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  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: Concerns over Dam Safety

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: Concerns over Dam Safety

    Context

    • A parliamentary panel has expressed concerns over the safety of ageing dams in India.
    • The Standing Committee on water resources, in its 20th report, has raised the issue of safety risks posed by more than 200 dams in the country.

    Central idea

    • Citing the National Register of Large Dams 2019, the panel says there are 234 large dams in India which are 100 years old – and still functional.
    • Dams are normally designed for approximately 100 years of useful age.
    • Their functional life gets decreased with progressive reservoir sedimentation concurrently reducing project benefits – is what has been submitted by the parliamentary panel in its report.

    Ageing Dams of India

    • India has 4,407 large dams, the third highest number in the world after China (23,841) and the USA (9,263).
    • Over 1,115 large dams will be about 50 years old by 2025.
    • In less than 30 years, by 2050, over 4,250 large dams would pass 50 years of age, with 64 large dams being 150 years old, cited a 2019 paper published in the Economic & Political Weekly.
    dam

    Why discuss Dams?

    • Cost overruns: The construction of dams can be expensive, and cost overruns are common. This can lead to delays in construction, reduced funding for other projects, and higher costs for consumers.
    • Environmental damage: Dams can cause significant environmental damage, such as altering the natural flow of rivers and altering habitats for fish and wildlife. The creation of reservoirs can also lead to the loss of forests and other important ecosystems.
    • Water scarcity: While dams can provide a source of water for irrigation, drinking, and other purposes, they can also lead to water scarcity downstream. The reduced flow of water can affect agriculture and the livelihoods of those who rely on rivers for their water supply.
    • Seismic activity: The construction of large dams can sometimes trigger seismic activity in the surrounding area. This can lead to landslides and other types of damage.

    Social Impacts of Dams

    • Displacement: Dams often result in the displacement of people living in the area. The displaced people are forced to leave their homes and land, which disrupts their livelihoods and cultural practices.
    • Dismay over resettlement: This is often promised as a means to compensate for displacement, is not always met.
    • Cultural loss: The construction of dams often involves flooding of large areas, which can lead to the loss of cultural heritage sites and artifacts.  
    • Environmental Impacts: Dams can have a range of environmental impacts, such as altering the natural flow of rivers, disrupting the habitats of aquatic species, and changing the water temperature and chemistry.  
    • Economic Impacts: There may also be a loss of economic opportunities due to the displacement of people and disruption of traditional livelihoods.
    • Health Impacts: These may include the spread of waterborne diseases due to changes in water quality, increased incidence of malaria due to the creation of stagnant water, and respiratory illnesses etc.

    Woes of Ageing Dams

    (1) Faster Rate of Storage Loss

    • As dams age, soil replaces the water in the reservoirs, causing the storage capacity to decrease.
    • In India, the storage space in reservoirs is receding at a faster rate than anticipated, with some reservoirs expected to become extinct in a few decades.
    • The iconic Bhakra dam’s siltation rate is 139.86% higher than originally assumed, causing it to function for only 47 years instead of the estimated 88 years.

    (2) Impact of Climate Change

    • The increasing frequency and severity of flooding and other extreme environmental events can overwhelm a dam’s design limits and accelerate the ageing process.
    • For example, development of crack on empty dams’ wall.

    (3) Structurally vulnerable dams

    • Most Indian reservoirs are designed with a poor understanding of sedimentation science, which can make them structurally weak over time.
    • Large storage structures, whether concrete, masonry, or earth, can become vulnerable with age.

    (4) Lack of storage information

    • The loss of large dams’ storage capacity over time is part of the ageing process. Sort of river rejuvenation also changes the dam topography.
    • However, this information continues to be sporadically documented in India, which makes it a blind spot in terms of understanding the water crisis in the country.

    Issues related to Ageing Dams

    • Decreasing Storage Capacity: As dams age, soil replaces the water in the reservoirs, leading to decreased storage capacity over time. This is a common problem faced by dams all over the world. In the case of Indian reservoirs, the storage space is receding at a rate faster than anticipated.  
    • Design flaws: Many of India’s reservoirs are designed with a poor understanding of sedimentation science, leading to flawed designs. The designs underestimate the rate of siltation and overestimate the live storage capacity created.
    • High Siltation Rates: High siltation rates refer to both the increased concentration of suspended sediments and the increased accumulation of fine sediments on bottoms where they are undesirable. This leads to the reduction of the storage capacity of the reservoirs and can have a detrimental effect on the functioning of the dam.

    Consequences of Ageing Dams

    The ageing of dams can have a significant impact on various aspects of life, including food security, farmers’ income, and increased flooding.

    • Impact on food Security: As soil replaces the water in reservoirs, the supply gets choked, leading to less and less water for cropped areas. This can cause the net sown water area to either shrink in size or depend on rains or over-exploited groundwater, which can have an impact on food security.
    • Impact on farmers’ Income: As crop yields may get affected severely, this can disrupt the farmer’s income. Water is a crucial factor for crop yield and credit, crop insurance, and investment. Therefore, the ageing of dams can have a significant impact on the livelihoods of farmers.
    • Increased flooding: The flawed siltation rates reinforce the argument that the designed flood cushion within several reservoirs across many river basins may have already depleted substantially. This has led to floods becoming more frequent downstream of dams.  

    Policy measures so far

    (1) Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)

    • The DRIP was initiated in April 2012 to improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams along with dam safety institutional strengthening with a system-wide management approach.
    • Financial assistance for DRIP was provided by the World Bank. The budget outlay for DRIP is Rs 10,211 Cr, which includes rehabilitation provisions for 736 dams.
    • The project is being implemented in three phases with a budget outlay of Rs 5,107 Cr each for Phase II and III.

    (2) Dam Safety Act 2021

    • The Dam Safety Act 2021 is a significant step taken by the government towards ensuring the safe functioning of all specified dams in the country.
    • The act provides for proper surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of dams to ensure their safe functioning.
    • It also includes the establishment of the National Dam Safety Authority as a regulatory body and the constitution of a State Committee on Dam Safety by the State Government.

    Way forward

    • Timely reviews: Review dams that have reached 50-60 years of age to assess their safety and take an informed decision.
    • Decommissioning: This should be given equal importance as dam building in water storage infrastructure development. Projects that pose serious safety risks should be listed and decommissioned in a phased manner.
    • Accountability and Transparency: Ensure accountability and transparency while taking into consideration the views of downstream communities, the most at-risk group in case of a breach.
    • Operational safety and drills: Update the rule curve, which decides how a dam should be operated, at regular intervals based on environmental changes like siltation and rainfall patterns that would change the frequency and intensity of incoming floods and the spillway capacity.
    • Cumulative Assessment: Conduct a cumulative assessment of every upstream and downstream dam to ensure dam safety in terms of operations. 

    Some major dams in India

    Dam nameRiverStateType of DamHeight (m)Length (m)
    Tehri DamBhagirathiUttarakhandEarth and rockfill260575
    Sardar Sarovar DamNarmadaGujaratConcrete gravity1631210
    Bhakra DamSutlejHimachal PradeshConcrete gravity225520
    Hirakud DamMahanadiOdishaEarthfill6125,800
    Nagarjuna Sagar DamKrishnaAndhra PradeshMasonry gravity1241,550
    Indira Sagar DamNarmadaMadhya PradeshConcrete gravity92653
    Mettur DamKaveriTamil NaduMasonry gravity1201,700
    Godavari Bridge DamGodavariMaharashtraEarthfall472,300
    Idukki DamPeriyarKeralaArch168550
    Mullaperiyar DamPeriyarKeralaMasonry gravity53365

  • China issues ‘official’ names for some places in Arunachal Pradesh

    china

    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.

     

  • UN Water Conference and Key Takeaways

    water

    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:

    1. Water for Health: Access to ‘WASH’ (Global Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) including the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
    2. Water for Sustainable Development: Valuing water, the water-energy-food nexus and sustainable economic and urban development.
    3. Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment: Source to sea, biodiversity, climate, resilience and disaster risk reduction.
    4. Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and international water cooperation, cross sectoral cooperation and water across the 2030 Agenda.
    5. 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

    water

    • 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.

     

  • What are Performer’s Rights?

    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:
    1. Recording: Performers have the right to prevent others from recording their live performances without their consent.
    2. 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.
    3. Reproduction: Performers have the right to control the reproduction of their performances in any media format.
    4. Adaptation: Performers have the right to control the adaptation of their performances into other forms, such as musicals or films.
    5. 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.

  • Places in news: Nathu La

    nathu la

    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.

  • GI art in news: Basohli Paintings

    basohli

    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.

     

  • Same-Sex Marriages: A Push Must Come From Representative Bodies

    Same-Sex Marriage

    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.
    1. Same-sex marriages demand nuanced alteration of the conventional understanding of marriage.
    2. The current legislative framework promotes the conventional understanding of marriage.
    3. Religious and societal morality still conceptualizes intercourse as a procreative activity.
    4. Conventional conceptualisations of family and marriage are facing evolutionary challenges.

    What is mean by Same-sex marriage?

    • 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

  • 4th Apr 23 | Nikaalo Prelims- Mini Test 5 (Important Viceroys & Governor Generals, Important Personalities, Constitutional Developments under British and British Administrative Measures)

    4th Apr 23 | Nikaalo Prelims- Mini Test 5 (Important Viceroys & Governor Generals, Important Personalities, Constitutional Developments under British and British Administrative Measures)

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  • Sodium Intake Target: Challenge of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension

    Sodium

    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.

    Sodium

    How cardiovascular disease and hypertension pose significant challenges in India?

    1. 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
    1. 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
    1. 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.
    1. 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

    Sodium

    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.

  • Carbon Pricing: The Way For Decarbonization

    Carbon

    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.

    Carbon pricing for India

    • 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

    Carbon

    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

    Carbon

    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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