Daily News Simplified - DNS

26 09 19
Notes
SL. THE HINDU
TOPICS
NO. PAGE NO.

1 An Award and an unholy Trade-off 10

2 Modi Pitches for India’s NSG entry 01

3 Different Peas in Different Pods 10

4 New IPCC Report Warns of Dire Threat to Oceans 09

5 PM’s Economic Advisory Council Reconstituted 15

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Title 1. An Award and an unholy Trade-off (Page No. 10)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – Polity and Governance
Theme Freedom Vs Social Good
Highlights Context: The Gates Foundation has awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi its annual ‘Global
Goalkeeper’ Award for initiating policies to advance the cause of public health and the building of several
million toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission. In this backdrop, this article has highlighted the importance
of freedom by stating that the present dispensation has provided social goods and delivery of services at
the cost of our freedom. The award has been criticised by many Nobel laureates as they believe that the
present government has consistently undermined human rights and democracy.
So, the author mentions that this is not the first time when trade-off between the right to life, liberty and
freedom of expression on the one hand, and state provision of social goods on the other, has troubled
theorists and defenders of human rights. In this backdrop the article explains about FREEDOM and
LIBERTY.
• Freedom is natural to human kind, it is part of the human condition, it lies at the heart of democratic
theory, it is the reason why democracy exists, and it justifies the existence of democracy.
• Democratic movements throughout history have held up the flag of freedom as the ‘absence of
external impediments.
• The idea of Liberty emerged during 1789 in French Revolution. John Stuart Mill called freedom
as the struggle between liberty and authority.
How do restrictions on freedom of speech and expression impact our daily life?
• Freedom of speech is the bulwark of democratic government. This freedom is essential for the proper
functioning of the democratic process.
• Freedom of speech and expression is regarded as the first condition on liberty. It occupies a preferred
position in the hierarchy of liberties giving protection to all other liberties.
• John Stuart Mill in his book, On Liberty has expounded the idea of his concept of individual freedom
within the context of his ideas on history and the state.
• Mill has stated that liberty depends on the idea that society progresses from lower to higher stages and
that this progress culminates in the emergence of a system of representative democracy. It is within the
context of this form of government that Mill envisions the growth and development of liberty.
• Mill undertakes a historical review of the concept of liberty. In the past, liberty meant primarily
protection from tyranny. Over time, the meaning of liberty changed along with the role of rulers, who
came to be seen as servants of the people rather than masters.
• This evolution brought about a new problem: the tyranny of the majority, in which a democratic
majority forces its will on the minority. This state of affairs can exercise a tyrannical power even
outside the political realm, when forces such as public opinion stifle individuality and rebellion. Here,
society itself becomes the tyrant by seeking to inflict its will and values on others.
• Mill observes that liberty can be divided into three types, each of which must be recognized and
respected by any free society. First, there is the liberty of thought and opinion. The second type is the
liberty of tastes and pursuits, or the freedom to plan our own lives. Third, there is the liberty to join
other like-minded individuals for a common purpose that does not hurt anyone. Each of these freedoms
negates society’s propensity to compel compliance.
• This idea of Mill also holds true for India. We, as a nation are moving on the path of development but
the culture of majority has started asserting its influence on our daily lives and has started affecting
our right to choice. Right to choice may not be explicitly provided in the Constitution but flows from
Article 19(1). State cannot regulate a citizen’s right to choice or of dissent to a particular opinion.
• Supreme Court has observed in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, “Democracy is based essentially on
free debate and open discussions, for that is the only corrective of government action in a democratic
set up. If democracy means government of the people by the people, it is obvious that every citizen
must be entitled to participate in the democratic process and in order to enable him to intelligently
exercise his right of making a choice, free and general discussion of public matters is absolutely
essential”
Way Forward
• The democratic state is obliged to provide citizens with the basic preconditions for the exercise of
freedom: health, education, sustainable living wage, satisfying work conditions, food and a decent
standard of life.
• These social goods are, however but, milestones on the road to freedom. So, in the name of delivering
government subsidies or welfare programmes, governments cannot take away freedom of its citizens.
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Title 2. Modi Pitches for India’s NSG entry (The Hindu, Page 01)
Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – International Relations
Theme Groupings
Highlights Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum where he delivered the keynote address. PM
highlighted that because India is not a member of NSG, it becomes very difficult for India to get the fuel
for producing nuclear energy.
The Problem: The NSG controls most of the world’s nuclear trade. While the U.S. and other countries
support India’s entry into the NSG, China has opposed it saying India has not signed the Nuclear Non
Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Non-Proliferation Treaty
• The NPT is a multilateral treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons including three
elements: (1) non-proliferation, (2) disarmament, and (3) peaceful use of nuclear energy.
• These elements constitute a “grand bargain” between the five nuclear weapon states and the non-
nuclear weapon states.
1. States without nuclear weapons will not acquire them
2. States with nuclear weapons will pursue disarmament
3. All states can access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, under safeguards.

• Nuclear & Non-Nuclear Weapon States - The Treaty defines nuclear weapon states (NWS) as
those that had manufactured and detonated a nuclear explosive device prior to 1 January 1967.
All the other states are therefore considered non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS). The five
nuclear weapon states are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Non-Proliferation - (Articles I, II, III): Nuclear weapon states are not to transfer to any recipient
whatsoever nuclear weapons and not to assist, encourage, or induce any NNWS to manufacture
or otherwise acquire them. Non-nuclear weapons states are not to receive nuclear weapons from
any transferor, and are not to manufacture or acquire them. NNWS must accept the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards on all nuclear materials on their territories or under
their control.
• Disarmament - (Articles VI): All Parties must pursue negotiations in good faith on effective
measures relating to the cessation of the nuclear arms race and to nuclear disarmament, and on a
treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.
• The Treaty entered into force in 1970. P5 are also members of NPT.
• To further the goal of non-proliferation and as a confidence-building measure between States
parties, the Treaty establishes a safeguards system under the responsibility of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Safeguards are used to verify compliance with the Treaty
through inspections conducted by the IAEA. The Treaty promotes cooperation in the field of
peaceful nuclear technology and equal access to this technology for all States parties, while
safeguards prevent the diversion of fissile material for weapons use.
• Despite 191 states joining NPT, India, Israel and Pakistan have not signed NPT of which all have
nuclear weapons.
Why India did sign NPT?
• India refused to sign NPT because India believes that NPT discriminates between nuclear
weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states.
• The NPT defines “nuclear weapons states” as those that tested devices before 1967, which means
India cannot be a nuclear weapon states as per NPT.
• No fixed timelines have been mentioned for disarmament even for nucleared weapon states.
• NPT is unfair treaty as nuclear weapon states have no obligation to give them up while non-
nuclear states are not allowed to have them.
About Nuclear Supplier Group
• The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries (“NSG Participating
Governments”) that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the
implementation of two sets of guidelines for their nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports.
• The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was created following the explosion in 1974 of a nuclear
device by a non-nuclear-weapon State, which demonstrated that nuclear technology transferred
for peaceful purposes could be misused.
• The NSG Guidelines also contain the so-called “Non-Proliferation Principle,” adopted in 1994,
whereby a supplier, notwithstanding other provisions in the NSG Guidelines, authorises a
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transfer only when satisfied that the transfer would not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear
weapons. A non-NPT state cannot be a member of NSG.
NSG Participant
• This term is interchangeable with “NSG Participating Government” (PG), i.e. a government that
participates in the NSG. Since the NSG is not a treaty-based organisation, the use of “member”
or “Member State” is not used in the NSG.
• There are currently 48 Participating Governments (PGs) of the NSG. The European Commission
and the Chair of the Zangger Committee participate as observers.
NSG Guidelines – Part 1 & 2
• The NSG Part 1 Guidelines govern the export of items that are especially designed or prepared
for nuclear use. These include: (i) nuclear material; (ii) nuclear reactors and equipment therefor;
(iii) non-nuclear material for reactors; (iv) plants and equipment for the reprocessing, enrichment
and conversion of nuclear material and for fuel fabrication and heavy water production; and (v)
technology (including software) associated with each of the above items. These items are known
as Trigger List Items as the transfer of an item triggers safeguards.
• The NSG Part 2 Guidelines govern the export of nuclear-related dual-use items and technologies,
that is, items that can make a major contribution to an unsafeguarded nuclear fuel cycle or
nuclear explosive activity; but that have non-nuclear uses as well, for example in industry. These
items are known as Dual-Use Items.
• Part 2 guidelines were created in 1991and 1992 after it became apparent that export control
provisions then in force had not prevented one state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT) from pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons programme. A large part of
this clandestine nuclear weapons programme effort had been to acquire dual-use items not covered
by the NSG Guidelines and then use these items to build Trigger List items.
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Title 3. Different Peas in Different Pods – (The Hindu, Page 10)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper III – Science and Technology
Theme Bio-Technology
Highlights Context:
The Biotechnology sector is one of the sunrise sectors in India. The Indian biotech industry holds about 2
per cent share of the global biotech industry. The biotechnology industry in India, comprising about 800
companies is valued at US$ 12 billion in 2018.
The development of biotechnology in India can address some of the most pressing problems of our times
such as cleaning of rivers, producing lifesaving drugs, addressing the malnutrition in the children and
women etc. However, the growth in biotechnology sector is not as rapid and phenomenal as the IT sector
since it faces a number of challenges and concerns.

Various Initiatives undertaken to promote Biotech Sector

India's first biotech firm "Biocon" was set up in 1978 followed by the setting up of Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology (CCMB) in 1981. In order to boost the biotechnology sector in India, the Government
set up Department of Biotechnology in 1986.
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC): The Government has set up BIRAC to
impart bioentrepreneurs with the necessary knowledge and skills required for converting innovative ideas
into successful ventures.
National Biotechnology Development Strategy (2015-20): It aims at establishing an ecosystem for the
development of new biotech products by creating a strong infrastructure for R&D and commercialization.
SEED (Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development) Fund: Launched by BIRAC for
providing financial equity based support to startups and enterprises through bio-incubators for scaling
enterprises.
Bengaluru-Boston Biotech Gateway to India: A range of institutes in Boston (Harvard/MIT) and
Bengaluru will be able to connect to share ideas and mentor the entrepreneurs.
ATAL JAIANUSANDHAN BIOTECH MISSION - UNDERTAKING NATIONALLY RELEVANT
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION (UNATI) : It is expected to transform Health, Agriculture and Energy
sectors during the next 5 years.
NATIONAL BIOPHARMA MISSION: Industry-Academia Collaboration for Accelerating Discovery
Research to Early Development for Biopharmaceuticals. Implemented by BIRAC.

Concerns and Challenges

Quality of Research and Development: Even though the amount of money spent in biotechnology research
has increased by leaps and bounds, the quality of research has continued to remain poor because of the
following reasons:
• Presently, there is lack of emphasis on applied research leading to poor outcomes of R&D in the field
of biotechnology.
• The R&D expenditure is dominated by Public Sector whereas the Private sector expenditure has
continued to remain lower.
• Poor Scientific infrastructure such as high quality labs in the majority of the institutions has hindered
the development of R&D ecosystem in India. Most of the high quality research output has come from
handful of institutions with better scientific infrastructure.
• The number and quality of articles published in the scientific journals can indicate the growth of
R&D in various sectors. In case of biotech, even though the number of articles published has
increased, the quality of articles has remained poor.

Quality of Human Resources: Unlike the IT Sector, the Biotechnology sector in India has failed to create
sufficient amount of employment opportunities. This is inspite of having large English speaking workforce,
low wages and large institutional base.
Most of the jobs in biotech sector are filled by experienced and skilled scientists leaving the demand for
young and inexperienced ones low. Further, the biotech sector requires a disciplined work culture and
documentation practice due to regulatory and intellectual property filing requirement. This has in turn
hindered the biotech sector from attracting young talent. It is to be noted that China has been able to attract
a large number of youths towards the biotech sector by creating a conducive ecosystem. It has built a large
number of high quality labs supported by more number of skilled human resources trained in regimental
work culture and documentation.

How to boost the Biotech sector in India?

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India needs to learn from Boston and Silicon Valley in USA which have emerged as hotbeds in the field of
Biotechnology. Apart from availability of funds, infrastructure and skilled workforce, the presence of top
notch research institutions and universities in the vicinity make these two places attractive locations for
biotech startup companies.
The Government has to realise that the culture of innovation cannot be improved without focussing on
research and development in the universities. The R&D within the Indian Universities can be improved in
the following manner:
• Allow scientists from universities to incubate start-up companies in their labs. This ensures that
the technology is incubated, refined and tested for years in the academic labs before it is released
in the market.
• Allow scientists to take unpaid leave to join Industry for a fixed period. Appoint researchers from
Industry to be appointed as Faculties in the Universities. Both these steps would improve Industry-
Academia collaboration.

Way forward
As stated before, the Biotechnology sector can well solve some of the most pressing problems of our society.
It would be a mistake on our part to look at this sector only through the lens of employment creation. Moving
forward, the need for AI and Big Data in the field of Biology would enable India to leverage its strength in
IT and provide greater thrust to the biotech sector.
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Title 4. New IPCC Report Warns of Dire Threat to Oceans – (The Hindu, Page 09)
Syllabus Mains: GS Paper III: Environment and Ecology
Theme Climate Change (Global Warming and Ocean Acidification)
Highlights IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate

The IPCC Special Report is a key scientific input for world leaders gathering in forthcoming climate and
environment negotiations, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference
(COP25) in Chile in December

The ocean and the cryosphere – the frozen parts of the planet – play a critical role for life on Earth. A total
of 670 million people in high mountain regions and 680 million people in low-lying coastal zones depend
directly on these systems. Four million people live permanently in the Arctic region, and small island
developing states are home to 65 million people

The report provides new evidence for the benefits of limiting global warming to the lowest possible level
– in line with the goal that governments set themselves in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Urgently reducing
greenhouse gas emissions limits the scale of ocean and cryosphere changes. Ecosystems and the
livelihoods that depend on them can be preserved.

Major changes in high mountains affecting downstream communities

• Smaller glaciers found for example in Europe, eastern Africa, the tropical Andes and Indonesia
are projected to lose more than 80% of their current ice mass by 2100 under high emission
scenarios.

• People in mountain regions are increasingly exposed to hazards and changes in water availability,

• Glaciers, snow, ice and permafrost are declining and will continue to do so. This is projected to
increase hazards for people, for example through landslides, avalanches, rockfalls and floods.
• As mountain glaciers retreat, they are also altering water availability and quality downstream,
with implications for many sectors such as agriculture and hydropower.

• Integrated water management and transboundary cooperation provides opportunities to address

impacts of these changes in water resources.

Melting ice, rising seas

• While sea level has risen globally by around 15 cm during the 20th century, it is currently rising
more than twice as fast – 3.6 mm per year – and accelerating.

• Sea level will continue to rise for centuries. It could reach around 30-60 cm by 2100 even if
greenhouse gas emissions are sharply reduced and global warming is limited to well below 2°C,
but around 60-110 cm if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase strongly.

More frequent extreme sea level events

• Sea level rise will increase the frequency of extreme sea level events, which occur for example
during high tides and intense storms. Indications are that with any degree of additional warming,
events that occurred once per century in the past will occur every year by mid-century in many
regions, increasing risks for many low-lying coastal cities and small islands.

• Increases in tropical cyclone winds and rainfall are exacerbating extreme sea level events and
coastal hazards.

• Hazards will be further be intensified by an increase in the average intensity, magnitude of storm
surge and precipitation rates of tropical cyclones, especially if greenhouse gas emissions remain
high.

Changing ocean ecosystems

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• Warming and changes in ocean chemistry are already disrupting species throughout the ocean
food web, with impacts on marine ecosystems and people that depend on them
• Ocean warming reduces mixing between water layers and, as a consequence, the supply of
oxygen and nutrients for marine life.
• Marine heatwaves have doubled in frequency since 1982 and are increasing in intensity. They are
projected to further increase in frequency, duration, extent and intensity.
• Their frequency will be 20 times higher at 2°C warming, compared to pre-industrial levels. They
would occur 50 times more often if emissions continue to increase strongly.
• The ocean has taken up between 20 to 30% of human-induced carbon dioxide emissions since the
1980s, causing ocean acidification. Continued carbon uptake by the ocean by 2100 will
exacerbate ocean acidification.
• Ocean warming and acidification, loss of oxygen and changes in nutrient supplies, are already
affecting the distribution and abundance of marine life in coastal areas, in the open ocean and at
the sea floor
• Shifts in the distribution of fish populations have reduced the global catch potential. In the future,
some regions, notably tropical oceans, will see further decreases, but there will be increases in
others, such as the Arctic. Communities that depend highly on seafood may face risks to
nutritional health and food security.

Declining Arctic sea ice, thawing permafrost

• Permafrost ground that has been frozen for many years is warming and thawing and widespread
permafrost thaw is projected to occur in the 21st century.
• Even if global warming is limited to well below 2°C, around 25% of the near-surface (3-4 meter
depth) permafrost will thaw by 2100. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase strongly,
there is a potential that around 70% nearsurface permafrost could be lost.
• Arctic and boreal permafrost hold large amounts of organic carbon, almost twice the carbon in
the atmosphere, and have the potential to significantly increase the concentration of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere if they thaw.
• Wildfires are disturbing ecosystems in most tundra and boreal as well as mountain regions.

Knowledge for urgent action

• The report finds that strongly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting and restoring
ecosystems, and carefully managing the use of natural resources would make it possible to
preserve the ocean and cryosphere as a source of opportunities that support adaptation to future
changes, limit risks to livelihoods and offer multiple additional societal benefits.

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Title 5. PM’s Economic Advisory Council Reconstituted

Syllabus Prelims: Economic Development
Theme Economic Advisory Council
Highlights Context: Government of India has reconstituted the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
(EAC-PM) for a period of two years with effect from 26 th September 2019.
• Dr. Bibek Debroy and Shri Ratan P. Watal will continue to be the Chairman and Member
Secretary respectively of the reconstituted EAC-PM.
• Apart from these two Full-Time Members, the EAC-PM will have two Part-Time Members.
• While Dr. Ashima Goel continues to be one of the Part-Time Members, Dr. Sajjid Chinoy has
been made as another Part-time Member.
About Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM)
• Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) is an independent body
constituted to give advice on economic and related issues to the Government of India,
specifically to the Prime Minister.
• The Council consists of economists of high repute and eminence.
Terms of Reference of the EAC-PM:
1. Analyse any issue, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the Prime Minister and advising
him thereon.
2. Addressing issues of macroeconomic importance and presenting views thereon to the Prime
Minister. This could be either suo-motu or on reference from the Prime Minister or anyone
else.
3. Attending to any other task as may be desired by the Prime Minister from time to time.

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