1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE _______________________________________________________________________ 6

1.1 Mediation Bill 2023 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6
1.2 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 __________________________________________________ 8
1.3 Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023 ____________________________________________________________ 10
1.4 Simultaneous Elections_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11
1.5 Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023 ________________________________________ 13
1.6 Pendency of Cases in Indian Judiciary ____________________________________________________________________________________ 15
1.7 Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term
of Office) Bill, 2023, _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18
Prelims News______________________________________________________________________________________20
1.8 Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 _____________________________________________________________________ 20
1.9 Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023____________________________________________________________ 20
1.10 Inter-Services Organisation Act__________________________________________________________________________________________ 20
1.11 No Confidence Motion _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20
1.12 Privilege Motion ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21
1.13 Vehicle Scrapping Policy __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21
1.14 North Eastern Council _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21
1.15 Select Committee __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22
1.16 Caste Survey in Bihar _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22
1.17 Legislators Qualification __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22
Short News In Table ________________________________________________________________________________23
2. Perspective Article _____________________________________________________________________________ 24
2.1 Revamp of Criminal Laws __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24
3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS _____________________________________________________________________ 27
3.1 Neighbourhood First Policy ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 27
3.2 India-China Relationship ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 29
3.3 Soft Power of India __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30
3.4 BRICS Expansion ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 33
Prelims News______________________________________________________________________________________35
3.5 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) _______________________________________________________________ 35
3.6 India- Greece Relations_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 35
3.7 ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement _________________________________________________________________________________ 36
3.8 India and the Northern Sea Route _________________________________________________________________________________________ 36

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Short News In Table______________________________________________________________________________37-39
4. ECONOMY ___________________________________________________________________________________ 40
4.1 NPA in India__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 40
4.2 Startup Ecosystem in India_________________________________________________________________________________________________ 42
4.3 Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 ________________________________________ 44
4.4 Review of IMF Quota ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 46
4.5 Pricing of Agricultural Commodities _____________________________________________________________________________________ 48
4.6 Decarbonising Transport Sector __________________________________________________________________________________________ 50
4.7 Role of microfinance sector in Indian Economy _________________________________________________________________________ 53
4.8 Off-track finances: Indian Railways needs better financial control ___________________________________________________ 55
4.9 Animal Husbandry: Success and Constraints ____________________________________________________________________________ 57
4.10 Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) ______________________________________________________________________________________ 59
4.11 ILO Report on Generative AI _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 61
Prelims News______________________________________________________________________________________63
4.12 T+1 Trade settlement _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 63
4.13 Windfall Tax________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 64
4.14 National WareHousing Reciepts _________________________________________________________________________________________ 64
4.15 Jute Bag Packaging ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 64
4.16 Bharat NCAP________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 64
4.17 Industrial Corridor ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 65
4.18 National Bioenergy Programme (NBP) _________________________________________________________________________________ 65
4.19 Fortification of Urea _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 65
4.20 Computer Laptop Ban in India ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 66
4.21 Bharatnet Project __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 66
4.22 World Trade Statistical Review (WTSR) ________________________________________________________________________________ 66
Short News In Table______________________________________________________________________________67-68
Data Point______________________________________________________________________________________69-70
4.23 India’s Public Debt ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 69
4.24 Remittances in India ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 69
4.25 Lokniti-CSDS’s Latest Survey _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 69
4.26 Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) _____________________________________________________________________________ 69
4.27 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) __________________________________________________________________________________ 70
4.28 National Coal Index ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 70
4.29 FAO's All Rice Price Index ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 70
5. ENVIRONMENT AND GEOGRAPHY ________________________________________________________________ 71
5.1 All India Tiger Estimation 2022 ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 71

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 5.2 Biological Diversity Amendment Act 2023_______________________________________________________________________________ 72
5.3 Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023 ___________________________________________________________________________ 74
5.4 Cloudburst in High Altitude Regions ______________________________________________________________________________________ 76
5.5 Aftermath of Cheetah Relocation to India ________________________________________________________________________________ 78
5.6 Mangrove Conservation ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 80
Prelims News _____________________________________________________________________________________83
5.7 State of the Climate in Asia 2022: WMO __________________________________________________________________________________ 83
5.8 Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment ) Act, 2023 ______________________________________________________________ 83
5.9 Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 84
5.10 Great Nicobar Project _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 84
5.11 Earthquake in Andaman and Nicobar Islands__________________________________________________________________________ 85
5.12 Extreme Heat in Mediterranean Sea ____________________________________________________________________________________ 85
5.13 Drilling in the North Sea __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 86
5.14 Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) __________________________________________________________________________________ 86
5.15 Endemic Birds of India by ZSI ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 86
5.16 Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) _______________________________________________________________________________________ 87
5.17 Deepor Beel ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 87
5.18 Baghjan Oil Leak ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 87
Species In News _________________________________________________________________________________88-89
Short News In Table______________________________________________________________________________89-90
6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY _____________________________________________________________________ 91
6.1 Chandrayaan 3 Mission_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 91
6.2 Indian Space Sector _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 92
6.3 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) __________________________________________________________________________________________ 95
6.4 Superconductivity___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 97
Prelims News______________________________________________________________________________________98
6.5 India AI and Meta India MoU_______________________________________________________________________________________________ 98
6.6 Gene-edited Mustard _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 99
6.7 WHO Report on Tobacco Control __________________________________________________________________________________________ 99
6.8 NavIC Integration into Aadhaar Enrolment Devices ____________________________________________________________________ 99
6.9 Pig's Kidney Transplanted into Humans _______________________________________________________________________________ 100
6.10 Methylotuvimicrobium Buryatense 5GB1C __________________________________________________________________________ 100
6.11 ICMR Study on Covid ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 101
Short News In Table____________________________________________________________________________101-102
7. DEFENCE AND SECURITY _______________________________________________________________________ 103
7.1 Border Disputes of India _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 103

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Prelims News_____________________________________________________________________________________105
7.2 Financial Action Task Force (FATF)_____________________________________________________________________________________ 105
Short News In Table _______________________________________________________________________________105
8. SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ___________________________________________________________________ 106
8.1 Manual Scavenging Menace in India ____________________________________________________________________________________ 106
8.2 Estimation of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)/ Divyangjan _______________________________________________________ 108
8.3 Women in Armed Conflict ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 109
8.4 Jal Jeevan Mission _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 111
Prelims News_____________________________________________________________________________________115
8.5 National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) ___________________________________________________ 114
8.6 Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0 ___________________________________________________________________________ 114
8.7 WHO’s first Global Summit on Traditional Medicine _________________________________________________________________ 114
8.8 Global Initiative for Digital Health (GIDH) _____________________________________________________________________________ 114
8.9 National Food Security Act (NFSA) ______________________________________________________________________________________ 115
8.10 Paharis and Paddaris: Proposed ST status ___________________________________________________________________________ 115
9.11 State of Elementary Education in Rural India report________________________________________________________________ 115
8.12 Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission ________________________________________________________________________ 115
8.13 WHO on Cough Syrup ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 116
Short News In Table _______________________________________________________________________________117
9. ART & CULTURE ______________________________________________________________________________ 117
9.1 Megalithic Site In Kerala _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 117
9.2 Nataraja Sculpture ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 117
10. Ethics ______________________________________________________________________________________ 118
National Medical Commission Guidelines __________________________________________________________________________________ 118
11. Personality in News ___________________________________________________________________________ 121
12. Places in News _______________________________________________________________________________ 122
13. Schemes in News: ____________________________________________________________________________ 124

TEST YOURSELF ____________________________________________________________________________________ 1

POLITY & GOVERNANCE _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1
ECONOMY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2
ENVIRONMENT AND GEOGRAPHY ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 2
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3
SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4

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1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1.1 Mediation Bill 2023
Context:
Recently, the Parliament has passed the Mediation Bill 2023.
Key Features of Mediation Bill 2023:
• Settling Disputes through Mediation: The Bill requires
persons to try to settle civil or commercial disputes
through mediation before approaching any court or
tribunal.
• Time Period: A party may withdraw from mediation after
two mediation sessions. The mediation process must be
completed within 180 days, which may be extended by
another 180 days by the parties.
• Mediation Council of India: The Bill provides for the
setting up of The Mediation Council of India.
 Its functions will include registering mediators, and
recognising mediation service providers and mediation
institutes.
• Governance: The Bill aims to govern two forms of
mediation - voluntary and mandatory.
 A voluntary mediation is where parties under a written mediation agreement seek mediation. Such an agreement may
either be as part of a contract or exist independently.
 Mandatory mediation is, where barring certain areas of disputes, there is a legal obligation on parties to mediate before
approaching a court/tribunal.
• Areas of Exclusion: The areas excluded from mediation include serious allegations of fraud, criminal offenses, environmental
matters reserved for the National Green Tribunal, and matters relating to competition, telecom, securities and electricity law
and land acquisition.
• Court’s Role: The provisions of the Bill will not prevent any court, if deemed appropriate, from referring any dispute to
mediation relating to compoundable or matrimonial offenses connected with or arising out of civil proceedings between the
parties.
 Compoundable offenses are those that can be compromised, i.e. the complainant can agree to take back the charges
levied against the accused. For Example: Hurt, wrongful restraint, assault, molestation, fraud, adultery.
• Concept of Community Mediation: Disputes likely to affect peace, harmony and tranquility amongst the residents or families
of any area or locality can be mediated and settled by a panel of mediators appointed by the concerned Authority.
What is Mediation?
• Mediation is a voluntary process in which parties try to settle disputes with the assistance of an independent third person
(the mediator).
• It is a form of Alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
 As per data published by the National Legal Services Authority for the year 2021-22, India had 464 ADR centres (397
functional), 570 mediation centres, 16,565 mediators, and nearly 53,000 cases were settled through mediation
• A mediator does not impose a solution on the parties but creates a conducive environment in which they can resolve their
dispute.
• The mediation process depends on the choice of parties, and there are no strict or binding rules of procedure.

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Significance of Bill:
• India as a center of Mediation: This legislation will help ensure that institutional mediation becomes mainstream in resolving
commercial (and other) disputes between the parties, putting India on the global map as a dispute friendly jurisdiction.
o For Example: There exists a strong correlation between Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and the promotion of mediation,
and Singapore serves as a prime example of how a robust mediation ecosystem can attract greater foreign investments.
• Pendency of Cases: According to the Minister for Law and Justice, there are 4.43 lakh cases pending in district subordinate
courts, 60.63 lakh cases in high courts and around 70,000 cases in the Supreme Court.
 Mandating participation in pre-litigation mediation may help reduce pendency and the slow disposal rate in courts.
• Cost-effective: Mediation is a cost-effective dispute resolution process that also helps reduce the burden on courts by
enabling out-of-court settlements.
 For Example: According to an article published in Harvard Singapore Convention on Mediation:
Business Review, the ADR-based mediation of one dispute • It provides a framework for cross-border enforcement of
settlement agreements resulting from international mediation.
cost $25,000, whereas mediation through outside counsel
• In 2019, India became a signatory to this Convention, but has
would have cost an estimated $700,000 and going to court as
not yet ratified it.
much as $2.5 million over a period of three to five years.
• Greater Control: Mediation increases the control the parties have over the resolution. Each party is directly involved in
negotiating their own agreement and no settlement can be imposed upon.
• Confidential: Unlike the potential publicity of court proceedings, everything said at the mediation is entirely confidential to
the parties (unless specifically agreed otherwise).
• Faster outcomes: Because mediation can be used early in a dispute, an agreement can usually be reached quicker than if
pursued through the courts.
 The Mediation Process can take a maximum of 60 days, sometimes many cases are resolved in one or two sessions unlike
in the judicial courts where normally civil matters are expected to be disposed of within three years.
Challenges of Mediation in India:
• Lack of Codification: In 2020, the Supreme court in MR Krishna Murthi v. New India Assurance Co. Ltd pointed out the urgent
need for enacting a uniform legislation for mediation in India.
• Societal Stigma: In some cases, parties might hesitate to opt for mediation due to concerns about public perception, fearing
that it might be seen as a sign of weakness or compromise.
• Resistance from Legal Professionals: Traditional legal professionals might be resistant to embracing mediation, as it could be
perceived as a threat to their practice or income.
• Infrastructural Concerns and Quality Control: Improved emphasis on mediation will directly increase the workload on
mediation centers which lack administrative strength.
• Institutional Support: While India has made efforts to promote mediation through legislative reforms, the infrastructure for
supporting mediation at the grassroots level, including establishing mediation centers and training programs, is still evolving.
• Lack of expertise and curriculum in the established universities: Lack of mediation education within law school curricula is
one of the major hindrances.
• Lack of Professional Mediators: The pool of trained and experienced mediators in India is still relatively small, making it
challenging to offer mediation services in all areas and for all types of disputes.
Way Forward:
• Institutional Support: Establishing well-equipped and accessible mediation centers at various levels, from local communities
to national levels, can provide people with convenient access to mediation services.
• More Opening of Mediation & Arbitration Centre: Government should facilitate opening of mediation centers.
 For Example: Recently, Uttar Pradesh got its first mediation & arbitration centre in the form of ‘Centre for Excellence in
Mediation and Arbitration or CEMA.
• Training and Certification: Developing comprehensive training programs for mediators, lawyers, and judges can ensure that
there is a pool of skilled professionals proficient in mediation techniques, ethical considerations, and cultural sensitivity.

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• Integration with Legal Curriculum: Incorporating mediation education within law school curricula can prepare future legal
professionals to consider mediation as a primary or complementary method for dispute resolution.
• Legal Reforms: Continuously updating laws and regulations to
support and encourage mediation, while also ensuring the Q. Discuss the key provisions of Mediation Bill 2023. What are the
challenges in the successful implementation of mediation as a
enforceability of mediated settlements, is crucial.
dispute resolution mechanism in India.
• Online Mediation: Leveraging technology for online mediation
platforms can make the process more accessible, especially for those in remote areas, and provide a convenient alternative
to in-person sessions.

1.2 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005

Context:
The Parliamentary standing committee has called for addressing wage disparity under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA).
More on News:
• Parliamentary Standing Committee over MGNREGA Observed that Disparity of wages and non-increase in wages
commensurately with inflation is perhaps the most discouraging aspect for laborers to undertake MGNREGA works.
• The panel reiterated an earlier recommendation to explore the possibility of making the wages paid under the scheme
uniform across the country.
• The panel highlighted that daily wage rates ranged from Rs 204 to Rs 331 in different states and Union territories.
About MGNREGA:
• MGNREGA was enacted in 2005 as a social welfare program by the Ministry of
Rural development.
• Objective: To guarantee 100 days of employment in every financial year to adult
members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual
work.
Key Features:
• Legal Right to Work: For adult members of rural households, with at least one-
third of beneficiaries being women.
• Wage Provision: Wages must be paid according to the wages specified for agricultural laborers in the state under the
Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
• Time bound guarantee of work: Employment must be provided with 15 days of being demanded failing which an
‘unemployment allowance’ must be given.
• Decentralized Planning: Gram sabhas must recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the works
must be executed by them.
• Work Site Facilities: All work sites should have crèches, drinking water and first aid.
• Funding: Funding is shared between the centre and the states.
• Transparency and accountability: Social audits are conducted by gram sabhas to enable the community to monitor the
implementation of the scheme.
• Social audit includes an audit of the quality of works being executed at different levels along with the details of
disbursements made, the number of laborers employed and materials used.
• Appointment of ombudsperson: There should be an ombudsperson for each district who will receive grievances, conduct
enquiries, and pass awards.
Key Achievements of MGNREGA:
• Under MGNREGA a total of 11.37 Crore households availed employment and a total of 289.24 crore person-days
employment has been generated (till 15th December, 2022).
• LIfeline during Covid-19:

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  During the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, it provided employment to 11 crore workers.
 Wages earned under MGNREGA helped compensate for somewhere between 20% to 80% of the income loss.
 About 8.55 crore households demanded MGNREGA work in 2020-21, 8.05 crore in 2021-22, compared to a total of 6.16
core households in the pre-pandemic year 2019-20.
Challenges:
• Fabrication of Job Cards:There are issues related to the existence of fake job cards, the inclusion of fictitious names, missing
entries and delays in making entries in job cards.
• Increase in wages commensurate with inflation: The nominal wages under MGNREGA discourage beneficiaries and propel
them to migrate to urban areas.
 For Example: According to the new wage rate notified for the financial year 2023-24, the lowest is in Chhattisgarh and
Madhya Pradesh at Rs 221, while the highest is in Haryana at Rs 357, the ministry website said.
• Delay in Payment by Centre: As per data released by the Centre, it owed ₹4,700 crore in MGNREGA wages to 18 States as of
December 14, 2022.
• Non Payment of unemployment allowances: Most states do not pay an unemployment allowance when work is not given on
demand.
• Reduced Share in Union Budget: Government reduced allocation by 30% for the scheme in the Union Budget, from 2.14% of
overall outlay in FY23 to 1.33% in FY24.
• Red Tapism: There is much evidence that Aadhaar based payments have neither reduced corruption nor reduced wage
payment delays while creating hurdles for officials and workers during implementation.
• Utilization of funds: In 2010-11, 27.31% of the funds remained unutilised.
• Ineffective Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions: With very little autonomy, gram panchayats are not able to implement this
act in an effective and efficient manner.
• Large Number of Incomplete works: There has been a delay in the completion of works. Also, there is an issue of quality of
work and asset creation under MGNREGA.
Way Forward:
• Recommendations by the Panel: The panel reiterated an earlier recommendation to explore the possibility of making the
wages paid under the scheme uniform across the country.
 It also raised the issues of the pendency of payments to states and the slashing of the budget for MGNREGS for the
current financial year.
 For example: Till 25 January 2023, the pending liability of the central government was Rs 6,231 crore for wages and Rs
7,616 crore for material components under the scheme.
• Enhance Budgetary Allocation: The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in 2022 had
recommended increased budgetary allocation and increased person-days to MGNREGA.
• Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions: Gram panchayats need to be provided with adequate resources, powers, and
responsibilities to sanction works, provide work on demand, and authorize wage payments to ensure there are no delays in
payments.
 Training of functionaries: Training and capacity building of elected representatives and other functionaries of PRIs.
• Regulation of job cards: Offences such as not recording employment related information in job cards and unlawful possession
of job cards with elected PRI representatives and MGNREGA functionaries should be made punishable under the Act.
• Context specific projects and convergence: Since states are at various stages of socio-economic development, they have
varied requirements for development.
 Therefore, state governments should be allowed to undertake Q. Discuss the significant achievements and challenges
works that are pertinent to their Context under MGNREGA. associated with the implementation of MGNREGA, and what
• Uniform wage rate: Wage rates notified under MGNREGA range strategies and reforms have been suggested for the future
from Rs 193 to Rs 318 in different states/UTs. The wages should be enhancement of the program?
unified across the country.

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1.3 Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023
Context: Recently, Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023, received assent from President to amend the Multi-
State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002.
Need of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023:
• In Sync with the Constitutional mandate: Amendment to
the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 is necessary
to be in consistency with the Constitutional (Ninety-
Seventh) (Amendment) Act, 2011.
• Plugging Loopholes: It aims to plug loopholes in the existing
legislation and to strengthen governance in the Multi State
Cooperative Societies.
• Lax Corporate Governance: Poor standards of governance
combined with political influence hinders their day-to-day
functioning. Further, multiplicity of regulation and laws in
the co-op sector makes their functioning more difficult.
• Rampant Corruption: Offering or accepting bribes to
influence decisions or secure favorable treatment within the
cooperative society is a common norm.
 For Example: The Kuruhinashetty Souharda Credit
Cooperative Society in Bangalore issued loans to certain
individuals without required documents. It issued loans
just on the basis of photocopies of documents.
• Competition from Private Businesses: Private businesses
often have more resources and can offer products and
services at lower prices, which can make it difficult for
cooperatives to compete.
• Lack of Skilled Management and Inadequate Professionalism: Many cooperative entities suffer from a dearth of skilled
management and professionals, impacting their efficiency and financial handling.
• Inadequate Technology Adoption: Many cooperative societies still rely on manual processes and outdated technology.
Key Provisions of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023

Provision Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment)

of 2002 Act, 2023

Election of Board Members • Under the Act, elections to the • It establishes the Co-operative Election
board of a multi-state co-operative Authority to conduct and supervise elections
society are conducted by its existing to the boards of multi-state co-operative
board. societies.

Amalgamation of co-operative • The Act provides for the • The Bill allows state co-operative societies to
Societies amalgamation and division of merge into an existing multi-state co-
multi-state co-operative societies. operative society, subject to the respective
This can be done by passing a state laws with at least two-thirds of the
resolution at a general meeting with members consent
at least two-thirds of the members,
present and voting.

Fund for sick co-operative — • The Bill establishes the Co-operative

societies: Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and

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 Development Fund for revival of sick multi-
state co-operative societies.
.

Restriction on redemption of • The Act provides that the shares • The Bill amends to provide that any shares
Government Shareholding held in a multi-state co-operative held by the central and state governments
society by certain government cannot be redeemed without their prior
authorities can be redeemed based approval.
on the bye-laws of the society

Redressal of Complaints – • The central government will appoint one or

more Cooperative Ombudsmen with
territorial jurisdiction.

Way Forward:
• Local Factor: Cooperative societies should be formed while taking Success Factor Behind AMUL:
the local environment into account.
• Abolition or Merger: The weak and inefficient cooperative
societies should either be abolished or merged with strong and
efficient ones.
 For Example: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has sanctioned
the voluntary Scheme of Amalgamation of Maratha Sahakari
Bank with The Cosmos Co-operative Bank.
• Financial and technical assistance: The government could
provide more financial and technical assistance to cooperatives
to help them grow and thrive.
• Amul Girl: Amul Girl is the advertising charm used by the
company to promote its brand.
• Innovation: Amul continues to innovate, whether it is new
product launches, creative marketing activities, or fighting
traditional social trends to seek the best.
 In the 1960s, Amul was the first brand in the world to use
buffalo milk to produce skimmed milk powder.
• Efficient Supply Chain: Amul follows the three-level
cooperative structure of the village-level dairy cooperative
society, which is connected to the regional dairy cooperative,
which is part of the state-level dairy association.

 For Example: Central Sector Integrated Scheme on

Agricultural Cooperation (CSISAC), has been launched for the promotion and development of the cooperative sector
across India.
• More Access to financial resources: Cooperatives could be given greater access to financial resources, such as loans and
grants, to help them grow and expand.
• Adopt Technological Advancements: In the contemporary digital era, financial cooperatives must embrace technological
advancements to provide modern services like mobile banking, online account initiation, and remote deposit facilities.
• Expansion of Services: Financial cooperatives can expand their Q. Discuss the challenges faced by the cooperative sector. How
services beyond traditional savings and loans to include does the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act,
investment products, insurance, and financial education. 2023 seek to address them?

1.4 Simultaneous Elections

Context:
The government has formed a committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to explore the possibility of 'One
Nation One Election' that aims for holding of general and state elections simultaneously.
More about the news:
• The Minister for Law and Justice recently informed the government about the potential benefits of simultaneous elections
as well as impediments in its implementation.
• Avoiding duplication of efforts: The minister suggested that a synchronized electoral process will lead to avoidance of
replication of efforts on part of administrative and law and order machinery in holding repeated elections.
• Savings to Exchequer: This would bring considerable savings to political parties and candidates in their election campaigns.
• According to a report by Centre for Media Studies (CMS), the 2019 Lok Sabha elections expenditure was around Rs 60,000.
What is a simultaneous election(SE)/One Nation One Election?
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• It refers to conducting simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha
and state assemblies, thereby synchronizing the election cycle
and reducing the frequency of elections.
• This would involve holding elections in all states and the Lok Sabha
in a gap of five years, allowing voters to cast their votes for both
the Member of Parliament and Member of Legislative assemblies
on the same day, either simultaneously or in a phased manner.
Benefits of simultaneous elections:
• Reduced Expenditure: It will prevent the repetition of election
efforts and provide substantial cost savings for political parties and
candidates in their campaigns.
• Background of simultaneous elections: In India, general
elections for the House of the People and State Legislative
Assemblies were held simultaneously in 1951-52, 1957,
1962, and 1967.
Reasons for break in simultaneous election cycle:
• Indiscriminate use of Article 356 of the Constitution: The
synchronised cycle was first broken in Kerala, in July 1959,
when the Centre invoked Article 356 of the Constitution to
dismiss the ministry headed by E M S Namboodiripad of the
Communist Party.
 Defections and counter-defections ultimately led to the
dissolution of Assemblies, leading to break in cycle.

• As per annual audit reports of political parties submitted to the • Premature Dissolution: The cycle got disrupted with the
dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies like Punjab,
Election Commission of India(ECI), more than Rs 6,500 crore was
Madhya Pradesh, etc in 1968 and 1969.
spent on elections between 2015 and 2020.
 In 1970, the Lok Sabha was itself dissolved prematurely
• Issue of model code of conduct: It can mitigate the issue of the and fresh elections were held in 1971.
Model Code of Conduct(MCC)which sometimes hinders the
government from announcing projects or policy plans.
• The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission Views in favour of Simultaneous Elections:
of India for the conduct of political parties and candidates during • 170th Report of the Law Commission of India, “Reform of
elections Electoral Laws” (1999): Holding of separate elections to State
Legislative Assemblies should be an exception and not the
• Improved Governance: It allows governments to concentrate on
rule.
governance rather than diverting their attention towards frequent
• 79th Report of Parliamentary Standing Committee, 2015:
election preparations. Simultaneous election will decrease the Impact on delivery of
• Disruption of public services: It prevents frequent deployment of essential services.
government employees to election duty which impacts the • Working paper by NITI Aayog: National parties will be
smooth functioning of government operations and the delivery of contesting elections focusing on regional issues and regional
public services. parties focused on national issues, thereby bringing the
regional parties into mainstream politics and promoting
• Curbing black money:Frequent elections may lead to the
their growth.
conversion of black money into white money, potentially resulting
in a parallel economy. This could be mitigated by holding one-time
elections.
• The EC has caught cash, liquor and drugs worth Rs 3,456 crore used as bribe in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Impediments raised by Ministry of Law and Justice in implementation of Simultaneous Elections:
• Alteration of Basic Structure: It would require bringing
amendments in not less than five articles of Constitution to the
Constitution as well as to the Representation of People's Act
(RPA)1951.
• EVM Expenses: Doubling expenses on electronic voting machines
(EVMs) could offset the potential savings from simultaneous elections.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC): It is argued that it only prevents ruling parties from using government machinery for electoral
gains, rather than paralyzing policy-making as overstated by some opponents.
• Against federal structure: It has the tendency of moving the country towards a unitary state rather than a federal one that
the Constitution envisages.
• Change in Voting behaviour: Voters often vote for the same party for both State and Central governments when they must
vote at the same polling booth on the same day.

12
• Fading of local issues: Mixing of national and regional issues will lead to
fading of local issues,.
• Logistic Challenges: It could lead to logistical challenges especially with
the deployment of security forces in large numbers for free and fair
conduct.
• Controlling mid term dissolution: Ensuring adequate legal safeguards
would be a challenge which is necessary to prevent mid-term dissolution
of Houses and protecting the SE cycle.
Way Forward:
• Cycle of elections: Creating a cycle where legislative assemblies whose
terms end within six months to one year before or after the Lok Sabha
elections could be held along with elections of Lok Sabha.
• Political parties under RTI: To ensure accountability and democracy within political parties, bringing them under the
framework of the Right to Information (RTI) Act is recommended.
• Free and fair elections: Strengthening the ECI's role as a regulator and enhancing its monitoring capabilities to oversee poll
expenditure would contribute to conducting free and fair elections.
• Electronic voter ID cards: It can help eliminate bogus electors from electoral rolls, improving the accuracy and integrity of the
voter registration process.
• State funding of elections: It is proposed by various committees as a measure to reduce the influence of money power in
politics and promote a level playing field for candidates.
• For Example, Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections (1998), Law Commission Report on Reform of the
Electoral Laws (1999), Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2008).

1.5 Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023

Context:
Recently, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023 was passed by Parliament.
More on News:
Administration of UT in India:
• Earlier Ordinance: Government of
• Part VIII (Articles 239 to 241) of the Constitution deals with the Union Territories.
National Capital Territory of Delhi
 UTs are administered by the President through an administrator appointed by him/her.
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 ✓ In some UTs, such as Delhi and Puducherry, the administrator holds significant
 The Centre promulgated the powers, including the ability to make laws and regulations for the UT.
ordinance to create a National Capital ✓ In other UTs, such as Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the
Civil Service Authority for transfer of administrator's powers are limited to providing advice to the elected
IAS and DANICS cadre officers and government.

disciplinary proceedings against • Special Provisions for Delhi and Puducherry:

them.
 It has the power to recommend the
transfer and posting of all officers
from All India Services serving in Delhi
as well as vigilance matters related to
them.
• National Capital Territory of Delhi
(Amendment) Act, 2023:
 The Act redefines the roles of the
elected government, the Lieutenant
Governor (L-G), and the state’s
administrative machinery.
 The Union Territories of Puducherry (in 1963), and Delhi (in 1992) are provided with a
legislative assembly and a Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister.
✓ The Legislative assembly of Puducherry may make laws with respect to matters
enumerated in List II or List III in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
✓ The National Capital Territory of Delhi also has these powers. However, some
entries in List II, such as public order, police, and land, are not within the
legislative competence of the legislative assembly of Delhi.
GNCTD Act, 1991:
• The Act was enacted to complement the 69th Amendment Act, which introduced Articles
239AA and 239BB to grant Delhi the status of a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly.
• It outlines the powers and functions of the Legislative Assembly in Delhi.
• The Act clarifies the discretionary powers held by the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Delhi.

13
  In the matter of “services”, all appointments will be made by a three-member committee comprising the CM, chief
secretary and principal home secretary.
 The final executive authority in Delhi will be the Lieutenant-Governor, the Centre’s nominee.
Key Features of the Bill:
• National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA): The Bill creates the NCCSA to advise Delhi's Lieutenant Governor on specific
service-related aspects, such as transfers, vigilance, discipline, and prosecution for Group A officers of All India Services
(excluding Indian Police Service) and DANICS.
• Powers of the Lieutenant Governor:
 The Bill empowers the LG to exercise his sole discretion on several matters including those recommended by the National
Capital Civil Services Authority, and the summoning, prorogation and dissolution of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
 If a disagreement arises between the LG and the Authority, the LG's decision will hold ultimate authority.
• Duties of Secretaries:
 It authorizes department secretaries to bring to the notice of the LG, the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary any matter
that may bring Delhi Government into controversy with the Central Government.
Concern with the Bill:
• Triple Chain of Accountability Concerns:
Conferring powers over the transfer and
posting of officers to the Authority may
break the triple chain of accountability that
links the civil services, ministers, the
legislature and citizens.
 This may violate the principle of
parliamentary democracy, which is a
part of the basic structure doctrine.
• Discretion of the LG: The LG has been
granted sole discretion in several matters
including when the Legislative Assembly will
convene.
 This implies that the Chief Minister may be unable to convene a session
needed for essential government business.
• Bypassing Ministerial Involvement: Department secretaries will bring
certain matters directly to the LG, Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary,
without consulting the concerned minister.
 This may go against the collective responsibility of the Cabinet, as the
concerned ministers cannot provide his inputs.
• Centralization of Power: Critics argue that the bill aims to centralize power
in the hands of the central government at the expense of the Delhi
government.
 They contend that this centralization goes against the principles of
federalism and the idea of a democratic, devolved government for Delhi.
• Interference in Delhi's Autonomy: The bill is seen as an attempt by the
central government to interfere in the affairs of the Delhi government.
 It is argued that this move undermines the autonomy and rights of the Delhi government, which had been reinforced by a
Supreme Court judgment in May 2023.
• Constitutional Concerns: The bill violates the Constitution, particularly Article 239, which provides powers to the Delhi
Assembly to make laws on subjects mentioned in the State List and Concurrent List.

14
Conclusion:
In the process of resolving the situation, it's crucial for everyone involved to show dedication to constitutional principles. This
includes valuing democratic governance, the division of powers, and Q. Whether the Supreme Court Judgment can settle the political
the rights of elected officials. Adhering to the constitutional framework tussle between the Lt. Governor and elected government of
will establish a strong basis for a just and clear resolution. Delhi? Examine. (2018)

1.6 Pendency of Cases in Indian Judiciary

Context:
The 133rd report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice underscores the
imperative for a comprehensive strategy to alleviate case backlogs.
More on News:
• The Committee recognizes the historical origin of judicial vacations as a colonial legacy.
• The court takes two long vacations each year, the summer and winter breaks, but is technically not fully closed during these
periods.
• It is evident that the collective suspension of court proceedings during such vacations causes substantial inconveniences to
the litigants involved.

Key Recommendation of the Parliamentary Panel:

• Regional Benches of Supreme Courts (SC): They suggested having courts in different parts of the country so people don't have to travel
far for justice.
 SC can invoke Article 130 of the Constitution to establish its regional Benches at four or five locations in the country.
• Post-retirement Assignments: The practice of post-retirement assignments to judges of the SC and High Courts (HCs) in bodies financed
from the public exchequer should be reassessed to ensure their impartiality.
 Many retired judges take up postings in tribunals – quasi-judicial bodies – where appointments are controlled by the executive, raising
concern about impartiality.
• Judges' Retirement Age: The retirement age of judges needs be increased since longevity has increased due to advancements in medical
sciences.
 At present, while Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65 years, judges of the high courts demit office at 62.
• More Diversity: The representation of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, and minorities in the higher judiciary is far below
the desired levels and does not reflect the social diversity of the country.
 According to government data, a total of 601 judges were appointed to various High Courts from 2018 onwards.
 Of these, over 76% are from General caste groups, around 3% are from Scheduled Castes, around 1.5% are from Scheduled Tribes,
about 12% are from Other Backward Classes, and 5.3% are from minority communities.
• Change Vacation System: Instead of all judges being on vacation together, judges take time off at different times.
• Declare Assets: The committee said all constitutional functionaries and government servants must file annual returns of their assets and
liabilities.

Current Status of Case Pendency in Indian Judiciary:

• Steady Increase in Backlog: Between 2010 and 2020, the pendency of cases in all courts increased by an annual rate of 2.8%.
• Concentration in Lower Judiciary: The most severe backlog of cases is found in the lower levels of the judiciary where most
cases are filed.

15
• Varied Regional Backlogs: The number of pending cases varies
greatly across different states.
 Some states, like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, have exceptionally
high numbers of unresolved cases.
 Bihar has more than 5 million pending cases, while Uttar
Pradesh has over 6 million.
• Illustration of Tribunal Backlog: As of the end of 2020, the
National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had a backlog of 21,259
cases.
Reasons for High Case Pendency in the Indian Judiciary:
• Shortage of Judges: The scarcity of judges within the Indian judiciary is a key factor contributing to the backlog.
 As on September 1, 2021, the Supreme Court had one
vacancy out of the sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
 In the High Courts, 42% of the total sanctioned posts
for judges were vacant (465 out of 1,098).
 As on February 20, 2020, in subordinate courts, 21%
posts out of the sanctioned strength of judges were
vacant.
 India has about 21 judges for every million people.
China, by contrast, has about 159 judges for every
million people.
• Court Vacations: The Supreme Court has 193 working days a year for its judicial functioning, while the High Courts function
for approximately 210 days, and trial courts for 245 days.
 Too many vacations in the courts cause an unreasonable delay in the cases.
• Government Litigation: In 2018, the Law Commission of India, in its 230th report, noted that the government is the biggest
litigant in the system.
 As on January 3,2023, LIMBS project (Legal Information Management Briefing System) shows that there are 6,20,000
cases involving the government pending before the court system.
• Complexity of Cases: Certain cases are intricate and demand significant time and resources for thorough resolution. Complex
cases tend to take longer to conclude, contributing to the overall backlog.
 Examples of cases that may be considered “complex litigation” might include environmental litigation, legal malpractice,
medical malpractice, etc.
• Low Enforcement of Court Orders: When court orders are not
What is PIL?
enforced, it leads to additional delays in case resolution. Non-
• PIL is a legal mechanism that allows individuals or groups to
compliance with court rulings undermines the effectiveness of the
approach the courts in order to address issues that affect the
judicial process. larger public or society's interests.
• New Mechanisms and Litigation: Innovative mechanisms like
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) have expanded the scope of cases brought before the courts.
Impact of Judicial Pendency on the Justice Delivery System in India:
• Delays in Justice: The accumulation of pending cases can result in considerable delays in resolving cases, extending the time
it takes for individuals to receive a verdict. Undertials in Number:
 A 2019 State of the Indian Judiciary Report found that the
• An undertrial is a prisoner on trial in a court of law. As per the
resolution of cases in district courts average five years or Prison Statistics-2020, released by the National Crime Records
more. If the losing side appeals, the average time may reach Bureau (NCRB), undertrials accounted for 76% of the total
13 years. inmates in around 1,300 prisons across the country.

16
• Overwhelming the Court System: A significant backlog can
strain the entire court system, making it challenging for
Efforts Taken to Reduce Case Pendency:
judges to handle cases promptly and efficiently. This
• E-Courts Mission Mode Project:The eCourts Integrated Mission
overload can disrupt the timely disposal of cases.
Mode Project is one of the National e- Governance projects being
• Eroding Public Trust: Lengthy delays can erode public trust implemented in District and Subordinate Courts of the Country since
in the effectiveness of the legal system. People may lose 2007.
confidence in the ability of the courts to deliver timely and  It provide designated services to litigants, lawyers and the
fair justice. judiciary by universal computerisation of district and subordinate
courts in the country.
• Financial Strain on Litigants: Prolonged legal proceedings
can place a financial burden on litigants. • Virtual Courts: Conducting court proceedings through
videoconferencing, improving access and speeding up cases.
• Undertrials on the rise: Sharp spike in case pendency in
• E-filing: E-filing allows cases to be submitted electronically over the
Indian courts has resulted in an increase in the number of internet, minimizing physical presence and paperwork. It accelerates
undertrials lodged in prisons. case processing and reduces administrative delays.
Way Forward: • e-Payment: Online payment for court fees and fines, minimizing cash
transactions and paperwork.
• Increase the Number of Judges: One way to reduce the
backlog of cases is to increase the number of judges in the • Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS): Data exchange among
justice system components, aiding faster case resolution.
Indian judiciary. This will allow more cases to be heard and
• Fast Track Courts: Dedicated courts for quick case handling,
decided more quickly.
prioritizing backlog reduction.
• Judicial Workload Management: Implement strategies to • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): It is a non-adversarial way to
distribute cases more evenly among judges and courts, resolve conflicts outside of court. It aims for cooperative solutions,
preventing overburdening of specific courts and judges. reducing litigation burden, and satisfying all parties.
 Adopt modern case management techniques to track  Methods like Lok Adalats, Gram Nyayalayas, and Online Dispute
cases, allocate resources efficiently, and expedite Resolution offer alternate avenues for swift dispute resolution.
hearings.
• Decrease Court Vacations: Extended frequent vacations are not good optics, especially in the light of mounting pendency of
cases and the snail’s pace of judicial proceedings.
 For an ordinary litigant, the vacation means further • The Law Commission of India (1987) recommended increasing
unavoidable delays in listing cases. the number of judges to 50 per million people.
• Efficient Utilization of Experienced Judges: Retain experienced • This was reiterated by the Supreme Court (2001) and the
judges beyond the retirement age of 62 with pay and Standing Committee on Home Affairs (2002).
perquisites to maximize their contribution to the justice system.
• Specialized Courts: Establish specialized courts for specific types
Various Recommendations about Court Vacations:
of cases (e.g., commercial, family, environmental) to handle them • 2000: The Justice Malimath Committee, suggested that the
more effectively and promptly. Supreme Court work for 206 days, and High Courts for 231
• Clearing Archaic Laws: Review and repeal outdated laws that days every year, keeping in mind the long pendency of cases.
contribute to the backlog and focus on more relevant and current • 2009: The Law Commission, in its 230th report had suggested
legal matters. that court vacation be cut down by 10-15 days across all levels
• Virtual Hearings Expansion: Further expand virtual court of judiciary to help deal with pending cases.

hearings to ensure cases can proceed even during emergencies • 2014: The Supreme Court notified its new Rules, it said that
the period of summer vacation shall not exceed seven weeks
and disruptions.
from the earlier 10-week period.
• Strengthening ADR: Promote the use of alternative dispute
resolution methods like mediation, conciliation, and arbitration to resolve cases swiftly.

17
1.7 Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment,
Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023,
Context:
• The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of
Office) Bill, 2023 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha recently.
More about the news:
• It seeks to replace the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business)
Act, 1991, which does not contain provisions regarding the candidates’ qualifications, or the search committee.
• The bill overturns the impact of the Supreme Court verdict in Anoop Baranwal Case on the appointment of the Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).
Supreme Court Verdict in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India:
• Selection of CEC and EC: The court ruled that a collegium consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha,
and the Chief Justice of India(CJI) must select the Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) and(Election Commissioners ECs).
• Issue of funding the EC: The Court left the issue to the government. It recognised the urgent need to provide for a permanent
Secretariat and to provide that the expenditure be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India(CFI).
 The CFI includes revenues which are received by the government through taxes and expenses incurred in the form of
borrowings and loans.
 No voting takes place for the withdrawal of these expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Need of the bill: Article 324(2):
• Independence of ECI: Demand for an independent system for • The ECI shall consist of the CEC and such number of other EC iif
the appointment of members of the Election Commission goes any, as the President may from time-to-time fix and the
back nearly 50 years. appointment of the CEC and other EC shall, subject to the
provisions of any law made in that behalf by Parliament, be
• Addressing legal vacuum: The Bill aims to fill the gap created
made by the President.
by the absence of a parliamentary law outlined in the Process of removal of ECs:
Constitution for selecting the CEC and EC. • Article 324 (5) of the Constitution safeguards the CEC from
• Non-transparent Selection Procedure: The current arbitrary removal. The CEC can be removed from office only by
appointment process for the CEC and the ECs based on the the order of the President, just like a judge of the Supreme
discretion of the ruling government lacks transparency. Court.
• Countering partisanship and protecting institutional • However, constitutional provision about the procedure for
removal of the two ECs provides that they cannot be removed
autonomy: The introduction of a collegium aims to enhance
from office except on the recommendation of the CEC.
the Election Commission's neutrality and independence is
crucial for upholding public trust in electoral processes.
• Ensuring Free and fair elections: The ECI is constitutionally mandated for
overseeing, guiding, and managing elections.
Concerns with the Bill:
• Questions on independence of Select Committee: Composition of the
Selection Committee in the Bill raises questions on whether the process is
now independent or still in favour of the Executive.
• Degradation in order of Precedence: It will result in the position of EC being
lower than that of state ministers with fall in the order of precedence from
ninth to eleventh position.
 It will impact the Commission's ability to summon the Cabinet secretary
and government secretaries for discussions concerning elections.

18
  The equivalence of the ECs to the Cabinet secretary will
lead to subordination of the ECs to the executive given that
the Cabinet secretary is ultimately controlled by the
executive.
• Departure from Supreme Court Verdict: The Bill substitutes
the Chief Justice with a Cabinet Minister chosen by the Prime
Minister in the collegium and thus, overrides the Supreme
Court Constitution Bench’s judgment.
• No Protection to ECs: The judgment has left some issues
unresolved like granting the same protection to ECs from
being removed as provided by the Constitution to the CEC.
• Reduced Judicial Insights: Removing the CJI from the
selection committee could result in absence of judicial
viewpoint during appointments potentially undermining the
goal of preventing political biases.
Way Forward:
• Independent Functioning: ECI should be kept separated from
the executive, legislature, and judiciary. No organ should
interfere with the working of the ECI because it leads to a
reduction in the faith of the public.
• Regulatory Autonomy: It should have the authority to create
regulations within the overarching policy guidelines set by the
government.
 These regulations may require government approval
before notification, replacing the current method where
the government directly formulates regulations for these
entities.
• Parity among CEC and ECs: There must be similar election and
removal procedures for CEC and ECs, and they must exercise the same powers unless specifically prescribed by law.
• More representative Selection Committee: The government
needs to grant a more substantial role to the opposition in the Best practices from different nations in designating of Election
selection committee to ensure fairness in the decision-making Commissions:
process. • South Africa: Election Commissioners are designated by the
President on the suggestions of the National Assembly.
• Permanent Secretariat: It will provide increased authority to ECI in
• Canada: The Chief Electoral Officer is named by a House of
managing its workforce, allowing for the recruitment and Commons for a non-inexhaustible ten-year term. He/She
retention of skilled and seasoned personnel. reports straight to Parliament to maitain independence.
• Reassessment of order of Precedence: The downgrading of the • US: The six Federal Election Commissioners are delegated by
order of precedence of ECs will impact the independent the President with the counsel and assent of the Senate.
functioning of the ECI and thus needs thorough evaluation before
implementation.

19
PRELIMS:
1.8 Jan Vishwas (Amendment of
Provisions) Act, 2023
Context: Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023
has been passed by Parliament.
About the Act:
• Through The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill,
2023, 183 provisions are proposed to be decriminalized
in 42 Central Acts.
Measures Proposed:
• Pragmatic revision of fines and penalties commensurate
to the offense committed.
• Establishment of Adjudicating Officers.
• Establishment of Appellate Authorities.
• Periodic increase in quantum of fine and penalties.
Benefits of the Amendment:
1. Rationalizing criminal provisions: It will contribute to
rationalizing criminal provisions and ensuring that
citizens, businesses and the government departments
operate without fear of imprisonment for minor,
technical or procedural defaults.
2. Balancing offense and punishment: It establishes a
balance between the severity of the offense/violation
committed and the gravity of the prescribed
punishment.
3. Introduction of suitable administrative adjudication
mechanisms: It proposes administrative adjudication
mechanisms to reduce justice system pressure, case
pendency, and inefficiency in justice delivery.
4. Decriminalizing minor violations: Decriminalization of
provisions which affect citizens and certain categories of
government employees will help them live without the
fear of imprisonment for minor violations.
1.9 Registration of Births and Deaths
(Amendment) Act, 2023
Context: The Rajya Sabha has recently passed the
Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023
that paves the way for digital birth certificates.
About the Act:
• Aims: To create a centralised database for deaths and
births to help in transparent delivery of public services
and to update other databases.
• It proposes the appointment of special "sub-registrars"
in case of disasters or epidemics for easier registration of
20
deaths and issuance of certificates and to collect Aadhaar
numbers of informants and parents in case of registering
births
• The bill proposes the use of a birth certificate as a single
document to be used for admission to educational
institutions, applications for driving licences,
government jobs, passports or Aadhaar, voter
enrolment, and registration of marriage, among others.
Significance:
• Avoid the need for a multiplicity of documents to prove
date and place of birth in the country.
• Create a state, and national, level database of
registered births and deaths.
1.10 Inter-Services Organisation Act
Context: Recently, Rajya Sabha passed the Inter-Services
Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Act, 2023.
Highlights of Act:
• Aim: To provide commanders-in-chief and officers-in
command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with
disciplinary and administrative power over personnel
from other forces serving in such establishments.
• Objective: It will ensure better coordination among the
three services and bolster the integrated structure.
• Present Condition: Currently, armed forces personnel
are governed in accordance with the provisions
contained in their specific Service Acts – Army Act 1950,
Navy Act 1957 and Air Force Act 1950.
1.11 No Confidence Motion
Context: Recently, the Lok Sabha Speaker accepted a No
Confidence Motion moved by the Opposition against the
Government.
About No Confidence Motion:
• A No-Confidence Motion is a formal process in which a
legislature expresses lack of confidence in government.
• Constitutional mandate: As per, Article 75 of the
Constitution, the council of ministers shall be
collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• Interpretation: It means that the ministry stays in office
so long as it enjoys the confidence of the majority of the
members of the Lok Sabha. In other words, the Lok
Sabha can remove the ministry from office by passing a
no-confidence motion.
• Conditions:
  The motion needs the support of 50 members to be 1.13 Vehicle Scrapping Policy
admitted.
Context: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has
 It can only be moved in the Lok Sabha.
introduced the Vehicle Scrapping Policy to create an
• Impact: When the Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence ecosystem for the removal of older, unfit, and polluting
motion against the council of ministers, all the ministers vehicles across the country.
have to resign including those ministers who are from About Vehicle Scrapping Policy:
the Rajya Sabha.
• Facts: The first motion of no confidence was moved by
Acharya J B Kripalani in 1963 against the government
headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

1.12 Privilege Motion

Context:
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar has referred
complaints against two opposition MPs to the Privileges
Committee.
About Privilege Motion:
• Parliamentary privilege is the sum of certain rights
enjoyed by each House collectively and by members of
each House individually, without which they could not
discharge their functions.
 Eligibility: Parliamentary privileges are available to
individuals who have the right to speak and
participate in the discussions of a Parliament House
or any of its committees. For Example: the Attorney
General of India and Union ministers.
• Adjudicating Authority: The Speaker/RS chairperson is
the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.
 Therefore, the Speaker/Chair can decide on the
privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the
privileges committee of Parliament.
• Constitutional Provision: Article 105 expressly mentions
two privileges, that is, freedom of speech in Parliament
and right of publication of its proceedings for Members
of Parliament (MPs).
• Rules Governing Privilege: The rules governing the
privilege are mentioned in the Rule No 222 of the Lok
Sabha Rule Book and Rule 187 in of the Rajya Sabha
rulebook.
Committee of Privileges:
• Mandate: To examine every question involving breach of
privilege of the House or of the Members of any
Committee thereof referred to it by the House or by the
Speaker.
• Lok Sabha: It consists of 15 Members nominated by the
Speaker.
• Rajya Sabha: It consists of 10 members and is nominated
by the Chairman of Rajya Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha, the
deputy chairperson heads the committee of privilege.
• It was first announced in the Union Budget for 2021-22
• Aim: To achieve multiple goals like reduction in air
pollution, the fulfilment of India's climate commitments,
improving road and vehicle safety, better fuel efficiency,
and boosting the availability of low-cost raw materials
for auto, steel and electronics industry
Need for Vehicle Scrapping Policy:
• Large Number of Older Vehicles: India has a significant
number of old vehicles, with 51 lakh Light Motor Vehicles
that are more than 20 years old and 34 lakh over 15
years old.
 Additionally, around 17 lakh Medium and Heavy
Commercial Vehicles are older than 15 years without
valid fitness certificates.
• Environmental Impact: Older vehicles are often less
fuel-efficient and emit higher levels of pollutants,
contributing to air pollution and environmental
degradation.
1.14 North Eastern Council
Context: During the financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23, a
total of 45 projects costing Rs. 470.75 crore have been
sanctioned by North Eastern Council (NEC) in Assam.
About North Eastern Council ( NEC):
• The NEC is the nodal agency for the economic and social
development of the North Eastern Region which consists
of the eight States: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

21
• Genesis: The NEC was constituted as a statutory
advisory body under the North Eastern Council Act 1971
for the rapid development of the Region.
• Nodal Ministry: It falls under the Ministry of
Development of the North Eastern Region.
Functions of the Council:
• Advisory body: It may discuss and make
recommendations with regards to any matter
 Concerning inter-State transport.
 Related to power or flood control projects, Economic
and Social planning.
• Securing: Balanced development of the North-Eastern
areas.
• Review:
 Implementation of the projects and schemes from
time to time.
 Measures taken by the states for the maintenance of
security and public order.
1.15 Select Committee
,
Delhi Services Bill, where the motion was moved by
MP Raghav Chadha.
1.16 Caste Survey in Bihar
Context: The Supreme Court will hear petitions challenging
the Patna High Court’s verdict upholding the Bihar
government’s ongoing caste survey.
About Caste Survey in Bihar:
• Aim: To collect demographic data like the number of
households, the number of people in each household,
their socio-economic conditions, and their castes.
• It is a survey, not a census, as the Indian Constitution
does not empower state governments to conduct
census-gathering exercises.

Context: Recently, four Members of Parliaments said that

their names were included in a proposed select committee
of the House for the Delhi services bill without their
consent.
Types of Committees in Parliament:
• India’s Parliament has several types of committees which
discharge different functions:
 12 Standing Committees: They are permanent in
nature, with their members nominated from time to
time by the Chairman/Speaker.
 Ad hoc or temporary committees: They are set up for
a specific purpose, such as examining a particular Bill, About Census:
and are dissolved once that purpose has been • The decennial Census of India measures demographic
served. data like age, marital status, religion, whether Scheduled
 Select Committee: They are a type of Ad-hoc Caste/Scheduled Tribe, mother tongue, education level,
Committee. disability, economic activity, migration, and fertility.
• Rule for Select Committees: Under Rule 125 of the Rajya • Thus, there is readily available data on the number of
Sabha Rules and Procedures, any member may move an individuals belonging to SCs or STs and to different
amendment that a Bill be referred to a Select Committee. religious groups.
 The motion to refer a Bill to a Select Committee can • However, since 1931, no census in India has measured
either be moved by the member in-charge of the Bill, the number of OBCs in the country.
or by any other MP, as happened in the case of the
DATA POINT

1.17 Legislators Qualification  Graduates also includes those who are post
graduates.
Context: Recently, a teacher on the Edtech platform was
• At least completed fifth grade in school: About 23.5% of
sacked due to a viral video in which he appealed to students
the current MPs.
to vote for educated candidates.
 At least 5th grade pass includes 5th, 8th, 10th and
Educational Background of MPs in Lok Sabha: 12th grade but not college.
• Completed Graduation: 72% of the current MPs.

22
• Information about the educational qualifications of 4% of  They face charges as serious as abduction, dacoity
the MPs is not available. and attempts to cause death or grievous injury.
• This means that only less than 0.5% are recorded as • On average, the criminal cases faced by MPs, against
illiterate or just literate in the current Lok Sabha. whom charges have been framed, have been pending for
7 years.
17th Lok Sabha and MPs with Criminal Charges:
 24 Lok Sabha MPs have a total of 43 criminal cases
• According to Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR),
pending against them for 10 years or more.
the 2019 Lok Sabha polls saw the participation of 67 MPs
and four Union Ministers who have declared criminal
charges against them.
SHORT NEWS IN TABLE:

Supreme Court Handbook to
curb Gender-based
Stereotypes
• The Supreme Court has compiled a glossary of words that judges and lawyers should
avoid.
• Aim: To weed out gender stereotypes that can also cloud judgments.
• However, this handbook is not mandatory to follow.
• Words and phrases to be
 Junked: slut, harlot, fallen woman, etc.
 Replaced: housewife with homemaker, prostitute with sex worker, and eve-teasing
with street sexual harassment etc.

eCOURTS MISSION MODE • Minister of Law & Justice has provided the status of the eCourts Mission Mode Project
PROJECT (MMP) in Rajya Sabha.
About eCourts Mission Mode Project:
• It is an initiative undertaken by the Indian government for computerization of District
and subordinate courts with the objective of improving access to justice using
technology.
• Implemented by: Department of Justice

Keralam: Proposed Name of • The Kerala Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to rename the state as
Kerala “Keralam”
• The renaming of a state requires Parliamentary approval under Article 3 and 4 of the
Constitution, and the President has to refer the same to the relevant state legislature
for its views.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs gives its consent after it receives No Objection Certificates
(NOCs) from several agencies such as the Ministry of Railways, Intelligence Bureau.

Criminal Proceedings for Social The Supreme Court recently ruled that individuals must bear the repercussions of posting
Media Posts abusive and vulgar content online, stating that a mere apology would not be sufficient to
avoid legal action.
More about the news:
• The Supreme Court in the S. Ve Shekher case declined to dismiss the trial against an
actor for sharing a post on social media containing indecent remarks about women
journalists.
• The actor had initially shared a post containing defamatory remarks about female
journalists, which he later removed and apologized for, citing that he had inadvertently
shared it.

23
2. PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
2.1 Revamp of Criminal Laws
Context:
Recently, The Union Home Minister introduced three Bills in the Lok Sabha to replace to replace, i.e IPC 1860, Indian Evidence
Act 1872, and CrPc 1898.
More on News:
The Bills Introduced are:
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: This Bill aims to
replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was enacted
in 1860.
• Repeal of Provisions: The Bill seeks to replace the IPC by
repealing 22 of its existing provisions.
 Changes to Existing Provisions: The Bill proposes
alterations to 175 existing provisions within the IPC.
 Introduction of New Sections:
✓ Section 109: Organized Crime
✓ Section 110: Petty Organized Crime:
✓ Section 111: Offence if Terrorist Act
✓ Section 150: Acts Endangering Sovereignty, Unity,
and Integrity
✓ Section 302: Snatching
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023: This Bill seeks to replace the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC),
which originally came into effect in 1898. It proposes changes to 160 provisions and introduces 9 new provisions.
 It contains a total of 533 sections.
• Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill, 2023: This Bill aims to replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Proposes changes to 23 provisions
and introduces one new provision.
 It contains 170 sections in total.
Changes Introduced in Bill
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023:
• Repeal of Sedition as Section 124A: The new Bill completely repeals Criminal Law in India:
About:
the offense of sedition as it was outlined in Section 124A of the IPC.
Criminal law in India refers to the body of laws and regulations
 Introduction of New Provision - Section 150: While the term that govern crimes and criminal offenses within the country.
"sedition" is removed, the offense is introduced under a new Key features of criminal law in India include:
name in titled ' Offences against the State.'
• Indian Penal Code, 1860: Defines criminal offenses and their
 This section explicitly criminalizes "acts endangering
punishments.
sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: Regulates the
 "Expanded Definition and Elements: These include intentionally
procedural aspects of criminal cases.
inciting or attempting to incite secession, armed rebellion,
subversive activities, or encouraging feelings of separatist • Indian Evidence Act, 1872: Governs the rules for the
admissibility of evidence in court.
activities.
Macaulay drafts the IPC:
 Change in Punishment: Section 150 increases the maximum
punishment to 7 years of imprisonment, compared to the 3 • In 1833, the British Parliament passed the first Government
of India Act to organise British rule in the country.
years imprisonment provided under Section 124A of the IPC.
• Punishments for Gang Rape and Rape of Minors: The Bill proposes • Subsequently, a law commission was created under
Macaulay to “modernise laws and the colonial governance
that all forms of gang rape be punishable by 20 years of
of civil society.”
imprisonment or life imprisonment.
 Additionally, the rape of a minor is punishable by the death • He completed the first version of the IPC in 1837.
penalty, indicating a stringent stance on crimes against minors.
• Capital Punishment for Mob Lynching: For the first time, capital punishment has been introduced as a penalty for the offense
of mob lynching.

24
• The offense (Section 101) is defined as murder committed by a group of five or more individuals acting in concert on the
grounds of factors such as race, caste, community, sex, place of birth, language, personal belief, or any other ground.
• Criminalization of Sexual Intercourse Under False Pretexts: The Bill criminalizes sexual intercourse obtained through
deceitful means, false promises of marriage, or suppression of identity.
 The maximum punishment for this offense is proposed to be 10 years of imprisonment.
 Deceitful Means: Include the false promise of employment or promotion, inducement or marrying after suppressing one’s
identity.
• Omission of Adultery Offense: The provision criminalizing adultery has been omitted, in line with a previous Supreme Court
ruling (Joseph Shine v. Union of India) that deemed Section 497 of the IPC unconstitutional.
• Exclusion of Punishment for Unnatural Sexual Offenses: The Bill does not include any punishment for 'unnatural sexual
offenses against men,' in accordance with the Supreme Court's reading down of Section 377 in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union
of India.
• Retaining Marital Rape Exception: The provision allowing exceptions for non-consensual sexual acts within a marital
relationship has been retained.
 Sec 375 of IPC: It defines rape and lists seven notions of consent that, if vitiated, would constitute the offence of rape by
a man.
• Trial in Absentia: The provision for trial in absentia is a significant change. It allows for trials to take place even when the
accused is not present in the country.
 Ex, absconding criminals such as underworld don Dawood Ibrahim will be tried in-absentia by court.
• Restrictions on Punishment Waivers: To prevent political misuse of punishment waivers, the new law limits the conversion
of death sentences to life imprisonment.
 Additionally, life imprisonment can only be pardoned within seven years of punishment.
 And seven years imprisonment can be waived off only up to three years.
• Definition of Terrorism: The Bill introduces a legal definition of terrorism, describing it as acts committed with the intent to
threaten India's unity, integrity, and security, and to intimidate the public or disturb public order.
 The legislation also includes provisions for the attachment of property belonging to terrorists.
• Community Service and Solitary Confinement: Introducing new forms of punishment, such as community service and solitary
confinement.
 Offences including small theft, defamation, and attempting to Committees for Reform of Criminal Laws:
commit suicide. • Malimath committee:It was formed in 2003 to bring reforms
in the criminal justice system.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023:
 The Committee recommended that the victim should be
• FIR by Electronics communication: It allows for filing of First
allowed to participate in cases involving serious crimes
Information Report to the police “by electronic communication”.
and also be given adequate compensation.
However, it requires the complainant to sign the record within
three days of filing it. • Justice Verma panel: It was formed to ensure quicker trial
and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of
 FIR Accessibility: A provision is introduced to ensure that
committing sexual assault against women.
copies of First Information Reports (FIRs) are made available
to the accused and the victim free of cost within fourteen • Madhav Menon Committee: It submitted its report in 2007,
suggesting various recommendations on reforms in the
days from the date of production or appearance of the
Criminal Justice System of India (CJSI).
accused.
• Zero FIR: The Bill allows for the filing of a zero FIR from any part • Ranbir Singh committee: It was formed in 2020 to review
three codes of criminal law.
of the country. This enables a police station to register an FIR for
an offense that falls under another police station's jurisdiction
and then transfer it to the relevant station.
• Greater Use of Technology: Trials, appeals, depositions, and accused statements can be conducted electronically.
 Summons, warrants, documents, and evidence statements can be in electronic form.
 Search, seizure, and crime scene visits will be audio-videographed.
 Arrested accused details will be maintained and displayed digitally in police stations.
• Communication Devices and Summons: Electronic communication, including devices, added to the summons provision.
 Individuals must produce digital evidence-containing documents or devices as directed by court or police.
• Specific Safeguards for Arrest: No arrest without permission of Deputy SP for offenses punishable < 3 years or for elderly
above 60 years.
25
  Preliminary inquiry needed for offenses attracting 3-7 years within 14 days.
• Mercy Petitions: Framework for filing mercy petitions in death penalty cases.
 Mercy petition to Governor within 30 days; if rejected, petition to President within 60 days.
• Samples Without Arrest: Magistrate can order samples of signature, handwriting, voice, or finger impressions for
investigation without arrest.
Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023:
• Admissibility of Electronic Records: The Bill permits the admissibility of electronic or digital records as evidence, recognizing
technological advancements.
• Expansion of Secondary Evidence: The scope of secondary evidence has been expanded to include various forms, such as
copies made from the original by mechanical processes, counterparts of documents, and oral accounts of document contents
given by a person who has seen it.
Need of the Bill:
• Pendency and Delay: The existing complex procedures of IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act have contributed to substantial
court backlogs and delayed justice delivery.
 As on December 31, 2022, the total pending cases in district and subordinate courts was pegged at over 4.32 crore.
• Low Conviction Rates: The prevailing legal framework has resulted in a low conviction rate, highlighting the need for reforms
to enhance the efficacy of criminal proceedings.
 According to the NCRB report 2022, on an all-India basis, the total conviction rate for IPC crimes stood at 57%.
• Overcrowded Prisons and Undertrials: The present system has led to overcrowded jails and a significant number of undertrial
prisoners awaiting their trials.
• According to a report on prison statistics for 2019 released by NCRB, National Crime Records there were 4,78,600 inmates
lodged in different prisons in India while they had capacity to 4,03,700 inmates.
• Introduction of New Offences: The proposed Bills bring about significant changes by introducing new offences that were
absent in the IPC, addressing issues like acts endangering sovereignty, organized crime, terrorism, mob lynching, and sexual
intercourse based on deceitful means or false promises of marriage.
• Update: The Indian Penal Code was introduced in 1860 during British colonial rule and is now outdated for the contemporary
Context.
• Lack of Emphasis on Technology: The Code of Criminal Procedure, established in 1861, did not prioritize the use of technology.
• Focused on Punishment, Not Justice: Many of the laws from the colonial era in India were designed primarily to safeguard
and enhance British colonial rule.
 These laws aimed to consolidate British authority and protect their interests rather than ensuring justice for the Indian
population.
Concern with the Bill:
• Lack of Diversity: The committee formed to review criminal law faced sharp criticism for its composition, which consisted
entirely of male members.
 Critics raised concerns about the absence of gender diversity and questioned the committee's representation of a diverse
society.
• Addressing Long-standing Problems: Overcrowded prisons and high proportions of undertrials persist as a crisis.
 Reforms in bail adjudication remain insufficient, failing to prioritize bail as the default option.
• Sovereignty Provision: The vague "acts endangering sovereignty" provision raises concerns over arbitrary arrests and
potential infringement on civil liberties.
• Forensics and Electronic Evidence: Despite emphasizing their use, the Bills lack clear guidelines for handling forensic evidence,
raising doubts about its reliability and admissibility.
Conclusion:
The Bills propose changes, the true essence of overhauling the criminal justice system might not be fully realized. Achieving lasting
change demands not only legislative amendments but also a comprehensive reevaluation of institutional cultures and practices,
aiming for a more just and effective system.

26
3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
3.1 Neighbourhood First Policy
Context:
Recently the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs has recommended measures to bolster India’s Neighbourhood
First Policy.
About Neighbourhood First Policy:
• India shares:
 Land Boundaries: Afghanistan, Bhutan,
Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, China,
Myanmar.
 Maritime Boundaries: Pakistan, Maldives,
Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar,
and Bangladesh
• Under its Neighbourhood First Policy, India
strives to build cordial and synergetic relations
with the South Asian neighbors in various areas
such as economy, science and technology,
research and education.
• India’s Neighbourhood First policy can also be
seen as a manifestation of the vision of building
a Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world as one
family).
Why is India giving push to Neighbourhood First Policy?
• It will help India achieve its foreign policy goals and help other South Asian nations develop.
• India can strengthen its position in the region and achieve both economic and strategic depth vis-à-vis China.
• India's neighbors are strategically significant due to their geographical proximity.
 For Example: Myanmar is India’s gateway to Southeast Asia while India is Myanmar’s gateway to South Asia.
Initiatives of India under spirit of Neighborhood First Policy:
• Vaccine Diplomacy: India has provided doses of the novel coronavirus vaccine to neighboring countries.
• Operation Ganga: India evacuates citizens from Bangladesh, Pakistan from war torn Ukraine.
Key Recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee to bolster Neighbourhood First Policy:
• Lending Financial Support: India should complete pending development projects in Afghanistan and more financial support
to help Sri Lanka tide over an economic crisis.
 For Example: Salma Dam project, parliament building and Zaranj Delaram highway in Afghanistan are made by India’s
contribution.
 In 2022, India provided assistance worth 3.8 billion dollars to Sri Lanka to tide over the unprecedented economic crisis.
• Tackling Terror: The government should sensitize regional and multilateral bodies about Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism.
It added that efforts may be made to establish a common platform to counter terror under the Neighbourhood First policy.
• Humanitarian Aid: India continues to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people despite “changes in the political
landscape” and recommended that this assistance should be continued.
• Focus on Trade Agreements: The government should resume Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA): ETCA
negotiations for the early conclusion of the proposed Economic agreement seeks to boost cooperation in technical areas, scientific
and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with Sri Lanka. expertise and research among institutions.

27
• Improving Relations with Pakistan:The committee’s members believe the onus is on Pakistan to improve bilateral relations.
Challenges faced by India in relation to its neighbors:
• Territorial Dispute: India has border disputes with
neighboring countries. For Example:
 Border Dispute with China: Along the Line of Actual
Control (LAC) in the Himalayan region.
 Border Dispute with Nepal: Disputes over their
territorial boundaries, mainly the Kalapani region
• Cross Border Terrorism: India has seen terrorist attacks
with links to Pakistan, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks,
the 2016 Uri attack, and the 2019 Pulwama attack.
• Taliban Regime in Afghanistan: The resurgence of the
Taliban in Afghanistan poses significant and potentially
grave security challenges for India.
• China’s Factor: Through its belt and road initiative, China is
posing a challenge for India’s sovereignty.
 For Example: India has continuously opposed the China-
Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) since it passes
through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir territory of
Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Anti-India Domestic Politics : Anti-India domestic politics in
countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal could
potentially strain bilateral relations.
 For Example: ‘India Out Campaign’ in Maldives.
• Inconsistent Approach: Inconsistency in Neighbourhood
First Policy has been counterproductive in terms of India’s
relationship with its neighbors.
 For example, During the present regime in
2014, India called all the heads of state of the
neighborhood in an oath-taking ceremony
but ignored the SAARC completely.
Way Forward:
• Strengthening Diplomatic Engagement:
Enhance diplomatic efforts to build trust, address
mutual concerns, and strengthen ties with
neighboring countries through high-level visits,
dialogues, and strategic partnerships.
• Addressing Border Disputes: Actively engage in
peaceful negotiations to resolve. Outstanding
border disputes, promoting stability and goodwill in the region.
• Humanitarian and Development Assistance: Continue providing humanitarian aid and development assistance during times
of crisis, showcasing India's commitment to supporting its neighbors.
 For Example: India has provided financial and humanitarian support worth $4 billion, making it the first creditor nation to
offer financing assurances to kick-start the IMF process.
• Regional Forums and Mechanisms: Engage proactively in Q. Why is India giving push to Neighbourhood First Policy? Discuss
the challenges faced by India in relation to its neighbors.
regional forums like SAARC and BIMSTEC to address regional
issues and challenges collectively.
28
3.2 India-China Relationship
Context:
• India and China recently engaged in a high-level meeting during the 13th BRICS National Security Advisors (NSA) meeting in
Johannesburg, South Africa.
More about the news:
• Terrorism as key threat: During the meeting, India emphasized that terrorism remains one of the key threats to national
peace and security.
 Need for BRICS members to work together in listing terrorists and their proxies under the UN counter-terrorism sanctions
regime was discussed.
• Discussion on Critical Areas: The meeting covered critical areas such as cyber, maritime, and space, which are hotly contested
domains.

Areas of Discussion Description

China’s Commitment • Stabilization: India and China had reached a significant “consensus” on stabilizing India-China
bilateral relations during the G20 meeting in Bali in November 2022.
• Multilateral cooperation: China to collaborate with other developing nations, including India, to
support multilateralism and democratize international relations as well as strengthening ties with
India.
• Concern By China: Indian government has banned over 200 Chinese apps like UC Browser,
Baidu(China's largest search engine provider) etc.

Other Key Issues • Terrorism: Terrorism remains a significant threat to national peace and security.
Discussed  Terrorist organizations in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region are still operating with impunity and
without facing consequences. Ex- Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e- Taiba, etc.
• Non-traditional Challenges: Emerging challenges like food, water, and energy security have
gained increased urgency.
• Fertilizer Shortage: It could potentially lead to a future food crisis.
• Weaponization of water: China's increasing naval base around the Indian Ocean calls for the need
for complete transparency and unhindered information sharing with respect to shared cross-
border water resources. Ex- Djibouti, Sri Lankan port of Hambantota.
• Critical Minerals: Access to a secure and affordable supply of critical materials for the
development of clean energy technologies is crucial.

Concerns raised by India:

• Unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control(LAC): Despite 18 rounds of talks, there is still limited clarity on the LAC
situation, particularly in Demchok and Depsang.
• UNSC 1267: China has repeatedly blocked proposals to designate Pakistan-based operatives as international terrorists at the
United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) 1267 list of terrorists.
Salient Features of India-China Relationship:
• Congruency in Relationship
 Warmth in Relation: Both countries have jointly advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
✓ Both countries have initiated the "hometown diplomacy", held two informal summits in Wuhan and Chennai
respectively.
 Global Security: Both are working to address regional and global security issues such as terrorism and the spread of
weapons of mass destruction.
 Climate Action: Both countries have collaborated on climate change and have both signed on to the Paris Agreement.
29
 ✓ During COP26, both ensured commitment to shifting the focus from a complete coal phase-out to endorsing a coal
phase-down.
 Multilateral Forum: India and China are both members of BRICS, SCO, WTO etc, which reflect a common agenda for growth
and development.
✓ They have begun to actively use multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for bilateral
interaction.
 Cultural Linkages: India and China have a history of cultural exchanges and have established institutions like the Yoga
College in China.
 Economies Ties: Bilateral trade between India and China touched an all-time high of USD 135.98 billion in 2022. However,
the trade deficit for India stood at USD 101.02 billion.
• Concern in Relationship:
 Border DIsputes: Two countries share a 3,500-kilometer border, as well as a shared cultural and religious heritage.
✓ Instances of conflict: 1962 Sino-Indian War and border clashes that occurred as recently as 2021 and continue to this
day.
 Geopolitical Rivals: Both are attempting to assert their global influence, and have competing interests in a number of
regions, including the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean.
 Water Dispute: The sharing of the Brahmaputra River has been a significant source of tension between India and China.
✓ China has been constructing numerous dams in the upper reaches of the river on which India has raised objections.
 String of Pearls: India believes String of Pearls together with the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and other parts of
China's Belt and Road Initiative as a threat to India's national security.
 QUAD: The grouping, in terms of International Relations theory, is a product of ‘external balancing’ is seen as a threat by
the Chinese government.
 Supply Chain Disruptions: The COVID-19 lockdowns in China affected supply in certain sectors leading to shortages of
pharmaceuticals, critical medical supplies etc.
✓ Example: Shortage in the supply of semiconductors severely impacted the automobile and electronics industry in India.
Way Forward for India- China relations:
• Balancing relations with US and China: India has adeptly maintained a balance between its closeness to the USSR/Russia and
its ties with the US.
• Reducing trade deficit: India must focus on correcting trade imbalance and facilitate the development of alternate global
supply chains.
 The trade deficit of India with China surged $101.02 billion for 2022-2023.
• Cyber Attacks: Cyber attacks know no borders and the linkage between cyber criminals and terrorists is an emerging concern.
 Regional mechanisms should be utilized to advance common goals and address emerging challenges.
• Strong Military deterrence capability to counter ambiguous threats from China.
• Diversification of supply chain: Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) offers an opportunity for diversification of the supply
chains in collaboration with like-minded partners.

3.3 Soft Power of India

Context
Recently, the Standing Committee on External Affairs recommended the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on soft power
projection and cultural diplomacy.
About Soft Power
• It is the ability of a country to achieve foreign policy objectives through cultural attraction rather than through force, coercion
or indeed large deployments of money.
• Country’s soft power, according to Nye, rests on three resources:
1. Culture: Where it is attractive to others. Ex: Hinduism, buddhism etc
2. Political Values: When it lives up to them at home and abroad. Ex: Democratic, Communist etc.

30
 3. Foreign Policies: Others see
them as legitimate and having
moral authority. Ex:
Neighbourhood First Policy,
Panchsheel Policy of Peaceful
Coexistence.
India and it’s Soft Power
• Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is
one family): India is recognized as a
non-aggressor country, whose
vision is inclusive.
• Soft Power Resources:
 Diaspora: 31 million people
living in 200 countries act as a
bridge.
 Media: Largest film industry in
the world.
 Cuisine: Most popular ethnic food in the world.
 Yoga: It is a prominent Indian cultural export and is being practiced widely all over the world.
✓ United Nations declared 21 June as International Yoga Day.
 Art and Literature: Music (classical, folk, pop, rock), its Art (painting, sculpture, architecture), Philosophy (Vedanta, Yoga
Sutras), Nobel laureates like Rabindranath Tagore and Amartya Sen), Science (space program, IT industry), sports (cricket,
hockey).
 Democracy: Largest electoral system in the world.
 Religion: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism etc.
Significance of Soft Power for India:
• Global Influence: It can help India to assert its role as a responsible and constructive global actor that upholds the values of
democracy, pluralism, tolerance, and cooperation.
• Foreign Policy Goals: India can utilize cultural diplomacy to build trust and goodwill with other countries to promote regional
stability, combating terrorism, expanding trade and investment, and strengthening multilateral cooperation.
 This can help India to balance the hard power of other countries that may pose challenges or threats to its security and
sovereignty.
• Economic Opportunities: India's cultural exports, such as Bollywood films, traditional arts, and handicrafts, contribute to its
economic growth and aid in attracting foreign investments, tourists, and business collaborations.
• Diaspora Connections: India's soft power connects with its vast diaspora population, creating a sense of pride and affinity
towards their homeland.
 Ex: India's outreach to Pacific Island countries, which have substantial Indian Diaspora.
• Strategic Partnerships: Soft power can help India build strategic partnerships with other countries based on shared values
and interests.
Factors Hindering India’s Soft Power Projection:
• Inadequate financing: India spends much less on its cultural diplomacy than other countries like China, France, and the UK.
 Budget allocation for ICCR is insufficient and erratic, which affects its ability to plan and execute its activities.
• Lack of Coordination: There is no clear division of roles and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
responsibilities among various institutions such as MEA, ICCR, • It is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India.
Indian missions abroad, and other line ministries. • Aim: To promote and strengthen cultural relations and mutual
 It leads to duplication of efforts and wastage of resources. understanding between India and other countries.

31
• Shortage of Skilled Manpower: India faces a dearth of qualified and trained professionals who can effectively manage and
implement its soft power initiatives.
 There is a lack of incentives and recognition for those who work in this field, which affects their motivation and
performance.
• Lack of mandate of ICCR: ICCR does not have a clear vision and mission statement that defines its objectives and functions.
• Poor strategy: India’s diplomats and government agencies have
Global Soft Power Index
not been able to develop a matrix to assess the effectiveness of
India’s cultural diplomacy efforts.
• India has jumped a spot from rank 29 in 2022 to 28 in 2023.
 According to the Global Soft Power Index, India’s soft power • Index is released by Brand Finance, the world's top
independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy.
potential is underutilized due to lack of coordination,
resources, and strategy.
Recommendation by Standing Committee on Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy:
• Policy Clarity: The MEA should create a policy document on India's soft power projections, outlining its tools and how it is
projected abroad, along with a vision statement for the future.
• Restructuring ICCR: ICCR should be reformed to make it more autonomous, accountable, and efficient, with a clear mandate
and vision statement that reflects its goals and strategies.
 Increase ICCR’s budgetary allocation by Rs 500 crore so that it can conduct India’s soft power and cultural diplomacy in a
robust manner.
• Body for Coordination: Central body to coordinate and monitor the soft power initiatives of various ministries and agencies,
such as tourism, education, sports, science and technology, etc.
 It should have representatives from MEA, ICCR, Ministry of Culture and other stakeholders who can ensure synergy and
alignment of policies and programs.
• Yoga certification board: To standardize and regulate the quality and authenticity of yoga teachers and institutions across
the world.
 Organize yoga festivals and events to showcase its diversity and expertise in this field.
• Interact with Indian diaspora: Devise a mechanism to engage with diaspora more effectively and regularly, such as through
online platforms, cultural exchanges, scholarships, awards, etc.
 Ex: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) celebrated on 9th January every year to mark the contribution of the Overseas Indian
community in the development of India.
• Promoting tourism: Developing tourism infrastructure, facilities, and services, to attract more tourists from different regions
and segments.
 MEA should open more AYUSH centres overseas strategically and in a planned manner.
Conclusion
• India’s soft power derives not only from its cultural heritage (music, dance, arts, etc.) and economic strength but also from
its rich history of philosophical and wisdom traditions that have influenced people globally for centuries, to discover healing,
solace and transformation and learn to peacefully coexist.

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3.4 BRICS Expansion
Context:
Recently, during the 15th BRICS Summit, leaders decided to expand the grouping and admit six new members.
More on News
• Theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated
growth, sustainable development and inclusive
multilateralism”.
• Johannesburg Declaration II: It emphasizes inclusive
multilateralism, peaceful development, sustainable growth,
and people-to-people exchanges, while addressing global
conflicts and promoting constructive dialogue and partnership
for growth.
• BRICS Expansion: Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt
and the United Arab Emirates are included as a new member in
BRICS grouping.
 Six new candidates will formally become members on Jan.
1, 2024.
• Aim: Increasing BRICS influence in advocating for the interests
of the "Global South."
Need of BRICS Expansion:
• Changing Realities: Global institutions reflect the power
realities of their creation, and as power realities change, their
efficacy becomes contested.
o Example: Current evolution in global order has challenged
the hegemony of the United Nations (UN), the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank etc.
• Rise of Global South: Various multilateral groups are attempting
to reshape the global order into a multipolar world, with voices
from the Global South at the center of the international agenda.
• Western Hegemony: Currently, Western countries dominate
international bodies, such as the UN, IMF or the World Bank.
 Western powers posed a threat to both traditional values in developing countries and to the emergence of a multi-polar
world where no one country or bloc dominated.
• Challenging Western-dominated institutions: BRICS nations, with a combined GDP larger than the G7 (PPP terms), currently
hold only 15% of the voting power at the IMF.
 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): It suggests that exchange rates between currencies should adjust to equalize the prices of
a basket of goods and services in different countries.

India’s Interest in BRICS Expansion

• Argentina: India has had a strategic partnership with Argentina since 2019. Egypt: Two countries signed a Friendship Treaty
in 1955, and were the founding members of Non-Aligned Movement in 1961.
 Instrumental in the G-77 grouping and “South-South Cooperation” initiatives.
 Earlier in 2023, India and Egypt signed a strategic partnership.

33
• Ethiopia: India has supported Ethiopia’s position at the UN on issues from the Tigray crisis to the controversy over the Grand
Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
 India is advocating for African Union (AU) representation in the G-20 and UN.
• Iran: India and Iran have had a strategic partnership since 2003.
 Iran is a crucial partner due to its proximity to Central Asia and
Interest of Member Nation in Expansion:
its borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• Russia: It is getting marginalized in the global economy due
• Saudi Arabia: India signed a strategic partnership in 2010 and to sanctions imposed by western countries on it. Expansion
created a strategic partnership council in 2019. will provide greater voice and opportunity to it.
• UAE: In 2017, India and the UAE upgraded their relationship to a • China: It is facing a difficult economic environment with the
“Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” west turning against it.
 In 2021, India participated in a quadrilateral meeting • Induction of major energy players to the grouping, would
alongside the UAE, which has since evolved into the ‘i2u2’ help in regulating the fluctuation of Oil prices and its related
grouping. vagaries.
Interest of New Members in Joining BRICS:
Possible Concerns in BRICS Expansion: • Saudi Arabia and the UAE see BRICS as a vehicle for a more
• Effectiveness of New Development Bank (NDB): It has been prominent role in global order.
sluggish in lending, especially after sanctions against Russia. • Argentina is hoping for an economic boost from BRICS
 Dependence on Dollar: Nearly $33 billion in loans approved by membership.
the NDB, two-thirds were in dollars. • Iran is seeking to reduce their isolation ostracized by
• Geo-Political Confrontation: sanctions, and hope the bloc can offer relief to their crippled
economies.
 India Vs China: New Delhi is more friendly to the West and has
military deals with the United States, while it is in sometimes • Egypt and Ethiopia are drawn by the bloc's commitment to
reforms at the United Nations.
violent conflict with Beijing over their Himalayan border.
• Others want changes at the World Trade Organization, IMF
 Saudi Vs Iran: Saudi Arabia do not want Iran to play any role
and World Bank.
in the matters of the Arab world.
 US sanctions on Iran will be a serious impediment on extending funds from NDB.
 South Africa fears BRICS expansion could diminish its influence due to its stalled economic and social progress.
• Anti Western Bloc: BRICS's trajectory could be influenced by the countries joining, with Iran potentially following China and
Russia's lead, while Saudi Arabia, may be less inclined towards an anti-Western bloc.
 India is cautious about the BRICS group becoming anti-Western.
• Lack of Decision Making: BRICS operates through consensus, but expanding its members may pose challenges due to each
country's unique interests, priorities, and relationships.
Way Forward Other Area of Cooperation:
• Strengthening the New Development Bank by bringing in more • BRICS should pursue socioeconomic recovery from the
stakeholders and exploring the idea of a BRICS currency. pandemic and build resilient and self-sufficient supply chains.
 It could reduce the dollar's dominance, and several BRICS • BRICS should uphold sovereign equality, territorial integrity
and international law.
nations have already begun their trade in local currencies.
• BRICS should support UN Security Council reform
• Strengthen Cohesion and Coordination: The BRICS countries have
unanimously.
different political systems, economic models, and regional
• BRICS should demonstrate a credible commitment to
interests. collectively advocating for climate action and climate justice.
 Need to overcome their differences and find common ground
• BRICS must display zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism.
on key issues.
 Need to improve their communication and consultation
mechanisms, both within the group and with other stakeholders.
• Expand Scope of Cooperation: Need to increase their investment and commitment to platforms like NDB, Contingent
Reserve Arrangement (CRA) etc and explore new areas of cooperation, such as trade, technology, health, education, culture,
and security.

34
Conclusion
• BRICS expansion would bolster India’s push for UN reform, more representation of the global south and the expansion of the
UN Security Council.
• BRICS expansion can set an example for the reform of other global institutions established in the twentieth century.

PRELIMS NEWS:
3.5 Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS)
Context: West African bloc ECOWAS is set to hold
discussions about Niger after the junta defies the deadline.
About ECOWAS(Economic Community of West African
States):

Major Decisions:
• Elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership:
 By expanding cooperation in the fields of defence
and security, infrastructure, agriculture, education,
new and emerging technology, and skill
Image Source: Geography
development.
• The Economic Community of West African States is a
 Both sides are united in the goal of maintaining
regional political and economic union of fifteen
maritime security and the need for adherence to the
countries located in West Africa.
Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• Goal: To achieve "collective self-sufficiency" for its
• Promised to Double Bilateral Trade by 2030: The two
member states by creating a single large trade bloc by
decided to expand cooperation in areas of
building a full economic and trading union.
infrastructure, agriculture, education and new and
• Origin: The union was established on 28 May 1975, with
emerging technologies.Both sides agreed to firm up a
the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, with its stated mission
migration and mobility pact soon.
to promote economic integration across the region.
• International Challenges: Both sides are ready to walk
• Members: The 15 members of the ECOWAS are Benin,
side by side to deal with various challenges, especially in
Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia,
a period of international turmoil.
Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger,
Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. India- Greece Historical and Cultural Ties
• Alexander the Great: His forces in the 4th century BCE
3.6 India- Greece Relations reached North-Western India.
• Mauryan Period: Seleucus Nicator established diplomatic and
Context: In the first Prime Ministerial visit to Greece after 40 trade relations with the Chandragupta Maurya. Ashokan rock
years, India and Greece have decided to elevate bilateral edicts record evidence of this alliance.
ties to strategic partnership. • Buddhism and Greek Cultural Exchange: The Gandhara
School of Art saw the influence of the Greek elements in the
Buddhist sculpture.

35
  Stand on Ukraine: Both support diplomacy and Agreement covers trade in physical goods and products
dialogue to resolve the Ukraine crisis. and does not apply to trade in services.
 They also deliberated on regional and multilateral
About Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN):
issues and called for respect of international law,
• It was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok,
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration
• The two sides also discussed mutual cooperation in the (Bangkok Declaration).
field of counter-terrorism and cyber security.
• It is a political and economic union of 10 member states
• An agreement on agricultural cooperation was also in Southeast Asia.
inked following the talks.
• ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia, Jakarta.
3.7 ASEAN-India Trade in Goods
3.8 India and the Northern Sea Route
Agreement Context: Murmansk, often referred to as the capital of the
Context: India and the Association of Southeast Asian Arctic region and the starting point of the Northern Sea
Nations (ASEAN) recently agreed to conclude the review of Route (NSR), is currently experiencing a notable increase in
their existing free trade agreement in goods by 2025 which Indian participation in cargo transportation.
is known as ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement
(AITIGA).
 A free trade agreement is a pact between two or
more nations to reduce barriers to imports and
exports among them.
About ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA):
• The AITIGA is a trade deal between the ten member
states of ASEAN and India.
• ASEAN and India signed the Agreement at the 7th ASEAN
Economic Ministers-India Consultations in Bangkok,
Thailand in 2009. The Agreement, which came into effect
in 2010, is sometimes referred to as the ASEAN-India
Free Trade Agreement.
• This framework agreement set the basis for India and
• During the initial seven months of 2023, India secured a
ASEAN to negotiate future trade agreements. The
significant portion, amounting to 35%, of the eight
million tonnes of cargo that passed through the
Murmansk port.
What is NSR?
• It is the shortest shipping route for freight
transportation between Europe and countries of the
Asia-Pacific region, straddles four seas of the Arctic
Ocean.
• Running to 5,600 km, the Route begins at the boundary
between the Barents and the Kara seas (Kara Strait) and
ends in the Bering Strait (Provideniya Bay).

36
SHORT NEWS IN TABLE:

African Union African Union suspends Niger over Coup.

• African Union (AU):
 AU is a continental body which consists of the 55 member states (including Niger) that make
up the countries of the African Continent.
 Launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity.
 It aims to promote unity, cooperation and development among African nations.
• African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC)
 It is AU permanent decision-making body for conflict prevention, management, and
resolution.
 It is a collective security and early warning system designed to help African countries respond
quickly and effectively to conflict and disaster circumstances.

Mutual Recognition Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the signing and ratification of the MRA between
Arrangement (MRA): Department of Revenue, Government of India and the Department of Home, Australian
India and Australia Government.
• Aim: Providing reciprocal benefits to exporters in the clearance of goods by the Customs
authorities of the importing country.
• Mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators is a key element of the World Customs
Organisation’s SAFE Framework.
• Authorised Economic Operators are the Australian Trusted Trader Program in Australia and the
Authorized Economic Operator Program in India.

ASEAN India S&T Recent meeting of the Governing Council of ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund
Development Fund (AISTDF) highlighted the importance of India's ASEAN technology partnership for prosperity of today
(AISTDF) and for the next generations.
About ASEAN India S&T Development Fund (AISTDF)
• It was established in 2008, jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Science
and Technology (DST).
• Aim: To support R&D (Research and Development ) projects and associated project development
activities.
• Eligible institutions in India: Universities, Publicly Funded Research Institutes and Labs and
educational /academic Research Institutes.
• Eligible institutions in ASEAN: All Research Institutions, Universities, other Research and
Academic Institutions which are eligible to receive funding through ASEAN are eligible for receiving
funding under AISTDF.

DESI Initiative • Finland will help India develop and build quantum computers under its DESI initiative.
• DESI stands for ‘Digitalisation, Education, Sustainability and Innovation’.

Amazon Cooperation Context:

Treaty Organization Recently, the two-day meeting of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) began in
(ACTO) Belem, Brazil.
About Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization:
• ACTO is an intergovernmental organization aimed at the promotion of sustainable development
of the Amazon Basin.
• Member Countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

37
 • ACTO is an example of the only socio-environmental block in Latin America.
• 2004: ACTO was responsible for the Manaus Declaration, a treaty designed to coordinate the
development of approximately 2.9 million square miles of rainforest.

Pacific Islands India is exploring the possibility of trilateral cooperation with France and Australia in the strategic
Pacific Islands.
Pacific Islands:
• The Pacific Islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. It comprises three ethnogeographic
groupings—Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
• Melanesia:
 The main island groups include Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Papua
New Guinea.
• Micronesia: Location: North of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea is the large region of
Micronesia.
• Polynesia: The region includes the Hawaiian Islands in the north and the Pitcairn Islands and
Easter Island to the east.

India- Papua New The Union Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and Papua New Guinea signed a memorandum of
Guinea MoU on understanding (MoU) for sharing India Stack.
sharing INDIA STACK About India Stack:
• India Stack is a collective name for a set of open AIs and digital goods that will allow governments,
businesses and other organisations to leverage identity, data and payments infrastructure at scale.
The following APIs are considered to be a core part of the India Stack.
• Aadhaar Authentication
• Aadhaar e-KYC
• eSign
• Digital Locker
• Unified Payment Interface (UPI)

BRICS Health Recently, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare addressed the virtual BRICS Health
Minister’s Meeting Minister's Meeting.
• Venue: The meeting was held in Durban, South Africa.
• UHC Emphasis: South Africa emphasizes Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the theme
"Bridging the Gap on Sustainable Health on the Road to UHC 2023"
• TB Research Commitment: India reaffirms its commitment to the BRICS TB Research Network
Initiative, aimed at eliminating tuberculosis (TB) by 2030.

G20 Initiatives under India’s Presidency:

G20 Anti-Corruption India hosted the first-ever G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meet taking place physically, in Kolkata.
Ministerial Meet • High-Level Principles on three priority areas were discussed:
 Law enforcement cooperation through information sharing.
 Strengthening asset recovery mechanisms.
 Enhancing the integrity and effectiveness of anti-corruption authorities.
• India has a policy of Zero Tolerance against corruption and it is leveraging technology and e-
governance to create a transparent and accountable ecosystem. For example, the Government
e-Marketplace portal.

38
 • Indian Cultural references:
 Ma Gridha: It is used in ancient Indian Upanishads which translates to ‘let there be no greed’.
 Kautilya’s Arthashastra: It is the government's duty to enhance the State's resources to
maximize the welfare of its people.

G20 Digital Economy The Prime Minister virtually addressed the G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ Meet held recently in
Ministers’ Meet Bengaluru.
More about the news:
• The PM called for a global consensus on high-level principles for building a secure, trusted, and
reliable digital ecosystem.
• He called for worldwide cooperation, emphasizing the potential to establish a structure that
ensures the secure and ethical utilization of artificial intelligence.
• The role of India’s digital public infrastructure in offering a scalable, secure and inclusive solution
for global challenges was highlighted during the meeting.

G20 Finance Track The G20 Finance Track seminar on ‘Global Economy: Challenges, Opportunities and the Way
seminar Forward was jointly organized by the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• During the seminar, the global community was urged to coordinate on restructuring the debt of
vulnerable low-and-middle income countries.
• Low-income economies are defined as those with a GNI per capita, calculated using the World
Bank Atlas method, of $1,135 or less in 2022; lower-middle-income economies are those with a
GNI per capita between $1,136 and $4,465 during the same period.
• According to the World Bank, at the end of 2021, the external debt of these economies totaled
$9 trillion, more than double the amount a decade ago.

G20 Trade and Recently, the Indian Prime Minister, addressed the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers’ Meeting
Investment Ministers’ held in Jaipur.
Meeting • MSMEs: Maximum Support to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
 India stressed paying more attention, as MSMEs account for 60 to 70 percent of employment
and contribute 50 percent to the global GDP.
 Increasing MSME participation in global trade and value chains has been a top priority of the
Indian presidency.
• Jaipur Initiative:
 Aim: To foster the seamless flow of information to MSMEs group and work on the ‘High-Level
Principles for the Digitalization of Trade Documents’.
 Significance: These principles can help countries in implementing cross-border electronic
trade measures and reduce compliance burdens.
 Jaipur Call for Action: It calls to help promote industry, MSMEs, and global trade.

39
4. ECONOMY
4.1 NPA in India
Context:
Recently, Parliament was informed that banks have written off bad loans worth ₹14.56 lakh crore in the last nine financial years
starting 2014-15.
• Loan write-offs often occur in the Context of dealing with NPAs. When a loan becomes an NPA, the bank will make efforts to
recover the outstanding amount.
• However, if it becomes clear that the loan is not recoverable and the bank has exhausted all reasonable efforts to recover it,
the bank may choose to write off the loan.
More on News:
Current Status of Loan Write-off in India:
• Total Loan written off: ₹14.56 lakh crore
 Loans Written-off by Category (Large Industries and
Services): ₹7,40,968 crore
• Recovery in Written-off Loans by Scheduled Commercial
Bank (SCBs): 2,04,668 crore between April 2024 – March
2023.
• Net write-off loans by public sector banks: 0.84 Lakhs Crore
in FY 2023.
• Net write-off loans by private sector banks: ₹73,803 crore
(RBI provisional data) in FY23.
Factors Behind the Surge in NPAs:
• Economic Factors Leading to NPAs:
 Optimistic Economic Outlook: During 2006-2008, a
period of robust economic growth led to riskier lending
decisions without proper due diligence.
 Global Economic Slowdown: Strong global growth pre-
2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) was followed by a
broader economic slowdown.
 Structural Economic Inefficiencies: Project delays, cost
overruns, and regulatory processes create inefficiencies
that contribute to NPA generation.
 Increased NPAs in MSMEs: Gross NPAs of MSMEs rose
by Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 1,65,732 crore as of September 2021 from Rs 1,45,673 crore in September 2020.
 NPA under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana:
✓ The Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency (MUDRA) provide loans up to Rs 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-
farm, small and micro enterprises.
✓ Bad loans under the MUDRA Yojana for all banks is 3.38 per cent of the total disbursements.
• Structural Reasons:
 Lack of Identification: Lack of continuous monitoring in regulation resulted in evergreening loans instead of restructuring,
delaying prompt action due to the inability to identify assets quickly.
 Weak Corporate Governance: Poor board quality with regard to due diligence, transparency, and accountability processes
resulted in poor decision-making and ineffective credit utilization.

40
• Other Reasons:
 Promoter Fraud: Fraud cases within public sector banks are Evergreening of Loans:
on the rise, though smaller compared to overall NPAs. • The process of evergreening of loans is typically a temporary
 Lack of appropriate action against culprits might have led to fix for a bank.
fraudulent behavior. • If an account turns NPA, banks are required to make higher
 Manipulation of Restructuring: Before the Insolvency and provisions which will impact their profitability.
Bankruptcy Code, promoters had significant influence on • To avoid classifying a loan as non-performing asset (NPAs),
restructuring. banks adopt evergreening.
✓ Promoters could convert bank lending to
equity, benefiting from gains while shifting
losses to banks.
How NPAs affect banks?
• Financial Performance: NPAs result in uncollected
loan principal and interest, causing financial losses for
banks, affecting revenue and overall profitability.
• Capital Base: Banks need to set aside provisions for
NPAs, eroding their capital base. This can challenge
their ability to meet regulatory capital requirements.
• Liquidity Strain: Setting aside funds as provisions for
NPAs affects banks' liquidity, limiting their lending
capacity and credit availability in the economy.
 The lack of liquidity prevents banks from lending
and it may slow down the economy leading to
unemployment, inflation, bear market, etc.
 High Interest Rate: To maintain their profit margins, banks will be forced to increase interest rates which again hurt the
economy.

Laws and Provisions related to NPAs:

• The Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002: It allows banks and
financial institutions to seize collateral and sell them to recover dues without court intervention.
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016: It Offers a framework for time-bound resolution of stressed assets and supports creditors.
 Establishes National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) to oversee the process.
• Bad Banks (2017): A bad bank separates risky and non-performing assets from a financial institution. It is also known as Asset Management
Company (AMC).
 It is based on the recommendation of the Sunil Mehta-led Committee.
 India's first ever bad bank is National Asset Reconstruction Ltd (NARC). It purchases bad loans from banks, and sells them to distressed
debt buyers.
✓ It is majorly controlled by PSBs, to acquire stressed loan assets above Rs 500 crore each amounting to about Rs 2 lakh crore in
phases.
 India Debt Resolution Company Ltd (IDRCL) as an ARC sells stressed assets in the market.
• Prompt Corrective Action Framework (2002):
 RBI launched PCA in 2002 for early intervention in struggling banks.
 Aim: To monitor and assist banks facing undercapitalization due to poor asset quality or loss of profitability.
 2017 Review: The framework was reassessed in 2017 based on recommendations from the Financial Stability and Development Council
and the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission.
 Parameters include:
(1) Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR), (2) Net Non-Performing Assets (NPA), (3) Return on Assets (RoA).
• Gross NPAs of PSBs have declined to ₹4.28 lakh crore as on March 31, 2023 from ₹8.96 lakh crore as on March 31, 2018.

41
Way Forward:
• Time-Bound Resolution: Introduce a sunset clause for resolution through Bad Banks to ensure timely action.
• Asset Maintenance: Establish a suitable mechanism within Bad Banks to fund the maintenance of asset quality during the
resolution process.
• Strengthened Resolution Oversight: Set up more panels similar to the one by Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to oversee
resolution plans.
 IBA has set up a six member panel to oversee resolution plans of lead lenders.
• Swift Recapitalization: Infuse additional capital into banks in a single installment to expedite recapitalization.
• Transparency: Continue transparent NPA recognition to maintain accurate data on bad loans.
• CIBIL Score: Utilize CIBIL scores to assess loan eligibility, ensuring responsible lending.
 Defaulters' Information Circulation: To prevent them from obtaining further loans.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms: Use of Debt Recovery Tribunals and Lok Adalats for quicker settlements.
4.2 Startup Ecosystem in India
Context:
The 182nd report on ‘Ecosystem of Startups to benefit India’ was tabled by the Department Related Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Commerce.
More on News:
• Despite potential, only 5.18% of startups are agri-focused.
Parliamentary Panel has raised concerns and calls to push
funding & mentoring.
• Only 10,165, or 10.4%, of the 98,119 recognised start-ups
have even applied for the tax sops.
• Just 1% of the more than 98,000 start-ups recognised by
the Commerce and Industry Ministry have been able to
avail Income Tax exemptions six years after the sop was
announced.
• Rs. 75.25 crore has been extended to nearly 1,176 agri-startups under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) initiative,
focusing on a spectrum of domains including precision agriculture, agro-processing, post-harvest technologies, and more.
About Start Up:
• In India, A startup is defined as an entity that is headquartered in India, which was opened less than 10 years ago, and has
an annual turnover less than ₹100 crore.
• Startups often rely on a combination of personal savings, Know the terms:
crowdfunding, angel investors, and venture capital to finance • Bootstrapping: Funding a startup's operations using personal
savings, revenue generated by the business, and minimal
their growth.
external investment.
• They are typically funded through bootstrapping, venture • Venture Capital (VC): Funding provided by investors to early-
capital, or other means. stage startups with high growth potential in exchange for
Role of Startups in the growth of the Indian economy: equity or ownership in the company.

• Employment Creation: India has 112 million working-age people • Angel Investor: Angel investors are wealthy private investors
focused on financing small business ventures in exchange for
between the ages of 20 and 24, compared to China’s 94 million.
equity.
 In the absence of government jobs, this demographic
dividend is accelerating the country’s startup culture.
• New Investments: Many multinational corporations are closely monitoring the progress of Indian start-ups to invest their
money.
 Ex: Accenture gave 1.35 million dollars worth of business to startups within the last year.
• Research and Development (R&D): Start-ups heavily subsidize R&D in countries like India as they frequently have to deal
with high-tech and knowledge-based services.
42
• Democratizing the Technology Benefits: Fintech startups are now reaching out to remote areas with their solutions and
making financial solutions easily accessible in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
 For Example: Hesa, a Fintech and Agritech startup is one solution for all rural problems by bridging the rural-urban divide
with technology and labor.
Startup Business:
Pros Cons
• Innovation: Innovative mindset often sets startups apart • High Failure Rate: According to an estimates, up to 90% of
and can create a significant competitive advantage. startups fail due to inadequate business planning, or
market demand for the product etc.
• Potential for High Growth: A successful startup can also • Financial risk: Starting a startup requires a significant
bring financial rewards to the founders and investors. investment, and there is no guarantee of success.
• Flexibility: Startups often have a lean organizational • Uncertainty: Startups often face uncertainty in their early
structure, allowing for more flexibility in how work is done. stages, including uncertainty around market demand,
This can lead to a more agile and adaptable business. product-market fit, and competition. This can make it
challenging to plan and make decisions.

Government Initiatives to strengthen the Startup ecosystem:

• “Startup India”: To build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Faster Exit for Startups: Wind up operations within 90 days vis-a-vis 180 days for other companies.
• Startup India Hub:Platforms for all stakeholders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS): Financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development,
product trials, market entry and commercialization.
• Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS): To provide guarantee up to a specified limit against loans extended by Member
Institutions (MIs).
• Support for Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP): It facilitates the startups to file applications for patents, designs and
trademarks through registered facilitators in appropriate IP offices by paying only the statutory fees.
• States' Startup Ranking: It is released by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) that evaluates all
of India's states and UTs on their efforts to build an ecosystem conducive to startup growth.
Challenges of India's Startup Ecosystem:
• Heavily Concentrated Funding: The three clusters
Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and Mumbai accounted for 92% of
all the funds raised between 2018 and 2020, 1% higher than
their share in 2015–18.
• Lack of Women Participation: Only three of the top 20
Indian venture capital firms had a woman partner as of
February 2020 (Dalal & Sriram, 2020).
 As per a recent report by Innoven Capital, less than 50%
of the surveyed startups had more than 10% women in
leadership positions (InnoVen Capital India, 2020).
• Limited Geographical Spread: India has three main startup clusters—Bengaluru, Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), and
Mumbai.
 For Example: As of 13 September 2021, India had 75 unicorns , 83% of which (62) were from these three clusters.
• Regulatory Hurdles: Complex and arachaic regulations can create obstacles for startups, making it difficult to navigate legal
processes, compliance requirements, and approvals.
• Access to Funding: At times, securing adequate funding can be challenging for startups, especially those in early stages. Access
to venture capital, angel investments, and other funding sources can be limited.

43
• Market Readiness: Startups need to understand local consumer behavior, preferences, and cultural nuances to succeed.
• Lack of Mentorship: Startups often lack experienced mentors who can provide guidance, insights, and connections to help
navigate challenges and make informed decisions.
• Intellectual Property Protection: Intellectual property rights enforcement can be complex and time-consuming, which can
discourage startups from investing in research and development.
Way Forward:
• Integrate Academia & Innovation To Encourage Entrepreneurship: It will encourage innovations, ideas of young students
and provide a conducive environment for entrepreneurship.
• Research & Development: Upgrading the R&D infrastructure and curriculums in education institutions to make students
ready for the digital world.
• Innovation Zones: The Government should encourage establishment of Innovation Zones in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to
encourage entrepreneurship.
• Promote 'Vocal for local': It is vital to creating an ecosystem where Indian entrepreneurs and startups are incentivised to
ideate, incubate, build, nurture and sustain tech solutions that can serve not only citizens within India but also the world.
• Establish New Incubators And Accelerators: Incubators play a vital role in nurturing and inculcating the entrepreneurial
culture among the aspiring entrepreneurs and promote them to be job providers.
• Strengthening the domestic financing ecosystem — banks, VCs, Q. Startups have played a vital role in the growth of the
institutions, use of pension funds, etc. Indian economy, discuss challenges which hinders
• Reducing the compliance burden under domestic tax regulations, labor the growth of the startup environment in India.
laws, corporate laws, etc.

4.3 Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023
Context:
Recently, The Mines And Minerals (Development And Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, received assent from the President to
amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

Provision Mines and Minerals (Development and Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023
Exploration License for • The exploration license will be issued • The Bill declassifies beryl and beryllium, (ii)
Specified Minerals: for 29 minerals specified in the lithium, (iii) niobium, (iv) titanium, (v) tantallium,
Seventh Schedule which include gold, and (vi) zirconium minerals from the category of
silver, copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, atomic minerals.
potash, and rock phosphate. • Upon removal of these minerals from the list of
• It classifies the following minerals as atomic minerals, exploration and mining of
atomic minerals: these minerals will be open to the private
 Beryl and beryllium sector.
 Lithium
 Niobium
 Titanium
 Tantallium
 Zirconium.
Validity of exploration ____ • The exploration license will be issued for five
License: years.
Auction of Certain • Under the Act, auction of concessions • The Bill adds that auction for composite licence
minerals by the Central is undertaken by the state and mining lease for specified critical and
Government: governments, except in certain strategic minerals will be conducted by the
specified cases. central government.

44
 • These minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel,
phosphate, potash, tin, phosphate, and potash.
Maximum area in which • Under the Act, a prospecting licence • The Bill allows activities under a single
activities are Permitted: allows activities in an area up to 25 exploration license in an area up to 1,000 square
square kilometres, and a single kilometers.
reconnaissance permit allows activities
in an area up to 5,000 square
kilometers.
Incentive for exploration __ If the resources are proven after exploration, the
licencee: state government must conduct an auction for
mining lease within six months of the submission
of the report by the exploration licencee. The
licencee will receive a share in the auction value of
the mining lease for the mineral prospected by
them.
Challenges:
• Lack of Advanced Technology: Deep seated resources or minerals located in eco-sensitive areas have not been considered
for mining due to lack of advanced and eco-sensitive technology.
 For example, the Jharia coal block, which has large coking coal Government Initiatives:
resources that can help meet steel industry coking coal • National Mineral Exploration Policy: It aims at making
available geoscientific data of world standards in the public
demand, is un-utilised due to the ongoing fire.
domain.
• Red Tapism: Long clearance time for different licenses and
• The Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act
limitations like captive use also hamper mining output. (MMDR): Aims to make the process of allocation of mineral
 For example, in India it takes 4+ years to get a mining lease, blocks more transparent and competitive through auction.
compared to less than a year for other major mining countries  Mineral Conservation and Development (Amendment)
such as Brazil, Chile, the US and Canada. Rules 2021: These rules are regarding conservation of
• Global Market Fluctuations: The mining sector is influenced by minerals, systematic and scientific mining, and
development of minerals in the country for
global market demand and prices, making it susceptible to
environment protection.
economic fluctuations and geopolitical events.
• Production Linked Scheme: In 2022, PLI Scheme for
• Lack of Clarity: The explorer would not know how much revenue domestic production of specialty steel.
they will receive as the auction premium would be known only • District Mineral Foundation (DMF): DMF funds are
when a mine is successfully auctioned. earmarked for high-priority areas, including: drinking water
• Revenue Generation for Private Exploration Companies: A supply, environment preservation and pollution control
private company with an exploration licence would primarily measures, healthcare, education.
generate revenue from a share of the miner's premium after a  DMFs were instituted under the Mines and Minerals
successful mine is auctioned and operationalized (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment
Act 2015.
• Social Issues: Mining areas may experience social issues such as
 They are non-profit trusts to work for the interest and
labor disputes, inadequate working conditions, and conflicts with benefit of persons and areas affected by mining-related
local communities over resource access and benefits. operations.
 For Example: The water sources of many rivers, especially in
Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, have turned acidic due to rat hole mining.
Way Forward:
• Addressing the Skilled Labour Gap: Proactively address the mining skilled labor gap by augmenting capacity in educational
institutions and partnering with industry, HRD ministry or the National Skill Development Council.
 For Example: The Standing Committee observed that the total employment in the mining industry was estimated to
increase from 0.95 million to 1.2 million by the year 2025.

45
• Adherence to Laws: Mining companies must understand resource economics and avoid wasting valuable minerals. It is crucial
to follow all rules from exploration to mine closure.
 Mining waste comes from extracting and processing mineral resources.
 It includes materials such as topsoil overburden (which are removed to gain access to mineral resources), and waste rock
and tailings (after the extraction of the valuable mineral).
• Consistent Policy: For restoring investor confidence, the government should ensure that no retrospective changes are made
in the policy of allotment, taxation and general administration.
• Minimum Production clause: Cartelisation in commercial mining needs to be removed, it is important to have a minimum
production clause.
 If production up to the environment clearance limit is not possible, this minimum requirement should be imposed on the
miners.
• Collaboration with Stakeholders: Foster collaboration among government, industry, academia, and local communities to
ensure holistic development and responsible mining practices.
• Community Engagement: Prioritize local community involvement, ensuring fair compensation, employment opportunities,
and sustainable development in mining regions.
• Adoption of Sustainable Practices: Emphasize environmentally friendly Q. “In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining
mining practices, ensuring minimal ecological impact and proper land is still inevitable for development”. Discuss. (2017)
reclamation after mining activities.

4.4 Review of IMF Quota

Context:
Recently, the Reserve Bank Governor pitched for the "expeditious completion" of the 16th general review of the quotas at the
International Monetary Fund (IMF).

46
Concern raised by RBI Governor:
Reasons a country may seek an IMF Loans:
• Urgent Quota Review: He emphasized the need for the speedy completion of
• Macroeconomic risks;
the 16th general review of quotas at the IMF.
• Currency crises;
 He suggested that this completion would enable the IMF to better support
• To meet external debt obligations;
distressed countries.
• To buy essential imports and
 Funding Conditions Concerns: He criticized the IMF's funding conditions,
• Push the exchange value of their currencies.
which often discourage countries in urgent need due to the associated
conditions, requirements, and stigmas.
 Alternative Sources Due to Stigma: He noted that poor countries facing
financial difficulties often seek support from entities other than the IMF Conditions attached to IMF Loans:
due to perceived stigma or limited access. • Fiscal Austerity Measures: This includes measures
• Limitations of Funding Mechanisms: The Governor pointed out the such as reducing government spending, increasing
limitations of the IMF's funding methods. taxes, and cutting subsidies in order to reduce
budget deficits.
 He discussed how precautionary programs and stand-by arrangements
may not be suitable for countries with varying macroeconomic • Structural Reforms: These can include measures
such as deregulating markets, privatizing state-
fundamentals.
owned enterprises, and improving the business
✓ The Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) provides short-term financial environment in order to promote economic
assistance to countries facing balance of payments problems. It has growth.
been the IMF lending instrument most used by advanced and • Monetary Policy Adjustments: This can include
emerging market countries. measures such as raising interest rates, devaluing
✓ IMF's precautionary programmes such as the precautionary lending the currency, and increasing foreign exchange
line are available for countries with sound macro-fundamentals. reserves in order to stabilize the country's balance
of payments.
• Other Concern:
• Transparency and Accountability Measures: This
 Delays in Funding Approval: IMF funding serves as a crucial financial
can include measures to improve government
lifeline for countries facing severe debt crises. transparency, reduce corruption.
✓ Delays in obtaining this funding can intensify economic challenges, • Debt Restructuring: This can involve negotiating
straining government finances, impacting businesses, and adversely with creditors to reduce the country's debt burden
affecting populations. or extend the repayment period in order to make
✓ Countries like Sri Lanka and Ghana, facing shortages of essential the debt more manageable
resources and requiring significant reforms to manage debt crises,
are particularly vulnerable to funding delays.
 Governance Imbalance: The practice of having a European lead the IMF and an American lead the World Bank is criticized
for perpetuating a lack of representation for emerging economies.
✓ During the pandemic, the wealthy Group of Seven nations, with a population of 772 million, received the equivalent of
$280 billion from the IMF while the least developed countries, with a population of 1.1 billion, were allocated just over
$8 billion.
 Intrusive Conditions and Sovereignty Concerns: Critics argue that the conditions attached to IMF loans are too intrusive
and often compromise the economic and political sovereignty of borrowing countries.
✓ Stringent conditions, known as "conditionality," can impose policies that turn loans into tools for enforcing specific
economic and policy changes.
 Policy Imposition without Local Context: The IMF has been criticized for imposing policies on countries without fully
understanding their unique economic and social circumstances.
 Quota Reforms: Each member country is assigned a quota proportional to its economic size globally. Quotas determine
voting power and borrowing capacity.
✓ This system has led to overrepresentation of wealthy nations in decision-making and rule-setting processes.
Way Forward:
• Governance Reform: The IMF should reform its leadership selection process to ensure equal representation and voice for
emerging economies, breaking away from traditional Western dominance.
47
• Address Underrepresentation: Special attention should be given to addressing the underrepresentation of economically
growing countries, such as the BRICS nations, by ensuring their quotas and voting power align with their increasing economic
significance.
• Local Context: Policymaking should be more inclusive, involving local experts and considering a nation's specific economic,
social, and political factors to develop strategies that align with domestic realities.
• Recommendation by RBI Governor:
 Timely and Non-Stigmatized Measures: He stressed the importance of implementing corrective measures, including
financing, in a timely and non-stigmatized manner. This would require a stronger IMF capable of managing country risks
effectively.
 Link between Support and Quota Size: The Governor explained that the IMF's support is linked to the quota size of
member countries. Hence, reforms in the IMF's quota system would enhance the organization's legitimacy in overseeing
the international monetary and financial system.
 Reducing Conditionalities: He suggested that IMF programs could be designed with fewer conditionalities for countries
with reasonably resilient macro-fundamentals that aren't heavily affected by balance of payments stress.

4.5 Pricing of Agricultural Commodities

Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Finance has imposed a 40 percent export duty on onions to ensure a more stable domestic supply.
More on News:
• Prices of pulses have also risen sharply in recent months, speeding to 13.3% in July from 10.6% in June.
• The retail prices of tomatoes have shot up to ₹200-250 per kilogram in several parts of the country in the near month.
• Recently, prices have fallen to Rs 50-70 per kilogramme with arrival of new crops from Nashik, Naryangaon and Aurangabad
belt in Maharashtra.
The prices of agricultural commodities are influenced by various factors:
• Sowing and Crop Selection: The choice of
crop by farmers is influenced by factors such
as weather conditions, soil quality, market
demand, and government policies.
 The quality and type of seeds used can
impact crop yields and, consequently,
market supply.
• Post-Harvest Handling:
 Storage: Proper storage facilities are
essential to prevent spoilage and
maintain crop quality.
 Transportation: Efficient transportation
systems ensure that crops reach markets
in a timely manner, reducing losses and
maintaining quality.
• Market Conditions:
 Demand and Supply: Market demand
and supply dynamics play a significant
role in determining commodity prices.
High demand and low supply tend to
drive prices up.
 Market Access: Access to markets and distribution channels can affect prices, especially for perishable commodities.

48
• Market Intermediaries:The role of intermediaries in the
Government Initiative to check Pricing of Agricultural
supply chain can affect the prices received by farmers. Commodities:
• Government Policies: • Price Stabilization Fund: It was established in 2014-15, to
 Minimum Support Prices (MSP): Government-set MSPs absorb extreme volatility in selected commodity prices.
can provide price floors for certain crops, influencing • Operation Greens: It aims to promote farmer producers
market prices. organizations, agri-logistics, processing facilities and
 Trade Policies: Export bans, import tariffs, and trade professional management.
agreements can impact the availability of commodities in  The operation aims to aid farmers and help control and
the domestic market. limit the erratic fluctuations in the prices of onions,
potatoes and tomatoes.
Challenges in Agriculture Pricing: • Price Support Scheme (PSS): The PSS, under the Agriculture
• Demand-Side Challenges: Ministry, is operationalised only when prices of agri-
 Fluctuating Consumer Demand: Consumer preferences produce fall below the minimum support price (MSP).
for agricultural products can change rapidly, leading to  Under this, physical procurement of pulses, oilseeds and
fluctuations in demand. Sudden shifts in dietary habits or Copra will be done by Central Nodal Agencies with
proactive role of State governments
health concerns can affect demand for specific crops.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): To provide
 Income Elasticity: The demand for agricultural products is
insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in
often income-sensitive. In times of economic downturns, the event of failure of any of the notified crops as a result of
consumers may reduce their spending on certain natural calamities, pests & diseases.
agricultural products, leading to lower prices. • e-NAM (National Agriculture Market): e-NAM is an online
 Global Market Influences: International factors, such as platform that connects agricultural markets across the
global commodity prices and trade policies, can impact country, enabling farmers to access a wider market and
demand. Imports or exports of agricultural products can obtain better prices for their produce.
disrupt domestic markets. • Agriculture Infrastructure Fund: It aims to provide all-
around financial support to the farmers, agri-entrepreneurs,
 Consumer Awareness: Consumer awareness regarding
farmer groups like Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs),
food safety, quality, and certifications can influence etc. to create post-harvest management infrastructure and
demand. Products meeting specific standards may build community farming assets throughout the country.
command higher prices.
• Supply-Side Challenges:
 Weather and Climate Change: Weather-related challenges,
Cobweb Phenomenon:
such as droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall patterns due to
climate change, can lead to crop failures and reduced supply.
• In the Context of agriculture, it is an economic concept that
describes a cycle of alternating high and low prices for
 Pest and Disease Outbreaks: Outbreaks of pests and diseases
agricultural commodities over different planting seasons.
can devastate crops, reducing yields and affecting the
• It occurs due to the time lag between farmers' planting
availability of agricultural products. decisions and market conditions.
 Input Costs:Fluctuations in the prices of inputs like seeds,
fertilizers, and pesticides can impact production costs, affecting the supply of agricultural goods.
 Infrastructure and Storage: Inadequate post-harvest infrastructure and storage facilities can result in post-harvest losses,
reducing the effective supply of agricultural products.
 Land Fragmentation: Fragmentation of agricultural land into smaller plots can limit economies of scale and reduce overall
production efficiency.
 Market Access and Intermediaries: Challenges in accessing markets and the role of middlemen can result in farmers
receiving lower prices for their produce.
 Government Policies: Government policies related to procurement, subsidies, and trade can influence supply. Policies that
restrict exports or set minimum support prices (MSPs) can impact the availability of agricultural products.
Way Forward:
• Leverage Technology: Utilize precision agriculture, IoT (Internet of Things), and remote sensing to boost crop yields, lower
production costs, and provide farmers with valuable information.

49
  Develop mobile apps offering real-time market data, weather updates, and best practices to empower farmers with
informed decision-making abilities.
• Crop Diversity: Encourage farmers to grow high-value, climate-resilient crops to reduce dependence on traditional crop
MSPs.
• Innovative Farming: Promote innovative practices such as organic, vertical, and hydroponic farming to access niche markets
and increase profits.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Foster collaborations between government, private sector, and farmer groups to
strengthen market connections, enhance value addition, and bolster farmers' bargaining power.
• Collaborative Initiatives: Implement initiatives like contract farming, agri-logistics infrastructure development, and agro-
processing units for fair and lucrative markets for farmers.
• Direct Sales through FPOs: Promote direct sales by encouraging Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to sell produce,
eliminating middlemen and increasing farmers' earnings.
• Reform APMC Rules: Amend Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) rules to reduce commissions and fees, ensuring
that more of the profit goes directly to the farmers.
 According to the RBI, farmers receive less than 50% of the retail price for major traded crops like tomatoes.
 The margin between what a farmer gets and what a consumer pays consists of a host of other charges such as
commissions, mandi charges, Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) memberships fees, etc.
• Promote Cultivation in Controlled Environments like Poly Houses and Greenhouses to enhance yield and manage pest issues
effectively.
 Poly house is a type of greenhouse, where special types of polyethylene sheets are used as covering materials, under which
crops can be grown partially or under fully controlled climatic conditions.

4.6 Decarbonising Transport Sector

Context:
Recently Niti Aayog released a report titled "Towards Decarbonising Transport - Taking Stock of G20 Sectoral Ambition".
Highlight of the Report:
• Responsibility of G20: The G20 countries are responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG),
making decarbonization of the transport sector crucial for achieving global climate goals.
 India’s Emissions from the transport sector could increase by 65 per cent by 2030 and a staggering 197 per cent by 2050
relative to 2020 levels.
• Lack of Commitment: Despite commitments to the Paris Agreement, the G20 has not given enough attention to decarbonizing
and reshaping the transport sector.
• Snail Pace Policy Impact: Notable reductions in transport emissions have not been achieved since 1990, and emissions have
been increasing due to motorization around the globe.
 Overall G20 transport emissions have grown by almost 6% in 2015–2019.
• Geopolitical Pressure: Due to the pandemic and growing geopolitical tensions, the international commitment to climate
action is currently facing challenges.
 Tectonic shifts in geopolitics mean greater economic competition between China, India, and Indonesia, on the one hand,
and the US, Western Europe, and Japan, on the other.
• Fuel Subsidy: Overall subsidy levels are still distorting the market, giving carbon-intensive modes of transport an undue
advantage.
India’s Transport Sector and Carbon Emissions:
• Scope and Coverage: India's road network is the second largest in the world after the US and it has the fourth-largest rail
network globally.
 The total number of road vehicles grew at an average of 10% per year between 2005 and 2012 and continues to grow
strongly, which, together with increasing urbanisation, has led to high levels of traffic congestion and air pollution.
 India's total CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion grew by 330% between 1990 and 2019.

50
• Emission from Transport Sector: Road transport
emerges as the major contributor to sector emissions,
closely followed by rail transport.
 Transport-sector emissions grew 375% over the
same period and represent an uncharacteristically
low share – 14% due to high carbon intensity of
India's power generation.
 With 1.6 t CO₂ for total emissions & 0.2 t CO₂ for
transport sector, India's per capita emissions are the
lowest in the G20.
 India's rail transport's share of sector emissions
(nearly 7%) is one of the highest among the G20
countries.
• Slow Progress on EVs: Despite the global push to
transition to electric vehicles (EVs), India has only set a
target for a 30% electric vehicle share in passenger light-duty vehicle sales by 2030.
 It falls short of an overall emissions or energy target for the entire transport
India's NDC Target:
sector.
• Committed to reducing the emissions
• Lack of Specific Target under INDC: India's updated Nationally Determined intensity of GDP by 45% in 2030 relative
Contribution (NDC) includes targets to reduce emissions intensity and increase to 2005 levels.
non-fossil fuel-based energy resources, but it does not specifically address the • Economy-wide net-zero target by 2070.
transport sector. Transport related NDC targets

Steps Taken to Control Transport Emissions in India: • Increase the share of railways from 36% to
45%.
• Ambitious Target: India aims to increase the share of rail in freight transport to
• Signed COP26 ZEV declaration for new car
45% by 2030 and intends to achieve a 30% share of electric light-duty vehicle
and van.
sales by the same year.
• sales by 2040 (this also includes 2/3
 India signed the COP26 declaration, setting a target to transition to 100% zero- wheelers).
emission cars and vans by 2040. Transport related NDC measures
 Adopting greener policies in passenger and freight transport sectors to avoid • Promotion of hybrid and electric vehicles.
up to 1.7 Gt CO₂e by 2030. • National policy on biofuels.
 EVs Push: Among G20 nations, India stands out for its rapid and impressive • Passenger car fuel-efficiency standards.
evolution in the EV market. • Promote coastal and inland waterway
 Programmes: National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 in 2013, followed shipping.
by the Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of EVs (FAME) Phase I and Phase II. • Construction of metro lines, urban
 These programs have allocated $1.25 billion to incentivize EV adoption transport, and Mass rapid transport
through upfront subsidies and the development of robust charging projects
infrastructure. Future targets at national level

 India has over 2.4 million registered EVs as of June 2023. • 45% mode share for rail freight until 2030.
• Fossil fuel subsidy reform: India which phased out price controls for transport • Double the share of freight transported by
coastal shipping and inland waterways
fuels in late 2014.
• 7,987 km of high-speed rail (in stages up
 From 2014 to 2017, India incrementally reduced oil and gas subsidies by 75%,
to 2051).
while increasing funding for renewable energy six-fold. National EV deployment targets
• Hydrogen Push: India launched a National Hydrogen Mission in August 2021. • 30% share of EVs in passenger LDV sales
 Its target is to have 30 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030 with related by 2030.
renewable power generation capacity, producing 5 million tonnes of green • 2,877 charging points in 25 states and
hydrogen per year. 1,576 charging points across 9
expressways and 16 highways.

51
Report Recommendation: Power-to-X technologies
• Prioritizing Transport in Energy Transition: G20 states should lead • It encompasses various processes that convert renewable
in decarbonizing transport by eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and energy into other forms of energy or fuels.
increasing green fuel funding. • These technologies include power-to-hydrogen (P2H),
 Fostering Just Energy Transition Partnerships and supporting power-to-gas (P2G), power-to-liquid (P2L), and power-to-
power-to-X technologies for enhanced cooperation among chemicals (P2C).
member states. • Power-to-X technologies are essential for achieving
• Adopting Power-to-X fuels: They refer to carbon-neutral decarbonization in sectors like transportation, where direct
electrification may not be feasible.
alternatives to conventional fossil energy carriers.
• These technologies offer alternatives to conventional fossil
 These fuels are produced by using renewable energy sources,
energy carriers.
such as wind or solar power, to convert water and carbon
dioxide into synthetic fuels like
hydrogen or synthetic methane.
 They can play a crucial role in
decarbonizing sectors like long-
haul aviation and maritime
shipping, where direct
electrification may not be feasible.
• Greener Funding: Increasing
investments to more energy-efficient
means of passenger and freight
transport can help shift consumer
demand toward lower-carbon
transport.
 India has set a target to move at
least 50% of goods via rail by 2030
and fully electrify its rail system by
2024.
• Adopting "Avoid, Shift and Improve"
strategy: This strategy emphasizes the
need to avoid unnecessary vehicle trips, shift towards low-carbon modes of transport, and improve the efficiency of existing
transport systems.
• Sustainable Mobility: The transition to sustainable mobility will reduce energy consumption without limiting mobility.
 Enhance the availability and cost-competitiveness of public transport and to support both the electrification of vehicles.
 Electric vehicles (EVs) can improve energy efficiency by
Just Energy Transition Partnerships
producing about 20% less CO₂ emissions than internal
• It is a collaboration between G20 member states that aim to
combustion engines. support the market ramp-up of power-to-X technologies.
• Role of Legislation: Countries must pass laws promoting new • These partnerships involve adopting ambitious policies,
ideas, accelerating low-carbon system expansion, and holistic increasing funding, and providing guarantees for investors.
policies, addressing energy and land use linkages. • The goal is to produce green power-to-X fuels in substantial
 Ex: Public transport infrastructure is crucial for reducing GHG quantities, which can replace conventional fossil energy
emissions, improving urban quality, and reducing congestion carriers with carbon-neutral alternatives.
and fatalities.
• Behavioral Change: G20’s 2019 Energy Efficiency Leading Programme (EELP) recognised the importance of “behavioral
change”.
 Policies should promote eco-friendly, efficient transportation options like walking, cycling, and public transport, while
promoting electric vehicles.

52
4.7 Role of microfinance sector in Indian Economy
Context:
• Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have played a leading role to bring inclusive finance into the development mainstream.
More about the news:
• Promoting Women Entrepreneurship: They have engineered an efficient business model that utilizes the prevailing social
collateral to ignite women’s entrepreneurship spirit.
 Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) launched a TV commercial 'Microfinance - har hausle ke saath'. It helps the
low income financially excluded women realise its earning potential.
 Satin Creditcare Network Limited (SCNL), a microfinance company, sanctioned loans to rural women and helped expand
the weaving business.
• Microfinance outreach: They have enabled microfinance outreach in nearly 85 per cent districts of India with more than two
lakh frontline employees distributing credit and associated services.
• Role in digital transition: Regular interaction with customers by using robust technology platforms has given them presence
in 729 districts and helped create a strong bridge between physical and digital India.
• Strong regulation ecosystem: The sector is supported by a strong ecosystem of robust regulations, the JanDhanAadhaar-
Mobile (JAM) trinity, well functioning credit bureaus, and support from banks under priority sector lending.
• Inclusivity: Audio-visual content in vernacular languages is widely utilised to continuously impart financial literacy.
Microfinance Sector:
• Microfinance is a financial service provided to
low-income individuals or groups who
otherwise would have no other access to
financial services.
• There are basically two distinct approaches for
extending microfinance services in India:
 Bank led approach called Self Help Group–
Bank Linkage Programme (SHG-BLP)
 Micro Finance Institution (MFI) led
approach.
Self Help Group–Bank Linkage Programme (SHG-
BLP):
• About SHG-BLP: The programme was an
initiative of NABARD in 1992 to link the
unorganised sector with the formal banking
sector.
• Working: Under this, banks were allowed to
open savings accounts for Self-Help Groups
(SHGs). Banks provide loans to the SHGs against group guarantee.
Microfinance institutions (MFIs):
• MFIs are financial companies that provide small loans to people who do not have any access to banking facilities. The interest
rates provided by microfinance institutions are lower than those charged by normal banks. The services under it includes:
 Microloans: It allows individuals to borrow small sums of money without providing any collateral In India, all loans that
are below Rs.1 lakh can be considered as microloans
 Microsavings: These savings accounts are available for entrepreneurs to operate with no minimum balance.
 Microinsurance: They offer insurance coverage to borrowers of microloans for a comparatively low premium.

53
Significance of MFIs:
• Reaching the last mile: System of disbursing small loans, credit, insurance, and access to savings accounts is gradually
penetrating the unserved segments of society.
 A total of 188 lakh JLGs have been formed and credit linked How are MFIs Funded?
to ensure credit support for the landless and tenant farmers • Member and customer deposits
without formal rights to land. • Subsidies and grants
• Women Empowerment: Microfinance contributes to closing the • Own capital
gender gap and creating more equitable opportunities for • Funding received from public investors
women. • Funding received from private investors
 Innovative projects like Friends of Women’s World Banking • Loans from partner banks
(FWWB) and Arth Impact Welfare Foundation have been Financing of MFIs:
launched for providing end-to-end platforms for women • Typically, scheduled commercial banks (SCBs), NBFCs and
entrepreneurs. SFBs deploy the capital to MFIs as a part of priority sector
lending (PSL).
• Rural economic development: It provides agricultural loans to
• The RBI-prescribed Master Directions-PSL for microfinance
farmers, enabling them to invest in agricultural resources leading
has allowed banks to extend credit to NBFCs, other MFIs
to higher farmer income and overall rural development. and also SHG/ JLG members under the agricultural sector.
 As on 31 March 2022, 4.7 lakh SHG members have been • This direction by the RBI has elevated and diversified the
trained under Micro Enterprise Development capital base for MFIs to deploy more credit and reach out
Programmes(MEDPs) to equip them for setting up their own to a wider consumer base.
enterprises.
 MEDP was envisaged with NABARD’s support to enhance the capacities of SHG members through appropriate skill
upgradation/ development.
• Financial literacy programs: MFI fosters responsible financial behaviour and empowers individuals with the help of financial
literacy programs and training for their clients.
 Sewa Bank had provided financial literacy and digital literacy training to approximately 20,000 informal economy women
in Gujarat.
• Digitalisation Initiatives: They have been aligned to the rapid diffusion of smartphones and growing comfort of borrowers
with digital modes of transactions.
 Currently, nearly 100 per cent of loans are digitally disbursed directly into the bank account of the borrowers.
 Financial and non-financial data of over 12.74 lakh SHGs has been digitized under the EShakti programme.

Challenges Faced by MFIs in India:

• Narrowing down on the appropriate lending model: Unscientific model of lending chosen by MFI increases the risks of
borrowings for the weaker sections.
 SHG or JLG models of lending are chosen by MFIs at random.
• Reliance on commercial banks: Most NGO-MFIs in India rely on commercial banks to ensure stable funding having higher
interest rates and shorter lending terms.
• Lack of infrastructure: Limited access to transportation, communication networks, and banking facilities hampers the efficient
delivery of financial services.
• Regional disparities: 82 per cent of the loan portfolio is concentrated in ten states.
 In terms of regional distribution, eastern & north-eastern regions of the country have the largest share at 37 per cent
followed by south at 27 percent and west at 15 per cent.
• Social and cultural barriers: Traditional gender roles, social norms, and caste-based hierarchies restricts the participation of
certain segments of the population, particularly women, in microfinance programs.
• Transition to traditional banking: Several microfinance institutions have converted into small finance banks and thus, they
can lend at higher interest rates besides, accessing low cost deposits.

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Way Forward:
• Addressing infrastructure gaps: Maintaining robust infrastructure is essential to enhance the effectiveness of microfinance
programs in rural areas.
• Bridging social and cultural barriers: Sensitizing communities, empowering women through targeted interventions, and
fostering an inclusive environment are crucial.
• Supportive Regulatory Environment: Simplifying MFI licensing and removing growth-hindering regulations are necessary
steps.
• Serving unserved regions: Tax incentives in underserved areas like aspirational districts or hilly tracts can foster MFI expansion
and financial inclusion.
• Financial literacy programs: Promoting responsible borrowing requires financial literacy programs for borrowers, aided by
initiatives like NABARD's capacity-building efforts.
• Banks stepping into microfinance: By leveraging their cost-effective deposit capabilities, banks could extend microloans
directly to the rural population.

4.8 Off-track finances: Indian Railways needs better financial control

Context:
• The Union Cabinet has approved proposals worth approximately 32,512 crore from the Ministry of Railways to expand the
rail network in various parts of India. The Standing Committee on Railways and CAG report have provided insights into the
state of finances of the railways sector.
Report from Standing Committee on Railways:
• Financial assistance for pension expenses: Railways to seek
partial financial assistance from the Ministry of Finance to
address pension requirements.
• Increasing Pension obligations: Estimated pension liabilities
have risen from approximately 17,000 crore in 2011-12 to an
expected payout of about 60,000 crore in 2023-24.
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India for
2021-22:
• Deterioration in Operating ratio (OR): It is a measure to
calculate the ratio of working expenses to traffic earnings. It was 107.39 per cent in 2021-22 against 97.45 per cent in 2020-
21 as the railways could not generate a net surplus.
• OR not reflecting true financial performance: If the actual expenditure on pension payments as well as expenditure on the
Depreciation Reserve Fund (DRF) is taken into account, the OR would have been higher, at 109.36 per cent.
 DRF is maintained for replacement and renewal of old assets.
• Inadequate DRF Provision: It has steadily decreased in the past five years. It hindered the replacement of aging assets as well
as posed serious risks to operational safety.
• Ordinary Working Expenditure (OWE): During 2020-21, OWE increased to 98.27 per cent of the total revenue expenditure as
compared to the average of 75.45 per cent during the past five years.
 Ordinary Working Expenditure (OWE) comprises expenditure on day-to-day maintenance and operations of the Railways.
• Inadequate generation of internal resources: It resulted in greater dependence on Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) and Extra
Budgetary Resources (EBR).
 During 2020-21, railways generated total internal resources of ₹ 1,40,783.55 crore against ₹ 2,25,913 crore envisaged in
the budget estimates.

55
  The amount of EBR was ₹71,065.86 crore, which represented a
• IRFC is a Schedule ‘A’ Public Sector Enterprise under the
decrease of 42.31% as compared with 2020-21.
administrative control of the Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India.
 The Indian Railways(IR) have been raising EBR through Indian
• Aim: to meet the predominant portion of EBR requirement of
Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), since its inception in 1987, the Indian Railways through market borrowings at the most
for procurement of rolling stock. competitive rates and terms.
• Challenge of Cross-subsidisation: Passenger fares are cross-
subsidised using profits generated on freight operations. This cross-subsidisation continues to be a concern, as railways have
not been able to raise fares in the sleeper class.
 In FY22, the railways’ loss decreased over the previous year
but the entire profit of ₹36,196 crore from freight traffic was
utilized to cross-subsidise and compensate the loss on
operation of passenger and other coach services.
Challenges faced by railway sector in India:
• Security Issues: The presence of technical malfunctions and
system breakdowns leads to signaling inaccuracies, track
misplacements, and other severe safety risks.
 Example- Recent Balasore train incident in Odisha took
place due to errors in the signalling system.
• Departmentalization of the railway board: It is structured into distinct divisions such as mechanical, electrical, traffic, and
finance, etc. making it an intricate, excessively departmentalized entity
causing inefficiencies in the decision-making process.
• Burden of Social obligations: It is tasked with fulfilling dual roles of
generating revenue and fulfilling social obligations. It is seen as a
commercial entity as well as obligated to meet societal commitments.
• Lack of modernisation: It has failed to modernize its infrastructure and
services. Its equipment, procedures, and training have persisted without
substantial changes over the years.
 As per CAG’s analysis of railway accidents that took place between 2017
and 2021,. the train derailments persist as the primary cause of
accidents, responsible for over 69% of the total incidents.
• Regulatory Hurdles: The projects assigned by the government for the
enhancement and modernization of the railway system encounter delays
due to bureaucratic obstacles, corruption, and environmental
considerations.
• High freight cost: India’s freight cost is 13 to 14 percent of GDP, whereas it
is 9 to 10 percent of GDP in other developed countries.
• Absence of public-private collaborations: Private investment currently
comprises merely around 15% of the overall infrastructure investment.
Government Reforms in Railway Sector:
Way Forward:
• Enhancing financial sustainability: Despite increased investments , proper financial management is necessary for the railways
to reach its potential in capacity creation and modernization.
• Exploring means of Revenue generation: While enhancing operational efficiency is crucial, the government needs to
determine its approach to managing the railways.
• Acknowledging the management responsibility: State of railway finances isn't solely the railway's responsibility. For example,
the railway has limited control over passenger fares in terms of revenue, and wages and pensions on the expenditure side.
• Diversification of freight basket: It needs to take steps to diversify its freight basket to enhance freight earnings.
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  Currently, transportation of coal
constitutes about 46 per cent of its
freight earnings.
• Ensuring private participation: To
sustain investments in India’s
infrastructure environment, social
acceptance and enforcement of user-
pays principle as well as stricter
contract enforcement will be required.
• Streamlining regulatory hurdles: The
government should focus on
streamlining the land acquisition
process, guaranteeing equitable compensation, and providing proper rehabilitation for affected individuals.
• Efficient utilisation of Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh funds(RKSK): As per the CAG report, the usage of these funds for non-
priority areas and non-safety works went up in several zones to as much as 25%.
 RKSK was introduced for renewal, replacement, and upgradation of railway safety assets.
 Out of 1127 derailments during 2017-21, 289 derailments (26%) were linked to track renewals and the major reason was
non-utilisation of RKSK funds.

4.9 Animal Husbandry: Success and Constraints

Context:
• Recently Regional Review Meeting for the Animal Husbandry and Dairy sector highlighted that the livestock sector is
consistently growing at a high Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.67% during 2014-15 to 2021-22.
More about the news:
• Changing diets and income: The growth is attributed to Livestock Sector such as Dairy, Bovine, Poultry, Goatery/Piggery etc.
 The increasing demand for animal products like meat,
milk, and eggs, driven by higher incomes and changing
diets, contributes to the attractiveness of livestock
farming.
• Reliable source of livelihood: Animal husbandry is becoming
a more dependable source of livelihood for farmers
compared to crop cultivation showing a higher growth rate
than crop production, reflecting a transition in the
agriculture sector.
• Vagaries of climate change: The shift is due to climate
change-related uncertainties that threaten crops, making
animal farming a safer option.
• Contribution to GVA: Livestock's contribution to the gross value added(GVA) has risen, while crops' share has decreased.
 The crops sub-sector which had accounted for 62.44 per cent of the agriculture and allied sectors in 2011-12, consistently
declined to 55.33 per cent in 2021-2022.
 The GVA of the livestock sector increased steadily from 25.56 per cent in 2011-12 to 30.19 per cent in 2021-22.
• Primary means of sustenance: This trend suggests that livestock husbandry could replace crop farming as the primary
agricultural focus.
• Even today, small farmers and landless individuals heavily rely on livestock for sustenance, with the dairy industry alone
supporting millions of dairy farmers.
• Role in women empowerment: Women producers form the major workforce of the dairy sector in the country. The sector is
an important job provider, especially for women, and plays a leading role in women’s empowerment.

57
  There were 5 million women members in dairy cooperatives in 2015-2016, and this increased further to 5.4 million in
2020-2021, accounting for 31 percent of total members.
What is animal husbandry?
• Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with
animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, or other
products. It includes day-to-day care, selective breeding, and
the raising of livestock.
Challenges of Animal Husbandry:
• Low Productivity: Livestock production systems in India are
mostly based on traditional knowledge, low cost inputs drawn
from crop residues and agro-by products leading to lower
productivity.
 The average annual milk yield of Indian cattle is 1172 kg
which is only about 50 per cent of the global average, also
60 percent of milk is sold by the unorganized sector.
• Animal Diseases: The inadequate coverage of vaccination is
continuously resulting in economic losses due to various
animal diseases.
 Average annual economic losses due to Haemorrhagic
Septicaemia (HS), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Classical Swine Fever were
around Rs. 429 crores (2016).
• Feed and Fodder Scarcity: India with only 2.29 percent of land
area of the world is maintaining nearly 10.70 percent of livestock • Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS): It is an acute bacterial disease
with only 5 percent of its cultivable land under fodder of cattle and buffalo caused by Pasteurella multocida.

production. • Foot and mouth disease (FMD): It is a highly contagious viral

disease of livestock affecting cattle, swine, sheep, goats and
• Institutional Support: There is no MSP support for animal
other cloven-hoofed ruminants.
husbandry product and they lack marketing like crop-based
• Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR): Also known as sheep and
commodities. goat plague, is a highly contagious animal disease affecting
 Inadequate Funding at about 12% of the total public small ruminants.
expenditure on agriculture and allied sectors, which is • Classical swine fever (CSF): Also known as hog cholera, it is a
disproportionately lesser than its contribution to agricultural contagious viral disease of domestic and wild swine caused
GDP. by a virus of the family Flaviviridae.
 Insurance: Currently, only 6% of the animal heads (excluding
poultry) are provided insurance cover.
• Inadequate processing and value addition: The processing rate of buffalo meat is around 21 percent and 6 percent for the
poultry due to lack of necessary infrastructure.
 Meat processing refers to preparation of meat for human consumption.
 It is a part of the meat packing industry which includes
processing, packing, and distribution of animals. Extension Services:
• Inadequate attention towards extension services towards • An agricultural extension service offers technical advice on agriculture
the livestock sector. to farmers, and supplies them with the necessary inputs and services
• Greenhouse gas emissions: India’s huge population of to support their agricultural production.
ruminants contributes to greenhouse gasses emission. • Agricultural extension programmes cover a broad area including
Reducing greenhouse gasses through mitigation and improved crop varieties, better livestock control, improved water
management, and the control of weeds, pests or plant diseases.
adaptation strategies will be a major challenge.

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  Cattle in India account for approximately 33% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Way Forward:
• Establishment of gene banks: Preserving indigenous breeds Government Programs:
of livestock is crucial as they are disease resistant, adaptable • Credit Guarantee Scheme: The scheme under Animal Husbandry
to climate. Establishing gene banks aids research institutions Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)facilitates access to
in studying and conserving these breeds effectively. finance for un-served and under-served livestock sector
• Nurturing agripreneurs in the fodder sector: A pan India • Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): The mission works towards
group of feed and fodder entrepreneurs needs to be prepared development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds such
as Gir, Red Sindhi, Sahiwal, Deoni, etc.
by providing them formal training and efficient resources in
• National Livestock Mission (NLM): It was launched for the
order to become atmanirbhar in feed and fodder.
sustainable development of the livestock sector, focusing on
 Production of certified fodder seeds, fodder blocks and improving availability of quality feed and fodder, risk coverage,
azolla, silage and feed pelleting, hydroponic fodder effective extension, improved flow of credit and organization of
production are some of the potential areas which can be livestock farmers / rearers, etc.
promoted as entrepreneurial activities. • Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) Scheme: To
• Strengthening forward and backward linkages: Forward supplement the efforts of the State/UT Governments towards
linkages need to be developed for wool, fibre, meat and milk prevention, control and containment of animal diseases of
economic and zoonotic importance, by vaccination.
such as cold storage, food processing industries and textile
• National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP): To control
industries for the consumption of livestock produced.
Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis by vaccinating 100% cattle,
• One Health approach:. It promotes coordination between buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population for FMD and 100% bovine
multiple stakeholders for strengthening and improving female calves of 4-8 months of age for brucellosis.
ecosystem health, and is crucial to promote animal health
(both wild and domestic) alongside human health.
 One Health is an approach which recognizes that animal health, human health and the environment are inextricably
connected.
• Developing capacities of extension personnel on extension management: The livestock extension personnel need to have or
acquire process competencies such as training methods, audio visual aids, data collection tools, etc.
 Veterinarians dedicated to monitoring wildlife health and treating wildlife diseases.
 Disease Surveillance needs to be strengthened for livestock as well as wild animals to ensure that wild diseases do not
cause outbreaks.
• Women Inclusive Policies: Women-inclusive cooperatives and other producer’s associations or groups can improve women’s
contribution in policy-making processes as well their bargaining power and access to inputs and markets.
 For example, National Smallholder Poultry Development Trust (NSPDT), facilitated by PRADAN, enables poor women in
rural India to start and run successful poultry enterprises.

4.10 Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

Context:
Recently, India has mooted the concept of a partnership between like-minded countries to work together on digital public
infrastructure (DPI) that can be used by everyone.
More on News
• India has floated a concept of 'One Future Alliance', a voluntary initiative that aims to bring together all countries and
stakeholders to synergise, shape, architect and design the future of DPIs that can be used by all.
 India will work with other countries to create a global framework for cybersecurity principles and laws.
• Promoting DPI across the Globe: India has signed a MoU with Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, and Antigua and Barbuda on
sharing its ‘India Stack’ with them.
 India Stack: Digital solutions implemented at population scale to deliver social benefits.
• Promoting UPI Globally: India is extending its DPIs partnerships through UPI.

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  Countries accepting UPI payments: Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, US, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
 Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is India’s mobile-
based fast payment system, which facilitates customers
to make round-the-clock payments instantly, using a
Virtual Payment Address (VPA) created by the customer.
About digital public infrastructure (DPI)
• DPI refers to the digital platforms and systems that enable
the delivery of public services, such as identification,
payments, health, education, and governance.
• It can be understood as an intermediate layer in the digital
ecosystem.
 It sits atop a physical layer (including connectivity,
devices, servers, data centers, routers, etc.), and
supports an apps layer (information solutions to
different verticals, e-commerce, cash transfers, remote
education, telehealth, etc.).
India and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
• India Stack: India, became the first country to develop all three foundational DPIs through JAM Trinity Initiative (JAM stands
for Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and Mobile number):

Jan-Dhan Accounts Digital Identity Mobile (BHIM UPI)

(Aadhar)

• It ensure access to various financial services like • Till date, 1.3+ Bn • A platform to safely share personal
availability of basic savings bank account, access to Aadhaar cards data without compromising privacy:
need based credit, remittances facility, insurance and have been issued BHIM-UPI has emerged as the
pension to the excluded sections i.e. weaker sections and 15 Bn Aadhaar preferred payment method among
& low income groups. based E-KYC users.
• Real-time fast payment: India ranks 1 for Real-time verification has • UPI has set a new record of
payments globally, with 89.5 Bn payment transactions been done. processing over 9 Bn transactions
in 2022 (76.8% YoY growth (2021-2022)). (worth $ 179 Bn) in May’23.

Significance of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for India

• Efficiency: DPI can improve the efficiency and transparency of public service delivery, such as health, education, social
protection, and governance.
 Aadhaar system provides a unique digital identity to over 1.4 billion Indians, enabling them to access various government
schemes and subsidies.
• Empowerment: DPI can enable digital inclusion and empowerment of citizens, especially the poor and marginalized, by
providing them access to information, opportunities, and rights.
 UPI allows instant and low-cost digital transactions for millions of users, facilitating financial inclusion and digital literacy.
• Innovation: DPI can foster innovation and collaboration across sectors and countries, by creating a common platform for
data exchange, interoperability, and reuse.
 Account Aggregator framework enables consent-based data sharing among financial service providers, enhancing
consumer choice and convenience.
• SDGs: DPI can support achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), by addressing urgent challenges such as
poverty reduction, climate resilience, and digital transformation.

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  SDG-03: National Digital Health Mission aims to create a digital health ecosystem that can improve access, affordability,
and quality of health care for all Indians.
Challenges faced in Development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI):
• Cyber-Attack: DPI is vulnerable to cyber-attacks and data breaches that compromise sensitive data and transactions.
 Between June, 2018 and March, 2022, India’s banks recorded 248 successful data breaches by hackers and criminals.
• Regulatory Void: Personal Data Protection Bill is still pending in the Parliament, creating uncertainty and ambiguity for data
users and providers.
• Governance: DPI requires a strong institutional capacity and governance structure that can manage the complexity and scale
of the digital infrastructure, coordinate among different actors and agencies, and resolve disputes and grievances effectively.
 National Health Authority is responsible for implementing and regulating the National Digital Health Mission, but it faces
challenges such as lack of resources, expertise, and coordination.
• Funding: DPI requires continuous investment and innovation that can keep pace with changing needs & expectations of users,
address the gaps and challenges in the existing infrastructure, and leverage the emerging technologies and opportunities.
 BharatNet project aims to provide broadband connectivity to all rural areas in India, but it has faced delays, cost overruns,
and quality issues.
• Digital Inequality: India has a digital divide where many lack access to digital infrastructure such as smartphones and internet
connectivity, particularly in rural areas.
• Infrastructure: One of the biggest challenges is the lack of proper infrastructure, including internet connectivity, electricity,
and hardware.
Digital India Mission:
Steps to make DPI more robust and efficient are:
• It is a flagship program of the Government of India that aims to transform the
• Policy Support: DPI necessitates a robust legal country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
and regulatory framework to balance • The mission focuses on three key areas - digital infrastructure as a utility to every
stakeholder interests, safeguard data privacy citizen, governance & services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens.
and security, and guarantee accountability and • Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) aims to empower
compliance. the people in rural areas by training them to operate computer or digital access
 Create a strong institutional capacity and devices.
governance structure that can manage the • National Health Stack: It is a digital infrastructure for healthcare in India that aims
complexity and scale of the digital to provide a unified system for the collection, storage & exchange of health data.
infrastructure, coordinate among different  Goal: To improve efficiency & accessibility of healthcare services across the
country.
actors and agencies, and engage with the
• DigiLocker: It is a digital locker service provided by the Government of India that
users and communities.
enables citizens to store and access their important documents such as Aadhaar
• Invest in Right Technologies: To meet the card, PAN card, educational certificates, and more in a digital format.
needs and expectations of the users, ensure  It eliminates the need for physical documents and provides a secure and
interoperability and scalability of the systems, convenient way to access them anytime, anywhere.
and leverage the emerging opportunities and
innovations.
• Foster innovation: To create new solutions and products that add value to the users, collaborate with different actors and
sectors in the ecosystem, and reuse the existing infrastructure and data.
• Improve digital literacy in India to enable citizens to fully utilize digital services and platforms, as many are unaware of their
benefits or lack the necessary skills to access and use them.
• Nearly 20 million women have been certified to be digitally literate in India under the PMGDISHA programme dedicated to
digital literacy.

4.11 ILO Report on Generative AI

Context:
Recently, the United Nations' International Labour Organization (ILO) released a report on the impact of Generative AI and
other platforms on jobs quantity and quality.

61
Findings of Report:
• Job Augmentation: Most jobs and industries are only partially exposed to automation and are more likely to be
complemented rather than substituted by AI.
 Generative AI systems similar to GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) are more likely to become productivity tools,
supporting and speeding up the execution of some tasks within certain occupations.
• Fears Over Job Destruction: The surge in
generative AI has sparked concerns about
job destruction, akin to the concerns
surrounding the introduction of the moving
assembly line in the 1950s.
 Technology can improve workplace job
quality by automating routine tasks,
enhancing engagement, but may also
limit worker agency or increase work
intensity.
• Impact on Countries: Recent progress in
machine learning, in particular
developments around Large Language
Mode (LLMs), is likely to have disruptive effects on labour markets, with larger effects in high-income countries and specific
occupational groups.
 5.5% of total employment in high-income countries is potentially exposed to the automating effects, whereas only 0.4%
of employment in low-income countries.
• Professional Variation: Clerical support workers face the greatest risk of being affected by AI.
 About 25% of clerical workers' tasks face a high exposure to generative AI, and 58% of their tasks face a medium exposure
to the technology.
 Example: Jobs such as typists, travel consultants, scribes, contact center information clerks, bank tellers, and survey and
market research interviewers that could eventually be automated.
 Only 4% of service and sales workers' tasks face high exposure to generative AI, and 18% of their tasks face medium
exposure.
 Thus impact is not likely to be jobs reduction but rather the potential changes to the quality of jobs, notably work
intensity and autonomy.
• Gendered Impact: Effects of automation are "highly gendered”, with more than double the share of women potentially
affected by automation, due to their overrepresentation in clerical work, especially in high- and middle-income countries.
 In high-income countries, 7.8% of jobs held by women ( around 21 million jobs) have the potential to be automated.
 In contrast, only 2.9% of jobs in high-income countries held by men (around 9 million jobs) face the potential of being
automated.
 The recent increase in women's labor market participation may be threatened by concentrated job losses in female-
dominated occupations.
• Digital Divide: Generative AI technology is dependent on access and cost of broadband connectivity, as well as electricity.
 In 2022, one-third of the global population (around 2.7 billion people), still did not have access to the internet.
• Access to Electricity: According to the World Bank Enterprise Survey, 49% of registered firms in developing countries
experienced electrical outages, averaging 4.5 days per month.
 Without proper policies in place, there is a risk that only some of the well-positioned countries and market participants
will be able to harness the benefits of the transition, while the costs to affected workers could be brutal.
About Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI):
• It is a type of AI technology that can produce various types of content, including text, imagery, audio and synthetic data.

62
• It utilizes deep learning, neural networks, and machine learning techniques to enable computers to produce content that
closely resembles human-created output autonomously.
• Example: ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Bard.
Pros of Generative AI: Cons of Generative AI:

• Creativity and Novelty: It enables the creation
of new and unique content, whether it's
images, music, or text.
• Automation and Efficiency: It automates the
process of content creation, saving time and
resources.
• Personalization and Customization:
Generative models can be trained on specific
data or preferences, allowing for personalized
recommendations, tailored content, and
customized user experiences.
• Exploration and Inspiration: Generative AI
can provide inspiration to artists, designers,
and writers by generating diverse variations,
exploring creative possibilities, and serving as
a starting point for further creative
exploration.
• Ethical Concerns: Generative AI raises ethical concerns, particularly
regarding the misuse of synthetic media, deepfakes, and potential
infringement of intellectual property rights.
• Ex: in July, 2023, Kerala man loses ₹40k to AI-enabled deep-fake fraud.
• Lack of Control: Generative models can produce outputs that are
difficult to control or fine-tune to specific requirements.
• Dataset Bias and Generalization: Generative models heavily rely on the
training data they are exposed to.
• Computational Resources and Complexity: Training and deploying
generative models can be computationally intensive and require
significant resources, including high-performance hardware and
substantial training times.
• Implementing and maintaining these models can be complex and
resource-demanding.
• Quality and Coherence: While generative models have made significant
progress, they may still struggle with producing outputs that
consistently exhibit high quality, coherence, and Contextual relevance.

Report Recommendations: International Labour Organization (ILO)

• All Stakeholder Approach: Consultation and negotiation between ● It was founded in 1919 under the League of Nations and
employers and workers is critical for managing the transition incorporated into the U.N. as a specialized agency in 1946.
process as it encourages redeployment and training over job loss. ● HQ: Geneva.
● The ILO is the first and oldest specialized agency of the
• Adhering to ILO’s Employment Protection Convention (No. 158,
United Nations (U.N.).
1982): Reduce negative externalities from dismissal and support ● Goal: To advance social and economic justice by setting
an orderly process that balances workers', employers', and international labor standards.
societies' needs. ● Conventions and protocols of ILO are a major contributor to
 It includes provisions on the termination of employment for international labor law.
technological reasons. ● ILO was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.
(For more information about Large language Model, kindly refer
• Investing in the Care Economy: It can provide decent employment to PWONLYIAS July Current Affairs Magazine)
and meet society's care needs to offset the negative externalities
of Generative AI in the long term.
 It requires increased investment, training, and income support during the transition.
 Potential: Achieving the SDG targets would require more than double employment in care economy sectors from 206
million in 2015 to 475 million in 2030.
• Quality Adherence: Ensure quality of the new jobs created as a result of technological change.
PRELIMS
• Trade settlement is the process of finalizing a trade,
4.12 T+1 Trade settlement
where the buyer receives purchased securities, and the
Context: The SEBI recently shortened the settlement cycle seller receives payment.
to trade-plus-one (T+1) from T+2. • Settlement is a two-way process that involves the
Trade Settlement: transfer of funds and securities on the settlement date.

63
 As of now, there is a lag between trade and settlement
— the settlement date is different from the trade date.
T+1 Trade settlement:
• The current cycle of ‘T+1’ in India means trade-related
settlements happen within a day, or within 24 hours of
the actual transaction. The migration to the T+1 cycle
came into effect in January this year.
• Under the current T+1 settlement cycle, if an investor
sells securities, the money gets credited into her account
the following day.
• Status of India: India became the second country to start
the T+1 settlement cycle in top listed securities after
China.
T+0 Trade settlement:
• Under the T+0 settlement cycle, if investors sell shares,
they will get the money in their account
instantaneously, and the buyers will get the shares in
their demat accounts the same day.
4.13 Windfall Tax
Context:
The Government has hiked the windfall profit tax on crude
oil produced in the country and on export of diesel.
About Windfall Tax:
• A windfall tax is a higher tax levied by the government
on specific industries when they experience unexpected
and above-average profits.
 For Example: Windfall tax was levied on the oil
companies of the United States in the 1980s. There
was a sudden rise in oil prices due to the crisis of oil
in 1979, leading to windfall gain for the companies in
the sector later on.
• Purpose: To redistribute excess profits in one area to
raise funds for the greater social good.
• Introduction of Windfall Tax in India: To address the
shortage of energy products on the domestic market, the
Indian government added a special additional excise
duty on the export of gasoline and diesel, known as the
Windfall Tax, on July 1st, 2022.
 Excise Duty: It is a form of tax imposed on goods for
their production, licensing and sale.
4.14 National WareHousing Reciepts
Context: Recently, Warehousing Development and
Regulatory Authority (WDRA) held a conference on e-NWR
(National Warehousing Reciepts) based pledge finance
with Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
64
About Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR):
• It enables farmers to store their produce for safe and
scientific storage and preservation in warehouses near
their farms and to seek pledge loan from banks against
the NWRs issued against deposit of their stock.
• e-NWR: The NWR in electronic form issued as an
electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR)
which has negotiability and can be used for deposit and
withdrawal of commodities as well as trade transactions
such as transfer and Pledge.
About Warehousing Development and Regulatory
Authority (WDRA):
• WDRA was set up by the Government of India to ensure
implementation of the provisions of the Warehousing
(Development & Regulation) Act, 2007.
• Objective: The main objective of WDRA is to implement
a Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR) System in the
country.
4.15 Jute Bag Packaging
Context: Sugar millers have urged the government to totally
exempt sugar from the mandatory 20 percent jutebag
packaging from the 2023- 24 season.
Why has relaxation been sought?
• The relaxation has been sought on grounds of increase in
cost due to use of jute bags and also owing to operational
challenges.
• Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing
Commodities) Act, 1987: Under it, the Government is
required to consider and provide for the compulsory use
of jute packaging material in the supply and distribution
of certain commodities.
 It is in the interest of production of raw jute and jute
packaging material and of persons engaged in the
production thereof.
 2020: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
chaired by the Prime Minister has approved that
100% of the foodgrains and 20% of the sugar shall be
mandatorily packed in diversified jute bags.
4.16 Bharat NCAP
Context:
The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways
(MoRTH) launched the Bharat New Car Assessment
Programme (Bharat NCAP).
About Bharat NCAP:
• Aim: To improve road safety by raising the safety
standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India.
• Under this programme, car manufacturers can
voluntarily offer their cars to be tested as per
Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.
 AIS are the technical automotive standards for India.
• Based on the performance of the car in the tests, the car
will be awarded star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP)
and Child Occupant (COP).
• Potential car customers can refer to these star ratings to
compare the safety standards of different vehicles and
accordingly make their purchase-decision.
• Benefit: Provide a tool to the car customers to make a
comparative assessment of crash safety of motor
vehicles available in the market.
4.17 Industrial Corridor
Context: Central government is developing 11 industrial
corridor projects across the country in a phased manner, as
part of the National Industrial Corridor Programme.
About National Industrial Corridor Programme (NICP):
• Aim: Developing a series of industrial corridors across
the country to promote manufacturing and create job
opportunities.
• These corridors are intended to act as a catalyst for the
development of manufacturing and service sectors,
thereby generating employment opportunities and
boosting economic growth.
• Industrial corridors being developed by the Centre are
as follows:
65
4.18 National Bioenergy Programme
(NBP)
Context:
Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
informed that it has commissioned six BioCNG plants and
11,143 small biogas plants under the National Bioenergy
Programme (NBP).
About National Bioenergy Programme:
• Aim: To promote the utilization of biomass such as
surplus agricultural residue, agro-based industrial
residue, industrial wood-waste, forest residue, and
energy plantation-based biomass for energy generation.
• Budgetary Outlay: Rs 1,715 crore.
• Duration: FY 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• National Bioenergy Programme will comprises of the
following sub-schemes:
 Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy
from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes
/Residues) to support setting up of large Biogas,
BioCNG and Power plants.
 Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support
Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion
of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in
Industries) to support setting up of pellets and
briquettes for use in power generation and non-
bagasse based power generation projects.
 Biogas Programme to support setting up of family
and medium size Biogas in rural areas.
4.19 Fortification of Urea
Context:
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra officially launched 'Urea
Gold' fertilizer.
About Urea Gold:
• It is basically urea fortified with Sulphur.
• Developed by: The state-owned Rashtriya Chemicals and
Fertilizers Ltd (RCF)
• Composition: Urea Gold contains 37% nitrogen (N) and
17% Sulphur, differing from regular urea's 46% nitrogen
composition.
• Objectives:
 Addressing Sulphur (S) deficiency in Indian soils,
especially crucial for oilseeds and pulses.
 Enhancing the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of urea
through a gradual release of nitrogen. Coating of S
over urea ensures a more gradual release of N.
• Fortification Approach
 Proposed approach involves coating fertilizers for
improved efficacy.
 Primary nutrient fertilizers should be coated with
secondary nutrients (S, calcium, magnesium) and
micronutrients (zinc, boron, manganese,
molybdenum, iron, copper, nickel).
• Benefits of Coating:
 Coated fertilizers serve as effective "carrier
products" to deliver additional nutrients to crops.
 Coating enhances N and P use efficiency through
controlled release and synergistic effects.
 Losses in fertilizers like urea due to ammonia
volatilization and nitrate leaching are reduced.
4.20 Computer Laptop Ban in India
Context: The Government of India has put restrictions on
the import of laptops, PCs, tablets, etc.
• The initial decision was taken with immediate effects but
was later amended, and the import restriction on laptops
has now been suspended until November 1, 2023.
About the Placed Restrictions:
• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued
the official notification for these import restrictions.
 DGFT operates under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry and manages foreign trade-related
regulations.
• Aim of the Move:
• The main goal of these restrictions is to promote
domestic manufacturing within India.
• These measures are believed to be directed towards
China, given that over 75% of India's imports of laptops
and personal computers in the previous fiscal year
originated from China.
✓ More than half of India’s annual imports, roughly
$10 billion of computing products are from China.
• Permission Requirement for Imports: Entities intending
to import laptops and computers for sale within India
must now obtain government permission or a license for
their importation.
4.21 Bharatnet Project
Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet approved Rs 1.39 lakh
crore for modernising the BharatNet project.
• This initiative involves changing its execution strategy
and providing fiber connections to the last mile through
Village Level Entrepreneurs.
66
About Bharatnet Project:
• It is the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity
programme using Optical fibre.
• Fund: Through Universal service Obligation Fund
(USOF), which was set up for improving telecom services
in rural and remote areas of the country.
• Implementing Agency: Bharat Broadband Network
(BBNL).
• Merger into BSNL: Bharat Broadband Network (BBNL)
was merged into BSNL in July last year.
Tweaks in BharatNet Project Execution Strategy:
• Village Level Entrepreneurs (Udyamis) Involvement:
Partnering with Village Level Entrepreneurs (Udyamis),
who will play a pivotal role in providing fiber connections
to the last mile.
• Speeding Up Connectivity Process: The government
aims to expedite the process of connecting all 640,000
villages across India within the next 2.5 years.
• 50:50 Revenue-Sharing Model: To involve village-level
entrepreneurs or Udyamis to take the fiber connections
to the homes on a 50:50 revenue-sharing basis.
4.22 World Trade Statistical Review
(WTSR)
Context:
Recently, the World Trade Organization (WTO) unveiled its
annual flagship publication, the World Trade Statistical
Review (WTSR) for 2023.
Highlights From World Trade Statistical Review (WTSR)
• Global Exporters and Importers:
 India ranked 18th in merchandise exports and 7th in
services exports.
• India was the 9th largest goods importer and 9th in
services imports.
 China remained the top merchandise exporter in
2022 but with a reduced world export share of 14%.
 The United States and Germany ranked second and
third in merchandise exports.
About World Trade Statistical Review (WTSR) 2023:
• It is the WTO’s flagship statistical publication and is
produced on an annual basis.
• It provides data on merchandise and services trade,
categorized by geographical origin, product groups, and
sectors.
SHORT NEWS IN TABLE
News
Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar
GI Tags
North East Venture Fund
SEBI Disgorgement orders
Offer for Sale (OFS)
RBI Launches New Features For Recently, the Reserve Bank of India announced new Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
Unified Payments Interface features.
(UPI)
Description
The Ministry of Finance launched the 'Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar' initiative to encourage the
culture of customers asking for bills for all purchases.
• Launch: It will be launched in Assam, Gujarat and Haryana and the Union Territories of
Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
Geographical Indications (GI) Registry in Chennai granted GI tags to seven products from
India.
• Four of the products are from Rajasthan: Bikaner Usta Kala Craft', 'Udaipur Koftgari Metal
Craft', 'Bikaner Kashidakari Craft', and 'Jodhpur Bandhej Craft'.
• Other products receiving GI tags are
 Goa: 'Goa Mankurad Mango', 'Goan Bebinca',
 Uttar Pradesh: Jalesar Dhatu Shilp (a metal craft)
The government’s North East Venture Fund (NEVF) has invested in 37 startups since its
launch in 2017 as per Minister of Development of the North East Region.
North East Venture Fund (NEVF):
• It is the first and the only dedicated Venture Fund for the North Eastern Region.
• It is launched by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) intended
to promote growth of business ventures and skill development in the region.
The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has set aside the Securities and Exchange Board of
India’s (Sebi) disgorgement order in the National Stock Exchange (NSE) dark fibre case.
• Disgorgement is a process through which Sebi claws back illegal gains made by market
participants through fraudulent means.
• Unlike penalties, the collected amount does not go to the central government but is
deposited in Sebi’s Investor Protection Fund, which is used for investor protection-related
purposes in the absence of a restitution mechanism in India.
The government is planning to sell a part of its holding in State-owned Indian Railway Finance
Corp (IRFC) through an offer for sale (OFS).
About OFS:
• It is a share sale method introduced by India's SEBI in 2012. It's for publicly-listed
companies' promoters to reduce holdings and meet minimum shareholding rules.
Key points:
• Eligibility: For promoters or shareholders holding >10% of a company's share capital.
• Reserved Categories: 25% shares for mutual funds and insurers, max 25% for one bidder.
• Retail Investors & Margins: 10% of offer size for retail.
• Advantages: Faster, same-day settlements, backed by margins.
Features are:
• Conversation Payments with AI: Users will be able to interact with an AI-powered system
to initiate and authorize payments.
67

Public Tech Platform
Frictionless Credit (PTPFC)
Parboiled Rice Export
ULLAS App
Debt-Fossil Fuel Trap
RBI’s Status Quo on Repo Rate
• Increased Transaction Limit for UPI Lite from Rs 200 to Rs 500.
 UPI Lite was introduced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to
facilitate quick small-value transactions by optimizing bank processing resources.
• Offline UPI Payments will be facilitated using near-field communication (NFC) technology
through UPI Lite.
for • It is an end-to-end digital platform that has been developed by the Reserve Bank
Innovation Hub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the central bank.
• Aim: To connect borrowers and lenders, which will make credit more accessible to
millions of individuals looking for small loans.
Recently, India clarified that no restrictions on non-basmati parboiled rice exports will be
introduced.
• Parboiled rice (Converted Rice):
 It is rice that has been partially boiled in the husk.
 Parboiling rice makes it easier to remove the husk of the rice before eating it.
 Compared to white rice, parboiled rice has fewer calories, fewer carbohydrates, more
fiber, and more protein.
The Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship recently launched the mobile
application of ULLAS.
About the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) :
• Learners can engage in diverse learning resources through the DIKSHA portal of NCERT.
• It can be used for registration of learners and volunteers either through self-registration
or by surveyors.
• ULLAS will focus on promoting functional literacy, vocational skills, and many important
life skills like financial literacy, legal literacy, digital literacy, and empowerment of citizens
to involve in nation-building of the country.
Recently, a new report ‘The Debt-Fossil Fuel Trap’, was published by the anti-debt
campaigners Debt Justice and partners.
The "Debt-Fossil Fuel Trap":
• It refers to a situation where countries, particularly those in the Global South, are caught
in a cycle of heavy debt burdens and continued reliance on fossil fuel industries for
revenue generation.
Global South:
• The term "Global South" refers to a group of countries described as ‘developing’, ‘less
developed’, or ‘underdeveloped’.
• It refers to countries in Asia, Africa and South America.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep
the main policy instrument (Repo rate) unchanged at 6.50%.
• Monetary Policy Committee: It has six members nominated by RBI and the Ministry of
Finance in equal numbers, including the RBI Governor as its Chairman who avails the right
of casting vote in case of a tie in decisions.
About Repo Rate:
• The rate of interest the RBI charges from its clients on their short-term borrowing is the
repo rate, this is an abbreviated form of the ‘rate of repurchase’.
68
DATA POINTS:
4.23 India’s Public Debt
Context:
Recently, experts at the World Economic Forum warned that
the global rise in public debt was a ‘fiscal ticking bomb’.
About Public Debt:
• It refers to the total amount of money that a government
owes to external creditors and domestic lenders.
• It is the accumulation of borrowing by a government over
time to cover budget deficits or finance various projects
and programs.
General government debt-to-GDP ratio
• It measures the gross debt of the general government as
a percentage of GDP.
• It is a key indicator for the sustainability of government
finance.
4.24 Remittances in India
Context: As per the Ministry of Finance, In the fiscal year
2022-23 (FY23), remittances to India witnessed a substantial
growth of 26%, reaching a total of $112.5 billion. In FY22
the remittance was $89.1 billion.
About Remittance:
69
• Remittances refer to the transfer of money by individuals
who are living and working in another country (usually as
migrants) back to their home country.
• Remittances can be sent through various formal
channels such as banks, money transfer companies, or
online platforms, and they play a significant role in
foreign exchange.
• Top Source of Remittance for India:
 USA holds the top spot, contributing 23.4% of total
remittances.
 UAE follows closely with an 18% share.
 UK, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia contribute 6.8%,
5.7%, and 5.1%, respectively.
4.25 Lokniti-CSDS’s Latest Survey
Context: According to the recent survey by Lokniti-CSDS,
more than one in three (36%) Indians aged between 15 and
34 consider unemployment to be the most significant issue.
Key Findings of Lokniti-CSDS’s Latest Survey:
• Unemployment: As many as 40% of highly educated
respondents (graduate and above) identified
unemployment as the most pressing concern.
• Corruption: About 6% of respondents identified
corruption as the most significant challenge; 4% each
identified problems in education and high population.
• Price Rise: The share of those identifying price rise as the
primary concern has increased by 7 percentage points.
4.26 Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
(PMJDY)
Context:
The total number of Jan Dhan accounts crossed 50 crore on
9th August.
• The National Mission on Financial Inclusion, also known
as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), was
launched on August 28, 2014, and has completed nine
years.
• It ensures access to financial services, namely, Banking/
Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit,
Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.
Information Statistics
Total Number of Jan Dhan Accounts
Over 50 Crore
in India
 Percentage of Jan Dhan Accounts • Corporate Social Responsibility is a management
56%
Belonging to Women concept whereby companies integrate social and
Percentage of Jan Dhan Accounts environmental concerns in their business operations
Opened in Rural and Semi-Urban 67% and interactions with their stakeholders.
Areas
Above Rs 2.03
Total Deposits in Jan Dhan Accounts
Lakh Crore
Number of RuPay Cards Issued with
Around 34 Crore
Jan Dhan Accounts

4.27 Corporate Social Responsibility

(CSR)
Context:
Indian firms’ spending on corporate social responsibility
(CSR) remained flat in 2021-22, a new analysis by
primeinfobase.com showed.
About Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

REPORT/INDEX:
4.28 National Coal Index
Context: The National Coal Index has shown a significant decline of 33.8% in May 2023 at 157.7 points compared to May 2022,
where it was at 238.3 points.
About National Coal Index (NCI):
• NCI is a price index that combines coal prices from all sales channels, including notified prices, auction prices and import
prices.
• Composition: It is composed of a set of five sub-indices: three for Non Coking Coal and two for Coking Coal.
• Base Year: 2017-18
• Released by: Ministry of Coal

4.29 FAO's All Rice Price Index

Context:
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that the rice price index rose by 2.8 percent in July from
the previous month, reaching its highest level in nearly 12 years.
Reason for Price Surge:
• India's Export Restrictions: India, accounting for 40 percent of world rice exports, imposed a halt on its largest rice export
category to stabilize domestic prices.
About Rice Price Index:
• It was introduced in 1996 , with the purpose of monitoring developments in the global agricultural commodity markets.
• Released by: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Measurement: The FFPI is a measure of the monthly changes in international prices of a basket of food commodities.
• Commodities Included: The index tracks changes in prices for a basket of key food commodities, including cereals, oilseeds,
dairy products, meat, and sugar.
• Base Period: 2014-2016

70
5. ENVIRONMENT AND GEOGRAPHY
5.1 All India Tiger Estimation 2022
Context: According to an updated analysis of the 2022 tiger census released recently, India’s tiger population increased to 3,682
in 2022, from 2,967 in 2018.
About All India Tiger Estimation 2022:
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Trends in Tiger Population:
 India is home to approximately 75 percent of
the world’s tiger population..
 The number of tigers “within the tiger reserve”
is highest in Corbett (260), followed by
Bandipur (150), Nagarhole (141), Bandhavgarh
(135), Dudhwa (135), Mudumalai(114), Kanha
(105).
 Increase: Central India, the Shivalik Hills, and
the Gangetic plains witnessed increases in tiger
population, particularly in the states of Madhya
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra.
 Decrease: Western Ghats experienced
localized declines, needing targeted
monitoring and conservation efforts.
✓ Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa,
Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh —
have reported “disquieting trends”.
• Approximately 35% of the tiger reserves urgently
required enhanced protection measures, habitat restoration, ungulate (deer, chital, blackbuck) augmentation, and
subsequent tiger reintroduction.
Methodology used in all India Tiger Estimation:
• Double Sampling Methodology: It involves ground surveys of all tiger bearing forests, estimating prey abundance,
understanding habitat characteristics, mapping other tiger signs, and camera trap pictures of tigers.
Challenges in Tiger Conservation:
• Poaching: Poaching is driven by tiger parts used
in traditional Chinese medicines, tiger skin is
used for decorative and medicinal purposes.
 Further, their demand for organs are big
hurdles to survival.
• Habitat Loss: The fragmentation of tiger
habitats due to human activities such as
agriculture, logging, and infrastructure
development continue to threaten tiger
populations and give rise to Tiger-Human
conflicts.
 For Example: Plantations are an important cause of habitat fragmentation in the Western Ghats.

71
• Climate change: Climate change may affect tiger habitats, prey availability, and other aspects of tiger ecology, which could
further threaten tiger populations in the long term.
 For Example: Rising sea levels studies show that rising sea levels are
shrinking coastal habitat for hundreds of endangered Bengal tigers Global Initiatives to Protect Tiger:
that rely on India and Bangladesh’s mangrove forests, the largest in • Global Tiger Forum(GTF): Established in 1994, the
Global Tiger Forum is the only inter-governmental
the world.
body for tiger conservation.
Benefits of Conserving Tigers:  Its membership includes seven tiger range
countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
• Umbrella Species: Tiger is an “umbrella species” which ensures viable
Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam.
populations of other wild animals (co-predators, prey) and forest,
• Global Tiger Initiative(GTI): It was launched in
thereby ensuring the ecological viability of the entire area and habitat, 2008 as a global alliance of governments,
• Food Chain: It is a top predator which is at the apex of the food chain international organizations, civil society and the
private sector with the aim of working together to
and keeps the population of wild ungulates in check, thereby
save wild tigers from extinction.
maintaining the balance between herbivores and the vegetation upon
• St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation:
which they feed. It was adopted In 2010, by the leaders of 13 tiger
• Tourism: Tigers are an iconic species and attract a large number of range countries (TRCs)
tourists to protected areas. Ecotourism generates income for local • 13 tiger range countries - India, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR,
communities and contributes to the economy.
Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and
• Carbon sequestration: Tiger habitats, particularly forests, are important Vietnam.
for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.
 Conserving these habitats helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow down the pace of climate change.
Way Forward:
• Minimize man-animal conflict: The National Tiger Conservation Authority Merger of Project Tiger and Project Elephant:
has issued SOPs to deal with emergencies arising due to straying of tigers in • Project Tiger and Project Elephant have been
merged into a new division called the 'Project Tiger
human dominated landscapes.
and Elephant Division' under the Ministry of
 These SOPs provide a structured framework for the implementation of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
tiger conservation initiatives which include monitoring, protection, • Reason for Merger:
habitat management.  Rationalizing of Funding: The unification of
• Habitat Protection and Restoration: Tigers need large areas of forest to live Project Tiger and Project Elephant has been
and hunt, so protecting and restoring their habitat is crucial to their survival. done to rationalize funding.
• Anti-Poaching Efforts: Anti-poaching efforts involve monitoring tiger  Amalgamation to Strengthen
Conservation:The amalgamation will bolster
populations and cracking down on illegal wildlife trade.
the conservation of both the animals, as they
 Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) is a force raised on lines of the often share the same landscapes in the country.
India Reserve Battalion. It is deployed in Tiger Reserves for focused anti-
poaching operations.
• Conflict Mitigation: As human populations grow and encroach on tiger habitat, conflicts between people and tigers can arise.
 Efforts to mitigate these conflicts can include measures such as relocating problem tigers or providing compensation to
people who have lost livestock or crops to tigers.
• Education and Awareness: Raising awareness about the Q. What are the key findings of the All India Tiger Estimation
2022? Discuss the challenges and Global Initiatives
importance of tiger conservation and the threats facing tiger
to Protect Tiger.
populations is key to building support for conservation efforts.

5.2 Biological Diversity Amendment Act 2023

Context:
Recently, the President gave assent to the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act 2023 to amend the Biological Diversity Act,
2002.

72
Significance of Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 :
• Boost Foreign Investments: It seeks to bring more foreign investments in the chain of biological resources, including research,
patent and commercial utilization and promotes ‘ease of doing business’.
• Promotion of Indian System of Medicine: It intends to
encourage the Indian system of medicine, facilitate fast-
tracking of research, the patent application process and
cultivation of wild medicinal plants.
• Congruency in Legislation: Definition of a foreign
company in the Act has been aligned with the definition
already given in the Companies Act, 2013 to ensure that
companies come under the Regulatory Framework of
NBA for commercial utilization and obtaining patent and
other companies by SBB.

Key Provisions of the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023:

Provision Biological Diversity Amendment Act 2023

• Approval/Intimation Prior intimation to SBB

requirement for accessing
biological resources or
associated knowledge
• Activities: Access to associated knowledge for commercial utilization will also require
prior intimation.
• Exemptions: Adds exemptions for:
 codified traditional knowledge,
 cultivated medicinal plants and their products,
 AYUSH practitioners; limits the exception to vaids and hakims, and AYUSH practitioners
to use for sustenance and livelihood.

• Offenses & Penalties • The Act decriminalizes the offenses and makes offenses punishable with a penalty
between one lakh rupees and Rs 50 lakh.
• Previously, offences were punishable with imprisonment upto 5 years or fine or both.

• Codified Traditional
Knowledge (CTK)
• Users of codified traditional knowledge and AYUSH practitioners will be exempted from
sharing benefits with local communities.
• The World Intellectual Property Organization defines CTK as “traditional knowledge,
which is in some systematic and structured form, in which the knowledge is ordered,
organized, classified and categorized in some manner.

• Sharing of Traditional • As per the Act, any person cannot share or transfer any research results on biological
Knowledge resources or associated traditional knowledge from India to an individual, whether for
monetary gain or otherwise, without prior written approval from the National Biodiversity
Authority.
 However, codified traditional knowledge can only be shared within India and does not
require approval.

• Monitoring of Biological • A new Section 36(A) has been added emphasizing on the monitoring of the Biological
Resources from Foreign Resources obtained from foreign countries for use in India as per the provisions of the
Countries Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing.

73
 • Approval for Intellectual • The Act specifies distinct approval processes based on the origin of the entity. Foreign
Property Rights (IPR) entities will require approval from the National Biodiversity Authority ( NBA ) whereas
domestic entities will be required to register with NBA.
 However, domestic entities will need approval from the NBA at the time of
commercialisation of IPR.

• Benefit Sharing • The Act removes research and bio-survey activities from the purview of benefit sharing
requirements.
 Benefit sharing will be based on terms agreed between the user and the local
management committee represented by the National Authority.
Concerns:
• Ambiguity: The term Codified Traditional Knowledge has United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD):
not been defined. A broad interpretation might exempt • The UN CBD, informally known as the Biodiversity Convention is a
all local traditional knowledge from benefit sharing multilateral treaty which has 196 members including India.

requirements. • It has two supplementary protocols: Nagoya protocol on acsess &

benefit sharing and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
• Removal of Prior Informed Consent: There is no provision About Nagoya Protocol:
for a mechanism for obtaining prior informed consent of • It requires a signatory country to ensure that prior informed consent
the local and indigenous communities. This is in contrast or approval and involvement of indigenous and local communities is
obtained for access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
with the framework under Nagoya Protocol.
About Benefit Sharing:
 For Example: In Divya Pharmacy vs Union of India
• It refers to requiring applicants to share monetary and non-monetary
(2018), the Uttarakhand High Court had observed that benefits with benefit claimants and local people.
under the Nagoya Protocol, the concept of fair and • Benefit claimants are conservers of biodiversity, or creators or holders
equitable benefit sharing is focused on the benefits for of associated traditional knowledge.
local and indigenous communities.
• Removal of Direct Role of Local Communities: The Bill removes the direct role of local communities in determining benefit
sharing provisions.
• No Differentiation in Offenses: The Bill has not made any differentiation based on the type of offence.
 For Example: The punishment is the same for failing to take approval for either research or commercial utilization.
• Empowerment Executive: The Bill changes the adjudicating authority from a Judge to a government official. The penalty
decisions will be based on an inquiry instead of a judgment after arguments in an open court.
Conclusion:
Q. How is the Government of India protecting
There is a need to address the problems associated with the act and include traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting
the local communities, including indigenous peoples, in conservation efforts by pharmaceutical companies? (2019)
alongwith investing in scientific research and monitoring programs to
understand biodiversity patterns, threats, and the effectiveness of conservation measures.

5.3 Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023

Context:
• The Lok Sabha has recently passed the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023.
About the News:
• Amendment to FCA 1980: The bill seeks to amend the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980.
• Modifies the criteria for including and excluding forest land from the purview of the Act.
• Expands the list of forest activities that will be permitted on forest land.
About FCA 1980:
• Regulation of forest resources: It regulates the extraction of forest resources including timber and other minerals by
industries and local communities.

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• CAMPA for efficient afforestation: At the country level, Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority
(CAMPA) was established for efficient execution of compensatory afforestation.
• Restrictions on Dereservation of Forests: It necessitated obtaining permission from the Central Govt before de-reserving
Reserve Forests, using forestland for non-forest purposes, or assigning leases.
Features of the Bill:
• Insertion of Preamble: Preamble has been inserted changing the name of the Act as Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan)
Adhiniyam, 1980.
 Aim: It seeks to broaden the horizons of the Act to boost the
country's forest cover to create a carbon sink of additional 2.5-
3.0 billion tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
• Land under the purview of the Act:
 Land that has been declared or notified as a forest under the
Indian Forest Act, 1927, or any other law.
 Land that was not initially classified as a forest but was later
notified as one on or after October 25, 1980, in a government
record.
• Excluded land: Land that was converted from forest use to non-
forest use on or before December 12, 1996, by any authority
authorized by a state or union territory (UT).
• Exempted projects and extent of exemption:
 Connectivity to a habitation, or to a rail and roadside amenity:
Forest land upto 0.10 hectares along a railway line or public
road maintained by the government.
 Projects of national importance and security: Forest land
within 100 km from international borders, Line of Control, or
Line of Actual Control.
 Land for Security related infrastructure: Forest land upto 10
hectares
 Defence Projects, paramilitary camps or public utility projects:
Forest land upto 5 hectares in a Left Wing Extremism- affected
area.
• Assignment/leasing of forest land: The Act requires prior approval
from the central government for the leasing of forest land to any
entity.
• Redefining the ambit of “non-forest purpose” exemptions:
• Non forest land: Non-forest purposes include using the land for cultivation of horticultural crops or any purpose other than
reafforestation.
• Exclusion from Non forest land: Zoos and safaris under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, Ecotourism facilities, Silvicultural
operations to enhance forest growth, Survey and investigation in the forest areas
• Power to issue directions: Central government has the authority to issue directions for the implementation of the Act.
Significance of bill:
• Facilitating non forestry use of forest land: Elimination of ambiguities in the applicability of Act will facilitate the decisions
making process on the proposals involving non-forestry use of forest land.
• Quick Response to Hazards: Inclusion of more forestry activities such as infrastructure for the frontline will help to secure
quick response to natural hazards in the forests.
• Better management of forest: It will pave the way for improved productivity and flow of ecosystem goods and services, and
mitigating the impact of climate change on forests.

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• Encouragement to private forests and agroforestry projects: Farmers or owners of private forests can harvest their lands
without the need for acquiring forest clearance.
• Livelihood sources to local communities: Mainstreaming T N Godavarman case, 1996:
protection of forest and enabling local communities by providing • The FCA, 1980, extended protection to all lands classified as
livelihood sources through establishment of zoos and safari. forests in government records.
• The Court’s ruling prevented the deforestation of tracts that
Issues with the bill: government surveys had not marked as forestland.
• Invalidation of Supreme Court (SC) judgment in T N Godavarman Forest Cover:
Case: Forest land excluded from the purview of the Act will lose • It refers to land greater than one hectare in size with tree
legal protection leading to degradation of forest and loss of canopy density (percentage of land covered by tree canopy)
biodiversity. greater than 10%.
Status in India:
• Border areas would cover large parts of the north-eastern
region: The region has been losing forest cover consistently and
• India’s total forest cover underwent a net increase of 38,251
sq. km from 2001 to 2021.
the exemptions will exacerbate it.
• In the same period, forest cover with canopy density above
 As per ISFR 2021, the northeastern states of India have lost
40% declined by 10,140 sq. km.
1,020 square kilometers of forest during 2019-2021.
• Blanket exemption to security projects within 100km of international borders: It will result in greater human displacement
and heightened internal security risks.
 The recent floods in the Western Himalayas have shown that areas heavily disturbed and fragmented by infrastructure
development have experienced the most destruction due to landslides.
• Habitat and biodiversity loss: Linear projects which fragments habitat can reduce biodiversity in an area greater than their
own footprint.
 NH766 cuts through prime forested habitats in Nagarhole and Wayanad.
 As per MOEFCC, National highways and other major roads pass from around 72 elephant corridors in India.
• Poor Identification: Delay in forest clearance exemption for security related projects is caused mostly by state delays, however
the bill reduces the compliance by central government.
• Threat to federalism: Although forest conservation falls under the concurrent list, the amendment may impact the autonomy
and jurisdiction of State governments in issues related to forest conservation.
• Protest against Hindi name: The change in name by the central government has been perceived as a Hindi imposition by the
southern states.
• Disregarding rights: The exemptions would eliminate the need for consultations with forest-dwelling communities as
mandated by Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act,2006.
Conclusion:
• Blanket exemption not a solution: Blanket exemption from regulatory statutes is not the solution for accelerating
administrative procedures and minimizing unnecessary hindrances in obtaining environmental clearances.
• Need Thorough Environment Assessment: The regions along India's northern borders, where exemptions might be applied
frequently, are bordered by the dynamically active Himalayan range.
 Recent incidents in Joshimath (Uttarakhand) underscore the importance of proper geological and environmental
evaluations for all development undertakings.

5.4 Cloudburst in High Altitude Regions

Context:
• Himachal Pradesh has been hit by intense rainfall, resulting in cloudbursts and landslides that have obstructed numerous
roads and caused houses to collapse.
More about the news:
• This monsoon season, the state has experienced a total of 170 cloudburst and landslide events, causing damage to around
9,600 houses.

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• Cloudbursts occur mostly over the rugged terrains of the
Himalayas, Western Ghats, and northeastern hill states of
India.
• The intensity of cloudbursts have increased during the last 10-
15 years because of massive urbanisation, increased
population and higher temperature.
Mechanism behind Cloudburst:
• Role of southwesterly monsoon: It occurs when warm
monsoon winds interact with cold winds leading to the
formation of massive clouds.
• Orographic lift: As these moist air masses converge over the
land and encounter hills, they rise in altitude.
• Formation of cumulonimbus clouds: As the air reaches higher
altitudes, it becomes saturated and the moisture condenses, it
results in the formation of intense cumulonimbus clouds.
• Violent upward flow of air: In hilly areas, sometimes saturated
clouds cannot produce rain, because of the upward movement of
the very warm current of air. Instead of falling downwards, the
raindrops are carried upwards by the air current.
• Heavy Downpour: After a point, the raindrops become too heavy
for the cloud to hold on to, and they drop down together resulting
in torrential downpours in the region right below and leads to
overflowing of water bodies in a very short duration of time.
Challenges with cloudbursts:
• Localized: Due to their highly localized and short occurrence, most
of the events go unreported, weakening the ability to understand
these events in complete perspective. Reasons behind frequent Cloudburst in Himalayan region:
• Prediction: Most of the reported cloudbursts are in the interior of • Rugged topography: Mountainous areas offer the terrain
the Himalayas and hence predicting the location, amplitude and for moisture-laden air to rise swiftly along the mountain
slopes.
magnitude of such events in advance remains a challenge.
• Warming of oceans: Oceans are warming up fast, as a
• Inability of satellites: Satellites lack the ability to detect cloudbursts
result of which moisture-rich air reaches the Himalayan
because the resolution of their precipitation radars is considerably region leading to cloudburst.
smaller than the area covered by each cloudburst event.
• Weather uncertainties: The forecasting of rainfall remains challenging due to the uncertainties in the interaction between
the moisture convergence and the hilly terrain, the cloud
Impact of climate change on cloudbursts:
microphysics, and the heating-cooling mechanisms at different
• Clausius Clapeyron relationship: Warmer air can hold
atmospheric levels.
moisture for a longer time. A 1-degree Celsius rise in
• Environmental Impact: Heavy spells of rain on the fragile steep slopes temperature may correspond to a 7-10% increase in
trigger landslides, debris flows, and flash floods, causing large-scale moisture and rainfall.
destruction. • Uneven distribution of rainfall: As the moisture
• Economic Impact: It leads to extensive damage to infrastructure and holding capacity of air increases, it results in
property as well as disruption of livelihoods. prolonged dry periods intermittent with short spells
of extreme rains. More deeper cumulonimbus clouds
 Recent cloudburst resulted in a tragic loss of at least 48 lives as well
form, and the chances of cloudbursts increase.
as damaged the Unesco world heritage Shimla-Kalka railway line.

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Way Forward:
• Multiple doppler weather radar: It can be used to
monitor moving cloud droplets and help to provide
nowcasts (forecasts for the next 3 hours).
 This can be a quick measure for providing warnings,
but radars are an expensive affair, and installing them
across the country may not be practically feasible.
• Mapping the cloudburst-prone regions: A long-term
measure would be mapping the cloudburst-prone regions
using automatic rain gauges.
• Planned drainage network: Safe disposal of rainwater
with drain pipes on debris slopes may be provided.
 Both surface and subsurface drainage measures wide
enough to accommodate heavy downpour events are
needed.
• Bioengineering technology: It can be successfully
implemented by using specific and local vegetation along
with engineering measures to reduce instability and soil
erosion.
• Cloudburst forecasting model: It could be developed with accurate Steps taken to detect cloudbursts:
measurement of such events and studies based on different • Expansion of doppler radar footprints: India Meteorological
aspects of geology, geomorphology and climatology. Department (IMD) has planned expansion of its doppler
radar footprints(DRF) to improve forecast of cloudbursts.
• Designation of site as hazardous: If Cloudburst-prone regions are
 DRF refers to increasing the number of radars to improve
co-located with landslide-prone regions, these locations can be
forecast of cloudbursts.
designated as hazardous.  At present, there are 37 radars across India and 25 more
 The risk at these locations would be huge, and people should be will be added by 2025.
moved, and construction and mining in nearby regions should • Automatic weather stations: IMD plans to set up automatic
be restricted as it can aggravate the landslides and flash flood weather stations in every block and automatic rain
impacts. gauge(ARG) in each panchayat of the country.
• Implementing Cloudburst management techniques: It implements  ARG is a weather instrument for measurement &
a combination of methods that absorb, store, and transfer monitoring rain rate and total rainfall.

stormwater to minimize flooding from cloudburst events.

 Using grey infrastructure, like sewer pipes and underground storage tanks, & green Infrastructure, like trees & rain
Gardens, cloudburst management can minimize damage to infrastructure by reducing strain on the Sewer System.

5.5 Aftermath of Cheetah Relocation to India

Context: Recently, a female cheetah 'Dhatri', brought under Project
Cheetah to India, was found dead in Madhya Pradesh’s
Kuno National Park (KNP).
More on News:
• So far, nine cheetahs have died since March 2023, including three
out of the four cubs that were born here.
• At present, 15 cheetahs remain — seven males, seven females and
a female cub.
About Project Cheetah:
• Project Cheetah: The Government of India has launched it to bring
back Cheetahs to India.

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  Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952.
 Aim: To revive the population of Cheetah in India.
 Implementing Body: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment.
• Objective: Indian government hopes to bring 50 cheetahs from African countries to various national parks over the 5 years.
 Currently, a total of 20 radio collared Cheetahs were brought from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park,
Madhya Pradesh, in a first ever transcontinental wild to wild translocation i.e Africa to Asia.
Reason for High Mortality of Cheetah at KNP:
• Untimely Winter Fur: The cheetahs were brought from the southern hemisphere where the winter solstice is in June.
 So the animals grew a thick winter coat as the monsoon peaked in India.
 This extra fur held more water and did not let the skin dry for extended periods.
 This ‘wet mat’ effect could weaken the skin over time and become vulnerable to pathogens attack.
• Collar Infections: Radio collars are suspected to have caused skin infections among some cheetahs leading to septicemia in
two speculated deaths of Cheetahs.
• Low immunity, novel pathogens: These animals could be vulnerable to certain local pathogens or they could have carried
some dormant pathogens that flourished in Kuno given the animals’ loss of immunity due to stress.
• Territorial Issues: Cheetahs are not known for strongly defending their territory like tigers or lions, however, male cheetahs
are known for establishing small territories for themselves that overlap with the territories of several females leading to
aggressive behaviour.
 A cheetah named Daksha was killed in a fight with other cheetahs inside the park in what could be a territorial fight
between the animals.
• Adapting to Indian weather conditions: In southern Africa, cheetahs often give birth in late summer or early autumn and if
the cubs are lost in the seasons, the replacement births are given in late winter or early spring.
 However, in India, female cheetahs are yet to adapt to opposite seasons in Asia and hence the mortality is expected to
be high during initial years.
• Relative inexperience of the Indian veterinarians and monitoring teams: It was expected because very few vets or monitors
in India have ever dealt with cheetahs before.
Other Concerns with Cheetah Relocation in india:
• Suitability of Kuno National Park (KNP): Cheetahs are known to ace survival in the open grasslands, savannahs of Namibia,
dense vegetation, and mountainous terrain.
 However, KNP is a largely dry, deciduous forest land. Whereas the cheetahs from Africa are usually more adapted to the
Savannahs of that continent.
 Supreme Court said that the Kuno National Park may not be sufficient to accommodate so many cheetahs.
• Fragmented Habitat: India’s grasslands are segmented by farmlands, rural habitation, and roads, particularly highways,
leading to habitat fragmentation.
 Since the nucleus population of the reintroduced cheetahs is already small, being in a fragmented habitat would prevent
healthy gene flow, increasing inbreeding, leading to a dangerously high prevalence of hereditary disorders and ailments.
• Disease risk: According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), “no translocated organisms can be entirely
free of infection with micro-organisms or parasites, with consequent risk of their spread.”
• Human-Animal Conflict: Since their release in the open, the cheetahs have been seen to venture beyond the borders of the
national park.
 Cheetah “Oban” entered the village on the outskirts of Kuno’s buffer zone and killed a cow in the village.
• Ecological Concerns: Lack of natural and probable prey and likely competition and conflict with the existent apex predator,
the Indian leopard, and various opportunistic mesopredators might prove to be factors adversely affecting the sustainability
of the population.
• Loss of Grassland in India: According to UNCCD, India lost 31% (about 56.500 square kilometers) of its grassland area in the
2005-2015 decade due to desertification, agriculture, and construction activities.

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Previous Cheetah Relocation Programs
• South Africa: Nine of the first 10 reintroduction attempts in South Africa failed and it took more than 200 wild cheetahs
during these initial reintroduction attempts to establish best practices with regards to wild cheetah introduction and
management.
• Cheetah expert Vincent van der Merwe said that
an estimation of loss of 50% of the founder
population in the first year post-release is
standard for wild cheetah reintroductions in
unfenced areas.
 Cub mortality will likely be high in the early
years as most of the females will be first time
mothers in India and are known to be bad at
raising cubs.
Way Forward:
• More Translocation of Cheetah: According to the Cheetah Project Steering Committee, at least 50 founder cheetahs will be
required before the Indian population stabilises.
 Further swaps between the Southern African and Indian metapopulations will be required to ensure genetic and
demographic viability in the long term.
• Providing Open Grassland Area: Cheetahs inhabit open grasslands and scrublands, with breeding males being highly
territorial, often claiming and defending about 40-80 square kilometers of territory each.
• Other Site for Reintroduction: NTCA said it is preparing Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary
in Madhya Pradesh as an alternative.
• Health Monitoring: India needs thorough disease screening processes and protocols for managing threats from infections as
part of the cheetah reintroduction plans.
• Other Steps: Cheetahs need to be fitted with lighter collars with a softer belt material.
 Cheetah adapting on an "evolutionary timescale" might be the only permanent solution to the winter coats.
Conclusion
• It will still take a few years to gauge the success or failure of the project once cheetahs establish their home range in the
Indian ecosystem.
• For the project to be a success, patience and time are the essential elements before any conclusions are drawn.
5.6 Mangrove Conservation
Context: Recently, International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem was observed on July 26.
More on the News:
• About Day: International Day was adopted by the General Conference of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) in 2015.
• Aim: To raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem” and to
promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses.
• Significance : Mangroves are located in “transitional intertidal zones.” i.e Mangrove ecosystems are at the intersection of
SDGs 14 and 15 as they provide a buffer zone between life below water and life on land.
About Mangroves:
• Location: Mangroves are found in tropical and subtropical areas, i.e., between 25°N and 25°S latitude.
• Mangroves have specialized adaptation to survive in the extreme conditions of the coastal environment.
India and Mangroves:
• India is home to about 3 percent of the total mangrove cover in South Asia, with the Sundarbans in West Bengal and
Bhitarkanika mangroves in Odisha being the richest in diversity.

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  Sundarbans: It is one of the most biodiverse
mangrove forests in the world.
 It is home to a wide variety of fauna,
including the Bengal tiger, fishing cat,
mangrove snakes, goliath heron, saltwater
crocodile and water monitor lizard.
• According to the India State of Forest report,
the country’s mangrove forest cover has
increased by 930-sq-km since 1987.
• As per Forest Survey Report 2021, total
mangrove cover in the country is 4,992 sq km.
 Top three states showing mangrove cover
increase: Odisha (8 sq km) > Maharashtra
(4 sq km) > Karnataka (3 sq km).
Significance of Mangrove:
• Disaster Mitigation: Mangrove coverage acts
as a natural barrier, reducing the impact of waves and protecting coastal areas from erosion.
 Defense against Flooding: It stabilizes sedimentation and mitigates coastal flooding.
 Mangroves are an essential part of the “build back better” strategy in response to sea storms, tsunamis, and cyclones.
• Economic Benefits: Indian Mangroves provide annual flood protection benefits of over $7.8 billion.
 Ex: During Supercyclone Amphan in 2020, Sundarbans mangroves act as a bio-shield and protect the embankments.
• Ecosystem Services: Mangrove provide critical habitats of a diverse range of plant and animal species, and marine
organisms, including commercially important fish species.
 Sundarbans host the world’s largest mangrove forest and are home to endangered species like the Bengal tiger and
Ganges river dolphin.
 Mangrove forests improve water quality and act as natural
Steps Taken for Conservation and Preservation of Mangrove
filters by trapping sediments, pollutants and excess nutrients.
• Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible
• Carbon Sequestration: Mangrove ecosystems can absorb large Incomes (MISHTI): To promote the conservation and
amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through a responsible management of mangrove forests covering
process known as sequestration. approximately 540-sq-km across 13 states and Union
 BLue Carbon:Globally, they are estimated to sequester 22.86 territories.
metric gigatonnes of CO2, which is about half the annual CO2 • Central Sector Scheme under National Coastal Mission
emissions from fossil fuels, land-use and industry. Programme on ‘Conservation and Management of
Mangroves and Coral Reefs’.
• Livelihood: Mangroves contribute to the livelihoods of 900,000
• Sustainable Aquaculture In Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME) :
fisher households in India.
Promoting sustainable aquaculture practices in mangrove
 Roughly about 60% of India’s coastal marine fish species are ecosystems, while also conserving and restoring mangrove
dependent on the mangrove ecosystem. forests.
• Tourism and recreation: Mangroves provide opportunities for eco- • State Government Initiatives:
tourism, birding, kayaking, and other nature-based activities to  Maharashtra has a dedicated unit for mangrove and
support local communities' sustainable economic growth. coastal biodiversity conservation.
 West Bengal Mangrove Cell: It will bring government
Challenges faced by Mangrove Ecosystem: officials, forest personnel, NGOs and academics under a
• Stress on Mangrove: Mangroves are disappearing at a global loss single platform to provide guidance on negotiating the
rate of 1–2% per year, and the loss reached 35% during the last 20 challenges faced in conserving mangroves.
years.

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  Since 1996, the planet’s mangrove coverage
has declined by 11,700-sq- km, with South
and Southeast Asia witnessing the most
significant loss.
• Declining Diversity: According to the IUCN red
list, 11 of the 70 mangrove species in the world
(16 percent) are at an elevated threat of
extinction.
 Among them, two species, namely
Sonneratia griffithii (critically endangered)
and Heritiera fomes (endangered), are found
in India.
 Nearly 50% of mangrove-associated
mammals, 22% of fishes, 16% of plants, 13%
of amphibians and 8% of bird and reptile
species are threatened with extinction.
• Oil Pollution: Oil spill causes physical suffocation
and toxicological impacts to mangroves.
 Spilled oil covers the aerial breathing
mangrove roots inhabiting gaseous exchange
and disrupting oxygen transport to
underground roots leading to death of trees.
• Reducing Freshwater: Mangroves faces the consequences of reduction in freshwater flow due to the damming of rivers.
 These impacts are particularly high in the estuaries like the Cauvery where the rainfall is also less.
• Urbanization: Infrastructure and housing schemes for increasing the human population are destroying the mangroves, as
mangroves are drained and land is cleared to make space for urban projects.
Way Forward
• Engaging Local Community in Conservation: Involving and enabling local communities is critical for long-term success.
 In Gujarat and Odisha, engaging local communities as
stewards of their ecosystems, and fostering a collaborative Global Effort to Protect and Preserve Mangrove
approach among government officials and restoration • Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC): It is an initiative led by
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia, which also
programmes can yield positive results.
includes India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and Spain.
• Policy Planning: Develop a comprehensive plan for the • Save Our Mangroves Now: It is a joint effort of BMZ, WWF and
conservation and management of the mangrove forest, taking IUCN. It is an initiative aimed at halting the decline of global
into account the local community's needs and concerns. mangroves.
 Develop standardized metrics for mangrove conditions,
identify local drivers of change, and evaluate policy and management measures' effectiveness.
• Afforestation: Encourage the planting of new mangrove trees to increase the forest's size and improve its health.
 Reducing mangrove deforestation rates would elevate the carbon benefit from climate change by 55–61%.
• Limiting Human Activities: Human activities such as urbanization should be limited around the mangrove forests.
 People who use mangroves for livelihoods should adopt sustainable approaches toward fisheries.
• Awareness: Refine knowledge of species benefiting and impacted by mangrove degradation and loss to understand the
impact of mangrove change on local biodiversity and develop effective conservation and recovery plans.

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PRELIMS:
5.7 State of the Climate in Asia 2022:
WMO
Context:
As per a recent report by the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), Asia is the most disaster prone region
in the world. In 2022, Asia faced 81 weather, climate, and
water-related disasters.
About the ‘State of the Climate in Asia 2022’ Report:
• It Is a collaborative effort of National Meteorological
and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) , the UN Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP),
the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and
other specialized agencies of the United Nations.
• It Provides a comprehensive summary of the state of the
climate, extreme events, and their socio-economic
impacts in the Asia region for the year 2022. The 2022
report is the third in the series of the report.
Key Takeaways from the Report:
• Disaster Impact in Asia (2021 vs. 2022):
Number of Deaths
due to Natural Number of People
Year Disasters Affected by Disasters
2021 Approximately 3,800 48.3 million
Approximately 5,879 52 million (increase
2022
(55% increase) from 2021)
• Rising temperatures in Asia: The mean temperature
over Asia in 2022 was about 0.72 degrees Celsius above
the 1991–2020 average and 1.68 degrees Celsius above
the 1961–1990 average.
• Increased occurrence of extreme weather events: The
rise in temperatures has led to more frequent and severe
extreme weather events across Asia, including droughts,
floods, and heatwaves. For example,
 Yangtze River Basin: Worst drought in the last six
decades, economic losses of about $7.6 billion.
 Pakistan: Received 60% of normal total monsoon
rainfall in three weeks, leading to urban, landslides,
and glacial lake outburst floods.
 India: Heavy rainfalls triggered landslides and river
overflows, resulting in over 2,000 deaths and
affecting 1.3 million people.
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• Severe Impacts on Agriculture: The agriculture sector in
Asia has been particularly impacted by climate-related
disasters, with more than 25% of damage and losses
associated with floods, droughts, and tropical storms.
• Economic Losses due to Floods: Economic losses due to
disasters relating to floods in Pakistan, China, and India
exceeded the average for the 2002–2021 period.
 Pakistan incurred a loss of over $ 15 billion, followed
by China, over $ 5 billion, and India, over $ 4.2 billion.
• Heatwaves becoming more common: India, Pakistan,
China, Hong Kong, and Japan experienced abnormally
warm conditions in the pre-monsoon season, with
record-high temperatures in 2022.
• Glaciers Melting: Climate change has exacerbated
glacier melting in the High Mountain Asia region. Four
glaciers in the region have recorded significant mass
losses since the mid-1990s.
5.8 Coastal Aquaculture Authority
(Amendment ) Act, 2023
Context: The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment )
Act, 2023 has been passed by both the Houses of the
Parliament and received President Assent.
About the Bill:
• The Bill aims to specify that the regulation of coastal
aquaculture and related activities will solely fall under
the jurisdiction of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority
Act, excluding any other legislations.
 Coastal aquaculture includes the farming of marine
life such as shrimp, prawn or fish in controlled
conditions.
• Sea surface warming: Since the 1980s, the northwestern
Arabian Sea, Philippine Sea, and seas east of Japan have
warmed at rates exceeding 0.5 degrees Celsius per
decade, three times faster than the global average.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
• The WMO is an intergovernmental organization with 192
Member States and Territories.
• Establishment: WMO was established by the ratification of
the WMO Convention on 23rd March 1950.
• Specialized Agency: It is the specialized agency of the United
Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational
hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• India is one of the Member States of the WMO.
Key Provisions of the Bill:
Broadbasing • Coastal aquaculture will cover all activities of coastal aquaculture under the purview of this Act.
coastal aquaculture • In 2005, coastal aquaculture activity was essentially shrimp farming.
definition • Now newer forms of environment friendly coastal aquaculture such as cage culture, seaweed
culture, bi-value culture, marine ornamental fish culture, pearl oyster culture etc. have come up.

Biosecurity: • Includes new provisions for preventing the risk of introducing or spreading harmful organisms
within the coastal aquaculture unit which could lead to infectious diseases.

Exemptions: • Specific exemption granted under the CAA Act for the establishment of aquaculture units like
hatcheries, Broodstock multiplication centers (BMC) and Nucleus Breeding Centres (NBC) within
the No Development Zone (NDZ) [200m from the High Tight Line] of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).

5.9 Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) About IOD index:

• IOD index is defined as the difference between the mean
Context: Recently, Australian Bureau of Meteorology has
sea surface temperature in the western Indian Ocean
reported a shift in the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) index in
and mean sea surface temperature in the eastern Indian
recent days.
Ocean.
 The IOD index has increased from +0.34°C to +0.79°C,
• When the IOD index is positive, the phenomenon is
surpassing the positive IOD threshold of +0.4°C.
referred to as the positive IOD and when it is negative, it
 Last Positive IOD event occurred in 2019.
is referred to as the negative IOD.

About Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): 5.10 Great Nicobar Project

• IOD signifies the fluctuation in sea-surface Context: The Union government’s Great Nicobar Project
temperatures from warm to cool in the Indian Ocean may see 9.64 lakh trees felled during its execution phase.
area south of Sri Lanka.
• The IOD is defined by the difference in sea surface
temperature between western Indian Ocean and
eastern Indian Ocean south of Indonesia.
• The IOD affects the climate of Australia and other
countries that surround the Indian Ocean Basin, and is a
significant contributor to rainfall variability in this region.

About Great Nicobar Project:

• Origin: The proposal to develop Great Nicobar Island was
first introduced in the 1970s, emphasizing its role in

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 national security and consolidating the Indian Ocean
Region.
 However, increasing Chinese assertion in the Bay of
Bengal and the Indo-Pacific has added great urgency
to this imperative in recent years.
• It is a Rs 72,000 crore development project on the
strategically important Great Nicobar Island.
• It has four components:
 a ₹35,000 crore transshipment port at Galathea Bay
 a dual-use military-civil international airport
 a power plant
 A greenfield township
• Implementation Agency: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Integrated Development Corporation
5.11 Earthquake in Andaman and Nicobar
Islands
Context: Recently, an earthquake of 4.3 magnitude hit
Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Reason for earthquake in Andaman and Nicobar:
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands region is an earthquake
hotspot, caused by 'subduction' of the Indian plate
beneath the Burmese plate.
• Indo-Australian plate subducts beneath the Burmese
microplate resulting in the formation of a major island
arc-trench system.
• Andaman-Nicobar-Sumatra subduction zone is an active
oblique subduction zone in the northeast Indian Ocean.
• Previous Earthquake in Region:
 Tsunami 2004: Great Nicobar is not far from Banda
Aceh in Indonesia, which was the epicentre of the
December 2004 earthquake and tsunami that caused
unprecedented damage.
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 The coastline of Great Nicobar saw permanent
subsidence of nearly four metres as evidenced by the
fact that the lighthouse at Indira Point now stands
surrounded by water.
5.12 Extreme Heat in Mediterranean Sea
Context: For several weeks, the Mediterranean area has
been grappling with severe heat, resulting in wildfires
spanning nine countries from Algeria to Greece.
More about the news:
• At the end of July, Mediterranean Sea surface
temperatures hit a record 28.7 degrees Celsius (83.66
Fahrenheit), with some eastern parts of the waters
reaching more than 30 C.
About the Mediterranean Sea:
• It is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean which lies between the
continents of Eurasia and Africa enclosed almost
completely by land.
• The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic
Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar on the west and to the
Sea of Marmara and Black Sea, by the Dardanelles and
the Bosporus respectively, on the east.
Bordering Countries:
• Europe (from west to east): Spain, France, Monaco, Italy,
the island state of Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, and
the island Republic of Cyprus
• Asia (from north to south): Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and
Israel.
• Africa (from east to west): Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria
and Morocco
5.13 Drilling in the North Sea
Context: The U.K. is planning on more drilling in the North
Sea for oil and natural gas which will help it become more
energy independent.
Exploration in the North Sea:
• The 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf
was the first international legislation to establish the
rights of countries over the continental shelves adjacent
to their coastlines.
• This convention facilitated North Sea exploration which
was followed by the U.K.'s enactment of the Continental
Shelf Act, effective in 1964.
Continental Shelf Act: This legislation authorized the
exploration and utilization of the continental shelf, aligning
with the principles of the 1958 Geneva Convention.
About North Sea:
● Epeiric Sea: It is an epeiric sea on the European
continental shelf connecting to the Atlantic Ocean
through the English Channel in the south and the
Norwegian Sea in the north.
 An epeiric sea is a continental body of water which is
very large in area and is either completely surrounded
by dry land or connected to an ocean by a river, strait
or arm of the sea.
• Location: It lies between England and Scotland on its
west, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France on its south,
and Norway, Denmark, and Germany on its East.
• Major Rivers draining into North Sea: the Rhine,
Thames, and the Elbe rivers.
• Important Islands: Shetland’s Mainland, Orkney’s
Mainland Island, Norwegian Stord Island
• Climate: The North Sea experiences an oceanic
temperate maritime climate, characterized by slightly
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high temperatures. Winters are long but cool while
summers are short and mild.
5.14 Graded Response Action Plan
(GRAP)
Context: The Commission for Air Quality Management
(CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) has announced
a revision in the existing Graded Response Action Plan
(GRAP).
About Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):
• It is a set of emergency measures implemented in the
Delhi-NCR region to prevent further deterioration of air
quality once it reaches specific threshold levels.
• It was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 and
officially notified in 2017.
Key features of GRAP:
• Incremental Nature: GRAP is designed to be
incremental, meaning as air quality worsens, measures
from successive stages are triggered.
• Stage 1 (Poor AQI - 201 to 300)
• Stage 2 (Very Poor AQI - 301 to 400)
• Stage 3 (Severe AQI - 401 to 450)
• Stage 4 (Severe + AQI - More than 450)
5.15 Endemic Birds of India by ZSI
Context: The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently
published a report titled "75 Endemic Birds of India," to
commemorate the 108th anniversary of the foundation of
the ZSI.
Key Findings of the Report:
• India’s Rich Bird Diversity: India is home to 1,353 bird
species, which represents approximately 12.40% of
global bird diversity.
 Of these 1,353 bird species, 78 (5%) are endemic to
the country.
• Endemic Bird Species Threat Assessment in India: Out of
the 78 endemic bird species in India,
 25 are categorized as 'Threatened' by the IUCN.
 3 as 'Critically Endangered'.
 5 as 'Endangered'.
 17 as 'Vulnerable'.
 11 as 'Near Threatened'.
• Distribution Patterns:
 Western Ghats: 28 Endemic bird species.
 Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 25 Endemic bird
species.
About Zoological Survey of India:
• ZSI is a subordinate organization under the Ministry of
Environment and Forests was founded in 1916.
• It serves as a national faunistic survey center, advancing
knowledge about India's diverse fauna.
• Headquartered in Kolkata, it has 16 regional stations
across the country.
5.16 Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)
Context: The Government of Odisha has notified three
Biodiversity Heritage Sites(BHS) i.e. Mandasaru Hills,
Mahendragiri Hills and Gandhamardan Hills.
About Biodiversity Heritage Sites:
• The ‘Biodiversity Heritage Sites’ are unique ecosystems
having rich biodiversity comprising of any one or more of
the following components:
 Richness of wild as well as domesticated species or
intra-specific categories.
 High endemism.
 Presence of rare and threatened species, keystone
species, species of evolutionary significance.
 Wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their
varieties.
• Under Section-37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002,
the State Government, in consultation with local
bodies, may notify areas of biodiversity importance as
BHS.
• Mandasaru Hills: They are located in the eastern part of
Kandhamal District of Odisha.
• Mahendragiri: It is a mountain in Rayagada block of the
district of Gajapati, Odisha.
• Gandhamardan Hills: It is a hill located in between
Balangir and Bargarh district of Odisha.
5.17 Deepor Beel
Context: Various initiatives have been launched by the local
population in order to save the dying Deepor Beel.
About Deepor Beel:
• It is one of the critical wetlands of the Brahmaputra
Valley in lower Assam and the state’s lone Ramsar site
(declared in 2002), besides being a significant area for
resident and migratory birds.
• It has also been a patch for the elephant movement for
ages and the 4.14 square kilometre area of the beel has
been declared a wildlife sanctuary.
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• Threat: Despite being a wetland protected by law, it is
subjected to several anthropogenic threats, including
that from a railway track that runs parallel to the wetland
and a waste yard in its periphery.
Initiatives:
• Simang: Simang is a collective initiative by six women
under which they have successfully transformed the
invasive weed, water hyacinths into beautiful artefacts
and yoga mats.
 Water hyacinths can rapidly multiply within a week,
making it a persistent problem for the ecosystem.
• Kumbhi Kagaz: It focuses on ecologically restoring
Deepor Beel while simultaneously creating alternative
livelihoods for the locals of Keotpara.
 The initiative converts water hyacinths into 100 per
cent biodegradable, chemical-free handmade
papers.
5.18 Baghjan Oil Leak
Context: Recently, National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered
the Assam government to disburse interim compensation to
the victims of Baghjan oil and gas leak that displaced close
to 9,000 people in 2020 in Tinsukia district of Assam.
More on News:
• About: Baghjan 5 well is a purely gas-producing well in
Tinsukia district, and is at an aerial distance of 900
metres from the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
 It was drilled by Oil India Limited (OIL) in 2006.
 It produces around 80,000 standard cubic metres per
day (SCMD) of gas from a depth of 3,870 metres.
 Baghjan oil and gas leak is considered as the longest
running oil spill in the country.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT) appointed a committee
led by Justice (retired) BP Katakey to investigate the
leak, which revealed many violations of environmental
laws deeming the entire Baghjan oil and gas field as
illegal in November 2020.
• The committee submitted that one-time compensation
should be given to the affected villagers from Baghjan
based on the quantum of losses faced by the affected
villages.
About Oil Spill:
• An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum
hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the
marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form
of pollution.
SPECIES IN NEWS:

Clouded Leopards Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have observed a peculiar behavior among clouded
leopards within Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve in western Assam.
• These leopards appear to engage in an enigmatic hide-and-seek activity within the lush tropical
canopy forests.
About Clouded Leopard:
• The clouded leopard is categorised into two species:
 The mainland clouded leopard distributed from central Nepal to peninsular Malaysia.
✓ Protection Status: Vulnerable under IUCN Red List,
 The Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) native to Borneo and Sumatra.

Great Indian The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides financial assistance to the States,
Bustard under the Recovery Programme for saving the Great Indian Bustard.
• Great Indian Bustard is the state bird of Rajasthan.
• Conservation Status:
 International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (IUCN): Critically Endangered
 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
Appendix1
 Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
 Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• Habitat: It is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• Steps taken to protect GIB:
 Project Great Indian Bustard
 National Bustard Recovery Plans

Himalayan Researchers have recorded the first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture (Gyps
Vultures himalayensis) in India at the Assam State Zoo.
About Vultures:
• Vultures are sociable creatures and are often seen as a collective unit. Out of 23 species of vultures
in the world, nine are found in India.
• Vultures are slow breeders and so the survival of every individual is very crucial.
• Generally, vultures rely on other carnivores to open carcasses.
• Vultures have a highly acidic stomach that helps them digest rotting carcasses and kill disease-causing
bacteria.
Species of Vultures found in India and their Conservation Status:
1. Indian Vulture or Long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus): Critically Endangered
2. Indian White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis): Critically Endangered
3. Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogypscalvus): Critically Endangered
4. Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris): Critically Endangered
5. Egyptian Vulture (Neophronpercnopterus): Endangered
6. Cincerous Vulture (Aegypiusmonachus): Near Threatened
7. Bearded Vulture (Gypaetusbarbatus): Near Threatened
8. Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayansis): Near Threatened
9. Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus): Least Concern

Gangetic River As per studies conducted on river dolphin, population of Gangetic river dolphin in the mainstream
Dolphin Ganga is known to be stable, although there has been decline in tributaries.

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 About Gangetic River Dolphin:
• The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind.
• They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to
“see” an image in their mind.
• Distribution: Seven states namely, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar,
Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• Protection Status:
 IUCN Status: Endangered
 Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.

SHORT NEWS IN TABLE

News Description

Fukushima Japan has decided to dispose of treated radioactively contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Plant Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.
Treated Water Reasons:
Disposal • More than 1.3 million tonnes of radionuclide-contaminated water have been stored on-site for the
past 12 years in tanks, but space was running out.
• Nuclear Disaster: A massive earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi plant’s cooling
systems, causing three of its reactors to melt and contaminating their cooling water.
• International Atomic Energy Agency in July concluded that the release, if conducted as designed, will
cause negligible impact on the environment and human health.
• Opposition: The move has been opposed by the country’s neighbours along with major concerns by
the fishing industry over potential effects on marine life.

Biomass Co-firing The Ministry of Power issued a modification to revise the biomass policy, mandating 5% biomass co-
firing in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) from FY 2024-25 and 7% from FY 2025-26.
• Biomass co-firing in Thermal Power Plants is the process of using biomass pellets along with coal as a
fuel source for generating electricity.
• Biomass Pellets are a popular type of biomass fuel, generally made from wood wastes, agricultural
biomass, commercial grasses and forestry residues.

Manas National The recent All India Tiger Estimation 2022 revealed Manas National Park's shift to high tiger density in
Park western Assam, However, a substantial challenge is posed by a staffing deficiency of approximately 63%.
About Manas Tiger Reserve:
• Geographical Location: Situated in Assam, Manas National Park is intersected by the Manas and Beki
rivers.
• Climate: It experiences a tropical monsoon climate, characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons.
• Distinctive Fauna: Pygmy hog, Golden langur and Assam roofed turtle
• Protected Area Status:
 World Natural Heritage Site
 Encompasses a wildlife sanctuary, national park, and tiger reserve

World Lion Day World Lion Day is observed annually on August 10 to raise awareness about conservation of lions.
• At present, Gir forests of Gujarat (India) is the only place where this race of lions i.e. Asiatic lion is
found in its natural habitat.

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 • The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has initiated the "Asiatic
Lion Conservation Project."

World Elephant • World Elephant Day is an international awareness campaign dedicated to the conservation and
Day protection of elephants.
• It is celebrated annually on August 12.
• Conservation Status:
 Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
✓ Asian and African Savanna Elephant: Endangered
✓ African Forest Elephant: Critically Endangered
✓ Convention of the Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I.

Mobile App • Central Water Commission (CWC) launched the in-house developed user-friendly "FloodWatch”
‘FloodWatch’ mobile application.
• Aim: To disseminate information related to the flood situation.
• Key Features:
 Forecast using an Interactive Map.
 Users can check the CWC Flood Forecast (up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisory (up to 7 days).
 The app utilizes near real-time river flow data from various sources.

Highly Water • As per WRI a region is deemed ‘water stressed’ when the demand for water surpasses the available
Stressed volume or when water quality limitations restrict its use for various purposes.
Conditions: World • Global water demand is projected to increase by 20-25% by 2050.
Resource Institute • Globally, around four billion people live under highly water stressed conditions for at least one month
(WRI) Report of the year. By 2050, that number could be closer to 60 per cent.
• Around 25 countries or a quarter of the world’s population are currently exposed to extremely high
water stress annually.
• The most water-stressed regions are West Asia and North Africa, where 83 per cent of the population
is exposed to extremely high water stress.

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6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
6.1 Chandrayaan 3 Mission
Context:
Recently, ISRO’s (Indian Space Research Organisation) Chandrayaan 3 lander has successfully made a soft landing on the lunar
surface.
More on News:
• Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar mission as well as second attempt to achieve a soft landing of a robotic lander on the
moon's surface.
• Landmark Feat: India has become the fourth country to soft land on the Moon after the United States, the erstwhile Soviet
Union, and China and the first to touch down near the lunar south pole.
Mission Experiment: Chandrayaan 3
• The lander has four experiments on board.
 The Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound
Hypersensitive ionosphere and
Atmosphere (RAMBHA) will study the
electrons and ions near the surface of
the moon and how they change over
time.
 The Chandra’s Surface Thermo physical
Experiment (ChaSTE) will study the
thermal properties of the lunar surface
near the polar region.
 The Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) will
measure the lunar quakes near the landing site and
study the composition of the Moon’s crust and mantle.
 The LASER Retroreflector Array (LRA) is a passive
experiment sent by NASA that acts as a target for lasers
for very accurate measurements for future missions.
• Two scientific experiments on the Rover:
 LASER Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): It will
determine the chemical and mineral composition of
the lunar surface.
 Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS): It will
determine the composition of elements such as magnesium, aluminium, silicon, potassium, calcium, titanium, and iron in
the lunar soil and rocks.
ISRO Planetary Exploration: Deboosting:
• Chandrayaan-1 (2008): India's maiden Moon mission, launched. It It is the process of slowing down the Chandrayaan-3 lander
entered lunar orbit and the Moon Impact Probe made a crash "Vikram" to position it in an orbit around the Moon where the
landing on the lunar surface. closest point to the Moon (Perilune) is 30 kilometers and the
farthest point (Apolune) is 100 kilometers.
 Chandrayaan-1's orbiter detected evidence of water on the
Moon.
• Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission, 2013): This was India's first interplanetary mission. It aimed to develop interplanetary
mission technologies and successfully entered Mars orbit.
 ISRO became the fourth agency to reach Mars orbit, after Russia's Roscosmos, USA’s NASA, and Eurpean Space Agency.

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• Chandrayaan-2 (2019): This mission aimed to explore the Moon
more comprehensively. It featured an orbiter, lander (Vikram), and
rover.
 Although Vikram's soft landing attempt failed, the orbiter
continued to provide valuable lunar data.
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Launched on July 14, 2023, Chandrayaan-3
successfully accomplished what Chandrayaan-2 couldn’t.
What should be India's Next Step Following the Success of
Chandrayaan 3?
• Frugal Engineering: India should move beyond "frugal engineering"
and think big in its space endeavors. India needs more substantial
budgets and more powerful rockets that can transport heavier
payloads more quickly.
 China's Change 5 Mission and Russia's Luna 25 Mission reached
the moon in a week.
• Private Sector Participation: To fund major space projects, markets
need to contribute more to the space budget alongside government
funding.
 Tata Consulting Engineers Limited (TCE) engineered the solid
propellant plant, the vehicle assembly building and the mobile
launch pedestal in Chandrayaan 3.
• International Cooperation: India should seek international
cooperation in space exploration like Artemis Accords (US-led
international partnership on planetary exploration and research).
• Geopolitical Competition: Great power rivalry has extended to the
Moon, with the US and China leading competing Moon projects.
 India should consider negotiation with the US for mutually
beneficial participation in the Artemis Mission and navigate these
geopolitical dynamics.
• Space Governance: India needs comprehensive space laws, both
domestically and internationally, to regulate and promote space
activities effectively.
NOTE: For more details on Chandrayaan 3, please refer to the
July edition of Current Affairs Magazine.
6.2 Indian Space Sector
Context:
According to recently released Arthur D Little (ADL) report, India’s space economy could potentially touch $100 billion by 2040.
More about the News:
• Global space market is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2040.
• Government of India Target: India's space economy could account for 9% of the global space industry by 2030 and reach
$40 billion by 2040.
• Four main factors to create rapid growth in the Indian Space industry:
1) India’s rising space budget to fund ISRO’s ambitious plans like Chandrayaan-03, Gaganyaan etc. In Budget 2023-24,
department of space was allocated Rs 12,543 crore.
2) India’s advantage as the preferred destination for launch services.
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About ISRO:
• ISRO was formed on August 15, 1969 and superseded
INCOSPAR with an expanded role to harness space
technology.
• Indian National Committee for Space Research
(INCOSPAR), set up by the Government of India in 1962, as
envisioned by Dr. VikramA Sarabhai.
• The Department of Space (DOS) was set up and ISRO was
brought under DOS in 1972.
• ISRO's Satellite Programs:
 Aryabhata (1975): ISRO's journey began with the launch
of Aryabhata in 1975.
 Bhaskar-1 (1979) and Bhaskar-2 (1981) laid the
foundation for the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)
Satellite system, revolutionizing land-based
applications.
 Indian National Satellite System (INSAT): Geostationary
satellites aimed to meet the telecommunications,
broadcasting, meteorology, and search and rescue
needs of India.
 KALPANA-1 (2002): Meteorological satellites built by
ISRO.
 NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation): India’s
first dedicated navigation satellite.
• ISRO Launch Vehicle:
 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (1994): PSLV achieved its
maiden successful launch, marking India's entry into the
league of launching bigger payloads, up to 1,000 kg.
✓ Launch Using PSLV: Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan.
 Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (2014): The
experimental flight of the third-generation GSLV
(Launch Vehicle Mark-3) with an indigenous cryogenic
engine was successful.
✓ LVM-3 carried the GSAT-19 satellite into space,
showcasing its capabilities for launching heavier
payloads into geostationary orbits.
✓ It alaunched Chandrayaan-2, and Chandrayaan-3
into space.
 3) Government’s push to the start-up ecosystem with the potential for more private players, adoption of commercial
satellite internet operations, as and when they begin.
4) Encouraging private participation has yielded remarkable results, with new-age space start-ups in India securing an
impressive USD 112 million in funding in 2022 alone.
Examples of private sector involvement in space programs are:
About Indian Space Sector: • SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and Arianespace: Offer
• Currently, India’s space industry is valued at $8 billion with a 2% launch services and space tourism.
share in the global space economy. • Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon Kuiper and Telesat: Developing
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the world’s sixth mega-constellations of satellites to provide global broadband
largest national space agency. internet access.

• Reason for Growth of Indian Space Industry: • Skyroot Aerospace: A Hyderabad-based startup that
launched India’s first privately built rocket, Vikram S (Mission
 Cost-effectiveness: ISRO charged only $15 million for
Prarambh), on December 11, 2021.
launching 104 satellites in one go in 2017, while SpaceX
• Agnikul Cosmos: A Chennai-based startup is developing a
charges around $60 million for a single satellite launch. small satellite launch vehicle called Agnibaan, which can
 Proven Capability: ISRO has demonstrated its ability to launch carry up to 100 kg payload to low earth orbit.
satellites into different orbits, such as polar, sun-synchronous,
geostationary, etc.
 Credibility: ISRO has launched more than 300 satellites for various foreign states between 1999-2022, with a success rate
of over 90%.
 Collaboration: ISRO has been supporting the development of space capabilities and applications in other countries,
especially developing countries, by providing training, consultancy, technical assistance, etc.
 Supporting Private Sector: ISRO has been encouraging the participation of private players and startups by providing
guidance, support, authorization and access to its facilities.
Indian Space Policy 2023:
• Aim: To encourage and institutionalize private sector participation in India's space sector, with the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) primarily focusing on research and development of advanced space technologies.
• Entry of the private sector: Private companies will be allowed to build satellites, rockets, and launch vehicles, and engage in
data collection and dissemination.
 It encourages private companies to invest in creating new infrastructure for the space sector and use ISRO facilities for a
small charge, to support their space-related activities.
Clarity in duties and responsibilities of institutions in India's space sector:
Institutions Responsibility
Department of Space • It will be in charge of carrying out the Indian Space Policy.
• It will also ensure that the policy's various stakeholders are empowered to carry out their tasks
“without overlapping into the domains of others.”
Indian Space Research • ISRO as India's top space agency focuses on developing new technologies, systems and
Organisation (ISRO) research & development.
New Space India Limited • It will work in a demand-driven way to meet the industry's needs and handle the operational
(NSIL) aspects of ISRO's missions. It will be in charge of all strategic space-related initiatives.
• NSIL is a space sector Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).
Indian National Space • In-SPACe is an autonomous and single window nodal agency in the Department of Space for
Promotion and the promotion, encouragement, and regulation of space activities of both government and
Authorisation Centre private entities.
(IN-SPACe) • It acts as a link between ISRO and private sector entities, and facilitates the usage of ISRO
facilities by private entities.

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Significance of Private Sector Participation in Indian Space Sector:
• Innovation: They bring more innovation and creativity, by developing new technologies, products, and services that can cater
to the diverse and emerging needs of the customers.
• Competition: They create a healthy and competitive environment in the space sector, by offering more choices and options
to the customers at lower costs and better quality.
• Collaboration: They can foster partnership with various stakeholders in the space sector, such as government agencies,
academic institutions, research organizations, international entities, etc.
• Commercialization: They can boost monetization of the space assets and services in India, by creating new markets and
opportunities for revenue generation and profit making.
• Socio-Economic Development: By providing space-based solutions and services to various sectors, such as education, health
care, agriculture, etc.
Key Challenges Faced by Private Sector in Indian Space Sector:
• Lack of Policy Direction: The government has not yet finalized a
legislation that can provide a clear and consistent framework for
the private players to operate in the space domain.
• Resource constraints: The private sector faces various resource
constraints in the space sector, such as funding, infrastructure,
human capital, technology, etc.
• Competitive pressures: The private sector faces intense
competitive pressures in the space sector, both from domestic
and international players.
• Security risks: The private sector involvement in the space sector
may pose some security risks for India's national interests and
assets in outer space like protection of sensitive technology.
• Policy conflicts: The private sector participation in the space
sector may create some policy conflicts or dilemmas for India's
strategic objectives.
Way Forward:
• Regulatory Clarity: The government should finalize and enact a comprehensive and consistent space policy and legislation
that can provide a clear and conducive framework for the private players to operate in the space domain.
• Incentive: The government should encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the space sector, by providing incentives,
awards, recognition, or challenges to the private players who develop new or improved solutions or services.
 Use schemes such as production-linked incentives (PLI) to make India a manufacturing hub for satellites.
• Security measures: Ensuring security and safety of India assets in outer space, to prevent or mitigate any threats or risks
posed by the private sector involvement in the space sector.
• ADL report also recommends five areas for India to achieve underlying opportunity:
 Encouraging mass adoption of satellite internet services to compete with terrestrial communication.
 Leveraging existing strength in satellite and launch vehicles manufacturing and launch services with end-to-end
competence in components manufacturing.
 Building capabilities in areas with high commercial potential such as space mining, in-space manufacturing, and in-orbit
servicing.
 Exploring emerging activities such as space tourism and space entertainment to provide cost-effective services in the
future.
 Innovating in ‘green space’ including sustainable fuel, reusable spacecraft, and use of eco-friendly technologies.
Conclusion:
• The future of the Indian space sector looks promising, with several major initiatives and projects underway.

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• With continued support from the government and private sector participation, India is set to leave an indelible mark in the
domain of space exploration and technology.

6.3 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Context: Recently, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) organized a webinar titled ‘The Crisis of Antibiotic Research
and Development’ to discuss the issue of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Gram-Negative Bacteria
More on the News: • They are resistant to multiple drugs and are increasingly
• Increasing Resistance: Burden of antibiotic resistance is increasing resistant to most available antibiotics.

and existing antibiotics are becoming ineffective. • They have built-in abilities to find new ways to be
resistant and can pass along genetic materials that
 According to Lancet, AMR was responsible for 1.27 million deaths
allow other bacteria to become drug-resistant as well.
worldwide in 2019.
• Ineffective: Most antibiotics
developed over the last decade are
not novel enough and insufficient to
treat multidrug resistant bacteria.
• Lack of R&D: The global antibiotic
pipeline for new antibiotics is weak,
particularly against Gram-negative
priority pathogens.
 Small-and-medium scale
antibiotic developers are trying
to fill this void but are facing
challenges and need support.
About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
• It occurs when bacteria, viruses,
fungi and parasites change over time
and no longer respond to medicines
making infections harder to treat and
increasing the risk of disease spread.
 As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become
increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.

Global Severity of AMR: Severity of AMR in India:

• WHO has declared AMR as one of the top 10
global public health threats.
 United Nations has also called it a global
health emergency.
• Financial Burden: AMR may cause a global
annual GDP loss of $3.4 trillion by 2030 and it
may push 24 million people into extreme
poverty.
• AMR Capital of World: India has the highest infectious disease burden
in the world, including infections due to multi-resistant pathogens.
• According to Health Ministry, the number of reported AMR cases
spiked more than 4.5 times from 25,833 in 2017 to 119,686 in 2022.
• India is also the world’s largest consumer of antibiotics in terms of total
volume.
• As per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study, E. coli was
the most common bacteria, accounting for 33% of AMR cases in 2022.

Causes of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in India:

• Overuse of Antibiotics: According to Lancet, India is the world's largest consumer of antibiotics, with a 62% increase in
consumption between 2000 and 2015.
 This misuse of antibiotics has contributed significantly to the development of AMR in India.

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  Over the Counter Sale of Drugs: Antibiotics are easily available in India without a prescription, leading to their
inappropriate use.
• Emergence of New Strains: A total of 378 new microbial species were discovered in India between 2008 and 2019, in places
ranging from pristine glaciers to grimy mobile phone screens.
• Poultry and veterinary use of antibiotics: Antibiotics are disproportionately used in the poultry and veterinary industry in
India to prevent and treat infections.
 Colistin is widely used as a growth promoter in livestock.
• Wastewater contamination: According to Lancet, antibiotic residues in wastewater and wastewater treatment plants (WTP)
serve as “potential hotspots for the development of AMR.
 Antibiotic residues from water are likely to sweep into groundwater, during the production, consumption and disposal of
drugs.
Steps Taken by India to Prevent AMR:
• India’s National Action Plan on AMR (NAP-AMR) for 2017-
2021: It addresses six critical issues:
1. Creating awareness and understanding of AMR.
2. Strengthening knowledge and evidence through
surveillance.
3. Reducing the incidence of infection through effective
infection prevention and control.
4. Optimising the use of antimicrobial agents in health,
animals and food.
5. Promoting investments for AMR activities, research and
innovations.
• Delhi Declaration on AMR: An inter-ministerial consensus
was signed at the launch of NAP-AMR, by the ministers of
the ministries concerned pledging their whole-hearted
support in AMR containment.
• AMRSN: ICMR has established AMR surveillance and research network (AMRSN) comprising 30 tertiary care hospitals, both
private and government, to generate evidence and capture trends and patterns of drug resistant infections in the country.
• Red Line awareness campaign on AMR: It urges people not
Global Efforts in Prevention of AMR
to use medicines marked with a red vertical line, including
• WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance
antibiotics, without a doctor’s prescription.
 Aim: To tackle the growing problem of antimicrobial
Way Forward: resistance, which is a major threat to global health.
• One Health Approach: AMR requires a united multisectoral • Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System
approach, which can be achieved through the One Health (GLASS)
approach.  For the standardised collection, analysis and sharing of data
on AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) at a national, regional
 It brings together multiple sectors and stakeholders to
and global level.
work together in designing and implementing
• WHO Essential Medicines List categorizing Antimicrobial in
programmes, policies, legislation and research to attain
three groups:
better public health outcomes.  ACCESS – first and second choice antibiotics for the empiric
• 3C approach to R&D: Coordination, collaboration and treatment of most common infectious syndromes;
communication are important because they help to ensure  WATCH – antibiotics with higher resistance potential whose
that efforts are not duplicated, resources are used efficiently, use as first and second choice treatment should be limited to
and stakeholders are aware of progress and challenges in a small number of syndromes or patient groups;
the development of new antibiotics.  RESERVE – antibiotics to be used mainly as ‘last resort’
treatment options.
• Improve WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) services: In large
cities, waste management and proper WASH can be difficult,

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 and metropolitan areas have been linked to numerous outbreaks of infectious diseases, notably those transmitted through
the fecal-oral route.
• Reforming R&D ecosystem: Including greater public financing, coordinated response from national governments, balanced
public-private partnerships in antibiotic R&D.

6.4 Superconductivity
Context: The scientific community found that the LK-99 material is not a room-temperature and ambient-pressure
superconductor.
More on News:
• Recently, a South Korean team of experts
posted two papers claiming that they
had synthesized the world's first room-
temperature superconducting material
under ambient pressure.
• There has been no formal conclusion
that this material was a superconductor.
The majority of experts hold doubts
regarding the Korean researchers’
findings.
• Researchers from the National Physical Laboratory of India shared their papers concluding that LK-99 does not exhibit
superconductive properties.
• LK-99 Compound:
 LK-99 is a modified-lead apatite crystal structure doped
with copper.
• It is a gray–black, polycrystalline compound.
About Superconductivity:
• Superconductivity: It is a physical phenomenon in which
certain materials, when cooled to very low temperatures,
usually near absolute zero, exhibit zero electrical resistance
and expel magnetic fields.
 Critical Temperature: The temperature at which the electrical resistivity drops to zero is known as critical temperature.
• Discovery: Superconductivity was first discovered in 1911 by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes when he observed the sudden loss of
electrical resistance in mercury at extremely low temperatures.
• Zero Resistance: In a superconductor, electric current can flow without any resistance, meaning that once a current is
initiated, it can circulate indefinitely without dissipating energy as heat.
• Different from Conductors: This behavior is fundamentally different from that of regular conductors, which have resistance
and thus lose some energy as heat when carrying an electric India and Superconductivity
current.
• National Superconductivity Mission 2017:
Applications of Superconductivity: ○ Aim: To promote research and development in the field of
superconductivity.
• Medical Imaging Systems: Superconducting magnets are a
○ Mission: To develop indigenous technology for superconductors.
crucial component of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) ○ Implementation: Department of Science and Technology in
machines, strong and stable magnetic fields produced by collaboration with the Department of Atomic Energy and the Council
superconducting magnets improve the quality of MRI scans. of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDS): • Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and IIT Bombay are leading
Superconducting qubits are used in some quantum research in superconductivity in India.
computing platforms to perform quantum computations.

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• Particle Accelerators: Superconducting magnets are used in particle accelerators to generate strong magnetic fields for
controlling and focusing particle beams.
• Levitated Vehicle Transportation: Superconducting magnets allow MagLev trains to levitate above the tracks.
 For example, Japan is currently experimenting with MagLev tracks.
• Fusion Reactors: Superconducting magnets are used in experimental fusion reactors, such as tokamaks, to confine and control
the hot plasma needed for nuclear fusion.
 For example, Tokmak energy built the first super magnets for testing in nuclear plants.
• Communication Systems: Superconducting filters and detectors are used in communication systems, especially for satellite
communication, due to their high sensitivity and low noise characteristics.
Challenges Associated with Superconductivity
• Cryogenic Cooling: Cooling superconducting materials to cryogenic Absolute Zero Temperature
temperatures requires specialized cooling systems. • Often denoted as 0 Kelvin or minus 273.15°C, it is the lowest
possible temperature that can theoretically exist in the
 For example, Liquid helium is used as coolant to keep the
universe according to the laws of thermodynamics.
superconducting material in its zero-resistance state.
• At absolute zero, the motion of all particles and atoms in a
• Technical Expertise: Working with superconducting materials substance would come to a complete standstill, resulting in
requires specialized technical knowledge and skills, which may limit the minimum possible energy state.
their adoption in industries with less familiarity in this area. • Cryogenics: The study of extreme low temperatures and the
• Costs: Superconducting materials and their associated technologies behavior of materials near absolute zero.
can be expensive to develop, produce, and operate.
• Brittleness: Some superconducting materials are brittle and can be challenging to fabricate into practical devices.
 For example, YBCO, BSCCO etc. are high-temperature but typically brittle compounds.
• Materials Performance Variability: The performance of superconducting materials can vary, which can impact the
reproducibility and reliability of devices.
Conclusion
● With the bleeding edge of research, we are delving deeper into High-Temperature superconductivity and trying to
understand its cause.
● The mystery behind the formation of electron pairs will definitely fetch a Nobel Prize. Room-temperature
superconductors with desired materials will allow us to commercialize scientific prototypes and open new avenues.

PRELIMS:
6.5 India AI and Meta India MoU About INDIA AI:

Context: • INDIA AI is a knowledge portal, research organization and an

Recently, 'India AI,' and Meta India signed a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) to promote collaboration in the
field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging
technologies.
MoU Between 'India AI' and Meta India:
• Objective: To foster collaboration and cooperation
between 'India AI' and Meta India in the field of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.
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ecosystem building initiative, which was launched on 28th
May 2020.
• It is a joint venture by the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY), National e-Governance
Division (NeGD) and National Association of Software and
Service Companies (NASSCOM).
• Sharing of Open-Source AI Models: Meta India will make
its open-source AI models, including LlaMA, Massively
Multilingual Speech, and No Language Left Behind,
available for use by the Indian AI ecosystem.
• Building Datasets in Indian Languages: It aims to enable
translation and large language models, with a priority on
low-resource languages.
• Knowledge Sharing and Skill Development: The MoU
will facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration in AI
 and emerging technologies through workshops,
seminars, conferences, and similar platforms.
6.6 Gene-edited Mustard
Context: Indian scientists have developed the first ever low-
pungent mustard based on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, while
being non-GM and transgene-free.
About Gene-edited Mustard:
• Gene-edited mustard refers to a variety of mustard
plant that has been altered using gene editing
techniques, specifically the CRISPR/Cas9 system.
About CRISPR/Cas9 system:
• CRISPR stands for "Clustered Regularly Interspaced
Short Palindromic Repeats”, it is a gene editing
technology that allows scientists to precisely modify
DNA within living organisms.
• Cas 9: It is an enzyme that acts as molecular scissors,
guided by RNA molecules synthesized to match a specific
DNA sequence.
Process of Gene Editing:
• Specific genes within the mustard plant's DNA are
modified to achieve desired traits, such as reduced
pungency and increased resistance to pests and diseases.
• In it, precise changes to the existing DNA are made
without introducing foreign genes from other species.
• This approach is often considered non-GMO (genetically
modified organism) and transgene-free, as it involves
modifying the plant's own genetic material to achieve
the desired characteristics.
6.7 WHO Report on Tobacco Control
Context: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has
recently released a report on tobacco control measures.
Key Highlights from the Report:
• Global Smoking Decline: No of smokers have decreased
by 300 million globally, dropping from 22.8% in 2007 to
17% in 2021.
• Indoor Smoking Bans: Approximately 40% of countries
have enforced complete bans on smoking in indoor
public spaces to combat second-hand smoke.
• Second-hand Smoke Impact: Out of the estimated 8.7
million tobacco-related deaths annually, 1.3 million are
non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
• Second Hand Smoke: Exposure occurs when people
breathe in smoke breathed out by people who smoke
or from burning tobacco products.
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• MPOWER Measures: Over the past 15 years, MPOWER
measures have extended protection to approximately
5.6 billion people worldwide, covering 71% of the global
population.
 Mauritius serves as a notable example, having fully
implemented all MPOWER measures.
 MPOWER measures: WHO introduced the MPOWER
measures, which assess the implementation of
policies to monitor tobacco use, protect people from
tobacco smoke, provide assistance to quit smoking,
raise awareness about tobacco dangers, enforce
tobacco advertising bans, and increase taxes on
tobacco products.
Single-Pill strategy to Beat Cardiovascular Diseases
Context: In a major policy change, the WHO has recently
included three fixed dose combinations of cardiovascular
medicines or polypills 2023 for use in primary and
secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular
diseases.
Fixed Dose Combinations(FDC): It refers to products
containing one or more active ingredients used for a
particular indication(s). They combine two or more active
drugs in a single dosage form, like a tablet or capsule.
About Polypills:
• Evidence from large randomised-controlled trials shows
that use of the polypill is associated with reduced risks
of cardiovascular events, including fatal and non-fatal
myocardial infarction and stroke.
• The polypill is thus an important low-cost public health
intervention which can prevent over millions of
cardiovascular events and deaths every year.
• The polypill is not a new drug but a drug delivery
mechanism, which improves medication adherence
(because it is a single pill) and saves money by preventing
hospitalisations.
• One of the polypills that has been included in the EML is
Polycap. This four-drug combination includes
simvastatin, ramipril, atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide
along with acetylsalicylic acid or aspirin.
6.8 NavIC Integration into Aadhaar
Enrolment Devices
Context: The Centre has been pushing cell phone makers in
India to make their instruments compatible with NavIC.
More about the news:
• The Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) will
soon be integrated into Aadhaar enrolment devices
according to the Department of Space (DoS).
About NavIC
• ISRO has established a regional navigation satellite
system (NavIC) to meet the positioning, navigation and
timing requirements of the nation.
• It was erstwhile known as Indian Regional Navigation
Satellite System (IRNSS).
• NavIC is designed with:
 Three satellites placed in geostationary orbit. Four
satellites are placed in inclined geosynchronous orbit
with equatorial crossing.
 The ground network: It consists of control centre,
precise timing facility, range and integrity monitoring
stations, etc.
• NavIC offers two services: Standard Position Service
(SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service (RS) for
strategic users.
• NavIC coverage area includes India and a region up to
1500 km beyond Indian boundary.
• NavIC signals are designed to provide user position
accuracy better than 20m and timing accuracy better
than 50ns.
• NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with the other global
navigation satellite system signals namely GPS, Glonass,
Galileo and BeiDou.
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6.9 Pig's Kidney Transplanted into
Humans
Context: American surgeons have reported successful
functioning of a pig kidney transplanted into a brain-dead
human patient's body, with the organ performing effectively
for over a month.
More about the news:
• Pigs are easier to genetically modify. They also breed
better with large litter, grow faster, and are less likely to
transmit infections. The size of their organs is also similar
to humans.
• The transplant involved using a pig kidney that had been
genetically modified to disable a gene responsible for
producing the sugar molecule known as Alpha-gal.
 Alpha-gal is a molecule that is typically absent in
humans, but its presence can trigger a severe immune
reaction in human bodies.
• If found compatible in the long run, this process of
Xenotransplantation, or transplanting organs between
different species, could help provide an alternative and
additional supply of organs for people facing life-
threatening diseases.
6.10 Methylotuvimicrobium Buryatense
5GB1C
Context: According to a new study Methylotuvimicrobium
Buryatense 5GB1C could potentially remove methane from
major emission sites such as landfills, paddy fields, and oil
and gas wells.
Key takeaways of Study:
• The bacterial strain Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense
5GB1C consumes methane , which is over 85 times more
potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) on a 20-year timescale
and responsible for nearly 30 percent of the total global
warming
• Harnessing this bacteria on a large scale can keep 240
million tonnes of methane from reaching the
atmosphere by 2050.
• Global average temperature rise can be reduced 0.21-
0.22 degree Celsius by removing 0.3-1 petagrams of
methane by 2050.
 Petagram: A unit of mass equal to 10^15 grams.
Methanotrophs:
• Methane-eating bacteria, also known as
methanotrophs, are a group of microorganisms that
 have the unique ability to utilize methane as their
primary source of carbon and energy.
• They play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of
methane emissions by converting methane into carbon
dioxide (CO2), which is a less potent greenhouse gas.
• Habitat: wetlands, soils, oceans, and even within the
digestive systems of some animals.
6.11 ICMR Study on Covid
Context:
A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research published
recently said that nearly 6.5% people hospitalized with
Covid-19 died in the following year.
Key Findings of the Study on Post-Covid-19 Outcomes:
SHORT NEWS IN TABLE
The study examined data from 14,419 patients in 31
hospitals.
• 6.5% of those hospitalized with Covid-19 died within a
year.
• A single dose of the vaccine before the infection reduced
the number of deaths in the one-year period by 60%.
• 17.1% of participants reported post-Covid-19
conditions, including fatigue, breathlessness, and
cognitive issues.
 People with post-Covid-19 conditions were nearly
three times more likely to die.
• The study used its own definition of post-Covid-19
conditions due to the absence of official definitions
during patient enrollment.

Translunar Orbit Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft moved into the translunar orbit in the early hours beginning its
journey towards the moon.
• Translunar orbit injection is the process whereby the moon-bound spacecraft has escaped
from orbiting the earth and is now following a path that would take it towards the Moon.

Fediverse • Threads will be the Meta’s first app to join the fediverse - a network of servers operated by
third parties.
• The Fediverse is a group of federated social networking services that work on decentralised
networks operated using open-source standards.
• Essentially, the fediverse is a network of servers run by third parties.
 These servers are not controlled by any one entity and can be used by any member of
social media platforms to facilitate communication between their users.

Project Devika Recently, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; stated
that North India's inaugural River Rejuvenation Project, Devika, is nearing its completion.
About Devika Project:
• Project Cost: Rs 190 crore on the lines of ‘Namami Ganga’,
• Sharing of allocation: 90:10 by the Centre and UT respectively
• constructed by: Devika Rejuvenation Project is being constructed by Urban Environmental
Engineering Department (UEED).
Devika River: It originates from the hilly Suddha Mahadev temple in Udhampur district of
Jammu and Kashmir and flows down towards western Punjab (now in Pakistan) where it merges
with the Ravi river.

Luna-25 • Russia’s space agency Roscosmos launched the Luna-25 from Russia’s Vostochny spaceport.
• Its lunar lander is expected to reach the moon on August 23, the same day on which
Chandrayaan-3 is expected to land on the lunar surface too.
• Roscosmos says there is enough space on the moon for everyone and it is open to India’s
participation in the International Scientific Lunar Station.

National Space Innovation Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Indian Space Research
Challenge 2023 (NSIC 2023) Organisation (ISRO) and Navars Edutech successfully launched the NSIC 2023 on August 11,
2023 for all school students across the country.

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 • NSIC 2023 is a National-level campaign designed for space enthusiasts to understand and
contribute towards growing the Indian space economy and future space workforce.
• Goal: Fostering innovation and curiosity among school students across the nation, NSIC is
open for all the school students across the country.

Demon Particle Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered a massless particle, dubbed the "demon
particle."
• The prediction of demon particle was first made by theoretical physicist David Pines in 1956,
who believed that electrons would behave strangely when passed through a solid.
• It is a transparent, massless, and neutral particle, with the capacity to manifest regardless
of temperature, making it useful for superconductors.

Nanomechanical Testing An Indian scientist develops a novel method to improve accuracy and precision of
Technology nanomechanical testing technology.
• Nanomechanical Testing Technology refers to the set of techniques to study the mechanical
properties of materials at the nanometer scale.
• It allows researchers to investigate how materials behave and respond to mechanical forces
on extremely small dimensions, providing insights into their unique properties and
behaviors.

India’s First 3d-Printed Post Recently, India's first 3D-printed post office inaugurated in Bengaluru's Cambridge Layout.
Office • Built by: Larsen & Toubro Limited with technological support from IIT Madras.
• About 3D Printing: 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process that
involves creating three-dimensional objects layer by layer.
• Material Used: Wax or plastic-like polymers
• Notable Example:
 Aerospace Innovation: In May, aerospace manufacturer Relativity Space achieved a
significant milestone by launching a test rocket constructed entirely from 3D-printed
parts.

Shortage of TB Drugs India is facing an acute shortage of tuberculosis drugs, including medicines used for treating
drug-resistant TB such as Linezolid, Clofazimine, and Cycloserine.
About Tuberculosis (TB):
• TB is a bacterial infection caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis that
usually affects the lungs.
• Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is given to babies or small children to prevent TB.

Voyager Mission NASA detected a signal from its Voyager 2 spacecraft on August 1, after losing communication
for over a week.
About Voyager Mission:
• It is a space exploration program conducted by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space
Administration) that launched two spacecraft, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, in 1977.
 Voyager 1: Sept 5, 1977
 Voyager 2: August 20, 1977
• Objective: To study the outer planets of our solar system, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
and Neptune.

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7. DEFENCE AND SECURITY
7.1 Border Disputes of India
Context:
Recently, two Major General-level talks between India and China were held on August 18 as a follow-up to the 19th round of
Corps Commander-level talks held earlier this week.
More on the News:
• General level talks were held at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) and
Chushul along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh
for resolving the existing friction points.
 The two countries have been locked in a border conflict for
more than three years after fierce clash in the Galwan Valley
in June 2020.
• India and China have Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points at
Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in eastern Ladakh.
 DBO lies close to the Depsang
Plains where Chinese PLA troops
have continued to deny access to
the patrolling points in the area
from 2020.
 Chushsul lies close to the south
bank of Pangong Tso, where
Indian troops in a surprise
operation in 2020 had occupied
several heights.
• The two sides agreed to resolve the
remaining issues along the LAC in
the Ladakh sector in a speedy
manner through continued
dialogue.
India-China Border Dispute
• Border Dispute: India’s border
dispute with China is the most
complex and longstanding one,
involving an ill-defined, 3,440 km-
long Line of Actual Control (LAC)
that runs along the Himalayan
region.
 The dispute stems from the
legacy of British colonialism and
the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
 The two countries have had
several clashes and stand-offs
along the LAC, most notably in
1967, 1987, 2013, 2017 and
2020-2021.

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• The latest conflict in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 was the first fatal confrontation between the two sides since 1975, killing
at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
 The two countries have also been competing to build infrastructure and assert their claims along the border, which has
increased the risk of escalation.
About India Border Dispute and Challenges
• Location: India is located in a strategic position in South Asia and occupies a dominant position in the Indian Ocean.
 India has a coastline of 7516.6 km and 1382 small and big offshore islands.
 India has a total land frontier of approximately 15,200 km, with 7 neighbouring countries: China, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Afghanistan.
• India’s border with Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar are considered open borders.
• Constraint in Peaceful Border: India’s internal security is invariably linked with the security of India’s borders especially when
India faces adversary in its Northern and Western Sector.
Existing Border Dispute Settlement Mechanisms with neighbors such as:
• Bilateral talks: India has engaged in direct talks with its neighboring countries to resolve border disputes.
 For example, India and China have held several rounds of talks to resolve their long-standing border dispute.
• Joint committees: India has set up joint committees with its neighboring countries to discuss and resolve border disputes.
• Agreements: India has signed agreements with its neighboring countries to maintain peace and tranquility along the border.
 For example, India and China signed the Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual
Control in 1993.
• International organizations: India has sought the involvement of international organizations such as the United Nations to
facilitate peaceful resolutions to border disputes.
 For example, India has raised the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir at the Department of Border Management (BM),
UN. Ministry of Home Affairs
• It coordinates with various stakeholders to
Successful Border Settlement ensure the security of the borders.
• India- Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Agreements: Katchatheevu Island • It has undertaken construction of fences,
 It is a disputed territory between Sri Lanka and India, claimed until 1976 flood lights and roads along the India-Pakistan
by India, and administered by Sri Lanka at the moment. and India-Bangladesh borders.
 In 1974, Indian Prime Minister signed four Maritime Boundary Agreements • Development of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs)
between 1974-76 with Sri Lankan President, and ceded Katchatheevu at various locations on the international
borders of the country, construction of
Island to Sri Lanka.
strategic roads along India-China, India-Nepal
 The Tamil Nadu government refuses to accept this agreement. and India-Bhutan borders have also been
• India-Bangladesh land boundary agreement, 2015 undertaken by the Department.
 It resolved several major border disputes between the two countries.
 It allowed for the exchange of enclaves, with India transferring 111 enclaves to Bangladesh and receiving 51 in return.
 It resolved the issue of adverse possessions, where both countries had been occupying each other's territory without legal
ownership.
Way Forward:
• Non-lethal Strategy: Humane approach towards border guarding and ensuring right to life of the border population.
 Smooth movement of people and trade can be implemented by adopting technologies like use of Biometric data (facial
recognition) which is used at smart borders to identify people and run random security checks.
• Electronic Sensors: Responsive intelligence network, supported by disruptive technologies like AI powered data bases, will
enable smooth and monitored movement of people and trade along the borders.
 Command Centres: Utilize cognitive analytics and AI/ML for behavior prediction and quick interception.
• Drones and Counter Drones: Procurement of indigenous drones and develop counter drone technology for detection and
interception.

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• Anti-Smuggling Syndicate Measures: Establish synergy between stakeholders for prosecution and deportation of transborder
criminals.
• Budgeting: Increase capital outlays three to four times to modernize and adopt smart border management solutions.
PRELIMS:
7.2 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) reviewed so that these organisations cannot be
Context: FATF is looking to revise its current abused for the financing of terrorism.
recommendations aimed at safeguarding non-profit About Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
organizations (NPO) from being abused for terrorist • FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989
financing. during the G7 Summit in Paris to develop policies against
More on News: money laundering.Participation:
• At its October 2023 plenary, the FATF will take up • Secretariat: Paris, France.
proposals to revise the FATF Standards’ • Members:
Recommendation 8 on non-profits, and its interpretive  The FATF currently has 39 members, including two
note, and also adopt an updated best practices paper on regional organisations: the European Commission,
this issue. and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
 FATF Recommendation : It requires that the laws and  India became an Observer at FATF in 2006. On June
regulations that govern non-profit organisations be 25, 2010 India was taken in as the 34th country
member of FATF.
SHORT NEWS IN TABLE:
Assam Rifles Context: The Assam Rifles responsible for overseeing the "buffer zones" between regions dominated by the
Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities in Manipur, is encountering opposition from the Meitei population.
About Assam Rifles:
• Mandate: The Assam Rifles (AR) is a central paramilitary force responsible for border security, counter-
insurgency, and maintaining law and order in Northeast India.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs, Operational Control: The Indian Army

Maya The Ministry of Defence has decided to replace the Microsoft Operating System (OS) with a new Operating
Operating System- Maya.
System • It is based on open-source Ubuntu developed locally.
• It is being done amid increasing cyber and malware attacks on defense as well as critical infrastructure
across the country.

SWATHI Recently, the Indian Army inducted the lighter and more compact version of the indigenously developed
Mountains Weapon Locating Radar (WLR-M) called "Swathi Mountains."
• Developed by: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
• The Swathi radar comes in two versions: the Swathi Plains (WLR) and the Swathi Mountains (WLR-M)

LAUNCH OF Y - A Project 17A Frigate named Vindhyagiri (6th ship of frigate) was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders
3024 and Engineers Limited, Kolkata.
(VINDHYAGIRI) • Project 17A: It was launched by the Indian Navy to construct a series of stealth guided-missile frigates.
• These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved stealth
features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.

NDMA Starts The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has started testing the emergency cell broadcast
Testing Cell technology developed by C-DOT that will alert people at the time of natural disaster.
Broadcast • The technology is currently available only with a foreign vendor and hence C-DOT is developing it in-
Technology house.
• The trials will be conducted at the pan-India level.

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8. SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
8.1 Manual Scavenging Menace in India
Context: Recently, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment revealed that only 508 districts out of the total 766
districts in the country have declared themselves manual-scavenging free.
More about the News:
• Elimination: Central Government has set August, 2023 as a
deadline for declaring India manual scavenging free.
• 1/3rd District yet to Declare: About 246 districts in the country
have yet to declare themselves free of manual scavenging.
 In Madhya Pradesh, 35 out of 52 districts have not submitted
the report, while 21 out of 36 districts in Maharashtra are yet to
declare themselves manual scavenging free.
 State with 100% of districts free of manual scavenging: Bihar,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu etc
• Lack of State Commission: 14 states/UTs do not have state
commissions for safai karamcharis.
• Mortality: According to government data, as many as 339 people
have died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in India in the
last five years.
• State Ranking: Highest number of manual scavengers were identified in Uttar Pradesh, at 20,884, followed by Maharashtra,
Uttarakhand, Assam, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
About Manual Scavengers:
• Manual Scavengers: A person who has been employed to
handle the manual cleaning, disposing, carrying of human
excreta from a railway track, insanitary latrine, open
drain or pit is considered to be a manual scavenger.
• Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually
cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in any manner,
human excreta.
• Human Right Violation: Manual scavenging violates basic
human dignity and Right to Life under Article 21 of Indian
Constitution.
 It represents some of the worst surviving forms of both
caste discrimination and dehumanizing forms of work.
Challenges in Eliminating the Menace of Manual Scavenging
in India:
• Lack of watery Restrooms: The most common restroom in
cities is the dry restroom, which is a key contributor to
manual scavenging.
 Majority of toilets in our country, nearly 60 per cent,
are not linked to sewer lines. Their septic tanks require manual cleaning.
• Caste Bias: Manual scavenging has been linked to specific castes and communities, which has led to societal stigmatisation
and prejudice against those who indulge in it.
 Over 90% of manual scavengers identified in the surveys till 2018, were from Scheduled Caste communities.

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• Failure of laws: While laws and regulations have been put in place to prohibit manual scavenging, their implementation has
been poor in many areas.
 According to a report by WaterAid India, manual scavenging undermines the achievement of several Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), such as clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), decent work and economic growth (Goal 8),
and reduced inequalities (Goal 10).
• Indifferent Attitude: Several state governments are reluctant to acknowledge that the practice persists under their
supervision.
 In the Lok Sabha, the Union Ministry of Social Justice stated that ‘there is no report of deaths due to manual scavenging’.
 However, according to the ministry in 2022, there were about 58,000 manual scavengers and 330 of them had died
between 2017 and 2021.
“National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem”
• Ineffective Rehabilitation Strategies: People have had difficulty
(NAMASTE) Scheme”
locating other sources of income since many rehabilitation plans
• It was launched in 2022 as a Central Sector Scheme.
have not been successfully implemented.
• The scheme is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of
Way Forward: Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Social
• Use of Technology: Promoting cutting-edge sewage Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE).
management technologies, to lessen the need for manual • It aims to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank cleaning
practices.
scavenging and make the workplace safer for sanitation
personnel. • Objective: To stop deaths of Sewers and Septic Tank
Workers (SSWs) and to promote mechanisation of cleaning
 Deployment of Bandicoot Robot: It is the world’s first
operations with a vision to reduce hazardous cleaning and
robotic scavenger, developed as a Make in India and Swachh ensure safety of sanitation workers.
Bharat Abhiyan initiative by startup Genrobotics. • Main features of Scheme to be implemented in all ULBs:-
• Skill Development: Education and employment, manual  Identification: NAMASTE envisages identifying the
scavengers need education and job opportunities from the Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
government to quit..  Occupational Training and distribution of PPE Kits to
• Changing societal attitudes: The government must attempt to SSWs.
combat the stigma attached to manual scavengers and influence  Assistance for Safety Devices to Sanitation Response
Units (SRUs).
how society views these workers.
 Extending Health Insurance Scheme Benefits to
• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2021, made identified SSWs and their families under the Ayushman
recommendation to the Centre to eradicate manual scavenging: Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
 Bringing a new Act on “hazardous cleaning” and taking  Livelihood Assistance: The Action Plan will promote
strict action against local authorities who employ people as mechanization and enterprise development by
manual scavengers. providing funding support and subsidy (capital
 Expand the meaning of "manual scavenging" to include +interest) to the sanitation workers, to procure
sanitation related equipment.
other categories of "hazardous cleaning," or create a new
legal framework for it.
 To stop the harassment and prejudice experienced by women manual scavengers and the children of manual scavengers,
a penal clause may be added to the law.
 The rehabilitation process for manual scavengers may be connected to programmes like MNREGA that allow them to
start earning money right away and check in periodically to see how they and their families are doing;
 Compensation: The one-time cash assistance provided to compensate manual scavengers may be increased from Rs.
40,000 to Rs. 1 lakh.
 National Crime Research Bureau (NCRB) to keep track of the data in its report and the sewer deaths;
 Financial Aid: For each State, the Union Finance Ministry may nominate a certain nationalised bank to assume the
obligation of providing loans to manual scavengers and their dependents in the amount of up to Rs. 10,00,000.
 Training: Training and financial aid from the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
to help them begin working in the sanitation sector.

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8.2 Estimation of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)/ Divyangjan
Context: According to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, the Union government has
failed to accurately estimate the current population of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the country.
About PwDs (Divyangjan):
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 defines “Person
with Benchmark Disability” as “A person with not less than
40% of a specified disability”.
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (UN CRPD) defines “Persons with disabilities
include those people having long term physical, mental,
intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with
various barriers may hinder their full and effective
participation in society on an equal basis with others“.
 According to 2011 census estimated that the number of
people with disabilities in India is close to 2.68 crore (or
2.2% of the population).
 As per the National Statistics Office report 2021, about
2.2% of India’s population lives with some kind of physical
or mental disability.
✓ Rural men had the highest prevalence of disability in
India.
Key Challenges Faced by PwD in India are:
• Inadequate infrastructure: Many public buildings, spaces, and
transportation systems in India are not designed to be
accessible. This includes lack of ramps, lifts, and accessible toilets. Salient Feature of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016:
• Poor implementation of accessibility guidelines: Although there • Coverage Expansion: There are now 21 different sorts of
are guidelines for making buildings and spaces accessible, they are disabilities, up from the previous seven, and the Central
often not implemented properly. Government is empowered to add additional.
• Lack of assistive technology: Access to assistive technology, such • Reservation: Benefits including reservations in higher
as hearing aids and mobility aids, is limited in India, making it education, government positions, land allocation, poverty
alleviation programmes, etc.
difficult for Divyangjan to perform daily tasks.
• Limited access to information and communication: Persons with • Inclusive Education: Every kid with a baseline impairment
between the ages of 6 and 18 has the right to free education.
visual and hearing impairments often face challenges in accessing
• Central & State Advisory Boards on Disability are to be
information and communication due to the lack of Braille signage,
established in order to act as the top policy-making bodies at
sign language interpretation, and audio descriptions. the Central and State levels.
• Attitudinal barriers: They often face discrimination and stigma due • National and State Funds: To help people with disabilities
to negative attitudes and stereotypes held by society. This can limit financially.
their opportunities and participation in society. • Penalty: It stipulates fines for crimes against people with
disabilities as well as contraventions of the new law's rules.
Initiative Taken by Government to Support PwDs:
• Special Courts: To address instances involving the violation
• Indian Constitution: Indian Government is under obligation to
of PwDs' rights, Special Courts will be established in each
provide for better living conditions to Pwds in India under Indian district.
Constitution.
 Article 21: No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law.
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: It is the disability legislation passed by the Indian Parliament to fulfil its obligation
to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which India ratified in 2007.

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• Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing / fitting of aids /
appliances (ADIP) scheme: It is implemented through
implementing agencies such as the NGOs, National Institutes
under this Ministry and ALIMCO (a PSU).
• Unique Disability ID, or UDID: It would help create a national
database for PwDs.
• Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan): It aims
to make public spaces, transportation, and information and
communication technologies (ICT) accessible to PwDs.
Way Forward
• Promoting inclusive education for children with disabilities in
regular schools, and providing them with adequate support,
resources, and training.
• Enhancing the accessibility of physical environment,
transportation, information and communication, technology
and services for persons with disabilities, and removing any
barriers or obstacles that hinder their participation and
inclusion.
• Increasing the opportunities and incentives for vocational
training, skill development, self-employment, and formal
employment for persons with disabilities, and ensuring non-
discrimination and equal pay in the labor market.
• Providing social security benefits, healthcare services,
insurance schemes, rehabilitation programs, and other welfare
measures for persons with disabilities, and ensuring their affordability and quality.
• Supporting research and innovation in the field of disability, and promoting the dissemination and exchange of best practices
and knowledge on disability inclusion.
• Implementing and enforcing the existing laws and policies that protect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities,
such as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Draft National Policy for Persons with Disabilities, 2022.
• Highlight of Draft National Policy for Persons with
Disabilities in India:
 It aims to recognize and respect the rights of persons
with disabilities and promote their full and effective
participation in society.
 It emphasizes the need for equal access to education,
employment, healthcare, and other services for persons
with disabilities.
 It focuses on creating an inclusive and barrier-free
environment that enables persons with disabilities to
live independently and participate fully in all aspects of
life.
 It seeks to promote research and development of
assistive technologies and other innovative solutions to
support persons with disabilities.
The Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF)
• It is a regional framework for action that provides policy
recommendations for governments and stakeholders in
Asia and the Pacific to achieve an inclusive, barrier-free
and rights-based society for persons with disabilities in the
decade 2003-2012.
Incheon Strategy
• Adopted by United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in 2012, with
the aim of promoting disability-inclusive development in
the Asia-Pacific region.

8.3 Women in Armed Conflict

Context:
The recent horrifying sexual violence against Kuki-Zomi women by majority Meiteis, in Manipur’s ethnic clashes between the
two communities, has yet again woken the country up to the vulnerability of women’s bodies during a conflict.
History of Violence Against Women in Armed Conflict in India:
• Women have historically endured numerous unintended consequences and violence as victims during communal riots,
conflicts, and wars.
 These incidents are a reflection of the deeply ingrained patriarchal norms present in various societies, which often result
in women being disproportionately affected.
Impact of Conflict on Women:
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV): War and GBV are undeniably interlinked, with women and children being exposed to physical,
verbal, sexual, and psychological abuse in times of conflict.
 It is used as a tool in war to assert control, weaken families, carry out ethnic cleansings and genocide, and to discourage
resistance and destabilise communities.
 According to a 2019 Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (Acled) report, in both 2018 and 2019, India was
amongst the top countries where women are highly vulnerable against conflict related sexual violence.

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  In Afghanistan, 62% of women have experienced all three forms of gender-based violence (GBV): psychological, physical,
and sexual abuse.
• Displacement: Women often bear the sole responsibility and risk of getting their families and themselves out of harm’s way.
 According to UNHCR, more than half of the planet’s 80
Past Instances of violence towards women:
million displaced people are women and children.
• Partition of India (1947): Women from both sides became victims
• Rise in child marriage: War disrupts economies, supply of sexual violence, abduction, and forced conversion.
chains, and agricultural production, it often leads to  Estimates suggest that tens of thousands of women were
raped, sexually assaulted, or brutally killed during this
widespread poverty and hunger.
partition.
 Consequently, rates of child marriage go up as families • Bangladesh Liberation War (1971): During the conflict, numerous
become desperate for additional income or one less women were subjected to systematic sexual violence, including
mouth to feed. rape, abduction, and forced prostitution.
 It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of women were
• Limited Access to Health Care: Hospitals and clinics are victimised, and brutality was perpetrated by soldiers from the
often demolished during war and access to health care can Pakistani military.
become painfully limited. • Rohingya Crisis (2017-present): The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar
resulted in a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims to neighbouring
 In some conflicts, up to 90 % of casualties are among countries.
civilians, most of whom are women and children.  Women were subjected to horrific sexual violence, including
• Gender discrimination: Armed conflict exacerbates gang rape, as part of the military's campaign against them.
 These acts of violence have left deep emotional and physical
inequalities between women and men, and discrimination scars on the victims and continue to be a severe human rights
against women and girls. concern.
 It can lead to inequitable distribution of
food to women and girls, causing
malnutrition and other health problems.
• Girls’ Education: In conflict and crisis, girls are
often the first to be pulled out of school, and the
last to return.
 According to Global Partnership for
Education, girls facing conflict are 2.5 times
more likely to be out of school than boys, and
are less likely to return following a ceasefire.
• Economic Exploitation: Post conflict, women
often get engaged in labour markets that involve
low-paid, self-employment in the informal
sector and family labour, which often go
unnoticed.
 Women perform 66 % of the world’s work,
produce 50 % of the food, but earn 10 % of
the income and own 1 % of the property.
• Oppression: In India’s Northeast region, which
has witnessed insurgency and armed conflict for
decades, women have been affected by human
rights violations, loss of family support,
economic hardship, and social stigma.
 J&K Chief Minister in 2013 admitted to
registering more than 5000 cases of rape
since 1989 armed rebellion against Indian
rule began.

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International Efforts to Prevent Exploitation of Women in Armed Conflict
• Article 27 of Geneva Conventions (1949): Women are entitled to special protection against any attack on their honor,
particularly rape, enforced prostitution, or indecent assault.
• UNSC Resolution 1325: It emphasizes the crucial role of women in conflict prevention, resolution, peace negotiations, peace-
building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction.
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW):It obliges its signatories to eliminate
discrimination against women and promote gender equality.
• Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC): It recognizes sexual violence as a war crime and a crime against
humanity.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): To ensure that women and girls are protected from sexual violence and
other forms of gender-based violence during armed conflicts.
Way Forward
• Increase the participation of women in conflict resolution at decision-making levels and peacebuilding efforts, as well as in
post-conflict reconstruction and development.
 In 2020, women represented only 23% of delegations in UN-supported peace processes, according to UN Women.
• Provide protection, assistance and training to refugee women, other displaced women in need of international protection
and internally displaced women.
• Supporting women’s economic empowerment and livelihood opportunities, especially for those who are widowed,
displaced, or heads of households.
• Improving women’s access to health care, education, water, sanitation, food, and shelter, taking into account their specific
needs and vulnerabilities.
• Providing psychosocial support and counseling to women and girls who suffer from trauma, stress, or grief due to armed
conflict.
• Promoting women’s legal rights and access to justice, especially for those who face discrimination, violence, or exploitation.
• Respecting women’s cultural and religious practices, and ensuring their freedom of movement and expression.
• Raise awareness about the impact of armed conflict on women and girls.
8.4 Jal Jeevan Mission
Context:
A recent research project conducted by IIM-Bangalore, with technical assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO),
has performed an extensive examination of the employment generation prospects of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
More on News:
• The estimated generation of 2.82 crore person-year employment includes 59.93 lakh person-year of direct employment
during the construction phase of JJM.
• An additional 2.22 crore person-year of indirect employment was generated through manpower engaged in production of
the materials such as pipes, valves, pumps etc.
• Almost 40% of the direct employment created is i.e., 23.8 lakh person-year, is estimated to be on account of engagement of
engineers, managers, plumbers, electricians, motor mechanics and chemists etc.
• Direct Employment: Almost 40% of the direct employment created is i.e., 23.8 lakh person-year, is estimated to be on account
of engagement of engineers, managers, plumbers, electricians, motor mechanics and chemists etc.
 Additionally, 11.84 lakh person-years of direct employment has been estimated during the Operations & Maintenance
(O&M) phase every year.
• Indirect Employment: 59.9 Lakh Person-Years Direct And 2.2 Crore Person-Year Indirect Employment Through Creation Of
JJM Assets – IIM report
• Associated Employment: In the form of associated/allied employment, JJM provided employment such as transportation and
long-term engagement for operation & maintenance of piped water supply systems and assets being created in the country.

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Need of Jal Jeevan Mission:
• Rising Water Demand: India is among the top-10 water-rich
countries in the world, with access to about 4% of the world's
water resources.
 India's rapid population expansion, urbanization, and rising
living standards have resulted in high water demand
throughout the country.
 As per Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, 135 litre per
capita per day (lpcd) has been suggested as the benchmark
for urban water supply. For rural areas, a minimum service
delivery of 55 lpcd has been fixed under Jal Jeevan Mission,
which may be enhanced to a higher level by states.
 The average annual per capita water availability in the year
2011 has been assessed as 1545 cubic meters.
• Reducing Burden on Women: Lack of convenient water supply
burdens women and girls, who spend significant time collecting
water.
 The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to relieve this and promote
gender equality through functional tap connections.
• Countering Water-Borne Diseases: Ensuring safe and clean
drinking water is crucial to combat waterborne diseases.
 For Example: As per UNICEF, each year, 829,000 people die
from diseases directly attributable to unsafe water,
inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices.
• Linking WASH with SDGs: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
(WASH) are integral to achieving several Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
 The Jal Jeevan Mission's efforts align with the global goal of
providing universal access to safe and affordable drinking
water and improved sanitation by 2030.
 SDG 6.0 advocates for ensuring access to water and sanitation
for all.
• As per the NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index
(CWMI) 2018, 21 Indian cities could face Day Zero in the coming
years.
 Day Zero refers to the day when a place is likely to have no
drinking water of its own. Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi and
Hyderabad are among the most susceptible.
• Impact on Child Nutrition: Lack of safe water contributes to
malnutrition in children, leading to stunting and wasting.
 The Jal Jeevan Mission's focus on clean water supply directly
contributes to improving child nutrition and health outcomes.
 As per the Global Hunger Index 2022 report, prevalence of
undernourishment in the population stands at 16.3%, child stunting is at 35.5%, child wasting is at 19.3% and child
mortality rate is 3.3%.

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Challenges Impeding the 2024 Har Ghar Jal Goal:
• Russia-Ukraine war: It resulted in “major shortages of steel and
cement, critical to the manufacture and connection of metal
pipes”.
• Lack of Skilled Manpower: The lack of skilled manpower to make
acceptable quality tanks, cisterns and water connections is also a
major issue.
• Caste Based Discrimination: A research study by the National
Dalit Watch titled, “Droughts, Dalits and Adivasis”, in 2022
surveyed Marathwada’s 2,207 Dalits and Adivasis of 10 villages of
Osmanabad and Kallam blocks.
 The study found that 72% did not have adequate water for
drinking and hygiene, while 56% SCs and 48% STs reported
experiencing untouchability.
• Poor Water Quality: Local reports suggest that despite having a
tap connection, several village households revert to their local
groundwater resources as the quality of supplied tap water is
inadequate.
• Infrastructure and Connectivity: Many rural areas lack proper
infrastructure and connectivity, making it challenging to establish
functional household tap connections (FHTCs) for water supply.
• Technical Expertise: Implementing modern water supply
technologies requires skilled personnel, and there can be a
shortage of technical expertise at the local level.
Way Forward:
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Explore opportunities for
PPPs to leverage private sector expertise and resources for
efficient implementation and maintenance of water supply
systems.
• Financial Sustainability: Develop a sustainable financing model
that combines government funding, community contributions,
user fees, and other revenue sources to ensure the ongoing
operation and maintenance of water supply infrastructure.
• Institutional Strengthening: Strengthen local governance
institutions responsible for water supply management, ensuring
their capacity to plan, implement, and manage systems
effectively.
• Liasoning With States: The Centre should liaise better with States
that are falling behind in targets and ensure that the
infrastructure created as part of the scheme is long lasting.
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Composite Water Management Index (CWMI)
The CWMI is a tool to assess and improve the performance of
states and union territories in efficient management of water
resources.
Various reports/ case study about JJM:
• The WHO report estimates that ensuring safely managed
drinking water for all households in the country could avert
nearly 400,000 deaths caused by diarrheal diseases and
prevent approximately 14 million Disability Adjusted Life
Years (DALYs) related to these diseases.
 DALYs for a disease or health condition are the sum of
the years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLLs)
and the years lived with a disability (YLDs) due to
prevalent cases of the disease or health condition in a
population
• 'Swachh Jal se Suraksha' report prepared by the Water
Quality division of National Jal Jeevan Mission.
 It is based on the activities undertaken during the 6-
month campaign, launched by the Union Minister on
2nd October 2022, to test the quality of water available
at the source and water supplied at delivery point under
'Har Ghar Jal'.
• "From Water Scarcity to Self-Sustainability: Barpara
Village's Journey with Jal Jeevan Mission:
 In 2021, the Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood
(CML), Tata Trust initiated works related to the Jal
Jeevan Mission as an Implementation Support Agency
(ISA).
 A new Piped Water Supply System (PWSS) was planned
and executed under JJM to provide household tap
connections.
 Presently, The Barpara Public Water Supply System
(PWSS) sustains a reliable water supply by using a
borewell as its permanent source of groundwater.
Collaboration at Various Levels to make JJM Success:
• United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) through
its work in 4 States viz., Rajasthan, Tamil Nādu, Uttar
Pradesh and Assam, is strengthening institutional delivery
for planning, implementation and management of
community-based piped water supply systems in ensuring
‘Speed & Scale’.
• QCI water quality Assurance: To guarantee the availability
of the prescribed quality of drinking water, a target had
been set by the Centre to establish a Water Testing
Laboratory in all blocks of the country by 2023.
Q. What are the primary objectives and needs addressed by
the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), and how does it aim to
improve access to clean and safe drinking water in India?
PRELIMS:
8.5 National Curriculum Framework for
School Education (NCF-SE)
Context: The Union Minister for Education and Skill
Development & Entrepreneurship released the National
Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE),
marking a step towards the implementation of National
Education Policy.
About National Curriculum Framework for School
Education (NCF-SE):
• The National Curriculum Framework for School
Education (NCF-SE) is the curriculum framework for the
5+3+3+4 design of schooling as proposed by the
National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020).
 NCF has been drafted by the union government-
appointed national steering committee headed by K
Kasturirangan.
• The National Education Policy 2020 and the NCF, are not
binding on the states.
 NEP is a policy that states are free to adopt, while the
NCF provides guidelines on how school education
should be conducted in classrooms.
• The entire curriculum framework for all the four stages –
Foundational Stage, Preparatory Stage, Middle Stage,
and Secondary Stage was released.
• Applicability: For students of grade 9 and above starting
from the 2024-25 academic session.
8.6 Intensified Mission Indradhanush
(IMI) 5.0
Context: Recently, the Immunization drive Intensified
Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0, began in Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu.
About Mission Indradhanush:
• It was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) on 25th December 2014.
• It is a special catch-up campaign under the Universal
Immunization Program (UIP), conducted in the areas of
low immunization coverage to vaccinate all the children
and pregnant women left out or dropped out from
Routine Immunization.
Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0
• Coverage: It focuses on reaching zero-dose children
aged between 0-5 years and pregnant women.
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• It aims to eliminate measles and rubella by ensuring that
every child under 5 years of age has completed the two-
dose schedule of Measles and Rubella Containing
Vaccine (MRCV)
8.7 WHO’s first Global Summit on
Traditional Medicine
Context: Recently, the first World Health Organization
Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was inaugurated at
Gandhinagar, Gujarat alongside the G20 Health Ministers
meet.
What is Traditional Medicine?
• Traditional Medicine refers to healing practices,
knowledge, and approaches that have been passed
down through generations within various cultures and
societies.
 For Example: Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani,
Siddha, Sowa Rigpa.
• It encompasses a wide range of health and wellness
practices that are rooted in traditional beliefs,
experiences, and cultural heritage.
WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM):
• It is a knowledge centre for traditional medicine located
in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• It has a strategic focus on evidence and learning, data
and analytics, sustainability and equity, and innovation
and technology to optimise the contribution of
traditional medicine to global health and sustainable
development.
8.8 Global Initiative for Digital Health
(GIDH)
Context: India in collaboration with the World Health
Organization (WHO) will launch the Global Initiative on
Digital Health on August 19 as part of the ongoing G-20
summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
About Global Initiative for Digital Health (GIDH):
• Aim: The first-of-its-kind global initiative is aimed at data
convergence, the interface of health platforms and
investments in the digital health space around the globe.
• Significance:
 It has been envisaged to have a convergent approach
that breaks the silos and ensures that existing and
ongoing digital health efforts can be made accessible
under one umbrella.
  It will include an investment tracker, an ask tracker
(to understand who needs what kind of products and
services) and a library of existing digital health
platforms.
 It will aid in universal health convergence and
improve healthcare service delivery. The initiative
has also found funding from global partners.
8.9 National Food Security Act (NFSA)
Context: The latest data available with the Ministry of
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution shows that
the state governments can identify 1.24 crore more
beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Key Points about NFSA:
• Scope of Beneficiaries: The NFSA aims to cover up to
75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban
population, totaling around 81.35 crore persons.
• Current Beneficiaries: As of July 19, 2023, the states and
UTs have identified 80.11 crore beneficiaries under
NFSA.
• Additional Beneficiaries: There is scope to identify 1.24
crore more beneficiaries across 21 states and UTs.
• Entitlement: Eligible households receive 5 kilograms of
foodgrains per person per month at subsidized prices
specified in the schedule.
• Free Foodgrains: Under NFSA, eligible beneficiaries can
buy foodgrains at subsidized rates—rice at Rs 3/kg,
wheat at Rs 2/kg, and nutri-cereals at Rs 1/kg.
 Last year, The government decided to provide
foodgrains free of cost to eligible households for a
year.
8.10 Paharis and Paddaris: Proposed ST
status
Context: The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled
Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to include
“Gadda Brahmin”, “Koli”, “Paddari Tribe”, and “Pahari
Ethnic Group” in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Jammu
and Kashmir.
Pahari Ethnic Group:
• The Paharis are Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, and include
people of Kashmiri origin who settled in the districts of
Rajouri and Poonch.
• There are upper caste Hindus among the Paharis; also
people who were displaced from Pakistan Occupied
Kashmir.
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Paddari Tribe:
• They live in the remote Paddar area of the hilly Kishtwar
district.
• The 2011 census recorded the Paddari population at
21,548, comprising 83.6% Hindus, 9.5% Buddhists, and
6.8% Muslims.
9.11 State of Elementary Education in
Rural India report
Context: Recently, Union Education Minister Dharmendra
Pradhan launched the first State of Elementary Education
in Rural India report.
Key Highlight of the Report:
• Pan-India survey was conducted by the Development
Intelligence Unit (DIU), across 6,229 rural households in
20 states, focussing on 6 to 16-year-old children in rural
communities.
• Drop Outs: Dropout rate for female children is high at
35 per cent, due to the need to contribute to the
family's earnings.
 A higher proportion of both boys and girls dropped
out of school after completing the primary school
education (75 per cent for boys and 65 per cent for
girls).
• Increased access to smartphones: Nearly half, 49.3
percent of students in rural India have access to
smartphones.
8.12 Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development
Mission
Context: The Government in Budget 2023-24 made an
announcement of Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development
Mission.
About the Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission:
• Aim: To improve socio-economic conditions of the
particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) with basic
facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and
sanitation and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
• Fund Allocation: The mission envisages availability of
Rs.15,000 crore from the Development Action Plan for
the Scheduled Tribes, for activities to be undertaken in
the next three years under the Mission.
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Who are PVTGs?
• A particularly vulnerable tribal group or PVTG is a section
of a Scheduled Tribe that is considered more vulnerable
than a regular Scheduled Tribe.
• Basic characteristics: They are mostly homogenous, with
a small population, relatively physically isolated, social
institutes cast in a simple mold, absence of written
language, relatively simpler technology and a slower rate
of change,etc.
8.13 WHO on Cough Syrup
Context: Recently, World Health Organisation (WHO)
issued an alert over a batch of India-made common cold
syrup sold in Iraq.
More on the News:
• According to WHO, syrup had a higher than acceptable
limit of contaminants: diethylene and ethylene glycol,
• In its medical product alert, the WHO said the batch of
the syrup had 0.25 per cent of diethylene glycol and 2.1
per cent of ethylene glycol, when the acceptable safety
limit for both of them is up to 0.10 per cent.
• Dangerous effects of Diethylene glycol and ethylene
glycol: They can prove fatal for humans on
consumption.
SHORT NEWS IN TABLE:
 The contaminated batch use, especially in children,
may result in serious injury or death.
 Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting,
diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered
mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead
to death.
 According to WHO, till now, five "contaminated"
syrups involving Indian manufacturers have come
under scrutiny.
• Past Instances: Previously, Indian-made cough syrups
have been linked to the death of dozens of children in
Uzbekistan and Gambia, prompting the government to
tighten the export policy for cough syrups.
 It is now mandatory to test before supplying to other
countries.
• Need for Tough Regulation: Pharmaceutical exports
from India rose by 3.25 per cent in the last fiscal, reaching
USD 25.4 billion, and are expected to grow by
approximately 6.3 per cent in the ongoing fiscal year,
reaching the USD 27 billion mark.

The Indian Council of The ICSSR plans to develop “Indianised research methodology tools” to study the country’s social
Social Science and economic changes.
Research (ICSSR) • ICSSR was established in 1969 by the Government of India to promote research in social sciences
in the country.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education

Gender Inclusion Fund The NEP introduces the "Gender Inclusion Fund" (GIF) to support female and transgender students
(GIF) in gaining access to education.
• The fund will help states implement critical priorities such as sanitation, bicycles, and cash
transfers.
• It will also enable effective community-based interventions to address specific barriers to
education for girls and transgender children.

World Water Week Focus: World Water Week observed on 20-24 August 2023 is focused on innovation at a time of
2023: Stockholm unprecedented challenges.
International Water Theme: Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World.
Institute (SIWI) Aim: Explore how water can be a powerful tool to address the climate crisis, global heating,
biodiversity loss, poverty, and many other water-related challenges

Heal by India Initiative The government is working on the "Heal by India" initiative to train and deploy nurses and
healthcare professionals worldwide.
• Aim: Create a pool of skilled workers and make India the Care Capital of the world.
• Ministry of Skills Development: It will provide training and other requirements for the
movement of Indian healthcare workers abroad.
• The National Health Authority (NHA) will provide technical support for the scheme.Ayushman
Bharat Digital Mission’s (ABDM) registry will provide data on healthcare personnel.

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9. ART & CULTURE
9.1 Megalithic Site In Kerala
Context: A large number of megalithic hat stones were found during a recent archaeological salvage excavation conducted by
the Kerala Archaeology Department at Nagaparamba in Kuttippuram village, near Tirunavaya.
About Hat Stones: Commemorative non-sepulchral memorials:
• Hat stones, popularly called Thoppikkallu in Malayalam, are • Commemorative non-sepulchral memorials are monuments,
hemispherical laterite stones used as lid on burial urns during the structures, or installations that are created to honor and
megalithic period. remember individuals, events, or significant aspects of history
What is Salvage excavation? without being associated with burial or interment.
• Salvage excavation also known as rescue archaeology or • These memorials serve as a tangible and lasting tribute to
emergency archaeology, refers to a type of archaeological commemorate the past and convey its significance to present
excavation that is conducted in response to a situation where and future generations
archaeological remains are threatened by construction,
development, or other activities
Thirunavaya
Megaliths • The land of ancient Mamankam, Tirunavaya is south of Tirur.
• Megaliths were constructed either as burial sites or • Situated on the banks of Bharathapuzha river; it is a place of
commemorative (non-sepulchral) memorials. historical importance.
• Origin: As megalithic societies were preliterate, the racial or • In olden days, Mamankam a grand assembly of rulers was
ethnic origins of the megalithic people are thus difficult to pin held once in 12 years here.
down.
• Significance: Megaliths were not built for commoners. They signify the emergence of a ruling class or elite who presided over
a surplus economy.
• Time - Period: In India, archaeologists trace the majority of the megaliths to the Iron Age (1500 BC to 500 BC), though some
sites precede the Iron Age, extending up to 2000 BC.
• Geographical Spread: Megaliths are spread across the Indian subcontinent, though the bulk of them are found in peninsular
India, concentrated in the states of Maharashtra (mainly in Vidarbha), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and
Telangana.
 Even today, a living megalithic culture endures among some tribes such as the Gonds of central India and the Khasis of
Meghalaya.
• Different Types of Megalithic Structure include: Stone Circles, Dolmen, Cist, Monolith and Capstone style.
9.2 Nataraja Sculpture
Context: A 28-feet Nataraja statue meant to be placed in front of the venue of the G20 Leaders’ Summit scheduled in New Delhi.
About 28-Feet Nataraja Sculpture:Ashtadhatu: The statue
weighs 19 tonnes and is made of eight metals viz. gold, silver,
lead, copper, tin, mercury, iron and zinc.
• Height: The statue is 22 feet in height, and the pedestal is
six feet, making the entire structure 28 feet tall.
• Model: The model of Chidambaram, Konerirajapuram and
other Natarajas of the Chola period was followed in making
this statue.
• Casting: Sculptors follow the lost-wax casting method. This
is a time-tested method, used since the days of the Cholas.
Lost Wax Technique:
• Sculptors first make a wax model and encase it in clay.
• After drying, the whole mass is heated to drain away the
melted wax.
• The space left by the melted wax is filled with molten bronze.

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• After allowing it to cool, the mold is broken and the statue is chiseled to perfection.
SHORT NEWS IN TABLE

Navroz Festival The President of India greeted people on the eve of the Parsi New Year.
• The Parsi community in India celebrates Navroz nearly 200 days after the rest of the world as it follows
the Shahenshahi calendar.
• Navroz for India falls in July or August and this year in 2023 Parsi New Year is observed on August 16.

10. ETHICS
National Medical Commission Guidelines
Context:
According to the National Medical Commission’s Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations or NMC
RMP Regulations 2023, doctors can now refuse treatment to the unruly and violent patients.
About The National Medical Commission Act, 2019
• Key provisions include:
 Community Health Providers: To practice limited medicine in underserved rural areas to address the shortage of doctors.
 Establishment of National Medical Commission (NMC): To regulate medical education and medical professionals.
 Establishment of Medical Advisory Council.
 Ethical and Professional Conduct: It includes provisions to address any deviations from these standards.

Ethical Dimension in NMC Regulation, 2023

• Refusing treatment is a complex issue that involves various stakeholders viz. doctors and healthcare professionals, patients
and their families, healthcare institutions, medical associations and regulatory bodies, legal authorities, ethics committees,
public opinion and media, religious and cultural communities, etc.
Arguments in Favour of the Regulation:
• Unruly Behaviour
 Justice: If an unruly patient's behaviour poses a threat to their own safety, the safety of healthcare staff, or the safety of
other patients, refusing treatment might be justified as a means to mitigate these risks.
✓ For example, a 21-year-old patient attacked a doctor with a knife during consultation at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
 Dignity and Integrity: Unruly behaviour can sometimes cross ethical boundaries, leading to disrespectful or abusive
treatment of healthcare staff. Doctors have a right to work in an environment that respects their dignity and professional
integrity.

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 ✓ For example, a doctor on duty in the emergency ward in Faridabad was assaulted by attendants of a patient as the
doctor was attending to another patient, he could not immediately attend to the patient.
 Brings Deterrence: Allowing unruly behaviour to go unchecked might enable a cycle of disruptive or non-compliant
behaviour, which could negatively impact the patient's overall health outcomes.
 Right to Freedom to Practise any profession: The regulations give the doctors the right to choose whom they will serve,
except in case of a life-threatening emergency.
• Financial Constraints: Doctors have a professional duty to provide medical care and expertise, but they are not obligated to
address broader societal issues such as patients' financial difficulties.
• Ethical Boundaries: Doctors have ethical responsibilities not only toward their patients but also toward themselves, their
families and the healthcare community.
• Objectivity: Taking decisions which are free from subjectivity caused by emotions, perceptions and individual bias is
necessary for long term sustainability.
 For example, providing free medical care to a person in desperate need of medical care might be an ethical act but
providing such services in long term to many patients may not be feasible for individual service providers.
• Selfless Duty: Medical practitioners often prioritize the well-being of their patients above their own comfort, personal time
and space.
 For example, during COVID-19, medical professionals were subjected to regular assaults and verbal abuse throughout the
country. The Hippocratic Oath
Arguments against the Regulation • It is a historic ethical code traditionally taken by medical
• Dedication and the Duty of Care: Dedication is the sense of deep professionals to uphold certain moral and professional
standards in their practice.
rooted commitment to devote oneself to a cause.
• It is named after the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates,
 Need of Compassion and Empathy: In India, out-of-pocket
who is often referred to as the "Father of Medicine."
health expenditure accounts for more than half of total
• The exact wording of the oath can vary but the underlying
health expenditure pushing many households into poverty. principles remain consistent.
 For example, Dr Ramanand Singh has been treating his
patients for just Rs 50 for the past 35 years in Bihar.
• Justice and Equity: The principle of justice requires that healthcare be distributed fairly and equitably.
 Denying treatment to a patient solely based on their inability to pay could be seen as unjust, perpetuating disparities in
healthcare access.
Government Initiatives
• Violation of Hippocratic Oath: Physicians pledge to do what is
• Epidemic Diseases Act 2020: Protections for healthcare
in the best interest of their patients and to
personnel combatting epidemic diseases & expands powers
• Unholy Nexuses: Many doctors form nexuses with drugmakers of the central government to prevent the spread of such
to prescribe specific drugs from their brand instead of generic diseases.
drugs leads to considerable rise in treatment costs for patients. • Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments
• Responsibility: Some argue that healthcare professionals have (Prohibition of violence and damage to property) Bill, 2019:
a broader social responsibility to address systemic issues in The draft bill aims to provide protection to healthcare service
personnel and clinical establishments against acts of violence
healthcare, including affordability and access. Refusing
and damage to property.
treatment might be seen as abdicating this responsibility.
• National Health Service in the United Kingdom: Steps to
• Undermining Right to Life: Providing a legal caveat for the protect healthcare workers, including security measures at
registered physicians to refuse treatment is against the hospitals and training programs to manage challenging
fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the situations.
Constitution.
 Further, there is no specific definition of “abusive” in law as it is purely a subjective interpretation that may depend on
the personal opinion of any individual.
What Should be Done?
• Persuasion: Influencing patients to follow prescribed norms for behaviour.

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  During COVID-19, voice messages were circulated using caller tune to make people aware of the importance of vaccination
and prevent attacks on health workers.
• Emotional Intelligence: Equipping and training medical personnel with necessary skills to manage their emotions and
providing practical solutions to the given problems.
• Ethical Principles Balancing: Weigh the principles of patient autonomy, duty of care, patient safety, and respect for healthcare
personnel's well-being.
 Ex: Doctors Without Borders provides humanitarian medical care in conflict zones to all those in need of medical care,
irrespective of the role played by them in the conflict.
• Tolerance: Accepting actions and practices which may be considered to be incorrect but still tolerable to some extent that
they should not be prohibited or penalised heavily.
• Offering Continuity of Care: If possible, provide recommendations for alternative sources of care, whether within your
healthcare institution or elsewhere. Ensure the patient's ongoing health needs are addressed.
Conclusion
• We must protect those who heal. Ethical decisions in healthcare are rarely black and white.
• It's important to approach each situation with sensitivity, professionalism, and a commitment to upholding the well-being
of patients, healthcare staff, and the broader community.
• Consulting with colleagues, supervisors, and ethics committees can provide valuable guidance in making these difficult
decisions.

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11. PERSONALITY IN NEWS

Calyampudi Recently, Prominent Indian American Statistician CR Rao passes away at 102
Radhakrishnan Rao Achievement:
• Dr. Rao pioneered several fundamental statistical concepts such as the Cramer–Rao Inequality
and Rao–Blackwellization.
• He was a member of several government committees for the development of National Statistical
Systems, statistical education and research in India.

Yevgeny Viktorovich The head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin died in a private jet crash.
Prigozhin • Wagner Group
 Although mercenary forces are illegal in Russia, Wagner registered as a "private military
company" in 2022.
 The group staged a failed mutiny against Russia's military leaders in June 2023 and went to
Belarus afterward.

Maharishi Dayanand The government, to commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of Dayanand Saraswati, has
Saraswati constituted a high-level committee with Prime Minister as its head.
About Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati:
• He social reformer, and the founder of the Arya Samaj, Birth: 12th February 1824 in Tankara,
Gujarat.
• Literary Work:"Satyarth Prakash" (The Light of Truth)
• DAV (Dayanand Anglo-Vedic), a network of educational institutions in India was founded to
realize the vision of Swami Dayanad Saraswati. First DAV school was established in Lahore in
1886 with Mahatma Hansraj as the Headmaster.

Subramania Bharathi Recently the President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a portrait of nationalist Tamil poet-journalist
Subramania Bharathi.
About Subramania Bharathi:
• A multifaceted personality, he was a renowned poet, a freedom fighter, and a social reformer.
• Birth: December 11, 1882, in Ettayapuram village of Tirunelveli District in Tamil Nadu.
• Important Works: Kaṇṇan pāṭṭu , Panchali sapatham, Kuyil pāṭṭu, Pudiya Russia, Sudesa
Geethangal and Gnanaratham.

Nawab Wajid Ali Shah July 30, 2023 marks the 201st birth anniversary of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab to sit on the throne
of Awadh.
About Wajid Ali Shah:
• He was the eleventh and last King of Awadh, holding the position for 9 years, from 13 February
1847 to 11 February 1856.
• Contributions to music: He is said to have composed many new ragas and named them Jogi, Juhi,
Shah-Pasand, etc.
 The light classical form, thumri was created by Wajid Ali Shah.
• Contributions to dance: He introduced Kathak, a major form of classical Indian dance as a court
dance after the decline of Mughals for recreation activity.
• Contributions to Hindustani Theatre: He introduced the Jogia Jashan, a magnificent event
featuring Rahas (dance-dramas).
• Contribution to literature: His notable work is Sawat-ul-Qalub.

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12. PLACES IN NEWS

Coup in Niger
The Niger military has detained the President and declared a 'coup,'
resulting in the overthrow of the government.
About Niger:
• Niger, officially the Republic of Niger( Capital Niamey)is a landlocked
country in West Africa.
• It is a unitary state bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the
east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest,
Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest.

Cocos Islands
Recently, Indian military aircraft visited Australia's Cocos (Keeling) Islands
to enhance strategic reach and interoperability with Australia.
About Cocos Islands:
• Cocos Islands, is an external territory of Australia located in the Indian
Ocean, approximately 3,000 km north-west of Perth in western
Australia.
• It comprises two coral atolls made up of 27 smaller islands.

Panama Canal
Context:
Commercial ships are facing delays to travel through the Panama Canal as
a lengthy drought in the Central American country has led to lower the
availability of water.
About Panama Canal:
• The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway connecting the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans.
• Location and Geography: Situated in Central America, the canal spans
the Isthmus of Panama.
 Isthmus is a narrow piece of land, that connects two larger
landmasses and separates two bodies of water.

Sulina Channel
Russia's recent drone strikes targeted Ukraine's ports and grain storage
along the Danube River.
• The Danube delta serves as an alternative route for Ukraine's grain
exports after Russia's exit from the Black Sea grain deal.
• The ‘new’ trade route is the Sulina Channel – a 63 km long distributary
of the Danube.
• It connects major Ukrainian ports on the river to the Black Sea, lying
completely within the borders of Romania, a NATO member.
About Danube River:

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• It is Europe’s second longest river, and has historically been crucial for
the movement of freight.

Ecuador
• Ecuadorian Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot
dead after holding a rally in Quito.
• Location: Ecuador is situated in northwestern South America.
• Ecuador shares its borders with Colombia to the north, Peru to the east
and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
• The Galapagos Islands, known as the Archipiélago de Colón, are a part
of Ecuador and are situated in the Pacific Ocean.

Novorossiysk Port:
• Recently, Ukraine struck Novorossiysk Port with sea drones.
• The Novorossiysk commercial seaport is one of Russia’s largest by
volume and among the biggest in Europe.
• It serves as a major node in the export of Russian grain, oil, and other
products to countries around the world.

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13. SCHEMES IN NEWS:

UDAN Scheme Sixteen airports constructed under the government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN are lying
unused, of the 74 airports operationalised under the scheme.
About UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik)Scheme:
• UDAN is a regional airport development program of the Government of India and part of the Regional
Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of upgrading under-serviced air routes. Its goal is to make air travel
affordable and improve economic development in India.
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Civil Aviation

SAUBHAGYA The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy has informed about the status of
Scheme implementation and coverage of the SAUBHAGYA Scheme in the country.
About Saubhagya (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana) Scheme:
• It was launched in October, 2017 focusing on last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all
the unelectrified households in the country.
• Salient features: Free metered connection for economically poor households and a charge of Rs. 500
(adjusted in electricity bills in 10 monthly instalments) for households other than poor, only after
release of connection.

Pradhan Mantri A government-conducted study on social welfare programs has indicated that participants in the Pradhan
Ujjwala Yojana Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) chose not to continue receiving refills primarily due to gender-related
factors and the ready accessibility of traditional alternatives.
About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY):
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
• Aim: To provide LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
• Target Beneficiaries: Release of LPG connection under this Scheme shall be in the name of the women
belonging to the BPL family.

Amrit Bharat The Scheme is set to transform and revitalize 1309 railway stations across the nation
Station • It involves preparation of Master Plans and their implementation in phases to improve the amenities
Scheme at the railway stations like improvement of station access, circulating areas, and waiting halls.

SATAT Scheme Recently, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas provided information regarding
the SATAT Scheme in Lok Sabha.
• SATAT’ (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) scheme on Compressed Bio Gas
(CBG) was launched in 2018.
• Features: Under SATAT, entrepreneurs shall set up CBG plants, produce & supply CBG to OMCs for sale
as automotive & industrial fuels.
• Aims: To produce compressed biogas (CBG) from Waste and Bio-mass sources like agricultural residue,
cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and sewage treatment plant waste

PM-eBus Sewa The Union Cabinet has approved a bus scheme “PM-eBus Sewa” for augmenting city bus operation by
10,000 e-buses on PPP model.
About PM-eBus Sewa:
• Estimated Cost: Rs. 57,613 crore, Central Government Contribution: Rs. 20,000 crore
• Operational Support: The scheme aims to provide support for bus operations over a period of 10 years.
• City Coverage: Cities with a population of 3 lakh and above.
• Priority for Uncovered Cities: Priority will be given to cities that currently lack organized bus services.

PM Recently, the Union Cabinet approves new Central Sector Scheme ‘PM Vishwakarma’ to support
Vishwakarma traditional artisans and craftspeople of rural and urban India.

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 About PM Vishwakarma:
• Aims: To strengthen and nurture the Guru-Shishya parampara or family-based practice of traditional
skills by artisans and craftspeople working with their hands and tools.
• Financial Outlay: Rs.13,000 crore, Duration: Five years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28)
• Key Features of the Scheme:
 PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card: Artisans and craftspeople will receive formal recognition
through a PM Vishwakarma certificate and an ID card, acknowledging their skills and contributions.
 Eighteen traditional trades are to be covered in the first instance under PM Vishwakarma.

PM-USHA Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal are three out of 14 states and union territories that have not yet
Scheme signed a crucial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Education Ministry.
More on News:
• This MoU is a requirement for accessing funds amounting to nearly ₹13,000 crore over the next three
years under the central government's flagship scheme for state-run higher education, known as the
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).
About PM-USHA:
• It's a Centrally Sponsored scheme by the Ministry of Education to enhance the quality of higher
education in State Universities.
• Aims: To improve curriculum, teacher training, infrastructure, accreditation, and employability.
• Fund allocation: ₹12,926.10 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26.

ACROSS Scheme Recently, the Minister of Earth Sciences provided information on the ACROSS scheme in Lok Sabha.
Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS) Scheme:
• It is a central sector scheme under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for atmospheric science
programs.
• Aims: To address various aspects related to weather and climate prediction through a comprehensive
approach.

National Social The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reported that the Ministry of Rural Development
Assistance (MoRD) has diverted funds from the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) towards promoting its
Programme other initiatives.
(NSAP) National Social Assistance Programme(NSAP):
• About: NSAP is a social security and welfare programme to provide support to aged persons, widows,
disabled persons and bereaved families on death of primary bread winner, belonging to below poverty
line households.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development, Funding Pattern: Centrally Sponsored Scheme

PM JI-VAN The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has given information about the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN scheme
Yojana in the Lok Sabha.
About Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana:
• It was notified in March 2019.
• Aims: To provide financial support to integrated bio-ethanol projects for setting up Second
Generation (2G) ethanol projects by using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstocks.
• Financial Outlay: Rs. 1969.50 crore for the period 2018-19 to 2023-24.
• Financial Assistance: Rs. 150 crore per project for commercial projects and Rs. 15 crore per project for
demonstration projects.

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TEST YOURSELF
POLITY & GOVERNANCE (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
1. With reference to ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA)’,consider Answer key: 1 - (c) , 2- (d), 3- (b), 4- (b)
the following statements:
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. It provides guaranteed 100 days of employment in
every financial year to adult members of any rural 1. Which of the following group of countries represent
househol(d) members of ‘Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
2. It ensures employment must be provided within (ACTO)?
15 days of being demanded, failing which an (a) Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia
‘unemployment allowance’ must be given. (b) Ecuador, Guyana,Jamaica
Which of the above given statements is/ are correct? (c) Peru, Suriname, Barbados
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (d) Venezuela, Chile, Colombia
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. Consider the following statements about G-20:
2. With reference to ‘Multi-State Cooperative Societies 1. The G20 group was originally established as a
(Amendment) act, 2023’,consider the following platform for finance ministers and central bank
statements: governors to discuss international economic and
1. It establishes the Co-operative Election Authority financial issues.
to conduct and supervise elections to the boards 2. Troika refers to the top grouping within the G20
of multi-state co-operative societies. that consists of the current, previous and the
2. The Bill establishes the Co-operative incoming presidencies.
Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Fund for revival of sick multi-state co-operative (a) 1only (b) 2 only
societies. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Which of the above given statements is/ are not
correct? 3. With reference to a grouping of countries known as
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only BRICS, consider the following statements:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. The 1st BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg,
Russia in 2009.
3. Consider the following statements regarding Cauvery 2. Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Argentina have
river: effectively become a part of the BRICS from
1. It rises from the Brahmagiri range of Karnatak(a) August, 2023.
2. The Cauvery Water is disputed between three Which of the statements given above is/are not
states and one Union Territory. correct?
3. The Constitution grants the Supreme Court the (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
authority to resolve disputes over the use, (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
distribution, or control of inter-State river waters.
Which of the Statements given above is/are correct? 4. Which of the following statements is/are correct
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only regarding ‘Association of Southeast Asian
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Nations(ASEAN)’?
1. The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity,
4. Which of the following statements is/are not correct One Community”
about ‘procedure of renaming of the state’ in Indian 2. Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates biennially, based
Context? on the alphabetical order of the English names of
1. To rename a state, Parliamentary approval is ASEAN member states.
required under Article 3 and 4 of the Constitution. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
2. A bill for renaming a state may be introduced in (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
the Parliament on the recommendation of the Lok (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Sabha speaker.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
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5. Which of the following is/are part of ‘UN 4. With reference to ‘World Trade Statistical Review
Intergovernmental Negotiations framework’? (WTSR) 2023’,consider the following statements:
1. African Union 1. India has been ranked 18th in merchandise
2. G4 Group exports and 7th in services exports.
3. Uniting for Consensus Group 2. China remained the top merchandise exporter in
4. Arab League 2022 but with a reduced world export share of
Select the correct answer using the code given below: 14%.
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only Which of the above given statements is/ are not
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
Answer key: 1 -(a), 2 - (c) , 3 - (b), 4 - (a), 5 - (d) (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

ECONOMY: 5. With reference to ‘North East Venture Fund

1. Consider the following statements: (NEVF)’,consider the following statements:
1. Under the T+0 settlement cycle, if investors sell 1. NEVF is registered as a Category I Venture Capital
shares, they will get the money in their account Fund under Securities and Exchange Board of
instantaneously. India (SEBI) Alternative Investment Funds (AIF)
2. Under the current T+1 settlement cycle, if an Regulations, 2012
investor sells securities, the money gets credited 2. It was established as a close ended fund with a
into her account the following day. target corpus of Rs. 100 crore.
Which of the statements given above is/are Which of the above given statements is/ are correct?
not correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer Key: 1 - (d), 2 - (b), 3 - (c) , 4 - (d), 5 - (C)
2. Consider the following statements regarding jute:
1. The Mandatory norms of the government provide ENVIRONMENT AND GEOGRAPHY
for full reservation for packaging of foodgrains 1. With reference to ‘All India Tiger Estimation 2022’,
and 50% reservation for packaging of sugar in jute consider the following statements:
bags. 1. Karnataka has the maximum number of tigers in
2. Bangladesh is the leading producer of jute in the the country.
worl(d) 2. Central India, the Shivalik Hills, and the Gangetic
3. West Bengal is the leading producer of jute in plains witnessed an increase in tiger population.
Indi(a) Which of the above given statements is/ are not
4. National jute board is a statutory body correct?
headquartered in Kolkat(a) (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) Only one (b) Only two
(c) Only three (d) All four 2. With reference to ‘Biodiversity Heritage Sites
(BHS)’,consider the following statements:
3. With reference to the ‘Bharat New Car Assessment 1. Under Section-37 of the Biological Diversity Act,
Programme(NCAP)’,consider the following statements: 2002, the State Government, in consultation with
1. Bharat NCAP is voluntary in nature. local bodies, may notify areas of biodiversity
2. It is applicable to passenger vehicles with not importance as BHS.
more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s 2. In 2007, the Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru,
seat with gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 Karnataka, was designated as India's first BHS.
kgs. 3. High endemism is one of the distinguished
3. Only the base model of a particular variant will be features of Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
tested under it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None of the above
(c) All three (d) None

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3. With reference to ‘Forest Conservation (Amendment) (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Bill, 2023’, consider the following statements:
1. It exempts land within 100 km of the country's 2. Consider the following statements regarding ‘ Gene-
borders from the purview of the forest edited Mustard’:
conservation laws. 1. Gene Edited Mustard is less pungent as normal
2. Prior clearance is not needed for the construction mustard seeds have high levels of glucosinolates.
of any strategic linear project of national 2. It is being developed using the CRISPR/Cas9
importance under it. technique.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

4. Consider the following Pairs: 3. Consider the following pairs:

National Park Location Lunar Missions Associated Country

1. Kuno National Park Madhya Pradesh 1. Chang’e-5 China

2. Bannerghatta National Tamil Nadu 2. Chandrayaan 3 India
Park 3. Beresheet Spain
4. Luna-25 Russia
3. Great Himalayan Jammu & Kashmir
National Park How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs
Which of the above given pairs is/are not correctly (c) Only three pairs (d) All four pairs
matched?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only 4. Consider the following statements regarding
(c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 ‘Tuberculosis’:
Statement-I: Bedaquiline is a medication used in the
5. Which of the following countries is/are part of the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB).
‘Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)’? Statement-II: One-third of the world’s population has
1. India 2. Sri Lanka latent TB, a version of the disease that can turn active
3. Australia 4. Japan as immunity falls.
5. Spain Which one of the following is correct in respect of the
Select the correct answer using the codes given below: above statements?
(a) 1, 3 and 4 only (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only Statement-II is the correct explanation for
(c) 4 and 5 only Statement-I
(d) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and
Statement-II is not the correct explanation for
Answer Key: 1 - (a), 2 - (c), 3 - (c) , 4 - (b), 5 - (b) Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (d) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is
incorrect
1. Consider the following statements:
Answer Key: 1 - (d), 2 - (c), 3 - (c) , 4 - (d)
1. Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar mission as
well as second attempt to achieve a soft landing of
a robotic lander on the moon's surface.
2. Chandrayaan-2 mission partially failed after its
lander and rover couldn’t execute a soft-landing
on the Moon.
Which of the statements given above is/are not
correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
3
SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 2.Which of the following diseases is/are covered under the
‘Indradhanush 5.0 vaccine campaign’?
1. With reference to ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, consider the 1. Diphtheria
following statements: 2. Whooping cough
1. It envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person 3. Tetanus
per day to every rural household through 4. Polio
Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 5. Covid 19
2024. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
2. The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and (a) 1, 3 and 4 only
states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern (b) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% by Centre (c) 2, 4 and 5 only
for Union Territories. (d) 3 and 5 only
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only Answer Key: 1 - (c), 2 - (a)
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

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