Sagar, has virtually
disappeared under a thick layer of an invasive aquat-
About CPCB: ic plant (hyacinth), threatening the biodiversity of
The Central Pollution Control Board of India is a statutory the water body.
organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
• Sankhya Sagar - a Ramsar site (declared in 2022), is
Climate Change. It was established in 1974 under the Water
a wetland site designated internationally important
Act, 1974. The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and
by UNESCO.
functions under the Air Act, 1981

About NGT: About the lake and the invasive species:

The National Green Tribunal (under the Ministry of Law and • The lake spreads across 248 hectares (612.82 acres)
Justice) is a statutory body made in the year 2010 to deal and helps maintain the ecological balance of the
with environmental cases and the speedy implementation of Madhav National Park.
decisions relating to them. • The lake is home to marsh crocodile aka ‘Mugger’
(Crocodylus palustris), which is a Schedule I reptilian
Related News: species protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protec-
tion) Act, 1972.
Experts slam move to dewater Haiderpur wetland
• Water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) is an invasive
Context: The Uttar Pradesh irrigation department drained
plant species (macrophytes) native to South Africa.
out Haiderpur wetland, a protected Ramsar site that some

150 www.insightsonindia.com
 • Although the plant has some uses (acts as a water
purifier by removing heavy metals), it poses a threat
to aquatic biodiversity when it covers the entire sur-
face of a water body.

Ramsar convention/The Convention on Wetlands of

International Importance:
• It is an international treaty for the conservation and
wise use of wetlands.
• It is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar (on the
Caspian Sea), where the treaty was signed on 2 Feb-
ruary 1971. It came into force in 1975.
• India has 75 sites (as of August 2022) recognised un-
der the convention.

Montreux Record:
• Montreux Record under the Convention is a register
of wetland sites where changes in ecological char-
About India Energy Week:
IEW 2023 is the first major event under India’s G20 Presi-
acter have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to
dency. It will be organized by the Ministry of Petroleum &
occur as a result of technological developments, pol-
Natural Gas.
lution or other human interference.
• It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List. • India Energy Week is the only all-encompassing in-
ternational energy event supported at the highest
level of the Indian government, with participation
METHANOL BLENDED DIESEL (MD15) from all the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and
officially supported by the Federation of Indian Pe-
troleum Industry (FIPI).
Context:
The government ceremonially inaugurated the demo run of Other initiatives for Methanol-based economy: BIS has no-
an Inland Water Vessel powered by Methanol blended Die- tified 20% DME in LPG; Road ministry has notified MD15,
sel (MD15) (15% methanol blended HSD) MD85 and MD100 blends; Asia’s 1st canister-based meth-
anol cooking fuel programme (by Assam Petrochemicals in
2018); Cola-to-Methanol plants (by BHEL, Thermax and IIT
Benefits of blending gasoline with Methanol: Delhi)
Blending 15% methanol in gasoline can result in at least a
15% reduction in the import of gasoline/crude oil. In addi-
tion, this would bring down GHG emissions by 20% in terms GENETICALLY ENGINEERED TREES
of particulate matter, NOx, and SOx, thereby improving ur-
ban air quality. It will also create nearly 5 million new jobs in Context:
the Methanol economy. USA is debating whether to allow a genetically engineered
(GE) version of the American chestnut tree (currently func-
About Methanol Economy: tionally extinct) to spread in the wild.
NITI Aayog’s ‘Methanol Economy’ programme (launched in • The US has already developed and field tested the
2018) is aimed at reducing India’s oil import bill, greenhouse GE version, known as Darling 58, and is now await-
gas (GHG) emissions, and converting coal reserves and mu- ing clearance from government agencies to grow
nicipal solid waste into methanol. them in the wild.
• The population of the American chestnut, a de-
About Methanol: ciduous tree native to North America, dwindled
Methanol is a cost-effective alternative marine fuel. It is less in the first half of the 20th century when a fungal
costly than other marine fuels and is economical in terms of blight, Cryphonectria parasitica, killed over four bil-
developing the shoreside storage and bunkering infrastruc- lion trees.
ture. It is also known as wood alcohol. Its properties are sim- Initiatives by other countries for GE Trees:
ilar to ethanol. It is also used in products such as plastics, • China allows commercial plantation of GE Poplar
paints, and cosmetics. Tree (insect-resistant)

www.insightsonindia.com 151
 • India experimenting with GE Rubber tree (extreme What is the thermal tolerance threshold?
climatic stress-tolerant): This is made possible by The ability of an organism to withstand high temperatures
inserting MnSOD gene (manganese-containing Su- after prior exposure to moderate temperatures. For exam-
peroxide Dimutase) ple, Ecklonia radiata, the dominant and most widely distrib-
uted Laminarian kelp in the southern hemisphere, rapidly
succumb to warmer temperatures in spring and summer
What are GE Trees? when temperatures exceed 27 degrees Celsius.
A genetically modified tree (GMt, GM tree, genetically engi-
neered tree, GE tree or transgenic tree) is a tree whose DNA
has been modified using genetic engineering techniques. Way ahead: Kelp forests are incredibly important ecosystems
It can help in fighting climate change by sequestering more that are worth protecting and preserving for their ecological,
carbon; boost biofuel production; help in growing more tim- economic, and social benefits. To ensure that genetic diver-
ber, pulp etc. sity is protected, it is essential to identify refuge areas, which
are places that support a lone or extinct population of a once
more common species.
Concerns: GE Trees may contaminate other trees along with
animals; not many scientific studies done on the long-term
impact of GE trees

KELP FORESTS

Context:
• According to a new study, Kelp forests (large brown
algae seaweeds) are declining because of climate
change.

What is a Kelp Forest?

• They are underwater ecosystems formed in shallow
water by the dense growth of several different spe-
cies.
• Kelp can also persist at lower latitudes, aided by
cool water upwelling or in deep-water refugia where
they are protected by thermocline (transition layer
between the warmer surface water and the cooler
deep water).
• Keystone Species: They provide underwater hab-
itats to hundreds of species and thus have great
ecological and economic value.
• Provide Ecosystem Services: such as coastal protec-
tion and carbon sequestration.
• They also provide recreational and tourism value
for scuba diving, snorkelling, and kayaking.
• Their loss will lead to a decline in the unique biodi-
InstaCurious: Kelp forests are often referred to as “under-
versity that they support.
water rainforests” because of their high biodiversity and
productivity.
Findings of the study:
• Kelp populations at equatorward-range edges are
most vulnerable to climate change as these loca- MANIPUR’S HEIMANG
tions are undergoing warming beyond thermal tol-
erance thresholds. Context:
• The unique adaptive genetic diversity that the rear- Manipur is part of one of the world’s most biodiverse areas,
edge populations (populations in warm, low-lati- the Indo-Burma region, heimang (Rhus chinensis) a popular
tudes) may contain is also under threat due to rapid plant here has a long history of culinary and medicinal use
warming. among communities in countries where the tree grows.

152 www.insightsonindia.com
About Heimang: ysis of the environment.
• It grows widely in Manipur and other north-eastern • The new Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS
regions v1.0) will soon be available for a wider market as the
• The spherical fruit has a citrus-like tartness and, it new technology is already transferred to JM Enviro-
is packed with nutrients such as polyphenols, flavo- Lab for further commercialization and deployment
noids, and antioxidants. in different mining and cement industries.
• Traditional healers of Manipur called maibas or mai-
bis, prescribe heimang for common gastrointestinal Related News:
problems like diarrhoea and dysentery. (MeitY) also launched the technology for biosensing sys-
• It is also recommended to eat water-soaked fruit tems for the detection of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
for indigestion and stomach ulcer. in aquatic ecosystems (MEAN) for qualitative and quantita-
• Other parts of the heimang tree such as its leaves tive analysis of EDC content in water bodies.
(including the abnormal growths or galls on them), About EDC:
roots, stem, and bark are also found to have pre- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances in the
ventive and therapeutic effects. environment (natural- air, soil, or water) or manufactured
• The research found that compounds isolated from (man-made) products that interfere with the normal func-
the stem of the heimang tree can significantly sup- tion of the body’s endocrine system.
press HIV-1 activity in vitro.
• Local communities in the state also use heimang The most common EDCs are-
leaves to prepare a herbal shampoo called ching- • Bisphenol A (BPA) - used to make certain plastics
hi by boiling them with rice water. and epoxy resins
• Dioxins - a byproduct in herbicide production and
paper bleaching
• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
(PFAS) - used in a non-stick pan, paper and textile
coatings
• Phthalates - used to make plastics more flexible
• Phytoestrogens - found in plants that have hor-
mone-like activity, such as tofu or soy milk
• Triclosan - found in some anti-microbial and person-
al care products
• Endosulfan – an organochlorine insecticide that
caused health hazards in the state of Kerala.

POLLUTION MAP BASED ON ROADSIDE

Pollution and Waste DUST

Context:
TECHNOLOGY FOR AIR QUALITY MONI- Geologists at Jadavpur University have found that they can
TORING SYSTEM (AI-AQMS V1.0) get a preliminary sense of the pollution in an area by collect-
ing roadside dust and testing it with magnetic fields.
Context: • The technique reveals the presence of different
Under the ‘National programme on Electronics and ICT ap- magnetic elements, and by tracing them back to
plications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs)’- the specific sources of pollution, the researchers could
Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), in tell which sources were dominating in different
collaboration with TeXMIN, ISM, Dhanbad has developed an places.
outdoor air quality monitoring station to monitor environ-
mental pollutants.
About Environmental Magnetism:
• It will monitor parameters like PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM
• Their study is in the area of environmental magne-
10.0, SO2, NO2, CO, O2, ambient temperature, rel-
tism – which is “magnetism as it depicts the impact
ative humidity, etc., for continuous air quality anal-

www.insightsonindia.com 153
 of climate change, pollution and environmental Key points highlighted by the report:
footprints on magnetic minerals present in environ- • 35% of the world’s largest cities (including New Del-
mental samples such as soil, dust, and sediments,” hi, Mexico City etc.) are built on the world’s dryland
• Environmental magnetism deals with the identifi- • Urban policies have yet to incorporate forestry and
cation of ferromagnetic grains and their grain size greening strategies in the majority of dryland cities
with an aim to reconstruct the way they are associ-
ated with the various environmental processes.
Recommendations:
• Select local trees for green spacing
• Build local capacity and involve the community to
create a sense of ownership
• Create policies for urban greening

About the Green Urban Oases (GUO) Programme:

GUO program contributes to FAO’s Green Cities Initiative
(2020) which aimed to improve the livelihoods of urban and
peri-urban populations in at least 100 cities in the next 3
years.

‘NITRATE RADICALS’
The objective of the programme:
• Turn dryland cities into “green urban oases”
Context: • Strengthen their overall resilience to climatic,
A new study has found that parts of India and China are health, food, and economic crisis
hotspots for the night-time production of nitrate radicals
• To reduce the impact of urbanization on biodiversi-
that can increase the amount of deadly ozone and PM2.5
ty and the surrounding natural environment
particulate matter in the atmosphere.

About Nitrate Radicals: What are drylands?

• Nitrate radical is an oxide of nitrogen that consists United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines
of three oxygen atoms bound to a nitrogen atom. drylands according to an aridity index (AI), which is the ratio
between average annual precipitation and potential evapo-
• Nitrogen oxides are reactive gases that regulate the
transpiration; drylands are lands with an AI of less than 0.65
formation of air pollutants, including ozone and
(Zero Point six five)
PM2.5 particles.
• Nitrate radicals will oxidize gas pollutants such as
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which will then Dryland systems are ecosystems characterised by a lack
generate ozone and secondary organic aerosol. of water. They include cultivated lands, scrublands, shrub-
lands, grasslands, savannas, semi-deserts and true deserts.
• Ozone is an air pollutant that affects human health
It makes up around 41% of the earth’s land (mainly in Asia
and crop yield.
and Africa).
• Secondary organic aerosol is an important compo-
nent of PM2.5
Related news:
Previously (in October 2022), Hyderabad had bagged
Climate Change the prestigious World Green City Award presented by
the International Association of Horticultural Producers
(AIPH) for its initiative “Green Garland to the State of
URBAN FORESTRY AND URBAN GREEN- Telangana (Telangana Ku Haritha Haram)”. Hyderabad
ING IN DRYLANDS also bagged the award in the ‘Living green for economic
recovery and inclusive growth’.
Context:
The food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released THE GLASGOW FINANCIAL ALLIANCE
this report, under the framework of FAO’s Green Urban Oa-
ses Programme
FOR NET ZERO (GFANZ)

Context:

154 www.insightsonindia.com
The world’s largest banks and asset owners (members of infectious chloroviruses. Both share an aquatic hab-
GFANZ) that have pledged Net Zero actions are continuing itat.
to fund the expansion of the coal, oil and fossil gas indus- • The research also notes the different patterns of
tries. consumption between Halteria and Paramecium as
the formerly used chlorovirus as a source of nutri-
About GFANZ: ents and while the latter did consume the viruses,
The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) is a it did not grow much in population.
global coalition of leading financial institutions that claim • Additionally, the consumption of chloroviruses could
to be committed to accelerating the decarbonisation of the have a profound impact on the carbon cycle
economy.

ASIAN ELEPHANTS
It was launched in 2021 by the UN Special Envoy on Climate
Action and Finance and COP26 along with UNFCCC Race to
Zero Campaign. It has over 550 members. Context:
A recent study has found that the endangered Asian ele-
phants which earlier used to roam freely across South-East
Asia, all the way to China, but “anthropogenic pressures”
have restricted them to mountain chains

How do Anthropogenic activities fragment Elephant

Habitat?
• Enclosing reserves without looking at how the ter-
rain is distributed leads to fragmentation. If ele-
phants cannot move from one valley to the next on
relatively flat terrain, then population connectivity
gets severed
About Race to Zero Campaign:
Race to Zero is the UN-backed global campaign rallying non- • The Palghat Gap (in the Kerela Western Ghats) is a
State actors – including companies, cities, regions, financial, break in the Ghats that is “relatively flat and con-
educational, and healthcare institutions – to take rigorous sequently easily negotiable by elephants”. Howev-
and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 er, human settlements and crop cultivation have
and deliver a healthier, fairer zero-carbon world in time. hindered the movement of the elephants, keeping
them confined to the hilly areas.
Impact of fragmentation:
• Loss of Habitat e.g., Indian Elephant has lost most of
its optimal habitat in Nilgiris Reserve
• On genetic diversity: If movement is restricted and
gene flow reduced, there is more in-breeding, and
Species in News low genetic diversity, pushing up chances of disease
and lowering fertility rates.
About Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR)
VIROVORE • Name Origin: From the blue flower-clad mountains
of the Nilgiris plateau (TN)
Context: • It was the first biosphere reserve in India estab-
The first known “virovore”- an organism that eats viruses- lished in the year 1986.
has been found.
• It is located in the Western Ghats and encompasses
parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
Key findings: • The confluence of Biotic zones: It is at the confluence
• Two plankton organisms named Halteria and Para- of Afro-tropical and Indo-Malayan biotic zones of
mecium, can not only feed on viruses but also thrive the world.
by consuming them. • It is a Biodiversity Hotspot
• Scientists found that a species of Halteria - which • Fauna and Flora: Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, and
are microscopic ciliates that populate freshwater Freshwater fishes such as Nilgiri danio, Nilgi-
throughout the world - can eat huge numbers of ri barb and Bowany barb are endemic to this Bio-

www.insightsonindia.com 155
 sphere Reserve.
• The river that originates from Nilgiri: Bhavani,
Moyar, Kabini (tributaries of the river Cauvery) and
other rivers like Chaliyar, Punampuzha, etc., have
their source and catchment areas within the reserve
boundary.
• Tribal: Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adi-
yans, Edanadan Chettis, Cholanaickens, Allar, Malay-
an, etc., are native to the reserve.
• Protected Areas in NBR: Mudumalai Wildlife Sanc-
tuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur Nation-
al Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National
Park and Silent Valley are the protected areas pres-
ent within this reserve.

ZEBRAFISH

Context:
A protein found in the backbone of zebrafish that plays a
positive role in disc maintenance and promotes regener-
ation in aged discs between vertebrae can have potential
therapeutic implications to promote regeneration in degen-
erated human discs.
• Currently, only symptomatic treatments for disc de-
generation are available, including pain relievers or
anti-inflammatories. In severe cases, disc replace-
ment or disc fusion surgery is performed.
• A study by Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune,
discovered that a protein called Cellular commu-
nication network factor 2a (Ccn2a) secreted from
intervertebral disc cells induces disc regeneration
in aged degenerated discs by promoting cell prolif-
eration and cell survival by modulating the pathway
called the FGFR1-SHH (Fibroblast growth factor re-
ceptor-Sonic Hedgehog) pathway.

NEW DWARF BOA SALTIE CENSUS 2023

Context: Context:
Scientists have discovered a new species of dwarf boa in the
The population of saltwater crocodiles in the water bodies
Ecuadoran Amazon and named it after an Indigenous activ-
of Bhitarkanika National Park and its nearby areas in Odis-
ist.
ha’s Kendrapara district has marginally increased in 2023,
according to the annual reptile census.
About dwarf boa:
• Up to 20 centimetres (7.8 inches) long and with
About the annual reptile census:
skin colouring similar to those of the boa constrictor
• Techniques used for the census: Spotlights at night,
-- the previously unknown snake was named Tropi-
GPS, and Photographic Interpretation to measure
dophis cacuangoae.
the length and age of the crocodiles
• The name honours early 20th-century Indigenous
rights activist Dolores Cacuango.
• The species is unusual for having a “vestigial pelvis”
characteristic of primitive snakes.

156 www.insightsonindia.com
 SPOT BELLIED EAGLE OWL

Context:
A ‘Spot Bellied Eagle Owl’ (Bubo Nipalensis) was spotted for
the first time in the Seshachalam forest, and for the third
time in Andhra Pradesh.

About Spot Bellied Eagle Owl:

• The bold predatory bird feeds on small rodents and
lizards.
• The bird makes a strange scream similar to humans
and it is hence called the ‘Ghost of the Forest’ in
India and ‘Devil Bird’ in Sri Lanka.
• It is a forest-inhabiting species found in the Indian
Subcontinent and Southeast Asia
• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Crocodile conservation programmes in India:

• The Gharial, Mugger and Saltwater crocodile con-
servation programme: The breeding and rearing
programme for three species of crocodilians — salt-
water crocodile, mugger and gharial — had been
started in 1975 in 34 places in West Bengal, Madhya
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states in In-
dia and Nepal.
• ‘BAULA’ PROJECT AT DANGAMAL: ‘Baula’ is the Oriya
term for Saltwater Crocodile. Dangmal is in the Bhi-
tarkanika sanctuary.
• CAPTIVE BREEDING OF CROCODILES AT NANDANK-
ANAN, Odisha
• Odisha is having the distinction for the existence of
all three species of Indian crocodilians

KEWDA OIL
GREATER SCAUP
Context:
Context: The recent growth in demand for kewda oil has boosted the
A rare species of duck, Greater Scaup, locally known as revenue of families in the coastal pockets of Odisha‘s Gan-
Sadangman, was recently sighted in Loktak lake in Mani- jam district who have been eking out a living by preparing
pur’s Bishnupur district after a gap of over 90 years. aromatic kewda oil for years.

About Greater Scaup: About Kewda:

• IUCN Status: Least Concern • Ganjam kewda (Pandanus fascicularis) oil is
steam-distilled from the flower of the aromatic
• The greater scaup (Aythya marila) is a medium-sized
screwpine plant and used as an aromatic in the food
diving duck belonging to the family Anatidae.
industry and other sectors.
• The greater scaup species is distributed in Asia, Eu-
• It is registered under the Geographical Indications
rope, the United States, and Canada.
of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 by
• It is a rare visitor to the Indian Subcontinent the Government of India.
• Colour depends on the sex of the pine. While the
male pines are colourful and are used in oil making,

www.insightsonindia.com 157
 the female pines are green and later turn brown. Protection Status:
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Scheduled 1
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
MAHABALI FROG • CITES Appendix I

Context:
Mahabali Frog, which buries itself all through the year and Distribution:
surfaces only one day to lay eggs, is waiting to be elevated as They are found in warm waters of the Pacific, Atlan-
the State Frog of Kerala tic and Indian oceans.

In India, they are conserved in Bhitarkanika National Park,

Odisha, Gahirmata Marine Sanctuary, Odisha and the Goda-
vari region of Andhra Pradesh.

NOBLE’S HELEN

Context:
An “extremely rare” swallowtail butterfly Noble’s Helen
(Papilio noblei) disappearing from its previously known
ranges from Myanmar and southern China to Vietnam has
been recorded for the first time in India’s Namdapha Nation-
al Park of Arunachal Pradesh.

MASS MORTALITY OF OLIVE RIDLEY

TURTLES

Context:
Hundreds of vulnerable Olive Ridley Turtles ( Lepidochelys
olivacea) have washed ashore along the coastline between
Kakinada and Antarvedi in the Godavari region during the
ongoing annual breeding season on the east coast.

Reasons stated:
• The effluents are released from the aqua ponds
along the coastline.
• The discharges from the pipelines of the onshore
oil exploration facilities

About Olive Ridley Turtles:

• They are the smallest and most abundant of all sea
turtles found in the world.
• They get their name from their olive-coloured car- Fig: Noble’s Helen
apace. Fig: Kaiser-e-Hind, State butterfly of ArP
• Known for Arribada (Mass Nesting)

158 www.insightsonindia.com
About Namdapha National Park: • Invasion of Senna spectabilis is most severe in
• Namdapha (named after a river originating in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and nearby forests
park and it meets Noa-Dehing river (a tributary of About Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
the Brahmaputra) • It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve along with
• Location: It lies in close proximity to the Indo-Myan- Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National
mar-China trijunction (in Arunachal Pradesh) Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National
• It is the fourth largest national park in India after Park, and Silent Valley.
the Hemis National Park (Ladakh), Desert National • It has the world’s largest recorded population of
Park (Rajasthan), and Gangotri National Park (Ut- the Asiatic elephant
tarakhand) • River: Kabini and its three tributaries (Kabini is the
• It is also on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Her- tributary of the Kaveri rivers)
itage Sites in India and a biodiversity hotspot
• It is the only park in the World to have the four Fe-
line species of big cat:- Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leop-
ard, and Clouded Leopard
• Famous for: Namdapha flying squirrel (Critically
Endangered species) and Hoolock Gibbons (the only
‘ape’ species found in India)
Prelims Links:
Q. Which one of the following National Parks has a cli-
mate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temper-
ate and arctic? (UPSC 2015)
(a) Khangchendzonga National Park
(b) Nandadevi National Park
(c) Neora Valley National Park
(d) Namdapha National Park
Ans: (D) RED-HEADED VULTURES AND BLACK
VULTURES
INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES IN KERALA’S
Context:
WILDLIFE HABITAT For the first time since 2017, birders spotted a red-headed
vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) in the Bhatti mines area of Delhi,
Context: the same week a “rarest of rare” black vulture (Coragyps
The Nodal Centre for Biological Invasions (NCBI) at the Kerala atratus) was sighted in Gurugram’s Chandu Budhera
Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has come out with a man-
agement plan to eradicate Senna spectabilis Red-headed vulture (also called Asian King vulture or Pondi-
cherry Vulture) was extensively found in India but its num-
The Plan: Landscape-level management of the tree: bers drastically reduced after diclofenac poisoning.
Stage 1: The large trees need to be debarked
Stage 2: Once the trees start to dry up, manpower should be IUCN: Critically Endangered
made available to remove the sprouting plantlets of Senna American Black Vulture:
spectabilis This is mainly found in the USA and South America. Black
Stage 3: Planting of large saplings of native tree species vultures typically avoid crossing large bodies of water and do
should start not cover long distances.
IUCN: Least Concern.
About Senna spectabilis:
• Senna spectabilis is a deciduous tree native to tropi-
cal areas of America
• The thick foliage of the tree arrests the growth of
other indigenous tree and grass species. Thus, it
causes food shortages for the wildlife population,
especially herbivores
• IUCN: Least Concern

www.insightsonindia.com 159
 Supreme Court directed the state government to
stop supporting and providing alms to Salwa Judum.
The state government has no right to provide arms
to a civilian and allow him to kill someone else.
Government’s stand:
• The government is not absolving itself of responsi-
bilities by arming civilians.
• A State is empowered to empower its citizens. There
are three aspects to this:
 Protection
 Confidence building of a community
What is diclofenac poisoning?
 Visibility of armed people that could act as a
Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory agent and painkiller,
deterrence in case of an attack
is known to be linked to the rapid decline of vulture pop-
ulations in Southeast Asia. The birds were exposed to the
medicine after eating carcasses of animals that had recently
been treated with diclofenac and subsequently died of kid-
VARUNA’ – 2023
ney failure.
Context:
The 21st Edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between In-
Defence dia and France – Exercise Varuna commenced on the West-
ern Seaboard
While the bilateral exercise between the two navies was ini-
VILLAGE DEFENCE COMMITTEES (VDC) tiated in 1993, it was christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001 and
has become a hallmark of the India – France strategic bilat-
Context: eral relationship.
With heightened terror activity in Jammu, the CRPF is reviv-
ing Village Defense Committees that was disbanded in the The exercise facilitates operational-level interaction be-
early 2000s tween the two navies to foster mutual cooperation for good
order at sea, underscoring the shared commitment of both
What is a JK Village Defence Committee (VDC)? nations to security, safety, and freedom of the global mari-
• The VDCs were first formed in the mid-1990s as a time commons.
force multiplier against militant attacks. The VDCs
have now been renamed Village Defence Guards List of exercises between India and France:
(VDG).
• Each VDG will be provided with a gun and 100 Army SHAKTI
rounds of ammunition
• Persons leading the VDGs will be paid Rs 4,500 per Navy VARUNA
month by the government, while others will get Rs
4,000 each Air Force GARUDA

Origin of the VDCs:

The idea was taken from the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak LEOPARD 2 TANK
wars when the government armed ex-servicemen and
abled-bodied youth in villages along the border to guard Context:
against the infiltration of Pakistani spies. The same was used Germany is under pressure to authorize sending Leopard 2
in 1995 when violence escalated in Kashmir. tanks to Ukraine from other European nations.
• The Leopard 2 is one of the world’s leading battle
Controversies surrounding the scheme: tanks. Until now, both Ukraine and Russia have
• In the past VDCs have faced allegations of human used Soviet-era tanks in battle, and the Leopards
rights violations and other crimes, including mur- would offer a big step forward in capability.
der, rape and extortion.
• SC judgement in the case of Salwa Judum (an-
What is a Leopard 2 tank?
ti-Naxalite militia in the Chhatisgarh): In 2008, the
• The Leopard 2 is one of the world’s leading battle

160 www.insightsonindia.com
 tanks, used by the German Army for decades and by sorption technique.
the militaries of more than a dozen other European
nations, as well as by the armies of countries as far
apart as Canada and Indonesia. It has seen service Kalvari-class background
in conflict zones of Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Syria. • Kalvari-class submarines include other vessels such
as the INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS
• The tank, which is powered by a diesel engine,
Vela and INS Vagsheer.
features night-vision equipment and a laser range
finder that can measure the distance to an object, • The design is based on the Scorpene class of subma-
enabling it to better aim at a moving target while rines designed and developed by the French Naval
travelling over rough terrain. Group formerly DCNS and the Spanish state-owned
entity Navantia.
• They have Diesel Electric transmission systems.
Why does Germany have to approve the transfer of • These are attack submarines or ‘hunter-killer’ types
Leopards owned by other countries? i.e., they are designed to target and sink adversary
• Re-exporting German-made tanks without permis- naval vessels.
sion would be illegal.
• The contracts that a country signs to obtain weap-
ons from German manufacturers or German military
stocks require them to request a re-export license
from the federal government should they wish to
send such weapons to another country. (The United
States has similar requirements, as do other coun-
tries, including Switzerland.)

EXERCISE CYCLONE-I

Context:
The first-ever joint exercise between the special forces of
the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army named “Exercise
Cyclone-I” is in progress at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan since 14
January 2023.

In 2019, India held its first-ever joint exercise with African

countries, Africa-India Field Training Exercise-2019 (AFIN-
DEX-19), which saw participation by 17 African countries.

MILITARY EXERCISE
INS VAGIR
• AMPHEX (Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh): It is a bi-
Context: ennial tri-services amphibious exercise, focused on
The Indian Navy commissioned the fifth diesel-electric the joint training of elements of all three services in
Kalvari-class submarine Vagir. It is among the six subma- various facets of amphibious operations to enhance
rines being built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited interoperability and synergy.
(MDL), Mumbai, in collaboration with the French M/s Na- • TROPEX-23: It is a biennial (every two years) The-
val Group under Project 75. atre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX),
aimed at “validating and refining” the Navy’s con-
Specifications of Vagir: cept of “operations” as well as to test overall com-
• The latest submarine gets its name from the erst- bat capabilities
while Vagir, a submarine which served the Navy be- • Tarkash 2023: It is a counter Terrorism Exercise be-
tween 1973 and 2001. tween India’s National Security Guard and US Spe-
• The construction of the new Vagir began in 2009 cial Operations Forces
also known as Sand Shark.
• Vagir represents stealth and fearlessness, as it
comes with features like an advanced acoustic ab-

www.insightsonindia.com 161
 HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY DEMON-
STRATOR VEHICLE (HSTDV)

Context:
India’s DRDO tested its own hypersonic technology demon-
strator vehicle (HSTDV) powered by a scramjet engine.
• There is an ongoing race among China, Russia and
the US to manufacture manoeuvrable hypersonic
weapons that fly over five times the speed of sound
and can negate missile defence systems

About DRDO:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation is the
premier agency under the Department of Defence Research Q. Consider the following in respect of the Indian
and Development in the Ministry of Defence, charged with Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (UPSC 2017)
the military’s research and development, headquartered in 1. The inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 un-
Delhi, India der the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase
maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states
of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase mar-
itime cooperation among navies of the littoral States of
the Indian Ocean Region. The inaugural IONS was held
in New Delhi, India in 2008.

Content for Mains

Enrichment (Eth-
VEER GUARDIAN 2023 ics/Essay):
Context: Society
Veer Guardian 2023 is the inaugural edition of the 16-day
bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the
Japan Air Self-Defence Force has concluded in Japan. PRAJJWALA CHALLENGE

Other exercises with Japan: Context:

• Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) Ministry of Rural Development launches Prajjwala Chal-
lenge inviting ideas, solutions and actions to transform the
• Malabar Exercise (India – US-Japan - Australia)
rural economy
• The challenge is launched under Deendayal Antyo-
daya Yojana – NRLM (DAY-NRLM aims to support
rural poor households into joining self-help groups)

162 www.insightsonindia.com
 • The Mission so far has mobilised more than 87 mil- Recently Chief Justice of India (CJI) Chandrachud brought his
lion women into the Self-Help Groups and their fed- daughters to Supreme Court.
erations.
• The Prajjwala Challenge will also be shared in the Other examples of children in the workplace:
Manthan portal by the office of the Principal Scien- • Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand’s prime minister) just
tific Advisor (Under DST and not rural development) became the first world leader to give birth in office
 The Manthan platform promotes collabo- in almost 30 years.
ration between industry and scientific re-
• Australian Politician Larissa Waters became 1st in
search to help meet India’s national targets
and SDGs. the world to breastfeed her baby in Parliament.
.

FOSTER FARMER: FEEL GOOD

Sudhir Kumar Sundriyal (from the Pauri district of Uttra-
khand) established Feel Good Charitable Trust in January
2015, through which he distributes saplings and plants
and helps farmers borrow small equipment through a ma-
chinery bank. He has been doing this for 8 years now.
He helps people in the Pauri district earn livelihoods in vil-
lages so that they do not have to migrate to big cities
Feel Good has also undertaken other initiatives:
• It has built reservoirs in the district and farmers are
conducting water conservation campaigns
• It helps raise funds for 60 children’s education in the
Pauri district

RAJASTHAN’S ‘TREE TEACHER’

OXFAM REPORT
As per the latest Oxfam Report titled ‘Survival of the Rich-
est’:
• Global: Richest 1% bag nearly twice as much wealth
as the rest of the world put together over the past
two years
• India: The richest 1% in India now own more than
40% of the country’s total wealth, while the bot-
tom half of the population together share just 3% of
wealth between 2012 and 2021
 Female workers earned only 63% of male
workers earning
 Since the Pandemic, billionaires’ wealth has
surged more than 100%
 Suggestions: Introduce Wealth taxes and
windfall taxes, and raise taxes on capital
gains.
What is Oxfam?
A GENTLER WORKPLACE Oxfam is a British-founded confederation of 21 indepen-
dent charitable organizations focusing on the alleviation of
global poverty, founded in 1942 and led by Oxfam Interna-
Context:

www.insightsonindia.com 163
tional. Women Empowerment

TRIBES GET DOCUMENTS MISSION PARIVARTAN

Direction: Direction:
This example can be used in governance case studies/Ethics The example can be used to show changes in society but also
case studies as an innovative step. deep-seated mentality remains an obstacle to women’s em-
powerment.
Context:
Wayanad becomes the first district in the country to pro- It is a joint venture of the Delhi government and automaker
vide basic documents and facilities such as Aadhaar cards, Ashok Leyland to induct women drivers into Delhi Transport
ration cards, birth/death certificates, election ID cards, bank Cooperation and cluster buses for promoting women’s safe-
accounts and health insurance to all tribespeople. ty in public transport. Under this programme, the women
drivers underwent a comprehensive training programme
where they were also taught how to repair a bus in case it
Works done by the administration: breaks down.
• Akshaya Big Campaign for Document Digitalisation
(ABCD) campaign organised by the Wayanad district
administration for people’s awareness. However, they face various issues in doing their jobs:
• Collaboration with different departments: It organ- • Bus driving and transport sector is seen as a
ised over 26 campaigns across the district so far with male-dominated field and women are often not ac-
the support of the Revenue and Tribal Development cepted
departments, District IT Mission, and local adminis- • Lack of respect for women drivers
trative bodies • Heated arguments by male passengers often while
• Ensuring basic documents to all citizens belonging being drunk
to the Scheduled Tribes communities and these • Taunts by men peers: E.g. “If you don’t know how
documents are digitalised and saved in Digi Locker to drive, why did you even become a driver?”
accounts opened for them

Benefits:
AYMANAM
• People (mostly tribal) can avail themselves of the
government incentives Direction:
• It will save them the time and effort of visiting sev- The example can be used for inclusive, sustainable and gen-
eral offices dered tourism
• Digitalising the documents through DigiLocker will
help the beneficiaries easily retrieve the documents Aymanam is a model Responsible Tourism (RT) village in
in case they are lost or damaged Kottayam (Kerela), where about 80% of the work - including
• Build trust between people and the government. accommodation, food and community tours, is being man-
aged by women
• It is a part of the Kerala government’s initiative to
FOSTER FARMER: FEEL GOOD create a women-friendly tourism network in the
State.
Sudhir Kumar Sundriyal (from the Pauri district of Uttra-
khand) established Feel Good Charitable Trust in January Significance:
2015, through which he distributes saplings and plants and
helps farmers borrow small equipment through a machinery • It will redress the gender balance in the tourism sec-
bank. tor by showcasing women’s talent.
• Turn the village into a hub of women-friendly desti-
nations
Feel Good has also undertaken other initiatives: • It will give women an equal voice in the tourism
• It has built reservoirs in the district and farmers are
• Help empower women at the grassroots level by
conducting water conservation campaigns
highlighting what they do and sell.
• It helps raise funds for 60 children’s education in the
Pauri district

164 www.insightsonindia.com
Responsible Tourism is about “making better places for peo- Learning from his life:
ple to live in and better places for people to visit.” Responsi- • Multiple profiles: Cunningham was a physicist and a
ble Tourism requires that operators, hoteliers, governments, former Marine pilot as well as an astronaut
local people and tourists take responsibility, and take action
• Many 1st: He became the first NASA astronaut to ap-
to make tourism more sustainable.
pear on television from space.
• Courage: His team’s flight — the first manned Apol-
lo mission — buoyed an America shocked by the
capsule fire that took 3 lives (in rehearsal mission
for Apollo 1 mission in January 1967)
• Hope: He had said that “We carried the nation’s
hope with us”
• Leadership: Soon after Apollo 7, Cunningham was
named director of what became known as the Sky-
Space lab program, which developed America’s first space
station.

PARASTRONAUT

Direction:
This could be used as an example to show that ‘disability is
not a limitation’.
European Space Agency (ESA) will announce the 1st astro-
naut -- or astronauts -- with a physical disability soon, under
ESA’s “parastronaut project”.

People with physical disabilities have previously been ex-

cluded from being an astronaut -- due to strict selection re-
quirements.

After carrying out a feasibility study, the ESA said potential

candidates could include people who have deficiencies in
their lower limbs, whether from amputation or congenital
defects.

WALTER CUNNINGHAM DEAD

Walter Cunningham, a civilian astronaut whose only mis-
sion in space, aboard Apollo 7, revived NASA’s quest to put
men on the moon in the wake of a landing-pad fire that
killed three astronauts, died recently.

www.insightsonindia.com 165
Governance Health

DWARKA: HOW A DELHI DISTRICT CASE STUDY: CUBAN HEALTHCARE

STOPPED THE GROUND FROM SINKING
Context:
As India’s Himalayan town of Joshimath has been sinking, Recently, Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara’s daughter Alei-
Delhi’s Dwarka district reduced its reliance on groundwater da visited India.
and reversed the trend of land subsidence.
Success:
A University of Cambridge report corroborated that the • Life expectancy in Cuba is higher than that of the US
neighbourhood had subsided by around 3.5cm (1.4in) in (72.5 vs. 71.9) (India’s 70.19)
2014 alone. When groundwater is pumped out, the land • Cuba has eliminated polio, tuberculosis, typhoid fe-
above it sinks - and this leads to land subsidence. ver, and diphtheria
• Malnutrition incidence among (1-15 years old) is
Initiatives taken: 0.7% compared with 5% in the US
• Heavy fines were imposed on buildings still using • Impressively high ranking on major health indica-
borewells: By 2016, almost all housing societies had tors, despite economic handicaps
stopped using borewells
• Two local lakes (including a 200-year-old local reser-
voir named ‘Naya Jhod’) were rejuvenated
How has Cuba developed one of the best healthcare
systems?
• Mandatory to irrigate public parks using only sew- • Government-Run Healthcare:
age and treated surface water
 The Cuban government operates a national
• Residents began harvesting rainwater to increase health system
the water table in the area  The Cuban government has assumed fiscal
and administrative responsibility for the
Usages: This example can be used as a conclusion or inno- health care of all its citizens.
vative steps in Geography/Disaster Management Questions.  There are no private hospitals or clinics as
all health services are government-run.
 It regards accessibility to healthcare as a
Environment fundamental right of its citizens.
• Preventive Healthcare:
 Cuba’s health policy emphasizes preven-
CHINAMPAS: FLOATING GARDENS tion, primary care, services in the commu-
MADE OF PLASTIC BOTTLES nity, and the active participation of citizens.
 It offers the simplest check-up to the most
In Singapore, a group of volunteers are encouraging people complex surgery, free of charge
to turn plastic bottles into mini floating gardens, known as • India’s Connection:
chinampas.  PM Modi’s ‘One Earth-One Health’ propos-
al is inspired by the global health philosophy
of the late Cuban leader Castro.
Origin: It was used as an ancient farming technique by the
 Cuba sends surplus physicians (“Army of
Aztecs (Mexico), who built artificial floating islands in lakes white coats”) and health professionals
and found a way to grow plants and food on them. abroad annually (including India): “Cuban
doctors are always the first to arrive and the
Usage: This can be used as an innovative example to recycle last to leave.”
and reuse plastic bottles.
Ethics
DOCTOR DIDIS OF JHARKHAND
Doctor Didis (or Pashu Sakhi) of around 1,000 women in all
24 districts of Jharkhand have been recruited since October

166 www.insightsonindia.com
2013 for the last mile of livestock management

Values that can be learnt:

• Social engagement and persuasion: They advise
farmers on health checks of their livestock, vaccina-
tions, deworming, hygiene, breeding, feeding and
management of animal waste.
 These women go door to door when called.
• Collaboration: Jharkhand Government (under
its Jharkhand Opportunities for Harnessing Rural
Growth (JOHAR)) and central government (under
National Rural Livelihood Mission) together with
World Bank
• Capacity building of community resources: The
pashu sakhis receive a 30-day training program (In-
troductory, Practical, and Higher) at three levels in
seven-day instalments on how to care for poultry,
goats, and pigs.

What is social capital?

Social capital is a set of shared values or resources that al-
lows individuals to work together in a group to effectively AN EPISODE ON ‘PEACE’
achieve a common purpose.
Direction:
This can be used to start an essay or Ethics answer - to de-
scribe the keyword, Peace.
Once, a King offered a prize to the artist who would paint
the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked
at all the paintings and shortlisted two so that he could fi-
nally select one as the best painting. One picture showed a
calm lake as a perfect mirror for the mountains all around
it. Overhead was the blue sky with white clouds, beautifully
reflected in the lake. Everyone thought that it was a perfect
picture of peace. The other picture also had mountains, but
those were rugged and bare. Above was a stormy sky from
which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side
of the mountain, a huge foaming waterfall releasing water
with great force was also depicted. But behind the waterfall
in a bush a bird had built a nest and was feeding her ba-
bies in perfect peace. Which painting do you think won the
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?
The King stated the reason, “Because peace does not mean
Direction: the absence of noise, trouble, or disturbances. Peace means
The image shows examples of smaller things that can bring to be in the midst of all these and still remain calm in your
joy and happiness for a moment. Previously UPSC had asked heart.” You can use this illustration.
Questions on ‘Happiness’ in the Ethics paper. You can cite
these examples in your answer.

www.insightsonindia.com 167
 PERSONALITIES
Quote on Healthcare: Dr Martin Luther King once remarked, “Of the forms of injustice, inequality in healthcare is the most
shocking and inhumane.”

‘Dr. Hifive’
Context: Dr. Sayed Mujahid Husain, has turned his clinic in Bengaluru into a fun and interactive space for children, engaging
them in conversation or getting them to play with soft toys.

About Dr. HiFive:

• An internet sensation, Dr. Husain has 2.8 lakh followers on his Instagram account, dr_hifive. He hosts videos of him
vaccinating children on Instagram, drawing a great deal of appreciation.
• Dr. Husain has had parents bring their wards from nearby cities and towns for vaccination.

Person in Contribution
News
Sanjana Tiwari • A transwoman, HIV positive, former sex
worker and an autorickshaw driver in North-
west Delhi.
• Now a crusader for AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases.
• Campaigns for sexual and digital literacy
among LGBTQ youth
• Beating the biases
• Courage: Stands up to her identity and so-
cial pressures
• Leadership

Manpreet • Indian-origin
Monica Singh • Sworn in as a Harris County judge (US)
• First female Sikh judge in the US.

“When they see someone of colour, someone

a little different, they know that possibility is
available to them. Manpreet is not only an am-
bassador for Sikhs, but she’s an ambassador
for all women of colour.”

168 www.insightsonindia.com
Faiz Ahmed • Renovation of 118 dilapidated government
Mumtaz, DM, buildings and converted them into public
Jamtara Dist, libraries.
Jharkhand • Jamtara - the great social reformer Ishwar
Chandra Vidyasagar spent the last two
years of his life here for the upliftment of
tribals.

Kundan Ku- • Set up a startup zone in Chanpatia for the

mar, DM, West migrant workers who returned to the dis-
Champaran, Bi- trict during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
har • Inspired Bihar government to set up such
units across the State.

Vishal Singh, • Implemented a micro-irrigation project in 6

DM, Malkangi- villages.
ri, Odisha • It helped over 300 farmers grow a 2nd crop
& increased household income by 60%.

Chanchal • Implemented the Sweekruti Scheme

Rana, DM, Bal- • Aims to offer dignity, inclusion and liveli-
angir, Odisha hood to the transgender community and
help them avail all social security schemes.

Sharad Kumar • Management of vehicle parking &

Dwivedi, 24 movement
Paranganas, • Online system to unclog traffic at one
WB of India’s busiest ports
• Reducing wait time from 39 days to 2
days

www.insightsonindia.com 169
S u m i t • Mission Mangrove to Planting over 12
Gupta,DM, 24 crore mangrove trees across 4579 hectares
South Paranga- to act as a bio-shield against cyclones.
na, WB

Pawan Kady- • Mission Nirmal Cooch Behar

an, DM, Cooch • 16 solid waste management units
Bihar, WB • 1400 community sanitary complexes.

Divya S Iyer, • Crowd management at a key pilgrimage

DM Pathanmit- spot.
ta, Kerala • Safety walks and landslide hazard mapping
carried out.
• Last year she delivered a speech at a public
event with her toddler in arms, highlight-
ing the multiple roles women play.

Harichandana • Innovative toilet models

Dasari, DM, • More than 11,000 public toilets were set
Narayanpet, up in 3 months
Telangana • Making Narayanpet an Open Defecation
Free district

Krishnanunni • Launch of Punnagai (smile in Tamil), a

H, DM, Erode, multi-sectoral tele-facilitation project
Tamil Nadu • 5G wireless systems in to deliver
healthcare to tribals

170 www.insightsonindia.com
Rohit Singh, • Super Project Nidaan: Apka Prashasan
DM, Narsingh- Apke Aangan
pur, MP • Delivery of govt. welfare schemes

Saweshwar • Project Padhai Tuhar Dwar

Bhure, DM, • E-learning classes with 8,000 teachers
Raipur, Chatis- • A girl who came in class XII merit list
gargh told the collector, “I want to become a
collector like you”. Dr S Bhure replied –
“be a better collector than me”.

Rajat Bansal, • ThinkB’, a Technological Hub for Inno-

DM, Bastar, vation Network
Chatisgarh • An incubator mentoring 15 start-ups.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. (1929-1968)

Keywords

CYBORG
A cyborg is a being that is part human and part machine, or a
machine that looks like a human being. Although no cyborg
has been developed yet we are in the phase of development.

Examples:
• The artificial pancreas is in the development phase
• People undergo neural stimulation to alleviate symp-
toms of diseases such as depression
• Louise Brown: The first child conceived in a petri
dish. This may be 1st step towards a fully conceived
cyborg.

4 E’s Road Safety: - The main thrust of accident prevention

and control across the world has been on 4 E’s vis
(i) Education

www.insightsonindia.com 171
 (ii) Enforcement show the unethical use of technology to enforce
(iii) Engineering unarticulated rules secretly. It also goes against the
(iv) Environment and principle of free speech and ‘consent’.
(v) Emergency care of road acci-
dent victims
3C for Politicians/bureaucrats/reforms: Collective Code of Fighting plastics – ‘3B ka funda’ and ‘UseReusables’ mantra
Conduct (3C) Ruchika Sethi Takkar’s (Gurgaon) mantra is simple: whenev-
er you step out of home, carry your own bag, box and bot-
3P for welfare schemes: Pro-Poor Public (3P) Welfare tle. The idea is to minimise the use of disposable bags and
Schemes containers.

5 F theme for textile– (Farm- Fiber-Factory- Fashion- For-

eign) and #MySariMyPride (for textile promotion in India)

3 A of Judicial Pendency
• Adjournment (Forced adjournment at all tiers of
the judiciary)
• Admission– HighAdmissions of new cases aggravate
the pendency
• Appeal- Most Governments and Bureaucrats opt for
appeal against every single order to save their own
reputation and to delay losses.
Cultural superpower
The soft-touch approach
Similar to ‘Soft-power’ in international relations, ‘Soft-touch’ • Refers to a country whose culture, arts, or entertain-
is the ability to co-opt rather than coerce (contrast hard ment have worldwide appeal, significant interna-
touch) tional popularity, or large influence on much of the
• Usage: Recently, the Union Ministry of Electronics world.
and IT released draft rules for online gaming. The
soft-touch approach (e.g., self-regulation) could 3Cs of Viksit Bharat (Developed India):
draw in much-needed investments to the sector and Usage: The 3Cs are currently being used in Aspirational Dis-
at the same time regulatory bodies will only curb the tricts Programme in India:
illicit players, ensuring a healthy ecosystem. • Convergence (of Central & State Schemes)
• Collaboration (of Central, State level ‘Prabhari’ Offi-
‘Demographic gravitation’ cers, District Collectors and Gram Panchayat),
Similar to the classical physics concept of gravity – ‘Demo- • Competition among districts through monthly delta
graphic gravitation’ refers to the linkages between the size ranking
of the population and the power dynamics shaping the re-
lationship between nations, regions and generations Environment/ India related Keywords which can be used
• Usage: Recent reports have predicted that India is in the Answer writings (you may click on the link to know
set to surpass China in terms of the total population. more about the context of the keywords):
India has high ‘demographic gravitaiton’ due to its • Healing, harmony, hope
large consumer base (Demand), young population • One earth, one family, one future
base (Demography) and world’s largest Democracy • LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)
(3 D). • India: The Mother of Democracy
• The universal message of oneness

“Shadow Banning”
QUOTES
The term refers to the perception — real or imagined — that
social media companies are taking stealth actions to limit a Quotes Corner:
post’s visibility. • On Education and World Peace:
• Context: Last month, Elon Musk (Twitter’s new own- o Maria Montessori (Italian physician and ed-
er) — used the term to show that Twitter officials ucator best known for the philosophy of ed-
had debated blocking reporting from The New York ucation): “Establishing lasting peace is the
Post on Hunter Biden, son of the current president, work of education; all politics can do is to
in October 2020. keep us out of war”.
• Usages: The term can be used in ethics/Essays to o The need for education to play an effective

172 www.insightsonindia.com
 role in nurturing “cultures of peace” is inter-  Usage 2: Individuals need to embrace their
nationally acknowledged “flaws” and other peoples’ imperfections
o India at 100 will evolve from the certi- need to be appreciated.
tudes of a Vishwaguru to the resilience of • “Information space is the “single gravest threat to
a “Shreshta Shishya”, with the humility democracy, electoral integrity and social cohesion
of the eternal seeker, ever learning, ever in many countries, and it’s only becoming more se-
flowing, malleable enough to put her own vere”
truths to stringent scrutiny. Usages: This can be used to introduce/Conclude Questions
related to the impact of technology (misinformation) on de-
• ‘Writing as a form of Resistance’: Writing is
a “form of resistance to forgetfulness, to dis- mocracy/elections/social cohesion.
traction, to neglect, to let what we know • “The basic structure of our Constitution, like a
and what we remember to pass away”. north star, guides and gives a certain direction to
by Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah the interpreters and implementers of the Constitu-
o Usages: It can be used in an essay showing tion when the path ahead is convoluted”-Chief Jus-
the significance of literature/writing as a po- tice of India Dr DY Chandrachud
litical tool Usages: You may use this quote in a polity essay or Polity GS2
Mains Question as an introduction/Conclusion.
• Pariksha Pe Charcha 2023: PM Modi
o On technology de-addiction: “Use technol-
ogy but don’t let technology use you”
 Adopt “digital fasting” once a week
 Create a ‘no technology’ zone in
their homes
 Consider yourself smarter than the
gadgets
o On learning from criticism: Criticism is an
integral part of India’s democracy and stu-
dents should learn from it to avoid getting
affected by negative comments.
o On languages: Knowing a different language
helps you give a sense of familiarity to the
other person

Sports

PELÉ: BIRTH OF A LEGEND

Pele (23 October 1940 – 29 December 2022) who was a
• You can carve your own path, Be your own kind of Brazilian professional footballer who is regarded as one of
leader- Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand Prime Minis- the greatest players of all time and labelled «the greatest”
ter) by FIFA, died recently.

• Like in business, ‘ the customers are always right’,

similarly in the government service also, the man- His achievements are:
tra should be that ‘the citizen is always right’ - PM • Football:
Modi’s Speech at recently held Rozgar Mela  Pelé began playing for Santos at age 15 and
 Usage: The analogy can be used in the gov- the Brazil national team at 16
ernance/Ethics/Essay paper as the way for-  During his international career,
ward in public service. he won three FIFA World Cups
(1958, 1962 and 1970), being the only play-
er to do so.
• ‘Imperfections need to be appreciated’
 In 1999, he was named Athlete of the Cen-
 Usages1: Education should not be targeted tury by the International Olympic Commit-
at making perfect candidates, it should not tee
be the poor imitation of the western system
• Credits given:
of education. India has such enormous di-
versity and imperfections need to be appre-  He was nicknamed O Rei (The King) follow-
ciated. ing the 1958 tournament.

www.insightsonindia.com 173
  Credited with connecting the phrase “The
Beautiful Game” with football, Pelé’s “elec-
trifying play and penchant for spectacular
goals” made him a star around the world.
• For Poor: In Brazil, he was hailed as a national hero
for his accomplishments in football and for his out-
spoken support of policies that improve the social
conditions of the poor.
• For the black community: His emergence at the
1958 World Cup, where he became a black global
sporting star, was a source of inspiration.

174 www.insightsonindia.com
Our founder & director, Vinay Sir, with 120 toppers of UPSC CSE-2021
at the Felicitation Ceremony conducted at Bengaluru.

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