[Mission 2022] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS +

PIB SUMMARY 08 APRIL 2022

insightsonindia.com/2022/04/08/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-08-april-2022/

Insights Editor April 8, 2022

InstaLinks help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC
prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format
help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner
might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their
static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add
new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 2:

1. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Amendment Bill, 2022.

2. Dam Safety Act.

3. Stand Up India Scheme.

4. Electoral Bonds.

5. Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC).

6. Human Rights Council.

Facts for Prelims:

1. Asia’s Largest Sewerage Treatment Plant.

2. World Health Day.

3. Ashwini Vaishnaw Committee.

4. International Energy Agency (IEA).

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Amendment Bill, 2022:

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Important Government Policies.

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Context:

The bill was recently passed in Lok Sabha.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of

Unlawful Activities) Act, passed in 2005, only banned the manufacturing of
weapons of mass destruction.
The amendment bill is aimed at widening its ambit.

Need for the Amendment:

To focus on the financial bit of activities supporting WMDs. There was an

urgent need to have provision to ban financing for Weapons of Mass Destruction.
The existing legislation was silent on this aspect.
To provide more teeth to government to act against terror funding. The present
bill empowers theGovernment to freeze, seize or attach funds or other financial
assets or economic resources for preventing such financing.

Highlights of the Bill:

Prohibition on financing certain activities: The Bill bars persons from financing
any prohibited activity related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery
systems.
It gives more powers to the Central Government: To prevent persons from
financing such activities, the central government may freeze, seize or attach their
funds, financial assets, or economic resources.
It may also prohibit persons from making finances or related services available for
the benefit of other persons in relation to any activity which is prohibited.

What are weapons of mass destruction?

These are weapons with the capacity to inflict death and destruction on such a massive
scale and so indiscriminately that its very presence in the hands of a hostile power can be
considered a grievous threat.

India’s 2005 WMD Act defines Weapons of mass destruction as biological,

chemical, or nuclear weapons.
In the USA, WMD includes a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or other
device that is intended to harm a large number of people.

India’s position on international Regime concerning WMDs:

India has signed and ratified both the:

1. Biological Weapons Convention, 1972.

2. Chemical Weapons Convention, 1992.

However, it has not signed the treaties regulating the use and proliferation of nuclear
weapons (which includes NPT and CTBT).

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Insta Curious:

Did you know about the Geneva Protocol, 1925? It banned the use of chemical and
biological weapons.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. United Nations Security Council.

2. Financial Action Task Force.
3. Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty of 1968.
4. Biological Weapons Convention of 1972.
5. Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993.
6. What are weapons of mass destruction.

Mains Link:

Discuss about the significance of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery
Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022.

Sources: the Hindu.

Dam Safety Act:

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Government Policies and associated issues.

Context:

The Supreme Court has found in the Dam Safety Act of 2021 a panacea to end the
“perennial” legal battle between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam.

What’s the issue?

Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been trading charges against each other over the
safety, operation and maintenance of the Mullaperiyar dam.
While Kerala claims the 126-year-old dam is unsafe, badly maintained and a threat
to thousands of people living downstream, Tamil Nadu denies it.
Kerala is pitching for a new dam in place of the existing one, while Tamil Nadu,
which operates and maintains the reservoir, argues that the dam is well-preserved
and so strong that the height water level could even be increased to 152 feet.

Linkages between Dam Safety Act and the Mullaperiyar dam:

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 As per the Act, the NDSA will perform the role of the State Dam Safety Organisation
for a dam located in one State and used by another. Hence, the Mullaperiyar dam
comes under the purview of the NDSA.
Experts believe that there is every possibility of the Union government will indicate
in the court that the NDSA can subsume the functions of the supervisory committee.

Know more about the Mullaperiyar Issue here.

Highlights of Dam Safety Act:

It provides for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all

specified dams in the country to ensure their safe functioning.
It provides for the constitution of a National Committee on Dam Safety which shall
evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations as may be
required for the purpose.
It provides for the establishment of the National Dam Safety Authority as a
regulatory body which shall discharge functions to implement the policy, guidelines
and standards for dam safety in the country.
It provides for the constitution of a State Committee on Dam Safety by the State
Government.

Significance:

It will help all the States and Union Territories of India to adopt uniform dam safety
procedures which shall ensure safety of dams and safeguard benefits from such
dams. This shall also help in safeguarding human life, livestock and property.
It addresses all issues concerning dam safety including regular inspection of dams,
Emergency Action Plan, comprehensive dam safety review, adequate repair and
maintenance funds for dam safety, Instrumentation and Safety Manuals.
It lays the onus of dam safety on the dam owner and provides for penal provisions
for commission and omission of certain acts.

Need for:

Over the last fifty years, India has invested substantially in dams and related
infrastructures, and ranks third after the USA and China in the number of large
dams. 5254 large dams are in operation in the country currently and another 447
are under construction.
In addition to this, there are thousands of medium and small dams.
While dams have played a key role in fostering rapid and sustained agricultural
growth and development in India, there has been a long felt need for a uniform law
and administrative structure for ensuring dam safety.
The Central Water Commission, through the National Committee on Dam Safety
(NCDS), Central Dam Safety Organization (CDSO) and State Dam Safety
Organizations (SDSO) has been making constant endeavours in this direction, but
these organizations do not have any statutory powers and are only advisory in
nature.

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 This can be a matter of concern, especially since about 75 percent of the large
dams in India are more than 25 years old and about 164 dams are more than 100
years old.
A badly maintained, unsafe dam can be a hazard to human life, flora and fauna,
public and private assets and the environment.
India has had 42 dam failures in the past.

Concerns raised:

The Act is too focused on structural safety and not on operational safety.
There is inadequate compensation to the people affected by dams.
There is a need for an independent regulator as well as for a precise definition of
stakeholders.
Many states say it encroaches upon the sovereignty of States to manage their
dams, and violates the principles of federalism enshrined in the Constitution.
They see it as an attempt by the Centre to consolidate power in the guise of safety
concerns.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Dam Safety Act.

2. Dam Safety Authority.
3. Highlights of Dam Safety.
4. Dam Safety in India.
5. DRIP Project.

Sources: the Hindu.

Stand Up India Scheme:

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Schemes for the welfare of vulnerable sections.

Context:

On 5th April 2016, The Stand-up India scheme was launched by the Indian government.
On 5th April 2022, it completed six years.

Accomplishments of this scheme:

1. Under this scheme over 1.33 lakh new job-creators and entrepreneurs have been
facilitated.
2. Over 1 lakh women entrepreneurs have benefited under this scheme in the last six
years.

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 3. Under this scheme, Rs. 30,160 crores have been sanctioned by the government to
a total of 1,33,995 accounts up to 21st March 2022.
4. Out of the total sanctioned accounts, 6,435 accounts belonged to ST borrowers with
Rs 1373.71 crore sanctioned and 19,310 accounts belonged to SC borrowers with
Rs 3976.84 crore sanctioned.
5. To 1,08,250 women entrepreneurs who held accounts, Rs. 24809.89 crore has
been sanctioned.

About the ‘Stand Up India Scheme’:

Launched in 2016.
It seeks to promote entrepreneurship at the grass-root level of economic
empowerment and job creation.
Aim: To leverage the institutional credit structure to reach out to the underserved
sector of people such as SCs, STs and Women Entrepreneurs.
The offices of SIDBI and NABARD shall be designated Stand-Up Connect Centres
(SUCC).
Loans under the scheme are available for only Greenfield projects.

The objective of the scheme is:

To facilitate loans from Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) of value between Rs 10

lakh and Rs 1 crore to at least one SC or ST borrower and one woman borrower per
bank branch for setting up green field enterprises in manufacturing, service or trading
sector.

Eligibility:

SC/ST and/or women entrepreneurs; above 18 years of age.

Loans under the scheme are available for only Greenfield projects.
BoBorrower should not be in default to any bank or financial institution.
In case of non-individual enterprises, at least 51% of the shareholding and
controlling stake should be held by either an SC/ST or Woman entrepreneur.

Insta Curious:

Do you know about Startup India Seed Fund Scheme? Reference

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Key features of the scheme.

2. Eligibility.
3. Benefits.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of the scheme.

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Sources: the Hindu

Electoral Bonds:

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-

governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters,
transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Context:

Chief Justice of India N V Ramana has assured petitioners that the Supreme Court will
take up for hearing a pending plea challenging the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018.

What’s the issue?

Two NGOs — Common Cause and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) — have
challenged the scheme, alleging that it is “distorting democracy”. The CJI has not
specified any date for the hearing.

What are electoral bonds?

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 Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties.
The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh
and Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit.
State Bank of India is authorised to issue and encash these bonds, which are valid
for fifteen days from the date of issuance.
These bonds are redeemable in the designated account of a registered political
party.
The bonds are available for purchase by any person (who is a citizen of India or
incorporated or established in India) for a period of ten days each in the months of
January, April, July and October as may be specified by the Central Government.
A person being an individual can buy bonds, either singly or jointly with other
individuals.
Donor’s name is not mentioned on the bond.

Issues associated with the scheme:

The Electoral Bond Scheme acts as a check against traditional under-the-table

donations as it insists on cheque and digital paper trails of transactions, however, several
key provisions of the scheme make it highly controversial.

Anonymity: Neither the donor (who could be an individual or a corporate) nor the political
party is obligated to reveal whom the donation comes from.

Asymmetrically Opaque: Because the bonds are purchased through the State Bank of
India (SBI), the government is always in a position to know who the donor is.

Channel of Blackmoney: Elimination of a cap of 7.5% on corporate donations,

elimination of requirement to reveal political contributions in profit and loss statements.

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InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. What are electoral bonds?

2. Eligibility.
3. Denomination.
4. Features.
5. Who can issue these bonds?

Mains Link:

Critically examine the effectiveness of electoral bonds in ensuring transparent political

funding and suggest alternatives?

Sources: the Hindu.

Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC):

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: India and neighbourhood relations.

Context:

The Union government has extended the scheme to provide ₹40 crore grants-in-aid to
the Dalai Lama’s Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC) for another five years, up
to fiscal year 2025-26.

Highlights of the Scheme:

Launched in 2015.
It is a scheme of providing grant-in-aid of ₹40 crore to CTRC to meet the
administrative and social welfare activities expenses of 36 Tibetan settlement
offices in different States.

Tibetans in India:

More than one lakh Tibetan refugees are settled in India.

Major concentration of the Tibetan refugees is in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh,

Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.
Tibetan refugees began pouring into India in the wake of the flight of the Dalai Lama
from Tibet in 1959.
The government decided to give them asylum as well as assistance towards
temporary settlement.

Tibetans abroad:

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Over 1 lakh Tibetans are settled across India, while the remaining are settled in United
States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Mongolia, Germany,
United Kingdom, Switzerland and various other countries.

Do you know about the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE)?

The Speaker and a Deputy Speaker head the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.

The 16th TPiE had 45 members:

1. 10 representatives from each of the traditional provinces of Tibetan – U-Tsang,

Dhotoe and Dhomey;
2. Two from each of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the pre-Buddhist Bon
religion;
3. Two representing each of the Tibetan Communities in North America and Europe.
4. One from Australasia and Asia (excluding India, Nepal and Bhutan).

What does the Tibetan Constitution say?

The Central Tibetan Administration exists and functions on the basis of the Constitution of
the Tibetan government called ‘The Charter of the Tibetans in Exile’.

In 1991, The Constitution Redrafting Committee instituted by the Dalai Lama

prepared the Charter for Tibetans in exile.
The Dalai Lama approved it on June 28, 1991.

Who can vote?

Only Tibetans living outside the subcontinent will elect their MPs based on their current
geographic location. Besides MPs, voters will make their choice of the President as well.

Election Procedure:

The voting will be held in two rounds.

1. In the preliminary round, there will be no official candidates, i.e. a voter can choose
any person of his choice, which is expected to be one of the several candidates who
have started campaigning among the electorate.
2. Unless a person secures 60 percent of the vote, the two top contenders of the first
round will become the official candidates for the second round to be held in April 11.

What is Kashag?

The Kashag (Cabinet) is Central Tibetan Administration’s highest executive office and
comprise seven members.

It is headed by the Sikyong (political leader) who is directly elected by the exiled Tibetan
population.

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 Sikyong subsequently nominates his seven Kalons (ministers) and seeks the
parliament’s approval.
The Kashag’s term is for five years.

Is TPiE officially recognised by any country?

Not exactly, it is not recognised officially by any country, including India.

But, a number of countries including the United States of America and European
nations deal directly with the Sikyong and other Tibetan leaders through various
forums.
The TPiE claims its democratically-elected character helps it manage Tibetan affairs
and raise the Tibetan issue across the world.
The incumbent Sikyong, Lobsang Sangay, was among the guests who attended the
oath-taking ceremony of prime minister Narendra Modi in May 2014, probably a
first.

Sources: the Hindu.

India abstains from Human Rights Council vote to probe Russian actions:

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure,
mandate.

Context:

The United Nations General Assembly suspended Russia from the Human Rights
Council during a meeting recently.

Ninety-four members voted in favour while 24 voted against, and 58 abstained.

India also abstained in the UNGA vote moved by the United States to suspend
Russia over allegations that the country’s soldiers tortured and killed civilians while
retreating from Ukrainian towns.

India’s position on Ukraine:

India’s position adds to a string of abstentions at the United Nations and multilateral
groups since the start of Russian military operations in Ukraine on February 24, even as
the continuing Russian military advances in Ukraine have seen more and more countries
vote for resolutions that criticise Moscow.

About UNHRC:

UNHRC was reconstituted from its predecessor organisation, the UN Commission on

Human Rights to help overcome the “credibility deficit” of the previous organisation.

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 Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Composition:

The UNHRC has 47 members serving at any time with elections held to fill up seats
every year, based on allocations to regions across the world to ensure geographical
representation.
Each elected member serves for a term of three years.
Countries are disallowed from occupying a seat for more than two consecutive
terms.

Functions:

The UNHRC passes non-binding resolutions on human rights issues through a

periodic review of all 193 UN member states called the Universal Periodic Review
(UPR).
It oversees expert investigation of violations in specific countries (Special
Procedures).

Challenges and Need for reforms:

The human rights record of the member-states such as Saudi Arabia, China and
Russia in the council has also not been in line with the aims and mission of the
UNHRC, which has led to critics questioning its relevance.
Despite the continued participation of several western countries in the UNHRC, they
continue to harbour misgivings on the understanding of Human rights.
Non-compliance has been a serious issue with respect to the UNHRC’s functioning.
Non-participation of powerful nations such as the US.

What’s the concern now?

The Indian decision to abstain from the voting was not siding with anyone; it was in its
own national interest, say few.

However, these decisions have been condoned by most Indian commentators as an

attempt to make the best of a bad hand.
As our largest arms supplier, Russia has been a dependable ally, they say; it has
shielded India at the UN over Kashmir, not to mention Bangladesh, back in 1971.
Moreover, to vote against Russia will push it further into China’s arms, multiplying
that country’s security threat to India.

Why should India rethink its policy on Russia?

The above arguments have been out of date since the end of the Cold War three
decades ago, and Vladimir Putin’s rise 20 years ago.

More dangerously still, they reveal a fatalism towards India’s own national security
interests that will only damage us further as time goes by.

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Yes, Russia is our largest arms provider and our supplies will be hit if we vote against
it. But no, Russia is not a reliable arms provider; it has not been one since Putin came to
power.

Arms supplies are frequently long-delayed, and Putin had used the delays to up the
prices, sometimes even double them. By contrast, the French deliveries of the
Rafael jets have been comparatively speedy.

Far from helping us, Putin has turned a blind eye to China’s many acts of
aggression against India.
It was Russia that kept us out of Afghan peace negotiations in the very recent past.
Russia did little to help us when China raised Kashmir at the UNSC in 2019 and
2020. It was the US and European countries that helped then – going against their
own human rights principles.

Insta Curious:

Do you know about the United Nations Trusteeship Council? Reference: read this.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. About UNHRC.
2. Composition.
3. Functions.
4. What is Universal Periodic Review?
5. Headquarters of UNHRC.
6. Countries which have recently left UNHRC.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of UNHRC.

Sources: the Hindu.

Facts for Prelims:

Asia’s Largest Sewage Treatment Plant:

Okhla Sewage Treatment Plant is expected to play a major role in the Yamuna
cleaning process.
It is located in Delhi.
The plant will be the largest one in Asia, when completed in December this year.

World Health Day:

Every year 7th April marks the celebration of World Health Day.

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 It is being celebrated today to mark the foundation of the World Health
Organization (WHO) on 7th April 1948.
Its idea was conceived at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and it came into
effect in 1950.
Theme for 2022: Our Planet, Our Health.

Ashwini Vaishnaw Committee:

The advisory committee for semiconductor manufacturing in India has been formed.
The committee will be chaired by Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister of electronics and IT.
The Committee shall steer the objectives in a structured, efficient, and strategic
manner, and provide necessary guidance to the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)
executives.

International Energy Agency (IEA):

Established in 1974 as per the framework of the OECD, IEA is an autonomous

intergovernmental organisation.
Its mission is guided by four main areas of focus: energy security, economic
development, environmental awareness and engagement worldwide.
Headquarters (Secretariat): Paris, France.

Roles and functions:

Established in the wake of the 1973-1974 oil crisis, to help its members respond to
major oil supply disruptions, a role it continues to fulfil today.
IEA’s mandate has expanded over time to include tracking and analyzing global key
energy trends, promoting sound energy policy, and fostering multinational energy
technology cooperation.

Composition and eligibility:

It has 30 members at present. IEA family also includes eight association countries. A
candidate country must be a member country of the OECD. But all OECD members are
not IEA members.

To become member a candidate country must demonstrate that it has:

1. Crude oil and/or product reserves equivalent to 90 days of the previous year’s net
imports, to which the government has immediate access (even if it does not own
them directly) and could be used to address disruptions to global oil supply.
2. A demand restraint programme to reduce national oil consumption by up to 10%.
3. Legislation and organisation to operate the Co-ordinated Emergency Response
Measures (CERM) on a national basis.
4. Legislation and measures to ensure that all oil companies under its jurisdiction
report information upon request.
5. Measures in place to ensure the capability of contributing its share of an IEA
collective action.

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Reports:

1. Global Energy & CO2 Status Report.

2. World Energy Outlook.
3. World Energy Statistics.
4. World Energy Balances.
5. Energy Technology Perspectives.

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