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  • Finance Commission – Issues related to devolution of resources

    N.K. Singh calls for a fresh look at the Seventh Schedule

    | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Federalism

    Fifteenth Finance Commission chairman N.K. Singh has called for a fresh look at the Constitution’s Seventh Schedule, which forms the basis for allocating subjects to the Centre and States.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education?

    1. Directive Principles of State Policy
    2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies
    3. Fifth Schedule
    4. Sixth Schedule
    5. Seventh Schedule

    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

    Why such calls by Mr NKS?

    • Singh said these issues needed urgent consideration to reinforce trust in fiscal federalism.
    • He urged a review of both the Seventh Schedule and Article 282 of the Constitution so as to give more flexibility to States in implementing centrally sponsored schemes.
    • Many have argued that the trust between various forms of government is waning.
    • Since the farmers’ agitation, these are seen through the prism of suspicion and mistrust.

    Q. The federal organisation of powers under the Constitution’s Seventh Schedule needs review. In light of this, examine the problems faced by the distribution and suggest the challenge the review would face.

    What is the Seventh Schedule?

    • This Schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with the division of powers between the Union government and State governments.
    • It defines and specifies the allocation of powers and functions between Union & States. It contains three lists; i.e. 1) Union List, 2) State List and 3) Concurrent List.

    The Union List

    • It is a list of 98 (Originally 97) numbered items as provided in the Seventh Schedule.
    • The Union Government or Parliament of India has exclusive power to legislate on matters relating to these items.

    The State List

    • It is a list of 59 (Originally 66) items.
    • The respective state governments have exclusive power to legislate on matters relating to these items.

    The Concurrent List

    • There are 52 (Originally 47) items currently in the list.
    • This includes items which are under the joint domain of the Union as well as the respective States.

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  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Voluntary Disclosure of Exotic Pets

    IOCR | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Last month, the Supreme Court upheld an Allahabad High Court order granting immunity from investigation and prosecution if one declared illegal acquisition or possession of exotic wildlife species.

    Q.What are Zoonotic Diseases? Discuss how the illicit trade in wildlife has resulted in the spread of zoonotic diseases of the scale of the ongoing COVID-19?

    Voluntary disclosure scheme

    • The MoEFCC has come out with an advisory on a one-time voluntary disclosure amnesty scheme.
    • It allows owners of exotic live species that have been acquired illegally, or without documents, to declare their stock to the government between June and December 2020.
    • The scheme aims to address the challenge of zoonotic diseases and regulate their import. In its current form, however.
    • It shall develop an inventory of exotic live species for better compliance under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
    • However, the amnesty scheme is just an advisory, not a law

    What kind of exotic wildlife is covered?

    • The advisory has defined exotic live species as animals named under the Appendices I, II and III of the CITES.
    • It does not include species from the Schedules of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972.
    • So, a plain reading of the advisory excludes exotic birds from the amnesty scheme.

    Why need such a scheme?

    • The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which enforces anti-smuggling laws, says India has emerged as a big demand centre for exotic birds and animals.
    • There has been an increase in smuggling of endangered species from different parts of the world.
    • Most of these exotic wildlife is imported through Illegal channels and then sold in the domestic market as pets.
    • The long international border and air routes are used to source consignments from Bangkok, Malaysia and other top tourist destinations in South East Asia, as well as from Europe into India.

    Back2Basics: CITES

    • CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
    • It is as an international agreement aimed at ensuring “that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival”.
    • It was drafted after a resolution was adopted at a meeting of the members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1963.
    • It entered into force on July 1, 1975, and now has 183 parties.
    • The Convention is legally binding on the Parties in the sense that they are committed to implementing it; however, it does not take the place of national laws.
    • India is a signatory to and has also ratified CITES convention in 1976.

    CITES Appendices

    • CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls.
    • All import, export, re-exports and introduction from the sea of species covered by the convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. It has three appendices:
    1. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade-in specimens of these species are permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
    2. Appendix II provides a lower level of protection.
    3. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling trade.

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  • Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

    Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Technology

    | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T

    The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully demonstrated communication between its two labs using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology.

    Q. What is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Technology? Discuss how it enables secure communication networks. (150W)

    What is QKD Technology?

    • Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a secure communication method which implements a cryptographic protocol involving components of quantum mechanics.
    • It enables two parties to produce a shared random secret key known only to them, which can then be used to encrypt and decrypt messages.
    • It gives the ability of the two communicating users to detect the presence of any third party trying to gain knowledge of the key.
    • This is a result of a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics: the process of measuring a quantum system, in general, disturbs the system.
    • By using quantum superposition or quantum entanglement and transmitting information in quantum states, a communication system can be implemented that detects data leak.

    How does it work?

    • In the QKD, encryption keys are sent as qubits in a fibre optic cable. Time-bin encoding is used to encode qubit on a photon.
    • Quantum computing uses qubits as basic resources, similar to how bits are used as basic resources in classical computing.
    • The QKD is designed in a way that if an illegitimate entity tries to read the transmission, it will disturb the qubits – which are encoded on photons.
    • This will generate transmission errors, leading to legitimate end-users being immediately informed.

    Advantages of using QKD

    • It allows the detection of data leak or hacking because it can detect any such attempt.
    • It also allows the process of setting the error level between the intercepted data in dependence.

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  • Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

    Plasmodium Ovale and Other types of Malaria

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    A not very common type of malaria, Plasmodium Ovale, has been identified in a jawan in Kerala.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria.

    Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine?

    (a) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium

    (b) Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection

    (c) Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria

    (d) Man is only an intermediate host and not the definitive host

    What is Malaria?

    • Malaria is caused by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito if the mosquito itself is infected with a malarial parasite.
    • There are five kinds of malarial parasites — Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax (the commonest ones), Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium knowlesi.
    • Therefore, to say that someone has contracted the Plasmodium ovale type of malaria means that the person has been infected by that particular parasite.
    • Malaria is treated with prescription drugs to kill the parasite. Chloroquine is the preferred treatment for any parasite that is sensitive to the drug.

    Plasmodium Ovale

    • P ovale rarely causes severe illness and there is no need for panic.
    • Symptoms include fever for 48 hours, headache and nausea, and the treatment modality is the same as it is for a person infected with P vivax.
    • P ovale is no more dangerous than getting a viral infection.
    • It is termed ovale as about 20% of the parasitised cells are oval in shape.

    Burden of Malaria in India

    • In 2018, the National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) estimated that approximately 5 lakh people suffered from malaria.
    • 63% of the cases were of Plasmodium falciparum.
    • The recent World Malaria Report 2020 said cases in India dropped from about 20 million in 2000 to about 5.6 million in 2019.

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  • Electoral Reforms In India

    Digital Voter ID Card and its benefits

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People’s Act

    The Election Commission (EC) is keen to make the Elector’s Photo Identity Card or EPIC available in electronic form.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Regarding DigiLocker, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under Digital India Programme.
    2. It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Digital Voter ID Card

    • The digital voter card is not expected to look too different from its physical form.
    • It will be available as a PDF file and can be downloaded on one’s phone or computer.
    • The soft copy may also have a QR code that will carry the voter’s enrolment details such as name and date of birth and address.
    • This is still just a proposal and needs to be approved by the Election Commission.

    How to avail it?

    • To avail this facility, an eligible voter will have to provide her mobile number or email address to the EC machinery at the time of applying for enrolment in the voters’ list.
    • Once her name is included in the electoral roll, she will be intimated through an SMS or email.
    • The new voter can then download the Voter Card through OTP (One Time Password) authentication.
    • Existing voters may have to re-verify their details with the EC (similar to the Bank KYC process) and provide their email or mobile phone number to get their cards in the electronic form.

    Benefits offered

    • An electronic card will help the EC save costs on printing and distributing a hard copy of EPIC.
    • The EC feels that voters too will find it useful to have the PDF file of her voter card on her phone.
    • This will do away with the necessity of first producing a voter’s slip on the day of voting.

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  • Renewable Energy – Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, etc.

    Renewable Energy Generation: Betting on the green power market

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    The article takes stock of the progress India made on renewable energy capacity and the steps taken for its trade through the creation of green markets.

    India increasing share of renewable energy

    • As a signatory to the Paris Climate Agreement, India is committed to increasing its share of renewable energy capacity to 450 GW by 2030.
    • India has an installed renewable energy capacity of 89 GW.
    • India has today become the most attractive destination for investment in the renewable sector.
    • During the last six years, has attracted over Rs 4.7 lakh crore of investment, including FDI of about Rs 42,700 crore.
    • India witnessed 20% CAGR growth in the renewable generation since FY16 while total electricity generation saw 4.3% growth in the same period.
    • The current levelised cost of energy (LCOE) for large scale solar in India is around Rs 2.5 per kWh, compared to ~Rs 12 in 2010. 

    Factor’s responsible

    • Waiver of inter-state transmission charges for the sale of solar and wind power, the renewable purchase obligation (RPO) trajectories for states, focus on maintaining the sanctity of contracts, permitting FDI in the renewable sector have accelerated the progress.

    Trading in renewable power

    • Most renewable power generation companies in India are committed to selling their power to consumers—mostly discoms  under the long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
    • It is also a matter of gratification that most generation companies have adopted a robust system of forecasting and scheduling of power.
    • It is in this context, the CERC was approached for creating a market for green energy.
    • Ultimately, the CERC approved trading of renewable energy contracts under Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) on the energy exchange.
    • The green market commenced trade on August 21, in day-ahead contingency (DAC) and intra-day contracts in both solar and non-solar segments.
    • The green market has now launched two more options—daily and weekly.
    • This will further strengthen the market and allow participants to buy green energy through contracts available for trade in all the segments.
    • The energy will be delivered to the market participants leveraging the national, regional and state-level transmission and distribution network.
    • With robust value proposition such as transparency, competitive prices, flexibility, and payment security and financial savings that the exchange market offers, a pan-India green market has the potential to drive and facilitate the country to meet its renewable energy targets.
    • The green market will ultimately encourage green generators to adopt multiple models of sale and trading.

    Conclusion

    Going forward, the introduction of new segments such as green day-ahead market, long-duration green contracts, contract for difference (CfD), etc, will play a crucial role in furthering sustainability goals, and ensuring that all the renewable energy generated within the country is dispatched in the most efficient manner through a pan India wide exchange-based energy markets.

    Source:-

    https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/renewable-energy-generation-betting-on-the-green-power-market/2147657/

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  • The Crisis In The Middle East

    Morocco to normalize ties with Israel

    | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Important International Institutions

    Morocco has become the fourth Arab nation this year to recognise Israel after interventions by the US.

    Must read:

    Israel and Morocco

    • After the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, Morocco is the fourth Arab State since August to commit to establishing diplomatic relations with the Jewish State.
    • Morocco and Israel had respectively maintained liaison offices in Tel Aviv and Rabat in the 1990s, before closing them in 2000.
    • Israeli PM Netanyahu anticipated direct flights between the two countries soon.
    • Palestinian officials condemned the agreement, saying it encouraged Israel’s denial of their rights.

    For the sake of Western Sahara

    • The White House said the US would recognise Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara as part of the deal with Israel.
    • The US recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara territory.
    • A former Spanish colony, it was annexed by Morocco in 1975.
    • Since then it has been the subject of a long-running territorial dispute between Morocco and its indigenous Saharawi people.
    • Morocco says it has always been part of its territory, while the African Union recognizes it as an independent state.
    • A 16-year-long insurgency ended with an UN-brokered truce in 1991 and the promise of a referendum on independence, which has yet to take place.

    Ground realities

    • The latest move by the Trump administration will not necessarily have an immediate impact on the ground because the dispute is seen as greater than the whims of the American president.
    • However, Trump’s backing of Morocco’s claim to sovereignty over Western Sahara is a big deal because it diminishes the hope of a people who have aspired for the independence of that territory for decades.
    • The UN is still mandated to oversee a referendum for the independence of Western Sahara – although this hasn’t materialized since 1991.

    Why Arab countries are normalizing their ties with Israel?

    • Economics: The Gulf States see opportunities for trade and more. The deal helps the ambitious gulf, who has built themselves into military power as well as a place to do business.
    • Common enemy: The UAE has used its already well-equipped armed forces in Libya and Yemen. But its most serious potential enemy is Iran, just on the other side of the Gulf.
    • For the Iron wall: Normalizing its relations with gulf is a genuine achievement for the Israelis who is a believer in the strategy first described in the 1920s of an “Iron Wall” between the Jewish state and the Arabs.

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  • Innovations in Sciences, IT, Computers, Robotics and Nanotechnology

    Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT)

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    In a first, BSNL launches world’s largest NB-IoT to provide connectivity for millions of unconnected machines, sensors and industrial IoT devices across the country.

    What is NB-IoT?

    • NB-IoT is a Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technology that works virtually anywhere.
    • It will connect many more devices to the Internet of Things and make many new applications a reality.
    • It is optimized for applications that need to communicate small amounts of data over long periods of time.
    • Since it operates in licensed spectrum, it is secure and reliable providing guaranteed quality of service.
    • It connects devices more simply and efficiently on already established mobile networks and handles small amounts of fairly infrequent 2‑way data, securely and reliably.

    And the best is, it provides-

    • very low power consumption
    • excellent extended range in buildings and underground
    • easy deployment into the existing cellular network architecture
    • network security & reliability
    • lower component cost

    Back2Basics: Internet of Things (IoT)

    • The IoT describes the network of physical objects—“things”—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the Internet.
    • The definition of the IoT has evolved due to the convergence of multiple technologies, real-time analytics, AI, sensors, and embedded systems.
    • In the consumer market, IoT technology is most synonymous with products pertaining to the concept of the “smart home”, including devices and appliances.
    • It supports one or more common ecosystems and can be controlled via devices associated with that ecosystem, such as smartphones and smart speakers e.g. Alexa.

    Remember this PYQ?

    When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. The smart mirror in your bathroom shows the day’s weather and also indicates the level of water in your overhead tank. After you take some groceries from your refrigerator for making breakfast, it recognises the shortage of stock in it and places an order for the supply of fresh grocery items. When You step out of your house and lock the door, all lights, fans, geysers and AC machines get switched off automatically. On your way to office, your car warns you about traffic congestion ahead and suggests an alternative route, and if you are late for a meeting, it sends a message to your office accordingly.

    In the context of emerging communication technologies, which one of the following terms best applies to the above scenario?

    (a) Border Gateway Protocol

    (b) Internet of Things

    (c) Internet Protocol

    (d) Virtual Private Network

    Also read:

    [Burning Issue] Internet of Things (IoT)

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  • Women Safety Issues – Marital Rape, Domestic Violence, Swadhar, Nirbhaya Fund, etc.

    What is Shakti Act?

    | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Laws, Institutions & Bodies Constituted For The Vulnerable Sections

    In a bid to curb crimes against woman and children in Maharashtra, the state cabinet unveiled the ‘Shakti Act.’ The Act is modelled on the lines of Andhra Pradesh’s Disha Act, which was brought last year after a veterinarian was raped and murdered in Hyderabad.

    Why have stringent laws have consistently failed to instill any fear in rapists?

    Shakti Act: Key Provisions

    • It proposes stringent punishment including the death penalty and heavy fines for the culprits.
    • Special police teams and separate courts will be set up for investigation and trial of cases against women and children.
    • The perpetrators if found guilty will be punished with imprisonment for life for not less than ten years but may extend to the remainder of natural life or with death in cases which have characteristics of being heinous in nature.
    • A sum of Rs 10 lakh will be given to an acid attack victim for plastic surgery and facial reconstruction and the amount will be collected as fine from the convict.
    • The investigation shall be completed within a period of 15 working days from the date of registration of an offence. This can be extended by 7 days.
    • After a charge sheet is filed trial shall be conducted on a day-to-day basis and completed within a period of 30 working days.
    • Some cases will be tried in-camera for the recording of evidence of victims and witnesses who are vulnerable.

    Enforcement, not the law

    • Despite several laws, incidences of rapes continue unabated.
    • In fact, now we hear cases of extreme brutality.
    • The general perception is that since the laws have been made more stringent, so the rapists resort to extreme measures in a bid to destroy the evidence.
    • One thing is very clear, Laws alone cannot provide a solution to this problem.

    What should be done?

    • Law provides for speedy investigations and fast track of trials in rape cases.
    • What we need is better policing, making public spaces safer for women, ensuring round the clock surveillance of isolated areas and deployment of police at all strategic points.
    • Prevention and not punishment is the solution and that requires concerted efforts on part of all the stakeholders.
    • It is not harsher punishments that will deter. It is the fear of being caught and not being spared.
    • The message should go out loud and clear that no one is above the dignity and safety of women in our country.

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: United Nations

    UN Population Award for 2020

    IOCR | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Important International Institutions

    HelpAge India has been presented the UN Population Award for 2020 (institutional category), according to a release issued by UNFPA.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards a greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at:

    (a) The Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, Johannesburg

    (b) The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro

    (c) The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015, Paris

    (d) The World Sustainable Development Summit 2016, New Delhi

    UN Population Award

    • Each year, the Committee for the UNPA honours an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health questions and to their solutions.
    • The Award was established by the General Assembly in 1981, in resolution 36/201, and was first presented in 1983. It consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary prize.
    • The Committee for the Award is comprised of 10 UN Member States, with UN Secretary-General and UNFPA Executive Director serving as ex-officio members.
    • Nominations for the award are accepted through 31 December of each year.

    Whats’ so special this year?

    • For the first time in the history of the UNPA, the honour is being conferred on an Indian institution.
    • HelpAge India, which has been working for ‘the cause and care of disadvantaged older persons to improve their quality of life’ for over four decades, is the first Indian institution to receive this award.
    • The last time the Award came to an Indian was 28 years ago, back in 1992, when it was awarded to Mr J.R.D. Tata as an individual laureate.

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