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  • Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021

    The Environment Ministry has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which prohibits identified single-use plastic items which have low utility and high littering potential by 2022.

    What is the new Amendment?

    • Pollution due to single use plastic items has become an important environmental challenge confronting all countries.
    • The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022:
    1. ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [thermocol] for decoration
    2. plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers
    • The thickness of plastic carry bags has been increased from fifty microns to seventy-five microns and to one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022.

    Extended Producer Responsibility

    • The plastic packaging waste shall be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility of the Producer, importer and Brand owner (PIBO), as per Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
    • For effective implementation the Guidelines for EPR being brought out have been given legal force through Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.

    Plastic waste in India

    • As much as 3.3 million metric tonnes of plastic waste was generated in India in 2018-19, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report 2018-19.
    • This roughly translated to 9,200 tonnes a day (TPD).
    • The total municipal solid waste generation is 55-65 million tonnes; plastic waste is approximately 5-6 per cent of the total solid waste generated in the country.
    • Goa has the highest per capita plastic waste generation at 60 grams per capita per day, which is nearly double of what Delhi generates (37 grams per capita per day).

    The problem

    • Only nine percent of the plastic waste produced between 1950 and 2015 was recycled globally, according to a study by researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and others.
    • Out of the nine per cent, only 10 per cent was recycled more than once; 12 per cent was incinerated, and 79 per cent ended up in landfills or oceans and other water bodies.
    • There are reports suggesting a huge gap between the demand and supply of plastics; we are being sold plastics at a much higher rate than we need.
    • Recycling is a rather benign word used by plastic manufacturers.
    • Most plastics that we claim can be recycled in India are rather down-cycled to some other material.
    • A classic example is that of PET bottles being recycled to t-shirts.

    Way forward

    • Managing plastic waste requires effective knowledge, not only among those who produce the plastic but also among those who handle it.
    • Brand owners, consumers, recyclers and regulatory authorities need to take long strides in ensuring that we first invent the total amount of plastic waste that we generate by means of proper calculations.
    • The second step would be to identify the avenues where the use of plastic can be minimized.
    • Third, the brand owner and manufacturer should try and understand the fates a plastic packaging material would meet after its purpose of packaging has been served.
    • Last, as consumers, we should ensure that all plastic waste leaving our homes is segregated and is not contaminated with food waste.

     

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  • Four new Wetlands added to Ramsar list

    Four more wetlands from India get recognition from the Ramsar Secretariat as Ramsar sites.

    What are Wetlands?

    • A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail.
    • The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other landforms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil.

    Significance of Wetlands

    • Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control, and climate regulation.
    • They are, in fact, are a major source of water and our main supply of freshwater comes from an array of wetlands that help soak rainfall and recharge groundwater.
    • They provide many societal benefits: food and habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species; water quality improvement; flood storage; shoreline erosion control; economically beneficial natural products for human use; and opportunities for recreation, education, and research, etc.

    Which are the new sites added to the Ramsar List?

    • Thol and Wadhwana from Gujarat and
    • Sultanpur and Bhindawas from Haryana

    With this, the number of Ramsar sites in India are 46 and the surface area covered by these sites is now 1,083,322 hectares.

    (1) Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

    • Bhindawas WLS, the largest wetland in Haryana is a human-made freshwater wetland.
    • Over 250 bird species use the sanctuary throughout the year as a resting and roosting site.
    • The site supports more than ten globally threatened species including the endangered Egyptian Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, and Black-bellied Tern.

    (2) Sultanpur National Park

    • Sultanpur NP from Haryana supports more than 220 species of resident, winter migratory and local migratory waterbirds at critical stages of their life cycles.
    • More than ten of these are globally threatened, including the critically endangered sociable lapwing, and the endangered Egyptian Vulture, Saker Falcon, Pallas’s Fish Eagle and Black-bellied Tern.

    (3) Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

    • Thol Lake WLS from Gujarat lies on the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320 bird species can be found here.
    • The wetland supports more than 30 threatened waterbird species, such as the critically endangered White-rumped Vulture and Sociable Lapwing, and the vulnerable Sarus Crane, Common Pochard, and Lesser White-fronted Goose.

    (4) Wadhvana Wetland

    • Wadhvana Wetland from Gujarat is internationally important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to migratory waterbirds, including over 80 species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway.
    • They include some threatened or near-threatened species such as the endangered Pallas’s fish-Eagle, the vulnerable Common Pochard, and the near-threatened Dalmatian Pelican, Grey-headed Fish-eagle and Ferruginous Duck.

    Back2Basics: Ramsar Convention

    • The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (better known as the Ramsar Convention) is an international agreement promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
    • It is the only global treaty to focus on a single ecosystem.
    • The convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
    • Traditionally viewed as a wasteland or breeding ground of disease, wetlands actually provide fresh water and food and serve as nature’s shock absorber.
    • Wetlands, critical for biodiversity, are disappearing rapidly, with recent estimates showing that 64% or more of the world’s wetlands have vanished since 1900.
    • Major changes in land use for agriculture and grazing, water diversion for dams and canals, and infrastructure development are considered to be some of the main causes of loss and degradation of wetlands.

  • Places in news: Ningbo Port

    China has partially shut down the world’s third-busiest container port, the Ningbo Port, after a worker there tested positive for Covid-19.

    Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan

    • This port is the busiest in the world in terms of cargo tonnage.
    • It handled 888.96 million tons of cargo in 2015.
    • The port is located in Ningbo and Zhoushan, on the coast of the East China Sea, in Zhejiang province on the southeast end of Hangzhou Bay, across which it faces the municipality of Shanghai.
    • The port is at the crossroads of the north-south inland and coastal shipping route, including canals to the important inland waterway to interior China, the Yangtze River, to the north.
    • The port consists of several ports which are Beilun (seaport), Zhenhai (estuary port), and old Ningbo harbour (inland river port).

    What is the potential impact of the closure?

    • Despite the diversion of shipments to other terminals, experts are anticipating a backlog of consignments with average wait times being expected to rise.

    How is it likely to affect global trade?

    • In the aftermath of Covid-19, global supply chains have remained fragile mainly on account of closures and lockdowns that affected both the manufacturing and the logistical segments of the chain.
    • This has not only resulted in a growing backlog of shipments but has also caused freight charges to go up as demand outgrew the supply.
    • Extended closure of one of the biggest terminals at the third-busiest port in the world could further exacerbate the stress in global trade.
  • Final Call: Slots are Closing || Mentor’s Mahapanchayat || 10 Fundamental mistakes which can spoil your first attempt: Learn from our core mentors: How to avoid it?|| Ask Us Anything (Obviously On UPSC IAS)

    Final Call: Slots are Closing || Mentor’s Mahapanchayat || 10 Fundamental mistakes which can spoil your first attempt: Learn from our core mentors: How to avoid it?|| Ask Us Anything (Obviously On UPSC IAS)

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    Date- 14th August

    Time- 5:30 P.M.

  • 14th August 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

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  • 13th August 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

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  • [Burning Issue] Democide: Causes and ways to avoid it

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    When democratically elected governments cease to be held accountable by a society weakened by poor health, low morale and joblessness, demagogues are prone to blindness and ineptitude.

    John Keane

    The global surveys are everywhere reporting dipping confidence in democracy and marked jumps in citizens’ frustrations with government corruption and incompetence. Young people are the least satisfied with democracy — much more disaffected than previous generations at the same age.

    Most worrying are the survey findings for India, which is fast developing a reputation as the ‘world’s largest failing democracy’. In its Democracy Report 2020, Sweden’s V-Dem Institute noted that India “has almost lost its status as a democracy”. It ranked India below Sierra Leone, Guatemala, and Hungary.

    In this context, let us find out that do India faces any challenges to democracy and what can be done to make it a better democratic country. But before that, let us find out what a true democracy means.

    What is mean by democracy?

    • Democracy is a form of government in which power ultimately comes from the people who are governed, either through direct voting or through elected representatives.
    • Democracy is a whole way of life. It is freedom from hunger, humiliation and violence.
    • Democracy is saying no to every form of human and non-human indignity.
    • It is respect for women, tenderness with children, and access to jobs that bring satisfaction and sufficient reward to live comfortably.
    • Democracy is public and private respect for different ways of living.
    • It is humility i.e. the willingness to admit that impermanence renders all life vulnerable, that in the end nobody is invincible, and that ordinary lives are never ordinary.
    • Democracy is equal access to decent medical care and sympathy for those who have fallen behind. It’s the rejection of the dogma that things can’t be changed because they’re “naturally” fixed in stone.

    Why democracy?

    • The idea of democracy derives its moral strength – and popular appeal – from two key principles:

    1. Individual autonomy: The idea that no one should be subject to rules which have been imposed by others. People should be able to control their own lives (within reason).

    2. Equality: The idea that everyone should have the same opportunity to influence the decisions that affect people in society.

    What are the basic forms of democracy?

    1.  Direct Democracy: Citizens participate in the decision-making personally. Example- Switzerland.

    2. Representative Democracy: Elected officials represent a group of people. It is an element of both parliamentary and presidential systems of government.

    For example India, UK, US, etc.

    What are the essential elements of democracy?

    1. Freedom
    2. Respect for human rights
    3. Holding periodic, genuine elections by universal suffrage.

    Democracy in India

    • Ancient India had democratic republic even before 6th century BCE and India has seen democratic rule through ages. Vaishali (in present day Bihar) is considered one of the first republics around 6th century BCE.
    • Republics at that time were called ‘Mahajanpadas’ and Sabhas and Samitis (assemblies) existed. Panchayat systems were also used in some of these republics.
    • Anti-colonial movements in India brought democracy in picture during British rule in India. Nehru, Gandhi, Ambedkar, etc helped in bringing universal adult franchise, at a time when literacy rate was very low in the nation.
    • Government of India Act, 1935 laid foundation of democratic rule in India.
    • Although Gandhi wanted village republic as a basic unit, India went for Westminster type of political model.
    • But India granted Universal Adult Franchise under Article 326 of its Constitution effective since 1950 giving a strong base for democracy.
    • Indian Republic at present has a parliamentary system of democracy and a federal structure in which leaders are elected by citizens of various castes, classes, religions, etc.

    How do democracies die (Causes of Democide)?

    (1) Failure of the government

    • Democide is usually a slow-motion and messy process. Wild rumors and talk of conspiracies flourish. Street protests and outbreaks of uncontrolled violence happen. Fears of civil unrest spread.  
    • The armed forces grow agitated. As the government totters, the army moves from its barracks onto the streets to quell unrest and take control. Democracy is finally buried in a grave it slowly dug for itself.
    • The military coup d’états against the elected governments of Egypt (2013), Thailand (2014), Myanmar and Tunisia (2021) are obvious examples.

    (2) Social Emergencies

    • Democracy suffers a slow-motion social death when social fabric weakens and the place of harmony taken by many evils of the society like discrimination.

    (3) Weakness of constitutional machinery and institutions

    • When a constitution promises its citizens justice, liberty and equality, the splintering and shattering of social life induce a sense of legal powerlessness among citizens.
    • The judiciary becomes vulnerable to cynicism, political meddling and state capture.

    (4) Inequality in the society

    Massive imbalances of wealth, chronic violence, famine, and unevenly distributed life chances also make a mockery of the ethical principle that in a democracy people can live as citizen partners of equal social worth.

    (5) Indignity: a form of generalized social violence

    • Domestic violence, rotten health care, widespread feelings of social unhappiness, and daily shortages of food and housing destroy people’s dignity. It kills the spirit and substance of democracy.
    • When millions of women feel unsafe and multitudes of migrant workers are forced to flee for their lives, the victims are unlikely to believe themselves worthy of rights, or capable for fighting for their own entitlements, or for the rights of others.
    • Ground down by social indignity, the powerless are robbed of self-esteem.
    • Social indignity undermines citizens’ capacity to take an active interest in public affairs, and to check and humble and wallop the powerful.

    (6) Demagoguery

    • When millions of citizens are daily victimized by social indignities, the powerful are granted a license to rule arbitrarily. Some at the bottom and many in the middle and upper classes turn their backs on public affairs.
    • Citizen disempowerment encourages boasting and bluster among powerful leaders who stop caring about the niceties of public integrity and power-sharing.
    • When democratically elected governments cease to be held accountable by a society weakened by poor health, low morale, and joblessness, demagogues are prone to blindness and ineptitude.
    • They make careless, foolish, and incompetent decisions that reinforce social inequities. They license big market and government players — poligarchs — to decide things.
    • Those who exercise power in government ministries, corporations, and public/private projects aren’t subject to democratic rules of public accountability.
    • Almost everybody must pay bribes to access basic public services. The powerful stop caring about the niceties of public integrity. Institutional democracy failure happens.

    (7) Absence of redistributive public welfare policies

    • In the absence of redistributive public welfare policies that guarantee sufficient food, shelter, security, education, and health care to the downtrodden, democracy morphs into a mere façade.
    • Elections still happen and there’s abundant talk of “the people”. But democracy begins to resemble a fancy mask worn by wealthy political predators. Self-government is killed.
    • Cheer-led by lapdog media, phantom democracy becomes a reality. Society is subordinated to the state. People are expected to behave as loyal subjects, or else suffer the consequences.
    • A thoroughly 21st century type of top-down rule called despotism triumphs.
    Recent instances confirming to threats for democracy

    NIA Amendment Bill, 2019

    • The amendment to the NIA Act gives the agency authority to investigate crimes committed by persons which are against Indian citizens or “affecting the interest of India”.
    • However, the term “affecting the interest of India” is undefined and can be misused by governments to curb freedom of speech and expression.

    Bypassing the Parliament Committee System

    • According to data by PRS Legislative Research, while 60% of the Bills in the 14th Lok Sabha and 71% in the 15th Lok Sabha were referred to Departmentally-related Standing Committees (DRSCs) concerned, this proportion came down to 27% in the 16th Lok Sabha.
    • Apart from the DRSCs, there are negligible bills referred to Select Committees of the Houses or Joint Parliamentary Committees.
    • The last Bill referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee was The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Second Amendment) Bill, in 2015.

    Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021

    • Social media intermediaries include messaging-related intermediaries, such as WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram, and media-related intermediaries, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
    • The rules bring a high level of government discretion in determining which platforms need to comply with what regulations and it enables the Central government to enforce discriminatory compliances.
    • These rules have far-reaching consequences on online privacy, freedom of speech and expression, and access to information.

    Passage of the Aadhar Bill as a money bill

    How can we avoid the democide?

    (1) Constitutional Renaissance

    • It refers to the process of constant repair and renewal of “constitutionalism” as a function of adjudication.
    • It stands severally described now as –
      • a constant awakening as regards the text, context, perspective, purpose, and the rule of law”,
      • an awakening that makes space for a “resurgent constitutionalism” and
      • “allows no room for absolutism” nor any “space for anarchy”

    (2) Constitutional Morality

    • Constitutional morality means adherence to the core principles of the constitutional democracy.
    • It effectively coordinate between conflicting interests of different people and the administrative cooperation to resolve the issues without any confrontation amongst the various groups.
    • It also makes the governing institutions and representatives accountable.

    (3) Rightful interpretation of the constitution by the judiciary

    • This refers to the interpretation of the constitution by the judiciary in light of the interest of the people of India and maintaining institutional integrity.

    (4) Good Governance

    • Good governance unable reach out government schemes to the needy and it entrust the desire to do well in life.  It also helps to realize ones duties and rights and boosts confidence in government.

    (5) Welcoming criticism

    • The Government should hear criticism rather than rejecting it out rightly. Suggestions on eroding democratic values need a thoughtful and respectful response.

    (6) Freedom of speech and expression to media for checks on the executive

    • The press and the judiciary, which are considered the pillars of India’s Democracy, require it to be independent of any executive interference to enable auditing of the

    (7) Need For Strong Opposition

    • Strong democracy requires strong opposition. Without an alternative choice, the very objective of election to provide a check on arbitrary power gets defeated.

    (8) Equality in the society

    • If redistributive public welfare policies are effective, the inequality in the society would be reduced. Thus, it must be the priority of the government to maintain social and economic equality and inclusive growth.

    (9) Parliamentary oversight

    • It is necessary to hold strong checks on executive through parliamentary committees, question hours, etc. Separation of powers is the most important thing for healthy democracy.

    Conclusion

    Until and unless we don’t realize the real sense of Democracy we can’t live with dignity. It is the need of the hour to strengthen the voice of the public against Democide which takes away the rights of the people. Only with people’s participation, it can be achieved. It is important that all the government organs work in harmony to uphold the trust people of the country have held in them and ensure objectives of true democracy.

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  • Webinar Alert: Slots are Closing || 10 Fundamental mistakes which can spoil your first attempt: Learn from our core mentors: How to avoid it?|| Ask Us Anything (Obviously On UPSC IAS)

    Webinar Alert: Slots are Closing || 10 Fundamental mistakes which can spoil your first attempt: Learn from our core mentors: How to avoid it?|| Ask Us Anything (Obviously On UPSC IAS)

    Dear Aspirants,

    You know the struggle of preparing for the UPSC Exam all too well, don’t you? You go through it every day! But do you ever wonder how Mentors at CivilsDaily IAS performed during their time and What did they learn from the Mistakes they Committed? 

    How are they now using the learnings out of their own mistakes and are helping aspirants work out the best strategies suited to them. How are they keeping themselves up-to-date day in and day out now? And on top of them what makes this process so consistent year after year? 

    Register for the free webinar (Click Here)

    How do they prepare the study materials for you? How do they manage their own time? And more…

    Our super mentors Sajal sir, Sudhanshu sir, Ajay sir, Sukanya mam, and Santosh sir will give you an exclusive insight into the work that goes behind mentoring the most serious UPSC candidates over a Freewheeling Open Webinar Session this Saturday.

    Now what will make this session even more meaningful is their unique depth of self-introspection with respect to UPSC IAS, which is often missed by those who clear the exam. So you will hear directly from the horse’s mouth. 

    This would be an Open Session where you’d have an opportunity to interact with the Core Faculties at CivilsDaily IAS and learn from their own experience at handling the issues of many individual aspirants including Toppers too. 

    Learn the best ways of remaining consistent and performing at the highest level every day, just like our mentors. Ask questions and gain from their personal experiences during the “Ask The Mentor” session this Saturday evening. 

    This is a completely FREE opportunity for all serious UPSC. 

    What to Expect: 

    1. Personal learnings from Senior Mentors at CivilsDaily IAS 
    2. Mistakes Committed by them in their very first attempt and what lessons you can take from these mistakes.
    3. Ask the Mentor session as Q&A interaction
    4. Exam Strategy with CivilsDaily IAS  “ 5 Hour Mantra for 2021 “
    5. Exam Strategy for UPSC IAS 2022 
    6. Exam Specific Fact Content for Complete Economics for UPSC Civil Services 
    7. Economic Survey & Budget Videos Exclusively made for CivilsDaily IAS Students 
    8. Three Weeks Samachar Manthan News Analysis for UPSC IAS 
    9. Sample MEP Test Copies handled by Sukanya Madam 
    REGISTER FOR THE FREE WEBINAR (CLICK HERE)

    Date- 14th August

    Time- 5:30 P.M.

  • Parliament is abdicating its oversight role

    Context

    The monsoon session of Parliament which ended on Wednesday was a disappointment in several ways. This was the fourth straight session that ended ahead of the original schedule.

    No scrutiny of the Bills

    •  Both Houses were frequently disrupted as the Government and Opposition parties could not agree on the topics to be debated.
    • Shrinking worktime: The Lok Sabha worked for just 19% of its originally scheduled time, and the Rajya Sabha for 26%.
    • No examination of Bills by Parliament: Of the 18 Bills passed by the Lok Sabha, only one saw discussion over 15 minutes.
    • In 15 of these Bills, not even one member of the Lok Sabha spoke; each Bill was passed after a short statement by the respective Minister.
    • Every Bill introduced during the session was passed within the session.
    • This means that there was no time for any scrutiny by members.
    • In the period of the Fifteenth Lok Sabha (2009-14), 18% of the Bills were passed within the same session.
    • This rose to 33% in the Sixteenth Lok Sabha and is at 70% halfway through the current Parliament.
    • Thus, we see that, Bills are being passed without any serious examination by parliamentarians.
    • They are most often not being referred to committees, there is hardly any discussion on the floor of the House, and in most instances, Bills are passed within a few days of introduction.

    Bills not being referred to parliamentary committees

    • None of the Bills passed in this session was referred to a parliamentary committee for examination.
    • Important role of committee: Parliamentary committees provide a forum for parliamentarians to engage with experts, stakeholders and government officials to understand the implications of Bills.
    • They deliberate on the consequences of various provisions, and recommend amendments.
    • There has been a sharp downward trend in Bills being referred to them — from 71% in the Fifteenth Lok Sabha to 27% in the Sixteenth, and 12% in the current one till date.

    Important Bills passed

    • Allowing States to identify Backward Class: The Constitution was amended to allow States to identify backward classes (i.e., Other Backward Classes) for the purpose of providing reservations.
    • That amendment also specified that the President of India shall specify the list of OBCs.
    • Recently, the Supreme Court of India had interpreted this provision to imply that the State government cannot issue the list of backward classes.
    • Repealing retrospective taxation: In 2012, the Income Tax Act was amended with retrospective effect from 1961 to cover certain transactions.
    • A Bill passed this session reversed this provision of retrospective taxation. 
    • DICGC to pay within 90 days: The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation insures all bank deposits against default (currently up to ₹5 lakh).
    • The Act was amended to require an interim pay-out within 90 days if a bank was going through a liquidation or reconstruction.
    • The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act was amended to enable the Government to bring its shareholding in general insurance companies below 51%.
    • The Tribunals Reforms Bill was passed: The Bill replaced an ordinance which specified the process of appointment of members and their tenure and service conditions.
    • It retained two provisions struck down last month by the Supreme Court: the four-year tenure which the Court changed to five years, and a minimum age of 50 years for judicial members which the Court revised to allow lawyers with experience of 10 years.

    Conclusion

    The reason for having a legislature separate from the executive is to have a check on executive power.But the Parliament appears to be quite ineffective in all its functions and needs a course correction.

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