Contents
GS PAPER-I
HISTORY & CULTURE
• Sao Joao Festival 1
• Pattachitra Painting 1
• Jyotirgamaya Festival 2
• Pasmanda Community 3
• Mayurbhanj’s Superfood ‘Ant Chutney’ 4
• Karakalpakstan 5
• World Population Prospects Report 2022 7
• Black Death 8
SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE
• World Drug Report 2022 9
• Marburg virus 9
• Global Gender Gap Index 10
• Case of Monkeypox in India 11
• National Institutional Ranking Framework
(NIRF), 2022 13
• Decline In Immunization Coverage 14
• Female Participation In The Formal Labour
Force In Country 14
PHYSICAL & WORLD GEOGRAPHY
• Red Dunes 17
• Snake Island 18
• High-grade Lithium Discovered in Nigeria 18
• Amarnath Cloudburst 19
• Padma Multipurpose Bridge 20
• Azores High 20
• Derecho Storm in US 21
GS PAPER-II
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
• Mega 5G Spectrum Auction 23
• Draft National Data Governance Framework
Policy 24
• Bharat Gaurav Scheme 25
• Aspirational Districts Programme 26
• Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor
project 27
• National Initiative for Promoting Upskilling
of Nirman Workers 27
• Purple Revolution 28
• Vanijya Bhawan and NIRYAT portal 29
• NCPCR Releases Child Protection
Guidelines for OTT Platforms 29
• Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment
Program) 30
• Performance Grading Index for Districts
(P GI-D) for 2019-20 31
• Kihoto Hollohan’ Judgement 32
• Road Safety 33
• NITI Aayog releases report on harnessing
Green Hydrogen 34
• Internet shutdowns 35
• Habitat World Cities Report 2022 35
• India’s Largest Floating Solar Power Project 36
• Commission on Sub-categorisation of OBCs 37
• Mission Vatsalya 38
• PM Gati Shakti scheme 39
• MP’s Panel Recommendation on Mediation
Bill 40
• Reforms in Justice Delivery System 41
• Mission Shakti 42
• Mission Shakti 43
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL
RELATIONS
• ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers Meet 45
• I2U2 Initiative 45
• India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 46
• Joint Consultative Commission Between
India And Bangladesh 47
• Australia seeks to Revitalize Indo-Pacific
Ties 49
• West Seti Power Project 50
• U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling on Abortion 51
• 14th BRICS Summit 52
• 48th Group of Seven (G7) Summit 52
• Horn of Africa 53
• Sweden and Finland joining NATO 55
• India-Tajikistan Relations 56
• Lisbon Declaration 57
• 50 Years of Shimla Agreement 57
• Partnership for Global Infrastructure and
Investment to counter BRI 58
• Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) 59
• India-Australia Deals to Supply Minerals 60
• CAATSA not imposed on India 61
• UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding
of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 62
• Digital Nomad Visas 62
• Nord Stream Pipeline 1 63
• G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting 64
• I2U2 Summit 64
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) 66
GS PAPER-III
ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
• The US Fed’s Biggest Interest Rate Hike 67
• The Payments Vision 2025 68
• 12th Ministerial Conference of the World
Trade Organization 69
• Five states need to take steps to stabilise
debt levels: RBI 70
• Surety Bonds 71
• Black swan event 72
• India’s emerging twin deficit problem 72
• Tokenisation of Debit and Credit Cards 73
• Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) released the
Financial Stability Report (FSR) 74
• Niti Aayog’s Report on India’s Gig Economy 74
• Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) 75
• Sarfaesi Act, invoked against telecom provider
GTL 76
• Global Minimum Tax 77
AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING AND
SUPPLY CHAIN
• Primary Agricultural Credit Societies 79
• State Ranking Index for NFSA 79
• State of Food Security and Nutrition in the
World 80
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• Ultra-thin Heteroprotein Film 81
• Autism Spectrum Disorder 81
• CAPSTONE Satellite 82
• ‘POEM’ Platform 82
• Space Sustainability 83
• Large Hadron Collider 84
• Single-crystalline Scandium Nitride 85
• GigaMesh Initiative 86
• Epstein Barr Virus EBV 86
• Cervavac 87
• James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) 87
• LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) 88
ENVIRONMENT & DISASTER MANAGEMENT
• COVID-19 worsened matters in Sundarbans: 89
• Ban on Single-use Plastic 90
• Four new corals recorded from Indian waters 91
• Eco-Sensitive Zones 91
• Bird Village as Wetland 92
• Partners in the Blue Pacific 93
• National Air Quality Resource Framework
of India (NARFI) 94
• Oceans Great Dying 2.0 94
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient I
nfrastructure (CDRI) 95
• Nairobi flies 96
• Amendments in Environment Protection Act
(EPA) 96
• Sustainable Development Goals Report 97
• IPBES Report on Sustainable use of Wild
Species 98
• Chenkurinji 99
• India’s Clean Energy Target 99
• Green Grids Initiative 99
• Singalila National Park 100
• Debate over the new Forest Conservation
Rules 101
• Asiatic Black Bears 102
INTERNAL SECURITY
• Critical Information Infrastructure 103
• Operation Sankalp 103
• VL-SRSAM 104
• Iskander-M Missile System 104
• Pay Roll Automation for Disbursement of
Monthly Allowances 105
• ABHYAS: High-Speed Expendable Aerial
Target 105
• Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group 106
• Autonomous Flying Wing Technology
Demonstrator 106
• Operation ‘NARCOS’ 107
• Dunagiri 108
 HISTORY & CULTURE

History & Culture

SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-I)
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the
present- significant events, personalities, issues
"

• The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contribu-
tions from different parts of the country.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
• History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial
revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolo-
nization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their
forms and effect on the society.
• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Archi-
tecture from ancient to modern times.

Source: The Indian Express
Context: In Goa, Catholics celebrate
all the feasts of the Roman Catholic
Church, which include the feast of
St John the Baptist on June 24 (John
the Baptist because he had baptised
Jesus Christ on the river Jordan).
About
• The youngsters
in Goa celebrate this
occasion with revelry and
perform daredevil feats,
by jumping into overflowing
wells or rivulets to commemorate
the leap of joy, which St John is
HC-58
Sao Joao Festival
said to have taken in the womb
of his mother St Elizabeth when
virgin Mary visited her.
• Villagers gather near the well
and cheer for those throwing
and dunking themselves into the
water. Full-throated renditions
of Konkani songs written for the
occasion are accompanied by
traditional musical instruments
like the gumott and cansaim
(cymbal).
• In Baga, sangoddis celebrated
as a part of the feast of St John
the Baptist. Two boats are tied
together to make a sangodd,
which means union, unity and
junction. The tying of the boat
signifies the unity of the village.
• Importance assigned to new
sons-in-law: In Goa, Sao Joao
is an occasion for the family and
the villagers to get to know their
newly-wed daughters’ husbands
a little better. Traditionally,
the new son-in-law would be
crowned with festive headgear
of fruits and leaves, taken around
the village, and would then jump
into the well with other revelers.

HC-59
Pattachitra Painting
"

Source: The Indian Express About • It is believed to have originated

Context: Recently, the Odisha CM • This form of art is closely related as early as the 12th century
gifted the Pattachitra painting to to the cult of Shri Jagannath and Region
Pope Francis in Vatican City. the temple traditions in Puri. • The art is based in the eastern

1 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 HISTORY & CULTURE
Indian states of Odisha, West
Bengal and parts of Bangladesh.
• People in Odisha practice it to
this day.
Etymology
• It is a Sanskrit word.
• When broken down into its two
parts, Patta means cloth, and
Chitra means picture.
• Hence, Pattachitra is a picture
painted on a piece of cloth.
Painting process
• Traditionally, the painters are
known as chitrakars.
• Chitrakars follow a traditional
process of preparing the canvas.
• A gauze-like fine cotton cloth is
coated with white stone powder
and gum made out of tamarind
seeds.
• This makes the canvas ready to
accept the paint, made of natural
Jyotirgamaya Festival
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, Jyotirgamaya
Festival was organized on the
occasion of World Music Day as
part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, to
celebrate and commemorate 75 years
of India’s independence.
About
• Jyotirgamaya Festival is a unique
festival to showcase the talent
of rare musical instruments
from across the country,
including street performers, train
entertainers, performers attached
to temples, etc.
• Organizing Body: Jyotirgamaya
Festival was organized by the
Sangeet Natak Akademi on the
occasion of the World Music Day.
• Duration of Festival:
Jyotirgamaya Festival was held
from 21-25 June 2022. A live
exhibition displaying the making
of musical instruments by
craftsmen was open for each day
2022: SERIES VII
colors.
• The gum of the kaitha tree is the
chief ingredient, used as a base
for making different pigments by
adding available raw materials.
• Following completion of a
painting, the canvas is held over
a charcoal fire and lacquer is
applied to the surface.
• In recent days, chitrakars have
also painted on palm leaves and
Tussar silk and have created wall
hangings and showpieces.
Significant features
• Pattachitra is predominantly icon
painting.
• A floral border is a must around
the paintings, and so is the use of
natural colors.
• The paintings are executed
primarily in profile with
elongated eyes.
HC-60
of the festival.
• Significance: The Jyotirgamaya
festival envisages sensitising
people about the need to
safeguard the craft of making as
well as the skill of playing rare
musical instruments, and to give
a voice to ‘unheard’ artistes who
hardly ever see the limelight.
• This is a unique endeavour of
the Sangeet Natak Akademi to
salvage the dying performing arts
of India and the initiative will
persist beyond the festivities of
World Music Day.
World Music Day 2022
• Background: The World Music
Day was first celebrated as Fête
de la Musique in France in 1982.
• The then French Minister of
Art and Culture, Jack Lange
and Maurice Fleuret, a French
composer, started Fête de la
Musique (festival of music), in
the streets of Paris.
• Generally, there are no
landscapes, perspectives, and
distant views.
• The dress style has the Mughal
influences.
• Some of the popular themes of
this religious art are:
• The Badhia (a depiction of the
"
temple of Jagannath);
• Different “Vesas” of Shri
Jagannath, Balabhadra and
Subhadra;
• Krishna Lila (an enactment
of Jagannath as Lord Krishna
displaying his powers
as a child);
• Dasabatara Patti (the
ten incarnations of
Lord Vishnu); and
• Panchamukhi (a
depiction of Lord Ganesh as a
five-headed deity).
• About: The International Music
Day or World Music Day is
annually observed on 21 June to
honour musicians and singers.
• The World Music Day also
encourages young and
amateur musicians
to give a live
demonstration of their
talent to audiences.
• World Music Day
2022 Theme: The theme for the
World Music Day 2022 is “Music
on the intersections”.
• Celebrations across the World:
Music artists around the globe
organise concerts on the World
Music Day.
"
• The celebrations are no more
restricted to the European nations
and now celebrated in more than
120 countries including India.
• Fests, parades, fairs, feasts and
dance parties are often organized
on the World Music Day.
ALS Current Affairs 2

Pasmanda Community
Source: The Hindu
Context: Prime Minister Narendra
Modi was reported to have asked
the BJP national executive in
"
Hyderabad to reach out to deprived
and downtrodden groups such as
Pasmanda Muslims in Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar.
About
Who are the Pasmanda Muslims?
• Pasmanda has
become an umbrella
identity used by backward,
Dalit, and tribal Muslims
to push back against caste-
based discrimination against
them within the community.
• The term ‘Pasmanda Muslims’
was first used in 1998 by Ali
Anwar Ansari when he founded
the Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz.
• According to the founder,
Pasmandas include Dalits as of
now, but all Pasmandas are not
Dalits.
What is the history of the
Pasmanda Movement?
• The movement to ensure social
justice for Pasmandas,
and the recurrent use of
the term, gathered pace in
the post-Mandal era.
• Its best known
flag-bearers in the period before
Independence were Abdul
Qayyum Ansari and Maulana
Ali Hussain Asim Bihari, both
of whom belonged to the julaha
(weaver) community.
• Both these leaders opposed
the communal politics being
"
propagated at the time by the
Muslim League, and challenged
the League’s claim to represent
all Muslims.
• The movement actually began
in 1910 onwards.  These were
3 ALS Current Affairs
HISTORY & CULTURE
HC-61
reformist in nature, but also
acted like pressure groups led
by upwardly mobile lower caste
communities.
Are Muslims divided along caste
lines in India?
• Muslim society in India consists
of several status groups or
biradaris that are broadly sorted
in three categories:  Muslim OBCs combine Ajlafs
1. The Ashrafs (the ‘noble’ elite
or the ‘honorable ones’),  What is the Constitutional status
2. The Ajlafs (backward
Muslims), and  • The Constitution (Scheduled
3. The Arzals (Dalit Muslims).
• Ashrafs: They are Muslims
who either claim to have a
foreign pedigree, descendants
of Muslims from Arabia, Persia,
Turkey, Afghanistan (Syeds,
Sheikhs, Mughals and Pathans),
or who are upper-caste converts
from Hinduism (Rajput, Gaur,
Tyagi Muslims among others).
• Ajlafs: They are middle-caste
converts, who were into ritually
“clean” occupations.
• The momins (weavers), darzi
or idiris (tailors), rayeens or
kunjaras (vegetable sellers) fall
in the Ajlaf bracket.
• Arzals: They are from the
lowest, “untouchable” castes
like halalkhors, helas, lalbegis
or bhangis (scavengers), dhobis
(washermen), nais or hajjams
(barbers), chiks (butchers), and
faqirs (beggars).  • In the absence of a caste census,
• They were first recorded in the
1901 census.
What is Rajinder Sachar
Committee Report?
• It was formed in 2005 to study
social, economic and educational
condition of the Indian Muslims.
• According to the report, one
can discern three groups among
Muslims: 
1. Those without any social
disabilities, the Ashrafs; 
2. Those equivalent to Hindu OBCs,
the Ajlafs, and 
• Those equivalent to Hindu SCs,
the Arzals. 
• Those who are referred to as
and Arzals.
of those Muslims?
Caste) Order, 1950, had restricted
Scheduled Caste status to the
Hindus, keeping Dalit from other
religions out of its ambit. 
• The order was later amended (in
1956 and 1990) to include the
Sikhs and Buddhists.
• The implementation of the report
of the Mandal Commission
brought the non-Ashrafs, Ajlafs,
and Arzals, under the OBC
category.
• The National Commission
for Religious and Linguistic
Minorities, known as the Justice
Ranganath Mishra Commission,
which submitted its report in
May 2007, acknowledged that
the caste system impacted all
religious communities in India,
including the Muslims.
How they are demographically
distributed?
a clear estimate of the present-
day numbers and demographic
distribution of Pasmanda
Muslims is not available. 
• The Sachar Committee in its
report put the number of OBC
and SC/ST Muslims at 40% (all
India 2004-05).
• Pasmanda activists and scholars
2022: SERIES VII
 HISTORY & CULTURE
do not agree with this figure.  organizations.
• They claimed that pasmandas
make up 80-85% of the total
Muslim population in India.  based reservation to the entire
• This broadly tallies with the 1871
census that said only 19% of the
Muslims in India were upper
caste, while 81% were made up
of the lower castes.
What are the demands of the
Pasmanda Muslims?
• Pasmanda Muslims say that
despite their overwhelming
numerical strength within
the community, they are
under-represented in jobs,
legislatures and government-
run minority institutions, as
well as community-run Muslim
Mayurbhanj’s Superfood ‘Ant Chutney’
Source: PIB
Context: Odisha has applied for
the geographical indications (GI)
registry of Kai Chutney under food
category.
About
• The chutney is prepared by
mixing and grinding salt, ginger,
garlic and chilly and is sold by
tribals in rural markets.
• This savoury food item, rich in
valuable proteins, calcium, zinc,
vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium,
potassium, sodium, copper, fiber
and 18 amino acids, is known to
boost the immune system and
keep diseases at bay.
• The process is herculean. First,
they collect the red ants from the
hives in branches, leaves or the
tree trunks in forests, and boil the
ants to turn it into a paste.
• A combination of grounded green
chillies, ginger, garlic, onion and
salt is then mixed with the boiled
red ants, and the end result of the
mixture is ‘kai’ chutney.
2022: SERIES VII
• Pasmandas are also opposed to
the demand for giving religion-
Muslim population, arguing that
it ignores unequal access to state
resources within the community.
• The major Pasmanda demands
include conducting a caste census,
restructuring of the existing
reservation categories, and state
support for artisans, craftsperson,
and agricultural laborers, who are
among the most impoverished
groups in the community.
• They demanded that Dalit
Muslims be included in the
SC list and the OBC quota
be redesigned to create an
HC-62
• It is often served with ‘Pakhala’,
and finger millet (mandia), and
whoever has savoured it will
never forget the taste.
Medicinal and bio-control uses:
• The tribes of Mayurbhanj
consume Kai chutney or soup
to get rid of flu, common cold,
whooping cough, to increase
appetite, enhance vision and
eyesight naturally without
corrective eye wear and to treat
joints pain, stomach diseases,
essentials for the development of
a healthy brain and the nervous
system.
• The tribal healers also prepare
medicinal oil by dipping the
collected Kais in pure mustard
oil.
• After 30 days, this oil is used as
baby oil and externally used to
cure rheumatism, gout, ringworm
and other skin diseases.
• Kais (Weaver ants) are bio-
control agents.
• They are aggressive and prey on
Extremely Backward Castes
(EBCs) category at the Centre
and the state level to include the
most backward Muslims along
with Hindu EBCs.
• As an example, the Pasmandas
hold up the Bihar model, where
a separate MBC category was
"
carved out within the OBC list
and most backward Muslim
castes– according to the Sachar
Committee– was placed in that
category.
• Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan and UP
— these five states
have Meo Muslims who
need to be included in
the ST category.
most arthropods entering their
territory.
• Due to their predatory habit,
Kais are recognized as biological
control agents in tropical crops as
they are able to protect a variety
of crops against many different
insect pests.
• In this way, they are
utilized indirectly as
an alternative to the
chemical insecticides.
About weaver ants
• Weaver ants, scientifically called
Oecophylla Smaragdina, are
abundantly found in Mayurbhanj
throughout the year.
• Red Weaver Ants are known
for their unique nest building
behaviour where workers
"
construct nests by weaving
together leaves using larval silk.
• There is a division of labour,
which is associated with the size
difference between workers,
whereby major workers ants
forage, defend and maintain the
ALS Current Affairs 4

ant colony and the minor ants
stay within the nests to care of the
newly hatched ants.
Geographical Indication (GI)
• A geographical indication (GI)
is a sign used on products that
have a specific geographical
origin and possess qualities or
"
a reputation that are due to that
origin.
• A geographical indication right
enables those who have the right
to use the indication to prevent
Source: The Indian Express
Context: Protests in Uzbekistan’s
autonomous province of
Karakalpakstan.
About
• The protests had broken out in
response to the government’s
plan to restrict the region’s long-
held autonomy.
• Thousands took to the streets of
the region’s capital, Nukus.
Who are the Karakalpaks?
• The name Karakalpakstan is
derived from the Karakalpak
people, an ethnic minority
group of around 2 million.
• Karakalpak
translates to ‘black
hat’, referring to their
traditional headgear.
• The Karakalpaks consider
themselves to be a distinct
cultural group in Uzbekistan.
• Their Turkic language –
Karakalpak – is closely related to
Kazak.
"
• Their separate language is a
crucial aspect of their cultural
identity.
• In their genealogical narrative,
the Karakalpaks claim to share a
common point of origin with the
neighbouring Kazakhs, Uzbeks
5 ALS Current Affairs
HISTORY & CULTURE
its use by a third party whose
product does not conform to the
applicable standards.
• However, a protected
geographical indication does
not enable the holder to prevent
someone from making a product
using the same techniques as
those set out in the standards for
that indication.
• Protection for a geographical
indication is usually obtained by
acquiring a right over the sign
HC-63
Karakalpakstan
and Turkmen, but believe that
over time they diverged from the
others.
• This narrative marks the
Karakalpaks as culturally
separate from their neighbouring
groups.
What is the region’s history?
• The Karakalpak people settled
around the Amu Darya (a river
that feeds into the Aral Sea) in the
18th century.
• By 1873, they partly came under
the Russian rule and by 1920
were completely incorporated
into the Soviet Union.
• Their region, Karakalpakstan,
was an autonomous area
within the USSR, before it was
made a part of Uzbekistan as
the Karakalpak Autonomous
Socialist Republic (ASSR) in
1936.
• After the fall of USSR,
Karakalpakstan was formally
recognized as an autonomous
republic in Uzbekistan’s
constitution of 1992, and has the
right to secede from on the basis
of a nation-wide referendum.
What triggered the recent
protests?
• Violent protests broke out in the
that constitutes the indication.
• Geographical indications are
typically used for agricultural
products, foodstuffs, wine and
spirit drinks, handicrafts, and
industrial products.
• A GI tag acts as a certificate and
ensures that similar products
from elsewhere cannot be sold
under this name.
• The tag is valid for a decade,
after which it can be renewed for
another 10 years.
impoverished Karakalpakstan
after President of Uzbekistan
published a draft amendment to
the Uzbek constitution on June
27, which removed the region’s
right to secede Uzbekistan by a
referendum.
How has the government reacted?
• With violent protest, government
dropped the plans to curtail
Karakalpakstan’s right to secede.
Why do the Karakalpaks feel
neglected?
• An environmental crisis, and the
health and economic troubles it
brought in its wake, has made
Karakalpakstan an impoverished
region and invoked a sense of
neglect among the Karakalpak
people.
Issues
• Karakalpakstan was one of
the most fertile provinces in
Uzbekistan, due to its location
next to the Aral Sea.
• However, the Aral Sea has been
steadily shrinking and reducing
the arable land in the province.
• In the 1960s, the Soviet
government began to divert
water from the Amu Darya and
Syr Darya rivers that feed into
the sea, and used it to irrigate the
2022: SERIES VII
 HISTORY & CULTURE
water-intensive cotton crop of the
desert region.
• With the Aral Sea becoming
increasingly drained of its water,
the salt and mineral content
began to drastically rise, making
the water unfit to drink and killing
off the fish in the lake.
• As a result, fishing industries and
communities that relied on the
sea collapsed.
• It was accompanied by significant
desertification of the region and
Karakalpakstan, which primarily
relies on agriculture and animal
husbandry, has subsequently
become Uzbekistan’s most
impoverished region.

"
"

2022: SERIES VII ALS Current Affairs 6

 SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE

Social Issues & Social Justice

SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-I)
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues,
"

poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their

remedies.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and
issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs,
various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other
stakeholders
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States
and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies
constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating
to Health, Education, Human Resources.

World Population Prospects Report 2022
Source: Indian Express
Context: World Population
Prospects 2022 was released UN
Dept of Economic & Social Affairs
About:
• The Population
Division of the UN has
been publishing the WPP
in a biennial cycle since
1951.
• Each revision of the WPP
provides a historical time series
of population indicators starting
in 1950.
• It does so by taking into account
newly released national data to
revise estimates of past trends in
"
SI-38
continent and has 61 per cent of
the global population, 17 per cent
reside in Africa (1.3 billion), 10
per cent in Europe (750 million),
8 per cent in Latin America and
the Caribbean (650 million),
and the remaining 5 per cent in
Northern America (370 million)
and Oceania (43 million).
• The world’s population continues
to grow, but the pace of growth
is slowing down: The global
population is expected to grow
to around 8.5 billion in 2030,  7
billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion
in 2100.
• In 2020, the global growth rate
increase in global population
up to 2050 will be concentrated
in just eight countries: the
Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia,
India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the
Philippines and the United
Republic of Tanzania.
• The 46 least developed countries
(LDCs) are among the world’s
fastest-growing.
• Many are projected to double
in population between 2022
and 2050, putting additional
pressure on resources and posing
challenges to the achievement
of the UN’s Sustainable

fertility, mortality or international fell under 1% per year for the first Development Goals (SDGs).
migration. time since 1950. • A sustained drop in fertility has
Takeaways for the global • Rates of population growth led to an increased concentration
population vary significantly across of the population at working
• Currently, with 7 billion countries and regions: More ages (between 25 and 64 years),
Asia is the most populous than half of the projected creating an opportunity for

7 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE
accelerated economic growth per
capita.
• International migration is having
important impacts on population
trendsfor some countries:
• For high-income
countries between 2000 and
2020, the contribution of

"
international migration to
population growth (net inflow
of 80.5 million)  exceeded
the balance of births over
deaths (66.2 million).
• Over the next few
decades, migration will be
the sole driver of population
growth in high-income
country
India specific findings
• India is expected to surpass
China as the world’s most
populous country in 2023.
• Presently 417 billion, India’s
population is expected to rise to
1.429 billion to surpass China. • From data it is clear that cohorts they are more productive and
• The concern now is not about of 0-14 years and 15-24 years will have better incomes.
the absolute numbers — India’s continue to decline while those The 65+ category 
population is already 1.4 billion of 25-64 and 65+ will continue to • Provisioning of social security is
and may go up to 1.6 billion rise for the coming decades. obviously a big challenge. This
before declining — but the • Policy implications arising out of will stretch the resources of the
quality of life for the people alive. these two trends future governments.
• The focus now has shifted to For those already in the 25-64 age • In this context, aged stay within the
whether we can reduce poverty, family set-up, reduces the burden
bracket
provide healthcare facilities, on the government.
• Skilling is the only way to ensure
education

Source: Indian Express
Context: In a study published in the
Science journal, researchers have
claimed that the bubonic plague was
originated in modern day northern
SI-39
Black Death
across Western Asia, Northern
Africa, Middle East and Europe
in 1346-53.
• Most scholars agree that the Black
Death, which killed millions, was
it to others either through the
vector of a human flea or directly
through the respiratory system.
Why this plague was called the
Black Death?
"

Kyrgyzstan around 1338-1339 – caused by bacterium Yersinia • It is commonly believed that

nearly 7-8 years before it ravaged
large parts of the world.
About:
• The term Black Death refers to
the bubonic plague that spread
pestis and was spread by fleas
that were carried by rodent hosts.
• The microorganism Y. pestis
spread to human populations,
who at some point transmitted
the term Black Death gets its
name from the black marks that
appeared on some of the plague
victims’ bodies.
• In the 14th century, the epidemic

2022: SERIES VII ALS Current Affairs 8


was referred to as the ‘great
pestilence’ or ‘great death’, due
to the demographic havoc that it
caused.
• The world black also carried a
dark, gloomy emotional tone,
due to the sheer amount of deaths
generated by the plague.
"
World Drug Report 2022
Source: The Hindu
Context: UN Office
on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC)’s released
World Drug Report 2022.
About:
• Globally: Compared to the
previous decade, the number of
drug users has increased by 26%
globally.
• Although women remain in
the minority of drug users
globally, their consumption
rate increases more rapidly than
men on average and fewer get
treatment.
• Young people continue to use
more drugs than adults and have
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently, Guinea
confirmed the first recorded case of
Marburg virus death in West Africa.
About:
• Marburg virus disease (MVD)
was formerly known as Marburg
"
hemorrhagic fever.
• Marburg virus disease is a highly
virulent disease that causes
hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality
ratio of up to 88%.  • Symptoms: Headache, vomiting
• It is in the same family as the
virus that causes Ebola virus
9 ALS Current Affairs
SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Why is the new discovery
significant?
• The geographical origin point of
the plague has been debated for
centuries.
• Some historians have argued
that the plague originated in
China, and spread across Europe
SI-40
higher levels of use than in past
generations.
• Environmental Impact:
Deforestation is associated with
illicit coca cultivation; waste
generated during synthetic drug
manufacturing and dumping
other waste can affect soil, water
and air directly.
• India: India has the most number
of opiate users in the world. This
trend is expected to rise with an
increase in trafficking.
What are the recommendations
of the report?
• Direct law enforcement resources
to target maritime and container
drug trafficking,
SI-41
Marburg virus
disease.  Many patients develop severe
• Two large outbreaks that occurred
simultaneously in Marburg and
Frankfurt in Germany, and in
Belgrade, Serbia, in 1967, led
to the initial recognition of the
disease.  Transmission
• The outbreak was associated with
laboratory work using African
green monkeys (Cercopithecus
aethiops) imported from Uganda.
blood, muscle pains and bleeding
through various orifices.
by Italian merchants who first
entered the continent in trading
caravans through Crimea.
• Another story argues that Mongol
army hurled plague-infested
bodies into the city during the
siege of Caffa (Crimea) and led
to the spread of the disease.
• Develop national drug prevention
systems that reach children
as early as possible in their
development and focus on
building resilience,
• Integrate outreach, psychosocial,
pharmacological, healthcare and
social support services to better
protect the health of people who
use drugs,
• Integrate drug policy
approaches into conflict and
peacebuilding responses and
when addressing crises and
weak rule of law,
• – Mainstream the objective of
“do no harm to the environment”
in drug policy responses.
hemorrhagic signs within seven
days. Case fatality rates have
varied from 24% to 88% in past
outbreaks depending on virus
strain and case management.
• Rousettus aegyptiacus, fruit bats
of the Pteropodidae family, are
considered to be natural hosts of
Marburg virus. 
• The Marburg virus is transmitted
to people from fruit bats and
spreads among humans through
2022: SERIES VII
 SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE
human-to-human transmission.
• Once an individual is infected
with the virus, Marburg can
spread through human-to-human
transmission via direct contact
with the blood, secretions, organs
or other bodily fluids of infected
people, and with surfaces and
Global Gender Gap Index
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, the World
Economic Forum (WEF) released its
Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index for
2022, which placed India at 135 out
of 146 nations.
About:
What is Global Gender Gap
Index?
• Gender Gap: It is the disparity
between men and women in
terms of their social, political,
intellectual, cultural, or economic
empowerment, achievements or
developments.
• Global Gender Gap Index is the
benchmark index released by the
World Economic Forum in 2006
Which evaluates and compares
nations’ advancements toward
gender parity and equality over
four key dimensions with sub-
parameters.
Key Dimensions
• Economic Participation and
Opportunity
• Educational Attainment
• Health and Survival
• Political Empowerment
Ranking Method
• The Global Gender Gap Index
assigns scores between 0 and 1
to each of the four sub-indices as
well as the overall index, where 1
indicates full gender parity and 0
indicates total imparity.
• Since its debut in 2006, it has
been the longest-running index
2022: SERIES VII
materials contaminated with
these fluids.  survival.
• Treatment and vaccines:
Currently there are no vaccines
or antiviral treatments approved
for MVD. However, supportive
care rehydration with oral or
intravenous fluids – and treatment
SI-42
that analyses advancements in
bridging the gender gaps across
time.
Aims
• To act as a compass for
measuring improvement in the
relative disparities between men
and women in terms of health,
education, the economy, and
politics.
• The stakeholders in each nation
are able to establish priorities that
are appropriate in each unique
economic, political, and cultural
setting thanks to this annual
yardstick.
Highlights of the report
• Out of 146 countries on the index,
Iceland continues to hold the title
of the nation with the highest
level of gender equality.
• Sweden, Finland, Norway, and
New Zealand  are the top five
nations on the list, in that order.
• According to the research,
Afghanistan has the worst
performance.
Analysis
• As per the report, Global Gender
Gap is closed overall by 68.1
percent all over the world and to
reach full gender parity at the
current rate of development
will take 132 years for the whole
world.
• In terms of economic
development, although no nation
reached full gender parity, the top
of specific symptoms, improves
• The worst epidemic was in Angola
in 2005, with 252 infections and
a 90% death rate. This epidemic
apparently spread through the
reuse of contaminated transfusion
equipment in a paediatric ward
"
3 economies - Iceland
(90.8%), Finland
(86%) and Norway -
closed at least 80% of
their gender gaps (84.5
percent )
• In the case of South Asia, gender
parity is predicted to be achieved
in 197 years, which is the region
that will take the longest.
Impact of COVID19
• The Covid-19 pandemic has
halted and even reversed the
advancement toward gender
parity.
• Women have suffered the most
from the recession, which has
been termed the “shecession,”
because women work in the
industries that have
been most negatively
affected, such retail
and hospitality.
• Women have been
affected by the pandemic
recession more than male
workers were by the financial
crisis of 2009.
How is India’s Performance?
Political empowerment
• This includes indicators like
"
the proportion of women in
parliament and cabinet positions,
among others.
• India is ranked highest in this
sub-index out of all the sub-
indices (48th out of 146).
• Since last year, India’s score
ALS Current Affairs 10

on this indicator has declined
from 0.276 to 0.267.
• Despite decline, India’s score
in this category is still higher
than the average globally.
Economic Participation and
Opportunity
• This includes indicators like
"
the proportion of women in the
labour force, wage parity for
comparable job, earned income,
etc.
• Even though India’s score has
increased from 0.326 to 0.350
since 2021, it still scores
poorly in this category,
coming in the 143rd
out of 146 competing
nations.
• Only Iran, Pakistan, and
Afghanistan behind India on
this criterion, and India’s score
is significantly lower than the
average for the world.
Educational Attainment
• This sub-index covers indicators
like the literacy rate and
enrollment rates in elementary,
secondary, and postsecondary
education.
• India comes in at 107 out of
146, and its score has somewhat
declined from the previous year.
• India came in at
number 114 out of 156 in
2021.
Health and Survival
• The sex ratio
at birth (in percent) and the
healthy life expectancy are two
measurements under the heading
of “Health and Survival” (in
years).
"
Case of Monkeypox in India
Source: The Hindu
Context: On July 14, monkeypox
was officially diagnosed in India for
11 ALS Current Affairs
SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE
• India is placed 146th out of all
the nations in this criteria.
• Its ranking has remained the
same since 2021, when it was
ranked 155th out of 156 nations.
Global Gender Gap Index and
South Asia:
• South Asia incidentally is one
of the worst performing regions,
followed only by the Middle East
and northern Africa.
• India comes last among its
neighbours, trailing Bhutan
(117), Bangladesh (71), Nepal
(96), Sri Lanka (110), and the
Maldives (126). In South Asia,
only Iran (143), Pakistan (145),
and Afghanistan (146) performed
worse than India. India placed
140th out of 156 countries in
2021.
• In terms of political
empowerment India’s
score is quite low at 0.267
whereas Bangladesh highest in
South Asia is ranked at 9 with a
score of 0.546.
• In the economic empowerment
dimension India’s score is
much lower than the global
average, and is only higher than
Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan in
this metric.
What are the initiatives India has
taken for women Empowerment
with the aim of Gender Parity?
Political Empowerment
• 73rd and 74th Amendment
act: For political reservation in
Panchayati Raj Institutions, the
government has set aside 33% of
the seats for women.
• Gram Swaraj Abhiyan:
SI-43
the first time when a traveler from
Kerala began exhibiting symptoms.
The virus was discovered in a person
Building the capacity of elected
women representatives is done
with the intention of enabling
women to engage fully in the
political process.
Economic Empowerment
• For promotion of female
entrepreneurship: The
government has launched
programmes like Stand-Up
India and Mahila e-Haat (an
online marketing platform to
empower women entrepreneurs,
SHGs, and NGOs), as well
as the Entrepreneurship
and Skill Development
Program, to encourage female
entrepreneurship (ESSDP).
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh is a leading
microfinance programme that
offers low-interest microcredit
to underprivileged women for a
variety of sources of income.
• Mahila Shakti Kendra seeks to
give rural women options for
work and skill advancement.
Educational Attainment
• Initiatives like Samagra Shikha
abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik
Shiksha Abhiyan , Kasturaba
Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya,
Right to Education Act, Women
Scientist Programme
Health and Survival
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: It
guarantees the safety, wellbeingo,
and education of the girl child.
• Health and Nutrition related
initiatives like National Nutrition
Mission, pm matru vandana
yojana, Mission Vatsalya, Mid
day Meal scheme.Janani Shishu
Suraksha Karyakram
who had returned from the United
Arab Emirates The National Institute
of Virology in Pune examined the
2022: SERIES VII
 SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE
subject’s samples and determined
that they contained monkeypox.
About:
What is Monkeypox?
• It is a viral zoonotic disease
(transmission from animals to
people) known as monkeypox
because it is a pox-like illness
among monkeys. It is widespread
in Nigeria.
• It is brought on by
the monkeypox virus, a species
of the Orthopoxvirus family.
• The virus’s original host is still
unknown. However, several
reports of the illness in animals
exist.
• Monkeys, apes, a variety of
rodents (including rats, mice,
squirrels, and prairie dogs),
and rabbits are all known to be
carriers of the monkeypox virus.
What is Monkeypox Virus?
• The monkeypox virus is an
orthopoxvirus that causes a
condition that is comparable to
smallpox but less severe.
• While smallpox was eliminated
in 1980, monkeypox is still
present in Central and West
African nations.
• Two distinct clade are identified:
the West African clade and the
Congo Basin clade, also known
as the Central African clade.
Disease occurrence
• According to the CDC’s
monkeypox summary, the virus
was initially found in 1958 after
two outbreaks of a pox-like
disease in laboratory monkey
colonies, leading to the moniker
“monkeypox.”
• The first human case  of
monkeypox was discovered in
the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC) in 1970, at a period
of increased efforts to eradicate
the disease.
• According to the WHO, human
cases of monkeypox have been
recorded in 15 countries across
2022: SERIES VII
four continents.
• The DRC (which has the world’s
highest rate of infection),
the Central African Republic, the
Republic of the Congo, Gabon,
Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire,
Liberia, and Sierra Leone have all
verified locally acquired cases.
• Imported cases have been
discovered in Africa’s South
Sudan and Benin, as well
as in the United States,
the United Kingdom, Israel,
and Singapore.
Transmission
• Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease.
• Cases are frequently discovered
near tropical rainforests where
the virus is carried by animals.
• Squirrels, Gambian pouched rats,
dormice, several monkey species,
and others have all been shown to
be infected with the monkeypox
virus.
• Transmission between humans
is limited.
• It may be spread by body
fluids, skin lesions, and internal
mucosal surfaces like the mouth
and throat, as well as respiratory
droplets and infected items.
Symptoms
• Fever, a wide distinctive rash,
and enlarged lymph nodes are all
symptoms of monkeypox.
• Monkeypox can take anywhere
from 5 to 21 days to incubate.
• The febrile stage of disease lasts 1
to 3 days and includes symptoms
such as fever, severe headache,
lymphadenopathy (lymph node
swelling), back pain, myalgia
(muscle discomfort), and severe
asthenia (lack of energy).
• The skin eruption stage follows
the febrile stage and lasts 2 to 4
weeks.
• Lesions progress from macules
(flat-base lesions) to papules
(hard, raised lesions), vesicles
(filled with clear fluid), pustules
(filled with pus), scabs, or crusts.
• In reported occurrences, the
percentage of patients who died
ranged from 0% to 11%, with the
percentage being greater among
small children.
Treatment
• Patients with monkeypox receive
supportive treatment based on
"
their symptoms. Several drugs
that might be beneficial against
the monkeypox virus are being
researched and tested.
• Human monkeypox prevention
and control relies on community
awareness and health
worker education to
prevent infection and
stop transmission.
• The majority of human
monkeypox infections
are transmitted from animal to
human. All items containing
animal flesh or parts should
be properly prepared before
consuming, and contact with ill
or deceased animals should be
avoided.
• Avoid coming into contact with
deceased persons or contaminated
objects. When caring for the ill,
whether in a health institution
or at home, gloves and other
personal protective apparel and
equipment should be
used.
What distinguishes
monkeypox from
smallpox?
• The variola virus, which causes
smallpox, and the vaccinia virus,
which was used in the smallpox
vaccine, are also members of the
genus orthopoxvirus, which also
includes the virus that causes
monkeypox.
"
• The symptoms of monkeypox
are less severe than those of
smallpox.
• Furthermore, the two diseases
have different symptoms.
• Although smallpox was
completely eradicated by
ALS Current Affairs 12

vaccination in 1980, monkeypox
still exists in some parts of
Central and West Africa and
has occasionally been detected
abroad.
How can it be prevented?
• There are several steps that can
be taken to prevent monkeypox
"
virus infection.
• Avoid coming into contact
with any animals that might be
infected.
• Avoid touching any items that
have come into contact with
a sick animal, such as
bedding.
• Separate infected
patients from those who
might contract the disease.
• After coming into
contact with infected individuals
or animals, wash your hands
thoroughly.
• When providing patient care, put
personal protective equipment
(PPE) to use
Why is monkeypox disease on
the rise in 2022?
Mistake of ignoring the monkeypox
outbreak in Nigeria
• Europe and North America saw
the outbreak of monkeypox
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), 2022
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Indian Institute of
Technology, Madras (IIT-M), is
yet again the top higher educational
institute in the country . This is the
seventh consecutive edition of NIRF.
About:
According to the Ministry of
"
Education’s National Institutional
Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2022,
Top 3 Institutes:
• The Indian Institute of
Technology, Madras (IIT-M)
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc),
13 ALS Current Affairs
SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE
cases in May 2022. The current
outbreak in Europe and North
America  was the first report of
large-scale human-to-human
transmission outside of Africa.
• The first reported case was
a British citizen who visited
Nigeria on April 20 and returned
on May 3; he was diagnosed with
monkeypox on May 6, 2022. As
of May 25, it has spread to 219
persons in 20 nations.
• The latest outbreak appears to
have mostly spread among men
who have intercourse with men.
• Although the virus is not
transferred by sperm or
vaginal secretions, skin-to-skin
contact during sex can result in
viral transmission.
• Researchers in Portugal and
Belgium initially published
draught genome sequences,
which show that the virus
circulating in Europe and North
America belongs to the West
African lineage, which produces
moderate illness.
• Over 15 monkeypox genomes
have been sequenced to date.
• However, the monkeypox
virus has a lower mutation rate
SI-44
Bengaluru
• IIT Bombay
Top 5 Universities:
• IISc
• Jawaharlal Nehru University
• Jamia Millia Islamia
• Jadavpur University
• Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
Top five colleges:
• Miranda House
• Hindu College
• Presidency College
• Loyola College
• Lady Shri Ram College for Women
(approximately two mutations
per year) than the SARS-CoV-2
virus, which has almost 25
mutations per year.
• This is due to the fact that
monkeypox is a DNA virus,
whereas SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA
virus.
• The low mutation rate in DNA
viruses is primarily owing to
variations in the mechanisms
that cause mutation as well
as the viruses’ proof-reading
capabilities.
Way forward
• Because of the discontinuation
of routine smallpox vaccination,
which provided some cross-
protection in the past, populations
have grown more vulnerable to
monkeypox.
• Smallpox vaccination with a first-
generation vaccinia-virus-based
smallpox vaccine was previously
proven to be 85 percent effective
in preventing monkeypox.
• Those who were vaccinated
against smallpox as children,
as well as health workers
and laboratory employees,
may still be protected against
monkeypox.
Top five medical institutes
• All India Institute of Medical
Sciences
• Post Graduate Institute of
Medical Education and Research,
Chandigarh
• Christian Medical College,
Vellore
• National Institute of Mental Health
& Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru
• Banaras Hindu University.
Top five management institutes
• Indian Institute of Management
(IIM) Ahmedabad
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 SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE
• IIM Bengaluru in India. • Teaching, Learning and
• IIM Kolkata • There are separate rankings for Resources (TLR),
• IIT Delhi different types of institutions • Research and Professional
• IIM Kozhikode depending on their areas of Practice (RP),
About NIRF operation like universities and • Graduation Outcomes (GO),
• The National Institutional colleges, engineering institutions, • Outreach and Inclusivity (OI)
Ranking Framework (NIRF) is management institutions, • Perception (PR).
a methodology adopted by the pharmacy institutions and • Rankings help universities to

Ministry of Human Resource
Development (MHRD),
Government of India, to rank
institutions of higher education
architecture institutions.
• The ranking framework evaluates
institutions on five broad generic
groups of parameters, i.e.
"
improve their performance on
various ranking parameters and
identify gaps in research and
areas of improvement.

Decline In Immunization Coverage
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently, a report by
World Health Organization (WHO)
and United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) highlighted the impact of
covid-19 pandemic on immunization
Coverage programs globally and in
India as well.
About:
Key Findings:
• Three million children have
not received the first dose of
the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and
Pertussis (DPT) vaccine in 2020.
• 25 million children globally
missed out on or more doses of
the DTP vaccine in 2021 alone.
• Over 24 million children missed
out on their first measles vaccine
dose in 2021,
• Over five million more than in
2019.
• Compared with 2019, 6.7 million
more children missed out on the
third dose of the polio vaccine
SI-45
and 3.5 million missed the first
dose of the HPV Vaccine which
protects girls against cervical
cancer later in life.
• The coverage of vaccines
dropped in every region whereas
East Asia and the Pacific region
recorded the steepest reversal:
• Around 18 million of the 25
million children who did not
receive a single DTP dose in
2021 belong to low- and middle-
income countries, with India,
Nigeria, Indonesia, Ethiopia,
and the Philippines recording the
highest numbers,
Factors for the Decline
• increased number of
children living in conflict and
• fragile settings where
immunization access is often
challenging.
• increased misinformation and
Covid-19-related issues
• supply chain disruptions
• resource diversion
to response efforts,
and containment measures that
limited immunization service
access and availability.
India’s Performance:
• Annually, India vaccinates more
than 30 million pregnant women
and 27 million children through its
universal immunization program.
• India effectively avoided a drop in
coverage by the early restoration
of routine immunization
services, along with evidence-
based catch-up programs,
which enabled it
to avoid a drop in
routine immunization
coverage.
• India launched
the  Intensified Mission
Indradhanush4.0 in February
2022 with the aim to immunize
every pregnant woman and child
who had missed their vaccination.

SI-46
"

Female Participation In The Formal Labour Force In Country

Source: The Hindu formal labour force in India,and About:
Context: The Vice President called for addressing this Hurdles in Female Labour Force
expressed concern over low problem on a war footing by all Participation
female participation in the the stakeholders. • Child care-related issues, a

2022: SERIES VII ALS Current Affairs 14


critical barrier to women’s labour
force participation.
• The biggest dividends will come
from focusing on women in the
informal sector.
• In India, Nepal, Bangladesh and
Pakistan, 76, 89, 71 and 66% of
working women,
"
• Respectively, are employed on
own account or as family workers
(ILO).
• Digital divide: In India in 2019,
internet users were 67% male and
33% female, and this gap is even
bigger in rural areas.
• This divide can
become a barrier for
women to access critical
education, health and
financial services, or to
achieve success in activities or
"
15 ALS Current Affairs
SOCIAL ISSUES & SOCIAL JUSTICE
sectors that are becoming more
digitised.
• Use the income tax system to
push female labour force
participation. Women have a
higher elasticity of labour supply
than men (their labour supply is
more responsive to their take-
home wages) — lower income
taxes for women can incentivise
their participation.
• Technological Disruption:
Women hold most of the
administrative and data-
processing roles that artificial
intelligence and other
technologies threaten to usurp.
Recommendations:
• The participation of women
in the formal labour force is
essential to significantly increase
their contribution to the GDP as
also for inclusive growth.
• Educational institutions should
introduce skill-based courses for
increasing the employability of
women.
• Educational institutions
should form linkages with
the industries and tailor the
courses in accordance with their
requirements.
• It is necessary to change
established gender narratives
and ensure upward mobility of
women in various fields.
• National Education
Policy-2020 has set the goal to
achieve 100 per cent enrolment
of girls in schools by 2035 and
50 per cent in higher education
institutions.
2022: SERIES VII
 PHYSICAL & WORLD GEOGRAPHY

Physical & World Geography

SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-I)
• S alient features of world’s physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and
"

the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary,
and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic
activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical
geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna
and the effects of such changes.
• Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of
irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural
produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
• Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location,
upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Source: The Hindu
Context: There is a small desert
located in the state of
Tamil Nadu. It consists
of red sand dunes and is
confined to Thoothukudi
district.
About
• The red dunes are called theri in
Tamil.
• They consist of sediments
dating back to the Quaternary
Period and are made of marine
deposits.
• They have very low water and
"
G-29
Red Dunes
Mineral composition of theris
• The analysis of the red sand
dunes reveals the presence of
heavy and light minerals.
• These include Ilmenite,
Magnetite, Rutile, Garnet,
Zircon, Diopside, Tourmaline,
Hematite, Goethite, Kyanite,
Quartz, Feldspar, Biotite, etc.
• The iron-rich heavy minerals
like ilmenite, magnetite, garnet,
hypersthene and rutile present in
the soil had undergone leaching
by surface water.
• They were then oxidised because
that the area might have been a
paleo (ancient) coast in the past.
• The presence of limestone in
many places indicates marine
transgression.
• The present-day theris might have
been formed by the confinement
of beach sand locally, after
regression of the sea.
• When high velocity winds from
the Western Ghats blew east, they
induced migration of sand grains
and accumulation of dunes.
Another story of their formation
• Another view is that these are

nutrient retention capacity. of the favourable semi-arid geological formations that

• The dunes are susceptible to
aerodynamic lift.
• This is the push that lets
something move up. It is the force
that is the opposite of weight.
climatic conditions. appeared in a period of a few
How did they form? hundred years.
• Theris appear as gentle, • The red sand is brought from the
undulating terrain. surface of a broad belt of red loam
• The lithology of the area shows in the plains of the Nanguneri

17 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 PHYSICAL & WORLD GEOGRAPHY
region (about 57 kilometres)
by south west monsoon winds
during May-September.
• The winds after draining the
moisture behind the Mahendragiri
Source: The Hindu
Context: Ukraine has said it has
caused “significant losses” to the
Russian military in airstrikes on the
Zmiinyi Island, also known as the
Snake Island, in the Black Sea.
About
• The Zmiinyi Island, also known
as the Snake or Serpent Island,
is a small piece of rock less than
700 metres from end to end,
that has been described as being
“X-shaped”.
• It is located 35 km from the coast
in the Black Sea, to the east of
the mouth of the Danube and
roughly southwest of the port city
of Odessa.
• The island, which has been
known since ancient times and
is marked on the map by the tiny
village of Bile that is located on
it, belongs to Ukraine.
High-grade Lithium Discovered in Nigeria
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Nigerian Geological
Survey Agency disclosed discovery
of high lithium grade in Nigeria,
which also is one of the world’s most
important solid minerals.
About
• The Geological Agency described
the lithium as high grade because
what’s been found has between
1-13 per cent oxide content.
• Normally exploration begins at
2022: SERIES VII
hill and the Aralvaimozhi gap of
the Western Ghats become dry and
strike the plains in the foothills,
where vegetation is sparse.
• Deforestation and the absence
G-30
Snake Island
• On February 24, the day Russia
launched its invasion, two
warships from the Russian
Black Sea Fleet, Vasily Bykov
and Moskva, attacked the Snake
Island followed by the Russian
troops landing on it.
• Ukraine has claimed to have
launched several attacks on the
Russian occupiers of the Snake
Island even before the latest
ongoing operation.
• Recently, Ukraine said it had
sunk a Russian naval tug called
Spasatel Vasily Bekh, which was
delivering personnel and military
supplies to the island.
• Earlier in April, it had sunk the
Moskva, the 600-foot flagship of the
Black Sea Fleet, which had attacked
the island on day 1 of the war.
Black Sea
• The Black Sea is a marginal
G-31
levels as low as 0.4 percent.
• Grade (in per cent) is a measure
of concentration of the lithium
in the minerals and or rocks that
contains it.
• Therefore the higher the grade,
the more the economic viability.
Higher grades are very rare for
metals like lithium.
About Lithium:
• Lithium is a chemical element
with symbol Li and atomic
of vegetative cover in the
Aralvaimozhi gap and the
Nanguneri plains are considered
to be the major causes of wind
erosion.
"
sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying
between Europe and Asia; east of
the Balkans (Southeast Europe),
south of the East European Plain
in Eastern Europe,
west of the Caucasus,
and north of Anatolia
in Western Asia.
• The Black Sea is
bordered by Bulgaria, Georgia,
Romania, Russia, Turkey, and
Ukraine.
• The Black Sea ultimately drains
into the Mediterranean Sea,
via the Turkish Straits and the
Aegean Sea.
• The Bosporus Strait connects
it to the small Sea of Marmara
which in turn is connected to the
Aegean Sea via the Strait of the
Dardanelles. To the north, the
Black Sea is connected to the Sea
of Azov by the Kerch Strait.
number 3.
• It is a soft, silvery-white alkali
metal.
• Under standard conditions, it is
the lightest metal and the lightest
solid element.
"
• Lithium is highly reactive and
flammable, and is stored in
mineral oil.
• It never occurs freely in nature,
but only in (usually ionic)
compounds, such as pegmatitic
ALS Current Affairs 18

minerals, which were once the
main source of lithium.
• Due to its solubility as an ion, it
is present in ocean water and is
commonly obtained from brines.
• Lithium metal is isolated
electrolytically from a mixture of
lithium chloride and potassium
"
chloride.
• It is a key component used in
Electric Vehicle batteries. And
India, through its Rs. 18,100-crore
PLI scheme is offering incentives
for companies to build battery
cells locally.
• China and Hong
Kong are the biggest
lithium battery suppliers
to India.
Lithium Triangle:
• Lithium Triangle is an intersection
of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina,
known for high quality salt flats.
• Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Salar
de Atacama in Chile and Salar
de Arizaro in Argentina contains
over 45% of known global
lithium reserves.
• Beneath Salar de Uyuni, the
world’s largest salt flat lays the
world’s greatest lithium deposits.
• Bolivia, one of South America’s
poorest countries, envisions
development by
harvesting lithium on an
Source: The Hindu
Context: A cloudburst incident
took place at the holy cave area of
Amarnath recently.
About
"
What is cloudburst?
• It is a sudden, very heavy rainfall,
usually local in nature and of
brief duration. Most so-called
cloudbursts occur in connection
with thunderstorms.  of a mountain.  occasionally when a warm air
19 ALS Current Affairs
PHYSICAL & WORLD GEOGRAPHY
industrial scale from underground
saltwater brines.
• It can be mined from rock or
processed from brine.
• Lithium dissolved in underground
saline aquifers called “brine”,
pumped to surface by wells and
then allowed to evaporate in vast
knee-deep ponds.
Lithium-ion batteries:
• Lithium-ion batteries are
generally more expensive but
have better performance and
are becoming the preferred
technology. The different types
are:
• Lithium-cobalt oxide battery: It
is used in consumer electronics
and is finding application in
electric vehicles. It is relatively
cheap.
• Lithium-nickel-manganese-
cobalt is a newer, higher
performing range of battery
chemistry. It is mainly developed
for the electronic vehicle market
but is finding a wider use
because of its increasing cost
effectiveness.
• Lithium iron phosphate is the
safest technology with relatively
high performance but relatively
expensive. It is very popular in
China but is likely to be overtaken
by Lithium-nickel-manganese-
G-32
Amarnath Cloudburst
• In these storms, there are violent
uprushes of air, which at times
prevent the condensing raindrops
from falling to the ground.
• Cloudbursts are
especially common in
mountainous areas. This is
probably because the warm
air currents of a thunderstorm
tend to follow the upward slope
cobalt over the longer term; and
• L i t h i u m - n i c k e l - c o b a l t -
aluminium oxide developed to
reduce cobalt consumption and
is known as a solid performer
and of reasonable cost. It is also
becoming popular outside China.
Global Lithium Production
• Greenbushes mine in Western
Australia is the largest hard-rock
lithium mine in the world.
• Global lithium mine production
hit a record high of 100,000
tonnes in 2021, a 21 per cent
increase over 2020.
• According to 2020 data, three
countries– Australia (40,000
tonnes), Chile (20,600 tonnes)
and China (14,000 tonnes)– mine
about 86 per cent of the world’s
lithium.
• Others are Argentina (6,200
tonnes), Brazil (1,900 tonnes),
Zimbabwe (1,200 tonnes), USA
(900 tonnes) and Portugal (900
tonnes).
Lithium in Nigeria
• In Nigeria, lithium minerals
(spodumene and lepidolite)
are known to be associated
with cassiterite, columbite-
tantalite (coltan) and others
in the extensive belt of rare
metal-bearing rock types called
pegmatite.
• The effects of heavy rain
are especially striking on
mountain slopes because the
falling water is concentrated in
valleys and gulleys. Mountain
cloudbursts cause sudden and
destructive floods.
• However, cloudbursts are
infrequent as they  occur
only via orographic lift or
2022: SERIES VII
 PHYSICAL & WORLD GEOGRAPHY
parcel mixes with cooler air,
resulting in sudden condensation.  were akin to water balloons and
• The term “cloudburst” arose
Padma Multipurpose Bridge
Source: PIB
Context: Bangladesh’s Padma
Multipurpose Bridge was recently
inaugurated.
About
• The Government of India
congratulated Bangladesh on
the completion of the Padma
Multipurpose Bridge which
Source: The Hindu
Context: A recent study found
that the Iberian Peninsula, which is
predominantly occupied by Spain
and Portugal, has experienced
abnormally dry conditions as a result
of an extremely massive “Azores
High,” a subtropical weather
phenomena.
About
What is meant by Azores High?
• According to the researchers,
the Azores High is a subtropical
high-pressure system that spans
the eastern subtropical North
Atlantic and Western Europe in
the winter.
• In the subtropical North Atlantic,
it is connected to anticyclonic
winds.
• It is created when dry air
ascends from the subtropics
and it occurs along the Hadley
Circulation’s downstream branch.
What are the consequences of
Azore high?
• According to data published in
2022: SERIES VII
from the notion that clouds
could burst, resulting in rapid
G-33
is regarded as the biggest
infrastructure project in
Bangladesh.
• Along with enhancing the internal
connectivity in Bangladesh,
the Padma bridge is expected
to improve trade and logistics
between India and Bangladesh.
• The bridge is expected to play a
G-34
Azores High
the journal Nature Geoscience,
the Iberian Peninsula saw yearly
drying of 5-10 millimeters per
decade throughout the second
half of the 20th century.
• By the end of the twenty-first
century, it was noted, another 10–
20 percent decrease in winter
precipitation is anticipated.
• The Iberian region’s agriculture
is among the most susceptible
in Europe as a result of these
anticipated changes.
• By 2100, productivity in
southern Spain’s olive-growing
regions would decrease by 30%.
• By 2050, the area under
cultivation in grape-growing
regions throughout the Iberian
Peninsula will have decreased
by 25 to 99 percent as a result of
severe water shortages that will
make the land unfit for viticulture.
What is the reason behind Azores
High expansion?
• The researchers demonstrated
that the Azores High
precipitation. Though this idea
has since been disproven, the
term remains in use.
"
crucial role in improving bilateral
India-Bangladesh and sub-
regional links.
• The Padma Bridge will facilitate
faster transportation of goods and
commodities between
Bangladesh and India
and other countries
like Nepal and Bhutan.
expansion is caused
by external climate forces and
that atmospheric greenhouse
gas concentrations are the sole
external forcing responsible for
this signal during the industrial
era.
• Winters with a very large
Azores High were substantially
more  frequent in
the industrial age
after 1850  than
in pre-industrial
eras, according to
observations and climate model
predictions.
• Since 1850, simulations of
the previous millennium have
shown that the industrial
era extension of the Azores
High is unprecedented,
"
which is “compatible with
precipitation proxy evidence
from Portugal.”
• According to the study, the
Azores High expansion began
after 1850 and intensified in the
20th century, which is compatible
ALS Current Affairs 20

with warming caused by human
activity.
What are Hadley cells?
• The low-latitude overturning
Derecho Storm in US
"
Source: The Indian Express
Context: States of Nebraska,
Minnesota and Illinois in the US
were hit by a storm system called
a ‘Derecho’.
About
• D e r e c h o ,
according to the US’s
National Weather Service,
“is a widespread, long-lasting,
direct storm” associated with
“a fast-moving rain belt or
thunderstorm”.
• The word comes from the
Spanish word ‘la derecha’
meaning ‘straight’. Straight
storms are those where
thunderstorms do not change
unlike a hurricane.
• These storms travel hundreds of
miles and occupy a large area.
• As it is a warmer climate,
Derecho usually - not always -
"
21 ALS Current Affairs
PHYSICAL & WORLD GEOGRAPHY
circulations known as Hadley
Cells are characterized by air
rising near the equator and air
sinking at about 30° latitude.
G-35
occurs during the summer from
May, and hits hard in June and
July.
• However, they are rare compared
to other storm systems such as
hurricanes or hurricanes.
Classification
• For a storm to be classified as a
derecho, it must have wind gusts
of at least 93 km per hour; wind
damage swaths extending more
than 400 km.
• According to the University
of Oklahama’s School of
Meteorology, the time gap
between successive wind damage
events should not be more than
three hours.
Types of Derecho
• Progressive: A progressive
derecho is associated with a
short line of thunderstorms that
may travel for hundreds of miles
• They regulate low-latitude
weather patterns and are in
charge of the trade winds in the
Tropics.
along a relatively narrow path. It
is a summer phenomenon.
• Serial: A serial derecho, on the
other hand, has an extensive
squall line wide and long
sweeping across a large area. It
usually occurs during spring or
fall.
• Hybrid: Hybrid ones have the
features of both progressive and
serial derechos.
What happens during Derecho?
• Severe thunderstorms result
in a ‘green sky’ due to light
interacting with the huge amount
of water they hold.
• Big raindrops and hail scatter
away all but the blue wavelengths
due to which primarily blue light
penetrates below the storm cloud.
• This blue then combines with the
red-yellow of the afternoon or the
evening sun to produce green.
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE

Constitution, Polity & Governance

SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-II)
• Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,
significant provisions and basic structure.
"

• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges
pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels
and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and
institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
• Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers
& privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries
and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal
associations and their role in the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters,
transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.

Mega 5G Spectrum Auction
Source: PIB
Context: The Union
Cabinet has approved
the auction of airwaves
capable of offering fifth
generation, or 5G, telecom services,
including ultra-high-speed Internet,
and gave its nod for setting up of
captive 5G networks by big tech
firms.
About:
• The auction of over 72 GHz of
"
CP-224
• TRAI had earlier recommended
about a 39% reduction in the
reserve or floor price for the
sale of 5G spectrum for mobile
services.
What is 5G technology?
• 5G or fifth generation is the
latest upgrade in the long-
term evolution (LTE) mobile
broadband networks.
• It mainly works in 3 bands,
namely low, mid and high-
terms of coverage and speed of
internet and data exchange, the
maximum speed is limited to 100
Mbps (Megabits per second).
• This means that while telcos can
use and install it for commercial
cellphones users who may not
have specific demands for very
high-speed internet, the low band
spectrum may not be optimal
for the specialized needs of the
industry.

the spectrum will be held by July-
end.
• Auctions will be held at reserve
prices recommended by the sector
regulator, Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI).
frequency spectrum — all of
which have their own uses as
well as limitations.
Three bands of 5G
(1) Low band spectrum
• It has shown great promise in
(2) Mid-band spectrum
• It offers higher speeds compared
to the low band but has limitations
in terms of coverage area and
penetration of signals.
• Telcos and companies, which
have taken the lead on 5G, have

23 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE

indicated that this band may be

used by industries and specialized
factory units for building captive
networks that can be molded
into the needs of that particular
industry.
(3) High-band spectrum
• It offers the highest speed of

"
all the three bands, but has
extremely limited coverage and
signal penetration strength.
• Internet speeds in the high-band
spectrum of 5G have been tested
to be as high as 20 Gbps (gigabits
per second), while, in most cases,
the maximum internet data speed
in 4G has been recorded at 1
Gbps.
Where does India stand in the 5G
technology race? bands so that they would be basis.
• On par with the global players, able to plan the rollout of their • In countries like the US, some
India had, in 2018, planned to services accordingly. companies have taken the lead
start 5G services as soon as • One big hurdle, however, is the when it comes to rolling out
possible, with an aim to capitalize lack of flow of cash and adequate commercial 5G for their users.
on the better network speeds capital with some companies due • A South Korean company, which
and strength that the technology to their AGR dues. had started researching on 5G
promised. Global progress on 5G technology way back in 2011,
• Indian private telecom players • More than governments, global has, on the other hand, take the
have been urging the DoT to lay telecom companies have started lead when it comes to building
out a clear road map of spectrum building 5G networks and rolling the hardware for 5G networks for
allocation and 5G frequency it out to their customers on a trial several companies.

Draft National Data Governance Framework Policy
Source: PIB
Context: Following the criticism of
its previous draft policy, a new draft
called ‘National Data Governance
Framework Policy’ has been notified
by the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY).
About:
CP-225
guidelines, rules and norms standards
for the collection, processing, • To have standard APIs and
storage, access, and use of other tech standards for Whole
Government data. Government Data management
• To enable and catalyse vibrant and access
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and • To promote transparency,
Data lead research and Start- accountability, and ownership in
up ecosystem, by creating Non-personal data and Datasets
a large repository of India access.
"

The purpose of the Draft National

Data Governance Framework
Policy
• To transform and modernise
Government’s data collection
and management processes and
systems through standardised
datasets. • To build a platform that will
Objectives of Draft National Data allow Dataset requests to be
Governance Framework Policy received and processed
• To accelerate Digital Governance • To ensure greater citizen
• To have standardised data awareness, participation, and
management and security engagement

2022: SERIES VII ALS Current Affairs 24


Provisions of Draft National Data
Governance Framework Policy
• The old draft named the ‘India
Data Accessibility and Use
Policy’ which was released in
February 2022 had proposed
that the data collected by the
Centre that has “undergone value
"
addition” can be sold in the open
market for an “appropriate price”.
• This provision was met with
widespread criticism
• The new draft omits this provision
• The new draft focuses
Source: PIB
Context: To promote and attract
tourism business, the Indian
Railways recently launched Bharat
Gaurav trains that will be operated
by private players and run on theme-
based circuits.
About:
• Through this policy, which offers
operators the “Right of Use” of
its rakes and infrastructure, the
Railways has liberalised and
simplified a part of operations
that was otherwise carried
out mostly by IRCTC.
• While any
entity can run these
trains, including state
governments, it is implied that
the policy is targeted at tour
operators.
What is the Bharat Gaurav policy?
• Leasing on theme based circuit:
According to the Bharat Gaurav
policy, any operator or service
provider, or virtually anyone, can
"
lease trains from Indian Railways
to run on a theme-based circuit as
a special tourism package.
• Security of tenure: The tenure
of the arrangement is a minimum
of two years and maximum of the
25 ALS Current Affairs
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
significantly on sharing non-
personal data and calls for the
creation of an India Datasets
programme for the same.
• The India Datasets programme
consists of non-personal and
anonymised datasets from
Central government entities that
have collected data from Indian
citizens or those in India.
• The non-personal data collected
through this programme would
be accessible to startups and
Indian researchers.
CP-226
Bharat Gaurav Scheme
codal life of the coach.
• Freedom of Operations: The
operator has the freedom to
decide the route, the halts, the
services provided, and, most
importantly, the tariff.
• The IRCTC runs such theme-
based tourist trains, for instance,
the Ramayana Express, which
goes on a tour of several places
connected to Lord Ram.
• In such packaged tours, typically
the passengers stop over at a
place, stay at hotels, undertake
sightseeing, etc. — all organised
by tour operators.
• No Eligibility: Anyone can
approach Railways to lease
the 3033 conventional Integral
Coach Factory-design coaches
earmarked for this segment.
In fact, if the operator finds
it feasible, then it can even
purchase rakes from Indian
Railway production units and run
them.
• Obligation on operator:
The operator has to, however,
take care of end-to-end,
comprehensive service like hotel
stay, local arrangements, etc.
These trains cannot be used as
• The draft policy proposes the
establishment of the India
Data Management Office
(IDMO) under the Digital India
Corporation of MeitY.
• The IDMO would be responsible
for developing rules, standards,
and guidelines
• IDMO will design and manage
the India Datasets platform that
will process requests and provide
access to the non-personal and/
or anonymized datasets to Indian
researchers and Startups.
ordinary transport trains between
an origin and destination.
How will the Railways process
such applications?
• Creation of Special Unit: There
will be a special unit created in
each zonal railway to process
such applications and also
handhold applicants, and see end-
to-end procedural requirements
for the operators.
• Single Window System: These
special units will help operators
in creation of itineraries, public
outreach, carrying out necessary
approvals and the likes. The idea
is to provide the operators a place
to go to, like a single-window for
all their needs when they interact
with railways, and not run from
pillar to post.
What can the operators do within
the contract?
• The spirit of the policy is to give
operators complete freedom to
run the business and develop a
business model in which Indian
Railways will only physically
run the trains, maintain them and
charge a fee.
• Freedom of Interior design: The
operator can carry out its own
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
furnishings of the interiors of the
trains if it wants within safety
norms. It can decide what kind of
interiors or berth composition it
wants. However, it cannot tinker
with or dismantle critical parts of
the coach that has a bearing on
safety and operation.
• Naming Freedom: It can name
the circuit, the train and sell
advertisement space. It can carry
out branding on the exterior and
interior of the train.
• Business Tie–ups: It can tie
up with agencies and entities
for business development and
logistics, etc. It can decide the
food and entertainment to add to
the experience of the passengers.
• Legal Restrictions: However, it
has to be ensured that things that
are not allowed by railway laws
are also not carried out onboard
these trains. For instance, the
operator cannot serve alcohol,
states the policy.
What will Indian Railways do?
• Staff: It will provide staff to
drive the trains, guards and also
maintenance staff on board for
Aspirational Districts Programme
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, a report released
by the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) has lauded the
Aspirational Districts Programme
(ADP) as a very successful model of
local area development.
About:
• Programme: launched by NITI
Aayog in 2018.
• Aim: It aims to quickly and
effectively transform 112 most
under-developed districts across
the country.
• The broad contours of the
programme are Convergence,
2022: SERIES VII
the coaches. Other staff, like
housekeeping and catering, etc,
will be deployed by the operator.
• Safety: It will also ensure that its
entire infrastructure is in place
to safely and efficiently host the
train in its network.
• Priority in Operations: It will
also give these priority in its
paths, like the Rajdhanis and
premium trains, so that these
trains are not held up or sidelined
to make way for regular trains.
How much will it cost the
operator?
• The money works out to be
substantial as it is a sum of
registration fee, security deposit
for the rake, “Right of Use”
charges, haulage charges and
stabling charges payable by the
operator to the Railways.
• All these charges are linked to use
of various components of railway
resources, like fuel, manpower,
depreciation, maintenance, lease, etc.
• To begin with, the Railways
will take a one-time online
registration fee of Rs 1 lakh
from the applicant. The zonal
CP-227
Collaboration and Competition
among districts through monthly
delta ranking.
• Focus: With States as the main
drivers, this program focuses
on the strength of each district,
identifying low-hanging fruits
for immediate improvement and
measuring progress by ranking
districts on a monthly basis.
• The districts are encouraged
to monitor the progress of the
blocks that lead to the overall
improvement of the district.
• Indicators: The ranking is based
on the incremental progress
railway concerned will revert
after processing the application
within10 days.
• Thereafter, after allotment of the
rake, there is a security deposit of
Rs 1 crore per rake (the physical
assets comprise a collection of
coaches pulled by an engine),
"
irrespective of the size of the
rake, for the duration of the Right
of Use period.
• The annual ‘Right of Use’ charges
calculated on the basis of the type
of coach taken and the duration.
• Delay in payment
would result in a
penalty equivalent to
the bank’s prevailing
interest rate plus 3%
as administrative
fee. If it is not paid within 30
days, the Right of Use may be
terminated.
• The yearly Right of Use charge
for one AC coach varies from Rs
3.5-1.4 lakh depending on class
and age. A pantry car’s Right of
Use charge is between Rs 2 lakh
and Rs 65,000 depending on the
age and type.
made across 49
Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs) under 5 broad
socio-economic themes
• Health & Nutrition
• Education
• Agriculture & Water
Resources
• Financial Inclusion & Skill
"
Development
• Infrastructure
Significance
• Inclusive growth: The
Government is committed to
raising the living standards of its
citizens and ensuring inclusive
ALS Current Affairs 26

growth for all “Sabka Saath
Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas”.
• Competitive & cooperative
federalism: Districts are prodded
and encouraged to first catch up
with the best district within their
state, and subsequently aspire
"
Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project
Source: PIB
Context: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi is set
to inaugurate much-
awaited tunnel and six
underpasses, as a part of
Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit
Corridor project, on June 19, 2022.
About:
• Work on tunnel and underpasses
was started in 2017. It was
estimated to be completed by
2019 but was delayed due to
covid-19 pandemic and ban on
construction activities in Delhi
due to pollution.
Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit
Corridor
• The Transit Corridor is likely to
ease traffic for 1 lakh commuters.
• Corridor has been
built at a cost of Rs 920
crore.
National Initiative for Promoting Upskilling of Nirman Workers
Source: PIB
Context: Minister of Housing &
Urban Affairs and Petroleum &
"
Natural Gas, Government of India,
launched an innovative project
for skill training of construction
workers called ‘NIPUN’ i.e. National
Initiative for Promoting Upskilling
of Nirman workers.
27 ALS Current Affairs
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
to become one of the best in the
country, by competing with, and
learning from others.
• Socio-economic themes: The
districts are also encouraged
to develop and replicate best
practices that drive improvement
CP-228
• It is funded entirely by the central
government.
• The corridor seeks to provide a
hassle-free and smooth access to
new world-class exhibition and
convention centre which is being
developed at Pragati Maidan.
• It seeks to facilitate easy
participation of exhibitors and
visitors for programmes being
held at Pragati Maidan.
Features of the corridor
• The Pragati Maidan Integrated
Transit Corridor is a 1.36-km-
long tunnel.
• It has six lanes, with a three-lane
carriageway on both sides.
• It connects Ring Road with India
Gate via Purana Qila Road and
Pragati Maidan.
• It will provide direct connectivity
to basement parking of Pragati
Maidan.
CP-229
About:
• The NIPUN Initiative was
launched for skill training of
100,000 construction workers.
• It has been launched under the
flagship scheme of “Deendayal
Antyodaya-Yojana National
Urban Livelihoods Mission
(DAY-NULM)”.
across the socio-economic
themes.
• SDG goals: The Programme
essentially is aimed at localising
Sustainable Development Goals,
leading to the progress of the
nation.
• The corridor is likely to provide
a hassle-free commute for
people travelling between East,
Southeast and Central Delhi.
Control room of the Tunnel
• This tunnel will have two control
rooms at the entry and exit
for monitoring traffic through
CCTVs. A five-metre wide and
80-metre-long emergency lane
has also been constructed on
underground stretch to tow away
vehicle that breaks down.
Six Underpasses
• The corridor will have six
underpasses. Out of them, five
are on the Mathura Road. It
will create a signal-free stretch
between Pragati Maidan and
Sunder Nursery. Sixth underpass
is on Ring Road which will go
beneath the railway line and will
connect to Bhairon Marg
• Under the scheme, construction
workers will be trained through
fresh skilling and upskilling
programs. This move will provide
work opportunities to them in
foreign countries also.
Which organisation will
implement the project?
• The NIPUN Project will be
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
implemented by National Skill
Development Corporation
(NSDC), which is the nodal
agency under Ministry of Skill
Development & Entrepreneurship
(MSDE). The agency would be
responsible for overall execution
of training, candidate tracking
and monitoring.
Three parts of NIPUN project
• Implementation of NIPUN
project has been divided into
three parts:
1. Training by means of
Recognition of Prior Learning
(RPL) at construction sites
2. Training through Fresh
skilling by Plumbing and
Infrastructure SSC
3. International Placement
through builders, industries,
Source: PIB
Context: Recently, the Union
Minister of India said that “Purple
Revolution” has shifted focus to
Agri-tech StartUps.
About:
• The Purple or Lavender
Revolution was launched in
2016 by the Union Ministry of
Science & Technology through
the Council of Scientific &
Industrial Research’s (CSIR)
Aroma Mission.
• Under the mission, first-time
farmers were given free lavender
saplings, while those who had
cultivated lavender before were
charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.
• High Monetary returns have led
to the switching from traditional
farming to aroma crops like
lavender by farmers in hilly areas
of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Aroma crops are both drought
and pest resistant.
2022: SERIES VII
and contractors.
Onsite Skill Training
• Under the RPL certification,
onsite skill training will be
provided to around 80,000
construction workers through
industry associations. The
certification will be co-branded
with MoHUA. Around 14,000
candidates will receive fresh
skilling through infrastructure
Sector Skill Council (SSC)
and Plumbing in trades having
promising placement potentials.
Significance of the initiative
• Through the NIPUN initiative,
the spirit of entrepreneurship has
been encouraged and supported
by providing access to self-
employment and skilled wage
employment opportunities to the
CP-230
Purple Revolution
• CSIR is providing all kind of
technical support for promoting
this Agri Start-up boon in the UT.
• CSIR is also planning to introduce
the aroma crops in other hilly
States with similar climatic
conditions like Uttarakhand,
Himachal Pradesh and in North-
Eastern States.
About Aroma Mission:
• The CSIR Aroma Mission is
envisaged to bring transformative
change in the aroma sector through
desired interventions in the areas
of agriculture, processing and
product development for fuelling
the growth of aroma industry and
rural employment.
• The nodal laboratory is CSIR-
Central Institute of Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP),
Lucknow. The participating
laboratories are CSIR-Institute
of Himalayan Bioresource
Technology (CSIR-IHBT),
urban workers.
• This initiative would help in
creating a future labour force for
construction industry, which in
turn will propel innovation and
large-scale development across
India.
• It will facilitate and support
"
convergence with other related
ministries.
Insurance cover for trainees
• The NIPUN Project will provide
trainees with ‘Kaushal Bhima’,
3-year accidental insurance
with coverage of Rs
2 lakhs, digital skills
like BHIM app and
cashless transactions,
orientation regarding
entrepreneurship, and
EPF and BOCW facilities.
Palampur; CSIR-Indian Institute
of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-
IIIM), Jammu etc.
• It is changing the mind-set of
farmers and more and more of
them are taking up the cultivation
of aroma crops like
lavender, lemon grass,
rose and marigold for
extracting costly oils
to be used in many
industries.
• It is expected to enable Indian
farmers and aroma industry to
become global leaders in the
production and export of some
other essential oils on the pattern
of menthol mint.
"
• Lavender cultivation has
employed about 5,000 farmers
and young entrepreneurs in
geographically remote areas of
J&K. More than 1,000 farming
families are cultivating it on
more than 200 acres.
ALS Current Affairs 28

Vanijya Bhawan and NIRYAT portal
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Prime Minister recently
inaugurated ‘Vanijya Bhawan’ and
"
launched the NIRYAT portal.
About:
What is Vanijya Bhawan?
• Vanijya Bhawan is constructed
near the India Gate.
• It is designed as a smart building
that incorporates the
principles of sustainable
architecture with a special
focus on energy saving.
NCPCR Releases Child Protection Guidelines for OTT Platforms
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, National
Commission for the Protection
of Child Rights (NCPCR) has
published the draft guidelines to
regulate child protection within the
entertainment industry, including the
OTT platforms.
About:
• The recent draft
increases the scope of the
guidelines to cover social
media and OTT platforms
for the first time.
• The commission has included
stringent penal provisions
for violating the guidelines,
including imprisonment.
• The commission also mandated
that child artists and children
being used in entertainment need
"
to be registered with District
Magistrates.
• Acts covered: Juvenile Justice Act,
2015, Child Labour Amendment
Act, 2016, Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences Act,
29 ALS Current Affairs
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
CP-231
• Vanijya Bhawan will secure
as an integrated and modern
office complex that will be
used by the two departments
under the Ministry i.e.
Department of Commerce and
the Department for Promotion
of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT).
NIRYAT Portal
• NIRYAT - National Import-
Export for Yearly Analysis of
Trade portal aims toa help in
CP-232
2012, Information Technology
(Intermediary Guidelines and
Digital Media Ethics Code)
Rules, 2021.
Child protection guidelines
NCPCR: Significance
• Increased use of children in
videos across social media and
in content on OTT platforms
which had not been covered by
the existing guidelines and this
increasing influence and scope of
the internet needed to be covered.
• In the absence of any monitoring
mechanism, the children in the
industry are at grave risk of
exploitation because they lack
the legal right to the earnings
they generate, or safe working
conditions and adequate
protections via labour laws, etc.
• Participating in an adult-
oriented industry, children are
often exposed to unsuitable,
anxiety inducing, and at times,
dangerous operational hazards
and situations.
breaking silos by providing real
time data to all stakeholders.
• From this portal, important
information related to more than
30 commodity groups exported
to more than 200 countries of the
world will be available.
• In the coming time, information
related to district-wise exports
will also be available on this. This
will also strengthen the efforts to
develop the districts as important
centers of exports.
• Apart from the industry-specific
risks, the children are also
susceptible to a plethora of other
crimes against children such
as sexual exploitation, child
trafficking, bonded labour, etc.
Child Protection Guidelines: Key
guidelines
Prior permission
• Any producer of any audio-visual
media production involving the
participation of a child will now
need to obtain the permission of
the District Magistrate where the
activity is to be performed.
• Also, producers will also have
to run a disclaimer saying
measures were taken to ensure
there has been no abuse, neglect
or exploitation of children during
the entire process of the shooting.
Working environment
• A child shall only participate in
one shift per day, with a break
after every three hours.
• The guidelines further prohibit
children being cast in roles or
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
situations that are inappropriate.
• Also, consideration has to be
given to the child’s age, maturity,
emotional or psychological
development and sensitivity.
• Also, a child cannot be
exposed to ridicule, insult or
discouragement, harsh comments
or any behaviour that could
affect his/her emotional health
and children cannot be shown
imbibing alcohol, smoking or
using any other substance or
shown to be indulging in any
sort of antisocial activity and
delinquent behaviour.
• Anyone who may come in contact
with children will have to submit
a medical fitness certificate
Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Program)
Source: PIB
Context: Recently, Union minister
for Road Transport and Highways
Shri Nitin Gadkari has approved the
Draft GSR Notification to introduce
Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment
Program).
About:
• Bharat NCAP (New Car
Assessment Program) is a new
car safety assessment programme
which proposes a mechanism
of awarding ‘Star Ratings’ to
automobiles based upon their
performance in crash tests.
• Bharat NCAP standard
is aligned with global
benchmarks and it is beyond
minimum regulatory
requirements.
• Bharat NCAP Rating: The
proposed Bharat NCAP
assessment will allocate Star
Ratings from 1 to 5 stars.
• The testing of vehicles for this
programme will be carried
out at testing agencies, with
2022: SERIES VII
ensuring that they are not carrying
obvious contagious disease and
police verification of the staff also
needs to be carried out.
• Further, no child can be engaged
in any situation involving nudity.
Other important directives
• Minor: A minor, especially below
the age of six years, shall not
be exposed to harmful lighting,
irritating or contaminated
cosmetics.
• Guardian: Moreover, at least
one parent or legal guardian or a
known person has to be present
during a shoot, and for infants
a registered nurse needs to be
present along with the parent or
legal guardian.
CP-233
the necessary infrastructure.
• Implementation: Bharat NCAP
(New Car Assessment Program)
will be rolled out from April 1,
2023.
• Applicability: Bharat NCAP
(New Car Assessment Program)
will be applicable on type
approved motor vehicles of
category M1 with gross vehicle
weight less than 3.5 tonnes,
manufactured or imported in the
country.
• M1 category motor vehicles
are used for the carriage of
• Education: The producer also
needs to ensure the child’s
education under the RTE Act,
to ensure no discontinuity from
school or lessons as well as
adequate and nutritious food,
water to the children during the
process of production and medical
"
facilities.
• Income: At least 20 per cent
of the income earned by the
child from the production shall
be directly deposited in a fixed
deposit account in a nationalised
bank in the name of
the child which may
be credited to the
child on attaining
majority.
passengers, comprising eight
seats, in addition to driver’s
seat.
• Global Examples: the USA was
the first country to introduce a
programme for testing the safety
standards of a car through crash
tests.
• Presently there are
several agencies
like Australasian
NCAP, ASEAN
NCAP, China
NCAP, Euro
NCAP, Japan NCAP, Korean
"
ALS Current Affairs 30
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE

NCAP and Latin NCAP,
doing a similar job for other
regions.
Significance of Bharat NCAP
• Bharat NCAP rating will provide
consumers an indication of the
level of protection offered to
occupants by evaluating the
"
• Safety assist technologies.
• Bharat New Car Assessment
Programme (Bharat NCAP)
will serve as a consumer-centric
platform, allowing customers to
opt for safer cars based upon their
Star-Ratings.
• Bharat NCAP will also promote
• Bharat NCAP will ensure
structural and passenger safety
in cars, along with increasing
the export-worthiness of Indian
automobiles.
• Bharat NCAP will prove to
be a critical instrument in
making our automobile industry

vehicle in the areas of- a healthy competition among Aatmanirbhar with the mission of
• Adult occupant protection, original equipment manufacturers making India the top automobile
• Child occupant protection (OEMs) in India to manufacture hub in the world.
and safer vehicles.

CP-234
Performance Grading Index for Districts (P GI-D) for
2019-20
Source: PIB
Context: The Department of School
Education and Literacy, Ministry
of Education (MoE) has released
the Performance Grading Index for
Districts (PGI-D)
About:
• PGI-D assesses the performance
of school education system at the
district level by creating an index
for comprehensive analysis
• It is based on 83 indicators
grouped in six categories.
• These categories
are outcomes, effective
classroom transaction,
infrastructure facilities
and student’s entitlements,
school safety and child protection,
digital learning and governance
process.
• PGI-D grades the districts into
ten grades — highest achievable
grade is Daksh, which is for
districts scoring more than 90%
of the total points in that category
"

or overall.
• Utkarsh category is for districts
with scores between 81-90%
followed by Ati-Uttam (71-80%),
Uttam (61-70%), Prachesta-I
(51-60%), Prachesta-II (41-50%)

31 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
and Pracheshta III(31-40%)
• The lowest grade in PGI-D is
called Akanshi-3 which is for
scores upto 10% of the total
points.
• Rajasthan’s Sikar is the top
performer followed by Jhunjhunu
and Jaipur
• The three districts have figured
in the Utkarsh category with
Junjhunu scoring the maximum
in learning outcomes.
• The other States whose districts
have performed best in the latest
index are Punjab with 14 districts
in Ati-uttam grade followed
by Gujarat and Kerala with
each having 13 districts in this
category.
• There are 12 States and Union
Territories which don’t have even
Kihoto Hollohan’ Judgement
Source: The Hindu
Context: As the political battle in
Maharashtra moves to the Supreme
Court, the role and powers of the
Deputy Speaker are in focus.
In the context of the crisis, references
have been made to the landmark
judgment in ‘Kihoto Hollohan vs
Zachillhu And Others’ (1992).
About:
What is the ‘Kihoto Hollohan’
case?
• A constitutional challenge to the
Tenth Schedule was mounted,
which was settled by the apex
court in ‘Kihoto Hollohan’.
• The principal question before
the Supreme Court in the case
was whether the powerful role
given to the Speaker violated the
doctrine of basic structure.
• In this judgment, the Supreme
Court upheld the sweeping
discretion available to the
Speaker in deciding cases of
2022: SERIES VII
a single district in the Ati-uttam
and Uttam categories and these
include seven of the eight States
from the northeast region.
• The report states that since none
of the States have districts in the
top category there was a need for
further improvement in the years
to come.
• Digital learning
• The PGI-D for 2019-20 shows
that schools across India
performed poorly under the
category of digital learning,
which threw up the lowest scores
compared to the other parameters
which were considered while
creating the index.
• In the index, as many as 180
districts scored less than 10 per
cent on digital learning, 146
CP-235
disqualification of MLAs.
• The Supreme Court laid down
the doctrine of basic principle
in its landmark judgment in
‘Kesavananda Bharati vs State
Of Kerala’ (1973).
What does the Tenth Schedule of
the Constitution say?
• The Tenth Schedule was
inserted in the Constitution by
the Constitution (Fifty-Second
Amendment) Act, 1985.
• It provides for the disqualification
of Members of Parliament and
state legislatures who defect.
• It describes the Speaker’s
sweeping discretionary powers
to make decisions on case of
defection.
What did the Supreme Court rule
in ‘Kihoto Hollohan’?
• The petitioners in ‘Kihoto
Hollohan’ argued whether it
was fair that the Speaker should
have such broad powers, given
districts scored 11 to 20 per cent,
while 125 districts had scores
between 21 and 30 per cent.
• There is a clear rural-urban
divide in the area of digital
learning.
• For instance, while districts in
cities like Chandigarh and Delhi
"
scored between 25 and 35 out of
50, places like Bihar’s Araria and
Kishanganj scored as low as 2
• The district-wise performance
on digital learning was drawn up
based on the number of schools
with computers/
laptops, Internet
facility, student-to-
computer ratio and
percentage of teachers
trained to use and
teach through computers.
that there is always a reasonable
likelihood of bias.
• The majority judgment authored
by Justices M N Venkatachaliah
and K Jayachandra Reddy
answered this question in the
affirmative. It read-
• The Speakers/
Chairmen hold a
pivotal position
in the scheme of
Parliamentary
democracy and are guardians of
the rights and privileges of the
House.
• They are expected to and do
take far reaching decisions in the
Parliamentary democracy.
• Vestiture of power to adjudicate
"
questions under the Tenth
Schedule in them should not be
considered exceptionable.
• The provisions were “salutory
and intended to strengthen the
fabric of Indian Parliamentary
ALS Current Affairs 32

democracy by curbing
unprincipled and unethical
political defections.”
What was the dissenting opinion?
• Justices Lalit Mohan Sharma and
J S Verma dissented and took a
different view.
• The tenure of the Speaker, who
"
is the authority in the Tenth
Schedule to decide this dispute,
is dependent on the continuous
support of the majority in the
House.
• Therefore, he does not satisfy the
requirement of such an
independent adjudicatory
authority.
• They advocated
Source: The Hindu
Context: The United Nations held
a high-level meeting on Global
Road Safety to review the progress
and challenges and a new analytical
series on road safety was recently
published in The Lancet.
About:
• In spite of several years of
policymaking to improve
road safety, India remains
among the worst-
performing countries in
this area.
• Total 1,47,913 lives lost to road
traffic accidents in 2017 as per
Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways statistics.
• The National Crime Records
Bureau (NCRB) figure for the
same year is 1,50,093 road
accident deaths.
"
• The persistently high annual
death toll brings into question
the country’s ability to meet
Sustainable Development Goal
(SDG) 3.6.
• This aims to halve the fatalities
33 ALS Current Affairs
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
for an independent adjudicatory
machinery for resolving disputes
relating to the competence of
Members of the House,
• This is envisaged as an attribute of
the democratic system which is a
basic feature of our Constitution.
What about the role of the Deputy
Speaker?
• Article 93 of the Constitution
mentions the positions of the
Speaker and Deputy Speaker of
the House of the People (Lok
Sabha), and Article 178 contains
the corresponding position for
Speaker and Deputy Speaker of
the Legislative Assembly of a
state.
CP-236
Road Safety
and injuries from road traffic
accidents by 2030.
Lancet’s findings on road safety
• A new analytical series on road
safety worldwide, published by
The Lancet, proposes that India
and other countries could cut
accident-related deaths by 25 to
40%.
• This is based on evidence that
preventive interventions produce
good outcomes when applied to
four well-known risk factors:
• High speed
• Driving under the influence of
alcohol
• Not using proper helmets
• Not wearing seat-belts and not
using child restraints
Issues highlighted in developing
countries
• The structural problems linked
to unplanned motorisation and
urbanisation remain.
• In India, speedy highway
construction takes place without
reconciling fast and slow-moving
traffic.
• Maharashtra has been without
a Speaker since February 2021,
and Deputy has been carrying
out the responsibilities of the
position.
• Article 95(1) says: “While the
office of Speaker is vacant,
the duties of the office shall
be performed by the Deputy
Speaker”.
• In general, the Deputy Speaker
has the same powers as the
Speaker when presiding over a
sitting of the House.
• All references to the Speaker
in the Rules are deemed to be
references to the Deputy Speaker
when he presides.
• There is a rampant presence of
ramshackle vehicles, wrong-side
driving, absence of adequate
traffic police forces etc.
Why are there so many road
fatalities in India alone?
• Weak enforcement of traffic laws:
People hardly oblige to traffic
rules and find easier to bribe
policemen rather than paying
hefty challans.
• Speeding issue: More accidents
on the highways have been
attributed to higher vehicle
speeds and higher volume of
traffic on these roads.
• Engineering bottlenecks: Issues
such as gaps in the median on
the national highways, untreated
intersections, and missing crash
barriers are some of the biggest
engineering issues.
• Behavioural issue: Driver
violations such as wrong-side
driving, wrong lane usage
by heavy vehicles, and mass
violation of traffic lights,
intoxication are the biggest
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
behavioural issues.
• Lack of Golden hour treatment:
Lack of rapid trauma care on
highways leads to such high
fatalities.
Various steps taken by India
• India amended Motor
Vehicles Act in 2019, but
its implementation by State
governments is not uniform or
complete.
• A National Road Safety Board
was constituted under the Act,
with advisory powers to reform
safety.
• The World Bank has approved a
$250 million loan to support for
India State Support Programme
for Road Safety.
Issues with implementation
• The focus of State governments,
however, remains conventional,
with an emphasis on user
behaviour (drivers and other road
users), education and uneven
enforcement.
• Low emphasis is placed on
structural change such as raising
engineering standards for roads,
signages, signals, training for
scientific accident investigation,
raising policing skills and fixing
responsibility on government
departments for design, creation
NITI Aayog releases report on harnessing Green Hydrogen
Source: The Hindu
Context: In a bid to boost green
hydrogen production in the country,
government think tank NITI Aayog
has recommended tax breaks like
reduction or exemption of GST and
custom duties on green hydrogen
production.
About:
• It has also proposed setting
up green hydrogen corridors
and offering grants to startups
2022: SERIES VII
and maintenance of road
infrastructure.
What can be done to cut death
and injury rates?
• The ambitious amendments to the
Motor Vehicles Act in 2019 (MV
Act) have not yielded significant
results.
• Major interventions in India,
first suggested by the Sundar
Committee (2007) and ordered by
the Supreme Court in Rajasekaran
vs Union of India have not made
a dent in the problem.
Key findings of Sundar Committee
• The Sundar Committee pointed
out that India lacked a technically
competent investigation arm that
could determine the cause of
accidents.
• There is little clarity on whether
the States have formed such units
to aid traffic investigation, or
whether the insurance industry
has pressed for these to accurately
determine fault.
• In the absence of scientific
investigation, perceptions usually
guide the fixing of liability.
Solutions provided by the Lancet
• The Lancet calculated that 17%
of road traffic injury-related
deaths could be avoided if trauma
care facilities improved.
CP-237
working on green hydrogen
solutions domestically.
Key Highlights
• The Aayog, in its report titled
‘Harnessing Green Hydrogen
— Opportunities for Deep
Decarbonisation in India’, said
the government should focus
on enabling a cost reduction
pathway for green hydrogen
production in India.
• Green hydrogen is hydrogen gas
• This is significant as several
accidents take place in rural areas
on highways, and victims are
taken to poorly-equipped district
hospitals or medical college
hospitals.
• While positive user behaviour —
slower travel, wearing of helmets,
"
seat belts and so on — could save
thousands of lives.
• In the short term, slowing
down traffic, particularly near
habitations, segregating slower
vehicles, enforcing seat belt
and helmet use and
cracking down on
drunken drivers could
produce measurable
gains.
Imbibing road safety:
Way forward
• Road safety education
• Better road design, maintenance
and warning signage
• Crackdown on driving under
influence of alcohol and
drugs
• Strict enforcement of traffic rules
• Encouraging better road
behaviour
• Ensuring road worthiness of a
vehicle
• Better first aid and paramedic
care
produced through electrolysis
of water — an energy intensive
process for splitting water into
hydrogen and oxygen — using
renewable power to achieve this.
"
• The Aayog also suggested there
is a need to facilitate investment
through demand aggregation and
dollar-based bidding for green
hydrogen.
• The report predicted that
hydrogen demand in India could
ALS Current Affairs 34

grow more than four-fold by 2050,
representing almost 10 percent of
global hydrogen demand.
• In the longer term, steel and
heavy-duty trucking are likely
to drive the majority of demand
growth, accounting for almost 52
per cent of total demand by 2050,
"
it said.
• The NITI Aayog also
recommended setting up
Source: PIB
Context: The Office of
the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR) has released a report titled
“Internet shutdowns: Trends, causes,
legal implications and impacts on a
range of human rights.”
About:
What are the key findings of the
report?
• Internet Shutdowns: Internet
shutdowns are measures taken
by a government or on behalf of
a government, to intentionally
disrupt access to and the use
of information and
communications systems
online.
• The shutdowns
are often ordered during
civil society movements, security
measures as well as electoral
proceedings.
• History of Internet Shutdowns:
The first major internet shutdown
"
Habitat World Cities Report 2022
Source: The Hindu
Context: On June 29, 2022, the United
Nations published its report titled
“Habitat World Cities Report 2022”.
35 ALS Current Affairs
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
green hydrogen corridors in
participation with states, starting
with three such corridors, and
funding startups working in the
space.
• In February 2022, the Centre had
notified the green hydrogen and
green ammonia policy aimed at
boosting the domestic production
of green hydrogen to 5 million
tonnes by 2030 and making India
CP-238
Internet shutdowns
that captured global attention
took place in Egypt in 2011 and
was accompanied by hundreds of
arrests and killings.
• The #KeepItOn coalition which
monitors internet shutdown
episodes across the world
documented 931 shutdowns in 74
countries from 2016-2021.
• The majority of these shutdowns
have been reported from Asia and
Africa.
• Moreover, almost half of all
shutdowns recorded by civil
society groups from 2016-2021
were carried out in the context of
protests and political crisis
• Internet Shutdowns in India:
According to the report by digital
right advocacy group Access
Now, India blocked or disrupted
internet connections 106 times
and at least 85 of India’s internet
shutdown episodes were in
Jammu & Kashmir.
• Economic Impact of Internet
CP-239
About:
• The UN-Habitat World Cities
Report 2022 highlights that, rapid
urbanisation in India was delayed
an export hub for the clean fuel.
• It offers 25 years of free power
transmission for any new
renewable energy plants set up to
supply power for green hydrogen
production before July 2025.
• The policy also states that energy
plants set up to produce green
hydrogen/ammonia would be
given connectivity to the grid on
a priority basis.
Shutdowns: Internet shutdowns
carry major economic costs for
all sectors, disrupting financial
transactions, commerce and
industry.
• For instance, the World Bank
recently calculated that Internet
shutdowns in Myanmar alone
had cost nearly $2.8 billion
from February-December 2021
reversing economic progress
made over the previous decade.
What are the suggestions given
by the report?
• The report urged states to refrain
from imposing shutdowns,
to maximize Internet access
and remove the multiple
obstacles standing in the way of
communication.
• It also called upon companies
to speedily share information on
disruptions and ensure that they
take all possible lawful measures
to prevent shutdowns they have
been asked to implement.
temporarily due to covid-19
pandemic.
• Urban population in India is
estimated to reach at 675 million
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
in 2035. It will be the second
highest figure, behind China’s
one billion.
• After covid-19 pandemic, global
urban population is growing
again. It will grow by another 2.2
billion by 2050.
• India’s urban population is likely
to reach 675,456,000 in 2035,
as compared to 483,099,000 in
2020.
• Percentage of population in
urban areas pf India will be 43.2
percent, by 2035.
Global Scenario
• Urban Population in China is
estimated to reach at 1.05 billion
in 2035.
• Urban population in Asia will
increase to 2.99 billion in 2035.
India’s Largest Floating Solar Power Project
Source: PIB
Context: Recently, the final 20
MW of the 100 MW Ramagundam
floating solar PV project’s
commercial operation date was
recently announced.
About:
• With this, the 100 MW
Ramagundam floating solar PV
project in Telangana is declared
operational from 1st July 2022.
• It is the largest project of its kind
in India.
• These are platforms with
photovoltaic (PV) modules
attached on them that float on
lakes, reservoirs, and, under the
right circumstances, oceans and
seas. The majority of the time,
these platforms are moored on
calmer bodies of water, including
ponds, lakes, or reservoirs.
• These systems don’t require land
levelling or vegetation removal,
are relatively quick to build, and
operate quietly.
2022: SERIES VII
• Big economies such as China
and India account for large
share of the world’s population.
Development trajectories across
these countries have influenced
global inequality.
• In last two decades, India
and China experienced rapid
urbanisation and economic
growth. As a result, number of
people living in poverty reduced.
Natural Growth in Population
• As per report, in lower income
countries, existing urban
populations continuing to
increase naturally with increasing
birth rates. Urban population is
expected to grow from 56 per
cent of world’s total in 2021 to 68
per cent by 2050.
CP-240
Key Highlights of Ramagundam
Project
• It is endowed with advanced
technology and Environment-
friendly features.
• The project spreads over 500
acres of the reservoir. Divided
into 40 blocks, each having 2.5
MW.
• Each block consists of one
floating platform and an array of
11,200 solar modules.
• The solar modules are placed on
floaters manufactured with HDPE
(High-Density Polyethylene)
material.
• The entire floating system is
anchored through special HMPE
(High Modulus Polyethylene)
rope to the dead weights placed
in the balancing reservoir bed.
• This project is unique in the sense
that all the electrical equipment
including inverter, transformer,
HT panel, and SCADA
(Supervisory Control and Data
Impact of covid-19 pandemic
• As per report, large scale flight
from major cities to smaller town,
amid COVID-19 pandemic, was
a short-term response. It will
not hinder the course of global
urbanisation.
Urban poverty and inequality
"
• According to report, urban
poverty and inequality are the
most intractable and highly
complex problems. Overcrowded
slums in Mumbai, Nairobi, Rio de
Janeiro, chronic homelessness in
London etc highlights
that, tackling urban
poverty and inequality
are key priorities to
building inclusive and
equitable urban futures.
Acquisition) are also on floating
Ferro cement platforms.
Environment Benefits of the
Project
• The least amount of land needed
for associated evacuation plans
is the most evident benefit from
an environmental
standpoint.
• Additionally, the
presence of floating
solar panels reduces
the rate of water evaporation,
aiding in water conservation.
• The water body beneath the
solar modules helps to maintain
their ambient temperature, hence
boosting their efficiency and
generation.
• Water evaporation of about 32.5
"
lakh cubic metres per year can
be prevented. Similar to how
1,65,000 tonnes of coal use may
be reduced annually, 2,10,000
tonnes of CO2 emissions can be
reduced as well.
ALS Current Affairs 36

Challenges
• The cost of installing floating
solar panels is more than that of
a conventional PV system for a
number of reasons, including the
fact that the technology is still in
its infancy and hence necessitates
"
Commission on Sub-categorisation of OBCs
Source: PIB
Context: The Union
Cabinet has given the 13th
extension to the Justice
Rohini Commission,that
is until January 31, 2023
to submit its report.
About:
• In 1955, the First Backward
Classes Commission under Kaka
Saheb Kalelkar identified 2,399
backward classes (BC), of which
837 were classified as ‘most
backward’.
• The Second Socially and
Educationally Backward Classes
Commission, popularly known
as Mandal Commission, was
established in 1979 by the
Morarji Desai-led Janata Party
government and submitted
its report in 1980.
• The Mandal
Commission identified
3,743 castes as backward,
which constitute 52 per cent of
the population – this apart from
Scheduled Castes (SC) and
Scheduled Tribes (ST).
• However, its recommendations
of introducing 27% reservation
for OBCs was implemented by
the VP Singh government over a
"
decade later in August 1990.
Commission on Sub-
categorisation of OBCs:
• The commission was set up on
October 2, 2017 under Article
340 of the Constitution.
37 ALS Current Affairs
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
the use of specialist knowledge
and tools.
• Choosing rooftop installation
or ground-mounted solar is
more practical because many
floating solar projects are big-
scale and offer electricity to huge
CP-241
• It was tasked with sub-
categorisation of the Other
Backward Classes (OBCs) and
equitable distribution of benefits
reserved for them.
• Its objectives include working
out a mechanism, criteria,
norm and parameters through
a scientific approach for sub-
categorisation within the OBCs
and identifying the respective
castes or communities or sub-
castes or synonyms in the Central
List of OBCs and classifying
them into their respective sub-
categories.
What are the Commission’s terms
of reference?
• The Government has constituted
a Commission under article 340,
to examine the issues of the sub-
categorization of Other Backward
Classes with the following terms
of reference:
• To examine the extent of
inequitable distribution of
benefits of reservation among
the castes or communities
included in the broad category
of Other Backward Classes
with reference to such classes
included in the Central List.
• To work out the mechanism,
criteria, norms and parameters
in a scientific approach for
sub-categorisation within
such Other Backward Classes.
• To take up the exercise of
identifying the respective
communities, businesses, or
utility corporations.
• Understanding the geography
of the waterbed and whether it
is suitable for setting up float
anchors is essential for developing
floating solar systems.
castes or communities or
sub-castes or synonyms in
the Central List of Other
Backward Classes and
classifying them into their
respective sub-categories.
• It was originally set up with
three terms of reference, but a
fourth term of reference was
added on January 22, 2020,
when the Cabinet granted it
an extension.
• To study the various entries
in the Central List of OBCs
and recommend correction of
any repetitions, ambiguities,
inconsistencies and errors of
spelling or transcription.
What have Commission findings
been so far?
• In 2018, the Commission analysed
the data of 1.3 lakh central jobs
given under OBC quota over the
preceding five years and OBC
admissions to central higher
education institutions, including
universities, IITs, NITs, IIMs and
AIIMS, over the preceding three
years. The findings were:
• 97% of all jobs and educational
seats have gone to just 25% of all
sub-castes classified as OBCs
• 24.95% of these jobs and seats
have gone to just 10 OBC
communities
• 983 OBC communities —
37% of the total — have zero
representation in jobs and
educational institutions
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
• 994 OBC sub-castes have a total
representation of only 2.68% in
recruitment and admissions.
• OBC representation is
16.51 % in group-A central
government services
• 13.38 % in group-B
• 21.25 % in group-C
(excluding safai karmacharis)
• 17.72 % in group-C (safai
karmacharis)
• There was not a single professor
and associate professor appointed
under the OBC quota in central
universities.
• Posts reserved for them were
being filled by people of general
category as OBC candidates were
declared ‘None Found Suitable’
(NFS).
Source: PIB
Context: Recently, the central
government issued guidelines to
states about the Mission Vatsalya
child protection scheme
About:
• According to the guidelines,
states cannot change the original
name of the scheme in order to
gain access to funding granted by
the central government.
• Funds to states will be approved
through the Mission Vatsalya
Project Approval Board (PAB),
which will be chaired by the
WCD Secretary, who will
scrutinise and approve annual
plans and financial proposals
received from states and UTs for
release of grants.
• It will be implemented
as a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme in partnership with
state governments and UT
administrations, with a fund-
sharing pattern in a 60:40 ratio.
2022: SERIES VII
Major Challenges:
• To develop a methodology for
sub-categorisation of OBCs.
• The methodology to identify
castes that are more backward is
difficult to arrive at unless there
is proper statistical information
about the representation of
respective castes in central
government educational
institutions and employment
services.
• Availability of information
regarding the social and
educational backwardness of
various castes and the state-wise
variations of a particular caste.
• Absence of data for the population
of various communities to
compare with their representation
CP-242
Mission Vatsalya
• However, for the eight states
in the Northeast — as well as
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand
and the UT of Jammu and
Kashmir — the Centre and state/
UT’s share will be 90:10
• MVS, in partnership with states
and districts, will execute a 24×7
helpline service for children, as
defined under Juvenile Justice
Act, 2015.
• It will support State Adoption
Resource Agencies (SARA),
which will further support the
Central Adoption Resource
Authority (CARA) in promoting
in-country adoption and
regulating inter-country adoption.
• SARA shall coordinate, monitor
and develop the work related to
non-institutional care, including
adoption in the state.
• The Mission plans to establish
cradle baby reception centers in
at least one specialized adoption
agency in each area for receiving
in jobs and admissions.
• Certain castes may enjoy
educationally and socially a
better position in north India
and the same may not be true in
the southern states. There might
be inter-state variations of a
particular caste.
"
• The decision to sub-categorise
may face judicial hurdles if the
government fails to provide strong
empirical analysis of educational
and social backwardness of such
groups.
• The move to sub-
categorise OBCs
will create some
agitation in forward/
intermediate castes of
OBCs.
abandoned and trafficked children
• Children in need of care, as well
as special needs children, will be
placed in distinct homes based on
gender (including separate homes
for transgender children) and age.
• As they are unable to attend
school due to physical
or mental disabilities,
these institutions
will provide special
educators, therapists,
and nurses to impart occupational
therapy, speech therapy, verbal
therapy, and other remedial
classes.
• Further, employees in these
specialised divisions must be
fluent in sign language, Braille,
and other related languages.
"
• Establishment of open Shelters
by the state government will be
supported to care for runaway
children, missing children,
trafficked children, working
children, children in street
ALS Current Affairs 38

situations, child beggars, child
substance abusers etc.
• Financial support has also been
prescribed for vulnerable children
living with extended families or
in foster care, supporting their
education, nutrition, and health
needs.
"
About Mission Vatsalya Scheme:
• Nodal: Ministry of Women &
Child Development
• It is a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme .
• “Mission Vatsalya” erstwhile
Child Protection Services
(CPS) Scheme, since 2009-
10 for the welfare and
rehabilitation of children.
• Mission Vatsalya
is a roadmap to achieve
development and child protection
priorities aligned with the
Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
• It lays emphasis on child rights,
advocacy and awareness along
with strengthening of the juvenile
justice care and protection system
with the motto to ‘leave no child
behind’.
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children) Act, 2015
provisions and the Protection
of Children from Sexual
Offences Act, 2012 form
the basic framework for
implementation of the
Mission.
Vision and Mission of the Scheme:
Vision:
• To secure a healthy & happy
childhood for each and every child
in India, ensure opportunities
"
PM Gati Shakti scheme
Source: PIB
Context: The states are being
onboarded for real-time project
coordination and collective decision-
39 ALS Current Affairs
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
to enable them to discover their
full potential and assist them in
flourishing in all respects, in a
sustained manner.
• Mission Vatsalya promotes
family based non-institutional
care of children in difficult
circumstances based on the
principle of institutionalization
of children as a measure of last
resort.
The Mission aims to:
• Support and sustain Children in
difficult circumstances;
• Develop context-based solutions
for holistic development
of children from varied
backgrounds;
• Provide scope for encouraging
innovative solutions;
• Cement convergent action.
Key objectives of Mission Vatsalya
• Prioritisation of children in
the scheme of Administration
keeping Centrality of the Child
during all the activities and
actions taken under the Mission.
• Best interest of the Child while
designing or delivering projects
and programmes and to take
affirmative action to ensure
right to grow in happy family
environment with strong social
safety net to support families.
• Ensuring Children’s right
to Survival, Development,
Protection and Participation.
• To establish essential services and
strengthen emergency outreach,
noninstitutional care within
the family and community, and
institutional care counselling and
support services at the national,
CP-243
making in Pm Gati Shakti scheme.
About:
• With the states being
onboarded aim is to reduce the
regional, state and district levels.
• To ensure appropriate inter-
sector response at all levels,
coordinate and network with
all allied systems to promote
convergent efforts for seamless
service delivery to children.
• To strengthen child protection
at family and community level,
equip families and communities to
identify risks and vulnerabilities
affecting children, create and
promote preventive measures to
protect children from situations
of vulnerability, risk and abuse.
• Encourage private sector
partnerships and interventions
to support children within the
framework of law.
• Raise public awareness, educate
public about child rights,
vulnerabilities and measures
for protection sponsored
by government and engage
community at all levels as
stakeholder in ensuring the best
interest of children.
• To build capacities of duty
holders & service providers at all
levels.
• Monitor progress on objective
parameters against well-defined
Outputs and Outcomes
• Participation of Panchayats and
Municipal Local Bodies at the
village level and at the ward and the
urban cluster level within the urban
municipal ward, for sustained
assessment of the issues deserving
attention, implementation of
appropriate interventions, regular
monitoring to develop a robust
social safety net for children.
time taken to plan and award a
project by at least a third.
• Recently, at the meeting chaired
by Prime Minister and state chief
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
secretaries, all state governments
are learnt to have agreed to
support the project.
• The focus is on reducing the
time taken to award a project —
starting from preparation of a
detailed project report (DPR) till
the project is assigned.
• While the process usually
takes about 16-18 months,  it
is estimated that it could take
just five-six months under
the Gati Shakti scheme if a
coordinated, real-time approach
is implemented.
PM Gati Shakti
• PM Gati Shakti plan envisages
a centralised portal to unite
the infrastructural initiatives
planned and initiated by as many
as 16 central ministries and
departments.
• GatiShakti targets to cut
logistic costs, increase cargo
handling capacity and reduce the
turnaround time.
• It is a campaign to lend more
speed (Gati) and power (Shakti)
to projects by connecting all
concerned departments on one
platform.
MP’s Panel Recommendation on Mediation Bill
Source: PIB
Context: Recently, Parliamentary
Standing Committee on Law and
Justice, headed by veteran BJP
leader Sushil Kumar Modi, has
recommended substantial changes to
the Mediation Bill
About:
• Mediation Bill aims for
institutionalisation of mediation
and establishment of the
Mediation Council of India.
MP’s Panel Recommendation on
Mediation Bill
• On Mandatory Pre-litigation
2022: SERIES VII
• This way, the infrastructure
schemes of various ministries
and state governments will be
designed and executed with a
common vision.
Pillars of Gati Shakti:
Comprehensiveness:
• It will include all the existing
and planned initiatives of various
Ministries and Departments with
one centralized portal.
• Each and every Department
will now have visibility of each
other’s activities providing
critical data while planning
& execution of projects in a
comprehensive manner.
Prioritization:
• Through this, different
Departments will be able to
prioritize their projects through
cross-—sectoral interactions.
Optimization:
• The National Master Plan
will assist different ministries
in planning for projects after
identification of critical gaps.
• For the transportation of the
goods from one place to another,
the plan will help in selecting the
most optimum route in terms of
CP-244
mediation: making pre-litigation
mediation mandatory may-
• Actually result in delaying of
cases and
• Prove to be an additional tool
in hands of truant litigants to
delay the disposal of cases.
• Panel Recommendation on
Mediation Bill warned the Centre
against the provision to give
higher courts the power to frame
rules for mediation.
• Clause 26 of the Bill
provides that court annexed
mediation shall be conducted
time and cost.
Synchronization:
• PM GatiShakti will help in
synchronizing the activities of
each department, as well as of
different layers of governance,
in a holistic manner by ensuring
coordination of work between
"
them.
Analytical:
• The plan will provide the entire
data at one place with GIS based
spatial planning and analytical
tools having 200+ layers, enabling
better visibility to the
executing agency.
Dynamic:
• All Ministries and
Departments will now
be able to visualize,
review and monitor the progress
of cross-sectoral projects,
through the GIS platform, as the
satellite imagery will give on-
ground progress periodically and
progress of the projects will be
updated on a regular basis on the
portal.
• It will help in identifying the vital
interventions for enhancing and
updating the master plan.
in accordance
with the practice, directions
or rules by whatever name
called by the Supreme Court
or the High Court.
• Panel recommended that
specific provisions should be
made about court annexed
mediation in place of existing
"
provisions of clause 26.
• The Panel on Mediation Bill also
questioned the non-applicability
of the provisions of the Bill
to disputes/matters of non-
commercial nature involving the
ALS Current Affairs 40

Government and its agencies.
• On MCI members: They also
discussed the qualifications and
appointment of the Chairperson
and Members of the proposed
Mediation Council of India
(MCI).
• Panel insists that the
"
Chairperson and full time
Members of MCI to have
‘shown capacity’ and
‘knowledge and experience’
in ‘mediation.’
• As per present provisions in
the Bill, people dealing
with problems relating
to ‘Alternative Dispute
Resolution’ can become
members and chairman of
the council.
• Constitution of State Mediation
Councils: recommend that
keeping in view the wide
spectrum of duties and
responsibilities assigned to the
Mediation Council of India,
mediation councils should be
instituted in the States as well.
• These State Mediation
Councils are to function under
Reforms in Justice Delivery System
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently ,the
Chief Justice of India
stated that the pendency of cases
is a major issue and the problem is
intensifying .
About:
Pendency of cases in India
• Reasons for this include growth of
the Indian economy, population,
"
rising awareness about rights etc.  Governor of the State.
• In the absence of infrastructure
and sufficient number of
judges commensurate with the
increasing workload, the problem
is intensifying.
• Thus there is a need for
41 ALS Current Affairs
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
the overall superintendence,
direction and control of
Mediation Council of India
and discharge such functions
as may be specified by it.
• On Mediators: The Panel believe
that instead of multiple bodies
registering mediators, the
proposed Mediation Council of
India should be made the nodal
authority for the registration and
accreditation of mediators. It also
recommends that-
• Each mediator should be given
a unique registration number
by the Mediation Council,
• Mediation Council must be
empowered to continuously
evaluate the mediator by
holding training sessions
periodically and
• Mediator must earn a
minimum number of credit
points on a yearly basis in
order to be eligible to conduct
mediation.
Draft Mediation Bill 2021: Key
features
• The draft Bill proposes for pre-
litigation mediation and at the
CP-245
transforming and upgrading the
judicial infrastructure in India, as
well as filling up judicial vacancies
and augmenting the strength.
Appointment of HC Judges:
• Article 217 of the Constitution:
It states that the Judge of a High
Court shall be appointed by the
President in consultation with the
Chief Justice of India(CJI), the
• In the case of appointment of
a Judge other than the Chief
Justice, the Chief Justice of the
High Court is consulted.
• Consultation Process: High Court
judges are recommended by a
same time safeguards the interest
of the litigants to approach the
competent adjudicatory forums/
courts in case an urgent relief is
sought.
• The successful outcome of
mediation in the form of Mediation
Settlement Agreement (MSA) has
been made enforceable by law.
Since the Mediation Settlement
Agreement is out of the consensual
agreement between the parties,
the challenge to the same has been
permitted on limited grounds.
• The mediation process protects
the confidentiality  of the
mediation undertaken and
provides for immunity in certain
cases against its disclosure.
• The registration of Mediation
Settlement Agreement has
also been provided for with
State/District/Taluk Legal
Authorities  within 90 days  to
ensure maintenance of
authenticated records of the
settlement so arrived.
• Provides for establishment of
the Mediation Council of India.
• Provides for community mediation.
Collegium 
• The proposal, however, is
initiated by the Chief Justice
of the High Court concerned in
consultation with two senior-
most colleagues.
• The recommendation is sent to
the Chief Minister, who advises
the Governor to send the proposal
to the Union Law Minister.
• The Chief Justice of the High
Court is appointed as per the
policy of having Chief Justices
from outside the respective
States.
• The Collegium takes the call on
the elevation.
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
Source: PIB
Context: The Government of India
has launched ‘Mission Shakti’ – an
integrated women empowerment
programme as an umbrella
scheme for the safety, security,
and empowerment of women
for implementation during the
15th  Finance Commission period
202l-22 to 2025-26.
About:
The norms of ‘Mission Shakti’
will be applicable with effect from
1st April 2022.
Mission Shakti
• ‘Mission Shakti’ is a scheme
in mission mode aimed at
strengthening interventions for
women’s safety, security, and
empowerment.
• It seeks to realize the
Government’s commitment
to women-led development
by addressing issues affecting
women on a life-cycle continuum
basis and by making them equal
partners in nation-building
through convergence and citizen-
ownership.
Aim:
• The scheme seeks to make women
economically empowered,
exercising free choice over
their minds and bodies in an
atmosphere free from violence
and threat.
• It also seeks to reduce the care
burden on women and increase
female labor force participation
by promoting skill development,
capacity building, financial
literacy, access to micro-credit,
etc.
Sub schemes of Mission Shakti
• ‘Mission Shakti’ has two
sub-schemes – ‘Sambal’ and
‘Samarthya’.
2022: SERIES VII
CP-246
Mission Shakti
• While the Sambal sub-scheme
is for the safety and security
of women, the Samarthya sub-
scheme is for the empowerment
of women.
SAMBAL
The objective of the sub-scheme is
to:
• Improve accessibility and
integrate all efforts and various
government initiatives towards
the safety and protection of
women.
• It is also for securing women’s
rights and entitlements to a
comprehensive continuous care
• Support women affected by
violence and in distress and assist
them in re-emerging as integrated
partners in nation-building.
The components of the ‘Sambal’ sub-
scheme consist of erstwhile schemes
of:
• One Stop Centre (OSC)
• Women Helpline (WHL)
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
It has a new component of Nari
Adalats – women’s collectives to
promote and facilitate alternative
dispute resolution and gender justice
in society and within families.
• Nari Adalat a new component
for providing women with an
alternate Grievance Redressal
Mechanism for resolving cases
of petty nature (harassment,
subversion, curtailment of rights
or entitlements) faced by women
at the Gram Panchayat level
will be implemented in a phased
manner.
• Nari Adalats or women
collectives will be formed of
committed and socially respected
women chosen for that purpose.
• This platform will also be utilized
for engaging with the public for
awareness generation and getting
feedback for improvement in
the schemes and effective public
"
delivery of services.
• These will be provided
logistic support through Gram
Panchayats in convergence with
the Ministry of Panchayati Raj,
Ministry of Rural Development,
and Common Service Centres
(CSCs) run by the
Ministry of Electronics
and Information
Technology.
SAMARTHYA
The objective of the scheme is to:
• Improve accessibility to various
government services available
for women at various levels
through reinforcement.
• Convergence for development
and empowerment of women.
• The scheme aims toward social,
cultural, political, and economic
development and empowerment
of women.
The components of the ‘Samarthya’
sub-scheme consist of erstwhile
schemes of:
• Ujjwala
• Swadhar Greh
• Working Women
Hostel has been
included with modifications
• National Creche Scheme for
children of working mothers
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana
Yojana (PMMVY) under the
umbrella of ICDS
• A new component of Gap Funding
for Economic Empowerment has
"
also been added to the Samarthya
Scheme.
• Under the Samarthya component,
Gender Budgeting, Research,
Publication & Monitoring
schemes have been included
ALS Current Affairs 42

under the Hub for Empowerment
of Women (HEW).
• The goal of Gender Budgeting
is to enable government
stakeholders at the central, state,
and district levels to undertake
gender budgeting through
enhanced capacities, knowledge,
"
and skills.
Objectives of Mission Shakti
• The objective of Mission Shakti
is to provide to all women and
girls including differently-abled,
socially and economically
marginalized, and
vulnerable groups, in need
of care and protection,
with short-term and
long-term services and
information for their
holistic development and
empowerment.
• The components under
Mission Shakti have the broad
objectives of either protecting
or assisting women who are
victims of violence or in difficult
circumstances or empowering
women:
1. Provide immediate and
comprehensive continuous
care, support, and assistance
to women affected by
violence and for those in
distress;
2. To put in place
quality mechanisms for
rescue, protection, and
rehabilitation of women in
need of assistance and victims
of crime and violence;
3. To improve accessibility to
various government services
"
Source: PIB
Context: Recently, Ministry of
Women and Child Development
has issued detailed guidelines for
43 ALS Current Affairs
CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
available for women at
various levels;
4. Making people aware of
Government schemes and
programs as well as legal
provisions to fight social
evils like dowry, domestic
violence, Sexual Harassment
at Workplace, promoting
gender equality, etc.
5. Capacity building and
training of functionaries/
duty bearers under various
schemes/ Legislations;
6. Collaboration with partner
Ministries/ Departments/
States/ UTs for convergence
of policies, programs/
schemes and to create an
enabling environment for
public-private partnership for
safety and empowerment of
women across sectors.
7. Create awareness among the
masses for inducing positive
behavioral change toward
women and girls.
8. To prevent gender-biased
sex selective elimination; to
ensure survival, protection,
education, and development
of the girl child.
• The scheme will provide financial
support for service delivery and
the hiring of technical/ other
required manpower for the
initiatives for immediate and
long-term care and support to the
targeted women.
Conclusion
• The Central Government has
enacted several legislations
and implemented various
CP-247
Mission Shakti
‘Mission Shakti’ scheme.
About:
• Mission Shakti’ has been
launched as an umbrella scheme
schemes for safety, security,
and improving the status of
women including their economic
empowerment. However, despite
various affirmative steps, various
parameters indicated that the
status of women in society still
needed improvement.
• Hence a concerted effort in
a mission mode to ensure
gender equality and women’s
empowerment gave rise to
Mission Shakti.
• Mission Shakti aims at
strengthening interventions that
not only improve women’s safety
and empowerment but also tackle
pervasive gender biases and
discriminations.
• The Mission Shakti is
inspired by the Constitutional
commitment to Fundamental
Rights and Directive Principles
of State Policy (particularly
the Right to Equality and Right
against Exploitation), India’s
commitment to international
treaties and conventions
as well as the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs),
it seeks to make women
economically empowered,
exercising free choice over
their minds and bodies in an
atmosphere free from violence
and threat.
• It also seeks to reduce the care
burden on women and increase
female labor force participation
by promoting skill development,
capacity building, financial
literacy, access to micro-credit,
etc.
for the safety, security and
empowerment of women for
implementation during the
15thFinance Commission period
2022: SERIES VII
 CONSTITUTION, POLITY & GOVERNANCE
202l-22 to 2025-26.
• ‘Mission Shakti’ is a scheme
in mission mode aimed at
strengthening interventions
for women safety, security and
empowerment.
• It seeks to realise the
Government’s commitment
for “women-led development‟
by addressing issues affecting
women on a life-cycle continuum
basis and by making them equal
partners in nation-building
through convergence and citizen-
ownership.
• The scheme seeks to make women
economically empowered,
exercising free choice over
their minds and bodies in an
atmosphere free from violence
and threat.
• It also seeks to reduce the care
2022: SERIES VII
burden on women and increase
female labour force participation
by promoting skill development,
capacity building, financial
literacy, access to micro-credit
etc.
Sambal and Samarthya
• ‘Mission Shakti’ has two
sub-schemes – ‘Sambal‘ and
‘Samarthya‘.
• While the “Sambal” sub-scheme
is for safety and security of
women, the “Samarthya” sub-
scheme is for empowerment of
women.
• The components of ‘Sambal‘
sub-scheme consist of erstwhile
schemes of One Stop Centre
(OSC), Women Helpline (WHL),
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
with a new component of Nari
Adalats – women’s collectives to
promote and facilitate alternative
dispute resolution and gender
justice in society and within
families.
• The components of ‘Samarthya‘
sub-scheme consist of erstwhile
schemes of Ujjwala, Swadhar
Greh and Working Women
"
Hostel have been included with
modifications.
• In addition, the existing schemes
of National Creche Scheme for
children of working mothers and
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana
Yojana (PMMVY)
under umbrella
ICDS have now been
included in Samarthya.
• A new component of Gap
Funding for Economic
Empowerment has also been added
in the Samarthya Scheme.
"
ALS Current Affairs 44
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS

International Issues & Bilateral Relations

SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-II)
• I ndia and its neighborhood- relations.
"

• B ilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or
affecting India’s interests
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s
interests, Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers Meet
Source: The Hindu
Context: India hosted a Special
ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’
Meeting (SAIFMM) on June 16, 2022,
in order to commemorate 30 years of
ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations.
About:
• Meeting was co-chaired by
External Affairs Minister S.
Jaishankar and Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Singapore,
Vivian Balakrishnan.
• It was also attended by Foreign
Ministers of Brunei, Indonesia,
Cambodia, Vietnam,
Malaysia, besides the
representatives of Foreign
Ministers from Lao PDR,
Thailand and Philippines.
Agenda of the meeting
• During the meeting, foreign
ministers highlighted the
importance of India-ASEAN
relations. They underlined the
IB-133
role played by ASEAN in India’s
Act East Policy vision for a wider
Indo-Pacific.
• They reviewed the status of
ASEAN-India Partnership.
Deliberations were held
on COVID-19 & Health,
Connectivity, Trade & Commerce,
Capacity Building and Education.
• They further discussed on the
implementation of ASEAN-
India Joint Statement on
Cooperation on ASEAN
Outlook on Indo-Pacific.
They also exchanged views
on important international and
regional developments.
About ASEAN
• ASEAN is officially called as
“Association of Southeast Asian
Nations”. It is a political and
economic union comprising of 10
member states in Southeast Asia.
These member states promote
intergovernmental cooperation
and facilitates economic, security,
political, educational, military,
and sociocultural integration
between member countries and
Asia-Pacific countries.
Objectives of ASEAN
• ASEAN work with the primary
objective of accelerating
economic growth, social progress
as well as cultural development.
It seeks to promote regional peace
and stability in accordance with
rule of law and United Nations
charter. ASEAN has broadened
its objective beyond social and
economic.
Members of ASEAN
• ASEAN comprises of 10
members namely, Indonesia,
Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar,
Laos, Malaysia, Singapore,
the Philippines, Vietnam and
Thailand.

IB-134
"

I2U2 Initiative
Source: The Hindu of leaders of a new group of four cooperation.
Context: Recently, the US has said nations with India, Israel, and the About:
that it will hold the first summit UAE for international development • In the grouping’s name, ‘I2’

45 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS

stands for India and Israel,
whereas ‘U2’ stands for USA and
the UAE.
• The first summit will be held
during Biden’s visit to Israel,
the first leg of his maiden trip as
President to West Asia from July
13 to 16.
areas of cooperation where
the UAE and Israel serve as
important innovation hubs.
• However, no other details
were available about this new
initiative, its goals, and reach.
What is I2U2?
• I2U2 is an entirely new grouping
I2U2 Significance
• It is expected to reinforce US’s
commitment to Israel’s security
and prosperity and continue the
process of its integration into
the region under the Abraham
Accords.
• Abraham accord was brokered

"
• This is a great achievement of partners that includes the by Donald Trump, the former
which speaks about the United States, Israel, India, and president of the US, between
geopolitical changes that happen the UAE. Israel on the one hand and the
in the region. • It is focused on expanding UAE and Bahrain on the other in
• The issues will focus on security economic and political 2020.
and areas of cooperation across cooperation in the Middle East • It demonstrates the return of
hemispheres where UAE and Asia, including through American leadership
and Israel serve as important trade, combating climate to bring countries
innovation hubs. change, energy cooperation, and together to address
• The topics of discussion would coordination on other vital shared common threats and
be food security crisis and other interests. challenges.

The recent I2U2 initiative marks an important shift in the stance of India in West Asia.
Elucidate

IB-135
India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
Source: The Hindu with key economies and revamp an agreement was reached for-
Context: Recently, India and EU existing trade pacts to improve • Resuming negotiations
re-launched Free Trade Agreement trade and investment. for a balanced, ambitious,
negotiations after 9-years in a joint • India earlier this year has comprehensive and mutually
event held at the EU headquarters in concluded FTAs with Australia beneficial FTA and
Brussels. and the UAE in a record time. • Starting fresh
About: The FTA talks with Canada and negotiations on the
• Recently, Indian Union the UK are also underway. IPA and a separate
Commerce Minister and India-EU Free Trade Agreement agreement on GIs.
Executive Vice-President of (FTA) • India-EU Trade: The
European Commission formally • Background: Negotiations on India-EU merchandise trade has
re-launched the India-EU India-EU Bilateral Broad-based registered an all-time high value
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Trade and Investment Agreement of USD 116.36 Billion in 2021-
negotiations. (BTIA) (Also known as India- 22 with a year-on growth of
• Besides, negotiations were EU FTA) started in 2007 but later 43.5%.
also launched for a stand-alone got stuck due to differences on • India’s export to the EU jumped
Investment Protection Agreement various issues. 57% in FY 2021-22 to $65
(IPA) and a Geographical • India-EU are now resuming the billion.
"

Indicators (GIs) Agreement.
About Free Trade Agreements
(FTA)
• The FTA negotiations are part
of India’s broader strategy to
forge balanced trade agreements
FTA talks after a gap of about
nine years since the earlier
negotiations were left off in 2013
due to difference in the scope and
expectations from the deal.
• India-EU Leaders’ Meeting 2021:
• India has a surplus trade with EU.
• Discussion on India-EU FTA:
India-EU are aiming for the trade
negotiations to be broad-based,
balanced and comprehensive,
based on the principles of fairness

2022: SERIES VII ALS Current Affairs 46

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
and reciprocity.
• There will also be discussions
on resolving the Market Access
Issues which are impeding the
bilateral trade.
• Significance: India-EU FTA
would be one of the most
significant FTAs for India as
"
EU is its second largest trading
partner after the US.
Make a quantitative assessment of European Union – India Free Trade Agreement, especially
in the post-Brexit trade negotiation.
Joint Consultative Commission Between India And
Bangladesh
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently, the seventh
round of the India-Bangladesh Joint
Consultative Commission (JCC) was
held in New Delhi.
About:
How has India’s relationship with
Bangladesh played out over the
years?
• The friendship between India and
Bangladesh is historic, evolving
over the last 50 years.
• India’s political,
diplomatic, military and
humanitarian support
during Bangladesh’s
Liberation War played
an important role towards
Bangladesh’s independence.
• Post-Independence, the India-
Bangladesh relationship has
oscillated as Bangladesh passed
through different regimes.
• The relationship remained
"
cordial until the assassination of
Bangladesh’s founding President
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in
August 15, 1975, followed by a
period of military rule and the
rise of General Ziaur Rahman
47 ALS Current Affairs
• India-EU trade deal will help
to diversify and secure the
supply chains, boost economic
opportunities for our businesses,
and bring significant benefits to
the people.
India- EU IPA and GIs
• India- EU IPA: The proposed
India-EU Investment Protection
Agreement (IPA) would provide
IB-136
who became President and also
assassinated in 1981.
• It thawed again between 1982-
1991 when a military-led
government by General H.M.
Ershad ruled the country.
• In the last decade, India-
Bangladesh relations have
warmed up, entering a new era
of cooperation, and moving
beyond historical and cultural
ties to become more assimilated
in the areas of trade, connectivity,
energy, and defence.
Major Achievements of Indo-
Bangla cooperation:
• Bangladesh and India have
achieved the rare feat of solving
their border issues peacefully
by ratifying the historic Land
Boundary Agreement in 2015,
where enclaves were swapped
allowing inhabitants to choose
their country of residence and
become citizens of either India or
Bangladesh.
• The Bangladesh government
led by Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina has uprooted anti-India
insurgency elements from its
a legal framework for cross-
border investments to enhance
the confidence of investors.
• India-EU GIs: GI pact is
expected to establish a transparent
and predictable regulatory
environment, to facilitate trade of
GI products including handicrafts
and agri-commodities.
borders, making the India-
Bangladesh border one of the
region’s most peaceful, and
allowing India to make a massive
redeployment of resources to its
more contentious borders
• Bangladesh is India’s biggest
trading partner in South Asia
with exports to Bangladesh in
FY 2018-19 at $9.21 billion and
imports at $1.04 billion.
• India has offered duty free access
to multiple Bangladeshi products.
Trade could be more balanced if
non-tariff barriers from the Indian
side could be removed.
• On the development front,
cooperation has deepened, with
India extending three lines of
credit to Bangladesh in recent
years amounting to $8 billion
for the construction of roads,
railways, bridges, and ports.
• Bangladeshis make up a large
portion of tourists in India,
outnumbering all tourists arriving
from western Europe in 2017,
with one in every five tourists
being a Bangladeshi.
• Bangladesh accounts for more
2022: SERIES VII
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
than 35% of India’s international
medical patients and contributes
more than 50% of India’s revenue
from medical tourism.
What are irritants in Indo-
Bangladesh relationship?
• Proposed countrywide National
Register of Citizens (NRC) and
the Citizenship Amendment Act
(CAA) passed last year.
• Bangladesh had cancelled
visits by ministers, and Hasina
has expressed reservations
about CAA. She commented
that the CAA and the proposed
nationwide NRC are “internal
matters” of India, the CAA move
was “not necessary”.
How have relations between
Bangladesh and China been
developing?
• “China is the biggest trading
partner of Bangladesh and is the
foremost source of imports.
• In 2019, the trade between the
two countries was $18 billion and
the trade is heavily in favour of
China,”
• Recently, China declared zero
duty on 97% of imports from
Bangladesh. The concession
flowed from China’s duty-free,
quota-free programme for the
Least Developed Countries.
• India has provided developmental
assistance worth $10 billion,
but China has promised around
$30 billion worth of financial
assistance to Bangladesh to
overcome India assistance.
• Bangladesh’s strong defence ties
with China makes the situation
complicated. China is the biggest
arms supplier to Bangladesh
and it has been a legacy issue.
Bangladesh forces are equipped
with Chinese arms including
tanks, missile launchers, fighter
aircraft and several weapons
systems. Recently, Bangladesh
purchased two Ming class
2022: SERIES VII
submarines from China.
How has India been engaging
with Bangladesh post CAA?
• In the wake of the Ladakh
standoff, India has become more
sensitive to Chinese defence
inroads into Bangladesh.
• India and Bangladesh have
cooperated on pandemic-related
moves. Hasina contributed
$1.5 million in India’s regional
emergency fund for fighting
Covid-19 and India provided
medical aid to Bangladesh.
• The two countries have also
cooperated in railways, with
India giving 10 locomotives to
Bangladesh.
• The first trial run for trans-
shipment of Indian cargo through
Bangladesh to Northeast states
under a pact on the use of
Chittagong and Mongla ports
took place in July.
• However, in recent weeks,
Pakistan PM call to Hasina
raised eyebrows in Delhi. While
Islamabad portrayed it as a
conversation on Kashmir, Dhaka
said it was about cooperating to
deal with Covid-19.
How has India sought to address
China’s latest move?
• During recent diplomats meeting
with Hasina, “security-related
issues of mutual interest” were
discussed.
• The visit tried to address issues
on areas that have emerged
as potential irritants in the
relationship.
• Bangladesh expressed “deep
concern” at the rise in killings at
the Indo-Bangladesh border by
“BSF or Indian nationals” during
the first half of this year, and the
Indian side assured that the BSF
authorities have been sensitised
of the matter.
Among other issues:
• The two sides agreed that
Implementation of projects
should be done in a timely
manner, and that greater attention
is required to development
projects in Bangladesh under the
Indian Lines of Credit.
• Bangladesh sought return of
the Tablighi Jamaat members
"
impacted by the lockdown in
India, and early release of the
25 Bangladeshi fishermen in
custody in Assam. India assured
Bangladesh that its nationals
would be able to return soon.
• Bangladesh requested
for urgent reopening
of visa issuance
from the Indian High
Commission in Dhaka,
particularly since
many Bangladeshi patients need
to visit India.
• India was also requested to
reopen travel through Benapole-
Petrapole land port, which has
been halted by the West Bengal
government in the wake of the
pandemic.
• Bangladesh told that it is ready to
collaborate in the development of
a Covid-19 vaccine, including its
trial, and looks forward to early,
affordable availability of the
vaccine when ready.
What is the way ahead?
• While the Teesta
project is important
and urgent from
India’s point of view, it will be
difficult to address it before the
West Bengal elections due next
year.
• India should implement all its
assurances in a time-bound
manner to avoid China tilt.
• Anti-India sentiment in
"
Bangladesh, which has been
revived after India’s CAA
-NRC push need to be managed
carefully as it threatens to damage
Dhaka-New Delhi ties.
ALS Current Affairs 48
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
Australia seeks to Revitalize Indo-Pacific Ties
Source: Indian Express
Context: India is one of Australia’s
Closest security partners and
"
the government is focused on
revitalizing Australia’s Historically
deep engagement with our partners
across the Indo-Pacific, Deputy
Prime Minister and Defense Minister
of Australia ahead of visit to India.
About
• India is one
of Australia’s closest
security partners, and the
government is working to
revitalise Australia’s historically
profound engagement with our
Indo-Pacific partners.
• Australia is ready to collaborate
more closely with India in
support of an Indo-Pacific that is
open, inclusive, and resilient.
• Concerns for the Indo-Pacific:
The rules-based international
order that has delivered peace
and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific
for decades is under pressure as
the geostrategic order alters.
India-Australia defence
collaboration
• Defence and
security cooperation
between India and
Australia has grown
dramatically in recent years, both
bilaterally and multilaterally.
• In 2014, both parties pledged to
expand defence cooperation to
include research, development,
and industry participation, as well
as to hold frequent meetings at the
"
Defense Minister level, conduct
regular maritime exercises, and
hold regular service-to-service
talks.
• At September 2015, the first-
ever Bilateral Maritime Exercise,
AUSINDEX, was held in
49 ALS Current Affairs
IB-137
Visakhapatnam (Bay of Bengal).
• For the first time, the Indian Air
Force took part in Exercise Pitch
Black in Australia in 2018.
• INS Sahyadri took part in
Kakadu, the Australian Navy’s
biennial exercise held in 2018, in
which 27 nations took part.
• In September 2019, the 4th edition
of AUSTRAHIND (Special
Forces of Army Exercise) was
held.
• The India-Australia defence
collaboration today involves
nearly every important military
function:
• Strategic discussions,
coordination, and information
sharing
• Ground, air, and naval forces
participate in military drills.
• Training and exchanges
• Cooperation in defence science
and technology.
• India and Australia have joined
the recently created Quad, which
also includes the United States and
Japan, to strengthen cooperation
and develop partnerships on a
variety of problems of mutual
importance.
• Both countries have recently
taken steps.
• In recent months, India and
Australia have increased marine
interoperability.
• A ‘Joint Guidance for Navy to
Navy Relationship Document’
has been signed by both parties.
• The statement stresses close
cooperation in regional and
multilateral fora such as the
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium
(IONS), Western Pacific Naval
Symposium (WPNS), Indian
Ocean Rim Association (IORA),
and ASEAN.
• The document is in line with the
‘2020 Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership’ signed by India and
Australia’s Prime Ministers.
• India and Australia inked a
Mutual Logistics Support
Agreement to strengthen bilateral
defence ties.
• As part of coordinated maritime
efforts, Australia has also
deployed a Liaison Officer to
the Indian Navy’s Information
Fusion Centre for the Indian
Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
• India and Australia are also
dealing with the disruption in
person-to-person contacts caused
by the COVID-19 outbreak.
• This year marks the 75th
anniversary of India’s
independence, and the Defence
Ministry’s major engagement
initiative, ‘Indo-Pacific
Endeavour 2022,’ returns to
India.
What precisely is the Indo-Pacific
Region (IPR)?
• The Indo-Pacific Region (IPR)
includes the tropical waters of the
Indian Ocean, the Western and
Central Pacific Oceans, and the
seas that connect them, as well
as most of East Asia, South Asia,
South East Asia, and Oceania.
• This notion is shared by India and
the South East Asian nations at
the heart of the IPR region.
• China is considering a more
limited version of the IPR,
confining it to the Indian and
Pacific Oceans on either side of
the Malacca Straits.
Geostrategic:
• According to some analysts, a
Great Power struggle is taking
place between the United States
and China in the buffer zone
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 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
between the Atlantic and Pacific.
• Emerging zone of regional power
conflict such as maritime border
disputes in the South China Sea
(SCS) (SCS).
• The emergence of new regional
powers such as Russia, Japan,
South Korea, India, and ASEAN.
• Strategic choke points such as
Bab-al-Mandeb and Malacca
Strait are located on each side of
the IPR.
• India’s strategic location in
the region causes issues about
marine security, which may be
successfully addressed through
the IPR region.
Geopolitical:
• The region has a vast population
(almost half of the world’s
population) and a diversified
culture.
• The presence of seven of the
world’s ten largest militaries.
• The presence of various regional
security forums, including the
ASEAN Regional Forum and
West Seti Power Project
Source: The Hindu
Context: India will be taking over
an ambitious hydropower project in
Nepal — West Seti — nearly four
years after China withdrew from
it, ending a six-year engagement
between 2012 and 2018.
About:
• The West Seti Dam is a
proposed 750-megawatt (MW)
hydroelectric dam on the
Seti River in the Far-Western
Development Region of Nepal.
• Particularly, it is a storage scheme
designed to generate and export
large quantities of electrical
energy to India.
• The project is envisaged to
provide Nepal 31.9% electricity
2022: SERIES VII
the newly formed Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue (QSD).
• The presence of the Diamond of
Democracies, including India,
Japan, the United States, and
Australia, in the region.
Geo-economic:
• IPR includes the most important
trade and commerce lines, with
$5.3 trillion in trade passing
through this region each year.
• More than 90% of India’s trade
by volume and 75% by value
travels via the Indo-Pacific
area.
• The presence of seven of the
eight fastest growing markets, as
well as the world’s three largest
economies, namely the United
States, China, and Japan.
The Asian Century:
• It is predicted that the twenty-
first century will be known as the
Asian century due to the growth
of new economies such as China,
India, and Japan on the global
arena.
IB-138
free.
• Besides, locals affected by the
project are being given a share
of Nepali Rs 10 million plus 30
units of electricity per month
free.
• The project was earlier accorded
to a Chinese company.
• But Nepal feared that India won’t
buy power from China-executed
projects.
Significance: India -Nepal Power
Relations
• Nepal is rich in power sources
with around 6,000 rivers and an
estimated potential for 83,000
MW.
• India has formally approached
Nepal on many occasions,
Importance of the Environment:
• The presence of the world’s
greatest number of biodiversity
hotspots, which are critical to the
preservation of the blue planet.
• The success of the Paris Climate
Agreement is heavily dependent
on the actions of the three largest
"
greenhouse gas emitter nations,
namely the United States, China,
and India. They are all owned by
the IPR.
Way Ahead
• India and Australia are eager
to collaborate in
order to fully realise
the potential of
the India-Australia
Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership.
• This collaboration is built on
a shared vision of an Indo-
Pacific region that is free, open,
inclusive, and rule-based.
• Both countries should work to
increase bilateral defence and
security cooperation
seeking preferential
rights over Nepali
waters should it match
offers coming from
elsewhere.
• India is viewed as a feasible
power market for Nepal.
• India has undertaken to harness
or expressed intent to harness
major rivers in the north.
Issues in project execution
• There has been some uncertainty
"
in Nepal over India’s inability to
deliver projects on time.
• An ambitious Mahakali treaty
was signed back in 1996, to
produce 6,480 MW, but India has
still not been able to come out
with the Detailed project Report.
ALS Current Affairs 50
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
• The Upper Karnali project, for
which the multinational GMR
signed the contract, has made no
headway for years.
• Major reasons for stalling of these
projects was a lack of consensus
over power purchase agreement
with India.
"
• Also, seismic sensitivity of the
Himalayan Region is the prime
consideration.
What has helped build faith
recently?
• India under PM Modi has been
successful in executing
the 900-MW Arun Three
Project in eastern Nepal’s
Sankhuwa Sabha.
• After a standoff
between Nepal and India led to
the economic blockade of 2015,
U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling on Abortion
Source: The Hindu
Context: The US Supreme Court
has eliminated the nationwide right
to abortion that it had recognized in
its landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
About
What is the Supreme
Court ruling about?
• Roe v. Wade
(1973)- The court struck
down laws that made
abortion illegal, and ruled that
abortion would be allowed up to
the point of foetal viability (the
time after which a foetus can
survive outside the womb).
• However, the court has upheld a
Republican-backed Mississippi
"
law that bans abortion after 15
weeks.
• Mississippi ban- In 2018, the
state of Mississippi banned most
abortions after 15 weeks much
before foetal viability directly
challenging the 1973 judgment.
51 ALS Current Affairs
equations changed after Deuba
took over last July, replacing Oli.
• Benefits for Nepal
• Nepal has a massive power
shortfall as it generates only
around 900 MW against an
installed capacity of nearly 2,000
MW.
• Although it is currently selling
364 MW power to India, it has
over the years importing from
India.
Hurdles from Nepal’s internal
crisis
• Nepal’s Constitution has a
provision under which any
treaty or agreement with another
country on natural resources
will require Parliament’s
ratification by at least a two-
thirds majority.
IB-139
• Later it was struck down on the
grounds that it unequivocally
violates the constitutional rights
of women.
What is the need for limiting the
abortion?
• The U.S. abortion rate peaked in
1980, seven years after the Roe
ruling, at 29.3 abortions per 1,000
women of child-bearing age.
• The number of U.S. abortions
increased by 8% during the three
years ending in 2020, reversing
a 30-year trend of declining
numbers.
• In 2020, there were 930,160
U.S. abortions, with 20.6% of
pregnancies ending in abortion in
2020.
• Mississippi experienced a 40%
increase in abortions performed
from 2017 to 2020.
• With the US Supreme Court
overturning Roe v Wade, the
demand for abortion pills will
• That will also mean homework
will be required before any hydro
project is signed and given for
execution.
Way forward
• Until India agrees to value
Nepal’s water and the existing
focus on power is not reviewed,
mutual distrust may continue.
• India must start executing its
projects timely.
• And its success is expected to
restore India’s image in Nepal
and give it weightage in future
considerations for hydropower
projects, when competition is
bound to be tough.
• West Seti, therefore, has the
potential to be a defining model
for Nepal India’s power relations
in future.
likely rise.
What is medical abortion?
• In a medication abortion, a
patient takes drugs to end a
pregnancy rather than having a
surgical procedure.
• The first drug is mifepristone, also
known as RU-486, followed by a
second drug called misoprostol.
• The drugs are approved for
use through the 10th week of
pregnancy.
• Over half of abortions in the
United States are medication
abortions.
• The US Food and Drug
Administration allowed patients
to consult with healthcare
providers via telemedicine
appointments and receive the
pills by mail.
• That increased access to abortion
for patients living in remote areas
without providers nearby and
women unable to take time off
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 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
from work or not able to get to
clinics for other reasons.
What is the impact of the Supreme
Court’s ruling on telemedicine
abortion?
• Before the Supreme Court’s
ruling, 13 states had so-called
“trigger laws” written to impose
new abortion bans.
• It was predicted that at least
26 states, including those with
trigger laws, will pass new
abortion laws.
• Such state laws have so far not
distinguished between surgical
and medication abortion, so they
14th BRICS Summit
Source: Indian Express
Context: The ability of the bloc of
five countries in demonstrating some
concrete outcomes of cooperation
suggests the presence of strong
convergence of interests amid
undeniable differences.
About:
• The summit was the first meeting
since the invasion of Ukraine-
giving the message that Russia
is not isolated, economically or
otherwise.
• India and China have been
willing to attend the BRICS
summit despite the standoff
between their armies at the
border since 2020.
• BRICS countries have continued
48th Group of Seven (G7) Summit
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, at the 48th G7
Summit, Indian Prime Minister
invited the G7 Nations to tap into
the huge market for clean energy
technologies emerging in the country.
2022: SERIES VII
are expected to ban medication
abortion entirely.
• Some will ban abortions almost
completely, while others outlaw
abortion at six weeks or 15
weeks.
• Ordering from other states-
The laws around telemedicine
generally say that the location of
the patient controls.
• Doctors who prescribed abortion
pills to a patient in a state where
they are illegal could lose their
licenses in that state, or even face
criminal charges.
• A woman who lives in a state
IB-140
to meet during the Covid
pandemic.
• This summit hosted by China
reiterated their willingness to
work with China on Covid
research, vaccines etc, a contrast
to critical views of China at other
western-led groupings.
• The leaders held discussions
on Counter-terrorism, trade,
health, traditional medicine,
environment, science, technology
& innovation, agriculture,
technical and vocational
education & training.
• They also discussed the key
issues in the global context,
including the reform of the
multilateral system, COVID-19
IB-141
About
• Germany holds the presidency
of the G7 in 2022 with the
overarching theme of ‘Progress
towards an equitable world’.
• German Chancellor has invited
where abortion is illegal could
travel to a state where it is legal,
have a telemedicine visit, and
have the medication mailed to an
address there.
• Ordering from overseas- Women
in states cracking down on
telemedicine abortion have
"
increasingly turned to ordering
pills online from overseas.
• While the practice is not legal,
state authorities have said they
have no effective way of policing
orders from foreign doctors and
pharmacies.
pandemic, global economic
recovery, amongst others.
• The leaders adopted the ‘Beijing
Declaration’ that referred to the
need to avoid politicisation of
the work of the UNSC sanctions
committee.
• On Ukraine, the bloc affirmed
a commitment to respect
sovereignty, despite Russia’s
actions, and stopped short of
condemning NATO
reflecting different
views within BRICS.
• India will be
organizing BRICS
Startup event this year to
strengthen connection between
Startups in BRICS countries.
"
India, Argentina, Indonesia,
Senegal, and South Africa to
the 2022 Summit as partner
countries.
• A number of international
organisations, including the UN,
ALS Current Affairs 52
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
WHO, WTO, IMF and the World
Bank participated in the Summit.
G7
• G7 stands for “Group of Seven”
industrialized nations.
• It is an intergovernmental
organisation that was formed in
1975.
"
• The bloc meets annually to
discuss issues of common interest
like global economic governance,
international security and energy
policy.
• The G-7 does not have a formal
constitution or a fixed
Source: Indian Express
Context: China recently held the
first China-Horn of Africa Peace,
Governance and Development
Conference.
About
• China has been investing across
the African continent throughout
the last decade.
• The conference held in Ethiopia
witnessed the participation of
foreign ministries from the
following countries of the
Horn: Kenya, Djibouti,
Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia,
South Sudan, and Uganda.
Major objectives
• No doubt that china predates
small nations with debt-trapping
the countries.
• It focuses on increasing the
infrastructural investments in
African countries and converting
them to security assets.
• It asserted three objectives in
"
Africa:
• Controlling the pandemic
• Implementing a Forum on China-
Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)
outcomes, and
• Upholding common interests
53 ALS Current Affairs
headquarters. The decisions
taken by leaders during annual
summits are non-binding.
• G-7 countries include United
States, Canada, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan and the United
Kingdom.
• Members share common
values like democracy,
respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms,
free markets, and respect for
international law.
• Together the member countries
represent 31% of global GDP,
IB-142
Horn of Africa
while fighting hegemonic politics
What is FOCAC?
• The FOCAC promotes China’s
role in the infrastructural and
societal development of the Horn.
• In the 2021 forum, the entire
region of the Horn participated
and four resolutions were
adopted:
• Dakar Action Plan
• China-Africa Cooperation Vision
2035
• Sino-African Declaration on
Climate Change
• Declaration of the Eighth
Ministerial Conference of
FOCAC
How has China garnered goodwill
in HOA?
• HOA have benefited from
China’s vaccine diplomacy.
• Beijing has also initiated the
“2035 vision for China-Africa
cooperation”; it aims to transform
the health sector, alleviate
poverty, promote trade and
investments, and expand digital
innovation.
• The vision also focuses on green
development, capacity building,
improving people-to-people
10% of the world’s population
and 21% of global carbon
dioxide emissions, according to
the Summit website.
• When the group was created in
1975, they represented 70% of
global GDP.
• China has never been a member,
despite its large economy and
having the world’s biggest
population. Its relatively low
level of wealth per person means
it’s not seen as an advanced
economy in the way the G7
members are.
exchanges and facilitating peace
and security in the continent.
What are China’s primary
interests/investments in the Horn
of Africa?
• China’s interests are related to
four major areas: infrastructural
projects, financial assistance,
natural resources and maritime
interests.
(1) Infrastructure
• Looking at Chinese investments
in infrastructure, one of its
landmark projects was fully
funding the $200 million African
Union headquarters in Addis
Ababa.
• It has also made significant
investments in railways; it is
building the Addis-Djibouti
railway line connecting the land-
locked country with Eritrean
ports in the Red Sea.
• China has also invested in the
Mombasa-Nairobi rail link in
Kenya, and has already delivered
on railway projects in Sudan.
• It also has a viable military
hardware market in Ethiopia and
has built over 80 infrastructural
projects in Somalia, including
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 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
hospitals, roads, schools and
stadiums.
(2) Debts and ‘assistances’
• With respect to financial
assistance, Ethiopia, is one of
the top five African recipients of
Chinese investments, and also
has a debt of almost $14 billion.
• China accounts for 67% of
Kenya’s bilateral debt.
• In 2022, China promised to
provide $15.7 million assistance
to Eritrea.
(3) Mineral explorations
• The third major Chinese interest
in Africa is the presence of
natural resources — oil and coal.
Beijing has invested $400 million
in Mombasa’s oil terminal.
• China is also interested in
minerals such as gold, iron-ore,
precious stones, chemicals, oil
and natural gas in Ethiopia.
• South Sudan, a source for
petroleum products, has had
continued Beijing investment
in the industry since the latter’s
initial entry in 1995.
(4) Maritime interest
• China’s first and only military
base outside its mainland is in
Djibouti.
• During his visit in early
2022, Wang hinted at China’s
willingness to develop Eritrea’s
coast which would connect to
China’s investments in land-
locked Ethiopia.
• The US has speculated that
China wishes to build another
military base in Kenya and
Tanzania, thereby increasing
its military presence in the
region.
Has the Horn of Africa been
welcoming of China’s presence?
• Africa has been keen on
interacting with China.
• Despite the wariness surrounding
China’s projects in Africa, the
governments have mostly been
welcoming.
2022: SERIES VII
• When conflict broke out in Tigray
in November 2020, Addis Ababa
appreciated Beijing for respecting
Ethiopia’s sovereignty.
• In December 2021, Kenya
defended Chinese projects in
the country; President Uhuru
Kenyatta maintained that China-
Africa partnership was mutually
beneficial.
• Similarly, in May 2022, the
East African Community (EAC)
welcomed Chinese investors
to work in East Africa for the
prosperity of the people.
Beijing’s principle of non-
intervention
• Peace and stability is a mutual
requirements for China and
Africa.
• For Africa, Chinese investments
could lead to stable environments
which could help the countries
achieve their peace and
development objectives.
• For China, conflict in the region
comes at a heavy cost.
• In Ethiopia. when the conflict
broke out, over 600 Chinese
nationals, working on different
projects, were evacuated,
putting several investments at
risk.
• From a trading perspective, the
region plays a significant role in
achieving the objectives of the
China-Africa Cooperation Vision
2035.
Why is HOA important?
• In the last decade, the region
lying between Suez Canal and
the Seychelles has emerged as a
new geopolitical hotspot.
• It has factors like impressive
economic growth of regional
countries, emergence of new
security threats, and the ensuing
major power rivalry driving
the strategic trajectory of the
region.
• The straits of Bab el-Mandeb,
which lies at the heart of this
region, connects the energy-
rich Middle East to Europe and,
along with the Suez Canal, is
considered a jugular vein for
global trade.
Indian footprints in the region
• India has been paying greater
attention to the region but still
"
lags behind China.
• India has bolstered defence
cooperation with Oman and
France (which holds territories
in the Southwestern Indian
Ocean).
• It has signed logistics
support agreements
with these countries
to ensure greater naval
access in the region.
• Reportedly, India
was in talks with Japan to
grant access to Indian naval
vessels at the Japanese base in
Djibouti.
• India has also sought to open a
military base in the Seychelles
and plans to further enhance its
naval presence in the Western
Indian Ocean.
• These efforts are directed to
increase Indian leverage and
limit Chinese influence in the
region.
Lessons for India
• China’s move towards
peace in Africa
indicates a shift in
its principle of non-
intervention.
• It is China’s message that its
presence in the continent has a
larger objective and is not likely
to be limited to the Horn of
Africa.
• This includes an aim to project
itself as a global leader and boost
"
its international status.
• Further, the recent
developments imply that China
is focussing on a multifaceted
growth in the continent for the
long run.
ALS Current Affairs 54
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
Sweden and Finland joining NATO
Source: Indian Express
Context: On June 28,2022 the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
"
Secretary-General announced
the signing of a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) between
Turkey, Finland and Sweden in a
trilateral meeting held in Madrid,
Spain.
About
NATO
• The MoU was
signed once the Finland
and Sweden agreed to
address the national security
concerns of Turkey.
• NATO – the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization – is a military
alliance. It was formed in 1949
by 12 countries, including the
US, UK, Canada and France.
• NATO’s original aim was to
counter Russian expansion in
Europe after World War Two.
NATO’s essential and enduring
purpose is to safeguard the
freedom and security of all its
members by political and military
means
• Following the
Soviet Union’s collapse in
1991, many of its former
Eastern European allies
joined NATO.
• They must also provide military
support to the alliance. NATO
members agree to spend 2% of
their GDP on defence
• NATO is based on Collective
defence principle enshrined in
"
“Article 5” of NATO’s founding
Treaty (Washington Treaty).
• This principle views an attack on
one member as an attack on all.
• NATO has only once invoked
Article 5, on September 12, 2001
following the 9/11 attacks on the
55 ALS Current Affairs
IB-143
World Trade Center in the US.
• NATO has its headquarters in
Brussels but is dominated by
the massive military and nuclear
missile power of the US.
• The Treaty states that NATO
membership is open to any
“European state in a position
to further the principles of this
Treaty and to contribute to the
security of the North Atlantic
area”. It states that any decision
on enlargement (new members)
must be made “by unanimous
agreement”.
• In order to join NATO, countries
must be democracies, treat
minorities fairly and commit to
resolving conflicts peacefully.
There are currently 30 members in
NATO
• Its original members were
Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
France, Iceland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, the United
Kingdom, and the United States.
• Joining the original signatories
were
• Greece and Turkey (1952)
• West Germany (1955, from 1990
as Germany)
• Spain (1982)
• Czech Republic, Hungary, and
Poland (1999)
• Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia,
and Slovenia (2004)
• Albania and Croatia (2009)
• Montenegro (2017)
• North Macedonia (2020).
Why didn’t Finland and Sweden
not join NATO before?
• Prevent Provocation of Russia:
Both considered that joining
the alliance would represent
an unnecessary provocation
of Russia, and so have long
pursued policies of neutrality,
and then non-alignment, to avoid
antagonising a major regional
power.
• Pragmatic necessity of
Finland’s for Peaceful Border:
Finland’s concerns have been
largely practical: it shares an
810-mile (1,300km) border with
Russia, declared independence in
1917 after more than a century of
rule by Russia, and its army twice
fought off Soviet forces during
the second world war before
ceding about 10% of its territory.
• A 1948 agreement of friendship,
cooperation and mutual
assistance with Russia isolated
Finland militarily from western
Europe, though the breakup
of the Soviet Union and EU
membership have since allowed
it to step out of Russia’s shadow.
• Ideological Opposition by
Sweden: Sweden’s opposition
to Nato membership has been
more ideological. Its postwar
foreign policy has focused on
multilateral dialogue and nuclear
disarmament and it has long
seen itself as a mediator on the
international stage, running down
its military after the end of the
cold war.
Why was Turkey against Sweden
& Finland joining NATO?
• Though there were no direct
bilateral issues between Turkey
with Sweden and Finland, Turkey
was against the latter for their
position on the Kurdish issue and
extradition of activists.
• Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
is an organisation in Turkey that
has launched an armed struggle
against the Turkish government in
2022: SERIES VII
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
1984, calling for an independent
Kurdish state within Turkey.
• Turkey views PKK as terrorist
organisation with an aim to de-
stabilising Turkey and hence
wants international support for
cracking down of PKK.
• Turkey had accused Finland
and Sweden being home to
Kurdish activists and militant
organisations and being
sympathetic to Kurdish cause.
• Finland and Sweden had
considered Turkey as an
authoritarian nation against
democratic norms and rights.
Their positions on Turkey and
support to Kurdish activists was
based more on their principles
relating to democracy, the rule of
law etc.
• Sweden and Finland had also
imposed arms embargo on
Turkey (i.e. these countries were
not selling their weaponry to
Turkey).
• All these had made the
relationship between Turkey
and Sweden-Finland tense and
hence Turkey had opposed their
membership into NATO.
• Since, enlargement of NATO’s
membership is through
unanimous agreement of all its
members, Turkey’s approval is
crucial for Sweden & Finland to
joing NATO.
India-Tajikistan Relations
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently India’s Minister
for Science and Technology and
Earth Sciences held a bilateral
meeting with the Minister for Energy
and Water Resources of the Republic
of Tajikistan.
About
• The discussion was based on
2022: SERIES VII
What are the implications On
Russia?
• Russia while referring to the
relations with Sweden & Finland
as being respectful and mutually
friendly cautioned these countries
against joining NATO.
• Russia had underlined that there
are no territorial disputes with
these two countries; hence they
should not worry about any
security threat from Russia.
• If Sweden and Finland join
NATO, it means an enlarged
presence of the latter around the
west and north of Russia.
• This would go against the very
objective of Russia interfering in
Ukraine — maintaining Russian
influence in its immediate
neighbourhood.
• For Russia, Finland and Sweden
joining NATO not only means an
increased NATO presence in its
neighbourhood but also questions
its Arctic interests.
• Both Sweden and Finland are
part of the Arctic States
• Russia currently holds the Arctic
Council chair and will remain the
chair until 2023
What are the implications on
NATO?
• Strengthens Alliance: Both
Finland and Sweden which have
followed the non-alignment
principle have broken from their
IB-144
water resources research, with
a particular focus on Glacier
monitoring and understanding,
Non-conventional Energy, etc.
• Few other issues like the Peaceful
Use of Space Technology and
Disaster Management were also
discussed.
• Tajikistan Minister requested India
natural rule and decided to join
NATO. This does not only mean
guarantee of security against
Russia but it also gives NATO the
power to engage.
• Gain strategic ground to
counter Russia. The addition
of more allies means a steady
"
expansion of the NATO towards
the East, through which it will
now be able to exercise its
military operations both on land
and in the Baltic Sea, where
Russia holds a strategic position
• Pushes Russia for
negotiation: With
NATO encircling
Russia from the West,
Russia might consider
the option to meet at
the negotiating table at a later
stage for larger rapprochement
between Russia & West.
• More secured Euro-Atlantic:
NATO presence in the region
will securitise and safeguard the
Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania, which were earlier at
risk due to their close proximity
to Russia and Russian attacks.
• Can Alter War Dynamics
in Ukraine: This will enable
NATO to bring in advanced
weapons such as fifth-
generation aircraft,
technological weapon
systems that can help
Ukraine win the war.
to support global water action and
climate resistance on Water for
"
Sustainable Development.
Significance
Glaciers and Water management:
• The Tajakistan has recently
expressed concern that the
Fedchenko and other Pamir
glaciers have been shrinking
ALS Current Affairs 56
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
due to global warming and that
continuing temperature increases.
• This could endanger that nation’s
water supply and increase the risk
of natural disasters, including
floods and landslides.
• Lack of access to clean drinking
water has been a major issue
"
in Tajikistan, particularly in
Source: Indian Express
Context: The Lisbon
Declaration on ocean
conservation was adopted
by all the 198 members of
United Nations.
About:
• On the last day of UN Ocean
Conference 2022, member
nations committed to follow
innovative and science-based
actions on an urgent basis
• They recognised that developing
countries, specifically least
developed countries and small
island developing states, need
assistance with capacity building.
• They also agreed to work on
controlling, reducing
and preventing, marine
pollution. Marine
pollution includes-
Nutrient pollution, Solid
waste discharges, Hazardous
substances, Untreated wastewater,
Emissions from maritime sector
and Anthropogenic underwater
50 Years of Shimla Agreement
"
Source: Indian Express
Context : 2022 marks 50 years of
Shimla agreement—a peace treaty
signed by India and Pakistan, following
57 ALS Current Affairs
rural areas. Many residents rely
on rivers and open ditches for
drinking water.
Strategic importance:
• Tajikistan occupies a strategically
important position in Central
Asia, bordering Afghanistan,
the People’s Republic of China
and separated by a small strip
IB-145
Lisbon Declaration
noise.
Financing Solutions
• Other pledges that countries took
include:
• Developing and promoting
innovative financing solutions, in
order to create sustainable ocean-
based economies
• Expanding nature-based
solutions, for conserving and
preserving coastal communities.
Significance of the declaration
• Adoption of the draft declaration,
sends strong signal of urgently
improving the health, resilience
and sustainable use of the
ocean. In the final draft of the
declaration, countries regrated
for their failure in achieving
targets set for 2020. Thereafter,
they renewed commitment to
take urgent action and cooperate
at sub-regional, regional and
global levels to achieve all targets
without undue delay.
Empowering women and girls
• Countries also committed to
IB-146
the India-Pakistan war of 1971.
About:
What is Simla agreement?
• Shimla agreement or Simla
of Afghan territory called the
Wakhan Corridor from northern
Pakistan.
• India’s role in fighting the
Taliban and Al-Qaeda and its
strategic rivalry with both China
and Pakistan have made its ties
with Tajikistan important to its
strategic and security policies.
empower women and girls,
in order to recognise that;
their participation is crucial
in achieving the Sustainable
Development Goal 14 and
building a sustainable ocean-
based economy.
Fifth session of Intergovernmental
conference
• The UN Ocean Conference
2022 has set stage for “fifth
intergovernmental conference
on international legally binding
instrument for conservation
and sustainable use of marine
biological diversity” for areas
beyond the national jurisdiction.
The fifth round of negotiations
for implementing international
treaty is scheduled to held from
August 15-26, 2022 in New
York. It is aimed at protecting
biodiversity in Areas Beyond
National Jurisdiction. National
Jurisdiction lie outside the
exclusive economic zones of
countries.
agreement was much more than
a peace treaty seeking to reverse
the consequences of the 1971 war
(i.e. to bring about withdrawals
2022: SERIES VII
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
of troops and an exchange of
PoWs).
• It was a comprehensive blue print
for good neighbourly relations
between India and Pakistan.
• Under the Simla Agreement, both
countries undertook to abjure
conflict and confrontation and to
work towards the establishment
of durable peace, friendship and
cooperation.
Principles of Shimla agreement
• A mutual commitment to
the peaceful resolution of all
issues through direct bilateral
approaches.
• To build the foundations of a
cooperative relationship with
special focus on people-to-people
contacts.
• To uphold the inviolability of
the Line of Control in Jammu
and Kashmir, which is a most
important CBM between India
and Pakistan, and a key to durable
peace.
Simla agreement clauses
• India Pakistan relations were to
be governed by the principles and
purposes of the UN Charter.
• Differences between India and
Pakistan were to be resolved
through peaceful means and
bilateral negotiations, neither
side can unilaterally change the
Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment
to counter BRI
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently, the G7 launched
an infrastructure investment plan
to counter China’s Belt and Road
Initiative.
About
• The PGII is being seen as the G7’s
counter to China’s multi-trillion
dollar Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI) to build connectivity,
2022: SERIES VII
situation, which might render
detrimental to maintaining
peaceful and friendly relations.
• Both the countries were to refrain
from the threat or use of force
against the territorial integrity or
political independence of each
other.
• Peacefully, respecting each
other’s sovereignty, territorial
integrity and not interfering in
each other’s internal affairs,
is to act as a prerequisite
to reconciliation, good
neighbourliness and peace.
• There must be mutual recognition
and honour for each country’s
national unity, territorial
integrity, political independence,
and sovereign equality.
• Both governments were to take
steps in their power to prevent
hostile propaganda against each
other and to encourage spreading
such information which would
develop friendly relations among
India and Pakistan.
Effect of the Shimla agreement
• After the agreement, India
returned the 93,000 prisoners
of war in an organised manner
as Pakistan was to work on
converting the Line of Control to
an international border.
• India returned the prisoners of
IB-147
infrastructure, and trade projects
in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin
America.
• The West has been sceptical of
the BRI, since it was launched
in 2013 by President Xi Jinping,
as it was considered to be part of
China’s larger strategy to increase
geopolitical influence in Asia and
other developing countries.
war along with the territories that
it captured.
• The prisoners of war were mostly
militants as well as few civilians,
who were mostly women and
children.
• There was supposedly a meeting
between Bhutto, the then
"
Pakistan PM and Indira Gandhi,
the then Indian PM, where
Bhutto promised to turn the Line
of Control to an International
Border although at the time of
finalising the Agreement such
meeting’s happening
was denied.
• There was no mention
of the existence of
such a meeting.
• Both India and
Pakistan were busy focusing
on their internal affairs and the
promise made by Pakistan was
never executed.
Shimla accord: Conclusion
• For the international relations
point of view, the Shimla
agreement is a perfect example
of a bilateral agreement.
• However, it is a failed agreement
for India because it could not
achieve any of India’s objectives
fully, be it maintaining peace or
resolving the Kashmir
issues.
• The U.S., along with G7 partners
the U.K., Japan, France, Canada,
Germany, Italy, and the European
"
Union (EU), had in 2021
announced the launch of the
Build Back Better World (B3W)
with the aim of narrowing the
$40 trillion infrastructure gap in
the developing world.
• PGII is therefore, a relaunch of
ALS Current Affairs 58
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
Mr. Biden’s B3W plan.
• The factsheet put out by the
White House described the PGII
as a “values-driven, high-impact,
and transparent infrastructure
partnership to meet the enormous
infrastructure needs of low and
middle-income countries and
"
support the United States’ and
its allies’ economic and national
security interests”.
Aim
• The G7 members aim to
collectively mobilise $600
billion by 2027 to invest
in sustainable and quality
infrastructure projects
in developing countries,
including India, and
strengthen global supply
chains.
• Mr. Biden announced the
country’s pledge to channel $200
billion in grants, public financing,
and private capital over the next
five years for the PGII.
• European Commission President
declared Europe’s pledge of
mobilising 300 billion euros for
the partnership over the same
period.
What kind of projects will the
PGII undertake?
• All PGII projects
will be driven by the
pillars that will define the
second half of the 21st
century.
• The G7 grouping aims to tackle
the climate crisis and ensure
global energy security through
clean energy supply chains.
• The projects will focus on
"
Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC)
Source: The Hindu
Context: Myanmar’s military
government hosted the first high-
level regional meeting since the
59 ALS Current Affairs
bolstering digital information
and communications technology
(ICT) networks facilitating
technologies such as 5G and
6G internet connectivity and
cybersecurity.
• The projects aim to advance
gender equality and equity, and
lastly, to build and upgrade global
health infrastructure.
• The U.S International
Development Finance
Corporation (DFC), along with
the G7 nations and the EU
are disbursing a $3.3 million
technical assistance grant to build
a vaccine facility in Senegal,
having a potential yearly capacity
of manufacturing “millions of
doses of COVID-19 and other
vaccines”.
• In India, the U.S. DFC will
invest up to $30 million in
Omnivore Agritech and Climate
Sustainability Fund 3, an impact
venture capital fund that invests in
entrepreneurs building the future of
agriculture, food systems, climate,
and rural economy in India.
What is China’s BRI?
• China began the Belt and Road
Initiative in 2013 under its
President Xi Jinping.
• It aims to revive the ancient
trade routes crossing to and from
China–from Rome in Europe to
East Asia.
• Under this, the Chinese
government helped in providing
loans for infrastructure projects
to various countries, and in many
cases, Chinese companies were
awarded contracts for carrying
IB-148
Army took power last year with
China’s Foreign Minister and
counterparts from Mekong Delta
nations.
out the work.
• This helped China mark its
footprints at a global level.
• However, China was criticised
in the West and by some
other countries for providing
unsustainable debts to countries
that will be unable to repay them.
• According to a 2019 World Bank
report,
• Among the 43 corridor economies
for which detailed data was
available, 12 could face a situation
where debts were not sustainable,
which could lead to public assets
being handed over to foreign
contractors or China itself.
• The report adds if issues of
environmental degradation,
high debts, and corruption are
successfully countered and the
BRI is fully implemented to its
potential, it could increase trade
between 1.7 and 6.2 percent for
the world, increasing global real
income by 0.7 to 2.9 percent.
Is there any overlap between the
two schemes?
• While the US has been critical
of BRI, other countries of the G7
have had varying responses to it.
• Italy became the first G7 member
to be a part of the BRI in 2019,
and the British finance minister
Philip Hammond described the
policy as a “vision” in the same
year, though it is not officially a
part of the BRI.
• Germany and France, while not
directly participating in the BRI,
have also partnered with China in
building rail networks and other
projects for connectivity.
About
• The delegations met at the
Lancang-Mekong Cooperation
group meeting held under
2022: SERIES VII
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS

the theme “Solidarity for Peace and

Prosperity” in the central city of Bagan, a
UNESCO World Heritage site.
• China is Myanmar’s biggest trading
partner and an old ally.
• Beijing has invested billions of dollars in
Myanmar’s mines, oil and gas pipelines
and other infrastructure and is its major

"
arms supplier, together like Russia.
Lancang-Mekong Cooperation
• Lancang-Mekong Cooperation is a
multilateral format established in 2016 for
cooperation between the riparian states of
the Lancang River and Mekong River.
• The Lancang is the part of the Mekong
that flows through China.
• Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and
Thailand are five downstream countries of
the Mekong River.
• The central purpose of the format is for
China to manage water flow from its
hydropower dams with the other riparian
states.
• LMC Special Fund was created in 2016 to
aid in small and medium-sized projects by
the Lancang-Mekong countries.

India-Australia Deals to Supply Minerals
Source: The Hindu
Context: Australia is all set to
supply critical minerals required
for India’s electric vehicles, solar
power projects and other strategic
areas, said Canberra’s Minister
for Resources and Minister for
Northern Australia. Australia
will commit A$5.8 million to
the three-year India-Australia
Critical Minerals Investment
Partnership.
About
What are critical minerals?
IB-149
Usage:
• These minerals are now used
everywhere from making mobile
phones, computers to batteries,
electric vehicles and green
technologies like solar panels and
wind turbines.
• Graphite, lithium and cobalt,
which are used for making EV
batteries;
• Rare earths that are used for
making magnets and silicon
which is a key mineral for making
computer chips and solar panels.
Why is this resource critical?
Needed for transition
towards clean energy:
• As countries around
the world scale
up their transition
towards clean energy and digital
economy, these critical resources
are key to the ecosystem that
fuels this change.
• As the world transitions to a clean
energy economy, global demand
for these critical minerals is set
"

to skyrocket by 400-600 per cent

• Building blocks:
• Critical minerals are elements
that are the building blocks
of essential modern-day
technologies, and are at risk of
supply chain disruptions.
• Aerospace, communications and
defence industries also rely on
several such minerals as they are
used in manufacturing fighter
jets, drones, radio sets and other
critical equipment.
over the next several decades,
and, for minerals such as lithium
and graphite used in electric
vehicle (EV) batteries, demand
will increase by even more — as
much as 4,000 per cent

2022: SERIES VII ALS Current Affairs 60

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
Implications of supply shock
• Any supply shock can severely
imperil the economy and strategic
autonomy of a country over-
dependent on others to procure
critical minerals.
Reasons for supply shocks
• But these supply risks exist due
"
to rare availability, growing
demand and complex processing
value chain.
• Many times the complex supply
chain can be disrupted by hostile
regimes, or due to politically
unstable regions.
What is the China
‘threat’?
World’s largest producer
of 16 critical minerals
• According to the 2019 USGS
Mineral Commodity Summaries
report, China is the world’s
largest producer of 16 critical
minerals.
• It is responsible for some 70%
and 60% of global production of
cobalt and rare earth elements,
respectively, in 2019
Presence in processing operations
• The level of concentration is
even higher for processing
operations, where China has a
CAATSA not imposed on India
Source: Indian Express
Context: US Democratic
Representative Ro Khanna said
the US government must not
impose sanctions on India under
the  Countering America’s
Adversaries through Sanctions Act
"
(CAATSA) for its purchase of S-400
missile weapons system from
Russia.
About:
What is the CAATSA, and could it
apply to India?
• CAATSA is a law that came into
61 ALS Current Affairs
strong presence across the board.
• China’s share of refining is
around 35% for nickel, 50-70%
for lithium and cobalt, and nearly
90% for rare earth elements
Supply disruption
• In 2010, China suspended rare
earth exports to Japan for two
months over a territorial dispute.
• The decision, according to the
Brookings Institution, made the
market prices of RREs jump
anywhere between 60% to 350%.
• The prices returned to normal
only after a year of China
resuming shipments.
What are countries around the
world doing about it?
Steps taken by USA
• In 2021, the US ordered a review
of vulnerabilities in its critical
minerals supply chains and found
that an over-reliance on “foreign
sources and adversarial nations
for critical minerals and materials
posed national and economic
security threats”.
• Post the supply chain assessment,
it has shifted its focus on
expanding domestic mining,
production, processing, and
recycling of critical minerals and
IB-150
effect in the US in 2017, meant to
punish countries having deep
engagements with Russia, North
Korea, and Iran using economic
sanctions.
• It said countries having a
“significant transaction” with
Russian intelligence and military
agents will be subject to at least
five kinds of sanctions.
• Ordinary transactions will not
invite sanctions, and the decision
of who has sanctions imposed
on them comes down to the
materials.
Steps taken by India
• India has set up KABIL or the
Khanij Bidesh India Limited,
a joint venture of three public
sector companies, to “ensure a
consistent supply of critical and
strategic minerals to the Indian
domestic market”.
• KABIL would ensure mineral
security of the nation; it would
also help in realizing the overall
objective of import substitution.
Steps taken by Australia
• Australia’s Critical Minerals
Facilitation Office (CMFO) and
KABIL had recently signed an
MoU aimed at ensuring reliable
supply of critical minerals to
India.
Steps taken by UK
• The UK unveiled its new Critical
Minerals Intelligence Centre to
study the future demand for and
supply of these minerals.
Joint Initiatives
• The US, Canada and Australia
had launched an interactive map
of critical mineral deposits with
an aim to help governments to
identify options to diversify their
critical minerals sources.
interpretation of “significant
transaction”.
• This is one of the various waivers
or exemptions mentioned, such
as the transaction not affecting
US strategic interests, not
endangering the alliances it is a
part of, etc.
• Section 231 of the law notifies 39
Russian entities, including all
the major defence companies
like  Rosoboronexport,  Sukhoi
Aviation,  Russian Aircraft
Corporation MiG, transactions
2022: SERIES VII
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
with whom could invite sanctions.
• Almaz-Antey Air and Space
Defence Corporation JSC, who
have made the S-400 system, are
UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, India got elected
to the Intergovernmental Committee
of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for
the Safeguarding of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage.
About
• India has served as a member
of the ICH Committee twice —
from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014
to 2018.
Intergovernmental Committee
• The Intergovernmental Committee
of the 2003 Convention consists
of 24 members and is elected
in the General Assembly of the
Convention
• States Members to the Committee
are elected for a term of four
years.
Digital Nomad Visas
Source: Indian Express
Context: Indonesia has
announced  “Digital Nomad
Visas” for travellers, to attract
more foreign tourists.
About:
• According to the 2020 State of
Independence in America Report
by MBO Partners, “Digital
nomads are defined as people who
choose to embrace a location-
independent, technology-enabled
lifestyle that allows them to travel
and work remotely, anywhere in
2022: SERIES VII
in this list.
• India has purchased the S-400
Triumf missile systems, which
have advanced capabilities to
IB-151
• The core functions of the
Intergovernmental Committee
include promoting the objectives
of the Convention, providing
guidance on best practices, and
making recommendations on
measures for the safeguarding of
intangible cultural heritage.
• The Committee also examines
requests submitted by States
Parties for the inscription of
intangible heritage on the Lists as
well as proposals for programmes
and projects.
• Some of the priority areas that
India will focus upon include
fostering community participation,
strengthening international
cooperation through intangible
heritage, promoting academic
IB-152
the Internet-connected world.  What is the “Digital Nomad Visa”
• They are people who work
remotely while travelling
to different  places and
spending their earned
income  in the country they
are travelling to.
• As the pandemic took
place  most of the
workspaces were shifted
online, while some offices
have begun to open, most
organisations have declared
remote work.
judge the distance from a target
and launch a surface-to-air
missile attack.
"
research on intangible cultural
heritage, and aligning the work
of the Convention with
the UN Sustainable
Development Goals.
• India ratified the 2003
Convention for the
Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage in
September 2005.
• With 14 inscriptions on
the Representative List of
Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Humanity, India also ranks
high in the listing of intangible
cultural heritage.
• After the inscription of Durga
Puja in 2021, India submitted
the nomination for Garba of
Gujarat to be discussed in 2023.
Indonesia has proposed?
• The Digital Nomad Visa would
allow remote workers to stay in
Indonesia, including Bali, tax-
free.
• It aims  to boost tourism in
the country, the visa will be
"
applicable for five years. 
• Through the visa, Indonesia
aims to bring in over 3.6 million
overseas travellers into the
country over the next year to
explore spiritual retreats as well
ALS Current Affairs 62
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS

as the ecotourism of Indonesia. without a visa. remote working visa which can

Nomad visas issued by other • Antigua and Barbuda  offer a be extended further.
countries  digital nomad visa for two years • Other countries offering nomad
• Italy in March, released a new where the travellers will be visas are Croatia, Costa Rica,
permit for non-EU nationals, or required to maintain their own Georgia, Hungary, Iceland,
digital nomads, who can stay health insurance. Mauritius, Norway, and
in the country for up to  90 days • Barbados  offers a year-long Spainamong many others.
"

IB-153
Nord Stream Pipeline 1
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Nord
Stream 1, Germany’s
main source of gas from
Russia, was shut down
on July 11 for 10 days of
scheduled maintenance work.
About
• There are growing concerns in
European countries that Russia
would extend the temporary
suspension of gas supplies in
retaliation against the current
sanctions leveled against
Moscow.
• What is Nord Stream 1?
• Nord Stream 1 is a 1,224 km
underwater gas pipeline that runs
from Vyborg in northwest Russia
to Lubmin in northeastern
Germany via the Baltic
Sea.
• The pipeline is
the primary route through
which its gas enters
Germany.
• It transports 55 billion cubic
metres of gas a year, of which been imposed. energy, European countries have
most goes directly to Germany, • European countries rely on increasingly turned towards the
while the rest travels west and Russian energy for their cold US, from whom they purchase
southwards through onshore winters, but now believe that liquified natural gas (LNG)  that
links to other countries and into Russia could weaponize their comes via ships.
dependency as a response to their • Since ship delivered gas ends
"

storage caverns.
• There have been growing
concerns that there could be
further restrictions to European
gas supplies, well beyond the
scheduled maintenance that has
sanction due to the conflict in up being far more expensive,
Ukraine. there are also attempts to get
What are Europe’s alternative non-Russian pipeline gas
sources of energy? from Norway and Azerbaijan.
• As an alternative source for

63 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting
Source: Indian Express
Context: G20 Foreign Ministers
Meeting was recently concluded in
Bali, Indonesia.
About
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Indonesia held
G-20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting
2022 within the framework of
Indonesia G20 Presidency.
• Host: Indonesia being the chair
of G20 for 2022, hosted the G-20
Foreign Ministers’ meeting 2022.
• Mandate:  At G-20 Foreign
Ministers’ Meeting 2022, the
participating foreign ministers
“deliberated on issues of
contemporary relevance, such as-
• Strengthening multilateralism
and
• Current global challenges
including food and energy
security”
• Significance: India’s role in the
G20 is of even greater importance
as India will inherit the G20
Presidency for 2023.
G20 Summit 2022  • G20 Sherpas: The agenda
• Background: The G20 was
formed in 1999 in the backdrop
of the financial crisis of the late
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, the first Leaders’
Summit of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-
USA) was held virtually on 14 July
2022. PM Modi, along with the
PM of Israel, the President of the
USA and the President of the UAE,
attended the I2U2 Summit.
About
• I2U2 stands for ‘India-Israel-
2022: SERIES VII
IB-154
1990s that hit East Asia and
Southeast Asia in particular.
• The first G20 Summit took place
in 2008 in Washington DC, US.
• About: G20 is a global grouping
that aims to secure global
financial stability by involving
middle-income countries.
• In addition to G20 Summits,
the Sherpa meetings (that help
in negotiations and building
consensus), and other events
are also organised throughout
the year.
• G20 Members: Full members
of G20 are- Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, China, France,
Germany, India, Indonesia,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia,
Saudi Arabia, South Africa,
South Korea, Turkey, the United
Kingdom, the United States and
the European Union.
• Each year, the presidency invites
guest countries.
• G20 Secretariat:  The G20 has
no permanent secretariat.
and work are coordinated by
representatives of the G20
countries, known as ‘Sherpas’,
IB-155
I2U2 Summit
UAE-USA’, is a diplomatic
grouping between the US, Israel,
the UAE, and India.
• The four-nation grouping has
been referred to as I2-U2 by
US Secretary of State Antony
Blinken.
• The grouping was established in
October 2021, when the foreign
ministers of India, Israel, the US,
who work together with the
finance ministers and governors
of the central banks.
"
• India recently said ex-NITI
Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant
would be the G20 Sherpa
after Piyush Goyal.
• Significance:  Together, the G20
countries include 60 per cent of
the world’s population,
80 per cent of global
GDP, and 75 per cent
of global trade.
• G20 Presidency: The
presidency of the
G20 rotates every year among
members. Presently Indonesia
have the G20 Presidency.
• G20 Presidency 2023: India
will inherit the G20
Presidency for the year 2023.
• G20 Troika: Country holding the
G20 presidency, together with the
previous and next presidency-
holder, forms the ‘Troika’ to
ensure continuity of the G20
agenda.
• Italy, Indonesia, and India
are the Troika
countries right
now.
and the UAE convened virtually
for the first time.
• The new grouping is characterized
as a global forum for economic
"
cooperation.
• This cluster is already referred to
as the “Middle-Eastern Quad” or
the “New Quad,” on the model of
Quad
• The grouping’s main objective is
ALS Current Affairs 64
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
to create synergies that transcend
intergovernmental cooperation.
What are the areas of cooperation
in I2U2?
• The grouping’s main objectives
will be to increase commerce,
collaboration in the energy
sector, coordination of key
"
common interests, and climate
change mitigation in Asia and the
Middle East.
• The foreign ministers of India,
Israel, the United Arab Emirates,
and the United States committed to
assure closer cooperation
on boosting commerce,
improving cooperation
in maritime security
and global public
health and working
together on transportation
and technological
infrastructure projects.
• Increased cooperative investment
in six crucial areas—water,
energy, transport, space, health,
and food security—was decided
during the first Leaders’ Summit
of I2U2.
• The association only focuses
on collaboration in maritime
security and without any military
overtones.
What are the highlights
of the first summit of
the I2U2?
The goal of the Summit
• The conference
aimed to encourage cooperation
investments in six mutually
identified areas such as water,
energy, transportation, space,
health, and food security.
• The Grouping intends to mobilize
capital and skill to help modernize
"
the infrastructure, our industries’
low-carbon development routes,
the public’s health, and the
advancement of vital emerging
and green technologies.
The meeting focused on the food
65 ALS Current Affairs
security crisis and clean energy
The leaders discussed innovative
ways to ensure longer-term, more
diversified food production and
food delivery systems that can better
manage global food shocks.
Summit included the topics-
of sustainable energy and the
challenge of food security
The leaders talked about creative
strategies for long-term, more
diversified food production and food
delivery networks that are better able
to handle global food shocks.
Agriculture Innovation Mission
for Climate” (AIM for Climate):
• It is a joint initiative of the USA
and UAE launched on the eve of
CoP26 in November 2021.
• By bringing participants
together to dramatically expand
investment in climate-smart
agricultural and food system
innovation over five years, it aims
to address both global hunger and
climate change (2021 – 2025).
What are the initiatives
announced in the summit?
Food Security
• For the purpose of creating a
number of Integrated Food Parks
around India, the UAE will invest
$2 billion USD.
• India will provide the project
with the necessary acreage and
would make it easier for farmers
to participate in the food parks.
• Private businesses from the USA
and Israel  will be requested
to contribute their knowledge
and provide creative ideas that
improve the project’s overall
sustainability.
• Modern climate-smart
technologies will be used
in these parks to decrease
food waste and spoilage,
conserve fresh water, and use
renewable energy sources.
• By increasing crop yields,
these investments will aid in
reducing food insecurity in
South Asia and the Middle
East.
Clean Energy
• In Gujarat State, India, the I2U2
Group will progress a hybrid
renewable energy project.
• The project includes a battery
energy storage technology in
addition to 300 MW of wind and
solar power.
• The $330 million USD project’s
feasibility study was supported by
the U.S. Trade and Development
Agency.
How is I2U2 in comparison
with the Quadrilateral Security
Dialogue (QSD)?
• The Quad is a strategic discussion
between the United States, India,
Japan, and Australia, sometimes
referred to as the ‘Quad.’
• The discussion began in 2007
in reaction to growing Chinese
assertiveness in the South China
Sea, and was accompanied by
the Malabar Exercise, one of
the largest combined military
exercises in modern history.
• Despite Australia’s withdrawal
from the discussion as its own
economic relations with China
strengthened over the decade, the
group met again in 2017.
What are the advantages of I2U2
for India?
• More flexibility to India in West
Asia:  West Asia is regarded as
India’s extended neighbourhood,
and India has traditionally
supported peace and stability
there.
• India will have more freedom
to interact with Israel and its
Gulf partners because of the
new “Quad.”
• The changes in West Asian
geopolitics are also strongly
reflected in this grouping.
• Diplomacy shifts from bilateral
to regional mechanism: This
platform supports India’s
2022: SERIES VII
 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES & BILATERAL RELATIONS
strategic goal to move beyond
bilateralism and pursue a regional
foreign policy strategy toward
West Asia.
• The Sunni Gulf monarchies,
Israel, and Iran were the three
cornerstones of India’s West
Asia policy in the past.
• The Abraham Accord,
however, is helping to close
the gap between Israel and the
Sunni nations.
• India hence encounters less
difficulties in West Asia in
future.
• Strategic Interest: The UAE is
one of India’s top oil exporters,
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Source: The Hindu
Context: Iran and Belarus are likely
to be the two newest additions to the
China and Russia-backed Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
grouping.
About
• After the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991, the then security
and economic architecture in the
Eurasian region dissolved and
new structures had to come up.
• The original Shanghai Five were
China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia and Tajikistan.
• The SCO was formed in 2001,
with Uzbekistan included. It
expanded in 2017 to include
India and Pakistan.
• Since its formation, the SCO
has focused on regional non-
traditional security, with counter-
terrorism as a priority.
• The fight against the “three
evils” of terrorism, separatism
2022: SERIES VII
whilst Israel is a dependable ally
in the defense sector.
• This involvement is quite
important given that India
is overhauling its defense
system and the globe is
currently experiencing a
severe energy situation.
What factor led to the emergence
of the I2U2 initiative?
• Abraham Accord: Under the
Abraham Accords pushed by the
Trump Administration, the UAE,
Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco
established formal links with
Israel in 2020. This new grouping
was only made feasible with the
IB-156
and extremism has become
its mantra. Today, areas of
cooperation include themes such
as economics and culture.
India’s entry to the SCO
• India and Pakistan both were
observer countries.
• While Central Asian countries
and China were not in favor of
expansion initially, the main
supporter — of India’s entry in
particular — was Russia.
• A widely held view is that
Russia’s growing unease about
an increasingly powerful China
prompted it to push for its
expansion.
• From 2009 onwards, Russia
officially supported India’s
ambition to join the SCO in 2017.
• China then asked for its all-
weather friend Pakistan’s entry.
Why expand now?
• China and Russia are looking to
frame the grouping as a counter
reopening of regular diplomatic
relations between Israel and the
UAE.
• Combating Turkey’s Regional
Dominance: The new Quad is
a result of India, the UAE, and
Israel’s convergent interests in
response to Turkey’s forceful
"
claims to be the leader of the
Islamic world.
• US Pivot to Asia: The summit
will take place at a time when
the US is attempting to reduce
its presence in the Middle East
as part of its pivot to
East Asia in order to
counter China’s ascent.
to the West — particularly after
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• China wishes to draw a sharp
contrast between the SCO and
NATO.
Changing narrative of SCO
• There has been discussion in the
international arena that the trend
of non-alignment is back.
• NATO is based on Cold War
thinking.
• The logic of NATO is
creating new enemies to
sustain its own existence.
• However, SCO is a
cooperative organisation based
on non-alignment and not
targeting a third party.
India and SCO: Present status
• India will host the SCO summit
next year, and Varanasi has been
selected as the SCO region’s first
"
“Tourism and Cultural Capital”.
• India will also be chairing the
summit.
ALS Current Affairs 66
 ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES

Economic and Developmental Issues

SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-III)
• Indian Economic Development
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
"

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth,

development and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on
industrial growth.
• Investment models.

The US Fed’s Biggest Interest Rate Hike
Source: The Hindu
Context: The US Federal Reserve
implemented its steepest interest rate
increase in 28 years in an attempt to
control inflation.
About:
What is the US Fed’s rate hike
about?
• The United States Federal
Reserve increased its interest
rate by 75 basis points to 1.75%
to control the runaway
inflation.
• The need for rate
hike comes with the U.S.
Consumer Price Index
based inflation quickening
to a four-decade high of 8.6% in
May.
• The U.S. central bank was
determined to continue raising
interest rates till it saw compelling
evidence that inflation was
slowing towards its 2% goal.
"
ED-114
• businesses have a disincentive
to borrow funds to expand, buy
equipment or to invest in new
projects
• A subsequent lowering of demand
for goods and services.
• This ends up depressing wages
and other costs, in turn bringing
runaway inflation under control.
• In investing in foreign countries-
Emerging economies such as
India tend to have higher inflation
and, therefore, higher interest
rates than in developed countries.
• So, investors, including Foreign
Portfolio Investors, tend to
borrow in the US at lower
interest rates in dollar terms, and
invest that money in the bonds of
countries such as India in rupee
terms to earn a higher rate of
interest.
What are the concerns for the
U.S. at this stage?
pandemic hit in 2020, has already
hiked rates twice this year.
• Supply side factors- But the
current efforts might have very
little control over supply side
factors, including Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine and COVID-
related lockdowns in China.
• Job cuts- As the Fed tries to
dent inflation, rising rates will
also spark a period of slower
economic growth, which could
result in layoffs.
• Cost of borrowing- When the
Fed raises the target interest rate,
the cost of borrowing increases.
• This means banks will have to
pay more to borrow money, but
they will charge individuals and
businesses more interest.
• As a result, mortgage rates will
rise, and fewer people will be able
to buy homes and businesses will
bring down capital expenditure.
How does this impact global

How do rate cycles work? • Inflation beyond the target- The

• In controlling inflation- When
interest rates go up in an economy,
it becomes more expensive to
borrow. So,
• households are less inclined to
buy goods and services
Fed’s announcement has come
amid criticism that the US central
bank has fallen behind the curve
on inflation.
• The Fed, which cut rates to
support the economy when the
markets and India?
• Less attractive markets- When
the Fed raises its rates, the
difference between the interest
rates of the two countries
narrows, thus making India less

67 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
attractive for the currency carry
trade.
• There will be institutional outflow
of capital from foreign investors
as they abandon riskier assets
like Indian stocks and securities
for US treasury bonds.
• Low global growth- It would also
mean a lower impetus to growth
in the US could be negative for
global growth, especially when
China is reeling under the impact
of a real estate crisis.
• Affect emerging market
equities- Higher returns in the
US debt markets could also
Analyse the global impact of hike made by US Federal Reserve on consumers and
economy.
The Payments Vision 2025
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently, the Reserve
Bank of India unveiled Payments
Vision 2025 with intent to increase
e-payments.
About
• Payment systems help to
promote economic progress,
financial stability, and financial
inclusion.
• One of the RBI’s major strategic
aims and goals has been to
ensure that payment systems are
safe, secure, reliable, accessible,
affordable, and efficient.
• India has created one of the
world’s most advanced payment
systems in the last decade.
• In May 2022, for example,
UPI reported more than 595 Cr
transactions totaling INR 10.4
Lakh Cr.
• RBI’s function has evolved from
that of a regulator, operator, and
facilitator to that of a provider of
an environment for the organized
development of India’s payments
ecosystem.
2022: SERIES VII
agitate emerging market equities,
reducing the foreign investor
enthusiasm.
• High cost for raising fund -
Fed rate hikes will also make
it costlier for the emerging
economies, including the Indian
government to raise funds from
the bond markets.
• Soar in gold prices- A rise in the
short-term interest rates in the
US and bond yields increase the
opportunity cost of holding gold,
which yields no interest.
• As a result, gold prices could be
on the rise as more people look to
ED-115
• Since 2001, the RBI’s Payments
Vision documents have provided
the strategic direction and
execution strategy for this
development.
• The current Vision document
builds on the Payments Vision
2019-21 paper and explains
the thought process for the
period from December 2025 to
December 2026.
What are the highlights of the
Payments Vision 2025 document?
• five major themes:
• Integrity, inclusivity, innovation,
institutionalisation, and
internationalisation are the five
fundamental topics in the vision
document.
Core theme
• It is built on the central theme
of E-Payments for Everyone,
Everywhere, Everytime (4 Es).
• The document aims to give
customers with e-payment
solutions that are safe, secure,
rapid, easy, accessible, and
affordable.
diversify their money and not park
their money in bank deposits.
• Pressure on the rupee- In
the Indian economy, the rate
hike could further weaken the
domestic currency.
• Imported inflation- Inflation
could gather steam in India
through the currency route.
"
• The rupee has been on a downhill
even though the RBI has been
intervening in the forex market to
reduce volatility.
• The rising cost of imports is
likely to widen the current
account deficit (CAD).
E-payments are getting a lot of
attention:
• As it prepares for the next
development of the industry, the
RBI will take steps to streamline
the country’s e-payments
infrastructure.
• In addition to OTPs, they involve
the use of alternate
authentication
mechanisms such as
biometrics and digital
tokens to authenticate
users.
• In addition, the central bank will
promote the use of legal entity
identification (LEIs) to facilitate
cross-border payments and filter
sanctioned companies.
• The LEI is an alphanumeric
identifier that is used to uniquely
identify parties engaged in a
"
financial transaction and to track
payments more efficiently.
• The RBI also said that it will
conduct research into the potential
of establishing a digital payments
protection fund (DPPF).
ALS Current Affairs 68

• The purpose of the DPPF is to
provide security to deceived
customers and payment
instrument issuers.
• In addition, the RBI will establish
a framework for geo-tagging
payment system touch points
across the country.
Technology
"
• A clause in the Vision 2025
plan calls for the creation of a
framework for internet of things
(IoT)-based payment systems.
• Customers would be able to pay
using linked devices other than
their phones and tablets.
• In addition, the
RBI plans to develop a
new system for processing
payments made through
internet and mobile banking
services.
• These services are currently
delivered through payment
gateways and other aggregators.
Reviewing legal-institutional
infrastructure
• The Reserve Bank of India
will also conduct a thorough
examination of the Payment and
Settlement Systems Act.
• A Payments Advisory Council
will be established by the central
bank to assist the board in the
regulation and supervision
of payment and settlement
systems (BPSS).
• Representatives
How can RBI’s Payment Vision 2025 will bring paradigm shift in Digital Payments’ Ecosystem
? Elaborate
12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization
"
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, 12th WTO
Ministerial Conference 2022
concluded in Geneva where a
number of deals relating to many
issues including waiver of COVID
19 vaccines, food security, was
69 ALS Current Affairs
ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
from start-ups, consumer groups,
digital payment providers, and
other organisations will make up
the PAC.
Introduction of a central bank
digital currency (CBDC)
• The RBI has also stated that it is
working to establish a CBDC in
the country.
• It went on to suggest that various
use cases for CBDCs would be
examined in order to improve
efficiencies in local and cross-
border payment processing and
settlement.
Other proposals
• Other ideas include improving
the Cheque Truncation System
(CTS), including clearing and
settlement from a One Nation
One Grid perspective.
• It also advocated that BigTechs
and FinTechs in the payments
area be regulated.
• The BNPL technique should
be investigated, and proper
guidelines for BNPL payments
should be devised, according to
the vision statement.
• In addition to traditional payment
methods such as cards, UPI,
and net banking, BNPL services
have grown into a new payment
mechanism.
• This channel, which is provided
by a few payment aggregators,
routes payments between BNPL
consumers and merchants
ED-116
signed.
About:
Key takeaways
Curbing fishery subsidies
• In the recently concluded
meeting, WTO passed a global fish stocks.
multilateral agreement that
through an existing nodal account
(escrow account following
permission).
What are the objectives Payments
Vision 2025?
• The RBI intends to improve the
scalability of payment systems as
part of the effort.
• By 2025, the central bank wants
to triple the number of digital
payment transactions and reduce
the number of cheque-based
payments to less than 0.25
percent of all retail payments.
• The study also forecasts a 50
percent yearly growth in UPI
payments and a 20 percent annual
growth in IMPS and National
Electronic Funds Transfer
(NEFT) (NEFT).
• The RBI will try to reduce the
amount of cash in circulation as
a percentage of GDP as part of its
drive towards digital payments.
• It also plans to double the number
of registered users for mobile-
based transactions by 2025, with
a compounded annual growth
rate (CAGR) of 50%.
• By 2025, it plans to grow debit
card transactions at point of
sale (PoS) by 20% and expand
card acceptance infrastructure to
250 lakh touchpoints across the
country.
• This is to ensure that debit card
usage exceeds credit card usage
in terms of dollar value.
is aimed at curbing ‘harmful’
subsidies on illegal, unreported
and unregulated fishing for the
next four years.
• Objective: Better protection of
• Significance: Since 2001,
2022: SERIES VII
 ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
member states have been
negotiating the banning
of subsidies that promote
overfishing.
• First time there is an agreement
in WTO that is aimed at
environmental sustainability.
• It caters to the needs of the
livelihoods of the 260 million
people who depend directly or
indirectly on marine fisheries.
• India: India successfully lobbied
with other like-minded nations to
remove a section of the proposal
that would threaten some
subsidies which would assist
small-scale artisanal fishing.
• Artisanal and traditional farmers
would not face any restrictions
under this agreement.
Global food security
• Member nations have agreed to
a legally binding agreement to
exempt food purchased by the
UN’s World Food Programme
(WFP) for humanitarian
purposes, from any export
restrictions.
• Why needed? Due to global food
shortages and rising prices caused
Five states need to take steps to stabilise debt levels: RBI
Source: Livemint
Context: According to a Reserve
Bank of India(RBI) study, five states
namely, Bihar, Kerala, Punjab,
Rajasthan, and West Bengal figure
among the most stressed states
fiscally.
About:
• Based on the debt-GSDP ratio
in 2020-21, Ten states namely
Punjab, Rajasthan, Kerala, West
Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh,
Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are
the states with the highest debt
burden.
• These 10 states account for around
half of the total expenditure by all
2022: SERIES VII
by the war between Ukraine and
Russia.
• However, countries would be
allowed to restrict food supplies
to ensure domestic food security
needs.
• India: India’s demand to allow
it to export food from its public
stockholdings to other countries
will be discussed in the next
Ministerial Conference in 2023.
E-commerce
• All member nations agreed to
continue the moratorium on
custom duties on e-commerce
transmissions until the subsequent
Ministerial Conference.
• Significance: WTO members
had first agreed to not impose
custom duties on electronic
transmissions in 1998. However,
internet was relatively new at this
point of time.
• Since then, the moratorium has
been periodically extended.
• Issue: From 2017-2020,
developing countries lost a
potential tariff revenue of around
$50 billion on imports from only
49 digital products.
ED-117
state governments in India.
• For instance, ​​Punjab’s debt-
GSDP ratio is projected to exceed
45% in 2026-27. Rajasthan,
Kerala and West Bengal are
projected to exceed the debt-
GSDP ratio of 35% by 2026-27.
• Hence, these states will need to
undertake significant corrective
steps to stabilize their debt levels.
What is the reason for the fiscal
deterioration in these states?
• Exceeded Debt and Fiscal
Targets: Among the ten states,
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan
and Punjab exceeded both debt
and fiscal deficit targets for
2020-21 set by the 15th Finance
• India: India has asked WTO
to review the extension of the
moratorium on custom duties
on e-commerce transactions
as developing countries faced
the brunt of the financial
consequences of such a
moratorium.
COVID-19 Vaccine production
"
• WTO members agreed to
temporarily waive intellectual
property patents on Covid-19
vaccines without the consent
of the patent holder for 5
years.
• Objective: To ease
the manufacture the
vaccines domestically.
• Significance: It will
contribute to ongoing
efforts to concentrate and
diversify vaccine manufacturing
capacity so that a crisis in one
region does not leave others cut
off.
• Issue: The agreement has
been opposed by the rich
pharmaceutical companies as
they argue that IP’s do not restrict
access to Covid vaccines.
Commission (FC-XV).
• Declining Tax
Revenue: The own
tax revenue of some of
these states, viz Madhya Pradesh,
Punjab and Kerala has been
declining over time making them
fiscally more vulnerable.
• High Revenue Expenditure:
The share of revenue expenditure
in total expenditure of these states
varies in the range of 80-90%.
"
This results in poor expenditure
quality, as reflected in their high
revenue spending to capital
outlay ratios.
• Significant Committed
Expenditure: ​​Committed
ALS Current Affairs 70

expenditure which inter alia
includes interest payments,
pensions and administrative
expenses accounts for a • Moreover, states also need to
significant portion (over 35%) of
the total revenue expenditure in
some of these states.
• High Discoms Losses: The
combined losses of DISCOMs in
"
the five most indebted states, viz
Bihar, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan
and West Bengal, constituted
24.7% of the total DISCOMs
losses in 2019-20 while their
combined long-term debt
was 22.9% of the total
Source: Indian Express
Context: Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority of India
(IRDAI) has released final guidelines
to ensure orderly development of
surety insurance business in India.
The IRDAI (Surety Insurance
Contracts) Guidelines, 2022 will
come into effect from April 1, 2022
About:
• A surety bond is provided by the
insurance company on behalf of
the contractor to the entity, which
is awarding the project.
When a principal debtor
breaks a bond’s terms, the
harmed party can make
a claim on the bond to
recover losses.
• It can effectively replace the
system of bank guarantee, issued
by banks for projects, and help
reduce risks due to cost overrun,
project delays and poor contract
performance
• Why India Needs Surety
"
Insurance Bond?
• India has unveiled a plan to spend
Rs 5 lakh crore on building roads
infra in the next three years.
• Yet, the sector is prone to delays
and cost overruns. Bad loan fears
dissuade banks from providing
71 ALS Current Affairs
ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
DISCOM debt in 2019-20.
What are the recommendations
given by RBI to states to improve
their fiscal position?
• In the near term, state
governments must restrict their
revenue expenses by cutting
down expenditure on non-merit
goods.
• Alongside, state governments
• In the medium term, states need
to put efforts toward stabilizing
debt levels.
• In the long term, states need
to increase the share of capital
outlays in the total expenditure.
ED-118
Surety Bonds
guarantees to private contractors
that bid for projects.
• Surety bonds are prevalent in the
developed markets. In the U.S.,
the law mandates surety for every
public project.
• Canada, European nations,
Australia and New Zealand also
offer such guarantees.
How Surety Insurance Bond
Works?
• Surety insurance, also called
an insurance bond or a surety
guarantee, does not require
a collateral, unlike bank
guarantees.
• It’s a tripartite agreement
between the contractor (principal
debtor), the awarding authority
like government departments
(obligee) and an insurance
company (surety) issuing the
instrument.
• There are of multiple types of
such contracts like :
• Contract bond: Offers
assurance to the public entity,
developers, subcontractors,
suppliers that the contractor
will fulfil its contractual
obligation. These include bid
bonds, performance bonds,
advance payment bonds and
This will help create long-term
assets, generate revenue and
boost operational efficiency.
undertake large-scale reforms
in the power distribution sector
to reduce losses and make them
financially sustainable and
operationally efficient.
need to conduct fiscal risk
analyses and stress test their debt
profiles regularly to be able to put
in place provisioning and other
specific risk mitigation strategies
to manage fiscal risks efficiently.
retention money.
• Advance payment bond: It’s
a promise by the insurance
company to pay any
outstanding balance of the
advance payment in case the
contractor fails to complete
the contract as specified or
doesn’t adhere to the terms.
• Bid bond: Provides financial
protection to the awarding
authority if a successful
bidder fails to sign the
contract within a specified
period of time.
• Customs and court bond:
A public office such as tax
office, customs administration
or the court is guaranteed
payment by the surety if the
contractor fails to pay. Such
an obligation could arise from
a court case or while clearing
goods from customs or losses
due to incorrect customs
procedures.
• Performance bond: Allows an
obligee to call on the surety
to meet obligations if the
contractor defaults.
• Retention money: Money
withheld by the beneficiary
that is released to the
2022: SERIES VII
 ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
contractor as working capital.
How it will provide booster shot
to infra project?
• The move to frame rules for
surety contracts will help address
the large liquidity and funding
requirements of the infrastructure
sector.
• Surety bonds will create a level-
Source: The Hindu
Context: A study by the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) has spoken about
the possibility of capital outflows to
the tune of $100 billion (around Rs
7,80,000 crore) from India in case
of a major global risk scenario or a
“black swan” event.
About
• A black swan is a rare,
unpredictable event that comes
as a surprise and has a significant
impact on society or the world.
• These events are said to
have three distinguishing
characteristics – they are
extremely rare and outside the
realm of regular expectations;
they have a severe impact after
they hit; and they seem probable
in hindsight when plausible
India’s emerging twin deficit problem
Source: Indian Express
Context: The Monthly Economic
Review highlights two key areas of
concern for the Indian economy: the
fiscal deficit and the current account
deficit (or CAD)
About:
• Stagflation- The world is
looking at a distinct possibility
of widespread stagflation but
India is at low risk of stagflation,
owing to its prudent stabilization
policies.
2022: SERIES VII
playing field for large, mid and
small contractors.
• Surety insurance business
will assist in developing an
alternative to bank guarantees for
construction projects.
• This shall enable the efficient use
of working capital and reduce
the requirement of collateral
ED-119
Black swan event
explanations appear.
When did the term originate?
• The black swan theory was
put forward by author and
investor Nassim Nicholas Taleb
in 2001, and later popularised
in his 2007 book – The Black
Swan: The Impact of the Highly
Improbable.
• The term itself is linked to the
discovery of black swans.
• Europeans believed all swans
to be white until 1697, when a
Dutch explorer spotted the first
black swan in Australia.
• The metaphor ‘black swan
event’ is derived from this
unprecedented spotting from the
17th century, and how it upended
the West’s understanding of
swans.
ED-120
• Economic growth- The
economic growth outlook is
likely to be affected by Russia-
Ukraine conflict owing to
• the trade disruptions
• export bans
• surge in global commodity
prices
• inflation
• However, in India, the economic
activities sustained in the first two
months of the current financial
year.
to be provided by construction
companies.
• Insurers shall work together with
financial institutions to share risk
information.
• Hence, this shall assist in releasing
liquidity in infrastructure space
without compromising on risk
aspects.
"
When have such events
occurred in the past?
• Taleb’s book predated
the 2008 global
financial crisis – a
black swan event triggered by
a sudden crash in the booming
housing market in the US.
• The fall of the Soviet Union,
the terrorist attack in the US on
September 11, 2001, also fall in
the same category
Is the Covid-19 pandemic a black
swan event?
• The author called it a “white
swan”, arguing that it was
predictable, and there was
no excuse for companies and
governments not to be prepared
for something like
this.
• It is a good sign for India that
continues to be the quickest
growing economy among major
countries in 2022-23.
What is the concern with the
fiscal deficit?
"
• Fiscal Deficit- The fiscal deficit
is essentially the amount of
money that the government has
to borrow in any year to fill the
gap between its expenditures and
revenues.
• The fiscal deficit calculations
ALS Current Affairs 72

are based on two components —
income and expenditure.
• As per the CGA report, fiscal
deficit for 2021-22 was pegged at
6.71 % of the GDP.
• Impact- Higher levels of fiscal
deficit imply the government eats
into the pool of investible funds
in the market which could have
"
ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
government spends just to meet
its daily needs)
• Rationalize non-capex
expenditure
What is the issue with current
account deficit (CAD)?
• Current account deficit- The
current account essentially refers
to two specific sub-parts.
deficit, then it is called a current
account deficit or CAD.
• Impact- A widening CAD tends
to weaken the domestic currency
because a CAD implies more
dollars or foreign currencies are
being demanded than rupees.
• The report stated that costlier
imports such as crude oil and

been used by the private sector
for its own investment needs.
• The report states that as
government revenues take a hit
following cuts in excise duties
on diesel and petrol, a risk to the
budgeted level of gross
fiscal deficit has emerged.
Recommendations
• Trim revenue
expenditure (or the money
• Import and Export of goods
(Trade account)
• Import and export of services
(Invisibles account)
• If a country imports more goods
than it exports, it is said to have
a trade account deficit whereas
it earns a surplus on exporting
more services than importing.
• If the net effect of a trade account
and the invisibles account is a
other commodities will not only
widen the CAD but also put
downward pressure on the rupee.
• A weaker rupee will, in turn,
make future imports costlier.
• FPI continuously pulling out
money from the Indian markets
due to higher interest rates in the
western economies will also hurt
the rupee and further increase
CAD.

Tokenisation of Debit and Credit Cards
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) has extended the card-
on-file (CoF) tokenisation deadline
by three months to September
30, 2022, in view of various
representations received from
industry bodies.
About
What is Tokenisation?
• To k e n i s a t i o n
refers to the replacement
of credit and debit card
details with an alternative
code called a ‘token’.
• This token is unique for a
combination of card, token
requestor (the entity that
accepts a request from the
customer for tokenisation of a
card and passes it on to the card
network to issue a token) and
"
ED-121
• Easy payments: The token is Which companies dominate card
used to perform contactless card transactions in India?
transactions at point-of-sale
(PoS) terminals and QR code
payments.
• Data storage: Only card
networks and card-issuing banks
will have access to and can store
any card data.
How are the transactions
currently processed?
• There are many players involved
in processing one card transaction
today:
• Merchant
• Payment aggregator
• Issuing bank
• Card network
• When a transaction happens on
a merchant platform, the data is
sent to the payment aggregator
(PA).

the device. • The PA next sends the details to

Benefits of Tokenization either the issuing bank or the card Impact on businesses
• Transaction safety: network. • If the industry isn’t ready, several
Tokenization reduces the chances • Then issuing bank sends an business models would be
of fraud arising from sharing card OTP and the transaction flows impacted.
details. back. • E-mandates (recurring payments)

73 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
will stand ineffective from 1 July.
• Card EMIs account for 25% of
online e-commerce sales. That
option will no longer be available.
• Cashbacks/discount offers by
banks will be impacted, too.
• A user may not be able to use
Mastercard saved cards on a
Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) released the Financial
Stability Report (FSR)
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, the Reserve
Bank of India’s (RBI) released the
Financial Stability Report (FSR)
which said that the Bank NPA ratios
are at 6-year low.
About
• On NPA: The asset quality of
the banking system has improved
with the gross non-performing
assets (GNPA) ratio declining
from 7.4 per cent in March 2021
to a six-year low of 5.9 per cent
in March 2022.
• Reason: Banks have reduced the
GNPA ratio through recoveries,
write-offs and reduction in
slippages.
• Provisioning coverage ratio
(PCR): It improved to70. 9 per
cent in March 2022 from 67.6 per
cent a year ago.
• PCR is the percentage of funds
that a bank sets aside for losses
due to bad debts. A high PCR can
be beneficial to banks to buffer
themselves against losses if the
Niti Aayog’s Report on India’s Gig Economy
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Niti Aayog has released
the report titled “India’s Booming
Gig and Platform Economy”.
About:
What is a gig economy?
• In a gig economy, temporary,
2022: SERIES VII
merchant platform to make a
transaction and will have to enter
the card details every time a
transaction is made.
• This could be the same for some
Visa cards.
Way forward
• The new system is a much bigger
ED-122
NPAs start increasing faster.
• Buffer to withstand shocks:
According to the RBI’s report,
banks, as well as non-banking
financial institutions, have
sufficient capital buffers to
withstand shocks, and support
from it during Covid helped
banks arrest their GNPA ratio.
Concerns Raised:
• Global spillover:g. US rate
increase and the threat of
recession; Ukrain crisis; Oil price
rise.
• Risks of Fintech: The report
cautioned that the advent of
fintech has exposed the banking
system to new risks such as
safeguarding of data privacy,
cyber security, consumer
protection, competition and
compliance with AML (anti-
money laundering) policies.
• The Indian fintech industry —
is amongst the fastest growing
Fintech markets in the world.
• India has the highest fintech
ED-123
flexible jobs are commonplace
and companies tend to hire
independent contractors and
freelancers instead of full-time
employees.
• The gig economy can benefit
workers, businesses, and
disruption to the way digital
payments will henceforth be
processed.
• Integration of systems and the
ability to process is one part.
• The industry also needs to test the
performance and success rate of
the tokenization solution.
"
adoption rate globally
(87 per cent), receiving
funding of $8.53
billion during 2021-
22.
• Risk from BigTechs (big
technology firms): They can
scale up rapidly and pose risk to
financial stability, which can arise
from increased disintermediation
of incumbent institutions.
• Moreover, complex intertwined
operational linkages between
BigTech firms and financial
institutions could lead to
concentration and contagion risks
and issues relating to potential
anti-competitive behaviour.
• Cryptos a ‘clear danger’: RBI
Governor termed
cryptocurrencies as
a “clear danger” and
anything that derives
value based on make-
believe, without any
underlying, is just “speculation
under a sophisticated name”.
"
consumers by making work
more adaptable to the needs of
the moment and the demand for
flexible lifestyles.
• Gig workers engage in livelihoods
outside the traditional employer-
employee arrangement.
ALS Current Affairs 74

Classification of gig workers
• Platform workers are those whose
work is based on online software
apps or digital platforms such
as food aggregator platforms
Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, and others.
• Non-platform workers are
generally casual wage and own-
account workers in conventional
"
sectors, engaged part-time or
full-time.
• Platform workers are termed as
“independent contractors”.
What has the Niti Aayog study
revealed?
• Gig workforce-
According to the report
of NITI Aayog, the Indian
gig workforce is expected
to expand to 23.5 million
workers by 2029-30, a near 200%
jump from 7.7 million now.
• Skills- The report stated that gig
work is expanding in all sectors,
but 47% of the jobs are medium-
skilled, about 22% are high-
skilled, and about 31% are low-
skilled.
Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB)
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently,
the government has
transformed the Banks
Board Bureau (BBB)
into Financial Services
Institutions Bureau (FSIB) by
making some amendments.
About
• Banks Board Bureau (BBB) was
the head-hunter for directors of
state-owned banks as well as
financial institutions.
• Amendments were needed,
"
because in 2021 Delhi High
Court in its order maintained that,
BBB is not a competent body for
selecting Directors and General
Managers of state-owned general
insurers. Due to this, newly-
75 ALS Current Affairs
ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
• Female labour force
participation- The Niti Aayog
noted that female labour
force participation in India
has remained low, oscillating
between 16% to 23% in the last
few years.
• Persons with disabilities- PwD
who make up for 2.11 to 10% of
India’s population, have a labour
force participation rate of 36%.
Issues with the gig sector
• lack of job security
• irregularity of wages
• uncertain employment status
• no access to many of the
workplace protections and
entitlements
What are the recommendations of
Niti Aayog?
• Platformisation- The think tank
has recommended introducing
a ‘Platform India initiative’, on
the lines of the ‘Startup India
initiative’, built on the pillars of
accelerating platformisation.
• It has suggested that self-
employed individuals engaged in
ED-124
appointed directors of insurers
had to leave their positions.
• Appointments Committee of
the Cabinet (ACC) had asked
Department of Financial
Services for bringing necessary
modifications in Nationalized
Banks (Management and
Miscellaneous Provisions)
Scheme, after getting approval
of finance minister and then
notify government resolution
to establish “FSIB” as a single
entity.
About Financial Services
Institutions Bureau
• The Financial Services
Institutions Bureau will
make recommendations for
appointments of full-time
the business of selling regional
and rural cuisine may be linked
to platforms so that they can sell
their produce to wider markets.
• Credit facility- Access to
institutional credit may be enhanced
through financial products
specifically designed for platform
workers and those interested to set-
up their own platforms.
• Venture capital funding, grants
and loans from banks and other
funding agencies should be
provided to platform businesses
of all sizes at the pre-revenue and
early-revenue stages.
• Fiscal incentives- Tax-breaks or
startup grants may be provided
for businesses that provide
livelihood opportunities where
women constitute a substantial
portion (30%) of their workers.
• Social security- The Aayog’s
report also said that social
security benefits be extended to
workers in a partnership mode, as
envisaged in the Code on Social
Security, 2020.
directors as well as non-executive
chairman of banks and financial
institutions.
• Guidelines to select general
managers and directors of public
sector general insurance companies
is also a part of FSIB now.
Chairman and members of FSIB
• The ACC has approved the
appointment of Bhanu Pratap
Sharma as initial chairperson of
FSIB. He has been appointed
for two years. He was the former
Chairman of BBB.
Other members of the FSIB
include
• Animesh Chauhan– He was the
former Chairman and Managing
Director of erstwhile Oriental
Bank of Commerce
2022: SERIES VII
 ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
• Deepak Singhal– He was RBI’s had approved the constitution of state-owned chairperson and
ex-executive director of BBB as a body of eminent public sector banks (PSBs). It was
• Shailendra Bhandari– He was officials and professionals in provided with task of engaging
former MD of erstwhile ING 2016. BBB was constituted with board of directors of all
Vysya Bank. to make recommendations for PSBs for formulating appropriate
Bank Board Bureau appointment of full-time directors strategies related to their growth
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and non-executive chairperson and development.

ED-125

"
Sarfaesi Act, invoked against telecom provider GTL
Source: Indian Express • The State Bank of India; or comes into play if a borrower
Context: Banks have invoked • A subsidiary bank; or 4 [(iva) defaults on his or her payments
the  Securitisation and a multi-State co-operative for more than six months.
Reconstruction of Financial Assets bank; or] • The lender then can
and Enforcement of Security • Such other bank which the send a notice to the
Interest (SARFAESI) Act  against Central Government may, by borrower to clear the
telecom infrastructure provider GTL notification, specify for the dues within 60 days.
to recover their pending dues. purposes of this Act. • In case that doesn’t
About • According to a 2020 Supreme happen, the financial
• The Sarfaesi Act of 2002 is the Court judgment, co-operative institution has the right to
abbreviation for the Securitisation banks can also invoke Sarfaesi take possession of the secured
and Reconstruction of Financial Act. assets and sell, transfer or
Assets and Enforcement of • According to the Finance manage them.
Security Interest Act, 2002. Ministry, the non-banking • The defaulter, meanwhile, has
• This Act was brought in to guard financial companies (NBFCs) a recourse to move an appellate
financial institutions against loan can initiate recovery in Rs 20 authority set up under the law
defaulters. lakh loan default cases. within 30 days of receiving a
• To recover their bad debts, the • Powers of the banks -  The Act notice from the lender.
banks under this law can take
control of securities pledged
against the loan, manage or sell
them to recover dues without
court intervention.
• Objectives of the Act - Efficient
or rapid recovery of non-
performing assets (NPAs) of the
banks and  financial institutions
(FIs).
• Allows banks and financial
institutions to auction properties
(say, commercial/residential)
when the borrower fails to repay
their loans.
• Applicability  - The law is
applicable throughout the country
"

and covers all assets, movable or

immovable, promised as security
to the lender.
• Under this Act, “bank” means
• A banking company; or
• A corresponding new bank; or

2022: SERIES VII ALS Current Affairs 76


Source: Indian Express
Context: The Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) on Monday
"
published detailed rules to assist
in the implementation of new
international tax system, which will
ensure  multinational enterprises
(MNEs) will be subject to a minimum
15 per cent tax rate from 2023.
About:
• The  global
minimum corporate tax
rate, abbreviated GMCT or
GMCTR, is an agreement
between national leaders
which proposes to reduce tax
competition between countries
and the avoidance of corporate
taxes by setting a world-wide
minimum corporate tax rate.  regardless of where their sales
• The global minimum tax attempts
to limit tax competition by
introducing a globally uniform
floor, below which the effect
of low tax rates or fiscal policy
measures would be largely
obviated.  companies to avoid paying
• The OECD published detailed
rules to assist in the
implementation of a • The global minimum tax rate and
landmark reform to
the international tax
system, which will
ensure Multinational
Enterprises  (MNEs) will be
subject to a minimum 15% tax
rate from 2023.
• The Pillar Two model rules
provide governments a precise
template for taking forward the
two-pillar solution to address
the tax challenges arising from
"
digitalisation and globalisation of
the economy agreed in October
2021 by 137 countries and
jurisdictions under the OECD/
G20 Inclusive Framework on
77 ALS Current Affairs
ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
ED-126
Global Minimum Tax
BEPS.
• The rules define the scope and
set out the mechanism for the
so-called Global Anti-Base
Erosion  (GloBE) rules under
Pillar Two, which will introduce
a global minimum corporate tax
rate set at 15%. The minimum tax
will apply to MNEs with revenue
above EUR 750 million and is
estimated to generate around
USD 150 billion in additional
global tax revenues annually.
Why a Global Minimum Tax Rate?
• With budgets strained after
the COVID-19 crisis, many
governments want more than
ever to discourage multinationals
from shifting profits - and tax
revenues - to low-tax countries
are made.
• Increasingly, income from
intangible sources such as drug
patents, software and royalties on
intellectual property has migrated
to these jurisdictions, allowing
higher taxes in their traditional
home countries.
other provisions aim to put an
end to decades of tax competition
between governments to attract
foreign investment.
• GMCTR will end a decades-
long race to the bottom in which
countries have competed to attract
corporate giants with ultra-low
tax rates and exemptions. And it
will bring uniformity in corporate
taxation worldwide.
What the global minimum tax
deal means for India?
• The global floor rate of 15%
should help in creating a
level playing field and boost
the chances of foreign direct
investment coming into India.
• India may have to withdraw
digital services tax or the
equalisation levy and give a
commitment not to introduce
such measures in the future if the
global minimum tax deal comes
through.
• However, under the new deal, the
equalization levy imposed by the
government would not hold once
the global minimum tax becomes
operational. India has around
INR 4,000 crore as revenue from
equalisation levy.The removal of
equalisation levy is expected to
cost India in terms of revenue.
• Due to India’s tax rates too, it will
be in an advantageous position
because Indian tax rates have
come at a position where India
can afford to give concessions
to big companies and yet not
fall down at the international tax
rates.
What is Pillar 1 and 2 of New
Global Tax Regime?
• 136 member countries of
the  Organization of Economic
Co-operation and Development
(OECD) have agreed to shape up
generally accepted international
tax rules and principles of global
tax arena by a historic drastic
global tax reform of the century.
• It has two Pillars 1 and 2 
• Pillar 1 deals with fairness in the
sharing of revenues between and
among countries owing to the
rapidly increasing digitalization
of the world’s businesses where
territorial borders, brick-and-
mortar presence, on which the
current global tax rules are based,
are becoming inapplicable. 
• Pillar 2 deals with eradication
of tax havens and the “race to
the bottom” practice of tax cuts/
2022: SERIES VII
 ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES
lowered tax rates and offering
attractive incentives in attracting
businesses and investments,
resulting in revenue imbalances
and significant losses to
governments. To accomplish this,
a 15% global minimum corporate
tax (effective tax rate) has been
agreed upon.

"
• Both Pillar 1 and 2 will bring
major changes to international
tax rules and the New Regime
is likely to be put in place by
2023.

"

2022: SERIES VII ALS Current Affairs 78

 AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING AND SUPPLY CHAIN

Agriculture, Food Processing and Supply Chain

SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-III)
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public
Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer
stocks and food security;
"

• Land reforms in India.

Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Cabinet
Committee on Economic
Affairs approved computerisation of
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
(PACS) with the aim of increasing
efficiency of PACS, bringing
transparency and accountability in
their operations.
About
• This project proposes
computerization of about 63,000
functional PACS over a period
of five years with a total budget
outlay of Rs 2,516 crore with the
central government’s share of Rs
1,528 crore.
AF-29
Primary Agricultural Cooperative
credit societies (PACS)
• The PACS constitute the lowest
tier of the three-tier short-term
cooperative credit (STCC) in
India comprising of nearly 13
crore farmers as its members.
• Through computerization, PACS
will become nodal service
delivery point for interest
subvention scheme (ISS), PM
Fasal Beema Yojana, Direct
Benefit Transfer and provision of
inputs like fertilisers, seeds etc.
• It will ensure speedy disposal of
loans, lower transition cost, faster
audit and reduction in imbalances
in payments and accounting with
State Cooperative Banks (SCBs)
and District Central Cooperative
Banks (DCBs).
• PACS account for 41% of the
Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans
given by all entities in the country
and 95% of these KCC loans
through PACS are to the small
and marginal farmers.
• The other two tiers viz. SCBs
and DCCBs have already been
automated by the NABARD and
brought on Common Banking
Software (CBS).

State Ranking Index for NFSA
Source: The Indian Express
Context: The Minister of Consumer
Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
released the 1st edition of ‘State
Ranking Index for NFSA’ during
the conference of Food Ministers of
States/UTs on ‘Food Nutrition and
Security in India’.
"
AF-30
the country, post consultation
with states.
• It highlights the reforms
undertaken by States and UTs
and create a cross-learning
environment and scale-up reform
measures by all states and Union
Territories.
• Delivery platform, and
• Nutrition initiatives.
• Odisha topped the index. It is
followed by Uttar Pradesh at the
2nd spot and Andhra Pradesh
at 3rd amongst the General
Category States.
• Among the Special Category

About
• The State Ranking Index for
NFSA attempts to document
the status and progress of
implementation of NFSA and
various reform initiatives across
• The Index is built on three key
pillars which covers the end-to-
end implementation of NFSA
through TPDS. These pillars are:
• NFSA— Coverage, targeting
and provisions of the Act,
states/UTs, Tripura stood first
followed by Himachal Pradesh
and Sikkim.
• Among the 3 UTs where Direct
Benefit Transfer (DBT) – Cash
is operational, Dadra and Nagar

79 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING AND SUPPLY CHAIN
Haveli & Daman and Diu is the
top ranked UT.
Sowing of Rice
• In the conference, the Centre has
asked the States to increase the
sowing of paddy in the wake of
reports that there is a decrease in
its sowing.
State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, the 2022 edition
of the State of Food Security and
Nutrition in the World (SOFI) was
released.
About
What is the State of Food Security
and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)
Report?
• Published by: The Food and
Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, International
Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD), the
United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF), UN World
Food Programme(WFP)
and the World Health
Organization(WHO).
What are the key findings of the
report?
Global findings
• Hunger: As many as 828 million
people were affected by hunger
in 2021 – 46 million people
more from a year earlier and 150
million more from 2019.
• In terms of percentage, the
proportion of people affected
by hunger jumped in 2020 and
continued to rise in 2021, to 9.8%
of the world population. This
compares with 8% in 2019 and
9.3% in 2020.
2022: SERIES VII
• The Union Minister of Food
and Public Distribution said the
international demand for both rice
and wheat has increased and asked
the States to increase the sowing
of paddy in this kharif season.
• The Centre’s data says that paddy
has been sown on 43.45 lakh
AF-31
• Gender Gap in Food Security:
The gender gap in food insecurity
continued to rise in 2021 – 31.9%
of women in the world were
moderately or severely food
insecure, compared to 27.6%
of men – a gap of more than 4
percentage points, compared
with 3 percentage points in 2020.
• Healthy Diet: Almost 3.1 billion
people could not afford a healthy
diet in 2020, up from 112 million
in 2019 showing the effects
of inflation on consumer food
prices. The inflation stemmed
from the economic impacts of
the COVID-19 pandemic and the
measures put in place to contain
it.
• Malnutrition: An estimated 45
million children under the age of
five were suffering from wasting,
the deadliest form of malnutrition
which increases children’s risk of
death by up to 12 times.
• Furthermore, 149 million
children under the age of five had
stunted growth and development
due to a chronic lack of essential
nutrients in their diets while 39
million were overweight.
Findings related to India
• Undernourishment: The
number of undernourished people
hectares till July 1, which is 05%
less than last year’s sowing of
59.56 lakh hectares during the
same period of 2021.
• The Minister also stated the
States should increase the sowing
as wheat’s demand has increased
globally.
"
in India declined to
224.3 million in 2019-
21 from 247.8 million
in 2004-06.
• In percentage terms, the
prevalence of undernourishment
in the total population in India
stood at 21.6% in 2004-06 and
declined to 16.3% in 2019-21.
• Healthy Diet: In India, people
who were unable to afford a
healthy diet touched 973.3
million in 2020 or nearly 70.5%,
up from 948.6 million in 2019
(69.4%).
• Stunting: The prevalence of
stunting in children under 5 years
of age declined to 30.9% in 2020
from 41.7% in 2012.
• Overweight: The
prevalence of
overweight children
under five years of age
was 1.9% in 2020 from
2.4% in 2012.
• Obesity: The prevalence
of obesity in India’s adult
population increased to 3.9% in
2016 from 3.1% in 2012.
• Anaemic Women: The number
of anaemic women aged 15 to
49 years declined marginally
"
from 53.2% in 2012 to 53% in
2019.
ALS Current Affairs 80
 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Science & Technology

SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-III)
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and
developing new technology.
"

• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology

and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Ultra-thin Heteroprotein Film
Source: The Hindu
Context: Scientists from
the Institute of Advanced Study in
Science and Technology (IASST)
have developed ultra-thin monolayer
heteroprotein films.
About
• Formation: These ultra-thin
heteroprotein films were usually
developed from bulk solutions.
• In the above-mentioned study,
the ultra-thin monolayer protein
films were developed consisting
of two globular proteins:
1. Bovine serum albumin
(BSA) and
2. Lysozyme (Lys).
• This is the first
time Langmuir-Blodgett
(LB) technique was
used to produce these
ST-91
films, which gives the films the
thickness in nanometer.
• As a result of electrostatic
attraction and hydrophobic
interactions between the two
proteins, a complex was formed
at pH of 9.2.
• This monolayer complex was
formed at the air-water interface,
which was later transferred to the
silicon substrates.
• Advantages: These soft
heteroprotein films of the BSA
and Lys are more flexible than
other protein or plastic films.
• These films can be used
to fabricate highly stable
biodegradable thin films of
different protein complexes for
expanding its applications in the
area of thin-film technology.
• The monolayers at the air-water
interface can hold its intrinsic
structure for a sufficiently
longer time period due to the
complexation forming a highly
stable film.
• These films have an excellent
thermal, mechanical and pH
stability.
• So, they can pave the way for
expanding applications of thin
films in biomedical and food
packaging industries.
• To make the protein film free
standing for diverse applications,
diverse physicochemical methods
such as parameter alteration
or incorporation of different
fatty acids or polyol moieties
(glycerol, starch, gelatin, etc.)
into this complex can be done.

ST-92
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Source: The Hindu communicate, interact, and learn lessons on school premises;
Context: New research has found in ways that are different from • A mini drone Tello helps especial
that non-humanoid robots can be most other people. educators in exercise lessons,
"

used to teach children with Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
About
• ASD is a developmental
disability caused by differences
in the brain.
• People with ASD may behave,
Key findings
• The interventions focused on
ASD children’s communication
and gross motor skills.
Three studies are detailed:
• A toy robot called Cozmo assists
special educators in verbal
again on school premises; and
• Cozmo, special educators and
ASD children connect remotely
for verbal lessons.
• The researchers measured and
compared learning outcomes
with these interventions and

81 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
without them.
• All three studies showed
improvement in learning
outcomes and reduction in
prompts from the Ses (special
educators), denoting reduced
workload.
• Autism spectrum disorder begins
in early childhood and eventually
causes problems functioning in
society — socially, in school and
at work, for example.
• Often children show symptoms
of autism within the first year.
• A small number of children
appear to develop normally in the
first year and then go through a
period of regression between 18
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, NASA launched
CAPSTONE, a microwave oven-
sized CubeSat weighing just 55
pounds (25 kg).
About
• CAPSTONE, short for Cislunar
Autonomous Positioning
System Technology Operations
and Navigation Experiment,
is designed to test a unique,
elliptical lunar orbit.
• As a pathfinder for Gateway,
CAPSTONE aims to help reduce
risk for future spacecraft by
validating innovative navigation
Source: The Hindu
Context: Besides placing three
Singaporean satellites in precise
orbit, the Indian Space Research
Organisation also achieved the feat
of successfully launching the PSLV
Orbital Experimental Module or
‘POEM’.
2022: SERIES VII
and 24 months of age when they
develop autism symptoms.
• Causes: Autism spectrum
disorder has no single known
cause. Given the complexity
of the disorder and the fact that
symptoms and severity vary,
there are probably many causes.
Both genetics and environment
may play a role.
• Genetics: Several different
genes appear to be involved in
autism spectrum disorder. For
some children, autism spectrum
disorder can be associated with
a genetic disorder, such as Rett
syndrome or fragile X syndrome.
For other children, genetic
ST-93
CAPSTONE Satellite
technologies, and by verifying the
dynamics of the halo-shaped orbit.
• The satellite, launched on Rocket
Lab’s Electron rocket from the
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, is
heading toward an orbit intended
in the future for Gateway, a
Moon-orbiting outpost that is
part of NASA’s Artemis program.
• The orbit is known as a near-
rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO). It
is significantly elongated, and is
located at a precise balance point
in the gravities of Earth and the
Moon. This offers stability for
long-term missions like Gateway.
ST-94
‘POEM’ Platform
About
• The PSLV Orbital Experimental
Module is a platform that
will help perform in-orbit
experiments using the final, and
otherwise discarded, stage of
ISRO’s workhorse rocket, the
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV).
changes (mutations) may increase
the risk of autism spectrum
disorder. Still other genes may
affect brain development or the
way that brain cells communicate,
or they may determine the
severity of symptoms. Some
genetic mutations seem to be
inherited, while others occur
"
spontaneously.
• Environmental factors:
Researchers are currently
exploring whether factors such as
viral infections, medications or
complications during pregnancy,
or air pollutants play a
role in triggering autism
spectrum disorder.
• At the Moon, CAPSTONE will
enter NRHO, where it will fly
within 1,600 km of the Moon’s
North Pole on its near pass and
70,000 km from the South Pole at
its farthest.
• The spacecraft will repeat the
cycle every six-and-a-half days
and maintain this orbit for at least
six months to study dynamics.
• CAPSTONE will gain experience
with small dedicated
launches of CubeSats
beyond low-Earth
orbit, to the Moon, and
beyond.
• The PSLV is a four-stage rocket
where the first three spent stages
"
fall back into the ocean, and
the final stage (PS4) — after
launching the satellite into orbit
— ends up as space junk.
• However, in PSLV-C53 mission,
the spent final stage will be
utilised as a “stabilised platform”
ALS Current Affairs 82

to perform experiments.
• POEM is carrying six payloads,
including two from Indian space
start-ups Digantara and Dhruva
Space.
How will ISRO keep POEM ‘alive
and stable’ in orbit?
• According to the ISRO, POEM
has a dedicated Navigation
"
Guidance and Control (NGC)
system for attitude stabilisation,
which stands for controlling the
orientation of any aerospace
vehicle within permitted limits.
• The NGC will act as the platform’s
brain to stabilize it with
Source: Indian Express
Context: On June 23, the U.K.
hosted the fourth summit for
Space Sustainability in London in
collaboration with the Secure World
Foundation and a new ‘Plan for Space
Sustainability’ was announced.
About:
• UK also announced a new ‘Plan
for Space Sustainability’, thus
bringing the focus back on space
sustainability.
• This plan aims to “set a global
commercial framework
for the insurability,
the licensing and the
regulation of commercial
satellites.”
Problems
• The earth’s orbital environment
has more than tripled in the past
decade.
• One of the hot issues when it
comes to space sustainability is
orbital crowding.
• It poses a direct threat to the
"
operations and safety of a mission
and is likely to cause legal and
insurance-related conflicts.
• Space debris is another prominent
issue. After the completion of a
mission, an ‘end-of-life protocol’
83 ALS Current Affairs
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
specified accuracy.
• POEM will derive its power from
solar panels mounted around the
PS4 tank, and a Li-Ion battery.
It will navigate using “four sun
sensors, a magnetometer, gyros
& NavIC”.
• It carries dedicated control
thrusters using Helium gas
storage. It is enabled with a
telecommand feature
Has ISRO repurposed and used
PS4 rocket junk earlier?
• The Indian space agency first
demonstrated the capability of
using PS4 as an orbital platform
ST-95
Space Sustainability
requires space objects to be
moved to the graveyard orbit or
to a low altitude.
• Space weather threats –
other causes of concern are
solar and magnetic storms
which potentially damage
communication systems.
What does the U.K. plan for space
sustainability entail?
• The U.K. calls for an “Astro
Carta” for space sustainability,
based on the Artemis Accords
model for sustainable space
exploration.
• The U.K. Space Sustainability
plan mentions four primary
elements:
• to review the regulatory
framework of the U.K.’s orbital
activity;
• to work with organisations such as
the G-7 and the UN to emphasise
international engagement on
space sustainability;
• to try and develop safety and
quality-related metrics that
quantify the sustainability of
activities;
• and, to induce additional funding
of $6.1 million on active debris
removal.
in 2019 with the PSLV-C44
mission that injected Microsat-R
and Kalamsat-V2 satellites into
their designated orbits.
• The fourth stage in that mission
was kept alive as an orbital
platform for space-based
experiments.
• While in that mission, the fourth
stage had Li-Ion batteries, solar
panels are an addition this time.
• The latest repurposing and
upgrade of the fourth stage
of the PSLV rocket involves
stabilization of the orbital
platform.
Where does India stand on space
sustainability?
• With the establishment of Indian
National Space Promotion and
Authorisation Centre (In-SPACe)
– One can expect an increased
role of the private sector in
India’s space activities.
• India is well on its way to create
a subsystem that addresses global
sustainability questions.
• The Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) has initiated
‘Project NETRA’ to monitor
space debris, this would aid
further planning on protecting
space assets.
• In April 2022, India and the U.S.
signed a new pact for monitoring
space objects at the 2+2 dialogue.
• To provide in-orbit servicing,
ISRO is developing a docking
experiment called ‘SPADEX’.
• It looks at docking a satellite
on an existing satellite, offering
support in re-fuelling and other
in-orbit services while enhancing
the capability of a satellite.
• This would not only ensure the
longevity of a mission but would
also provide a futuristic option to
combine missions/experiments.
2022: SERIES VII
 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Way ahead
• Sustainable practices in outer
space would directly help reduce
orbital crowding and collision
risk while nurturing future
technologies.
• The Plan for Space Sustainability,
which includes private industries,
is a timely move.
• Collective effort by all space
players, with the active role of the
UN COPUOS (United Nations
Large Hadron Collider
Source: Indian Express
Context:The world’s most
powerful particle collider, the Large
Hadron Collider (LHC), will begin
smashing protons into each other
at unprecedented levels of energy
beginning July 5.
About:
• The Large Hadron Collider is
massive, sophisticated equipment
designed to explore the smallest
known building blocks of all
things, particles.
• It is a 27-kilometre-long
track-loop buried 100 metres
underground on the Swiss-French
border.
• The particle accelerator complex
that houses the LHC runs by
the European Organisation for
Nuclear Research (originally
Conseil Européen pour la
Recherche Nucléaire, or CERN,
in French).
• CERN is the world’s largest
nuclear and particle physics
laboratory.
The Mechanism
• In its operational state, it
discharges two beams of protons
in opposite directions virtually at
the speed of light inside a ring of
superconducting electromagnets.
• The magnetic field formed by the
superconducting electromagnets
holds the protons in a tight beam
and guides them through-beam
2022: SERIES VII
Committee on the Peaceful Uses
of Outer Space) or the United
Nations Office for Outer Space
Affairs (UNOOSA), is needed
to set equitable standards for the
ease of activities.
• India has always emphasised
cost-effective and efficient
missions with problem-solving
applications. Its debris footprint
is minuscule; it has 114 debris
among the 25,182 pieces, of sizes
ST-96
pipes before colliding.
• “Just before the collision, another
sort of magnet is employed to
squeeze the particles closer
together, increasing the
likelihood of collisions.” The
particles are so small that getting
them to collide is like firing two
needles 10 kilometres apart with
such precision that they meet
halfway.“
• The LHC’s enormous
electromagnets must be
maintained cold since they carry
nearly as much current as a bolt
of lightning.
• The LHC employs a liquid helium
distribution system to maintain
its key components ultracold at
minus 271.3 degrees Celsius,
which is colder than interstellar
space. Given these constraints,
it is difficult to warm up or cool
down the massive machine.
The New Start
• The collider was restarted in
April, three years after it had
been shut down for maintenance
and improvements. This is the
LHC’s third run, and beginning
on July 5, it will run continuously
for four years at unprecedented
energy levels of 13 tera electron
volts (TeV).
• “It is hoped that the ATLAS and
CMS experiments will deliver 1.6
billion proton-proton collisions
larger than 10 cm, in the lower
earth orbits.
• The UK’s Astro Carta idea throws
light on the need for addressing the
principles and rules that guide the
activities of entities in outer space.
• The role of public and private
sector should be encouraged with
a set of sustainability guidelines
"
to ensure optimum utilization of
resources and increase the safety
and productivity of missions.
per second.”
• To boost the collision
rate, the proton beams
will be shrunk to less than 10
microns — a human hair is about
70 microns thick — he said.
• (A TeV is 100 billion, or 10-to-
the-power-of-12, electron
volts. An electron volt is an
energy given to an electron by
accelerating it through 1 volt of
electric potential difference.)
• (ATLAS is the largest general-
purpose particle detector
experiment at the LHC; the
Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS)
experiment is one of the largest
international scientific
collaborations in
history, with the same
goals as ATLAS, but
which uses a different
magnet-system
design.)
Previous runs & discovery of ‘God
Particle’
• On July 4, 2012, scientists at
CERN announced to the world
the finding of the Higgs boson,
also known as the “God Particle,”
"
during the first run of the LHC.
• The discovery ended a decades-
long search for the ‘force-
carrying’ subatomic particle
and established the existence of
the Higgs mechanism, a theory
proposed in the mid-1960s.
ALS Current Affairs 84

• This resulted in Peter Higgs
and his partner François Englert
receiving the Nobel Prize in
Physics in 2013.
• The Higgs boson and its
associated energy field are
thought to have played an
important role in the formation of
the cosmos.
"
• The second run (Run 2) of the
LHC began in 2015 and lasted
until 2018. The second season
of data collection provided five
times as much data as Run 1.
• When compared to Run 1, the
third run will have 20
times more collisions.
‘New Physics’
• Following the
discovery of the Higgs
boson, scientists began to use
the data gathered as a tool to
investigate beyond the Standard
Model, which is currently the
best theory of the universe’s most
elementary building elements
and their interactions.
• CERN scientists said they have
no idea what Run 3 will show;
the hope is that the collisions will
help them grasp so-called “dark
matter.”
Single-crystalline Scandium Nitride
Source: The Hindu
Context: In a significant
development, researchers have
discovered a novel material called
single-crystalline Scandium Nitride
that can emit, detect, and modulate
infrared light with high efficiencies
making it useful for solar and thermal
energy harvesting and for optical
communication devices.
"
About:
• Electromagnetic waves are
a renewable energy source
used for electricity generation,
telecommunication, defence and
security technologies, sensors,
85 ALS Current Affairs
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• This elusive, hoped-for particle
is thought to make up the
majority of the universe, but it
is absolutely invisible because it
does not absorb, reflect, or emit
light.
India and CERN
• India joined the European
Organisation for Nuclear
Research as an associate member
in 2016. (CERN).
• India has a long history
with CERN, having actively
participated in the construction
of the Large Hadron Collider
(LHC) in the fields of design,
development, and supply
of hardware accelerator
components/systems, as well
as commissioning and software
development and deployment in
the machine.
• In 2004, India was admitted
as an ‘Observer’ at CERN. Its
promotion to associate member
status enables Indian companies
to compete for lucrative
engineering contracts and Indians
to apply for staff positions within
the organisation.
• Indian scientists were
instrumental in the A Large Ion
ST-97
and healthcare services.
• Scientists use high-tech methods
to manipulate such waves
precisely -- in dimensions that are
thousands of times smaller than
the human hair, using specialised
materials.
• Infrared light is difficult to detect
and modulate.
• For infrared light applications,
intelligent and cutting-edge
materials are required which can
enable excitation, modulation,
and detection at desired spectral
range with high efficiencies.
• Only a few existing materials
Collider Experiment (ALICE)
and Compact Muon Solenoid
Experiment (CMS) investigations
that contributed to the discovery
of the Higgs Boson.
Way forward:
• Particle physics investigates
nature at extreme scales in
order to comprehend the
fundamental elements of
matter. Particles communicate
with one other in line
with interactions through
fundamental forces, just as
language and vocabulary guide
(and constrain) our speech.
• The patterns in the emission of
these particles help us understand
their properties and structure.
• The prediction must be tested
because the outcome will either
support the Standard Model —
which is based on the idea that
the Higgs field gives quarks and
other fundamental particles mass
— or shake its foundations and
point to new physics.
• Experiments like these allow
physicists to not only validate but
also dispute what the Standard
Model predicts about the Higgs
boson and bottom quarks.
can serve as hosts for light-
matter interactions in the infrared
spectral range
About the new Research:
• Researchers have utilised a
scientific phenomenon called
polariton excitations that occur
in tailored materials when light
couples with either the collective
free electron oscillations or polar
lattice vibrations.
• They have carefully controlled
material properties to excite
polaritons (a quasi-particle)
and achieve strong light-matter
interactions in single-crystalline
2022: SERIES VII
 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
scandium nitride (ScN) using
infrared light.
• These exotic polaritons in the
ScN can be utilised for solar and
thermal energy harvesting.
• Also belonging to the same
family of materials as gallium
nitride (GaN), scandium nitride
is compatible with modern
complementary-metal-oxide-
semiconductor (CMOS) or Si-
chip technology and, therefore,
could be easily integrated for
on-chip optical communication
devices.
GigaMesh Initiative
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently, a total of 15
villages in different parts of the
country were identified which may
soon be seamlessly connected
through a next-generation
networking solution.
About:
• A Startup named Astrome with
the help of ARTPARK will soon
connect  15 villages in different
parts of the country through
a next-generation networking
solution called GigaMesh.  This
can help address congestion
issues in 4G infrastructure and
provide high-tech and affordable
internet connectivity.
What is ARTPARK?
• ARTPARK (AI & Robotics
Epstein Barr Virus EBV
Source: The Hindu
Context:Scientists have found that
the cancer-causing virus Epstein
Barr Virus(EBV) can infect the
neuronal cells and drive various
changes leading to diseases of the
central nervous system as well as
brain cancer.
2022: SERIES VII
ST-98
Technology Park) is a not-
for-profit foundation. It was
established by the Indian Institute
of Science (IISc),Bengaluru with
support from the Department of
Science & Technology(DST).
• Purpose: To promote technology
innovation missions in AI
(Artificial Intelligence) and
Robotics. These missions should
have a societal impact in sectors
such as healthcare, education,
mobility, infrastructure,
agriculture, retail, and cyber-
security.
• Nodal Mission: The park was
established under the  National
Mission on Interdisciplinary
Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-
ICPS).
ST-99
About:
What is Epstein Barr Virus(EBV)?
• The EBV virus has been found to
be widely present in the human
population.  blood cancer called Burkitt’s
• It usually does not cause any harm,
but the virus gets reactivated
inside the body in some unusual
"
What is GigaMesh?
• GigaMesh has been developed
by Astrome with the support of
ARTPARK.
• Purpose:  It is the world’s first
multi-beam E-band Radio that
is able to communicate from
one tower to multiple towers
simultaneously while delivering
multi GBPS throughput to each
of these towers. 
• Working: A single GigaMesh device
can provide up to forty links with 2+
Gbps capacity, communicating up to
a range of ten kilometres.
This flexibility in range
makes it suitable for both
decongesting the dense
urban networks and
extending rural coverage. 
conditions like immunological
stress or immunocompetence. 
"
• This may further lead to various
complications like a type of
lymphoma, stomach cancer,
multiple sclerosis and so on. 
• Earlier studies provided links
ALS Current Affairs 86

to EBV involvement in various
neurodegenerative diseases.
However, how this virus can affect
the cells of the brain and manipulate
them is still unexplored.
What have the scientists found
out?
• Scientists have found that
"
Source: Indian Express
Context: The Drugs Controller
General of India
(DCGI) granted market
authorisation to Serum
Institute of India (SII) to
manufacture indigenously-
developed India’s first Quadrivalent
Human Papillomavirus vaccine
(qHPV) against cervical cancer.
About:
• Cervavac is  India’s first
quadrivalent human
papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV)
vaccine, and intended to protect
women against cervical cancer.
• Experts see this as a real
opportunity to eliminate cervical
cancer, and have expressed the
hope that it will be rolled out
in national HPV vaccination
strategies, and be available
a cost more affordable
than existing vaccines.
• The vaccine is
based on VLP (virus
like particles), similar to the
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
Source: The Hindu
Context:NASA’s James Webb
"
Space Telescope has delivered the
deepest and sharpest infrared image
of the distant universe so far.  and origins of our universe and
About:
• It is the world’s premier space
science observatory.  by NASA with its partners, ESA
87 ALS Current Affairs
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Epstein Barr Virus(EBV)
can infect neuronal cells
and drive various changes in
biomolecules such as fatty
acids, carbohydrates and protein
components leading to diseases
of the central nervous system as
well as brain cancer.
ST-100
Cervavac
hepatitis B vaccine, and provides
protection by generating
antibodies against the HPV
virus’s L1 protein.
• Experts have expressed hope that
the DGCI approval will allow the
government to procure enough
HPV vaccines at a special price
to vaccinate nearly 50 million
girls aged 9–14 years in India
who are waiting to receive the
vaccine.
• This will be a huge step to
accelerate cervical cancer
elimination in India and globally,
a statement from IARC-WHO
has said.
About Cervical cancer:
• Cervical cancer is  preventable,
but kills one woman every eight
minutes in the country.
• It is preventable as long as it
is detected early and managed
effectively.
• Cervical cancer is a common
sexually transmitted infection.
• Long-lasting infection with
ST-101
• It will solve mysteries in our
solar system, look beyond distant
worlds around other stars, and
probe the mysterious structures
our place in it.  • Mission:
• It is an international program led
What is the significance of these
findings?
• This research work aids in the
understanding of EBV-mediated
biomolecular changes in the various
compartments of the central nervous
system leading to a better understanding
of nervous system diseases.
certain types of HPV is the main
cause of cervical cancer.
• Worldwide,  cervical cancer
is the second most common
cancer type and the second most
common cause of cancer death
in women of reproductive age
(15–44).
• India accounts for about a fifth
of the global burden, with 1.23
lakh cases and around 67,000
deaths per year according to the
World Health Organization’s
International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC-
WHO).
Existing vaccines
• Two vaccines licensed globally
are available in India — a
quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil,
from Merck) and a bivalent
vaccine (Cervarix, from
GlaxoSmithKline).
• Although HPV vaccination was
introduced in 2008, it has yet
to be included in the national
immunisation programme.
(European Space Agency) and
CSA (Canadian Space Agency).
• The telescope launched on
an Ariane 5 from Europe’s
Spaceport in French Guiana.
 
• It will be “a giant leap forward
in quest to understand  the
2022: SERIES VII
 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Universe and our origins”, as
it will examine every phase
of cosmic history:  from the
Big Bang to the formation of
galaxies, stars, and planets
to the evolution of our own
Solar System.
Current status  and Sun, marking where
• It is currently at a point in
space known as the Sun-
Earth L2 Lagrange
point,  approximately  1.5
million km beyond Earth’s
orbit around the Sun.
• Lagrange Point 2 is one of
the five points in the orbital
LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ)
Source: The Hindu
Context:The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ)
Dark Matter Detector recently passed
the check-out phase of the operation
and generated first results.
About:
• LZ Dark Matter Detector has
been installed deep down the
Black Hills in South Dakota
in  Sanford Underground
Research Facility(SURF).
• The experiment is led by DOE’s
Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
• It is the most sensitive dark
matter detector of the world.
• Researchers had collected data
for more than three-and-a-half-
month in initial operations. This
period was sufficient to confirm
the proper functionality of all
2022: SERIES VII
plane of the Earth-Sun
system.  positioned here.
• Named after Italian-French
mathematician Joseph-
Louis Lagrange, the points
are in any revolving two-
body system like Earth
the gravitational forces of
the two large bodies cancel
each other out.  • The Webb is equipped
• Objects placed at these
positions are relatively
stable and require minimal
external energy or fuel to
keep themselves there, and
ST-102
aspects of LZ detector.
Significance of the LZ
• Dark matter particles have never
been detected earlier. But this
will not be true for longer. Initial
results from the first 60 days live
days testing of LZ have generated
positive results.
Presence of Dark Matter
• Dark matter is not yet seen because
it does not absorb, emit or scatter
light. However, presence of dark
matter and gravitational pull are
fundamental to universe. Dark
matter accounts for 85 percent
of the total mass of universe. It is
responsible for the movement of
galaxies and shaping.
About the LZ experiment
• As a part of LZ experiment,
two nested titanium tanks
so many instruments are
Different from other telescopes
• The JWST will be able
to see right through and
into massive clouds of dust
that are opaque to earlier
generation visible-light
observatories like the Hubble
"
Telescope. 
with cameras and other
instruments sensitive
to infrared or “heat”
radiation, and the Hubble
is not. 
detected faint sources of
light from the LZ dark matter
detector. The two tanks
were filled with ten tonnes
of liquid xenon. They were
seen through two arrays of
photomultiplier tubes (PMTs).
Particles mimicking a dark
matter signal are detected
using the titanium tanks.
Who designed the detector?
• LUX-ZEPLIN detector was
designed, manufactured and
installed by the
Berkeley Lab in
association with an
international team
of 250 scientists and
engineers from more than 35
institutions in the UK, US, South
Korea and Portugal.
"
ALS Current Affairs 88
 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Environment & Disaster Management

SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-III)
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
• Disaster and disaster management.

COVID-19 worsened matters in Sundarbans:
Source: The Hindu
Context: According to a
recent report on the impact
of COVID-19 across five
geographical locations,
including the Indian Sundarbans,
the pandemic and response measures
not only triggered cascading
effects throughout societies,
but also reinforced pre-existing
vulnerabilities.
About
• In the Sundarbans, the people had
to deal with the double burden of
COVID-19 and cyclone Amphan.
• Despite not being severely
affected by COVID-19 (between
March and May 2020), the Indian
Sundarbans experienced
a wide range of impacts
across sectors due to their
interconnectedness and
existing vulnerabilities.
• When combined
with the cyclone Amphan’s
effects, this resulted in
compounding and cascading
effects across sectors.
• The main cascading impact in
this region in the near and long
term is due to economic distress
caused by the lockdown.
• Not only did it increase poverty,
but it also pushed some people
back into it.
• The decrease in income caused by
job loss forced people to reduce
EDM-133
meal portions and consume fewer
food items, affecting their food
security.
Economic impact of COVID-19
and cyclone Amphan:
• A significant proportion of
the population in this area is
dependent on natural resources
for livelihood (fishers, crab
collectors, honey gatherers,
beekeepers, agriculturalists, etc.).
• The impact of two hazards
occurring simultaneously
manifested in the economic
distress across sectors, actors and
scales.
• Due to COVID-19 containment
measures, restrictions were
placed on accessing these natural
resources, which themselves
were directly affected by the
cyclone.
• The cyclone caused $13 billion
of damage, thereby becoming the
costliest cyclone ever recorded in
the north Indian Ocean.
Social impact of COVID-19 and
cyclone Amphan:
Educational disruption:
• According to the study, closing
schools as a COVID-19
prevention measure caused
educational disruption.
• While poverty was one barrier
for families to pay for tools to
access online education, unstable
internet connectivity in remote
areas was another.
• When these impediments were
combined with the additional
economic distress caused by the
pandemic and the cyclone, the
disruption in education became
evident.
• Incidence of child labour and
child marriage increased:
• Due to economic distress and
disruption in education (during
the lockdown and aftermath
of the cyclone), many families
employed their children,
particularly young boys, as child
labour.
• The twin blows of the COVID-19
pandemic and Amphan resulted
in short-term loss of income
which aggravated child marriage
and human trafficking.
Impact on women:
• In addition, many women were
required to work in fields on top
of their other existing workloads,
doing work that would otherwise
be done by hired workers.
• Residents reported a similar
cascading effect on women’s
hygiene and safety as limited
access to sanitation services
forced some women to resort to
open defecation.
Significance of the report:
• Prior to the pandemic, there was
little awareness that hazards such
as floods, droughts or regional

89 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
disease outbreaks could have a
global impact.
• The true extent of how
Ban on Single-use Plastic
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently, the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has
ordered a ban on the use of single-
use plastic from July 1.
About:
• Single-use Plastic is to be banned
from 1st July, 2022. The Ministry
for Environment, Forest and
Climate Change has now defined
a list of single use plastic items
that will be banned from next
month
What all Single use plastics are
banned?
• MoFCCC notification said
that manufacture, import,
stocking, distribution, sale and
use of following single-use
plastic, including polystyrene
and expanded polystyrene,
commodities shall be prohibited
with effect from the 1st July,
2022.
• Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) have announced a ban
of-
• Earbuds;
• Balloon sticks;
• Candy and ice-cream sticks;
• Cutlery items including
plates, cups, glasses, forks,
spoons, knives, trays;
• Sweet boxes;
• Invitation cards;
• Cigarette packs;
• PVC banners measuring
under 100 microns; and
• Polystyrene for decoration.
• The Ministry had already banned
polythene bags under 75 microns
in September 2021, expanding
the limit from the earlier 50
2022: SERIES VII
interdependencies in our highly
interconnected world are causing
impacts to cascade within and
EDM-134
microns.
• From December, the ban will be
extended to polythene bags under
120 microns.
• While manufacturers can use
the same machine for 50- and
75-micron bags, the machinery
will need to be upgraded for 120
microns.
• According to the Plastic Waste
Management Rules, 2016, there
is also a complete ban on sachets
using plastic material for storing,
packing or selling gutkha,
tobacco and pan masala.
About Single-use Plastics
• About: Single-use Plastic refers
to plastic items that are used once
and discarded. Single-use plastic
has among the highest shares of
plastic manufactured.
• A 2021 report by the Minderoo
Foundation said single-use
plastics account for a third of all
plastic produced globally, with
98% manufactured from fossil
fuels.
• Application: Single-use Plastics
are used from packaging of items,
to bottles (shampoo, detergents,
cosmetics), polythene bags, face
masks, coffee cups, cling film,
trash bags, food packaging etc.
Associated Concerns with Single
Use Politics
• Single-use plastic accounts for the
majority of plastic discarded- 130
million metric tonnes globally in
2019- “all of which is burned,
buried in landfills or discarded
directly into the environment”.
• Green House Gas (GHC):
On the current trajectory of
across societies became fully visible
only when COVID-19 began to
spread and affect our daily lives.
production, it has been projected
that single-use plastic could
account for 5-10% of greenhouse
gas emissions by 2050.
• High Single use plastic
generation in India: The report
found that India
features in the top 100
countries of single-
use plastic waste
generation – at rank 94
(the top three being Singapore,
Australia and Oman).
• With domestic production of 11.8
million metric tonnes annually,
and import of 2.9 MMT, India’s
net generation of single-use
plastic waste is 5.6 MMT, and per
capita generation is 4 kg.
Enforcement of Single-use Plastic
Ban
• Monitoring Agencies: The ban
will be monitored by the CPCB
from the Centre, and by the
State Pollution Control Boards
(SPCBs) that will
report to the Centre
regularly.
• Directions have been
issued at national, state
and local levels — for example,
to all petrochemical industries
— to not supply raw materials to
industries engaged in the banned
items.
• Directions have also been issued
to SPCBs and Pollution Control
Committees to modify or revoke
consent to operate issued under
the Air/Water Act to industries
engaged in single-use plastic
items.
• Role of Local Authorities: Local
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 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
authorities have been directed to
issue fresh commercial licenses
with the condition that SUP items
will not be sold on their premises,
and existing commercial licences
will be cancelled if they are found
to be selling these items.
• Last week, the CPCB issued
one-time certificates to 200
Four new corals recorded from Indian waters
Source: Indian Express
Context: Scientists have
recorded four species of
azooxanthellate corals for
the first time from Indian
waters
About
• These new corals were found
from the waters of Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
• Azooxanthellate corals are
a group of corals that do not
contain zooxanthellae and derive
nourishment not from the sun but
from capturing different forms of
plankton.
• These groups of corals are
deep-sea representatives, with
the majority of species
reporting from between
200 m to 1000 m.
• Their occurrences
are also reported
from shallow coastal
waters. Zooxanthellate corals,
meanwhile, are restricted to
shallow waters
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently there were many
criticisms that rose around Supreme
Court’s order to declare all places within
a kilometre (km) around ‘protected
91 ALS Current Affairs
manufacturers of compostable
plastic and the BIS passed
standards for biodegradable
plastic.
Punishment for Violation of
Single-use Plastic Ban
• Those found violating the ban
can be penalised under the
Environment Protection Act 1986
EDM-135
• All the four groups of corals are
from the same family Flabellidae.
• Truncatoflabellum crassum, T.
incrustatum, T. aculeatum and T.
irregulare
• Under the family Flabellidae
were previously found from
Japan to the Philippines and
Australian waters while only
crassum was reported within
the range of Indo-West Pacific
distribution including the Gulf of
Aden and the Persian Gulf.
• Azooxanthellate corals are a
group of hard corals and the four
new records are not only solitary
but have a highly compressed
skeletal structure.
Hard corals
• Hard corals grow in colonies and
are often referred to as “reef-
building corals.”
• Hard corals create skeletons
out of calcium carbonate, a
hard substance that eventually
becomes rock.
• Overtime, this rock builds up to
EDM-136
Eco-Sensitive Zones
areas (PA) as eco-sensitive zones (ESZ).
About
What was the Supreme Court’s
Directive?
• According to the Supreme Court,
– which allows for imprisonment
up to 5 years, or a penalty up to
Rs 1 lakh, or both.
• Violators can also be asked to
pay Environmental Damage
Compensation by the SPCB. In
addition, there are municipal
laws on plastic waste, with their
own penal codes.
form the foundation of a coral
reef and provides a structure upon
which baby corals can settle.
• Hard corals can be further
separated into two sub-groups.
Zooxanthellate
• The zooxanthellate (reef-building
or hermatypic) corals are ones
that depend on zooxanthellae
algae for nutrients.
• These shallow water corals have
a major reef-building function.
• They are generally found in
clear water less than 50 metres
deep as the algae need light for
photosynthesis.
Azooxanthellate
• The azooxanthellate (deep
water or ahermatypic) corals do
not contain zooxanthellae and
therefore gain their nutrition
solely from filtering plankton
from seawater.
• These isolated, solitary or
colonial forms rarely build big
constructions
every protected forest, national
park, and animal sanctuary in
the country must have a one-
kilometer eco-sensitive zone
(ESZ) starting from its delimited
2022: SERIES VII
 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
boundaries.
• The nation’s natural resources
have been devastated for years
by mining and other activities,
according to a three-judge
Supreme Court panel.
What is the Supreme Court’s
Observation?
• In relation to natural resources,
the state must also act as a trustee
for the benefit of the general
public in order to achieve long-
term sustainability.
• If any national park or protected
forest already has a buffer zone
that extends over one kilometre,
the court ruled that it would take
precedence.
• If a statutory decision on the
buffer zone’s size is pending,
the court’s order to maintain the
one-kilometer safety zone will
apply until the law makes a final
determination.
• The court also ordered each state
and the territory to compile a list
of existing structures within the
ESZs and submit reports to the
apex court within three months.
What is Eco-Sensitive Zone
(ESZ)?
• The fragile area that occurs
within 10 kilometres of protected
places such as National Parks and
Wildlife Sanctuaries is referred to
Bird Village as Wetland
Source: The Hindu
Context: Menar Village in the
Udaipur district is set to be
notified as Rajasthan’s new
wetland. This will pave the way
for getting the Ramsar site status
for this village.
About
• Menar is a village located in
Udaipur district, Rajasthan.
2022: SERIES VII
as an Eco-Sensitive Zone.
• The ESZ’s width and manner of
regulation may differ from one
protected area to the next.
• However, the ESZ could be as
wide as 10 kilometres around the
protected region as a general rule.
• The goal of establishing an Eco-
Sensitive Zone is to act as a
shock absorber for the protected
regions.
• Under the Environment
(Protection) Act of 1986, the
Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC) declares an ESZ
around protected areas.
What are the activities prohibited
around ESZ?
• Commercial mining,
• Stone quarrying,
• Crushing units,
• Tourism activities like flying
over protected areas in an aircraft
or hot air balloon,
• Setting up industries that cause
pollution,
• Establishment of hydro-electric
projects,
• Commercial use of firewood,
• Solid waste disposal or
wastewater disposal, etc.
• What are the activities permitted?
• Activities permitted in the areas
include -
EDM-137
• The village is recognised as
the “bird village” following
community-driven conservation
efforts.
• The village has two lakes – the
Brahma and Dhandh. These
lakes play host to more than 150
species of local and migratory
birds in the winter season.
• These include Greater Flamingo,
• Ongoing agriculture and
horticulture practices by local
communities,
• Rainwater harvesting,
• Organic farming,
• Adoption of green technology
and
• Use of renewable energy sources.
What is the significance of ESZ?
• The main goal is to control
some activities in the vicinity
of National Parks and Wildlife
Sanctuaries in order to reduce
the harmful effects of such
activities on the
fragile environment
that surrounds the
protected areas.
• By controlling and
supervising the
activity around protected areas,
these regions operate as “shock
absorbers.”
• These zones serve as a
transition zone between places
with high levels of protection
and those with lower levels of
protection.
• These regions aid in the reduction
of human-animal conflict.
• The core and buffer management
model is used to manage the
protected areas, which also
protects and benefits
local residents.
White-tailed Lapwing,
Pelican, Marsh Harrier, Bar-
headed Goose, Common Teal,
Greenshank, Pintail, Wagtail,
Green Sandpiper and Red-
wattled Lapwing.
• The volunteers known as Pakshi
Mitras (friends of birds) are
maintaining the lakes as a safe
haven for birds.
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 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Partners in the Blue Pacific
Source: Indian Express
Context: The US and its allies —
Australia, New Zealand, Japan
and the United Kingdom — have
launched a new initiative called
‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ for
“effective and efficient cooperation”
with the region’s small island nations.
About
What is Partners in
the Blue Pacific (PBP)
initiative?
• The PBP is a
five-nation “informal
mechanism” to support Pacific
islands and to boost diplomatic,
economic ties in the region.
• It speaks of enhancing
“prosperity, resilience, and
security” in the Pacific through
closer cooperation.
• Through the PBP, the counties
— together and individually —
will direct more resources here
to counter China’s aggressive
outreach.
• The initiative members have also
declared that they will “elevate
Pacific regionalism”, and
forge stronger ties with the
Pacific Islands Forum.
• The areas where
PBP aims to enhance
cooperation include “climate
crisis, connectivity and
transportation, maritime security
and protection, health, prosperity,
and education”.
How is China trying to transform
its ties in the Pacific?
• Recently China signed a security
pact with Solomon Islands, the
deal flagged serious concerns
about the Chinese military getting
a base in the southern Pacific,
close to the US island territory of
93 ALS Current Affairs
EDM-138
Guam, and right next to Australia
and New Zealand.
• Its failed attempt to push 10 Pacific
nations to endorse a “game-
changing” agreement called the
“Common Development Vision”
– where it intended to work with
“traditional and non-traditional
security,” and expand law
enforcement cooperation with
these countries.
• China indicated that it would
continue pursuing this goal.
What is being done by the US and
its allies to counter China?
• The US and its partners started
the Indo-Pacific Economic
Framework for Prosperity
(IPEF), a trade-boosting play in
the region with 13 nations
• Recently G7 announced a
plan — Partnership for Global
Infrastructure and Investment
(PGII) — to rival China’s Belt
and Road Initiative by promising
to raise $600 billion to fund
development projects in low and
middle-income countries.
• And now the new initiative
‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’
for “effective and efficient
cooperation” with the region’s
small island nations
Why is the Pacific region
strategically important?
• In its 2019 strategy report, the US
Department of Defence called
the Indo-Pacific the “single
most consequential region for
America’s future”.
• Spanning a vast stretch of the
globe from the west coast of
the United States to the western
shores of India,
• the region is home to the world’s
most populous state (China),
• most populous democracy
(India), and largest Muslim-
majority state (Indonesia),
• and includes over half of the
earth’s population.
• Among the 10 largest standing
armies in the world, 7 reside in
the Indo-Pacific;
• and 6 countries in the region
possess nuclear weapons.
• Nine of the world’s 10 busiest
seaports are in the region,
• and 60 percent of global maritime
trade transits through Asia, with
roughly one-third of global
shipping passing through the
South China Sea alone.
Pacific Island Forum
• Pacific Island Forum is an ‘Inter-
governmental organization’.
• It was established in year 1971.
• The objective of the organization
is to work in support of Forum
member governments, to enhance
the economic and social well-
being of the people of the South
Pacific by fostering cooperation
between governments and
between international agencies.
• The summit of the organization
held annually and which is
presided by the host country.
• The summit discusses
about decisions related
to the development and
implementations of policies in
the region.
• The forum has 18 members,
which are as follows- Australia,
Cook Islands, Federation
of Micronesia, Fiji, French
Polynesia, Kribati, Nauru, Palau,
Republic of Marshal Island, New
Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue,
Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu
and Vanuatu.
2022: SERIES VII
 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
National Air Quality Resource Framework of India (NARFI)
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, Principal
Scientific Adviser to Govt. of
India, inaugurated a Brainstorming
Workshop at India International
Centre, New Delhi to kick start
an ambitious National Mission on
“National Air Quality Resource
Framework of India (NARFI)”.
About
• National Air Quality Resource
Framework of India (NARFI) is
an information mechanism to help
decision-makers in government,
municipalities, start-ups and in
the private sectors to address
air pollution issues in different
climatic zones of India.
• Research-based audited
Information and industry-
oriented solutions will be shared
in an easy-to-understand format.
• NARFI Formulation: National
Air Quality Resource Framework
of India (NARFI) has been
developed by the National
Institute of Advanced Studies
(NIAS), Bengaluru with the
Oceans Great Dying 2.0
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently, a study revealed
that the marine heat wave that hit
the western Indian Ocean and the
northern Bay of Bengal the most will
be a permanent feature by the end of
the century.
About
What is the Permian Era?
• The Permian era is a period
spanning 298.9 million-252.2
million years ago. This was
a time before the dinosaurs
ruled the planet. Global ocean
2022: SERIES VII
EDM-139
support from the Office of the
Principal Scientific Adviser (O/o
PSA) to the Government of India.
• Mandate: NARFI framework
will provide an all-inclusive
guide to collecting air quality
data, studying its impact and
implementing science-based
solutions.
• NARFI, supported by O/o PSA
and implemented by NIAS is
expected to provide a science-
based integrated air quality
resource framework.
• Training Modules: The short-term
basic training modules tailored
for different groups such as active
ground level staff in government
establishments, implementers,
media and policymakers,
would be an integral part of the
framework.
Significance:
• NARFI will help in evolving
a close cooperation between
researchers and industries in
order to get faster solutions.
• Linking reduction of air pollution
EDM-140
temperatures were 10 degrees
higher than today. Oxygen levels
were 80% lower.
• During this period, land
masses collided to form the
supercontinent Pangaea. The
supercontinent was arid; only a
few parts received rainfall round
the year.
• However, the large Panthalassic
Ocean which covered much of
Earth was home to many marine
and terrestrial species.
• But towards the end of the era,
in the health and agriculture
sectors is important for citizens
to understand the gravity of the
situation and solutions for the
same.
• The NARFI will enable
knowledge creation, developing
infrastructure and industrial
structures and studying its effects
on human health in the country.
National Air Quality
Resource Framework of
India (NARFI) Themes
The NARFI will evolve
around the following five
modules:
• THEME-1: Emission Inventory,
Air Shed, and Mitigation
• THEME-2: Impacts on Human
Health and Agriculture
• THEME-3: Integrated Monitoring,
Forecasting andAdvisoryFramework
• THEME-4: Outreach, Social
Dimension, Transition Strategy and
Policy
• THEME-5: Solutions, Public-
Industry Partnership, Stubble
Burning & New Technologies.
a series of volcanic eruptions
occurred in central Siberia,
injecting massive amounts of
greenhouse gases(GHG) into the
atmosphere.
• The change in climate after the
volcanic eruptions was a death
knell for the flourishing and
diverse life forms.
• Many long-lived lineages
vanished. Roughly 96% of
marine species and 70% of land
species went extinct. Hence, the
scientists refer to this period as
ALS Current Affairs 94
 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
the ‘Great Dying’.
• Why are scientists warning of
Great Dying 2.0?
• Scientists have warned of Great
Dying 2.0 because climate
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Union Cabinet approved
the categorization of the Coalition
for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
(CDRI) as an ‘International
Organisation’.
About
• Recently, the
Union Cabinet chaired
by the Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi has approved the
categorization of the Coalition for
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
(CDRI) as an ‘International
Organization’.
• It also approved the signing of
the Headquarters Agreement
(HQA) with CDRI for granting it
the exemptions, immunities and
privileges as contemplated under
the United Nations (Privileges &
Immunities) Act, 1947.
• This will provide CDRI
an independent and
international legal persona
so that it can efficiently
and effectively carry out its
functions internationally.
How will these affect CDRI?
• Categorization of CDRI as an
‘International Organization’
and signing of the Headquarters
Agreement (HQA) with CDRI
will provide it an independent and
international legal persona so that it
can efficiently and effectively carry
out its functions internationally.
Associated Benefits to CDRI
• Deputing experts to other
countries, that are particularly
vulnerable to disaster risk and / or
require support for post disaster
95 ALS Current Affairs
change that happened at the end
of the Permian era is similar to
the one that is unfolding now.
• They have said that if emissions
continue to climb and
EDM-141
recovery and also bringing in
experts from member countries
to India, for similar purposes;
• Deploying funds globally and
receive contributions from member
countries, for CDRI activities;
• Making available technical
expertise to assist countries to
develop resilient infrastructure
in accordance with their disaster
and climate risks and resources;
• Imparting assistance to countries
in adopting appropriate risk
governance arrangements and
strategies for resilient infrastructure;
• Rendering all possible support to
member countries in upgrading
their systems to ensure disaster
and climate resilience of existing
and future infrastructure, while
aligning with the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), the
Paris Climate Agreement and the
Sendai Framework for Disaster
Risk Reduction;
• Leveraging international
engagement to foster disaster
resilient infrastructure at home; and,
• Providing Indian scientific and technical
institution as well as infrastructure
developers an opportunity to interact
with global experts.
• This will help build our own
capacities and mechanisms —
both in public and private sectors
— to support disaster resilient
infrastructure development.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient
Infrastructure (CDRI)
• Background: CDRI was first
proposed by our Prime Minister
during the 2016 Asian Ministerial
temperatures reach around 4.9
degrees Celsius by the end of
this century, close to about 40%
of marine genera could perish by
2300 and 8% by 2100.
Conference on Disaster Risk
Reduction held in New Delhi.
• CDRI was then approved in
2019 for which the Government
of India also pledged financial
support of ₹480 crore towards the
CDRI corpus.
• About: The Coalition for Disaster
Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
is an international coalition
of national governments, UN
agencies and programmes,
multilateral development banks
and financing mechanisms, the
private sector, and knowledge
institutions.
• CDRI Secretariat: The secretariat
of CDRI is located in New Delhi,
India.
• Mandate: CDRI aims to promote
the resilience of new and existing
infrastructure systems to climate
and disaster risks in support of
sustainable development.
• CDRI promotes rapid
development of resilient
infrastructure to respond to the
Sustainable Development Goals’.
• CDRI Membership: Since
its launch, thirty-one (31)
Countries, six (06) International
Organizations and two (02)
private sector organizations have
joined as members of CDRI.
• CDRI has been expanding
its membership consistently
by attracting a wide variety
of economically advanced
countries, developing countries,
and countries that are most
vulnerable to climate change and
disasters.
2022: SERIES VII
 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Source: Indian Express
Context: Around 100 students in
Sikkim have reported skin infections
after coming in contact with Nairobi
flies.
About
• The population of Nairobi flies,
a species of insect native to East
Africa, is growing at a fast pace
in Sikkim.
What are Nairobi flies?
• Nairobi flies, also called Kenyan
flies or dragon bugs, are small,
beetle-like insects that belong to
two species, Paederus eximius
and Paederus sabaeus.
• They are orange and black
in colour, and thrive in areas
with high rainfall, as has been
witnessed in Sikkim in the past
few weeks.
• Like most insects, the beetles are
Amendments in Environment Protection Act (EPA)
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Environment Ministry
proposes to soften the provisions
of punishment for the violations of
Environment Protection Act (EPA).
About:
• It proposes to replace a clause
that provides for imprisoning
violators with one that only
requires them to pay a fine.
• This does not apply to violations
that cause grave injury or loss of
life.
• The proposed fines, in lieu of
imprisonment, are also 5-500 times
greater than those currently levied.
Existing Provisions
• The Act currently says that
2022: SERIES VII
EDM-142
Nairobi flies
attracted by bright light.
How are humans affected by
them?
• Usually, the insects attack pests
that consume crops and are
beneficial for humans — but at
times, they come in contact with
humans directly are cause harm.
• These flies do not bite, but
if disturbed while sitting on
anyone’s skin, they release a
potent acidic substance that
causes burns.
• This substance is called pederin,
and can cause irritation if it
comes in contact with the skin,
leading to lesions or unusual
marks or colouring on the skin.
• The skin begins to heal in a week
or two, but some secondary
infections can occur, especially if
the victim scratches the irritated
EDM-143
violators will be punishable with
imprisonment up to five years or
with a fine up to ₹1 lakh, or with
both.
• Were violations to continue, an
additional fine of up to ₹5,000
for every day during which such
failure or contravention continues
after the conviction would be
levied.
• There’s also a provision for jail
terms to extend to seven years.
Two major changes proposed are
• Appointing an “adjudication
officer” who would decide on a
penalty in cases of environmental
violations
• In case of serious violations
skin.
Have there been outbreaks of the
disease?
• Major outbreaks have happened
in Kenya and other parts of
eastern Africa. In 1998, unusually
heavy rain caused a large number
of insects to come into the region.
• Outside Africa, outbreaks
have happened in India,
Japan, Israel, and
Paraguay in the
past.
which lead to grievous
injury or loss of life,
they shall be covered
under the provision of
Indian Penal Code, 1860.
• The amendments also propose
the creation of an “Environmental
Protection Fund’’ in which
the amount of penalty will be
remitted
Reasons for proposed
amendments
• An analysis by the Centre for
Science and Environment found
that Indian courts took between
9-33 years to clear a backlog
of cases for environmental
violations.
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 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
• Beginning 2018, close to 45,000
cases were pending trial and
another 35,000 cases were added
in that year.
• Ministry stated that the rationale
governing the amendments is that
it had received suggestions to
decriminalise existing provisions
of the EPA to weed out fear
of imprisonment for simple
violations.
The Environment (Protection) Act
(EPA)
• EPA was enacted in 1986
with the objective of
providing the protection
and improvement of the
environment.
• The Central
government is also empowered
to:
• Plan and execute a nation-wide
programme for the prevention,
control and abatement of
environmental pollution.
• Lay down standards for the
quality of environment in its
various aspects.
• Lay down standards for emission
or discharge of environmental
Sustainable Development Goals Report
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently
“Sustainable Development Goals
Report, 2022” was released.
The report provides a global overview
of progress on the implementation
of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
About:
• The report provides a global
overview of progress on the
implementation of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable
Development, using the latest
available data and estimates. It
tracks the global and regional
97 ALS Current Affairs
pollutants from various sources.
• The restriction of areas in which
any industries, operations or
processes or class of industries,
operations or processes shall/
shall not be carried out subject to
certain safeguards.
• The Central Government may
appoint officers under this Act
for various purposes and entrust
them with the corresponding
powers and functions.
• The central government as per
the Act has the power to direct:
• The closure, prohibition or
regulation of any industry,
operation or process
• The stoppage or regulation of the
supply of electricity or water or
any other service
• Restriction on Pollutant
Discharge: No individual or
organisation shall discharge/emit
or permit to discharge/emit any
environmental pollutant in excess
of the prescribed standards.
• Compliance with Procedural
Safeguards: No individual shall
handle or shall be caused to handle
any hazardous substance except
EDM-144
progress toward the 17 Goals
with in-depth analyses of selected
indicators for each Goal.
What are the key findings of the
report?
• 3Cs: SDGs are in grave jeopardy
due to multiple, cascading and
intersecting crises predominated
by COVID-19, Climate Change
and Conflict.
• Hunger: About one in every 10
persons worldwide is suffering
from hunger as geopolitical
conflicts, combined with the
effects of the pandemic and
climate change are converging
in accordance with the procedure
and without complying with the
safeguards, as prescribed.
• Powers of Entry and Inspection:
Any person empowered by the
Central Government shall have a
right to enter (with the assistance
deemed necessary) at any place:
• Establishment of
Environmental Laboratories:
The Central Government, as per
the Act, is entitled to recognize
any laboratory or institute as
environmental laboratories to
carry out the functions entrusted
to such a laboratory.
• Penalties for Offences: Non-
compliance or Contravention to
any of the provisions of the Act is
considered as an offence.
• Any offences under the EPA are
punishable with the imprisonment
of upto five years or a fine upto
one lakh rupees or both.
• Cognizance of offences: No
Court shall take cognizance of
any offence under this Act except
on a complaint made by:
• The Central Government or any
authority on behalf of the former
to undermine food security
worldwide.
• Deaths due to Covid-19:
Deaths, directly and indirectly,
attributable to the COVID-19
pandemic reached 15 million by
the end of 2021.
• Impact of Covid-19 on SDGs:
The pandemic wiped out more
than four years of progress on
poverty eradication and pushed
93 million more people into
extreme poverty in 2020.
• Disrupted essential health
services resulted in a drop in
immunization coverage for the
2022: SERIES VII
 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
first time in a decade and a rise
in deaths from tuberculosis and
malaria.
• More than 24 million learners,
from pre-primary to university
level, are at risk of never returning
to school.
• On Climate Change: The report
repeats the “code red warning”
on climate change earlier issued
by the IPCC, highlighting that
rising global temperatures
continue unabated leading to
more extreme weather events
around the world and that energy-
related emissions have increased
6% in 2021 reaching the highest
level ever.
• To avoid the worst effects
of climate change, global
IPBES Report on Sustainable use of Wild Species
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, the
Intergovernmental Science-Policy
Platform on Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has
released a new report stating that
about 50,000 wild species globally
can meet the needs of billions of
people.
About
• The first of the kind report is the
has been conceived after a period
of four years.
• The 2019 Global Assessment of
the IPBES has identified over-
exploitation of wild species as
one of the main drivers of current
biodiversity loss.
• The report has shortlisted five
categories of practices used
for wild species — fishing,
gathering, logging, terrestrial
animal harvesting which
includes hunting and non-
extractive practices such as
observing.
2022: SERIES VII
greenhouse gas emissions must
peak before 2025 and then
decline by 43% by 2030, falling
to net-zero by 2050.
• However, under current voluntary
National Commitments(NDCs)
to climate action, greenhouse gas
emissions are set to rise nearly
14% over the next decade.
• Conflicts: The war in Ukraine
is creating one of the largest
refugee crises of modern time. In
addition, it is causing food, fuel
and fertilizer prices to skyrocket
and fueling a threat of a global
food crisis.
What are the positive trends
highlighted by the report?
• Electricity: Around 91% of
the world population gained
EDM-145
• The report examined specific
uses for each category regarding
food, materials, medical
benefits, energy, recreational
and ceremonial purposes and
decorations over the past two
decades.
Sustainable Use of Wild Species:
Key findings
• About 50,000 wild species are
used through different practices,
including more than 10,000 wild
species harvested directly for
human food.
• Rural people in developing
countries are most at risk from
unsustainable use, with lack
of complementary alternatives
often forcing them to further
exploit wild species already at
risk.
• One out of five source their
food from wild plants, algae and
fungi, while 2.4 billion depend
on firewood for cooking and
around 90 per cent of the 120
access to electricity, leaving 733
million people in the dark in
2020 compared to 1.2 billion in
2010.
• Clean Water and Sanitation:
On goals pertaining to clean water
and sanitation, the report noted
progress saying the proportion
of the global population using
safely managed drinking water
services increased from 70% in
2015 to 74% in 2020.
• Moreover, over the same period,
the population practising open
defecation decreased
by a third, from 739
million people to
494 million. Hence,
the world is on track
to eliminate open
defecation by 2030.
million population pursuing
fisheries rely on small-scale
fishing.
• According to the report, the use
of wild species defines identities
and livelihoods and also holds
cultural significance.
• Helping indigenous and local
communities maintain
their ability to use wild
species sustainably
and protecting their
cultural practices
associated with them would
ensure their survival.
• The report also noted that
indigenous people and local
communities used local
knowledge, practices and
spirituality for the sustainable use
of wild species.
• They respected nature and
only took what they needed.
This ensured that healthy
populations of wild species
were maintained.
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 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, a study said that
there is a need to save Chenkurinji
from climate change.
About
• Chenkurinji (Gluta travancorica)
is a species endemic to the
Agasthyamala Biosphere
Reserve.
• Belonging to the
Anacardiaceae family, the
tree was once abundant in
the hills on the southern
parts of the Aryankavu
India’s Clean Energy Target
Source: Indian Express
Context: In the recently held Sydney
Energy Forum, India proclaimed that
it has achieved clean energy targets
nine years ahead of schedule.
About:
• India’s Clean Energy Targets
-  At the UN COP-21 Glasgow
Summit, India’s target comprises
of
• 500 GW of non-
fossil fuel installed power
generation capacity by
2030
• 50% electricity generation from
renewable sources by 2030
• India’s INDC Targets under
Green Grids Initiative
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, India, in
partnership with the United
Kingdom, announced the  Green
Grids Initiative — One Sun,
One World, One Grid (GGI-
99 ALS Current Affairs
EDM-146
Chenkurinji
Pass in Kerala’s Kollam district.
• The Shendurney Wildlife
Sanctuary derives its name
Chenkurinji (Gluta travancorica),
a species endemic to the
Agasthyamala Biosphere
Reserve.
• It is very susceptible to climate
change and the present condition
of the species is quite bad with
low regeneration performance.
• Though there are seemingly
enough number of the tree, most
are not productive, generating a
EDM-147
Paris Agreement 2015 -To
reduce the emissions intensity of
its GDP by 33 to 35 % by 2030
from 2005 level.
• To achieve about 40 % cumulative
electric power installed capacity
from non-fossil fuel based energy
resources by 2030.
• Status of Renewable Energy
Capacity - India has installed
162 GW of renewable energy
capacity, which is 41% of the
total installed electricity (402
GW).
• Sydney Energy Forum – It
was co-hosted by the Australian
Government and the International
EDM-148
OSOWOG).
About
• India had  first proposed
connecting solar energy
supply across borders at the
International Solar Alliance in
negative trend in its population.
• The majority of the trees is old
with poor flowering and fruiting
rates.
• Though the flowering usually
happens in January, of late, the
species has reported a tendency
to extend the process due to
climate change.
Significance of Chenkurinji
• It is reported to have medicinal
properties and is used to
lower blood pressure and treat
arthritis.
Energy Agency.
• Business Council of Australia
acts as a Forum partner.
• Ministers from the United States,
Japan, India, Indonesia, and the
Pacific Island nation of Samoa
have attended the forum.
• Its aim is to secure clean energy
supply chains for the Indo-Pacific
region.
• The forum will foster connections
between investors, business and
government with a focus on
innovations in key clean energy
technologies such as solar,
hydrogen, critical minerals and
batteries.
2018 to allow parts of the world
with excess renewable power to
send power to other countries.
• If the world has to move to a
clean and green future, these
interconnected transnational
2022: SERIES VII
 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
grids are going to be critical
solutions.
• The proposal is aimed
at  addressing the issue of
reliability of supply from solar
power plants, which do not
generate electricity after the sun
has set.
• A transnational grid would allow
countries to source solar power
from regions where it is daytime
to meet their green energy
needs even when their own
installed solar capacity is not
generating energy.
• OSOWOG is also aimed at
addressing the issue of high cost
Singalila National Park
Source: Indian Express
Context: Padmaja Naidu Himalayan
Zoological Park recently launched
a programme to introduce 20 Red
Pandas in around five years to the
Singalila National Park.
About:
• Singalila National Park is a
highly protected area, located at
the Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling
district of West Bengal.
• It is the  highest altitude in the
state.
• This park was a wildlife sanctuary
initially. It was converted into a
National Park in 1992.
• In 1994, it was declared a major
wild habitat for red pandas.
Concerns with the Pangolins &
red pandas
• Pangolins and red pandas are
among the most trafficked
animals worldwide. Both the
animals are distinctive mammals
and are endemic to the eastern
Himalayas.
• They are threatened due to several
geographic and socioeconomic
factors, resulting into illegal
2022: SERIES VII
of energy storage.
• OSOWOG initiative is a possible
solution for driving down the
need for storage, which in effect
will reduce the costs of the energy
transition.
What are the challenges to the
OSOWOG project?
• The transmission of power across
vast distances would require
large capital investment to set up
long transmission lines.
• The first step of OSWOG would
be solar power transfer between
neighbouring countries.
• India, Bhutan, Bangladesh,
Myanmar and Nepal  already
EDM-149
wildlife trafficking. Its illegal
trade is rising at an alarming rate.
Number of species in Singalila
National Park
• Number of red pandas and
pangolins are not available
officially. However, as per
reports, the number of wild red
pandas stands between 40-45,
in Singalila National Park and
Neora Valley National Park in
Kalimpong.
About Red Panda
• Two species of Panda are found
worldwide, namely, Giant Pandas
and Red Pandas. Red panda is the
state animal of Sikkim. They are
shy, solitary and arboreal animals.
They are also regarded as an
indicator species for ecological
change.
• In India,  two subspecies of
Panda are found viz, Himalayan
red panda and Chinese red panda.
Red panda is endemic to the
forests of India, Bhutan, Nepal,
north Myanmar and south China.
IUCN Status
• Red Pandas are categorized
share transmission capacity for
energy transfer across borders
which can be expanded further
and utilised for the transfer
of solar power between these
countries.
• The International Solar Alliance
has commissioned a study the
feasibility of the OSOWOG
project.
• The study will make an
assessment on a country-by-
country basis, examining
projected power demand and
supply as well as the
renewable energy
resource potential.
in “Endangered” category of
IUCN Red list and Appendix I of
CITES.
• They are protected under
Schedule I of Wildlife Protection
Act 1972. On the other hand,
Giant Pandas are Vulnerable in
IUCN Red List and Appendix I
species in CITES.
Number of red pandas
As per estimate, there are
5,000-6,000 species of red
pandas in India. As per
IUCN assessment in 2015,
global populations have
reduced by 50% in last 18 years.
Conservation breeding
programme
• The conservation breeding
programme was started in
Singalila National Park to protect
red pandas in 1994. By 2003,
22 red pandas were introduced.
2 more female red pandas were
introduced in 2004. In 2019, 4
pandas were  released. Despite
this initiative, no of red panda
in Singalila National Park is not
increasing.
ALS Current Affairs 100
 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
What are the reasons for
declining population?
• Cross Border Poaching  activity
has increased over time, because
demand of trafficked animals has
increased due to illicit pet trade
Debate over the new Forest Conservation Rules
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, the debate over
the new Forest Conservation Rules
brought in by the Central
government is heating
up ahead of Parliament’s
monsoon session.
About
Provisions of the new rules
• Project approval only
after  Traditional Forest Rights
are ensured.
• State Governments to settle
the claims of Forest Rights of
community dwellers.
• For monitoring the Act, the
following committees will be
constituted
• an advisory committee
• a regional empowered
committee and  diversion, from the purview
• a screening committee at the
State/UT
• Allows for
Compensatory
Afforestation (CA) in
other states
• CA to be carried out in states
with Forest Cover <20% in
case a state already has,
• 2/3rd (66%) under Green
Cover or
• 1/3rd (33%) under Forest
Cover
• Time Frame will be attached
for quicker review of the
project.
Evolution of Forest Conservation
Rules
• Forest Conversation Act 1980 was
101 ALS Current Affairs
and private resorts. Skin of red
panda is used to make hats in
China.
• Apart from that,  roads and
other infrastructure has been
financed inside the park by West
EDM-150
enacted to ensure protect Forest
areas from diversion for non-
forestry purposes.
• It ensured that the protection
of forests comes under the
purview of the centre.
• Before this,
• the diversion of forest lands
was decided by the State
governments.
• Forest Advisory Committee
(FAC)  decided on the
diversion of Forest Land.
• Forest Rights Act, 2006
• It signified a shift in deciding
the diversion of Forest land
by considering the rights of
Forest Dwelling communities.
• Earlier the FAC decided
on the cases of forest
of forest health, protection
of wildlife species, major
harm to biodiversity, the land
required for compensatory
afforestation in lieu of the
forest diversion etc.
• The Forest-dwelling
communities were to be
consulted before sanctioning
of such projects.
• The approval of Gram Sabha
became important.
• Forest Conservation Rules
2022
• The Rights of the forest
dwellers would be settled
before a project receives
sanction.
• The State Government will be
Bengal government, in a bid to
generate revenue from tourism.
Huge influx of visitors and
vehicles are pushing animals
away.
responsible for the settlement
of Forest rights.
Concerns/ Challenges
• Undermining the role of Gram
Sabha (GS)
• The new rules don’t state if it
is mandatory to take a NOC
(no-objection Certificate from
the GS before the diversion of
lands in a forested area.
• Dilution of Forest Rights
• All claims of Forest Rights
(FRs) will be deemed to
be settled once the project
receives final approval for
forest clearances from the
centre.
• The 2015 rules had ensured
protection to claims of FRs.
Unless all claims of FRs are
settled, no land was to be
approved for diversion, hence
a NOC from GS was a must.
• Lack of protection against
diversion of lands
• As State Governments have
been granted the power to
settle the FRs vs earlier when
the Central government has
been responsible for this.
• The state governments will be
under even greater pressure
from the Centre to accelerate
the process of diversion of
forest land.
• The Central government has
started to rank state environment
impact assessment authorities
(SEIAAs)  based on the speed
at which they cleared proposals
2022: SERIES VII
 ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
and provided environmental
clearance for projects.
Government’s rationale behind
new rules
• Streamlining the approval
process
• As the implementation of the
Forest Rights Act and settling
claims of Forest Rights is an
Source: Indian Express
Context: Recently, Scientists from
the Wildlife Institute of India,
Dehradun and the Himachal Pradesh
forest department have calculated
the density and population of Asiatic
black bears in two Protected Areas
(PAs) of Himachal Pradesh.
About
• The scientists calculated the
population density of the bears
for Darangati Wildlife Sanctuary
and Rupi Bhaba.
• Names: The Asiatic black bear is
also called the Himalayan bear,
Tibetan bear, or moon bear.
• The Asiatic black bear is one of
eight extant species of the bear
family: along with the American
black bear, the sun bear, the
spectacled bear, the brown bear,
the polar bear, the sloth bear and
the giant panda.
• Omnivorous: The Asiatic black
bear is omnivorous, eating
2022: SERIES VII
independent process from
that of project approvals.
• Forest Rights will be ensured
by regular monitoring by Tribal
Affairs Ministry.
• Balanced creation of Forests
across states due to new
provision of Compensatory
Afforestation permitted in other
EDM-151
Asiatic Black Bears
insects, fruit, nuts, bees and
honey, small mammals, and birds
as well as carrion.
• Habitat: Asiatic black bears
live predominantly in forested
areas, especially in hills and
mountainous areas.
• Distribution: Asiatic black bears
are found over a wide area of
southern Asia.
• They occur along the
mountains from Afghanistan,
through Pakistan and
northern India, Nepal,
Sikkim, and Bhutan, into
Burma and northeastern
China.
• They are also found in
southeastern Russia,
and on Taiwan and the
Japanese islands of Honshu
and Shikoku.
• The bears are found in
83 protected areas of
India  spread across five
states.
Conclusion
• A balanced approach must be
taken to safeguard the Forest
Rights and allow for timely
approval of the projects by
following due process. Only
then, sustainable development
can be ensured.
states and 2 Union
Territories in the
Himalayas.
• It is one of the
large carnivore
species  having  negative
interactions with humans in
the Indian Himalayas.
• IUCN red list: It
has been categorised
as  Vulnerableunder the
International Union for
Conservation of Nature’s Red
List of Threatened Species and
is also listed under Appendix
I of CITES and Schedule I of
the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972.
• Methods used to determine the
population status of
Asiatic black bears in
India have been limited
to questionnaires, sign
surveys and genetic
sampling using hair samples.
ALS Current Affairs 102
 INTERNAL SECURITY

Internal Security
SYLLABUS
(GS Paper-III)
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and
social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-
laundering and its prevention
• Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime
with terrorism
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Critical Information Infrastructure
Source: The Indian Express
Context: Recently, the Union
Ministry of Electronics and IT
(MeitY) declared IT resources of
ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and UPI
managing entity NPCI as ‘critical
information infrastructure (CII)’.
About
What is critical information
infrastructure?
• The Information Technology
Act of 2000 defines “Critical
Information Infrastructure” as
a “computer resource,
the incapacitation or
destruction of which shall
have debilitating impact
IS-50
on national security, economy,
public health or safety”.
• The government, under the Act,
has the power to declare any
data, database, IT network or
communications infrastructure as
CII to protect that digital asset.
• Any person who secures access
or attempts to secure access to a
protected system in violation of
the law can be punished with a
jail term of up to 10 years.
How are CIIs protected in India?
• Created in January 2014, the
National Critical Information
Infrastructure Protection Centre
(NCIIPC) is the nodal agency
for taking all measures to protect
the nation’s critical information
infrastructure.
• It is mandated to guard CIIs
from “unauthorized access,
modification, use, disclosure,
disruption, incapacitation or
distraction”.
• The NCIIPC will monitor and
forecast national-level threats
to the CII for policy guidance,
expertise sharing and situational
awareness for early warning or
alerts.
• The basic responsibility for
protecting the CII system shall lie
with the agency running that CII.

Source: PIB
Context: INS Trikand is currently
deployed in the Persian Gulf and
the Gulf of Oman as part of the
Operation Sankalp. On an average
16 Indian-flagged merchant vessels
are being provided safe passage each
day in the Gulf region.
About
• The Indian Navy had commenced
IS-51
Operation Sankalp
Maritime Security Operations,
codenamed Op Sankalp, in the
Gulf Region on 19 June 2019.
Aim:
• To ensure safe passage of Indian
Flag Vessels transiting through
the Strait of Hormuz.
• Provide a sense of reassurance to
the Indian merchantmen.
• Monitor the ongoing situation.
• Respond to any emergent crises.
Involved Stakeholders:
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of External Affairs
• Ministry of Shipping
• Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas and
• DG, Shipping
INS Trikand
• INS Trikand (F51) is a Talwar-

103 ALS Current Affairs 2022: SERIES VII

 INTERNAL SECURITY
class frigate of the Indian Navy.
• It is the third and final ship of
the second batch of Talwar-class
Source: PIB
Context: India successfully flight-
tested the Vertical Launch Short
Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-
SRSAM) from a ship at Integrated
Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the
coast of Odisha.
About VL-SRSAM
• The VL-SRSAM, a ship-borne
weapon system, is meant for
neutralising various aerial threats
Iskander-M Missile System
Source: PIB
Context: Russia has announced to
transfer the “Iskander-M Missile
System” to Belarus. This missile
system can use ballistic or cruise
missiles, in their nuclear and
conventional versions.
About
• Iskander-M missile system is
codenamed as “SS-26 Stone” by
the NATO. Russia uses the term
Iskander-M to define transporter-
erector launch system as well
as short-range ballistic missile
(SRBM) fired by it.
• This system can be used to fire
ground-launched cruise missiles
(GLCMs) viz., SSC-7 and
SSC-8. This system has been
exclusively used by Russian
military. It was first launched in
1996, successfully.
Range and capability of the
missile
• Iskander-M missile has a range of
2022: SERIES VII
frigates ordered by the Indian
Navy.
• It was built by the Yantar shipyard
IS-52
VL-SRSAM
at close ranges, including sea-
skimming targets.
• The weapon system will prove
to be a force-multiplier for the
Indian Navy.
• Designed to strike at the high-
speed airborne targets at the
range of 40km to 50km and at an
altitude of around 15km.
• Two key features of the VL-
SRSAM are cruciform wings and
IS-53
500 km. It is capable of carrying
a payload of up to 700 kg. It can
carry conventional as well as
nuclear warheads.
• Conventional warheads can be
equipped with bunker-buster
munitions, cluster bombs and
electromagnetic pulse (EMP)
warheads.
Induction of missile
• The Iskander system was
inducted in 2006, by Russia. It
was developed during late 1980s
after “Oka” SRBM (Short Range
Ballistic Missile) or OTR-23
was banned in accordance with
the Intermediate Nuclear Forces
Treaty. The Oka was first attempt
by Russia, for replacing Soviet
Scud missiles.
Background
• Russia made this announcement,
when G-7 forum met in Germany.
Russia raised nuclear weapons
as a sort of warning to the West,
in Kaliningrad, Russia.
• It was commissioned to Indian
Navy service on 29 June 2013.
thrust vectoring.
• The VL-SRSAM is a canisterised
system, which means it is stored
and operated from specially
designed compartments. In the
canister, the inside environment
is controlled, thus
making its transport
and storage easier and
improving the shelf
life of weapons.
against their support to Ukraine.
• This system has been used by
Russia against Europe in the past.
In 2012, Russia announced that
the system could be used to target
Europe’s missile defences.
• It has already been deployed in
Kaliningrad Russian
exclave. From there,
it can be used to target
the NATO forces in
Poland, Sweden and
the Baltic States.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO)
• The NATO is an intergovernmental
military alliance of 30member
states, including 28 European
and 2 North American.
• It was established after World
War II. It implements the North
Atlantic Treaty, that was signed
on April 4, 1949 in Washington,
D.C.
ALS Current Affairs 104

Pay Roll Automation for Disbursement of Monthly
Allowances
Source: The Hindu
Context: On June 28, 2022, the
Controller General of Defence
Accounts (CGDA), Ministry of
Defence, inaugurated the “Pay Roll
Automation for Disbursement of
Monthly Allowances (PADMA)”.
About
• PADMA is
an automated Pay &
Allowances module,
launched for the Indian
Coast Guard.
• It is an automated platform
leveraging latest technology.
• It will provide timely and
seamless disbursal of Pay &
Allowances to 15,000 Indian
Coast Guard personnel.
Who has developed this module?
• This module has been developed
under the Defense Accounts
Department. It will be operated
by Pay Accounts Office Coast
Guard, Noida.
ABHYAS: High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently, India
successfully tested the indigenously-
designed Abhyas – a High-speed
Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) –
in Odisha.
About
• The trial was carried out by the
Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) from the
Integrated Test Range (ITR) in
Odisha’s Chandipur.
ABHYAS
• Created and designed by the
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INTERNAL SECURITY
IS-54
Centralized Pay System
• The launch of PADMA is marked
as the start of Centralized Pay
System (CPS). Foundation stone
of CPS is being laid down by
Defence Accounts Department
Headquarters, in a bid to
provide one-stop pay accounting
solutions to all the organisations
under the Defence Ministry.
Significance of the system
• The Pay Roll Automation for
Disbursement of Monthly
Allowances system will
strengthen the Digital India
concept. It is an ‘Atmanirbhar
Bharat’ initiative because whole
module has been designed
and developed by the Indian
entrepreneurs.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
• It is a maritime law enforcement,
search and rescue agency of India.
It is having jurisdiction over its
territorial waters, including the
IS-55
DRDO’s Aeronautical Development
Establishment (ADE).
• Under the DRDO, ADE is a
significant Aeronautical Systems
Design Laboratory.
• It is involved in the design and
development of the state-of-the-
art Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAV) and Aeronautical Systems
and technologies to meet the
requirements of the Indian Armed
forces.
Features of ABHYAS:
• It is powered by a gas turbine
exclusive economic zone and
contiguous zone.
• It is formally established on
February 1, 1977, under the Coast
Guard Act, 1978. It operates
under Ministry of Defence.
• The ICG works in close
cooperation with the Indian
Navy, Department of Revenue
(Customs), Central & State
Police Forces and Department of
Fisheries.
Controller General of Defence
Accounts (CGDA)
• The CGDA is the head of
Defence Accounts Department.
This department is one of the
oldest government organisations
in India.
• The CGDA works under the
Ministry of Defence of India. It
functions as a cadre controlling
authority of Indian Defence
Accounts Services.
engine to sustain a long endurance
flight at subsonic speed.
• It is equipped with a MEMS
(Micro-Electro-Mechanical
Systems)-based Inertial
Navigation System (INS) for
navigation along with the Flight
Control Computer (FCC) for
guidance and control.
• The vehicle is programmed for
fully autonomous flight and their
check-out is done using a laptop-
based Ground Control Station
(GCS).
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 INTERNAL SECURITY
• Abhyas system is equipped with
Radar Cross-Section (RCS) and
infrared signatures which can
be used to simulate a variety of
aircraft for the practice of anti-
Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group
Source: PIB
Context: At the first meeting of the
Multi-Agency Maritime Security
Group (MAMSG), the National
Security Adviser, while calling for
seamless coordination among all
stakeholders involved in the maritime
domain, stated that the maritime
domain was a multilateral construct
and a nation “cannot unilaterally
decide” in the maritime domain.
About
• The MAMSG is envisaged
to provide a standing and
effective mechanism to ensure
coordination of all aspects of
maritime security, including
coastal and offshore security, as
well as fill the institutional, policy,
technological and operational
gaps in meeting present and
future security challenges.
• Importantly, the group will also
address maritime contingencies
requiring an urgent and
coordinated response.
• Chaired by: India’s first National
Maritime Security Coordinator
Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator
Source: PIB
Context: The Defence Research
and Development Organisation
successfully carried out the maiden
test flight of a new Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) named Autonomous
Flying Wing Technology
Demonstrator, from the Aeronautical
2022: SERIES VII
aircraft warfare and also for the
testing designed to target aerial
targets.
Uses of ABHYAS:
• It will be used as a target for the
IS-56
(NMSC) Vice-Admiral Ashok
Kumar (Retd.).
Key Discussions:
• Land border and maritime border
are very different. Maritime
borders cannot be fenced. We
cannot have the concept of zero
per cent tolerance for intrusion.
So, we need technology and other
ways of countering it.
• While India being a peninsular
position was a great advantage,
the cardinal principle was the
country’s vulnerabilities were
directly proportional to assets.
The more India developed, the
more assets it created, the more
trade and commerce increased,
greater would be the threat and
vulnerability in the maritime
domain.
• Economic interests and
coastal infrastructure are
critical to exploit our maritime
resources.
• A number of crucial policy
issues on maritime security were
taken up, including “mapping of
IS-57
Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka
on July 1, 2022.
About
• The Autonomous Flying Wing
Technology Demonstrator is
a precursor to an autonomous
stealthy unmanned aerial
combat vehicles (UCAV) being
evaluation of various missile
systems.
• It offers a realistic threat
scenario for practice of weapon
systems.
existing orders and policies on
maritime security to identify gaps,
review of standard operating
procedures for maritime
contingencies,
security of ports and
coastal infrastructure,
creation of a national
maritime database,
capacity building of coastal
States and UTs and promotion of
blue economy.”
India:
• Around 95% of Indian trade by
volume is maritime and routed
via 12 major and over 200 non-
major ports.
• Over 90% of the hydrocarbon
requirements are met through
seaborne imports and offshore
production.
• With over three lakh fishing
vessels, the marine
fisheries sector is also
a major contributor
to the economy and
livelihood of the
fishing community.
developed by the DRDO’s
Aeronautical Development
Establishment (ADE), primarily
for the Indian Air Force.
• The UCAV will be capable of
launching missiles and precision-
guided munitions.
• The unmanned aerial vehicle
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 INTERNAL SECURITY
(UAV) is powered by a small
turbofan engine.
• It is a reduced sized autonomous
aircraft.
• The engine used is Russian
TRDD-50MT originally designed
for cruise missiles.
• Assembled, designed and
developed by Aeronautical
Development Establishment
(ADE), Bengaluru.
• The airframe, undercarriage and
entire flight control and avionics
systems used for the aircraft
had been developed
indigenously.
The need
• To address the
immediate requirement of
the Armed Forces, India
had procured UAVs from the US
unmanned combat aerial vehicle Flying wing type
under an emergency procurement
(UCAV) programme. • The flying wing type of
lease but government has adopted
• It is a significant step aircraft refers to a tailless
a no-import policy of UAVs.
towards self-reliance in fixed-wing aircraft which
• This has spurred the effort towards
such strategic defence houses its payload and fuel
indigenization where the DRDO
technologies. in its main wings and does
and industry have demonstrated
• This is the crucial step not have a defined fuselage-
advanced capabilities.
for the stealth wing flying like structure found in
Significance of the successful testbed. conventional aircrafts.
flight • SWiFT UAV is targeted to • The ‘flying wing’ is the design
• The flight marks a major showcase the capability of most modern aircraft and
breakthrough in developing in developing stealth unmanned aerial vehicles in the
autonomous technology technology and high-speed world.
demonstration under its landing technology.

Source: PIB
Context: Under Operation
‘NARCOS’, the Railway Protection
Force recently recovered narcotics
worth over Rs. 7.40 crore.
About
What are the main highlights of
Operation NARCOS?
• In order to draw attention to
the problem of narcotic drugs
and psychotropic substances, a
IS-58
Operation ‘NARCOS’
month-long pan-India campaign
against drugs smuggling through
train was started in June-2022
under the codename Operation
‘NARCOS.’
• In conjunction with the Narcotics
Control Bureau and other law
enforcement agencies, the RPF
increased its checks in trains and
identified black spots across the
country to target drug peddlers
involved in this criminal trade.
What is the purpose of the
Railway Protection Force?
• The RPF contingent is a part
of the Union of India’s Armed
Forces. It is a security force
owned by Indian Railways,
Ministry of Railways.
• The RPF’s history begins in
1882, when individual railway
corporations recruited their

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 INTERNAL SECURITY
own guards to defend railway
property.
• A legislation of Parliament
established the force as a statutory
force in 1957, and it was later
designated as an Armed Force of
the Union of India in 1985.
• The RPF has been tasked with
ensuring the safety of railway
property.
What are RPF’s other initiatives?
Source: PIB
Context: The Defence Minister
launched Y-3023 Dunagiri, Project
17A frigate  built by Garden Reach
Shipbuilders Limited (GRSE) in
Kolkata on July 15, 2022.
About
• Christened after a mountain
range in the state of Uttarakhand,
‘Dunagiri’ is the fourth ship of
P17A Frigates.
• These are follow-on of the
P17 Frigates (Shivalik Class)
with improved stealth features,
advanced weapons and sensors and
2022: SERIES VII
AAHT Operation:
• Special teams will be sent on
all long-distance trains/routes
to rescue victims, particularly
women and children, from
traffickers’ hands.
Initiative Meri Saheli:
• The project will prioritise the
protection of female passengers.
In September 2020, South
Eastern Railway started it as a
IS-59
Dunagiri
platform management systems.
• The first two ships of P17A
Project were launched in 2019
and 2020 at MDL and GRSE
respectively.
• The  third ship (Udaygiri)  was
launched at MDL on 17 May
2022 earlier this year.
• Seven P17A Frigates are under
various stages of construction at
Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL)
and GRSE.
P17A Frigates
• The Nilgiri-class frigate or
Project 17A is follow-on of the
demonstration project. It was then
expanded to include all zones.
Yatri Surakhsha Operation:
• The RPF also assists state
police in combating passenger
crime through “Operation Yatri
Surakhsha.”
Nanhe Farishte Operation:
• It rescued 1,045 youngsters
who were discovered alone or
abandoned at railway stations.
Project 17 Shivalik-
class frigate for the
Indian Navy.
• The frigates are built with
extensive use of low-
observability technologies,
including new radar-absorbing
coatings, composite materials and
“faceted” shape superstructures.
• P17A ships have been designed
in-house by Indian Navy’s
Directorate of Naval Design
(DND), which has successfully
spearheaded design of numerous
class of indigenous warships in
the past.
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