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Type: Prelims Only

  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    Kerala tops in holding Assembly sittings in 2021

    30 July 2022 | Prelims Only | Polity
    Mains GS2: Parliament & State Legislatures

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: State Assemblies for 2021 Report

    Mains level: States Legislature efficiency

    Kerala, which slipped to the eighth slot in holding Assembly sittings during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, returned to the top spot in 2021, with its House sitting for 61 days, the highest in the country.

    State Assemblies for 2021 Report

    • The report on the functioning of State Assemblies for 2021 is published by the PRS Legislative Research (PRS), a New Delhi-based think tank.

    How did other states fare?

    • Odisha followed Kerala with 43 sitting days; Karnataka 40, and Tamil Nadu 34 days.
    • But for the top three States, the average number of sittings of State legislatures would have been far lower than the present figure of 21 days.
    • Of the 28 State Assemblies and one Union Territory’s legislature, 17 met for less than 20 days.
    • Of them, five — Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Delhi — met for less than 10 days.
    • The figures for Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Punjab were 17, 16 and 11, respectively.
    • Andhra Pradesh with 20 ordinances and Maharashtra with 15 followed Kerala.

    Why is this ranking significant?

    • The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000-02), headed by former Chief Justice of India M.N. Venkatachaliah, had prescribed the standards for working of legislatures.
    • The Houses of State (/Union Territory) legislatures with less than 70 members, for example, Puducherry, should meet for at least 50 days a year and other Houses (Tamil Nadu), at least 90 days.
    • The Presiding Officers’ conference, held in Gandhinagar in January 2016, suggested State legislatures hold a minimum of 60 days of sittings in a year.
    • Between 2016 and 2021, the PRS points out, 23 State Assemblies met for an average of 25 days.
    • As for the ordinance route, which should be, according to the Supreme Court, used under exceptional circumstances, 21 out of 28 States promulgated ordinances last year.

     

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  • River Interlinking

    Supreme Court orders status quo on Kaleshwaram Project expansion

    29 July 2022 | Prelims Only | Economics
    Mains GS3: GS3-13.Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc:

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP)

    Mains level: Read the attached story

     

    The Supreme Court has ordered status quo on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) after it was told the Telangana government was increasing the capacity of the project without any environmental clearances.

    Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP)

    • The KLIP is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally in Telangana.
    • Currently the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, its farthest upstream influence is at the confluence of the Pranhita and Godavari rivers.
    • The Pranahita River is itself a confluence of various smaller tributaries including the Wardha, Painganga, and Wainganga rivers which combine to form the seventh-largest drainage basin on the subcontinent.
    • It remains untapped as its course is principally through dense forests and other ecologically sensitive zones such as wildlife sanctuaries.

    Grandeur of the project

    • Till date, the biggest lift schemes in the world were the Colorado lift scheme in America and the Great Manmade River in Egypt.
    • The capacities of these schemes are in horsepower and they took over three decades for completion.
    • Now, the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, an Indian lift scheme has become the worlds biggest in terms of capacities.

    Key facts associated

    • Built across Godavari river, KLIP will lift the water to a height of half-a-kilometre.
    • It is designed to irrigate 45 lakh acres for two crops in a year, meet the drinking water requirement of 70 percent of the state and also cater to the needs of the industry.
    • The foundation stone for the Rs 80,500 crore project was laid in 2016 and claimed to be the world’s biggest project of its kind, completed in the shortest time.
    • The government is planning to lift two thousand million cubic (TMC) feet of Godavari water per day from Medigadda barrage.
    • Claimed to be an engineering marvel, the project comprises 1,832 km water supply route, 1,531 km gravity canal, 203 km tunnel routes, 20 lifts, 19 pump houses and 19 reservoirs with a storage capacity of 141 TMCs.
    • It requires nearly 4,992 MW of electricity to pump 2 TMC of water every day in the first phase. The requirement will go up to 7,152 MW for lifting 3 TMC from next year.

    How important is KLIP to Telangana?

    • The project will enable farmers in Telangana to reap multiple crops with a year-round supply of water wherein earlier they were dependent on rains resulting in frequent crop failures.
    • This year, Telangana farmers have already delivered bumper rabi crops of paddy and maize due to better irrigation facilities and an extended monsoon.
    • KLIS covers several districts which used to face rainfall deficit and the groundwater is fluoride-contaminated.
    • Apart from irrigation, a main component of the project is the supply of drinking water to several towns and villages and also to twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
    • Mission Bhagiratha, to supply drinking water to every household in villages, draws a large quantity of water from the KLIS and some quantity from projects on River Krishna.
    • There is a burgeoning freshwater fishing industry in the state.

    Issues with the Project

    • The NGT has observed that the Telangana government subsequently changed the design of the project to increase its capacity.
    • By increasing its capacity to pump 3 TMC water from 2 TMC, large tracts of forest land and other land were taken over and massive infrastructure was built causing an adverse impact on the environment.
    • Extraction of more water certainly requires more storage capacity and also affects hydrology and riverine ecology of Godavari River.
    • Such issues have to be examined by the statutory authorities concerned.

    Back2Basics: National Green Tribunal

    • It is a specialized body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
    • With the establishment of the NGT, India became the third country in the world to set up a specialized environmental tribunal, only after Australia and New Zealand, and the first developing country to do so.
    • NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.
    • The NGT has five places of sittings, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four.

    Structure of NGT

    • The Tribunal comprises of the Chairperson, the Judicial Members and Expert Members. They shall hold office for a term of five years and are not eligible for reappointment.
    • The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
    • A Selection Committee shall be formed by the central government to appoint the Judicial Members and Expert Members.
    • There are to be at least 10 and a maximum 20 full-time judicial members and Expert Members in the tribunal.

     

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  • Tiger Conservation Efforts – Project Tiger, etc.

    Celebrating World Tiger Day

    29 July 2022 | Prelims Only | Environment
    Mains GS3: GS3-18.Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Tiger conservation

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    As the world celebrates yet another World Tiger Day July 29, 2022, there is sobering news.

    Why in news?

    • The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently confirmed that the tiger has gone extinct in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

    Tigers in India

    • India is home to a third of the global tiger population and the country’s success in saving the big cat is crucial to global efforts to protect their numbers.
    • India was the first country in the world to champion the cause of conservation of the tiger and its natural habitats.
    • The aesthetic, ethical and cultural value of tigers have also proved to be critical factors for saving tigers, which has also ensured the success of tiger conservation in India.

    Why is it necessary to conserve Tigers?

    The tiger is a unique animal that plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem.

    • Predation balance: It is a top predator which is at the apex of the food chain.
    • Regulation of herbivores: It keeps the population of wild ungulates in check, thereby maintaining the balance between prey herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed.
    • Ecosystem balance: Therefore, the presence of tigers in the forest is an indicator of the well being of the ecosystem.
    • Tourism: Apart from the ecological services provided by the animal, the tiger also offers direct use such as attracting tourists, which provide incomes for local communities.

    Various efforts to save Tigers

    India is home to 70 percent of the global tiger population. Therefore, the country has an important role to play in tiger conservation.

    [1] Project Tiger

    • The Government of India started ‘Project Tiger’ in 1972 with a view to conserving the animal.
    • As part of this project nine core buffer areas for maintaining tiger population were notified. Now, this has >expanded to 48 tiger reserves.

    [2] CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)

    • Besides protecting tiger territory, other measures being taken to save the tiger include: curbing wildlife trade through international agreements.
    • CITES is an international agreement between governments aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants, including tigers, does not threaten their survival. India ratified this treaty in 1976.

    [3] Global Tiger Forum and Tiger Range Countries

    • Established in 1994, the Global Tiger Forum is the only inter-governmental body for tiger conservation.
    • Its membership includes seven tiger range countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam.

    [4] CA|TS

    • 14 tiger reserves have been accredited under CA|TS (Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards) categories.
    • The CA|TS is a set of criteria that examines the management of tiger sites to gauge the success rates of tiger conservation.

    [5] St. Petersburg Declaration

    • This resolution was adopted In November 2010, by the leaders of 13 tiger range countries (TRCs) assembled at an International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia
    • It aimed at promoting a global system to protect the natural habitat of tigers and raise awareness among people on white tiger conservation.

    [6] Various NGOs

    • International NGO members consist of World Wildlife Fund, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and TRAFFIC.
    • Several national NGOs from India and Nepal are also members.

    Success of these efforts

    The four-year tiger census report, Status of Tigers in India, 2018 shows the number of the big cat has increased across all landscapes.

    The total count has risen to 2,967 from 2,226 in 2014 — an increase of 741 individuals (aged more than one year), or 33%, in four years.

    • At present, India has around 75% of tiger population and its source areas amongst the 13 tiger range countries in the world.
    • 2.24% of country’s geographical area is spread out in 51 tiger reserves in 18 States.

    Various threats to Tigers

    • Despite measures being initiated to protect wild tigers, habitat loss and poaching continue to pose a threat to the animal’s survival.
    • Tiger parts are used in traditional Chinese medicines, tiger skin is used for decorative and medicinal purposes and tiger bones are again used for medicinal purposes for curing body pain, et al.
    • Between 2000 and 2014, TRAFFIC’s research found that parts of a minimum of 1,590 Tigers were seized in Tiger range States, an average of two Tigers per week.

    Other existential threats to tigers

    • Man-Animal conflict: This largely seems a normal phenomenon in India. We broadly remember the case of Tigress Avni which was finally shot dead by the forest officials in Maharashtra.
    • Shrinking habitat: This often leads to territorial conflicts among the Tigers.
    • Issues with Tourism: Excess of tourist activities is problematic for animals. Frequent visits in reserved forests areas disrupt them to move freely for their prey.
    • Climate Change: The effects of climate change and floods are a major problem.  The latest study by WWF shows that Sundarban which is one of the biggest home of tigers in India would sink entirely in 2070.

    Way forward

    • The process of tiger conservation should be more dynamic and compatible with the future possibilities of climatic changes as well.
    • The Forest Department and the Central government can collaborate to protect the natural corridors to ensure the free movement of the tigers for better food resources.
    • Campaigns such as ‘Save the Tiger’ are recommended as effective measures to make people across the country and globe aware of the significance of conserving tiger species.
    • Sensitization of local communities against poaching is also a crucial measure in this regard.
    • We have to make the environment and development co-exist and go hand in hand by planning our future developmental goals in such a manner that our environmental goals are not compromised.

     

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  • Indian Navy Updates

    INS Vikrant inducted into Indian Navy

    29 July 2022 | Prelims Only | Internal Security
    Mains GS3: GS3-24. Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: INS Vikrant

    Mains level: Indigenization of defense production

    The Indian Navy took delivery of IAC-1 the ‘Vikrant’, the nation’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier from its manufacturer, Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

    Vikrant

    • INS Vikrant also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC-1), is an aircraft carrier constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the Indian Navy.
    • It is the first aircraft carrier to be built in India.
    • It is named ‘Vikrant’ as a tribute to India’s first aircraft carrier, Vikrant (R11).
    • The name Vikrant means “courageous” in Sanskrit.
    • Work on the ship’s design began in 1999, and the keel was laid in February 2009.
    • The carrier was floated out of its dry dock on 29 December 2011 and was launched on 12 August 2013.

    Why is it important for India to have an aircraft carrier?

    • An aircraft carrier is one of the most potent marine assets for any nation, which enhances a Navy’s capability to travel far from its home shores to carry out air domination operations.
    • Many experts consider having an aircraft carrier as essential to be considered a “blue water” navy — that is, a navy that has the capacity to project a nation’s strength and power across the high seas.
    • An aircraft carrier generally leads as the capital ship of a carrier strike/ battle group.
    • As the aircraft carrier is a prized and sometimes vulnerable target, it is usually escorted in the group by destroyers, missile cruisers, frigates, submarines, and supply ships.

    And why is it a big deal that this warship has been Made in India?

    • Only five or six nations currently have the capability of manufacturing an aircraft carrier, and India has joined this prestigious club now.
    • Experts and Navy officials said India has demonstrated the capacity and self-reliance to build what is considered to be one of the most advanced and complex battleships in the world.
    • India’s has had aircraft carriers earlier too — but those were built either by the British or the Russians.
    • The ‘INS Vikramaditya’, which was commissioned in 2013 and which is currently the Navy’s only aircraft carrier, started out as the Soviet-Russian warship ‘Admiral Gorshkov’.
    • India’s two earlier carriers, the ‘INS Vikrant’ and the ‘INS Viraat’, were originally the British-built ‘HMS Hercules’ and ‘HMS Hermes’.
    • These two warships were commissioned into the Navy in 1961 and 1987 respectively.

    Why will this new warship be named ‘INS Vikrant’?

    • IAC-1 — as the carrier is currently codenamed — has been designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND), and built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
    • Once commissioned, it will be called ‘INS Vikrant’, the name that originally belonged to India’s much-loved first aircraft carrier.
    • It was a source of immense national pride over several decades of service before it was decommissioned in 1997.
    • The original ‘Vikrant’, a Majestic-class 19,500-tonne warship, which was acquired from the UK in 1961, played a stellar role in the 1971 War with Pakistan.

    What weapons and equipment will the new ‘Vikrant’ have?

    • The new warship is comparable to India’s existing carrier ‘INS Vikramaditya’, which is a 44,500-tonne vessel and can carry up to 34 aircraft, including both fighter jets and helicopters.
    • The Navy had earlier said that once commissioned, IAC-1 will be “the most potent sea-based asset”, which will operate the Russian-made MiG-29K fighter aircraft and Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters.
    • The new ‘Vikrant’ will also operate the soon-to-be-inducted MH-60R Seahawk multirole helicopter manufactured by the American aerospace and defence company Lockheed Martin.
    • It will also take onboard the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) built by Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

     

     

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  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    Money Bill verdict holds the key: SC

    28 July 2022 | Prelims Only | Polity
    Mains GS2: Parliament & State Legislatures

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Money Bill

    Mains level: Issues with PMLA

    The court has left it open for a seven-judge Bench to decide whether the amendments to the PMLA could have been made to the PMLA through the Money Bill route.

    What was the case about Money Bill?

    • In November 2019, a five-judge Bench led by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi had referred to a larger Bench the issue and question posed in the Roger Mathew vs South Indian Bank Ltd. Case.
    • It inquired to whether amendments like these can be passed as a Money Bill in violation of Article 110 of the Constitution.
    • The petitioners had questioned the legality of the PMLA amendments which were introduced via Finance Acts/Money Bills.

    Correlation Money Bill

    • A Money Bill is deemed to contain only provisions dealing with all or any of the matters under clauses (a) to (g) of Article 110(1), largely including the appropriation of money from the Consolidated Fund of India and taxation.
    • In other words, a Money Bill is restricted only to the specified matters and cannot include within its ambit any other matter.

    What is a Money Bill?

    • A money bill is defined by Article 110 of the Constitution, as a draft law that contains only provisions that deal with all or any of the matters listed therein.
    • These comprise a set of seven features, broadly including items such as-
    1. Imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax
    2. Regulation of the borrowing of money by the GOI
    3. Custody of the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of money into or the withdrawal of money from any such fund
    4. Appropriation of money out of the CFI
    5. Declaration of any expenditure charged on the CFI or increasing the amount of any such expenditure
    6. Receipt of money on account of the CFI or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money, or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of a state
    7. Any matter incidental to any of the matters specified above.

    Who controls such bills?

    • In the event proposed legislation contains other features, ones that are not merely incidental to the items specifically outlined, such a draft law cannot be classified as a money bill.
    • Article 110 further clarifies that in cases where a dispute arises over whether a bill is a money bill or not, the Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision on the issue shall be considered final.

    Difference between money and finance bill

    • While all Money Bills are Financial Bills, all Financial Bills are not Money Bills.
    • For example, the Finance Bill which only contains provisions related to tax proposals would be a Money Bill.
    • However, a Bill that contains some provisions related to taxation or expenditure, but also covers other matters would be considered a Financial Bill.
    • Again, the procedure for the passage of the two bills varies significantly.

    Issues with notifying a bill as Money Bill

    • The Rajya Sabha (where the ruling party might not have the majority) has no power to reject or amend a Money Bill.
    • However, a Financial Bill must be passed by both Houses of Parliament.
    • The Speaker (nonetheless, a member of the ruling party) certifies a Bill as a Money Bill, and the Speaker’s decision is final.
    • Also, the Constitution states that parliamentary proceedings, as well as officers responsible for the conduct of business (such as the Speaker), may not be questioned by any Court.

     

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  • Digital India Initiatives

    Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

    28 July 2022 | Prelims Only | Governance
    Mains GS3: GS3-13.Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc:

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: USOF

    Mains level: Expansion of internet connectivity

    The Union Cabinet has approved a project for providing 4G mobile services in thousands of villages across the country under the USOF.

    What do you mean by Universal Service?

    • In the modern world, universal service refers to having a phone and affordable phone service in every home.
    • It means, providing telecommunication service with access to a defined minimum service of specified quality to all users everywhere at an affordable price.
    • In 1837, the concept was rolled on by Rowland Hill, a British educator and tax reformer, which included uniform rates across the UK and prepayment by sender via postage stamps.

    What is USOF?

    • The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was formed by an Act of Parliament, was established in April 2002 under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act 2003.
    • It aims to provide financial support for the provision of telecom services in commercially unviable rural and remote areas of the country.
    • It is an attached office of the Department of Telecom, and is headed by the administrator, who is appointed by the central government.

    Scope of the USOF

    • Initially, the USOF was established with the fundamental objective of providing access to ‘basic’ telecom services to people in rural and remote areas at affordable and reasonable prices.
    • Subsequently, the scope was widened.
    • Now it aims to provide subsidy support for enabling access to all types of telecom services, including mobile services, broadband connectivity and the creation of infrastructure in rural and remote areas.

    Funding of the USOF

    • The resources for the implementation of USO are raised by way of collecting a Universal Service Levy (USL), which is 5 percent of the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of Telecom Service Providers.

    Nature of the fund

    • USOF is a non-lapsable Fund.
    • The Levy amount is credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.
    • The fund is made available to USOF after due appropriation by the Parliament.

     

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  • ISRO Missions and Discoveries

    Russia to leave International Space Station (ISS)

    27 July 2022 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: International Space Station (ISS)

    Mains level: Implications of Russia-Ukraine War

    Russia will pull out of the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024 and focus on building its own orbiting outpost.

    Why in news?

    • Russia will end a symbolic two-decade orbital partnership between Moscow and the west.

    International Space Station (ISS)

    • The ISS was launched in 1998 as part of joint efforts by the U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe.
    • The idea of a space station originated in the 1984 State of the Union address by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
    • The space station was assembled over many years, and it operates in low-earth orbit.
    • Since its inception, it has served as a laboratory suspended in space and has aided multiple scientific and technological developments.
    • The ISS was originally built to operate for 15 years.

    Why was ISS launched?

    • A space station permits quantum leaps in research in science, communications, and in metals and lifesaving medicines which could be manufactured only in space.
    • ISS has consistently maintained human presence for the past 21 years, providing astronauts with sophisticated technologies for scientific research.

    What is Russia’s role in maintaining the ISS?

    • The ISS is built with the cooperation of scientists from five international space agencies — NASA of the U.S., Roscosmos of Russia, JAXA of Japan, Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency.
    • Each agency has a role to play and a share in the upkeep of the ISS.
    • Both in terms of expense and effort, it is not a feat that a single country can support.
    • Russia’s part in the collaboration is the module responsible for making course corrections to the orbit of the ISS.
    • They also ferry astronauts to the ISS from the Earth and back.
    • Until SpaceX’s dragon spacecraft came into the picture the Russian spacecraft was the only way of reaching the ISS and returning.

     

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  • Wetland Conservation

    India adds five more Ramsar Sites

    27 July 2022 | National Parks/WSPrelims Only | Environment
    Mains GS3: GS3-18.Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Ramsar wetlands in India

    Mains level: Not Much

    India has added five more Ramsar sites, or wetlands of international importance, bringing the number of such sites in the country to 54.

    Newly added Ramsar Sites

    1. Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest and Pichavaram Mangrove in Tamil Nadu,
    2. Sakhya Sagar in Madhya Pradesh
    3. Pala Wetlands in Mizoram

    What are Wetlands?

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

    Significance of Wetlands

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

     India and Ramsar Wetlands

    • India’s Ramsar wetlands are spread over 11,000 sq.km — around 10% of the total wetland area in the country — across 18 States.
    • No other South Asian country has as many sites, though this has much to do with India’s geographical breadth and tropical diversity.
    • The UK (175) and Mexico (142) — smaller countries than India — have the most Ramsar sites, whereas Bolivia spans the largest area with 1,48,000 sq.km under the Convention protection.
    • The National Wetland Inventory and Assessment compiled by the ISRO estimates India’s wetlands to span around 1,52,600 square kilometres.

    What makes Ramsar designation significant?

    • Being designated a Ramsar site does not necessarily invite extra international funds.
    • Acquiring this label helps with a locale’s tourism potential and its international visibility.

    Criteria for Ramsar site designation

    To be Ramsar site a place must meet at least one of the criteria as defined by the Ramsar Convention of 1961, such:

    1. Supporting vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities or,
    2. If it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds or,
    3. Is an important source of food for fishes,
    4. Spawning ground,
    5. Nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks are dependent upon.
    6. Static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres
    7. Does not include river channels, paddy fields, human-made water bodies/ tanks specifically constructed for drinking water purposes

    Back2Basics: Ramsar Convention

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

     

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  • Digital India Initiatives

    Generation of Unique Disability IDs ramped up

    27 July 2022 | Prelims Only |
    Mains GS2: Laws, Institutions & Bodies Constituted For The Vulnerable Sections

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Unique Disability IDs (UDIDs)

    Mains level: Not Much

    The generation of unique disability IDs (UDIDs) had increased from an average of 5,000 a day to an average of 7,000 to 9,000 daily during the 90-day Azadi Se Antodaya Tak campaign.

    Why such a move?

    • According to the 2011 Census, there were 2.68 crore people with disabilities.

    What is Unique Disability IDs (UDIDs)?

    • “Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities” project is being implemented with a view of creating a National Database for PwDs, and to issue a Unique Disability Identity Card to each person with disabilities.
    • It functions under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
    • The project aims only to encourage transparency, efficiency and ease of delivering the government benefits to the person with disabilities, and ensure uniformity.
    • The project will also help in stream-lining the tracking of physical and financial progress of beneficiary at all levels of hierarchy of implementation – from village level, block level, District level , State level and National level.

    Types of disabilities covered

    As per the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act, 1995 – A person with a disability can be defined as one with one or more of disabilities falling under any of the below-mentioned categories :

    • Blindness
    • Leprosy-cured
    • Cerebral Palsy: It means a group of non-progressive conditions of a person characterized by abnormal motor control posture resulting from brain insult or injuries occurring in the pre-natal, peri-natal or infant period of development.
    • Low vision: It means a person with impairment of visual functioning even after treatment of standard refractive correction but who uses or is potentially capable of using vision for the planning or execution of a task with appropriate assistive device;
    • Locomotor disability: It means disability of the bones, joints or muscles leading to substantial restriction of the movement of the limbs or nay form of cerebral palsy;
    • Mental retardation: It means a conditions of arrested or incomplete development of mind of a person which is specially characterized by sub normality of intelligence;
    • Mental illness: It means any mental disorder other than Mental retardation
    • Hearing Impairment: It means loss of sixty decibels or more in the better ear in the conversational range of frequencies

     

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  • Promoting Science and Technology – Missions,Policies & Schemes

    Private Sector Boost in India’s Space Industry

    26 July 2022 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: INSPACE, NSIL

    Mains level: Commercial space activities in India

    Principal Scientific Adviser stated earlier this month that the government would soon come up with a new space policy that could initiate the rise of India’s own “SpaceX-like Ventures”.

    Prospects of the proposed Space Policy

    • The final version of the policy would soon be referred to the Empowered Technology Group for further examination.
    • The proposed move would increase private sector participation in the industry.
    • The policy document recognizes that India has not tapped into its complete potential in space sector.

    Why is development in the space sector important?

    Ans. Address wide range of problems

    (1) Climate Change

    • Satellites provide more accurate information on weather forecasts and assess (and record) long-term trends in the climate and habitability of a region.
    • By monitoring the long-term impact of climate change at regional, territorial, and national scales, governments would be able to devise more pragmatic and combative plans of action for farmers and dependent industries.
    • Additionally, they can also serve as real-time monitoring and early-warning solutions against natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, wildfires, mining etc.
    • Real-time tracking can also serve multiple purposes in defence.

    (2)  Connectivity

    • In this light, it must be noted that satellite communications, which are used to facilitate telecommunication services, are among the major categories for investment in the space technology sector.
    • Satellite communication can reach more remote areas where conventional networks would require a heavy complimenting infrastructure.
    • Additionally, as to reliability, the World Economic Forum had stated that satellite communication can help connect 49% of the world’s unconnected population.
    • Other prominent categories include spacecraft and equipment manufacturing.
    • What essentially needs to be remembered is that the strategic space avenue is an integration of the aerospace, IT hardware and telecom sectors.

    Where does India stand in the global space market?

    • As per SpaceTech Analytics, India is the sixth-largest player in the industry internationally having 3.6% of the world’s space-tech companies (as of 2021).
    • US holds the leader’s spot housing 56.4% of all companies in the space-tech ecosystem.
    • Other major players include UK (6.5%), Canada (5.3%), China (4.7%) and Germany (4.1%).
    • The Indian Space Industry was valued at $7 billion in 2019 and aspires to grow to $50 billion by 2024.

    Why does India matter in the global space-tech market?

    • The country’s standout feature is its cost-effectiveness.
    • India holds the distinction of being the first country to have reached the Mars’ orbit in its first attempt and at $75 million — way cheaper than Western standards.

    Future prospects of India’s private ‘Space’

    Ans. India may lead in space junk management

    • Almost 60-odd start-ups had registered with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) this year.
    • A majority of them were dealing in projects related to space debris management.
    • As space becomes more congested with satellites, the technology would thus help in managing ‘space junk’ (debris of old spacecraft and satellites).

    Where does India lack?

    Ans. Undisputedly, it is the finances

    • The US and Canada were the highest receivers of space-related investment in 2021.
    • The US’s space budget was $41 billion in 2021, $23.3 billion of which was focused on NASA.
    • India’s total budgetary allocation for FY2022-23 towards the Department of Space was ₹13,700 crore ($172 million).
    • Further, as per Tracxn data, funding into the sector’s start-ups (in India) nearly tripled to $67.2 million on a year-over-year basis in 2021.

    How is the private sector’s involvement regulated in India?

    • In June 2020, the Union government announced reforms in the space sector enabling more private players to provide end-to-end services.
    • The central idea was to bring forth a predictable policy and regulatory environment for them and additionally provide access to ISRO facilities and assets to improve their capacities.

    (1) Establishment of IN-SPACe

    • An announcement for the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) was made.
    • It was mandated the task of promoting, authorising and licensing private players to carry out space activities.
    • As an oversight and regulatory body, it is responsible for devising mechanisms to offer sharing of technology, expertise, and facilities free of cost to promote non-government private entities (NGPEs).
    • IN-SPACe’s Monitoring and Promotion Directorate oversees NGPE’s activities as per prescribed regulations and reports back in case any corrective actions or resolutions are required.
    • ISRO shares its expertise in matters pertaining to quality and reliability protocols, documentation, and testing procedure through IN-SPACe’s ‘interface mechanism’.

    (2) Establishment of NSIL

    • Additionally, constituted in March 2019, New Space India Ltd (NSIL), is mandated to transfer the matured technologies developed by the ISRO to Indian industries.
    • All of them are under the purview of the Ministry of Defence.
    • Private sector’s involvement in the long term, as with other commercial sectors, is believed to help spur investment and expertise in the realm which is capital-intensive and demands high technology.

     

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