From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Z-Morh tunnel
Mains level: Not Much
The crucial Z-Morh tunnel that connects Gagangir and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh highway will be inaugurated next month in April.
What is Z-Morh tunnel?
Z-Morh tunnel, also known as the Zoji-Morh Tunnel, is an under-construction tunnel located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The tunnel is being constructed at an elevation of 11,578 feet and is expected to provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.
Location
The Z-Morh tunnel is located on National Highway 1D, which is the only road that connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India.
The tunnel is being constructed in the Zoji-Morh region, which is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the Srinagar-Leh Highway.
It’s Construction
The Z-Morh tunnel is being constructed at a length of 6.5 km and is expected to be completed at a cost of around Rs. 2,000 crore.
The tunnel will have a two-lane carriageway and will be constructed using the latest tunnelling technology.
The project is being executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Significance
The tunnel is expected to provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, which is currently cut off from the rest of India for several months during the winter season due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.
The tunnel will also reduce the travel time between Srinagar and Leh by around four hours, as it will eliminate the need to cross the Zoji-Morh pass.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Read the attached story
Mains level: Utilizing defunct mines for RE generation
Central idea: Green Gravity is an Australian renewable energy company that has developed a unique scheme to generate electricity. The company’s plan involves using defunct mines, such as the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka, India, to produce reliable and cost-effective renewable energy.
The breakthrough: Gravity-Operated Weighted Blocks
It uses a weighted block of up to 40 tonnes up to the top of a mine shaft using renewable power during the day when it is available.
When backup power is required, the heavy block will fall under gravity, powering a generator via a connected shaft or rotor.
The depth to which the block falls can be determined via a braking system, giving control over the amount of power produced.
Comparison to Pumped Hydropower Storage
Green Gravity’s approach is similar to the well-established approach of “pumped hydropower” storage.
In this approach, water is pumped upstream electrically into a reservoir and released downhill to move a turbine and produce electricity when needed.
Need for such technology
Renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, often faces the challenge of being unreliable during nights or windless days.
Charging a battery for backup power is very expensive and inefficient.
Advantages of Weighted Blocks over Water
Using weighted blocks instead of water means that decommissioned mines can be put to use, and the environmental costs and challenges of moving water up can be avoided.
This approach can also mean less reliance on coal-produced power and access to reliable power.
Potential Use in KGF
The Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka, India, is an iconic but defunct gold mine that has the potential to be used for renewable energy production.
The weighted block apparatus could produce up to thousands of megawatt-hours of power from the mine’s deep shafts, some of which run nearly 3,000 metres.
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Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Essential Medicines
Mains level: Read the attached story
Prices of 384 essential drugs and over 1,000 formulations are set to see a hike of over 11%, due to a sharp rise in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
Implications for customers
Annual hikes in the prices of drugs listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) are based on the WPI.
The price surge will mean that consumers have to pay more for routine and essential drugs, including painkillers, anti-infection drugs, cardiac drugs, and antibiotics.
What are Essential Medicines?
As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), Essential Medicines are those that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare hence prepared and released the first National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) of India in 1996 consisting of 279 medicines.
The list is made with consideration to disease prevalence, efficacy, safety and comparative cost-effectiveness of the medicines.
Such medicines are intended to be available in adequate amounts, in appropriate dosage forms and strengths with assured quality.
They should be available in such a way that an individual or community can afford.
NLEM in India
Drugs listed under NLEM — also known as scheduled drugs — will be cheaper because the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) caps medicine prices and changes only based on wholesale price index-based inflation.
The list includes anti-infectives medicines to treat diabetes such as insulin — HIV, tuberculosis, cancer, contraceptives, hormonal medicines and anaesthetics.
They account for 17-18 per cent of the estimated Rs 1.6-trillion domestic pharmaceutical market.
Companies selling non-scheduled drugs can hike prices by up to 10 per cent every year.
Typically, once NLEM is released, the department of pharmaceuticals under the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers adds them in the Drug Price Control Order, after which NPPA fixes the price.
Who regulates Drugs prices?
The NPPA was set up in 1997 to fix/revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce price and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995-2013.
Its mandate is:
To implement and enforce the provisions of the DPCO in accordance with the powers delegated to it
To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the NPPA
To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages and to take remedial steps
The NPPA is also mandated to collect/maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc., for bulk drugs and formulations and undertake and/ or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/ pharmaceuticals.
How does the pricing mechanism work?
Prices of Scheduled Drugs are allowed an increase each year by the drug regulator in line with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and the annual change is controlled and rarely crosses 5%.
But the pharmaceutical players pointed out that over the past few years, input costs have flared up.
The hike has been a long-standing demand by the pharma industry lobby.
All medicines under the NLEM are under price regulation.
Try this MCQ
Q. Which of the following is not a mandate of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)?
A) Fixing and revising prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations
B) Enforcing price and availability of medicines in the country
C) Monitoring the availability of drugs and taking remedial steps
D) Regulating the import and export of pharmaceutical products
Post your answers here.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CITES, WPA Act
Mains level: Not Much
A person in UP was booked under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for “illegally” keeping and nursing an injured Sarus crane (Grus Antigone) he found in his village.
About Sarus
The Sarus crane is usually found in wetlands and is the state bird of Uttar Pradesh.
Standing at 152-156 centimetres, it is the world’s tallest flying bird.
What is Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972?
WPA provides for the protection of the country’s wild animals, birds and plant species, in order to ensure environmental and ecological security.
It provides for the protection of a listed species of animals, birds and plants, and also for the establishment of a network of ecologically-important protected areas in the country.
It provides for various types of protected areas such as Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks etc.
There are six schedules provided in the WPA for the protection of wildlife species which can be concisely summarized as under:
Schedule I:
These species need rigorous protection and therefore, the harshest penalties for violation of the law are for species under this Schedule.
Schedule II:
Animals under this list are accorded high protection. They cannot be hunted except under threat to human life.
Schedule III & IV:
This list is for species that are not endangered. This includes protected species but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the first two schedules.
Schedule V:
This schedule contains animals which can be hunted.
Schedule VI:
This list contains plants that are forbidden from cultivation.
What is the law on animals and birds under Schedule IV?
Species mentioned under Schedules III and IV relate to the prohibition on dealings in trophy and animal articles without a license, purchase of animals by a licensee, and restriction on transportation of wildlife.
Section 48 of the Act specifically states that any wild animal or animal article can be transported only after obtaining permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden or any other officer authorised by the state.
Section 44 provides for issuing licenses to taxidermists, eating houses (hotels or restaurants), and dealers in animal articles, preserved animal parts or trophies, uncured trophies (whole or any unpreserved part of an animal), captive animals, and snake venom of such species.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Diabates among children
Mains level: Not Much
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to Education Boards of all States/UTs, stating schools must ensure proper care/facilities for children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that occurs when the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels properly.
Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the main source of energy for the body’s cells.
Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps the body use and store glucose from food.
In diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces effectively, resulting in high blood sugar levels.
Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems, such as damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Types of Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes: It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in a lack of insulin. This type of diabetes is typically diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age. It requires insulin injections or pump therapy for survival.
Type 2 diabetes: It is a metabolic disorder in which the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels. This type of diabetes is often associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet. It is typically diagnosed in adults, but it is becoming increasingly common in children and adolescents as well. Treatment for Type 2 diabetes may include lifestyle changes, oral medications, or insulin therapy.
Menace of diabetes in India
According to data from the International Diabetes Federation Atlas 2021, India has the world’s highest number of children and adolescents living with Type I Diabetes Mellitus (TIDM).
There are over 2.4 lakh TID patients in the Southeast Asia region.
Measures to mitigate TID impact on students
CBSE circular in 2017 allowed students with T1D in Classes X and XII to carry certain eatables to board exam hall to avoid low sugar episodes.
They are permitted to carry medicines, snacks, water, a glucometer, and testing strips.
NCPCR suggests states allow students to use smartphones to monitor sugar levels.
Tamil Nadu has been providing free insulin to children with T1D since 1988.
Back2Basics: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
NCPCR is a statutory body established in India under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
Its objective is to protect, promote and defend the rights of children in India.
It functions as a watchdog to prevent child rights violations, as well as to take action against those responsible for such violations.
The NCPCR also advocates for the implementation of laws, policies and programs aimed at promoting child welfare and development.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Mahila Samman Saving Certificate
Mains level: Not Much
Finance Minister while presenting the Budget 2023 announced a new scheme for women, Mahila Samman Saving Certificate. This scheme has now been operationalized.
Mahila Samman Saving Certificate
It is a one-time new small savings scheme of the government of India announced in the Budget 2023.
It will be made available for a two-year period up to March 2025.
This will offer deposit facility upto Rs 2 lakh in the name of women or girls for a tenure of 2 years.
The deposit facility will offer fixed interest rate of 7.5 per cent with a partial withdrawal option.
Benefits offered
It is a suitable alternative to fixed deposits (FDs) invested in the name of a woman for the short term.
The returns are higher than bank FDs and partial withdrawal makes liquidity less of a concern.
Other details
The Scheme will be rolled out through banks and post offices across the country.
The taxation structure is yet to be known and the scheme is expected to be available from April 1, 2023.
How is it different from Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
SSY is a small deposit scheme of the government of India meant exclusively for a girl child. The scheme is meant to meet the education and marriage expenses of a girl child.
The current rate of interest offered by Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is 7.6%, which is compounded annually.
Account can be opened in the name of a girl child till she attains the age of 10 years.
The total amount deposited in an account shall not exceed Rs 1,50,000 in a financial year.
Sukanya Samriddhi scheme has tax benefits under Section 80C.
The account matures after 21 years from the date of opening or on marriage of the girl child under whose name the account is opened, whichever is earlier.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Biotransformation Technology
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: The article highlights the issue of plastic waste generated by e-commerce giant Amazon and the need for a biotransformation technology that can make plastics biodegradable and its potential applications in reducing plastic waste in various industries.
Amazon’s Plastic Waste Problem
Amazon generated 321 million kilograms (709 million pounds) of plastic from packaging waste in 2021.
The amount of plastic waste generated by Amazon in 2021 is enough to circle the Earth over 800 times as air pillows.
What is Biotransformation Technology?
Biotransformation technology is a novel approach to ensure plastics that escape refuse streams are processed efficiently and broken down.
The technology was co-developed by Polymateria and the Imperial College in London, UK.
Plastics made using this technology are given a pre-programmed time during which the manufactured material looks and feels like conventional plastics without compromising on quality.
Once the product expires and is exposed to the external environment, it self-destructs and biotransforms into bioavailable wax, which is then consumed by microorganisms, converting waste into water, CO2, and biomass.
The technology is the world’s first that ensures polyolefins fully biodegrade in an open environment without causing any microplastics.
Need for Biotransformation Technology
India generates 3.5 billion kgs of plastic waste annually, and a third of it comes from packaging waste.
In 2019, plastic packaging waste from e-commerce firms was estimated at over a billion kilograms worldwide.
Amazon generated nearly 210 million kgs (465 million pounds) of plastic from packaging waste in 2019.
Up to 10 million kgs (22.44 million pounds) of Amazon’s plastic packaging ended up in the world’s freshwater and marine ecosystems as pollution in 2019.
Application of this technology
The food packaging and healthcare industries are the two prime sectors that could use this technology to reduce waste.
The increase in cost is relatively small compared to conventional plastic which does not contain this technology.
Some well-known Indian firms in the food and packaging industries deploy such technologies.
Within healthcare and pharma industries, this technology provides biodegradable solutions for non-woven hygiene products like diapers, sanitary napkins, facial pads, etc.
India’s initiatives to tackle plastic pollution
Phased elimination: The Indian government launched a plastic waste management gazette to help tackle the ever-growing plastic pollution caused by single-use plastics. The government imposed a ban on single-use plastics last year to bring a stop to its use in the country.
National Dashboard on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management: It brings all stakeholders together to track the progress made in eliminating single-use plastic and effectively managing such waste.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal: It helps in improving accountability traceability, and facilitating ease of compliance reporting in relation to EPR obligations of the producers, importers, and brand-owners.
Lifecycle monitoring: India has developed a mobile app to report single-use plastics grievances to check the sale, usage, or manufacturing of single-use plastics in their area.
Alternatives to Reducing Plastic Waste
A switch to jute or paper-based packaging could potentially cut down plastic waste.
Wooden packaging is yet another alternative, but that will make the packaging bulkier and increase the cost.
The alternatives can be made using coir, bagasse, rice and wheat bran, plant and agricultural residue, banana and areca leaves.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Interest Rates Risk
Mains level: Global banking crisis
Central idea: Finance Minister urged banks to remain vigilant about “interest rate risks” and undertake regular stress tests during a review of public sector banks’ (PSBs) performance on March 25.
Why in news?
Inflation-led rising interest rates across the world have caused concerns of contagion effects from banking crises in the US and Europe.
What is Interest Rate Risk?
Interest rate risk refers to the possibility that a loss could happen as a result of a fluctuation in interest rates.
A bond’s or another fixed-income security’s value will decrease if the rate rises.
Interest rate movement typically has an inverse relationship with the market value of fixed-income assets.
In general, the values of currently issued fixed income instruments decrease when interest rates rise and rise when interest rates decrease.
How does it affect banks?
Interest rate risk affects banks in several ways-
Interest yields: Banks earn interest income by lending out funds to borrowers at a higher rate than the cost of borrowing those funds. When interest rates rise, the cost of borrowing funds for banks increases, thereby decreasing their net interest margins (NIMs) and profitability.
Bond yield: Banks also hold a large amount of fixed-income securities in their portfolios, such as government bonds, corporate bonds, and mortgage-backed securities. These securities generate a fixed interest income, which can be affected by changes in interest rates. When interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities held by banks decreases, leading to a potential loss in the value of their investment portfolio.
Liabilities burden: Banks’ liabilities, such as deposits, often have short maturities, while their assets, such as loans, have longer maturities. When interest rates rise, the cost of funding short-term liabilities increases, while the interest earned on longer-term assets remains fixed. This can negatively impact banks’ profitability and cash flows.
Why do banks resort to interest rate increases?
Banks resort to interest rate increases for several reasons-
Combatinflation: When the economy experiences a rapid increase in prices, the central bank may raise interest rates to discourage borrowing and spending, thereby cooling down the economy and reducing inflationary pressures.
Attract deposits: Banks may raise interest rates to attract more deposits from savers, which in turn allows them to lend more money and earn more profits.
Protection against risks: banks may also raise interest rates in response to changes in the global financial market or to protect their own financial stability in the face of potential risks or shocks.
Try this MCQ:
Which of the following best describes interest rate risk in banking?
(a) The potential loss of income due to changes in interest rates
(b) The risk that borrowers will default on their loans due to high-interest rates
(c) The risk that banks will become insolvent due to low-interest rates
(d) The potential loss of value of a bank’s assets due to changes in interest rates
Post your answers here.
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Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Central idea: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is being asked to monitor card spend under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).
Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)
LRS is a facility provided by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to resident individuals to remit funds abroad for permitted current or capital account transactions or a combination of both.
The scheme was introduced in 2004 and has been periodically reviewed and revised by the RBI.
Under the scheme, resident individuals can remit up to a certain amount in a financial year for permissible transactions including education, travel, medical treatment, gifts, and investments in equity and debt securities, among others.
The limit for LRS is currently set at USD 250,000 per financial year.
Eligibility for LRS
LRS is open to everyone including non-residents, NRIs, persons of Indian origin (PIOs), foreign citizens with PIO status and foreign nationals of Indian origin.
The Scheme is NOT available to corporations, partnership firms, Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), Trusts etc.
Benefits provided by LRS
LRS is an easy process that anyone can use to transfer money between two countries.
It’s especially useful for businesses because they can use it to transfer funds to India, and investors can receive their investments back home.
LRS also has some added benefits, like fast transfer timing and no issues with exchange rates.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Exercise Konkan
Mains level: NA
Ex Konkan, the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, was recently held off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea.
Exercise Konkan 2023
Konkan exercise is the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the UK’s Royal Navy.
INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate, participated in this edition.
They undertook multiple maritime drills to enhance interoperability between the two forces and imbibe best practices.
The exercises covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface, and sub-surface.
It included gunnery shoots on the surface inflatable target ‘Killer Tomato’, helicopter operations, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare drills, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), ship maneuvers, and exchange of personnel.
The exercise will help the Indian Navy and Royal Navy work together to improve maritime security and maintain a rules-based order in the region.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: PLI scheme
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central idea
The Indian government has given ₹1,645 crore in PLI incentives to electronics manufacturers to bring more of the supply chain to India.
There is a growing need for semiconductors as they are used in almost all modern electronics.
Many countries are moving away from China’s dominance in the sector due to supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical pressures.
Semiconductor manufacturing in India
Invest India agency estimates electronics manufacturing to be worth $300 billion by 2025-26.
While finished product facilities have been growing, fabs for chipsets and displays are rarer.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is set to announce the first semiconductor manufacturing fab soon.
Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) suggests India to leverage its strength in the electronics manufacturing value chain.
Foundry companies require high investments while OSAT generate better margins.
Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) set-ups take care of less capital-intensive parts of chipmaking and run specialized tests.
Many chip facilities tend to be captive units of large companies.
Importance of semiconductor manufacturing
Semiconductor fabrication units turn raw elements like silicon into integrated circuits used in practically all electronic hardware.
Fabs are highly capital-intensive undertakings costing billions of dollars for large facilities.
Fabs require a highly reliable and high-quality supply of water, electricity, and insulation from the elements, reflecting the high degree of precision, cost, and capital needed to make sophisticated circuits.
Countries have spotted strategic value in cornering segments of the value chain for fabs.
China has pulled ahead of Taiwan last year in terms of global sales from fabs.
The US passed the CHIPS Act to provide subsidies and investments to manufacturers opening fabs and making semiconductors in the US.
US also pushed some restrictions and sanctions on the Chinese semiconductor industry.
India’s advantages in semiconductor manufacturing
India has an advantage in semiconductor manufacturing as a large portion of semiconductor design engineers globally are either Indian or Indian-origin.
Chipmaking firms such as Intel and NVIDIA have large facilities in India that are already flush with Indian talent working on design problems.
China is losing control over this advantage in the face of sanctions and an ageing population.
Experts believes that without a sustainable pipeline of high calibre talent, China’s goals for the semiconductor sector will not be achievable.
Various challenges
Huge Investments involved: Semiconductor Fabrication facility requires many expensive devices to function. Complex tools and equipment are required to test quality and move silicon from location to location within the ultra-clean confines of the plant.
Economy of scale: In semiconductor fabrication, a high volume of production is required to be maintain so as to meet the increasing demand of the marketplace, at the same time, a strong financial backing as Indian market is very much uncertain about financial fluctuations.
Requirement highly skilled labour: Semiconductor fabrication is a multiple-step sequence of photolithographic and chemical processing steps during which electronic circuits are gradually created on a wafer made of pure semiconducting material. This actually requires high skills.
Scarcity of raw materials: From a value-chain perspective, it needs silicon, Germanium & Gallium arsenide and Silicon carbide which are not available in India and needs to be imported.
Uncertain Indian market: A semiconductor fabrication facility in India cannot independently rely on Indian customers for their entire sales structure. They have to maintain overseas customer base to balance inflections from Indian market due to market trends, government policies etc.
Disposal of hazardous waste: Many toxic materials are used in the fabrication process such as arsenic, antimony, and phosphorus. Hazardous impact on the environment by the industry may act as an impediment to India’s commitment to mitigate climate change.
Policy initiatives in India
Make in India:This aims to transform India into a global hub for Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM).
PLI scheme:In December 2021 the Centre sanctioned ₹76,000 crore under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to encourage the manufacturing of various semiconductor goods within India.
DLI scheme:It offers financial incentives, design infrastructure support across various stages of development and deployment of semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design.
Digital RISC-V (DIR-V) program: It intends to enable the production of microprocessors in India in the upcoming days achieving industry-grade silicon and design wins by December 2023.
India Semiconductor Mission (ISM):The vision is to build a vibrant semiconductor and display design and innovation ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design
Way forward
To ensure greater resilience in a volatile world, India needs to undertake the following measures to sustain the domestic and global semiconductor demand:
Policy framework: As foundry setup is highly Capital intensive, it must be supported with a solid long term plan and financial backing. This backing is required from the entrepreneur & the government both.
Fiscal sustenance: In text of Indian Government as tax holiday, subsidy, zero duty, financial investment etc. will play an important role in promoting the Fab along with the semiconductor industry in India; this will put further pressure on already large Fiscal Deficit.
Support Infrastructure: World class, sustainable infrastructure, as required by a modern Fab be provided, with swift transportation, large quantity of pure water, uninterrupted electricity, communication, pollutant free environment etc.
Conclusion
India’s electronic manufacturing incentive programs are geared towards breaking new ground in ambitious plans connected to popular brands such as Apple.
The Indian government is working to create an ecosystem that will facilitate sustainable growth and fiscal feasibility in the semiconductor industry.
The electronics value chain must be an international undertaking among like-minded nations with common values to be effective.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CAMPA, IPCC
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Synthesis Report, where the IPCC notes the significance of preserving natural ecosystems to mitigate climate change.
The report has raised concerns about the ongoing policy of afforestation in India that allows forests to be cut down and replaced elsewhere.
Afforestation in India
Afforestation has become an increasingly contested policy in India.
The government has pledged to add “an additional (cumulative) carbon sink of 2.5-3 GtCO2e through additional forest and tree cover by 2030”.
Why is CAMPA invoked in the IPCC report?
India’s Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has been accused of facilitating the destruction of natural ecosystems in exchange for forests to be set up elsewhere.
What is CAMPA?
CAMPA is a body established by the Indian government in 2002 on the orders of the Supreme Court.
The purpose of CAMPA is to promote afforestation and regeneration activities as a way of compensating for forest land that has been diverted to non-forest uses, such as for dams, mines, and other development projects.
The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 requires project proponents to identify land elsewhere for afforestation and pay for the afforestation exercise.
The money paid by project proponents is deposited in a fund overseen by CAMPA.
Controversies surrounding CAMPA
Unutilised fund: The money paid to CAMPA sits in a fund, but most of the fund remained unspent until 2013, leading to criticism of facilitating the destruction of natural ecosystems. In 2006-2012, the fund grew from Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 23,600 crore.
Threatening endangered landscape: CAMPA also came under fire for funding projects that endangered landscape connectivity and biodiversity corridors.
Unsustainability of artificial plantation: CAMPA has been accused for planting non-native species or artificial plantations that don’t compensate for the ecosystem loss.
Why is forestation under CAMPA unsustainable?
Natural ecosystems sequester more carbon: This report highlights the importance of preserving natural ecosystems and reducing the conversion of natural ecosystems to mitigate climate change.
Renewable energy installation is more sustainable: The IPCC report also found that solar power has more mitigating potential than reducing the conversion of natural ecosystems, and wind power was the third highest.
Conclusion
Preserving natural ecosystems should be recognized as an essential means to mitigate climate change, and environment impact assessments should include climate costs.
Policies such as afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and renewable energy must be carefully evaluated to reduce the impact of the climate crisis.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Various provisions for disqualifications of MP/MLAs
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: A politician has been sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 defamation case filed against him for his remarks about the surname of a community. This conviction could lead to his disqualification.
Disqualification of a Lawmaker
Disqualification of a lawmaker is prescribed in three situations-
Constitutional provisions: First is through Articles 102(1) and 191(1) for disqualification of a member of Parliament and a member of the Legislative Assembly respectively. The grounds here include holding an office of profit, being of unsound mind or insolvent or not having valid citizenship.
Defection: It is in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides for the disqualification of the members on grounds of defection.
Representation of The People Act (RPA), 1951: It provides for disqualification for conviction in criminal cases.
Disqualification under RPA, 1951
It provides for disqualification for conviction in criminal cases.
Section 8 of the RPA deals with disqualification for conviction of offences.
The provision is aimed at “preventing the criminalisation of politics” and keeping ‘tainted’ lawmakers from contesting elections.
Section 8(3) states: “A person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release.”
Appeal and stay of disqualification
The disqualification can be reversed if a higher court grants a stay on the conviction or decides the appeal in favour of the convicted lawmaker.
In a 2018 decision in ‘Lok Prahari v Union of India’, the Supreme Court clarified that the disqualification “will not operate from the date of the stay of conviction by the appellate court.”
This means that Gandhi’s first appeal would be before the Surat Sessions Court and then before the Gujarat High Court.
Changes in the Law
Under the RPA, Section 8(4) stated that the disqualification takes effect only “after three months have elapsed” from the date of conviction.
Within that period, lawmakers could file an appeal against the sentence before the High Court.
However, in the landmark 2013 ruling in ‘Lily Thomas v Union of India’, the Supreme Court struck down Section 8(4) of the RPA as unconstitutional.
Lily Thomas Verdict
The Lily Thomas verdict was a landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of India in 2013.
The verdict struck down a provision in the Representation of the People Act (RPA), which allowed convicted lawmakers to continue in office if they filed an appeal within three months of their conviction.
The provision, which was part of Section 8(4) of the RPA, had been criticized for allowing convicted politicians to continue to hold public office while their appeals were pending in higher courts, and for contributing to the criminalization of politics in India.The verdict was seen as a major step towards cleaning up Indian politics and ensuring that convicted criminals do not get to occupy public offices.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Guillotine Motion
Mains level: Not Much
Central idea: Amidst the ongoing stalemate in Parliament, some MPs said the government may guillotine the demands for grants and pass the Finance Bill without any discussion in the Lok Sabha.
What is a Guillotine?
A guillotine is an apparatus designed for efficiently carrying out executions by beheading.
It consists of a large, weighted blade that is raised to the top of a tall, erect frame and released to fall on the neck of a condemned person secured at the bottom of the frame, executing them in a single, clean pass.
The origin of the exact device as well as the term can be found in France.
The design of the guillotine was intended to make capital punishment more reliable and less painful in accordance with new Enlightenment ideas of human rights.
Guillotine Motion in Parliament
In legislative parlance, to “guillotine” means to bunch together and fast-track the passage of financial business.
It is a fairly common procedural exercise in Lok Sabha during the Budget Session.
After the Budget is presented, Parliament goes into recess for about three weeks, during which time the House Standing Committees examine Demands for Grants for various Ministries, and prepare reports.
After Parliament reassembles, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) draws up a schedule for discussions on the Demands for Grants.
Given the limitation of time, the House cannot take up the expenditure demands of all Ministries; therefore, the BAC identifies some important Ministries for discussion.
It usually lists Demands for Grants of the Ministries of Home, Defence, External Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development and Human Resource Development.
Why use such a motion?
Members utilise the opportunity to discuss the policies and working of Ministries.
Once the House is done with these debates, the Speaker applies the “guillotine”, and all outstanding demands for grants are put to vote at once.
This usually happens on the last day earmarked for the discussion on the Budget.
The intention is to ensure the timely passage of the Finance Bill, marking the completion of the legislative exercise with regard to the Budget.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Sharda Peeth
Mains level: Not Much
Home Minister said that the government will move forward to open Sharda Peeth on the lines of the Kartarpur corridor.
Why in news?
Activists request that the Sharda Peeth corridor should be made operational on the lines of Nankana Sahib Gurudwaras and the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan.
Sharda Peeth
Sharda Peeth is a Hindu temple located in the Neelam Valley in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
It is considered one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, or major shrines, of the Hindu goddess Shakti.
The temple is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, particularly those from the Kashmir Valley.
History and Significance
The temple is believed to have been established in the 6th century CE by Adi Shankaracharya, a famous Hindu philosopher and saint.
Sharda Peeth became an important center of learning and scholarship during the medieval period, attracting scholars from all over India and even from as far as Central Asia.
The temple was destroyed several times by invading armies and underwent major renovations and restorations under various rulers over the centuries.
The temple’s importance declined during the colonial period and it fell into disrepair in the years following India’s partition in 1947.
Current rundown state and Controversy
Sharda Peeth is now located in a remote and inaccessible part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and has become a subject of political and religious controversy.
The Indian government has long sought to open a pilgrimage corridor to Sharda Peeth for Hindu devotees, but this has been complicated by the ongoing conflict and tension between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
In recent years, there have been calls for the temple to be handed over to India or for it to be converted into a museum that can be visited by people from both sides of the border.
Significance in Kashmiri Identity
Sharda Peeth is an important part of Kashmiri Hindu identity and culture, and its restoration and revival have been a longstanding demand of the community.
Some Kashmiri Pandits view the temple as a symbol of their lost homeland and argue that its restoration would be a step towards reclaiming their cultural and religious heritage.
Others, however, caution against politicizing the temple and argue that it should be seen as a shared heritage of all Kashmiris, regardless of their religious or political affiliations.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Abel Prize
Mains level: Not Much
The Abel Prize for mathematics for 2023 was awarded to Argentine-American Luis Caffarelli, an expert in “partial differential equations” which can explain phenomena ranging from how water flows to population growth.
Abel Prize
The Abel Prize is a prize awarded annually by the King of Norway to one or more outstanding mathematicians.
It is named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802–1829) and directly modeled after the Nobel Prizes.
It comes with a monetary award of 7.5 million Norwegian kroner (NOK) (increased from 6 million NOK in 2019).
Its establishment was proposed by the Norwegian mathematician Sophus Lie when he learned that Alfred Nobel’s plans for annual prizes would not include a prize in mathematics.
The laureates are selected by the Abel Committee, the members of which are appointed by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Has any Indian ever won this prestigious prize?
Srinivasa Varadhan, an Indian-American citizen won the Abel Prize in the year 2007 for his valuable contribution in “probability theory and in particular for creating a unified theory of large deviation”.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CBUD App
Mains level: NA
Prime Minister has launched the ‘Call Before u Dig’ (CBuD) app, to facilitate coordination between excavation agencies and underground utility owners to prevent damage to utilities due to digging.
Call Before u Dig (CBUD)
The app is an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
Uncoordinated digging and excavation causes damage to underlying assets like optical fibre cables, leading to losses of about Rs 3,000 crore every year.
The app aims to prevent damage to utilities due to digging.
It will save potential business loss and minimise discomfort to citizens due to reduced disruption in essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity.
How does the app work?
The CBuD app connects excavators and asset owners through SMS/Email notifications and click-to-call.
It ensures planned excavations in the country while ensuring the safety of underground assets.
Excavating companies can inquire about existing subsurface utilities before starting excavation work.
Utility owners can find out about impending work at the location.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: IPCC
Mains level: Not Much
The IPCC Synthesis Report warns that the world is on track to breach the 1.5-degree Celsius global warming limit by the 2030s, which would cause irrevocable damage to the planet’s ecosystem and severely impact humans and other living beings.
What is IPCC Synthesis Report?
The IPCC Synthesis Report is a summary report produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that presents key findings and policy recommendations from the group’s previous assessment reports.
It aims to provide policymakers with a concise overview of the current state of knowledge on climate change, its impacts, and options for mitigation and adaptation.
The Synthesis Report is released at the end of each assessment cycle, which typically takes six to seven years, and is approved by representatives from the IPCC’s member governments.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The IPCC, an intergovernmental body was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
It was later endorsed by the UN General Assembly. Membership is open to all members of the WMO and UN.
The IPCC produces reports that contribute to the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the main international treaty on climate change.
Key highlights of the synthesis report
Climate extremes on rise: Due to the current global warming levels, almost every region across the planet is already experiencing climate extremes, an uptick in deaths due to heatwaves, reduced food and water security, and damage to ecosystems, causing mass extinction of species on land and in the ocean.
High vulnerability: More than three billion people live in areas that are “highly vulnerable” to climate change.
Boost up climate finance: The largest gaps in climate finance are in the developing world, but so too are the largest opportunities.
Key concerns raised
The report highlights the urgent need for-
Limiting the use of fossil fuels
Increasing finance to climate investments
Expanding the clean energy infrastructure,
Reducing nitrogen pollution from agriculture, curtail food waste, and
Adopting measures to make it easier for people to lead low-carbon lifestyles
Conclusion
The report adds that there is still a chance to avert this mass-scale destruction, but it would require an enormous global effort to slash greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and completely phase them out by 2050.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Security Act
Mains level: NSA and its provisions
Punjab Advocate General has confirmed the invocation of National Security Act (NSA) to Amritpal Singh’s case.
National Security Act, 1980
The NSA was passed by the Parliament in 1980 and has been amended several times since then.
It empowers the state to detain a person without a formal charge and without trial.
It is invoked when a person is taken into custody to prevent them from acting in any manner prejudicial to “the security of the state” or for “maintenance of the public order”.
It is an administrative order passed either by the Divisional Commissioner or the District Magistrate.
Grounds for detention under NSA
NSA can be invoked to prevent a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, relations of India with foreign powers or the security of India.
Among others, it can also be applied to prevent a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supply and services essential to the community.
An individual can be detained without a charge for a maximum period of 12 months.
The detained person can be held for 10 to 12 days in special circumstances without being told the charges against them.
Protection available under the Act
One crucial procedural safeguard under the NSA is granted under Article 22(5).
All the detained persons have the right to make an effective representation before an independent advisory board.
The board is chaired by a member who is, or has been, a judge of a high court.
The DM who passes the detention order is protected under the Act and no prosecution or any legal proceeding can be initiated against the official who carries out the orders.
Cases for misuse
The Supreme Court in earlier cases had held that to prevent “misuse of this potentially dangerous power, the law of preventive detention has to be strictly construed”.
“Meticulous compliance with the procedural safeguards” has to be ensured.
Criticism of NSA
Human rights groups have said in the past that the Act vitiates Article 22 of the Constitution and various provisions under the CrPC that safeguard the interest of an arrested person.
Under the CrPC, the arrested person has to be produced before the nearest Magistrate within 24 hours, but the NSA carves out an exception.
Some human rights groups argue that it is often misused by authorities to silence political opponents or those who are critical of the government.
There have been calls for the Act to be repealed or amended to prevent its abuse.
However, there is an opposing view that the Act cannot be construed to be a draconian law as it protects the larger interest of the state and is therefore likely to stay.
Try this MCQ:
Which of the following is a true statement about the National Security Act, 1980?
A) The Act allows preventive detention only for specific violations of the law.
B) The detained person has the right to move a bail application before a criminal court.
C) A person can be detained under the Act only if he/she has been charged with a crime.
D) The Act can be invoked to prevent a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, relations of India with foreign powers or the security of India.
Post your answers here.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Enemy Properties
Mains level: Not Much
MA Jinnah’s house in Mumbai
The home ministry has begun the process to sell enemy properties, immovable assets left behind by people who have taken citizenship in Pakistan and China after wars with these countries.
What one means by Enemy Property?
Enemy property refers to the assets and properties of individuals or entities that have been declared as “enemies” by the Indian government.
This can include individuals or entities who are citizens of a country that is at war with India, or who have engaged in hostilities or acted against the interests of India.
Why was such a concept initiated?
In the wake of the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, there was the migration of people from India to Pakistan.
Under the Defence of India Rules framed under The Defence of India Act, 1962, the Government of India took over the properties and companies of those who took Pakistani nationality.
These “enemy properties” were vested by the central government in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India.
The same was done for property left behind by those who went to China after the 1962 Sino-Indian war.
The Tashkent Declaration of January 10, 1966 included a clause that said India and Pakistan would discuss the return of the property and assets taken over by either side in connection with the conflict.
However, the Government of Pakistan disposed of all such properties in their country in the year 1971 itself.
Dealing with enemy property
The Enemy Property Act, enacted in 1968, provided for the continuous vesting of enemy property in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI)under the Home Ministry.
The central government, through the Custodian, is in possession of enemy properties spread across many states in the country.
Some movable properties too, are categorised as enemy properties.
In 2017, Parliament passed The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, which amended The Enemy Property Act, 1968, and The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.
Total such properties in India
There are 12,611 enemy properties in India estimated to be worth over ₹1 lakh crore.
The government has earned over ₹3,400 crore from disposal of enemy properties, mostly movable assets like shares and gold.
None of the immovable enemy properties has been sold so far.
Out of the 12,611 properties vested with the CEPI, 12,485 were related to Pakistani nationals and 126 to Chinese citizens.
Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of enemy properties (6,255), followed by West Bengal, Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Tripura, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana.
Kerala, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Assam, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Daman and Diu, and Andhra Pradesh have enemy properties as well.
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