The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) are in the news as the union government proposing a slew of infrastructure projects to boost business and tourism on the islands, conservation groups are on the warpath.
The significance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI)
Oceanic outpost: The ANI is an oceanic outpost for continental India.
Facilitates unique surveillance: With a critical vantage location overlooking the ten-degree and six-degree channels (through which a vast majority of cargo and container traffic in the eastern Indian Ocean transits), the islands give India a unique surveillance and maritime interdiction capability.
Strategically important: The ANI is a vital ‘staging post’ for maritime operations, and a hub for logistics, providing operational turnaround for Indian warships and aircraft deployed in the Andaman Sea.
Location: Located between 6° and 14° North Latitude and 92° and 94° East Longitude lie the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory in India.
Two groups of Island: It consists of two groups of islands. The islands located north of 10° north latitude are known as Andaman while islands located south of 10° north latitude are called Nicobar.
The Andamans: More than 300 islands make up the Andamans. North, Middle, and South Andaman, known collectively as Great Andaman, are the main islands;
The 10- degree channel: The 10-degree channel which is about 145 km long separates Little Andaman in the south from the Nicobar Islands.
The Nicobars: The Nicobars consists of 19 islands. Among the most prominent is Car Nicobar in the north; and Great Nicobar in the south. About 90 miles to the southwest of Great Nicobar lies the northwestern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Formation: Both the Andaman and Nicobar groups are formed by the above-sea extensions of submarine ridges of mountains and are a part of a great island arc. The highest peak is 2,418 feet at Saddle Peak on North Andaman, followed by Mount Thullier at 2,106 feet on Great Nicobar and Mount Harriet at 1,197 feet on South Andaman. Barren island, the only known active Volcano in south Asia lies in the Andaman Sea. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there were volcanic eruptions on Barren Island.
Andaman Terrain: Formed of sandstone, limestone, and shale of Cenozoic age, the terrain of the Andamans is rough, with hills and narrow longitudinal valleys. Flat land is scarce and is confined to a few valleys.
Nicobar Terrain: The terrain of the Nicobar is more diverse than that of the Andamans. Some of the Nicobar Islands, such as Car Nicobar, have flat coral-covered surfaces with offshore coral formations that prevent most ships from anchoring. Other islands, such as Great Nicobar, are hilly and contain numerous fast-flowing streams.
Great Nicobar is the only island in the territory with a significant amount of fresh surface water.
Climate: The climate of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is tropical but is moderated by sea.
Past objections on India developing Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI)
Perspective of India’s diplomatic community:
When India first began developing the ANI in the 1980s, the defence and foreign policy establishments were not entirely in agreement.
India’s diplomatic community opposed the militarization plan, arguing that turning the islands into a strategic-military garrison would weaponize the littorals, an outcome unlikely to sit well with India’s maritime neighbors.
Neighbor’s apprehensions: Indonesia and Malaysia were apprehensive that India would use its military facilities on the Andamans to dominate its region, and project power east of Malacca.
Today’s perspective India developing Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI)
More empathy towards India: Today arguably, there is more empathy for Indian compulsions to develop the ANI. It is clear that developing the islands is a necessity for India that could not be overlooked.
India’s compulsion: With China expanding its footprint in India’s backyard, regional states realise New Delhi has little option but to consolidate strategically on the islands.
Securing maritime borders: In the aftermath of the June 2020 standoff with China in Ladakh, the Indian military has been under growing pressure to forestall Chinese adventurism in the Indian Ocean.
Higher stakes for India in eastern Indian Ocean: With China moving to expand its presence in India’s neighbourhood, including at Maldives (Feydhoo Finolhu), Pakistan (Gwadar), Sri Lanka (Hambantota), and Bangladesh (at Cox Bazaar where China is said to be constructing a submarine base), the stakes for India in the eastern Indian Ocean have never been higher.
Intentions are good: Asia’s leaders knew that India’s intentions are good because it is willing to keep its security presence on the strategic islands to a minimum.
Rational behind developing Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI)
To counter China’s belt and road Initiative: New Delhi also needs to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The manner of China’s development of infrastructure projects in the Bay of Bengal suggests that it seeks both economic leverage and strategic prowess in South Asia.
Countering China Dual use facilities: By some accounts, China is looking for military access to Chinese-built facilities in the Bay of Bengal. Beijing, reportedly, is on a drive to create ‘dual-use’ facilities that have both commercial and military applications.
What could be the way to counter China in the region
By expanding military Presence in BOB: One way for India to counter China’s forays in the Bay of Bengal would be to expand Indian military presence in the littorals. The process is already underway
By turning islands into logistic support facilities for navies: The other way for India to counter China is to develop its island territories in the eastern Indian Ocean and offer military facilities therein for logistics support to navies from friendly Quad countries.
Delicate ecology of the island cannot be ignored
Environmentalists contend that construction activity on ecologically sensitive islands could lead to a large-scale loss of biodiversity, which could hurt local communities and the islands’ indigenous people.
New Delhi cannot afford to ignore the ecological implications of infrastructure development on the islands, in particular, the proposal for a container terminal at Campbell Bay on the Great Nicobar Island.
The project entails the mass culling of forests and could take a toll on the region’s delicate ecological balance.
New hotels, resorts, and a trans-shipment port could upend decades of conservation efforts.
Conclusion
The need of the hour is to balance competing requirements: enable development on the islands, while avoiding large-scale environmental damage. As ‘high-wire’ acts go, this is going to be a hard walk for Indian decision-makers.
Mains question
Q. China is moving towards increasing its presence in India’s neighborhood and is challenging India in many ways. Analyze India’s compulsion to develop the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI).
GS-1 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.
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GS-3 Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
GS-4 Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions
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The launch of the Vikram S (Mission Prarambh) rocket last week has been rightly hailed as an important milestone in India’s outer space journey. It is the first privately built Indian rocket to make it to space.
Lack of Enabling policy: The country’s private sector has the talent and experience to shorten that distance if Delhi creates the enabling policy environment.
Monopoly of Government: When space emerged as an important endeavour in the second half of the 20th century, governments were in the lead. The cost, complexity and research-intensity of the space effort meant the space programmes everywhere became a government monopoly.
Government can no longer ignore private players: But in the 21st century, the role of the private sector has dramatically expanded. Satellites were once owned only by governments but today private companies lead the satellite business.
Major private players and their space endeavor
Starlink satellite system: Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system is now a major player with more than 2,300 satellites in low earth orbit they deliver a variety of space services including useful military information to the armed forces of Ukraine in their fight against Russian forces.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper: Plans to launch more than 3,000 satellites in the coming years to offer a range of services, including broadband internet. This will involve making at least three satellites a day.
One-web cooperation: Airtel in India is a partner in the One-Web corporation that offers connectivity through its system of nearly 500 satellites.
Breaking the monopoly of Government: The business of launch vehicles the most demanding of space activities remained a state monopoly until recently. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has broken through that launch monopoly and Amazon’s Blue Origin rocket will soon be in the market too.
History of India’s space programme
Space for national development only: Delhi’s main objective was to leverage outer space to accelerate national development. Eventually, military and commercial dimensions began to envelop the Indian space programme.
Cooperation with Soviet Union: India’s space programme began with intensive cooperation with the Western countries and later with the Soviet Union. Delhi also offered space cooperation to other developing countries within the rubric of engagement with friendly governments.
Sanctions halted India’s progress: The non-proliferation sanctions on India after its first nuclear test in 1974 severely constricted the space for the country in international space cooperation. It was only after the historic civil nuclear initiative that the sanctions regime began to ease.
What should be India’s future approach in space domain?
Commercially leveraging the space using MTCR: India is now part of the Missile Technology Control Regime that regulates commerce in space related commodities and technologies.
Dual use technology under Wassenaar Arrangement: India is also part of the Wassenaar Arrangement that controls trade in dual use technologies that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
The growing range of new space possibilities: From using satellites for delivering broadband internet to the mining of the Moon and from space manufacturing to deep space exploration. Put simply, the scale of the global economy is rapidly growing its value is expected to more than double from about $450 billion in 2022 to nearly one trillion dollars within a decade.
It must be about business and economy: For India, outer space can no longer be about narrowly framed ideas of “development” and “national prestige”. It must be about business and economy. The current Indian share of the global space economy is barely 2 per cent. PM Modi has been demanding that India rapidly increase its share to 8 per cent in the coming years.
The private sector companies for larger role: Raising the Indian share of the global space economy can only be done by drawing in the private sector companies to play a larger role. Consider, for example, The Artemis 1 rocket was launched last week and the programme involves a number of leading aerospace companies like Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, Airbus and Space X.
International cooperation in national space programmes: If Apollo was a purely national project of the United States, the Artemis programme is a multinational endeavor between the US and its partners, including France, Canada, and Japan. Meanwhile Russia and China are coming together to collaborate not only on their space programmes, but also on building a joint base on the Moon that will establish long term human presence there.
Capital support for space programme: India has just about embarked on a programme to enhance the contribution of its private sector in outer space. India is also drawing on foreign capital to support its start-ups. Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, for example, is a major investor in Skyroot Aerospace that launched the Vikram S rocket.
Conclusion
Many Western aerospace companies will be eager to invest in India’s space programme as it begins to open up. India is also coming to terms with the fact that international cooperation is not just an “add-on” to the national space programme, but must be an integral part of India’s space strategy.
Mains Question
Q. 20th century was dominated by monopoly of government in space domain. Elaborate. How India can commercialize the space sector with help of private players?
On November 10, the Supreme Court gave the Centre four weeks’ time to file a response clarifying its stand on a plea seeking national heritage status for the ‘Ram Setu’.
Ram Setu
Also known as Adam’s bridge, Ram Setu is a 48-km long bridge-like structure between India and Sri Lanka.
It finds mention in the Ramayana but little about its formation is known or proven, scientifically.
Conclusion by the researchers that Ram Setu is not man-made:
In 2003, space-based investigations, using satellite remote sensing imagery, by researchers at the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad concluded that Ram Setu is not man-made, but comprises 103 small patch reefs lying in a linear pattern with reef crest, sand cays and intermittent deep channels.
Cays, also known as keys, refer to low-elevation islands situated on surfaces made of coral reef.
Reasoning behind the conclusion:
It is reasonable to assume that Ram Setu is a linear ridge made of coral reefs and forms a shallow part of the ocean that is being constantly impacted by sedimentation processes.
Like the Great Barrier Reef, the Ram Setu is also a continuous stretch of limestone shoals that runs from Pamban Island near Rameswaram to the Mannar Island on the northern coast of Sri Lanka.
During glaciation period: During a global glaciation period that began around 2.6 million years ago and ended 11,700 years ago, the Indian coast, including parts of the Sethusamudram, may have been raised above water.
Post glaciation: The post-glaciation period witnessed a steady rise in sea levels around the world and coral polyps could once again have grown higher on the newly submerged platforms. And in time, the platforms may have been used by migrants to cross oceans.
Ramayana belief: The Ramayana refers to a putative land bridge in this region; believers hold it as the structure that Lord Rama and his army built to reach Lanka. This ridge may have been used in the distant past as a migratory route.
Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP)
Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP) can be traced back to the British, who Proposed as channel to link the Palk Strait with the Gulf of Mannar.
It was only in 2005 that the project was inaugurated.
Separating the shallow sea consisting of the Gulf of Mannar in the south and Palk Bay in the north is a somewhat linear coral ridge called Adam’s Bridge or Ram Setu.
This runs between Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka.
The SSCP, if completed, is expected to considerably reduce the navigation time between the east and west coasts of India.
“The Sethusamudram project envisages dredging of a channel across the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka to allow ships to sail between the east and west coasts of India, instead of circumventing the island nation.”
What are the Concerns raised about the project?
High energy waves may bring sediments: Computer models suggest that the central, eastern and north-eastern parts of the Palk Bay may be impacted by waves of higher energy. This means that these areas also receive more sediment, rendering them more turbid.
Alignment is not easy: The models also indicate that waves enter the Bay from its north and south, corresponding to how the channel is aligned.
High frequency of cyclonic storms: The area is also vulnerable to cyclonic storms. A cyclone in 1964 was so powerful that it wiped out the town of Dhanushkodi. Such storms can cause the local sedimentary dynamics to go haywire.
Dumping of dredged material may harm marine ecosystem: Finding safe places for dumping dredged material without harming terrestrial or marine ecosystems is therefore a big challenge.
Air and water pollution by the ships: Emissions from ships traversing the narrow channel will pollute the air and water. And if a rogue ship carrying oil or coal is grounded or strays from its course within the canal, it could cause an ecological disaster.
Religious belief of Significant Ram Setu: While environmental groups have been protesting against the project for the huge environmental cost it would entail, religious groups have been opposing it as they believe that the structure, which is mentioned in the Ramayana, is of religious significance.
What is the need of protection?
Marine biosphere reserves: The coral reef platforms between Thoothukudi and Rameswaram in the Gulf of Mannar were notified as a marine biosphere reserve in 1989.
Biodiversity rich area:
More than 36,000 species of flora and fauna reportedly live there, flanked by mangroves and sandy shores which are considered conducive for turtles to nest.
This is also a breeding ground for fish, lobsters, shrimps and crabs.
Of the 600 recorded varieties of fish in the region, 70 are said to be commercially important.
Area is already under stress:
This area is already threatened by discharge from thermal plants, brine run-off from salt pans, and illegal mining of corals.
The SSCP, if it becomes a reality, will be the final blow to this sensitive environment and to the livelihoods of the people there.
Perspective: Area is not only a religious belief but also a “Geo heritage site”.
While considering this issue from a believer’s point of view, it is also important to consider this feature from a ‘geoheritage’ perspective.
The geoheritage paradigm is used in nature conservation to preserve the natural diversity of significant geological features.
The value of abiotic factors like geology, soils and landforms is also recognised for their roles in supporting habitats for biodiversity.
Geodiversity here consists of varied landforms and features representative of dynamical natural processes, is under threat from human activities and needs protection.
Do you Know Underwater archaeological project at Ram Setu?
The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) will undertake a three-year scientific project.
The idea is to see whether Ram Setu is a man-made structure or not.
The most important aspect of the project is to establish its age, scientifically.
The explorers will apply a number of scientific techniques while attempting to date the Ram Setu, study its material composition, outline the sub-surface structure along with attempting to excavate remnants or artefacts, if any, from the site.
Once it is known, the information can be verified and co-related with its mention in the Ramayana and similar scriptures.
Conclusion
The Ram Setu carries the unique geological imprints of an eventful past. Therefore, it needs to be preserved not just as a national heritage monument, but also as a Geoheritage structure as defined from a scientific perspective.
Mains Question
Q. What is Sethusamudram Ship channel project? Discuss the Concerns raised over the stability of the project.
Introduce the answer by mentioning that India’s space sector has been under state monopoly for a long period of time. You can also link it with the recent launch of the Vikram S rocket.
In the body, list down points on why the participation of private sector in space activities is needed.
Next, mention the challenges associated with private sector participation.
The 27th Conference of Parties (COP-27) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change concluded on November 20 and the outcomes of the conference seem to be a mixed bag of achievements and failures.
In this context, this edition of The Burning Issue will expand on the outcomes of COP-27 and India’s steps and stand taken during the conference and finally a way forward.
What is COP?
The word ‘COP’ is an acronym for ‘Conference of the Parties. The ‘parties’ are the governments around the world that have signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a treaty agreed upon in 1994.
Every year, the COP is hosted by a different nation and the first such COP meeting – ‘COP1’ – took place in Germany in 1995. The conferences are attended by world leaders, negotiators, and ministers, and also by representatives from civil society, business, international organisations, and the media.
The latest COP-27 edition convened in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt with the theme “Together for Implementation” and to renew and extend the agreements reached in the historic Paris Agreement.
Major Positive Outcomes of COP27
Loss and damage Fund: Developing countries have been seeking financial assistance for loss and damage – money needed to rescue and rebuild the physical and social infrastructure of countries devastated by extreme weather – for nearly three decades. Finally achieving agreement on a fund is a major milestone. Now comes the difficult part – the fund must be set up, and filled with cash. There is no agreement yet on how finance should be provided and where it should come from.
World Bank reform: A growing number of developed and developing countries are calling for urgent changes to the World Bank and other publicly funded finance institutions, which they say have failed to provide the funding needed to help poor countries cut their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis. Reform of this kind was widely discussed at Cop27 which could involve a recapitalisation of the development banks to allow them to provide far more assistance to the developing world.
Adaptation commitment reaffirmed: Building flood defences, preserving wetlands, restoring mangrove swamps and regrowing forests – these measures, and more, can help countries to become more resilient to the impacts of climate breakdown. But poor countries often struggle to gain funding for these efforts. Of the $100bn a year rich countries promised they would receive from 2020 – a promise still not fulfilled – only about $20bn goes to adaptation. In Glasgow, countries agreed to double that proportion, but at Cop27 some sought to remove that commitment. After some struggle, it was reaffirmed.
First High-Level Expert Group Report: The highlights of the meeting included the launch of the first report of the High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities. The report slammed ‘greenwashing’ – misleading the public to believe that a company or entity is doing more to protect the environment than it is – and weak net-zero pledges and provided a roadmap to bring integrity to net-zero commitments by industry, financial institutions, cities and regions and to support a global, equitable transition to a sustainable future.
Launch of Executive Early Warnings for All initiative: Also during the Conference, the UN announced the Executive Action Plan for the Early Warnings for All initiative, which calls for initial new targeted investments of $ 3.1 billion between 2023 and 2027, equivalent to a cost of just 50 cents per person per year.
Launch Master plans to accelerate decarbonization: Another highlight of the conference was a so-called master plan to accelerate the decarbonization of five major sectors – power, road transport, steel, hydrogen, and agriculture – presented by the COP27 Egyptian Presidency.
The FAST initiative: The Egyptian leadership also announced the launch of the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation initiative or FAST, to improve the quantity and quality of climate finance contributions to transform agriculture and food systems by 2030.
Tipping points and Health: Since Cop26, the IPCC has published the key parts of its latest vast assessment of climate science, warning of catastrophic impacts that can only be averted by sharp and urgent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. A reference to the key finding of “tipping points” was put in. These include the heating of the Amazon, which could turn the rainforest into a savannah, transforming it from a carbon sink to a carbon source, and the melting of permafrost that releases the powerful greenhouse gas methane. Also inserted was a reference to “the right to a clean healthy and sustainable environment”
Where did COP 27 Lack?
Lack of support for the 1.5C target: COP27 is widely condemned for failing to offer any strong language in support of 1.5C, the critical climate threshold for humanity. While realistic hope of reaching the target is all but exhausted, striving to get as close to it as possible remains imperative.
No structure defined: The loss and damage fund has been established but the funding source and scale of this financial facility and its operating procedures have been left to a transitional committee which will present its report at COP-28 next year.
Indirect Gas promotion? : The final text of Cop27 contained a provision to boost “low-emissions energy”. That could mean many things, from wind and solar farms to nuclear reactors, and coal-fired power stations fitted with carbon capture and storage. It could also be interpreted to mean gas, which has lower emissions than coal but is still a major fossil fuel. Many countries at Cop27, particularly those from Africa with large reserves to exploit, came to Sharm el-Sheikh hoping to strike lucrative gas deals.
A baseline of emission reduction not touched: There were many agreements in this COP 27, but the baseline of emission reduction fixed in Glasgow could hardly be touched. It discussed “low emission” energy sources with renewables as future energy sources. It is feared that the development of new fossil fuel technologies may start under the guise of an undefined term like this low emission.
Only Coal ‘phase down’: It is disappointing that COP27 did not build on the decisions of COP26. Failing this, a strong message on the phaseout of fossil fuels could not be delivered. COP 26 called on the parties, inter alia, to move towards low energy systems through an unabated phasedown of coal. By failing to agree to phase-out fossil fuels at COP27, leaders have failed to strengthen the signal that the fossil fuel era is coming to an end and are keeping us on course to climate catastrophe. The world cannot afford to reduce coal in the first phase and then turn to oil and gas. This year’s COP didn’t show much emphasis on moving away from fossil fuels, and that’s disappointing.
India’s participation and stand
India’s announcements at the 26th and 27th Conference Of Parties (COP) are now the pillars of its climate leadership.
Announcement of a long-term strategy (LTS) for low carbon development: If COP26 last year was a watershed moment because the Prime Minister announced the country’s plan to go net-zero by 2070, this year’s COP27 in Egypt will be remembered for the country’s path-breaking announcement of a long-term strategy (LTS) for low carbon development. With this, India joins the coveted list of 56 countries that have submitted their LTS documents to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Addition of Carbon Dioxide in its LTS: There is a lot of scepticism about carbon dioxide removal (CDR), but India’s addition of CDR in its LTS shows we are open to new technology and will pilot these for climate change. The country has a strong forest policy and will continue to protect its forest and expand tree cover to act as a carbon sink.
India hails Loss and damage adoption: India has welcomed the adoption of the agenda item ‘Loss and Damage’ at COP27. India also expected action from rich countries in terms of climate finance, technology transfer and strengthening the capacity of poor and developing countries to combat climate change.
Sought clarity on the definition of climate finance: The 27th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP) to UNFCCC will also seek clarity on the definition of climate finance. The absence of a definition of climate finance allows developed countries to greenwash their finances and pass off loans as climate-related aid. India is very clear that the world needs a multilaterally agreed definition of climate finance.
India’s Long-term strategy (LTS) for Low Carbon Development: The key takeaways from this flagship strategy that will guide India’s actions in the coming five decades.
Prioritised six strategic sectors: electricity, transport, urban, industry, carbon dioxide removal and forests. Of these, electricity and industry sectors together account for over three-fourths of India’s CO2 emissions, while rapid changes are happening in the transport and urban systems.
Second, finance and investments. India has identified finance as a key enabler for its LTS vision. According to a Council on Energy, Environment and Water assessment, India will need $10 trillion to achieve the 2070 net-zero target. The LTS has moved beyond this high-level number and done a comprehensive assessment of the finance issue.
Third, changes to LiFE: LiFE is India’s call for citizens, communities, industry leaders, and policymakers of the world to adopt a lifestyle for the environment. The LTS nudges people to make simple yet effective sustainable choices, industries and markets to scale these, and government policies to support them. LiFE elevates the importance of individual contribution to the larger climate goal, giving it as much importance as industry and policy-level actions, an aspect largely missing from the climate discourse till now.
Fourth, invest in research and innovation. India’s LTS notes the relevance of research and innovation and identifies multiple technologies in the energy and industry sectors that need to be explored and scaled up. While the emphasis on innovation is great, it only focuses on technology-related innovations. Innovations in business models are equally important to push low-carbon technologies.
Fifth, adaptation, resilience and international cooperation. The LTS emphasises the need for strengthening basic infrastructure like irrigation systems and disaster-resilient buildings, institutional infrastructure for better disaster response, and raising incomes to bolster the capabilities of individuals and communities to adapt to the long-term impacts of climate change. This needs international cooperation, and multilateral initiatives and platforms.
Some lacking in the strategy
Non-inclusion of Carbon pricing mechanism: A crucial element missing in India’s long-term strategy. It could have included carbon pricing through the emission-trading scheme as a key instrument. The Centre has already announced the creation of a domestic carbon market and the lok sabha has passed it. This is going to be an important element of India’s strategy, but the LTS is quiet about it.
Lack of mechanism to assess progress: India’s strategy should present a mechanism to assess progress towards its intermediate goals and course corrections if necessary.
Way forward
We know that drastic emissions cuts are now needed to keep up with the Paris Agreement goals and keep the 1.5°C temperature limit within reach. This means we urgently need a commitment to:
No new fossil fuel investments;
Concrete plans to reduce global production and consumption of coal, oil, and gas, and
Decisions to end government support for all of these fossil fuels.”
For India, The next iterations of the LTC document should add more actionable information by proposing the prioritisation of sectoral actions based on modelling studies, assessing implications for economic growth and jobs, and the feasibility of various sectoral actions.
It will help government policies and private markets to move in the desired direction and make the LTS a detailed road map building on the guidelines presented in Egypt.
Conclusion
COP 27 is an important milestone for achieving concrete progress and moving the needle on the climate agenda. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, set the tone of the Conference, stating, “We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”
There are also major opportunities for increasing energy security through enhancing energy efficiency. This too will contribute to addressing global climate change.
India did well to preserve its equities at COP27 and in supporting the constituency of developing countries. It is well placed to use its forthcoming chairmanship of the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to take the lead in tackling climate change through its example.
The use of technology in financial inclusion stands to be pertinent in today’s context as it paves the way towards inclusive growth through the upliftment of disadvantaged sections of society.
Importance of Financial Inclusion
Meaning of Financial inclusion: It refers to the availability to both individuals and companies of useful and cost-effective financial goods and services, including payments, transactions, savings, credit, and insurance, that are sustainably and ethically provided.
Provides social mobility: The importance of financial inclusion lies in the fact that it allows social mobility. These resources help empower individuals and foster communities, which can aid in promoting economic growth.
More financial services: Moreover, account holders are more likely to utilize additional financial services such as credit and insurance to launch and grow enterprises, make investments in their children’s or own health or education, manage risk, and recover from financial setbacks, all of which can enhance their overall quality of life.
Challenges to the financial inclusion
Inoperative bank accounts: Nearly 80 percent of the Indian population has a bank account, and nearly 18 percent (81.38 million) of bank accounts are inoperative, having “zero balance”. Moreover, up to 38 percent of accounts are inactive, which means that there have been no deposits or withdrawals in the past year, demonstrating that many Indians are still not fully integrated into the formal banking system.
Poor telecommunication infrastructure: India still needs a robust telecommunication infrastructure with a stable broadband internet connection. Despite progress in increasing technological features with increasing speeds, the inability of the entire country to adapt to these innovations has widened the gap.
All citizens are not cell phone users: India additionally faces the hurdle of getting its citizens online, with more than 310 million individuals needing a basic cell phone. This prevents account holders from receiving crucial information, such as details relating to account transactions.
Increasing dependency on local agents: In addition, financial institutions also need to be more willing to deliver messages for transactions of small quantities. These factors have led to an increasing dependency on local agents.
Rural- Urban digital Divide: There is an evident divide between the urban-rural regions that dominate India. Only 4.4 rural families have computers, compared to 14.4 percent of urban households and 14.9 percent of rural homes have internet connectivity, compared to 42 percent of families in metropolitan regions. Meanwhile, only 13 percent of adults in rural regions have access to the internet, compared to 37 percent in metropolitan areas.
High lending rates in rural area: Specifically, such gaps are associated with various factors in finance, starting with small-time lenders charging high-interest rates common in rural regions. Access to credit still needs to be solved. Government programmes are yet to reach more remote areas to improve loan availability efficiently.
Unawareness about Online loans: Individuals find that online loans need more options from reliable financial institutions or digital lending. Additionally, rural clients need help accessing prospective financial services due to complicated banking procedures such as requiring identity credentials and maintaining a specific balance in an account.
Limited access to technology: The digital divide is also a result of limited access to computer and communication technologies. In India, fewer people can afford the device needed to access digital information.
Single nationwide approach is problematic: India additionally faces the burden of providing diversified content across different regions, as individuals across India have different mother tongues. Moreover, the number of individuals who have access to computers or are knowledgeable enough to utilise the internet varies too widely between states. Thus, a blanket approach cannot be implemented nationwide.
Lack of Financial literacy: Indian citizens lack the potential to maximise technological interventions. About 266 million adults are illiterate. The lack of financial literacy has also greatly impeded the growth of financial inclusion, with many financial cyber-crimes peaking in proportion to the growing distrust among rural residents, leading to lower adoption rates and a 6-percent jump in cybercrimes in the same year.
Concerns of data privacy: As Personal Identifiable Information (PII) guidelines are not strictly enforced and adhered to, large quantities of data are readily accessible to numerous parties, raising serious concerns about data privacy.
What can be done to bridge digital divide for financial inclusion?
Digital inclusion strategies: It lies in the hands of the government to implement a financial inclusion policy and look at the reasons behind financial exclusion and effectively address them. Information and Communication Technology policies are primarily top-down and supply-focused. Thus, it is necessary to develop financial goods and services focused on the needs of citizens and the disadvantaged. These policies should focus on digital inclusion strategies to ensure that rural areas can access proper internet connectivity.
Information in regional language: to ensure digital financial inclusion, the government should encourage the middle-aged bracket to educate themselves in reading and writing to use the various facilities they provide. Government websites have information primarily in Hindi and English, excluding large sections of the population. A systemic strategy focused on digital skills, and financial literacy should be implemented in each region, keeping in mind the language barrier and access to technology.
Focus on vulnerable sections: To combat financial fraud, implementing a one-to-one Management of Financial Services (MFS) agent mentorship programme that focuses on vulnerable populations and teaches them the fundamentals of mobile and online interaction is possible. Additionally, removing the barriers to financial service access for low-income persons by reducing transaction costs could facilitate increased participation, as observed in Nepal, where free and easily accessible accounts were more prevalent among women
Conclusion
The digital divide affects every area of life, including literacy, wellness, mobility, security, access to financial services, etc. Therefore, for a fast-growing nation such as India, the focus needs to shift from simple economic growth to equitable and inclusive growth.
Mains Question
Q. What are the challenges to Digital financial inclusion in India? Explain in detail the strategies needed to tackle the financial inclusion?
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced a National Suicide Prevention Strategy, the first of its kind in the country.
What is Suicide?
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death.
Mental and physical disorders, substance abuse, anxiety and depression are risk factors.
Some suicides are impulsive acts due to stress (such as from financial or academic difficulties), relationship problems (such as breakups or divorces), or harassment and bullying.
Despite being entirely preventable, India has been increasingly losing individuals to suicide.
Why need such strategy?
Ans. Suicides in India
The burden of deaths by suicide has increased in India — by 7.2 per cent from 2020 — with a total of 1,64,033 people dying by suicide in 2021.
In India, more than one lakh lives are lost every year to suicide, and it is the top killer in the 15-29 years category.
In the past three years, the suicide rate has increased from 10.2 to 11.3 per 1,00,000 population, the document records.
The most common reasons for suicide include family problems and illnesses, which account for 34% and 18% of all suicide-related deaths.
The report follows a 2021 Lancet study that noted “India reports the highest number of suicide deaths in the world”.
About the National Suicide Prevention Strategy
The NSPS puts a time-bound action plan and multi-sectoral collaborations to achieve reduction in suicide mortality by 10% by 2030. The strategy broadly seeks to establish-
Effective surveillance mechanisms for suicide within the next three years,
Establish psychiatric outpatient departments that will provide suicide prevention services through the District Mental Health Programme in all districts within the next five years, and
Integrate a mental well-being curriculum in all educational institutions within the next eight years.
The strategy also envisages:
Developing guidelines for responsible media reporting of suicides and
Restricting access to means of suicide
Significance of the strategy
The most important thing is that the government has acknowledged that suicide is a problem.
We now have a well-conceived plan involving multi-sectoral collaborations, because the only way a strategy would work would be to involve various sectors.
The strategy should now be passed on to the States for them to develop locally relevant action plans; and then cascade to the district, primary health and community levels.
Why suicide is such a big issue?
More youth committing: For the youth of the country (15-29 years), among whom 1/3rd of all suicides take place.
Performance pressure: Data suggests that one student dies by suicide every 55 minutes, and 1,129 suicides among children below 18 years of age in 2020 were due to failure in examinations.
Farm distress: This is followed by farmer’s suicide and the gendered variance observed these days.
Gendered variances: More women are committing suicides these days.
Way forward
Holistic approach: Promoting national and sectoral research into the reasons for suicide mortality and its rise, and making culturally and economically appropriate suggestions to help mitigate the problem is critical.
Counselling by mass-media: During times of distress, media must promote health-seeking behaviour, correct information and counter the possible myths related to suicide.
Evidence-based interventions: Keep in mind the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized populations, like women and young individuals, providing the required support systems can reduce the number of lives lost and build a healthier response system.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change gave environmental clearance for the ambitious Rs 72,000 crore development project on the strategically important Great Nicobar Island.
About the Great Nicobar Development Project
A “greenfield city” has been proposed, including an:
International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT),
Greenfield international airport,
Power plant, and
Township for the personnel who will implement the project
The project is to be implemented in three phases over the next 30 years.
When was the project incepted?
The proposal to develop Great Nicobar was first floated in the 1970s, and its importance for national security and consolidation of the Indian Ocean Region has been repeatedly underlined.
Scope of the project
A total 166.1 sq km along the southeastern and southern coasts of the island have been identified for project along a coastal strip of width between 2 km and 4 km.
Some 130 sq km of forests have been sanctioned for diversion, and 9.64 lakh trees are likely to be felled.
Development activities are proposed to commence in the current financial year, and the port is expected to be commissioned by 2027–28.
More than 1 lakh new direct jobs and 1.5 lakh indirect jobs are likely to be created on the island over the period of development.
Features of the Project
Transshipment hub of the East: The proposed port will allow Great Nicobar to participate in the regional and global maritime economy by becoming a major player in cargo transshipment.
Naval control: The port will be controlled by the Indian Navy, while the airport will have dual military-civilian functions and will cater to tourism as well.
Urban amenities: Roads, public transport, water supply and waste management facilities, and several hotels have been planned to cater to tourists.
Why need such project?
Geostrategic advantage: The Island has a lot of tourism potential, but the government’s greater goal is to leverage the locational advantage of the island for economic and strategic reasons.
Critical shipping chokepoint: Great Nicobar is equidistant from Colombo to the southwest and Port Klang and Singapore to the southeast, the region through which a very large part of the world’s shipping trade passes.
Huge source of revenue: The proposed ICTT can potentially become a hub for cargo ships travelling on this route.
Countering Chinese presence: Increasing Chinese assertion in the Bay of Bengal and the Indo-Pacific has added great urgency to this imperative in recent years.
Malacca Dilemma
In recent years, China’s efforts to expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean Region to overcome its ‘Malacca Dilemma’ (China’s fear of a maritime blockade at the Straits of Malacca) and fulfil its ‘Maritime Silk Road’ ambitions have fuelled apprehensions about freedom of navigation in these waters.
Issues with the Project
Ecological damage: The proposed massive infrastructure development in an ecologically important and fragile region, including the felling of almost a million trees, has alarmed many environmentalists.
Threats to marine ecosystem: The loss of tree cover will not only affect the flora and fauna on the island, it will also lead to increased runoff and sediment deposits in the ocean, impacting the coral reefs in the area.
Damage control measures by the govt
India has successfully translocated a coral reef from the Gulf of Mannar to the Gulf of Kutch earlier.
The Zoological Survey of India is currently in the process of assessing how much of the reef will have to be relocated for the project.
The government has said that a conservation plan for the leatherback turtle is also being put in place.
The project site already is outside the eco-sensitive zones of Campbell Bay and Galathea National Park.
Conclusion
Given its physical location, the A&N Islands are the natural platform for collaboration between India and Southeast Asia.
By most accounts, political will in India and other countries to develop these islands is high.
Back2Basics: Great Nicobar Islands
Great Nicobar, the southernmost of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has an area of 910 sq km.
It has tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges reaching almost 650 m above sea level, and coastal plains.
The A&N Islands are a cluster of about 836 islands in the eastern Bay of Bengal, the two groups of which are separated by the 150-km wide Ten Degree Channel.
The Andaman Islands lie to the north of the channel, and the Nicobar Islands to the south.
Indira Point on the southern tip of Great Nicobar Island is India’s southernmost point, less than 150 km from the northernmost island of the Indonesian archipelago.
Great Nicobar is home to two national parks, a biosphere reserve, and the Shompen and Nicobarese tribal peoples, along with ex-servicemen from Punjab, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh who were settled on the island in the 1970s.
The Centre is bringing out a standard for publishing product reviews for e-commerce platforms this week.
What are the reviews on e-com platforms?
Reviews are the ratings given by customers who make any purchase on the e-commerce platform.
This is generally a star-rating system followed by user comments.
It is particularly a social proof given by people who make judgments and decisions based on the collective actions of others.
Why do e-coms take such reviews?
Reviews are much more than just comments and can result in relevant content and information, both for you and your customers.
Since the biggest disadvantage of e-commerce is not offering the possibility for consumers to be face to face with the product, reviews can break this barrier.
Reviews can help sell more, gain new customers, accompany the consumer’s satisfaction, and target better.
Why reviews matter?
Ensure a good purchasing experience;
Create surveys and debates on products and/or services;
Provide a field for comments and instigate interaction;
Know how to deal with complaints and try to resolve them.
Why discuss this?
Consumer grievances ignored: More than one in two (58 per cent) consumers complain that their negative product ratings and reviews are not being published by e-commerce platforms.
Positive bias: Only 23 per cent consumers said that their negative reviews or ratings on e-commerce sites were published as it is.
Fake and deceptive reviews: Wasteful products are highly publicised with fake reviews and praises.
What are the standards set out by the govt.?
The framework for the standard was prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It is titled IS 19000:2022.The outlines are-
Guiding principle: The guiding principles of the standard are integrity, accuracy, privacy, security, transparency, accessibility and responsiveness.
Voluntary compliance: To start with voluntary, the standard could become mandatory after observing compliance to the standards by such platforms.
Grievance redressal: Once made mandatory, a consumer may submit grievances to the National Consumer Helpline, Consumer Commissions, or the CCPA, against misleading reviews.
Punishment: If made mandatory, the violation of the standard, can invite punishment for unfair trade practice or violation of consumer rights.
Review authentication: The standard prescribes specific responsibilities for the review author and the review administrator. For the review author, these include confirming acceptance of terms and conditions, providing contact information.
Consumer data protection: For review administrator, these include safeguarding personal information and training of staff.
Traceability and genuineness of the review author: The standard also provides for methods for verification of the review author through email address, identification by telephone call or SMS, confirming registration by clicking on a link, using captcha system.
Significance of the standards
The standard is expected to benefit all stakeholders in the e-commerce ecosystem, that is, consumers, e-commerce platforms, sellers, etc.
It will help usher in confidence among consumers to purchase goods online and help them take better purchase decisions.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has attempted the 200th consecutively successful launch of the Rohini RH-200 sounding rocket from Thumba.
RH-200 (Rohini )
RH-200 is a two-stage rocket capable of climbing to a height of 70 km bearing scientific payloads.
The first and second stages of RH-200 are powered by solid motors. The ‘200’ in the name denotes the diameter of the rocket in mm.
Other operational Rohini variants are RH-300 Mk-II and RH-560 Mk-III.
For years, the RH-200 rocket had used a polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based propellant.
The first RH-200 to use a new propellant based on hydroxyl-terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) was successfully flown from the TERLS in September 2020.
The first and second stages of RH200 rocket are powered by solid motors.
Since inception of RH200 rocket, both solid stages are processed using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based propellant.
As compared to PVC based propellants, HTPB based propellant is more energetic, higher mechanical & interface properties and has less defects due to lower processing temperature.
What basically is a Sounding Rocket?
A sounding rocket is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight.
The rockets are used to launch instruments from 48 to 145 km above the surface of the Earth, the altitude generally between weather balloons and satellites.
The maximum altitude for balloons is about 40 km and the minimum for satellites is approximately 121 km.
History of sounding rockets in India
Sounding rockets have an important place in the ISRO story.
The first sounding rocket to be launched from Thumba was the American Nike-Apache — on November 21, 1963.
After that, two-stage rockets imported from Russia (M-100) and France (Centaure) were flown. The ISRO launched its own version — Rohini RH-75 — in 1967.
The ISRO has launched more than 1,600 RH-200 rockets so far.
Currently, the RH200, RH300 MkII and RH560 Mk-III rockets are operational which were developed during the early phase of our journey in rocketry.
Certain services at CDSL (Central Depositories Services India Ltd) were disrupted due to a suspected cyber-attack over the weekend.
What is CDSL?
CDSL, or Central Depositories Services India Ltd, is a government-registered share depository, alongside its other state-owned counterpart National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL).
It was founded in 1999.
It is a Market Infrastructure Institution or MII that is deemed as a crucial part of the capital market structure, providing services to all market participants, including exchanges, clearing corporations, depository participants, issuers and investors.
Share depositories hold shares in an electronic or dematerialised form and are an enabler for securities transactions, playing a somewhat similar role to what banks play in handling cash and fixed deposits.
While banks help customers keep their cash in electronic form, share depositories help consumers store shares in a dematerialised form.
Functions of CDSL
CDSL facilitates holding and transacting in securities in the electronic form and facilitates settlement of trades done on stock exchanges.
These securities include equities, debentures, bonds, Exchange traded Funds (ETFs), units of mutual funds, units of Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs), Certificates of deposit (CDs), commercial papers (CPs), Government Securities (G-Secs), etc.
22nd November (Tuesday), @7:30 PM | UPSC Mains Webinar by AIR 205 Durga Adhikary and Sukanya ma’am | Get AIR 205’s notes + CD’s economic geography (Covering 27 industries) notes. Fill up FREE mentorship and webinar registration form below.
Recorded session + free CD mains notes and economic geography notes-download
Guys, do you know that the months from November to Feb and even mid-March are known as the Golden Period for Mains preparation among UPSC toppers.
It is the time when you focus on developing answer writing skills, cover GS Mains topics, attempt tests, make improvements in your answers, and to put it in short – GAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE over the competition.
Utilize the 3 months of Golden period to gain a competitive edge in UPSC Mains preparation
Before you jump on the Prelims mode for UPSC 2023, you must make full use of the coming three months. And to help you strategize and get your Mains prep streamlined we have Durga Prasad Adhikary, AIR 205, UPSC 2021 take a session for you.
AIR 205 in UPSC 2021
Durga Prasad Adhikary scored one of the highest marks in UPSC 2021 Mains and if not for the interview score he would have scored a rank of under 50.
Masterclass Details: 22nd Nov, At 7:30 PM
Register and we will email you the Zoom link.
UPSC Topper Durga Prasad & Sukanya Rana, Mains Program head will be taking up a webinar masterclass to help you make a comparative analysis of toppers’ approach along with the vital skills to write UPSC mains answers like a topper.
Recorded session + free CD mains notes and economic geography notes-download
How to make the best use of the next 3-4 months for UPSC Mains preparation and learn answer writing? Integrating Mains answer writing practice in daily preparation.
How to write 200-word answers in just 7 to 8 minutes?
How to complete a mains paper in 3 hrs?How to increase writing speed?
Current affairs as well as the static strategy for UPSC’s mains preparation.
How to understand the demand of a question fully and correctly before contemplating an answer for it.
How toppers develop a basic mental framework of the answer before committing anything on the paper?
What are the top skills that every topper acquires to write a number fetching answers?
How to integrate UPSC mains in your day-to-day preparation
As a beginner how to self-evaluate your mains answers? How to collect takeaways from 2022’s mains paper?
How to do a trend analysis of the past 4 years?
How to maintain ‘accuracy’, ‘brevity’, and ‘Clarity’ in each and every answer?
How to do a comparative analysis of toppers’ approach. How do they create an on-demand answer and how do they follow the answer writing basic rules- ‘Brainstorming’, ‘Outlining’, ‘Idea/Argument placement, and ‘Structuring’
Do and don’t of UPSC to keep in mind while answering writing? The most common mistakes will also be discussed.
Recorded session + free CD mains notes and economic geography notes-download
Durga Prasad Adhikary is a student of Civilsdaily’s Smash Mains program. He scored 820 marks in UPSC Mains 2021 (one of the highest) & secured AIR 205 in UPSC 2021 – allocated IPS. He also cleared UPSC IFoS (AIR 21).
About Sukanya Ma’am
Sukanya Rana:
Our Civilsdaily Mains Program Head Mrs. Sukanya Rana has mentored 1500+ students & 100+ Rankers across multiple stages from prelims to mains to interviews. She is part of Smash Mains as an Ethics Mentor and helped Civilsdaily topper to achieve their dream.
She has firsthand experience with 4 mains and 2 interviews of UPSC. She has also appeared in the State PCS interview.
Sukanya Ma’am has scored consistently 100+ marks in ethics and in 2019 her marks were 140 in GS 4. In 2020 and 2021, under her mentorship, many smash mains students were able to secure 110+ marks.
Recorded session + free CD mains notes and economic geography notes-download
CD Warzone Telegram link at the bottom of the article
UPSC exam is all about, answer writing, everyone suggests you write answers on a daily basis, but managing exam Preparation and writing 4-5 answers every day is a herculean task. No matter if you are a beginner or a veteran, Answer writing is important, and just because you are not able to write 4-5 answers on a daily basis, ignoring answer writing is a horrible idea.
Why an answer every day?
1) One answer per day is manageable, whether a beginner or a veteran, a sincere IAS Aspirant is easily able to write one answer per day, in addition to his studies.
2) Writing one answer every day will help you improve your answer writing speed, if you are able to write one answer every day in under 7.5 minutes, you will be in a much better position to attempt full lengths mocks.
3) Discipline and routine are much needed for this exam, daily answer writing at a fixed time will give you a routine, and gradually you will develop a habit.
How daily answer wars will help you:
1) Once you are into this initiative, you are in a telegram group where many others like you have attempted the same question at the same time, it helps you to check your accuracy and do a peer review.
2) When collective man hours go into one answer, we get at least 20 new dimensions for that answer, since each aspirant is unique, and each perspective is unique.
3) Our Senior IAS Mentors go through your answers every day and provide you with their expertise on each and every answer.
How does it work?
Every day there will be a YouTube live at 11 am, ideally, you are expected to submit your answers during the live session, but we extend the time till 2 PM, you can post your answers in the telegram group. In the evening there would be another YouTube live where our Mentor comes and provide you with feedback.
![[Burning issue] Outcomes of the COP-27](https://d18x2uyjeekruj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cop-1.jpg)
