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Vision Ias July 2020 PDF
Vision Ias July 2020 PDF
www.visionias.in
CURRENT AFFAIRS
JULY 2020
2.2. Chabahar - Zahedan Railway Line _______ 11 5.12. Hydropower Projects in Northeast _____ 56
2.3. United Nations Convention on the Law of the 5.13. Tiger Status Report 2018 _____________ 58
Sea (UNCLOS) __________________________ 13 6. SOCIAL ISSUES ______________________60
3. ECONOMY _________________________ 16 6.1. New Education Policy 2020 ____________ 60
3.1. Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2020 6.1.1. School Education ____________________ 60
______________________________________ 16 6.1.2. Higher Education ____________________ 63
6.1.3. Other Major Provisions________________ 65
3.2. Private Participation in Railways ________ 18 6.1.4. Analysis of New Education Policy-2020 ___ 65
3.3. Privatising Discoms __________________ 19 6.2. Role of ASHAs During Pandemic ________ 67
3.4. Affordable Housing __________________ 21 6.3. Lancet Study on Population Trends ______ 69
3.5. Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFCs and HFCs 6.4. State of Food Security and Nutrition in the
______________________________________ 23 World 2020 ____________________________ 70
3.6. Financing of MSME Sector _____________ 26 7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ____________72
3.7. Unified Gas Price System ______________ 27 7.1. Nano Technology in Agriculture ________ 72
3.8. Bundling Scheme for Round-the-clock (RTC) 7.2. Accelerate Vigyan ____________________ 73
Power Supply___________________________ 28
8. CULTURE ___________________________74
3.9. Model Concession Agreement for BOT Model
______________________________________ 29 8.1. Gurjara-Pratiharas ___________________ 74
Refer the appendix at the end of the document for the details of India’s Progress on SDG targets and best
practices in SDG Localisation.
5.6. E-WASTE
Why in News?
Recently, the Global e waste Monitor 2020 Report was released.
What is E-Waste?
• It refers to all items of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and its parts that have been discarded by its
owner as waste without the intent of re-use.
• According to Global e waste Monitor 2020 Report, in 2019, the world generated 53.6 Mt of e-waste, an
average of 7.3 kg per capita, with 21% increase in just 5 years. It will increase by 38% between 2020 and 2030.
o Asia generated the highest quantity followed by the Americas and Europe. Europe ranked first worldwide
in terms of e-waste generation per capita with 16.2 kg per capita.
Issues with E waste
• Hazardous to human health: The presence of toxic substances such as liquid crystal, lithium, mercury, nickel,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), selenium, arsenic, barium, brominated flame retardants, cadmium, chrome,
cobalt, copper, and lead, makes it very hazardous
• Environmental effects of e-waste: The toxic materials from electronic devices are released into bodies of
water, groundwater, soil and air, affecting both land
and sea animals. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
o Improper management of e-waste also Movements of Hazardous Wastes
• It was adopted in 1989 and it came into force in 1992.
contributes to global warming. A total of 98 Mt
• The Convention aims to protect human health and
of CO2-equivalents were released into the
the environment against the adverse effects
atmosphere from discarded fridges and air- resulting from the generation, transboundary
conditioners that were not managed in an movements and management of hazardous wastes
environmentally sound manner. and other wastes.
• Low recycling capacity: Almost all e-wastes contain • It regulates the transboundary movements of
some form of recyclable material, including plastic, hazardous wastes and other wastes and obliges its
glass, and metals; however, due to improper Parties to ensure that such wastes are managed and
disposal methods and techniques these materials disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
cannot be retrieved for other purposes.
o Only 17.4% of the total e-waste was collected and recycled globally.
• Dumping in Developing countries: A large amount of E-waste from developed countries is dumped into
developing countries. When electronic devices are dumped in these developing countries the impact is
detrimental to the environment of the country and the health of the people.
o Even with International treaties such as Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements
of Hazardous Wastes, illegal shipment and dumping of e-wastes continue to take place.
Measures to Manage E waste
• Formal collection of e waste: e-waste is to be collected by designated organizations, producers, and/or the
government. This happens via retailers, municipal collection points, and/or pick-up services.
• Recycling e-waste: Recycling e-waste enables us to recover various valuable metals and other materials from
electronics, saving natural resources (energy), reducing pollution, conserving landfill space, and creating jobs.
o The value of raw materials in the global e-waste generated in 2019 is equal to approximately $57 billion
USD.
• Improving end-of-life: The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves
sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as
possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.
Return on Health benefits from Environmental and ecological Economic and social Estimated Benefits
Investment reducing environmental benefits benefits and Costs
For risks
Conserve and • Mangroves are a • Protection from storm • Commercial • Every $1
Restore direct source of surges fisheries to be invested
Mangroves food, fuelwood, • Mitigation of climate $300–$600 generates a
fiber and traditional change and carbon million per year benefit of $3.
medicine for local sequestration benefits for the
inhabitants. • Provide many ecosystem conservation
• Recreational and services, such as scenarios and
aesthetic value for regulating water quality $1.9–$3.0 billion
physical and mental and reducing coastal per year for
health. erosion. restoration
scenarios.
• Significant
increase in
tourism.
Scale Up • Positive impact on • Wind systems require • Offshore wind • Every $1
Offshore health due to very near zero water for energy can invested
Wind low CO2 emissions energy generation and create jobs. generates a
Energy and negligible cooling. • Moving to benefit
Production emissions of • Impact on biodiversity cleaner energy estimated at
mercury, nitrogen both negative (biological will lead to job $2–$17.
dioxide and sulphur invasions, noise and losses in the
dioxide, as well as its disturbing vibrations to fossil fuel sector.
zero generation of marine species, collisions
solid or liquid waste, between birds and wind
offshore wind energy turbine) and positive
production. (serving as artificial reefs
for many organisms)
Decarbonise • Reduced PM2.5 from • Strong acids formed from • It can deliver • Every $1
the marine engine shipping emissions can overall invested in
International combustion produce seasonal hot efficiency decarbonising
Shipping mitigates ship- spots of ocean improvements international
Sector related premature acidification in areas close of 30–55% by shipping and
mortality and to busy shipping lanes. improving hull reducing
morbidity • Reducing ship speeds shape and emissions to
could positively impact materials, larger net zero is
marine mammals and ships, drag estimated to
other species. reductions etc. generate a
• Will help avoid the most return of $2–
catastrophic impacts of $5.
climate change.
Increase the • Increase sustainable • Ocean-based proteins are • Rebuilding world • Every $1
Production protein supplies by substantially less carbon fisheries could invested is
of encouraging more intensive than land-based increase profits estimated to
Sustainably fish consumption animal proteins from the current yield $10 in
Sourced over other protein • Would also slow the negative $13 benefits
Ocean- sources demand for freshwater billion to a
Based • Diversify nutritious to support livestock positive $77
Proteins food supplies, agriculture billion per year.
particularly for • Such diet shifts will
poorer coastal reduce deforestation
communities