Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Dhawan II engine
Mains level: Privatization of space activities
In Telangana, private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace has test-fired its 3D-printed Dhawan II engine.
Dhawan II Engine
- The Dhawan II engine is a cryogenic engine developed by Skyroot Aerospace for use as the upper stage of the updated version of their Vikram II rocket.
- The engine was recently test-fired for a duration of 200 seconds and demonstrated impressive performance results.
- Cryogenic engines use extremely cold liquid propellants, which can provide greater thrust and enhance the payload-carrying capacity of a rocket.
- The engine was developed using advanced technologies like 3D printing and green propellants.
- Its successful testing marks a significant milestone for Skyroot Aerospace in their efforts to become the first private launcher from South Asia.
Stipulated use
- The Dhawan II engine will be used as the upper stage of the updated version Vikram-2.
- Using a cryogenic upper stage instead of a solid fuel stage enhances the payload carrying capacity of a rocket.
- The updated Vikram II rocket is scheduled to become launch-ready by next year, making Skyroot the first private launcher from South Asia.
Skyroot’s other sub-orbital and orbital flights
- Skyroot carried out its first sub-orbital flight in November 2021, using a single-stage solid fuel Vikram S rocket.
- The company plans to carry out its first orbital flight by the end of this year using the updated Vikram II rocket.
- The Vikram-1 rocket, the first in the series of rockets being developed by Skyroot, will use three solid-fuel stages to take satellites to orbit.
Impressive performance results and advanced technologies
- The endurance test of Dhawan-II demonstrated impressive performance results.
- The company is proud to be at the forefront of developing cutting-edge cryogenic technologies in the private space sector of India.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UN Water Action Conference
Mains level: Water agenda, voluntary commitments and challenges
Central Idea
- The International Water Action Conference held by the United Nations in March 2023, which resulted in over 670 commitments from various governments, multilateral institutions, businesses, and non-governmental organizations to address water security issues. There are implications of these commitments which needs to be examined the challenges associated with achieving universal, safe, affordable, and equitable access to water in line with SDG 6.
- First UN conference on freshwater: The Water Action Conference held in March 2023 was the first UN conference on freshwater in almost 50 years.
- Aims to advance water agenda and achieve SDG 6: The conference aimed to review the Water Action Decade 2018-2028, which aims to advance the water agenda and achieve SDG 6, sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Themes of the conference
The Conference has five themes that support the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework:
- Water for Health: Access to ‘WASH’ (Global Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) including the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
- Water for Sustainable Development: Valuing water, the water-energy-food nexus and sustainable economic and urban development.
- Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment: Source to sea, biodiversity, climate, resilience and disaster risk reduction.
- Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and international water cooperation, cross sectoral cooperation and water across the 2030 Agenda.
- Water Action Decade: Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade for Action, including through the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan.
What is Water Action Decade (2018–2028)?
- In December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution International Decade (2018–2028) for Action Water for Sustainable Development to help put a greater focus on water during ten years.
- It aims to advance the water agenda by energizing existing programs and projects and inspiring water action to achieve the 2030 Agenda, in particular, Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which envisions the sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
- The initiative focuses on promoting action-oriented partnerships to improve water resources management, water-use efficiency, and access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. The Decade aims to create a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences, promoting innovation, and building capacity for sustainable water management.
The International Water Action Agenda and commitments made
- International Water Action Agenda: The conference resulted in the international Water Action Agenda, to which over 670 commitments were made by governments, multilateral institutions, businesses, and non-governmental organizations to address water security issues.
- Commitments are voluntary: Nearly 164 governments and 75 multilateral organizations made commitments, but these commitments are voluntary and legally non-binding.
Implications of commitments made
- The commitments embodied in the Water Action Agenda must be scrutinized to see whether they will yield universal, safe, affordable, and equitable access to water that is consistent with SDG 6.
- Meeting this target by 2030 will require capital expenditures of $114 billion per year.
- The recurring operations and maintenance for basic water and sanitation service (WASH) costs are estimated to rise from about $4 billion to over $30 billion per year by 2030.
Challenges associated with achieving SDG 6
- Funding: Funding from regional, national, and international sources prioritizes new water infrastructure rather than water maintenance services, resulting in decreased service for water customers.
- Investment: The investment required would require valuing water, which in turn requires robust water measurement and accounting.
- Limitations: There are serious limitations in our knowledge about the volume, flux and quality of water in lakes, rivers, soils and aquifers. There are huge gaps in water usage data.
India’s commitments and challenges
- India made two significant commitments at the conference:
- An investment of $240 billion in the water sector and
- Efforts to restore groundwater levels.
- However, groundwater extraction in India increased from 58% to 63% between 2004-17, further exacerbated by climate change resulting in intermittent rainfall, which further undermines the recharge potential.
- The revised Groundwater Bill 2017 vests State groundwater boards with creating laws, managing water allocation and other relevant issues.
- The State boards are understaffed, and lack in expertise and prioritizing socio-political conflicts over groundwater resources.
Facts for prelims
| Initiative |
Objective |
| Jal Shakti Abhiyan, 2019 |
Ensure water conservation and management in 255 water-stressed districts across India |
| Atal Bhujal Yojana, 2019 |
Improve groundwater management and promote community-based groundwater management |
| Namami Gange Project, 2014 |
Clean and rejuvenate the Ganges river and address pollution through treatment of sewage and industrial effluents |
| Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, 2014 |
Improve sanitation and cleanliness across the country and promote hygiene practices |
| Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. 2015 |
Improve irrigation efficiency and increase water use efficiency in agriculture |
| National Water Mission, 2011 |
Ensure sustainable water management and water security in the country and improve water use efficiency |
| National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM), 2012 |
Map the aquifers across the country and develop a groundwater management plan |
| Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), 2009 |
Enhance soil and water conservation practices in rainfed areas and promote the development of rainwater harvesting structures to enhance groundwater recharge |
Conclusion
- The international Water Action Conference resulted in over 670 commitments to address water security issues. These commitments are voluntary and legally non-binding, but they are expected to inspire collective political will to address the many water challenges.
Mains Question
Q. What is Water action decade? Discuss the challenges associated with achieving universal, safe, affordable, and equitable access to water in line with SDG 6.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Foreign trade policy, 2023
Mains level: Foreign trade policy, 2023, problems and solutions
Central Idea
- The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 (FTP 2023) has been recently introduced, but it falls short of addressing the challenges that Indian exporters are likely to face in the global market. India needs to adopt 21st-century trade policy instruments such as product and process standards to improve the quality and efficiency of products.
- The policy is dynamic and open-ended to accommodate the emerging needs of the time.
- It aims to promote India’s overall exports, which has already crossed US$ 750 Billion.
- The key approach to the policy is based on these 4 pillars:
- Incentive to Remission,
- Export promotion through collaboration – Exporters, States, Districts, Indian Missions,
- Ease of doing business, reduction in transaction cost and e-initiatives and
- Emerging Areas – E-Commerce Developing Districts as Export Hubs and streamlining SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies) Policy
FTP 2023’s inadequate focus on 21st-century trade policy instruments
- 20th-century mindset: The FTP 2023’s primary focus is on regulating, prohibiting, and restricting trade, which is a 20th-century mindset. In contrast, most countries today rely on improving product quality and production efficiencies by rapidly infusing technology to expand their presence in global markets.
- Focus on upgrading the current standards: India needs to focus on upgrading institutions, production facilities, and promoting the development and facilitation of trade to meet the current standards.
Rejigging of export promotion schemes
- Export promotion schemes: Export promotion schemes were modified after a WTO dispute settlement panel ruled against India in 2019, which found that these schemes provide export subsidies that are not allowed under WTO rules.
- Remission of Duties: The Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) Scheme was launched in 2021 to neutralize the effect of taxes and duties included in exported goods. The Rajya Sabha’s Standing Committee on Commerce found several weaknesses in the scheme, and FTP 2023 should have responded to the recommendations.
Developing districts as export hubs
- FTP 2023 introduces the novel idea of developing districts as export hubs, which could help achieve the objective of balanced regional development.
- However, the policy only speaks of setting up export promotion committees at the district and state/UT levels, with no mention of supporting efficient infrastructure.
E-commerce and India’s readiness to engage in the WTO
- E-commerce is a focus area of FTP 2023, but India has opposed discussions on extending the rules of the WTO in this area.
- Moreover, advanced countries have been seeking data portability, which India has refused to accept.
- It remains unclear whether the mention of e-commerce in FTP 2023 implies that India is ready to engage in the WTO on this matter.
Conclusion
- FTP 2023 falls short of addressing the challenges that Indian exporters are likely to face in the global market. It needs to focus on upgrading institutions, production facilities, and promoting the development and facilitation of trade, which requires the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to coordinate with all the standard-setting agencies of the government and relevant institutions in the private sector. Developing districts as export hubs could help achieve the objective of balanced regional development, but supporting efficient infrastructure is critical for the programme’s success.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Overview of various pension schemes
Mains level: Issues with OPS and NPS
Central Idea
- The New Pension Scheme (NPS) implemented by the NDA government in 2003-04 was a far-sighted reform that moved towards a sustainable contributory pension system. However, some state governments have reversed the pension reform and returned to the financially burdensome and fiscally non-viable Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
What is pension?
- A pension is a retirement plan that provides a stream of income to individuals after they retire from their job or profession. It can be funded by employers, government agencies, or unions and is designed to ensure a steady income during retirement.
What is OPS?
- The OPS, also known as the Defined Benefit Pension System, is a pension plan provided by the government for its employees in India.
- Under the OPS, retired government employees receive a fixed monthly pension based on their last drawn salary and years of service.
- This pension is funded by the government and paid out of its current revenues, leading to increased pension liabilities.
- NPS is a market-linked, defined contribution pension system introduced in India in 2004 as a replacement for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
- NPS is designed to provide retirement income to all Indian citizens, including government employees, private sector workers, and self-employed individuals.
Negative impacts of the reversal to OPS
- The reversal to OPS would have negative impacts, especially on the poor and vulnerable population, including women and children. Here are some potential impacts:
- Reallocation of resources: The reversal to OPS would lead to a reallocation of resources away from the state’s development expenditure, which benefits the poor, and towards a much smaller group of people who have benefited from a secured and privileged job throughout their working life. It could worsen inequality and lower economic growth in the states.
- Reduction in productivity: Going back to OPS would reduce the productivity of the poor, further diminishing their future economic prospects. Economic services such as infrastructure and rural and urban development would be affected more severely than social services.
- Fiscal burden: The old pension scheme (OPS) was financially burdensome and fiscally non-viable. As public employees’ life expectancy increased, the state’s fiscal burden under the OPS began to rise exponentially, necessitating pension reforms. Reversing to OPS would put the fiscal burden back on the government, which could have negative impacts on the state’s finances.
- Tradeoff between pensions and development expenditure: Pension reforms were a watershed moment for the states, and reversing to OPS would result in a tradeoff between pension and development expenditure of the states. The pension reforms aimed to finance the increased non-development expenditure related to pensions through taxes or borrowing. However, our analysis revealed that from 1990 to 2004, the states’ revenues did not match the state’s increased expenditure, resulting in a higher fiscal deficit.
Facts for prelims: NPS vs OPS
| Parameter |
National Pension System (NPS) |
Old Pension Scheme (OPS) |
| Type of System |
Defined Contribution System |
Defined Benefit System |
| Funding |
Contributions from employee and employer |
Government-funded |
| Investment |
Market-linked investments in various asset classes |
No direct investment involved |
| Returns |
Subject to market risks |
Predetermined and not market-linked |
| Pension Amount |
Depends on accumulated corpus and investment returns |
Based on last drawn salary and years of service |
| Annuity & Lump-sum Withdrawal |
Minimum 40% corpus used to purchase annuity, remaining can be withdrawn as lump-sum |
Fixed monthly pension, no annuity or lump-sum withdrawal |
| Portability |
Portable across jobs and sectors |
Limited to government employees |
| Flexibility |
Choice of investment options, fund managers, and asset allocation |
No flexibility, pension determined by predefined formula |
Conclusion
- The state governments should not ignore the impact of the OPS on the poor and vulnerable, particularly women and children. The reversal will deprive them of essential services such as health and education and prevent them from participating in growth opportunities. Therefore, state governments should not reverse the far-sighted pension reform and should continue to focus on development expenditure that benefits the poor.
Mains Question
Q. What is the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and how does it differ from Old Pension Scheme (OPS) Now states are reversing to OPS as a populist measure, discuss its the negative impacts.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Indian economy challenges
Central Idea
- The current paradigm of economics in India is inadequate in providing solutions to the three major economic challenges the country is facing. The economists need to break out of their self-referential silo and examine the science of complex self-adaptive systems.
The Poly-crisis faced by India
- The Indian government is grappling with three economic challenges at the same time:
- Management of inflation,
- Trade agreements, and
- Employment
- Economists do not have a systemic solution for this poly-crisis. Consensus among them has broken down even about solutions to its separate parts.
Lessons from China and Vietnam
- Foreign investment in China: China and India opened their economies to global trade around the same time, some 35 years ago. Since then, China attracted foreign investment that was many times more than in India, and the incomes of its citizens increased five times faster.
- Vietnam emerging as more attractive destination: To attract investors, India must compete with other countries. Vietnam is often cited as a country that is proving to be more attractive than India to western and Japanese investors. However, when looking into Vietnam, they rediscover what was learned from China.
- High levels of human development: When both countries opened to foreign investors China before Vietnam, they had already attained high levels of human development, with universal education and good public health systems.
The Problem with the Current Paradigm
- There are some fundamental flaws in the current paradigm of economics.
- Economists often cite Tinbergen’s theory, which states that the number of policy instruments must equal the number of policy goals. This is a mechanical and linear view of how a complex system works.
- In complex organic systems, root causes contribute to many outcomes. The behaviour of the system cannot be explained by linear causes and effects. The causes interact with each other, and effects also become causes.
Facts for prelims: What is Tinbergen’s theory?
- Tinbergen’s theory states that the number of policy instruments (P) must be equal to the number of policy goals (G), in order to achieve the desired outcome.
- In other words: P = G
- This means that for each policy goal, there should be at least one policy instrument to achieve it.
- For example, if the policy goal is to reduce inflation, then there should be a policy instrument such as interest rate changes to achieve that goal. Similarly, if the policy goal is to promote employment, then there should be a policy instrument such as job creation programs to achieve that goal. Tinbergen’s theory emphasizes the importance of having a clear and consistent policy framework to achieve desired outcomes
Crises and the Inadequacy of the System
- Policies that fit one country may not fit the needs of others: Macro-economists search for global solutions, but trade and monetary policies that fit one country may not fit the needs of others. Their needs have emerged from their own histories.
- Emphasis on data trends: Economists arrive at solutions by comparing data trends of different countries, and in their models, people are numbers. Economists do not listen to real people, whereas politicians try to at least.
- For instance: The inadequacy of the current paradigm was revealed by several crises in this millennium, the 2008 global financial crisis, inequitable management of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the looming global climate crisis.
Conclusion
- A new economics is required to solve the poly-crisis faced by India. A movement to change the paradigm of economics’ science to bring perspectives from the sciences of complex self-adaptive systems has begun even in the West. India’s economists must step forward and lead the change towards a new economics paradigm based on the sciences of complex self-adaptive systems. India’s policymakers will have to find a way to strengthen the roots of the economic tree while harvesting its fruits at the same time, and the current paradigm of economics cannot provide solutions.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: India Justice Report
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central idea: The third India Justice Report, 2022 analyses the changes – both positive and negative – in India’s justice delivery system across four parameters: police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid.
India Justice Report
- The IJR is an initiative of Tata Trusts in collaboration with Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative among others.
- It was first published in 2019.
|
Below are some of the salient findings of the report – overcrowded prisons, not enough training centres for police personnel, a rising number of pending cases per judge, and more.
Finding
|
Highlights
|
Recommendations
|
| 1. Policing concentrated in urban areas |
- 60% of India’s population lives in rural areas, yet police forces are concentrated largely in urban areas.
- Only six states meet the recommended area coverage of 150 sq. km for a rural police station.
|
- Increase recruitment and training of police personnel in rural areas to ensure adequate coverage.
- Increase police-community engagement and build trust in rural communities.
|
| 2. Police training academies are overloaded |
- India has only 211 training schools and academies for 26.88 lakh police personnel.
- Training across fields cannot be a one-off event for police personnel.
|
- Increase the number of training institutes and the number of personnel trained each year.
- Allocate a larger portion of the police budget to training.
|
| 3. Prison overcrowding is getting worse |
- Prison populations have risen steadily with the number of people admitted to 1,319 prisons during 2021 increasing by 10.8%.
- The average prison in the country has an occupancy rate of 130%. In some states, this number is far worse.
|
- Invest in building new prisons and expanding existing ones.
- Explore alternative forms of punishment and rehabilitation for non-violent offenders.
|
| 4. Number of undertrial prisoners increasing |
- 77% of the incarcerated population comprises undertrials.
- This number has nearly doubled since 2010.
|
- Streamline legal processes to reduce the number of undertrials.
- Increase the use of bail and release on personal recognizance.
|
| 5. Cases pending per judge rising |
- 4.9 Crore cases remain pending across high courts and district courts in the country.
- Many cases have been pending for over 10 years.
|
- Increase the number of judges to reduce the backlog of cases.
- Modernize court processes with technology to streamline proceedings.
|
| 6. Share of women high court judges remains low |
- Between 2020 and 2022, there was a little less than a two percentage point increase in women’s representation in high courts.
- Women account for 35% of the total number of judges at the district court level.
|
- Implement policies to encourage more women to become judges.
- Provide training and support for women judges to advance in their careers.
|
| 7. No state/UT fulfilled all quotas for SC/ST/OBC judges at district court level |
- No state/UT could fully meet all its quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
|
- Increase recruitment of judges from marginalized communities.
- Implement policies to encourage and support their advancement in the judiciary.
|
| 8. Allocation to legal aid increasing, but no state/UT used its entire budget allocation |
- Over the last two years, the overall allocation for legal services has increased substantially.
- No state/UT used its entire budget allocation for legal aid.
|
- Ensure efficient utilization of resources for legal aid.
- Implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the impact of legal aid on access to justice.
|
| 9. Implementation of victim compensation schemes remains subpar |
- Implementation of victim compensation schemes “remains subpar.”
- State Legal Aid Service Authorities disposed of only 66% of the 97,037 applications seeking compensation received.
|
- Increase awareness of victim compensation schemes. Improve efficiency in processing and disposing of compensation applications.
- Provide support services for victims, including legal and mental health services.
|
Conclusion
- The report highlights that India’s criminal justice system continues to face a wide range of challenges and shortcomings that need to be addressed to ensure the rule of law and equal access to justice.
- Some of the key areas that require immediate attention include the need for better police training and infrastructure, reducing overcrowding in prisons, and improving the speed and efficiency of the judicial system.
- Additionally, the report calls for greater attention to be paid to the needs of victims of crime, including improving access to legal aid and victim compensation schemes.
- By addressing these challenges, India can move closer to achieving a more equitable and effective criminal justice system.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: McMahon Line
Mains level: LAC disputes
Central idea: The Chinese government has announced it would “standardize” the names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh.
MEA clarification
- The Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed the Chinese “invention”.
- Arunachal Pradesh has always been, and will always be, an integral part of India, said MEA.
Why is China giving names to places that are in India?
- China claims some 90,000 sq km of Arunachal Pradesh as its territory.
- It calls the area “Zangnan” in the Chinese language and makes repeated references to “South Tibet”.
- Chinese maps show Arunachal Pradesh as part of China, and sometimes parenthetically refer to it as “so-called Arunachal Pradesh”.
- China makes periodic efforts to underline this unilateral claim to Indian territory.
- Giving Chinese names to places in Arunachal Pradesh is part of that effort.
Earlier unilateral renaming
- This is the third lot of “standardized” names of places in Arunachal Pradesh that China has announced.
- Earlier in 2017, it had issued “official” Chinese names for six places spanning the breadth of Arunachal Pradesh
What is China’s argument for claiming these areas?
- The PRC disputes the legal status of the McMahon Line, the official boundary under the ‘Convention between Great Britain, China, and Tibet’ — of 1914 (Simla Convention).
- China was represented at the Simla Convention by a plenipotentiary of the Republic of China, which had been declared in 1912 after the Qing dynasty was overthrown.
- The present communist government came to power only in 1949, when the People’s Republic was proclaimed.
- The Chinese representative did not consent to the Simla Convention, saying Tibet had no independent authority to enter into international agreements.
What is the McMohan Line?
- The McMohan Line, named after Henry McMahon, the chief British negotiator at Shimla, was drawn from the eastern border of Bhutan to the Isu Razi pass on the China-Myanmar border.
- China claims territory to the south of the McMahon Line, lying in Arunachal Pradesh.
- China also bases its claims on the historical ties that have existed between the monasteries in Tawang and Lhasa.
Intention behind these renamings
- This renaming is a part of the Chinese strategy to assert its territorial claims over Indian territory.
- As part of this strategy, China routinely issues statements of outrage whenever an Indian dignitary visits Arunachal Pradesh.
- Beijing keeps harping on its “consistent” and “clear” position that the Indian possession of Arunachal Pradesh.
- These claims have been firmly established and recognized by the world, as “illegal”.
Arunachal not all-alone
- Laying aggressive claims to territories on the basis of alleged historical injustices done to China is a part of Beijing’s foreign policy playbook.
- The claim on Taiwan is one such example, as are the consistent efforts to change the “facts on the ground” in several disputed islands in the South China Sea.
- The aggression is at all times backed in overt and covert ways by the use of China’s economic and military muscle.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UN Water Conference
Mains level: Water conservation efforts
Central idea
- The UN 2023 Water Conference was held in New York from March 22-24.
- It was the first such meeting on water in 46 years.
- The conference aimed to identify game-changing ideas and make recommendations to policymakers on how to speed up and scale up change in the water sector.
What is the UN Water Conference?
- The UN Water Conference is an international conference that aims to better align activities by governments, companies, NGOs, and funders around a few grand challenges in the water sector.
- It serves as a platform for countries to learn from the experiences of others, transfer technology, and invest.
- The last UN Water Conference was held in 1977.
- It resulted in the first global ‘Action Plan’ recognizing that all people have the right to access safe drinking water and sanitation.
- This led to several decades of global funding and concerted effort to provide drinking water and sanitation for all.
Themes of the conference
The Conference has five themes that support the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework:
- Water for Health: Access to ‘WASH’ (Global Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) including the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
- Water for Sustainable Development: Valuing water, the water-energy-food nexus and sustainable economic and urban development.
- Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment: Source to sea, biodiversity, climate, resilience and disaster risk reduction.
- Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and international water cooperation, cross sectoral cooperation and water across the 2030 Agenda.
- Water Action Decade: Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade for Action, including through the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan.
Purpose of the conference
- International conferences on water aim to better align activities by governments, companies, NGOs, and funders around a few grand challenges.
- They help countries learn from the experiences of others, transfer technology, and invest.
- Water problems tend to be local and need local solutions, so there is a challenge of mobilizing globally to solve local water problems.
Water challenges discussed
- While access to safe drinking water and sanitation is challenging, extending services to underserved populations is relatively uncontroversial.
- However, improving access to water and sanitation no longer translates directly to sustained access.
- The water problem is no longer about access to water and sanitation; the remaining SDG 6 targets address the need to sustain agriculture, industry, and natural ecosystems.
Outcomes of the 2023 Conference
- The conference’s proceedings resulted in a lot of talk, fragmented discussions, and no binding commitments.
- There were 713 diverse voluntary commitments by philanthropic donors, governments, corporations, and NGOs, with 120 relevant to India.
- Commitments included a $50-billion commitment from the Indian government to improve rural drinking water services under its Jal Jeevan Mission.
Examples of Commitments
- Technology: Specific innovations in wastewater treatment or solar treatment of water in remote areas, and a number of proposals for incubation platforms.
- Data and Models: Cost-effective approaches to data-generation included sensors and satellite data. Other efforts offered data analysis tools.
- Knowledge Sharing: One useful tool was the W12+ Blueprint, a UNESCO platform that hosts city profiles and case studies of programs, technologies, policies that addresses common water security challenges.
- Capacity Building: Efforts offered to help marginalized communities and women understand how to exercise their rights.
- Civil Society: Platforms for collective action by civil society groups lobbying for changes in regulations.
- Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance: The conference concluded that effective water governance hinges on these broad areas, and weaving them into the Water Action Agenda is a step.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Performers' Right
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea
- This article discusses a recent case involving Bollywood actor and producer, in which the Bombay High Court ruled that sales tax cannot be levied on the transfer of copyright.
- The ruling has implications for the entertainment industry, particularly in terms of taxation and copyright protection as well as performer’s rights.
What are Performer’s Rights?
- It refer to the legal rights granted to performing artists or performers in relation to their performances.
- These rights generally include the right to control and protect their performances from unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, and public performance.
- Performer’s rights may include the right to control the following:
- Recording: Performers have the right to prevent others from recording their live performances without their consent.
- Broadcasting and Communication to the Public: Performers have the right to control the broadcasting, communication, and distribution of their performances to the public, including radio, television, and online streaming platforms.
- Reproduction: Performers have the right to control the reproduction of their performances in any media format.
- Adaptation: Performers have the right to control the adaptation of their performances into other forms, such as musicals or films.
- Attribution: Performers have the right to be identified as the performers of their works, and to prevent others from falsely claiming authorship of their performances.
Legal protection of performer’s right
Legal protection of performers’ rights has evolved over time through international treaties and national laws.
- The Rome Convention in 1961 was the first significant development in the protection of performers’ rights.
- Performers’ rights are protected under various international treaties such as the Rome Convention and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
- In 1996, WIPO Performance and Phonogram Treaty (WPPT) recognized the moral rights of performers for the first time in any international treaty.
- In India, performer rights were recognized under the Copyright Act of 1957 in 1994.
- The Copyright Act is in conformity with the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), both concluded in 1996.
- The protection of performers’ rights in India lasts for 50 years from the end of the year in which the performance was fixed or took place.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Nathu La Pass
Mains level: Not Much
Several people have been killed and many others are feared trapped under snow after a massive avalanche near Sikkim’s Nathu La Mountain pass.
Nathu La Pass
| Location |
Sikkim, on the border between India and China |
| Altitude |
4,310 meters (14,140 ft) |
| Importance |
Historical Silk Route |
| Trade |
Reopened in 2006 for border trade between India and China |
| Restrictions |
Only for Indian and Chinese nationals with a valid visa |
| Connectivity |
Connects the Indian state of Sikkim with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China |
| Military importance |
Strategic importance in the Sino-Indian War of 1962 |
| Tourism |
Restricted due to the sensitive nature of the region |
| Weather |
Harsh and unpredictable, with heavy snowfall in winter months |
| Border dispute |
The pass was closed by China after the 1962 war and was reopened only after the Chinese president visited India in 2003. |
How has it been at the centre stage of India-China disputes?
- Sino-Indian War: In 1962, Nathu La pass was a battleground between the Indian and Chinese armies during the Sino-Indian War. The conflict resulted in casualties on both sides, with China ultimately capturing the pass.
- Skirmishes in 1967: In 1967, there were several minor skirmishes between the Indian and Chinese armies near Nathu La pass. The conflict was resolved through diplomatic negotiations.
- Standoff in 2017: In 2017, there was a 73-day-long standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies near the Doklam plateau, which is close to Nathu La pass. The dispute was over the construction of a road by China in the disputed area. The standoff ended with both sides agreeing to disengage.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Basohli Paintings, GI tag
Mains level: Not Much
The famous Basohli Painting, known for its miniature art style from Kathua district, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
Basohli Paintings
- Basohli Paintings are a form of miniature paintings that originated in the town of Basohli in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.
- They are known for their vibrant color, intricate details, and depictions of Hindu mythology and legends.
- Basohli Paintings date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and are considered to be the earliest examples of Pahari paintings.
Key features
|
Description |
| Miniature art |
Known for their miniature art style, characterized by intricate and detailed work |
| Bold and vibrant color |
Made from natural dyes and pigments |
| Depiction of Hindu mythology |
Life of Lord Krishna and stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata |
| Elaborate compositions |
Multiple figures and scenes depicted in a single painting |
| Fine detailing |
Intricate patterns and designs that are often difficult to replicate |
| Gold and silver accents |
Such accents add to their ornate and intricate appearance |
Other GI products from J&K
- The UT of Jammu and Kashmir has included 33 products on the list that have received the GI tag on 31 March 2023.
- The products that received the GI tags include Basohli Pashmina Woolen Products (Kathua), Chikri Wood Craft (Rajouri), Bhaderwah Rajma (Doda), Mushkbudji Rice (Anantnag), Kaladi (Udhampur), Sulai Honey (Ramban), Anardana (Ramban), and Ladakh Wood Carving (Ladakh).
Back2Basics: Geographical Indication (GI)
- A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
- Nodal Agency: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 w.e.f. September 2003.
- GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
- The tag stands valid for 10 years.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Same-sex marriage, Read the attached article
Central Idea
- The Centre’s opposition to the legalization of same-sex marriages based on cultural and societal concepts of marriage and family is examined and critiqued.
The Centre’s Argument
- The Centre argues that same-sex marriages are not recognized in Indian traditions, ethos, culture, and societal concepts of marriage.
- The Parliament, and not the Court, should decide on legalizing same-sex marriages.
Societal Conceptualization of Marriage
- Marriage is a social institution, and the Centre’s stance finds backing in four interrelated sub-arguments.
- Same-sex marriages demand nuanced alteration of the conventional understanding of marriage.
- The current legislative framework promotes the conventional understanding of marriage.
- Religious and societal morality still conceptualizes intercourse as a procreative activity.
- Conventional conceptualisations of family and marriage are facing evolutionary challenges.
- Same-sex marriage is the legal recognition of a marriage between two individuals of the same sex.
- It grants same-sex couples the same legal and social recognition, rights, and privileges that are traditionally associated with marriage, including property rights, inheritance rights, and the ability to make decisions for each other in medical emergencies.
- The recognition of same-sex marriage varies around the world, with some countries legalizing it while others do not.
- The issue has been the subject of much debate and controversy, with arguments for and against same-sex marriage based on religious, cultural, social, and legal considerations.
The Language of Rights
- The Court must evaluate the Centre’s argument on its own merits.
- While addressing the violations of fundamental rights resulting from non-recognition of same-sex marriages, the question of same-sex marriages is about the rights of a society to conserve traditions and an individual’s constitutional freedoms.
Back to Basics: Special Marriage Act?
- The Special Marriage Act is a law in India that allows individuals of different religions or nationalities to marry each other.
- It was enacted in 1954 and came into effect from 1955.
- The Special Marriage Act allows for inter-caste and inter-religious marriages, and couples who register under this act are not required to change their religion or follow any religious rites or rituals.
- The act also provides for divorce on certain grounds and maintenance to the spouse and children.
Conclusion
- While the rights issues concerning same-sex couples are substantial, the implications of recognizing same-sex unions as a couple require a broader debate in society and the legislature. The push to formalize the institution of same-sex unions must come from representative bodies such as Parliament.
Mains Question
Q. Provide a detailed analysis including relevant legal, social, cultural, and ethical considerations of same sex marriage in India along with a way ahead
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Related facts
Mains level: Sodium Intake, and burden of Hypertension and cardio vascular diseases
Central Idea
- The WHO recently published the ‘Global Report on Sodium Intake Reduction’ which sheds light on the progress of its 194 member states towards reducing population sodium intake by 30% by 2025. Regrettably, progress has been lethargic, with only a few countries making considerable headway towards the objective. Consequently, there is a proposal to extend the deadline to 2030.
The target of reducing population sodium intake
- The target of reducing population sodium intake by 30% by 2025 was set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in 2013.
- The plan aims to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, by 25% by 2025, and to achieve a 30% reduction in the mean population intake of salt/sodium.
- The target of reducing population sodium intake is aimed at reducing the burden of hypertension, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Why reducing sodium intake is essential for India?
- Reduced sodium intake and decreased blood pressure: There is a strong correlation between reduced sodium intake and decreased blood pressure, leading to a decrease in stroke and myocardial infarction incidence. Lowering sodium intake by 1 gram per day leads to a 5 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure, as per a study in The BMJ.
- Cardiovascular disease: Elevated BP is a critical risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. It contributed to 54% of strokes and 47% of coronary heart diseases globally in 2001.
- Economic impact of cardiovascular disease on LMICs: Cardiovascular disease has a staggering economic impact on LMICs, estimated at $3.7 trillion between 2011 and 2025 due to premature mortality and disability. This represents 2% of the GDP of LMICs. The Indian economy alone faces losses surpassing $2 trillion between 2012 and 2030 due to cardiovascular disease, highlighting the need for effective interventions to mitigate the economic and health consequences of the disease in LMICs.
How cardiovascular disease and hypertension pose significant challenges in India?
- Cardiovascular diseases as primary cause of mortality and morbidity:
- As per data from the Registrar General of India, WHO, and the Global Burden of Disease Study, cardiovascular diseases have emerged as the primary cause of mortality and morbidity. Data from the Registrar General of India, WHO, and the Global Burden of Disease Study
- Age-adjusted cardiovascular disease mortality rate increased by 31% in the last 25 years
- Hypertension as leading risk factor for such diseases in India
- Prevalence of hypertension in India:
- More prevalent among men aged 15 and above compared to women
- More common in southern states, particularly Kerala, while Punjab and Uttarakhand in the north also report high incidence rates
- Pre-hypertensive population in India
- Defined by systolic blood pressure levels of 120-139 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure levels of 80-89 mmHg
- 5% of women and 49.2% of men at the national level
- Significant risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature mortality for Indians with BP readings between 130 and 139/80-89 mmHg
- Many Indians classified as pre-hypertensive are now included in the newly defined stage-I hypertension by the American guidelines.
- Circulatory system diseases: The 2020 Report on Medical Certification of the Cause of Death shows that circulatory system diseases account for 32.1% of all documented deaths, with hypertension being a major risk factor.
Global Efforts to Reduce Sodium Intake
- The WHO aims to reduce population sodium intake by 30% by 2025
- Only a few countries have made considerable progress towards the objective
- India’s score of 2 on the WHO sodium score signifies the need for more rigorous efforts to address the health concern
Government Initiatives
- Voluntary programmes: The Union government has initiated several voluntary programmes aimed at encouraging Indians to decrease their sodium consumption
- Eat Right India: The FSSAI has implemented the Eat Right India movement, which strives to transform the nation’s food system to ensure secure, healthy, and sustainable nutrition for all citizens
- Aaj Se Thoda Kam: FSSAI launched a social media campaign called Aaj Se Thoda Kam.
Urgent Need for a Comprehensive National Strategy
- Despite of awareness efforts, the average Indian’s sodium intake remains alarmingly high. Evidence shows an average daily consumption of approximately 11 grams.
- India needs a comprehensive national strategy to curb salt consumption
- Collaboration between State and Union governments is essential to combat hypertension, often caused by excessive sodium intake
Conclusion
- The excessive consumption of salt can lead to severe health consequences, and India has a pressing need to reduce its sodium intake. While the government has initiated several voluntary programs, these have fallen short of the goal. India needs a comprehensive national strategy, engaging consumers, industry, and the government, to curb salt consumption. Collaboration between State and Union governments is essential to combat hypertension, often caused by excessive sodium intake.
Mains Question
Q. Reducing population sodium intake is a critical step towards preventing and controlling non- cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. Comment.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: GHG's, carbon tax,
Mains level: Carbon pricing mechanism, global efforts
Central Idea
- Environmental destruction has been a consequence of boosting GDP growth in every country due to the absence of a price for natural resources like air and forests. To combat this, the biggest economies of the G-20 must agree on valuing nature, including by pricing carbon effluents. As president of the G-20 this year, India can take the lead in carbon pricing, which will open unexpected avenues of decarbonization.
Pricing Carbon at present
- Three ways of pricing carbon: carbon tax, emissions trading system (ETS), and import tariff on the carbon content
- GHG emission: 46 countries price carbon, covering only 30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- IMF’s proposed price: International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposed price floors of $75, $50, and $25 a ton of carbon for the United States, China, and India, respectively
- Benefits: Economy-wide benefits of carbon pricing in terms of damages avoided generally outweighed the cost it imposed on individual industries in EU, British Columbia, Canada, and Sweden
- Boost to renewables: Carbon pricing makes investment in renewable energy such as solar and wind more attractive.
Facts for prelims
| Carbon Pricing Method |
Description |
| Carbon Tax |
A domestic tax imposed on carbon emissions, directly discouraging the use of fossil fuels and raising revenue for investment in cleaner sources of energy or protection of vulnerable consumers. Example: Korea and Singapore. |
| Emissions Trading System (ETS) |
A system that allows entities with excess emissions allowances to sell them to those that are emitting more than their allotted limit. Example: European Union and China. |
| Import Tariff on Carbon Content |
A tax on imported goods based on the amount of carbon emissions produced during their manufacturing process, designed to discourage importing high-emissions products. Example: Proposed by the European Union. |
| Carbon Offsets |
A voluntary mechanism in which companies or individuals pay for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These projects may include reforestation, renewable energy, or energy efficiency initiatives. The amount of emissions reduced by the project can then be used to offset the emissions of the buyer. |
- Among the three ways of pricing, India could find a carbon tax appealing as it can directly discourage fossil fuels, while raising revenues which can be invested in cleaner sources of energy or used to protect vulnerable consumers
- IMF proposed $25 a ton as a starting point for India
- The main obstacle is the argument by industrial firms about losing their competitive advantage to exporters from countries with a lower carbon price
- All high, middle, and low-income countries should set the same rate within each bracket
Way ahead: Need for Global Carbon Pricing
- The first movers will be the most competitive: High enough carbon tax across China, the US, India, Russia, and Japan alone (more than 60% of global effluents), with complementary actions, could have a notable effect on global effluents and warming. The first movers will be the most competitive
- India’s leadership: India can play a lead role by tabling global carbon pricing in the existential fight against climate change as president of the G-20 summit this September
- Communication is important: Any type of carbon pricing faces stiff political opposition therefore communicating the idea of wins at the societal level is vital.
Back to Basics: GHG’s
|
Greenhouse Gas
|
Properties |
Major Sources |
Impact
|
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) |
-Long-lived in atmosphere.
-Traps heat from the sun |
– Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
-Deforestation |
– Accounts for 76% of global GHG emissions – Primary cause of climate change |
| Methane (CH4) |
– Short-lived in atmosphere
– Traps more heat than CO2 |
– Agriculture (livestock digestion, manure management)
– Energy production
– Landfills |
– Accounts for 16% of global GHG emissions – Contributes to both climate change and air pollution |
| Nitrous Oxide (N2O) |
– Long-lived in atmosphere
– Traps more heat than CO2 |
– Agriculture (fertilizer use, manure management)
– Industrial processes
– Combustion of fossil fuels |
– Accounts for 6% of global GHG emissions
– Contributes to both climate change and air pollution |
| Fluorinated Gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6) |
– Can have high global warming potential |
– Industrial processes (refrigeration, air conditioning)
– Semiconductors
– Electrical transmission equipment |
– Accounts for less than 3% of global GHG emissions
– Can have very high global warming potential |
| Ozone (O3) |
– Not a GHG, but plays a role in climate change |
– Human-made chemicals that release ozone into the atmosphere |
– Contributes to climate change by trapping heat |
| Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) |
– Human-made chemicals that destroy ozone in the atmosphere |
– Used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol sprays |
– Contributes to climate change by destroying ozone, which leads to greater heat-trapping |
Conclusion
- India can take the lead in carbon pricing as president of the G-20 this year. By pricing carbon effluents, India can promote investment in renewable energy, protect vulnerable consumers, and contribute to the global fight against climate change. However, there is a need for effective communication to ensure that the idea of carbon pricing is understood at the societal level, and any type of carbon pricing faces stiff political opposition.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NATO
Mains level: Read the attached story
NATO Secretary-General said that Finland will become the 31st member of the military alliance.
What is the North Atlantic Treaty?
- North Atlantic Treaty, often referred to as the Washington Treaty, states the parties to the treaty seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area.
- The signatories affirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and express their desire to live in peace with all people and governments, the treaty states.
|
|
| Establishment |
April 4, 1949 |
| Headquarters |
Brussels, Belgium |
| Membership |
30 member countries, including the United States, Canada, and most of Europe |
| Objective |
Collective defense against external aggression and the preservation of peace and security |
| Article 5 |
Collective defense clause which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all members |
| Military Commanders |
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) |
| Main Decision-Making Body |
North Atlantic Council (NAC) |
| Funding |
Contributions from member countries, based on a cost-sharing formula |
| Partnerships |
NATO has partnerships with several countries and international organizations, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the United Nations |
| Criticisms |
Criticized for its role in the Cold War and for its intervention in conflicts outside of Europe, such as the war in Afghanistan |
What is the process for securing NATO membership?
| Process for Securing NATO Membership |
Description |
| Establishment of consensus |
Member countries establish consensus about a country’s potential membership. |
| Invitation to join Membership Action Plan (MAP) |
Applicant countries may be invited to join MAP. This provides preparatory advice, assistance, and practical support tailored to their specific needs. It concludes with the formal timetable for the completion of prerequisite reforms. |
| Annual feedback report |
NATO draws an annual report providing feedback to the aspirant country about its progress in their annual national programmes, and identifying areas for further action. |
| Confirmation of intent |
NATO experts and representatives of the invited countries meet in Brussels to obtain formal confirmation of the invitee’s willingness and ability to meet the political, legal, and military obligations and commitments of NATO membership. |
| Issue of letter of intent |
The applicant country issues a formal letter of intent to NATO, confirming the obligations and commitments of the organization. |
| Necessary amendments and ratification |
The necessary amendments are made to make the invitee a party to the Washington Treaty, followed by ratification of the applicant country’s constitutional protocols for facilitating membership. |
| Acceding to the Treaty |
Secretary-General calls the potential new members to accede to the North Atlantic Treaty. This is after all NATO members notify their acceptance to the government of the United States, the depository of the Washington Treaty, about the applicant. |
| Membership confirmed |
Following the invitee depositing their instruments of accession with the US State Department, the applicant becomes a member of NATO. |
The MAP obligations
| Chapter |
Issues identified |
| Political and Economic |
Settle disputes peacefully, promote human rights and democracy, refrain from force, contribute to collective defence, establish civilian control of armed forces |
| Defence |
Improve military capabilities, participate in Partnership for Peace Programme, contribute to collective defence planning, ensure interoperability |
| Resources |
Allocate sufficient budget resources, contribute to NATO’s common-funded activities |
| Security |
Ensure security of sensitive information in adherence to NATO security policy |
| Legal |
Scrutinize domestic law for compatibility with NATO rules and regulations |
Current applicants and members
| Year |
New Members |
| Formation: 1949 |
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, UK, US |
| 1952 |
Greece, Turkey |
| 1955 |
West Germany |
| 1982 |
Spain |
| 1999 |
Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland |
| 2004 |
Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia |
| 2009 |
Croatia, Albania |
| 2020 |
North Macedonia |
Why does Russia fume over NATO?
- NATO’s expansion: Russia views NATO’s expansion into Eastern Europe as a threat to its security and influence in the region. The alliance’s decision to accept former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact members as members is seen by Russia as a direct challenge to its strategic interests.
- Military exercises: Russia has also expressed concern over NATO military exercises in the region, which it sees as a provocation and a show of force. NATO’s decision to station troops and equipment in Eastern Europe has also been criticized by Russia.
- Missile defense system: Russia has been particularly critical of NATO’s missile defense system, which it sees as a threat to its own nuclear deterrence capabilities. Russia argues that the system is designed to neutralize its strategic weapons and that it undermines global strategic stability.
- Ukraine and Georgia: Russia has accused NATO of interfering in the affairs of Ukraine and Georgia, two former Soviet republics that are seeking closer ties with the West. Russia sees NATO’s support for these countries as an attempt to encircle and contain Russia.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: RLV
Mains level: Read the attached story
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted a successful autonomous landing mission experiment for a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
What is a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)?
- RLV is a type of spacecraft that is designed to be reused multiple times for launching payloads into space, instead of being discarded after a single launch like traditional rockets.
- They are seen as a more cost-effective and sustainable option for space launches, as they reduce the need for manufacturing new rockets for each mission.
- They typically consist of a reusable orbiter, similar to a space shuttle, and a reusable booster that provides the initial thrust needed to lift the orbiter and payload into space.
- After the payload is released into orbit, the orbiter and booster return to Earth and land back on a runway, where they can be refurbished and reused for future launches.
Why developing RLV is a big feat?
Developing RLVs requires advanced technologies, including-
- Heat-resistant materials for protecting the spacecraft during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere
- Advanced guidance and control systems for landing and
- Reliable propulsion systems for launching and landing
ISRO’s RLV-TD project
- ISRO is developing essential technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable low-cost access to space.
- The RLV-TD is being used to develop technologies like hypersonic flight (HEX), autonomous landing (LEX), return flight experiment (REX), powered cruise flight, and Scramjet Propulsion Experiment (SPEX).
- It looks like an aircraft and consists of a fuselage, a nose cap, double delta wings, and twin vertical tails.
Development of RLV
(1) First RLV experiment:
- In 2016, the RLV-TD was launched into space on a rocket powered by a conventional solid booster (HS9) engine.
- The spacecraft travelled at a speed of Mach 5 when re-entering the earth’s orbit and travelled a distance of 450 km before splashdown in the Bay of Bengal.
- Critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance and control, reusable thermal protection system, and re-entry mission management were successfully validated.
(2) Second RLV experiment:
- The RLV LEX test on April 2, 2023, involved a Chinook Helicopter lifting the RLV LEX to a height of 4.5 km and releasing the RLV.
- After midair release, the RLV carried out an autonomous landing on the Aeronautical Test Range airstrip, under the exact conditions of a Space Re-entry vehicle’s landing.
- It achieved landing parameters as might be experienced by an orbital re-entry space vehicle in its return path.
Advantages of RLVs
- Reusable launch vehicles are considered a low-cost, reliable, and on-demand mode of accessing space.
- The cost of a launch can be reduced by nearly 80 percent of the present cost by using RLVs.
Global RLV technologies
- NASA space shuttles have been carrying out dozens of human space flight missions.
- The private space launch services provider SpaceX demonstrated partially reusable launch systems with its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets since 2017.
- SpaceX is also working on a fully reusable launch vehicle system called Starship.
- Several private launch service providers and government space agencies are working on developing reusable launch systems.
Significance
- RLVs have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of space launches, as a significant portion of the cost of traditional rockets comes from the need to manufacture new rockets for each mission.
- By reusing spacecraft, the cost per launch can be significantly reduced.
- Additionally, RLVs can provide greater flexibility and reliability for space launches, as they can be launched on-demand instead of needing to be manufactured and assembled for each mission.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ice Memory Project
Mains level: Not Much
Scientists from Italy, France, and Norway have set up camp in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago to extract samples of ancient ice for analysis before the frozen layers melt away due to climate change.
‘Ice Memory’ Project
- Scientists will drill a series of tubes as far as 125 meters (137 yards) below the surface, which contains frozen geochemical traces dating back three centuries.
- The scientists will work for three weeks in temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius (-13 Fahrenheit) to extract ice.
- The Ice Memory foundation is running the operation.
- The ice cores will provide scientists with valuable data about past environmental conditions.
Analysis and storage
- One set of ice tubes will be used for immediate analysis, while a second set will be sent to Antarctica for storage in an “ice memory sanctuary” under the snow.
- The samples will be preserved for future generations of scientists.
Reason for drilling
- The Arctic is warming between two and four times faster than the global average, and water from melting ice is altering the geochemical records preserved in ancient ice beneath.
- Hence, scientists are in a race against time to preserve crucial ice records before it disappears forever from the surface of the planet.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SNAP 10A
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The newscard is about the US government-sponsored System for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) program, also known as SNAPSHOT for Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power Shot, and its SNAP-10A space nuclear reactor.
What is SNAP-10A?
|
|
| SNAP-10A |
A nuclear reactor sent to space by the US in 1965 |
| SNAP program |
A government-sponsored program for developing compact, lightweight, and reliable atomic devices for use in space, sea, and land |
| Objective |
To produce at least 500 watts of electricity for a year or longer in Earth orbit |
| Components |
Enriched uranium fuel with zirconium hydride as a moderator, and liquid sodium-potassium alloy as the coolant |
| Conversion |
A thermoelectric converter was used to directly convert heat from the reactor into electricity |
| Payload |
Weighed less than 431 kg, including the instruments and shielding, and was designed to be remotely started and operated in space |
| Launch |
April 3, 1965, on an Atlas-Agena D rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base and placed in a polar orbit |
| Operations |
Achieved on-orbit criticality within six hours of startup and set to autonomous operation at full power after 200 hours of reactor operations |
| Contact loss |
Contact was lost with SNAP-10A for about 40 hours on May 16, 1965, and the reactor’s reflectors ejected from the core, causing the core to shut down and bringing an end to the reactor’s operations |
| Test objectives |
All test flight objectives were met, except the length of operation, which was just 43 days as opposed to the expected year or more |
| Significance |
Only known nuclear reactor sent to space by the US, while Russia has sent several, including one that crashed and scattered radioactive debris over Canada in 1978 |
| Current status |
Continues to be in Earth orbit, and NASA expects it to do so for 2,000 years or more |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ferns, ENP
Mains level: NA
Eravikulam National Park, located in Munnar, India, is known for its natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, and has recently introduced a new attraction – a Fernarium.
What are Ferns?
- Ferns are a type of vascular plant that reproduces via spores, rather than seeds.
- They have distinctive leaves, called fronds, which are often intricately divided into smaller leaflets.
- Ferns can grow in a wide variety of environments, from rainforests to deserts, and they play an important role in many ecosystems as a habitat for animals, as well as by providing food and shelter for a variety of other plants.
Importance of Ferns
- Ferns are ecological indicators of healthy forests, and the climatic conditions inside the park are suitable for growing ferns.
- Ferns are part of the Epiphytic family and grow naturally in soilless conditions.
- They obtain water and nutrients through leaching from trees, and a large number of ferns are found on trees inside the park.
Fernarium @ Eravikulam
- The Fernarium is a collection of ferns and it is the first of its kind in Munnar.
- Currently, 52 varieties of ferns have been planted, and the plan is to cover all 104 varieties that are found in the park.
- This initiative aims to provide visitors with awareness about the biodiversity of the park.
Back2Basics: Eravikulam National Park
| Location |
Perched 7000 ft. above sea level, the Park was a former hunting preserve of British planters |
| Designation |
Declared a Sanctuary in 1975, and a National Park in 1978 |
| Significance |
Protects the highly endangered mountain goat, Nilgiri Tahr, and is the land of the Neelakurinji flower that blooms once in twelve years |
| Extent |
Covers an area of 97 sq. km of rolling grasslands and high-level sholas |
| Climate |
Receives heavy showers during the southwest (June/July) and retreating (October/November) Monsoons; one of the wettest areas in the world |
| Topography |
Undulating terrain with grass, hillocks, and sholas; highest peak south of the Himalayas, the Anamudi, is located here |
| Vegetation |
Majorly covered with rolling grasslands, with several patches of shola forests; important flora includes Actinodaphne bourdilloni, Microtropis ramiflora, Strobilanthus Kunthianus (Neela Kurinji), etc. |
| Wildlife Population |
29 species of mammals, including the endemic Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel, and wild dog; 140 species of birds, including 10 unique to the Western Ghats; more than 100 varieties of butterflies and 20 species of amphibians are also recorded here. |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Mission Karmayogi
Mains level: Citizen-Centric Governance, initiatives and Citizen participation
Central idea
- Citizen-centric governance is an evolving concept, and to put it into action requires clarity in the actions that civil servants perform and how citizens engage with the state. Citizen engagement is about collaborative partnerships and dialogue and must involve all stakeholders to ensure the overall development of a community or a nation.
Citizen-Centric Governance
- Paradigm shift in traditional governance: Citizen-centric governance refers to a paradigm shift in the traditional governance structures where the focus is shifted from the power holders to the citizens.
- Access to information and services to citizens: Traditionally, governance structures hold the power to make decisions that affect the lives of citizens. But citizen-centric governance focuses on providing citizens with access to information, services, and resources and on engaging them in the policy-making process.
- Increased citizen participation: The objective of citizen-centric governance is to increase citizen participation in decision-making processes
Mission Karmayogi
- Capacity building of civil servants: Mission Karmayogi, the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building has been strategically working to build the capacities of civil servants through various innovative interventions to sensitise and reframe the fabric of citizen participation.
- karmachari to karmayogi: Today, thousands of railway employees, Gramin Dak Sevaks, police personnel in the UTs and employees of BSNL are all going through an outcome-based capacity-building programme that is shifting them from thinking like a karmachari to acting like a karmayogi.
Citizen Engagement
- Citizen engagement refers to how citizens participate in the political, social and economic aspects of their community or society.
- Citizen engagement is highly embedded in the nature of the political and governance context and existing power relations.
- It needs to be understood as a core component of any governance system, and in democracies, citizen engagement is a basic principle because it is understood that governments derive their authority and power from the people.
What the multi-stakeholder engagement requires?
- Constructive dialogue: Development by the people and for the people is indeed possible. Citizen engagement towards democratising the process of development necessarily involves a constructive dialogue between and amongst all stakeholders.
- Mutual trust and respect: Meaningful dialogue among the stakeholders the state, citizenry, private sector, media, civil society and academia can sustain only when there is mutual trust. The relationship between these multiple stakeholders needs to be driven by mutual respect and an appreciation of interdependence and reciprocity.
- Redrawing boundaries of engagement: However, this may involve redrawing boundaries of engagement and roles that stakeholders have traditionally assumed for themselves.
- Partnership approach: The multi-stakeholder engagement would require the adoption of the partnership approach by all parties involved.
Conclusion
- Citizen-centric governance and citizen engagement are important aspects of development in any democracy. By adopting a partnership approach and mutual respect for each other’s roles, stakeholders can work together to ensure the overall development of a community and nation at large. The Indian government’s program, Mission Karmayogi, is a right step towards building the capacities of civil servants and sensitizing them to citizen participation.
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