💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (July Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Archives: News

  • [18th May 2024] The Hindu Op-ed: After the Civil War, the stifling impasse in Sri Lanka

    PYQ Relevance:

    [2022] ‘India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.’ Discuss India’s role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in light of the preceding statement. 

    [2013] In respect of India — Sri Lanka relations, discuss how domestic factors influence foreign policy. 

    Note4Students: 

    Prelims: NA 

    Mains: Disruptions in Sri Lanka’s development trajectory post the Civil War

    Mentor Comment: A decade and a half after Sri Lanka’s civil war, deep wounds persist, with tens of thousands dead and widespread destruction. Truth, accountability, and justice remain unresolved, and political polarisation hinders progress. Economic reconstruction lags, further stunted by crises. The Tamil middle class aspires to emigrate, while the working class remains destitute. 

    Let’s learn

    ___

    Why in the News?

    The future of the Tamil people relies on creating a renewed vision for themselves and the whole nation, founded on the ideals of equality and freedom.

    Back2Basics: Sri Lankan Civil WarC:\Users\SSCIS\Desktop\Imgress\ltte.jpg
    It was a protracted armed conflict that lasted for nearly three decades, from 1983 to 2009, between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

    LTTE was a separatist militant organisation seeking an independent Tamil state in the northern and eastern regions of the island nation.
    The conflict was characterised by violence, human rights abuses, and widespread displacement of civilians.

    The LTTE, known for its guerrilla tactics and suicide bombings, controlled significant territory in the north and east of Sri Lanka and waged a violent insurgency against the government.

    Key Hindrances to Sri Lanka’s Progress

    • Limited Progress: While infrastructure like trains, banks, supermarkets, and hotels returned to the north, rural areas continue to struggle with unstable livelihoods.
    • Setback from Terror Attack: The Easter bombings in April 2019, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing economic crisis since 2022, have exacerbated economic hardships, marking the worst crisis since Independence.
    • Economic Crisis: Economic misery is pervasive, with outmigration and hunger becoming the norm, particularly impacting the deprived and landless in war-torn areas.

    Challenges in Reconstruction Efforts

    1. Economic Challenges
    • Failed Investments: Expectations of substantial investments from the Tamil diaspora have not materialised, failing to stimulate local economic revival.
    • International Donor Projects: Projects focused on infrastructure have not effectively revitalised the local economy, while NGO aid has sometimes led to dependency and microfinance debt traps.
    1. Political Polarisation and Neglect
    • Political Neglect: Tamil political leadership has often prioritised international accountability over addressing local livelihoods, perpetuating dependency on diaspora remittances.
    • Parallel Nationalisms: Tamil nationalist politics mirrors Sinhala nationalism, focusing on rights and international intervention, rather than fostering local reconciliation.
    • Reconciliation Challenges: Efforts towards political reconciliation and power-sharing have faltered due to political expediency, exacerbating tensions and marginalising minorities.
    • Communal polarization: Relations between Tamil and Muslim communities remain strained, with unresolved issues from historical displacements and marginalization.

    Future Prospects for Tamil People

    • V. Karalasingham’s Reflections (1963): Highlighted the paradox of Tamil leadership and the continued suffering and humiliation of Tamil-speaking people.
    • Aragalaya Movement (2022): Sri Lankans united to oust a President promoting Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism, showing potential for collective action.
    • Path to Change: Embracing inclusive politics, moving away from isolationist strategies, and advocating for economic and social justice can pave the way for a democratic future based on equality and freedom.
    India’s Economic Assistance to Sri Lanka:

    1. Bailout Package: During Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022, India was quick to extend financial support, amounting to over USD 4 billion. This surpassed even the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) bailout package over 48 months.

    2. Facilitating IMF Engagement: India’s role was instrumental in the early stages of Sri Lanka’s negotiations with the IMF. India’s Finance Minister, Mrs Sitharaman, played a significant part in these discussions, showcasing India’s commitment to its neighbour’s recovery.

    3.Private Investment: The expansion of the Colombo port’s west container terminal in 2023 by India’s Adani Group was a key development project.

    4. Cricket Diplomacy: Cricket surprisingly became a focal point, with international matches hosted in Sri Lanka, including a notable India-Pakistan game during the World Cup.

    Way Forward

    • Political Reconciliation: Advocate for genuine political reconciliation, including devolution of power and addressing historical grievances.
    • Community Integration: Foster solidarity and mutual understanding between ethnic and religious communities to promote social integration.
    • Local Empowerment: Support local initiatives and reduce dependency on external aid, empowering communities to drive their development.
    • Unified Movements: Promote movements that unite diverse groups towards common goals of justice, equality, and inclusive governance.
    https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/after-the-civil-war-the-stifling-impasse-in-sri-lanka/article68187672.ece

  • Govt plans $2 bn incentive for Green Hydrogen Industry

    The govt is planning a $2 billion incentive program for the green hydrogen industry, in a bid to cut emissions and become a major export player in the field.

    What is Green Hydrogen?

    • Green hydrogen is hydrogen gas produced through the electrolysis of water.
    • It is an energy-intensive process for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen— using renewable power to achieve this.
    • The current cost of green hydrogen in India is ₹300 to ₹400 per kg.

    Hydrogen Energy: A Backgrounder

    • Hydrogen is an important source of energy since it has zero carbon content and is a non-polluting source of energy in contrast to hydrocarbons that have net carbon content in the range of 75–85 per cent.
    • Hydrogen energy is expected to reduce carbon emissions that are set to jump by 1.5 billion tons in 2021.
    • It has the highest energy content by weight and lowest energy content by volume.
    • As per International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Hydrogen shall make up 6 per cent of total energy consumption by 2050.
    • Hydrogen energy is currently at a nascent stage of development, but has considerable potential for aiding the process of energy transition from hydrocarbons to renewable.

    Why hydrogen?

    • Better properties: At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a nontoxic, nonmetallic, odourless, tasteless, colourless, and highly combustible diatomic gas.
    • Clean fuel: Hydrogen fuel is a zero-emission fuel when burned with oxygen. It can be used in fuel cells or internal combustion engines. It is also used as a fuel for spacecraft propulsion.
    • Ample sources: Hydrogen can be sourced from natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind.
    • Phasing out carbon: India remains committed to environmental and climate causes with a massive thrust on deploying renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
    • Diversification of our energy basket: This would be the key lever enabling this transition. That’s why the emergence of hydrogen at the centre stage is a welcome development.

    How Hydrogen can be produced?

    Commercially viable Hydrogen can be produced from –

    1. Hydrocarbons including natural gas, oil and coal through processes like steam methane reforming, partial oxidation and coal gasification
    2. Renewables like water, sunlight and wind through electrolysis and photolysis and other thermo-chemical processes.

    How is Green Hydrogen produced?

    • For source material, green hydrogen today is typically generated from water through a process known as electrolysis, which uses an electric current to split water into its component molecules of hydrogen and oxygen.
    • This is done using a device called an electrolyzer, which utilizes a cathode and an anode (positively and negatively charged electrodes).
    • This process produces only oxygen – or steam – as a byproduct.
    • As for energy supply, to qualify as “green hydrogen,” the source of electricity used for electrolysis must derive from renewable power, such as wind or solar energy.
    • Currently the production of green hydrogen is two or three times more expensive than blue hydrogen.

    How can green hydrogen be used?

    Hydrogen can be used in broadly two ways. It can be burnt to produce heat or fed into a fuel cell to make electricity.

    • Fuel-cell  Mobility: Hydrogen electric cars and trucks
    • Container ships powered by liquid ammonia made from hydrogen
    • “Green steel” refineries burning hydrogen as a heat source rather than coal
    • Hydrogen-powered electricity turbines that can generate electricity at times of peak demand to help firm the electricity grid

    Challenges in producing Green Hydrogen

    India’s transition towards a green hydrogen economy (GHE) can only happen once certain key issues are addressed.

    • Supply-Chain Issues: GHE hinges upon the creation of a supply chain, starting from the manufacture of electrolysers to the production of green hydrogen, using electricity from a renewable energy source.
    • Technology: Green hydrogen needs electrolysers to be built on a scale larger than we’ve yet seen.
    • Storage: Either very high pressures or very high temperatures are required, both with their own technical difficulties.
    • Explosion Hazard: It is hazardous because of its low ignition energy and high combustion energy.
    • Risk to use: Automotive fuels are highly inflammable, but a vehicle laden with hydrogen is likely to be more vulnerable in case of a major accident.
    • High Cost of Production: To become competitive, the price per kilogram of green hydrogen has to reduce to a benchmark of $2/kg. At these prices, green hydrogen can compete with natural gas.
    • Energy intensivity: Creating green hydrogen needs a huge amount of electricity, which means an enormous increase in the amount of wind and solar power to meet global targets.
    • Lack of proper infrastructure, only 500 Hydrogen stations exist globally. Only countable manufacturers are involved as market players in this technology.
    • Others: Low user acceptance and social awareness. Developing after-sales service for hydrogen technology.

    Policy and Economic Challenges

    • Economic sustainability: One of the biggest challenges faced by the industry for using hydrogen commercially is the economic sustainability of extracting green or blue hydrogen.
    • Technological challenges: The technology used in production and use of hydrogen like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and hydrogen fuel cell technology are at nascent stage.
    • Cost Factor: These technologies are expensive which in turn increases the cost of production of hydrogen and will require a lot of investment which in turn add fiscal pressure on government.
    • Higher Maintenance costs: Maintenance costs for fuel cells post-completion of a plant can be costly.
    • Need for legal and administrative adherence: Certification mechanisms, recommendations, and regulations for different components of the system.

    Way forward

    • Hydrogen energy is at a nascent stage of development but has significant potential for realizing the energy transition in India.
    • The new policy is a futuristic vision that can help the country not only cut down its carbon emissions but also diversify its energy basket and reduce external reliance.
    • India’s transition can be a testament to the world on the achievement of energy security, without compromising the goal of sustainable development.
    • The GoI must strongly pursue the objective of creating a GHE to make India a global manufacturing hub and place itself at the top of the green hydrogen export market.

     

     

    Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

    (Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more