9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – December 8th, 2022

Posted on December 8th, 2022 Last modified on December 9th, 2022 Comments Views : 754

Dear Friends,

We have initiated some changes in the 9 PM Brief and other postings related to current affairs. What we sought to do:

Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today’s newspaper are readily available to you.
We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough and adds value not just for GS but also for essay writing. Hence, the 9 PM brief now covers the following newspapers:
1. The Hindu
2. Indian Express
3. Livemint
4. Business Standard
5. Times of India
6. Down To Earth
7. PIB
We have also introduced the relevance part to every article. This ensures that you know why a particular article is important.
Since these changes are new, so initially the number of articles might increase, but they’ll go down over time.
It is our endeavor to provide you with the best content and your feedback is essential for the same. We will be anticipating your feedback and ensure the blog serves as an optimal medium of learning for all the aspirants.
- For previous editions of 9 PM Brief – Click Here
- For individual articles of 9 PM Brief– Click Here

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

India@75, Looking at 100: A country capable of diversity sans discrimination

Source– The post is based on the article “India@75, Looking at 100: A country capable of diversity sans discrimination” published in The Indian Express on 8th December 2022.

Syllabus: GS1- Indian culture

Relevance– India spiritual heritage

News– The article explains the rich heritage of Bhakti tradition in India and its significance for our country.

Why do we need to celebrate Bhakti poets?

They are upstarter and not followers of a particular belief. They hail from varied caste, class, gender, language and sectarian backgrounds. It reminds us of the plural aspects of our spiritual heritage.

They remind us of the power of the reclaimed heart and the examined life. They are aware that all darkness can be transformed by the act of acknowledgement and inclusion. This makes them inspirational for any culture seeking to heal its wounds and move forward, without getting carried away by rage or recrimination.

They remind us that we are dual citizens of earth and sky, body and mind, the immanent and the transcendent. The path to wholeness is in integration.

Above all, these poets remind us that dissent is never disloyalty. They are not obedient worshipers. They question every hierarchy.

The Bhakti poets quarrel with their gods, swear at them, make love to them, and dispense with them. Nothing is taboo and nothing sacrilegious. The underlying premise is simple: The self and the other cannot be kept apart.

Bhaktas anger is controlled by love, not ridicule. Even while they disagree with their gods, they never stop loving them. In a world prone to despise those with whom we disagree, these poets offer a different vision. Intimacy is the basis of their vision. For them, critique is never contempt.

What is the case for our country?

India is a living civilisational legacy. Its spiritual traditions are alive and well. Its holistic healing systems and traditional arts remain vibrant. Its capacity to honour the divine feminine endures. It has a rich linguistic and cultural diversity.

It offers the world its vibrant template of spiritual freedom and cultural democracy.

There is the need to stop the model of unity into an uniformity.

GS Paper 2

BIMSTEC as key to a new South Asian regional order

Source– The post is based on the article “BIMSTEC as key to a new South Asian regional order” published in The Hindu on 8th December 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Regional grouping

Relevance– BIMSTEC

News– The article explains the importance of BIMSTEC and scope for improvement in its working. It also explains the weaknesses of SAARC.

What is SAARC? SAARC is an intergovernmental organisation. It was established by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to promote economic growth in South Asia. Afghanistan acceded to SAARC later.

What are the weaknesses of SAARC?

SAARC has failed abjectly in accomplishing most of its objectives. South Asia continues to be an extremely poor and least integrated region in the world.

The intraregional trade and investment in South Asia are very low when compared to other regions such as the ASEAN and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Pakistan has adopted an obstructionist attitude within SAARC. It has repeatedly blocked several vital initiatives such as the motor vehicles agreement, aimed at bolstering regional connectivity. Deepening hostility between India and Pakistan has made matters worse. Since 2014, no SAARC summit has taken place leaving the organisation practically dead.

Why is regionalism important for South Asia?

Bilateralism is undoubtedly important. It can at best complement, not substitute, regional or multilateral efforts. Regionalism has brought immense success in other parts such as East Asia and Africa.

A new concept of new regional economic order has been developed. It is a process through which developing countries search for a trade-development model, based on incrementalism and flexibility.

Regionalism can deliver prosperity in the South Asian region too, especially because multilateralism is weakening.

Current government has adopted ‘neighbourhood first’ policy. India can judiciously employ regionalism to serve its interests in the entire region.

What is BIMSTEC and its importance?

Reviving SAARC by infusing political energy into it and updating its dated Charter can make it functional, but doesn’t look practical at present. So, the next best scenario is to look at other regional instruments such as the BIMSTEC. It is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1997.

BIMSTEC comprises five South Asian nations named Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka and two ASEAN countries named Myanmar and Thailand. Importantly, Pakistan is not a BIMSTEC member.

After 25 years, BIMSTEC finally adopted its Charter earlier this year. The BIMSTEC Charter is significantly better than the SAARC Charter. For instance, unlike the SAARC Charter, Article 6 of the BIMSTEC Charter talks about the ‘Admission of new members’ to the group. This paves the way for the admission of countries such as the Maldives.

What is the weakness of BIMSTEC?

BIMSTEC Charter, to boost economic integration, does not contain the flexible participation scheme found in ASEAN Charter. This flexible scheme, also known as the ‘ASEAN Minus X’ formula, allows two or more ASEAN members to initiate negotiations for economic commitments.

A flexible ‘BIMSTEC Minus X’ formula might have allowed India and Bangladesh or India and Thailand to conduct their ongoing bilateral free trade agreement negotiations under the broader BIMSTEC umbrella. This would have eventually strengthened BIMSTEC by enabling the gradual and incremental expansion of these binding commitments to other members.

What are the steps that need to be taken for strengthening the BIMSTEC?

BIMSTEC should not end up as another SAARC. its member countries should raise the stakes.

A high-quality FTA offering deep economic integration. would be an ideal step.

India should explore legal ways to move successful SAARC institutions such as SAU to BIMSTEC.

Need for an effective tourist police

Source– The post is based on the article “Need for an effective tourist police” published in The Hindu on 8th December 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors

Relevance– Issues related to tourism sector

News– The article explains the issue of tourist safety in India.

A few days ago, a Kerala session court sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a Latvian tourist in 2018. In another case, a 12-year-old Russian girl was raped in a hotel in Goa this year.

What are the statistics related to crime against tourism?

As many as 29 foreigners were murdered in the last three years. While 14 foreigners fell victim to rape last year, 16 were raped in 2020 and 12 in 2019. As many as 15 cases of assault to outraging modesty of foreign women were registered last year across the country, apart from 14 complaints of cheating.

Why is the safety of tourists important?

Crime against foreigners dents our image globally. It could also adversely affect the inflow of foreign tourists, which is a vital source of income for our country. India’s earnings through tourism was $30.06 billion in 2019.

There are predictions of about 13.34 million foreign tourists arriving by 2024. It calls for upgrading our security systems specially to provide a flawless security blanket cover to foreign tourists.

What is the concept of tourist police?

This concept has not been given the kind of attention it deserves. The States that have tourist police are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Rajasthan and Kerala.

The BPRD has brought out a booklet on the tourist police scheme detailing the mode of setting up of tourist police stations and control rooms, outposts, uniforms, recruitment, qualifications, training and logistics requirements for tourist police stations.

As many as 25 popular tourist spots have been identified in the country where the tourist police necessarily need to be deployed to help foreigners.

As an incentive, a 30% deputation allowance has been recommended for the police personnel who join the tourist police on deputation.

What is the way forward for tourist security?

Much needs to be done to instil a sense of security in them even before they leave their countries for India. All criminals in and around tourist spots need to be identified and kept under constant surveillance.

Fast track courts should be set up immediately to try cases of crime against foreigners and the culprits punished speedily.

Such speedy disposal of cases of crime against foreigners can be replicated if we have the will.

The debate around conjugal visits for prisoners

Source– The post is based on the article “The debate around conjugal visits for prisoners” published in The Hindu on 8th December 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Judiciary and significant provisions of constitution

Relevance– Issues related to criminal justice system

News– The article explains the issue of conjugal visits for inmates.

The State of Punjab has allowed conjugal visits for inmates.

What are conjugal visits?

In the context of prisons,conjugal visits refer to the concept of allowing a prisoner to spend some time in privacy with his spouse within the precincts of a jail.

What is the significance of conjugal visits?

It is often argued that conjugal visits can have positive impacts in the form of psychological health benefits for prisoners, preservation of marital ties and, reduction in the rates of homosexuality and sexual aggression within prisons.

It is also argued that conjugal visits are a fundamental right of the spouses of the prisoners. Prisoner rights are internationally recognised through the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights etc. The right to maintain family relations including conjugal visits are included in these treaties.

Most prison Acts and Rules across the country accept the importance of maintenance of continuity in family and social relations.

What are the judicial views on conjugal visits?

Sunil Batra vs Delhi Administration (1979)– SC judge Justice Iyer observed that “visits to prisoners by family and friends are solace in isolation. Only a dehumanised system can deprive prison inmates of this humane amenity.”

Jasvir Singh vs State of Punjab– The High Court held that this right to conjugality is available to prisoners under Article 21, subject to restrictions.

Meharaj vs State (2022)– The Madras HC observed that there have to be differential standards in enforcement of Article 21 for law abiders and law violators. Conjugal visits could not be held as a fundamental right. The prisoner would still be eligible to avail leave for conjugal visits if there are extraordinary reasons such as infertility treatments.

Af-Pak Again – Afghanistan is back to being a terror hub, Pakistan is in political chaos. Bad news for the world

Source: The post is based on the article “Af-Pak Again – Afghanistan is back to being a terror hub, Pakistan is in political chaos. Bad news for the world” published in The Times of India on 8^th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS – 2 – India and its neighbourhood- relations.

Relevance: About the Afghanistan-Pakistan status and the growth of terrorism.

News: Terrorist activities have once again increased significantly in Afghanistan. This was also the focus of recent India-Central Asia NSA-level meeting also.

About the recent India-Central Asia NSA-level meeting

Must read: Curbing terror in Afghanistan, enhancing connectivity key to India-Central Asia security: NSA Doval

What is the status of Afghanistan at present?

It has been a year since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul. It is clear that the Taliban regime is either incapable of or unwilling to crack down on multiple terror groups operating from Afghan soil. Thus, they failed in their pledge to not allow any group to use Afghan territory to attack other countries.

How has the Afghan regime impacted Pakistan?

Pakistan earlier cheered the return of the Taliban, hoping to regain the strategic depth it previously enjoyed in that country. But despite the presence of pro-Pakistani elements on Afghan soil, there has been a continued attack on Pakistan across the Durand Line.

Along with the political turmoil in Pakistan, the country was unable to control terrorism.

Read more: A balancing act — In re-establishing Indian presence in Afghanistan, timing and tact are crucial

What should be done to control terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and Pakistan?

Along with the Ukraine crisis, there should be a renewed focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

GS Paper 3

Talk about coal – India must consider energy transition partnerships

Source: The post is based on the article “Talk about coal – India must consider energy transition partnerships” published in Business Standard on 8^th December 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Infrastructure

Relevance: Just Energy Transition Partnerships and India

News: The Indian government has refused to accept JETPs and phase out its coal dependence due to the concerned stakeholders involved and the need of coal-based energy for the growth of the nation.

What is Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs)?

It is a major option for large developing economies that want to shift from coal dependence.

A JETP for the South African coal sector was announced last year at the CoP-26 with an $8.5-billion initial commitment from foreign governments and donors to pay for the costs of its coal phase-down.

Indonesia has also announced setting up a JETP for its own coal sector that will mobilise global financing of $20 billion.

What is the stand of the Indian government?

The Indian government is not ready to accept JETP for its coal sector. Instead, the focus of the government is on funding renewable energy.

This is because renewable energy is a mature sector in the country and it is easy to get private finance from the global market. The constraints with renewable energies in India are regulatory and technological not financial.

What can be the course of action?

It is not clear why India is stepping away from JETP because it would provide India with the required finance to bail-out the coal dependent power sector.

Therefore, the government should come up with a mechanism that estimates the costs and benefits of a JETP and come up with a clear financing proposal that will ensure an equitable transition away from coal power in India.

Greening of the GST – The environmental dimension of taxes must rank high in any rate rationalisation exercise

Source: The post is based on the article “Greening of the GST – The environmental dimension of taxes must rank high in any rate rationalisation exercise” published in the Business Standard on 8^th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS – 3 – changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.

Relevance: About greening the GST.

News: As the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has stabilised after the pandemic, it is time for rate rationalisation. This will help in both revenue buoyancy and a simpler rate regime. Further, India can also think of greening the GST.

What are the various reforms proposed for reforming GST?

A committee on Dual Control, Threshold and Exemptions was created by the earlier empowered committee of state finance ministers. This committee recommended a) India should move towards a three-tier rate structure. Such as 1) Merit rate at 8%, 2) Standard rate at 16%, and 3) Demerit rate at 30%, b) The GST exemptions need to be broadly phased out. Such as including aviation turbine fuel and natural gas in the GST net. India should create a limited list of items under exemptions.

Read more: Taking stock of five years of GST

What are the other changes required for greening the GST?

Reform the coal sector: 1) The government should limit the use of cess on coal for GST compensation to states. Instead, the government has to use the amount in pursuing cleaner coal technologies, 2) India’s increasing coal demand should be met by deep coal mining instead of open-cast mining. This is because coal from deeper layers emits less carbon dioxide per unit.

Utilise plastic waste: 1) Incentivise plastic scrap usage in road constructions and establish alternative usage for recycled plastic waste, 2) Create tax incentives, especially GST incentives, for promoting plastic waste recycling, 3) Setting up a technology mission to promote plastic recycling and finding alternative usage for recycled plastics.

All these will make the policy ban on plastics more effective.

Promoting renewables: 1) Bringing down the GST rates on a range of components, consumables and spares used by the renewable sector, 2) An expert committee can be set up with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and representations from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to jointly provide a green rating for all the equipment that helps in the promotion of the renewable sector.

How do these changes help in evolving GST?

The above changes will ensure that a) The merit rate also has an environmental dimension. Thereby influencing the allocation of resources, and b) Fixing the rate for individual items becomes more transparent and based on broad principles.

Read more: Has GST reduced inter-state disparities?

India needs to remember that Greening the GST is only a small step in India’s fight against climate change.

A green tax would help augment government revenue

Source: The post is based on the article “A green tax would help augment government revenue” published in the Livemint on 8^th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS – 3 – changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.

Relevance: About levying a green tax.

News: The government has been looking at different ways of augmenting its revenues in its fight against climate change. Levying a green tax is one such move.

Why does India need to levy a green tax?

1) India’s top 4,000 odd companies had a combined turnover of roughly ₹100 trillion in 2021-22. On average, if the green tax rate is, 0.5% of turnover, the government can rake in an amount of ₹50,000 crores annually.

2) As the government is already planning to issue green bonds for projects that are environmentally compliant, a green tax would complement this effort.

3) Make businesses pay for the damage caused to the environment.

4) Some companies have been observed to indulge in ‘greenwashing’ just to meet CSR obligations. A separate tax would defeat greenwashing.

Must read: Green Bonds: Benefits and Challenges – Explained, pointwise

What India has to do before levying a green tax?

Every economic activity adds its bit to pollution and can be brought under the tax net. The Centre needs to commission research agencies to independently evaluate the emissions of all industries and set standards for the same.

No need to be uniform: The green tax need not be uniformly applied, and its rate could vary from 0.1% to 2%, depending on the industry concerned. As the sales of these companies or industries grow, they would automatically yield higher revenues to the government.

Focus on industrial groups: Ideally, India’s green tax should be levied on a company based on emissions that can be measured. As it is difficult to assess, India can slot companies into industry groups and levy taxes on them.

Focus on consumer: Consumers of products and services that are environmentally unfriendly should be made accountable and should pay for the same. For instance, levying green tax on older vehicles.

Read more: Green tax on vehicles older than 15 years

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

ISRO inks MoU with Social Alpha to establish SpaceTech Innovation Network

Source: The post is based on the article “ISRO inks MoU with Social Alpha to establish SpaceTech Innovation Network” published in The Hindu on 8th December 2022

What is the News?

Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) and Social Alpha have signed an MoU to launch SpaceTech Innovation Network(SpIN).

Note: Social Alpha is a multistage innovation curation and venture development platform for science and technology start-ups.

What is SpaceTech Innovation Network(SpIN)?

SpIN is India’s first dedicated platform for innovation, curation and venture development for the burgeoning space entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Focus areas: SpIN will primarily focus on facilitating space tech entrepreneurs in three distinct innovation categories: 1) Geospatial Technologies and Downstream Applications, 2) Enabling Technologies for Space & Mobility and 3) Aerospace Materials, Sensors and Avionics.

Significance: This is a one-of-a-kind public-private collaboration for start-ups and SMEs in the space industry.

What is the Innovation Challenge launched by SpIN?

SpIN has launched its first innovation challenge for developing solutions in areas of maritime and land transportation, urbanization, mapping, and surveying.

The selected start-ups and innovators will be able to access both Social Alpha’s and ISRO’s infrastructure and resources as per the prevailing guidelines.

They will also be provided active hand-holding in critical areas, including access to product design, testing and validation infrastructure and intellectual property management.

Koundinya sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh awaits ‘Jumbo romance‘ as an all-female herd from T.N. enters Chittoor

Source: The post is based on the article “Koundinya sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh awaits ‘Jumbo romance‘ as an all-female herd from T.N. enters Chittoor” published in The Hindu on 8th December 2022

What is the News?

An 18-member herd of all female elephants from the forests of Gudiyattam and Pernambattu of Tamil Nadu are currently on the prowl in the Koundinya wildlife sanctuary zone in Andhra Pradesh apparently “in search of mates”.

What is Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary?

Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and an elephant reserve situated in Andhra Pradesh.

It is the only sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh with a population of Asian elephants which migrated after 200 years from neighbouring regions.

Habitat: The Kaundinya sanctuary has dry deciduous forests with thorny scrubs interspersed with trees.

– The sanctuary is situated in the region where the Kolar Plateau ends and slopes down into the plains of Tamil Nadu creating many valleys and ghats.

Flora: The sanctuary is covered by southern tropical dry deciduous and thorn forests. Some of the important flora consist of Albizia amara, Acacia, Lagerstroemia, Ficus, bamboo, and a species which is a regeneration of Santalum album.

Fauna: The sanctuary is primarily an elephant reserve and is home to about 78 Indian elephants. The vulnerable yellow-throated bulbul is present in the sanctuary.

First data taken by the 3.6-meter telescope detects unexpected kilonova emission from ‘a long-duration gamma-ray burst’

Source: The post is based on the article “First data taken by the 3.6-meter telescope detects unexpected kilonova emission from ‘a long-duration gamma-ray burst” published in PIB on 8th December 2022

What is the News?

A team of astronomers has recorded a rare astronomical event involving a compact binary merger emitting long Gamma Ray Burst(GRB) twinned with a kilonova emission — a never before scientifically accepted or proven combination.

Significantly, India’s largest optical telescope — the 3.6 metres Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) was among the key global telescopes that together confirmed this rare combination.

What are Gamma Ray Burst(GRBs)?

GRBs are massive but extremely bright, high-energy short gamma radiations which get released when massive stars collapse or die in the Universe.

In fact, the energy associated with GRBs is many folds larger than what our Sun can emit in its entire lifetime, making its study key to understanding the life and death of stars in our Universe.

Types of GRBs

Short GRBs: When a pair of binary compact systems — either two blackholes, dense celestial bodies or neutron stars — rotate in a spiral fashion for billions of years, their ultimate merger leads to release of short GRBs. These emissions last for less than two seconds.

Long GRBs: When very massive stars die, the event results in the release of long GRBs and the associated gamma radiations last for more than two seconds or longer.

What is Kilonova?

A kilonova is a transient astronomical event that occurs in a compact binary system when two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole merge. Traditionally, kilonova has been associated with short GRBs.

What have the scientists found?

Scientists have recorded a rare astronomical event involving a compact binary merger emitting a long Gamma Ray Burst(GRB) named GRB211211A twinned with a kilonova emission. However, the properties of long-duration GRB were missing making the event unusual.

Significance of this finding: These findings have quashed the existing understanding for at least 30 years now, as scientists were unaware of any connection between a long-duration GRB and kilnovae.

This could then mean that some processes are common between the long and short GRBs and their scientific classification now stands challenged.

RBI Governor delivers Bimonthly Monetary Policy Statement

Source: The post is based on the article “RBI Governor delivers Bimonthly Monetary Policy Statement” published in PIB on 8th December 2022

What is the News?

The Monetary Policy Committee(MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its latest review of the monetary policy.

What are the key highlights from the RBI Monetary Policy Committee(MPC) meeting?

GDP forecast lowered: The MPC lowered the GDP forecast for the financial year 2022-23 to 6.8% from an estimate of 7% earlier. This is due to continued risks emanating from protracted geopolitical tensions, global slowdown and tightening of global financial conditions.

Story of Indian Rupee one of Resilience and Stability: RBI spoke of the appreciation of the US dollar this year which precipitated large-scale depreciation of all major global currencies including the Indian rupee (INR).

– Through this episode of US dollar appreciation, the rupee’s movements have been the least disruptive, relative to peers. In fact, the INR has appreciated against all other major currencies except a few. Hence, the story of the INR has been one of India’s resilience and stability.

What are the measures announced?

UPI gets Stronger: The capabilities of UPI will be further enhanced by introducing single-block-and-multiple-debits functionality. This facility will enable a customer to block funds in his/her account for specific purposes, which can be debited whenever needed.

Scope of Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) gets Wider: The scope of BBPS is being enhanced to include all categories of payments and collections, both recurring and non-recurring, and for all categories of billers (businesses and individuals).

– This will make the BBPS platform accessible to a wider set of individuals and businesses who can benefit from the transparent payments experience, giving them faster access to funds and improved efficiency.

Hedging of Gold in the International Financial Services Centre(IFSC): Resident entities in India are currently not permitted to hedge their exposure to gold price risk in overseas markets.

UGC forms panel to work on textbooks in Indian languages

Source: The post is based on the article “UGC forms panel to work on textbooks in Indian languages” published in The Hindu on 8th December 2022

What is the News?

The University Grants Commission has held a meeting with international publishers to discuss bringing out textbooks for undergraduate courses in Indian languages.

About the panel for Undergraduate courses books in Indian Languages

UGC has formed a panel to prepare the roadmap to introduce undergraduate courses in regional languages in disciplines including commerce, humanities and science across the country.

The panel will prepare a list of books used in universities and colleges and review both lists to finalize the ones that can be translated.

The books will be translated into languages such as Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.

This move is part of the Centre’s plans to introduce regional languages as a medium of education in schools and colleges in line with the National Education Policy 2020.

What are the steps taken to promote courses in regional languages?

All India Council of Technical Education(AICTE) has prepared 270 first-year engineering textbooks in 12 regional languages.

The Union Home Minister has recently launched the first set of the first-year M.B.B.S. books in Hindi in Madhya Pradesh.

Bar Council of India has formed a panel headed by former Chief Justice of India S. A. Bobde for translating legal books into regional languages.

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products(RoDTEP) Scheme gets extended to Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Articles of Iron & Steel

Source: The post is based on the article “Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products(RoDTEP) Scheme gets extended to Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Articles of Iron & Steel” published in PIB on 7th December 2022

What is the News?

The Department of Commerce has decided to expand the scope of the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products(RoDTEP) Scheme to include iron & steel, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

What is the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products(RoDTEP) Scheme?

The RoDTEP Scheme is based on the globally accepted principle that taxes and duties should not be exported, and taxes and levies borne on the exported products should be either exempted or remitted to exporters.

The scheme rebates/refunds the embedded Central, State and local duties/taxes to the exporters that were so far not being rebated/refunded.

Click Here to read more

What changes have been made to the scheme?

The RoDTEP Scheme has now been expanded to the pharmaceuticals, chemicals and iron & steel sectors.

Until now, the scheme was applicable to labour-intensive sectors such as agriculture, leather, gems & jewellery and textiles.

These changes have been made against the backdrop of exports facing headwinds due to recessionary trends recession in some of the developed markets and supply chain disruptions triggered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Plan to install 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 to cost ₹2.44 trillion

Source: The post is based on the article “Plan to install 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 to cost ₹2.44 trillion” published in The Hindu on 8th December 2022

What is the News?

The Union Ministry of Power has launched a plan “Transmission System for Integration of over 500 Gw RE Capacity by 2030”.

About the Committee to install 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030

The Ministry of Power had constituted a high-level committee under the Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority with representatives for planning the transmission system required for having 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity by 2030.

The Committee has prepared a detailed Plan in consultation with States and other stakeholders.

Key Features of the Plan

The plan entails connecting mega solar parks and wind power zones with the national grid.

It also includes the construction of 8,120 circuit km (ckm) of high voltage direct current transmission corridors.

Because renewable-energy generation is only available for a limited time every day, the plan envisages installing battery storage capacity worth 51.5 GW by 2030 to provide “round-the-clock power to end-consumers.

The plan has also identified major upcoming non-fossil fuel generation centres in the country, including at Fatehgarh, Bhadla and Bikaner in Rajasthan, Khavda in Gujarat and Anantapur and Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh.

About India’s Renewable Energy Capacity

India has emerged as one of the world leaders in energy transition with the fastest rate of growth of renewable energy capacities in the world.

India has huge ambitions in energy transition and plans to have 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity installed capacity by 2030 so that cleaner fuel comprises 50% of the installed capacity mix by 2030.

Union Minister says ISRO will develop “Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘Geo-Ladakh’ for UT-Ladakh”

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister says ISRO will develop “Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘Geo-Ladakh’ for UT-Ladakh”” published in PIB on 7th December 2022

What is the News?

The Government of the Union Territory of Ladakh has approached the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing(IIRS) for developing “Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘Geo-Ladakh’ for UT-Ladakh.

What is the Geo-Ladakh Project?

The Geo Ladakh Project encompasses spatial database generation (water resources, vegetation and energy potential) using remote sensing, geospatial techniques and the development of a Geo-portal for hosting this database.

The project also aims towards training of UT-Ladakh officials on Geospatial techniques and applications.

What is the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing(IIRS)?

Indian Institute of Remote Sensing(IIRS) is a unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO).

Purpose: It is a premier institute with the objective of capacity building in Remote Sensing and Geo-informatics and their applications through education and training programmes at the postgraduate level.

Located in: Dehradun, Uttarakhand

What is OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, why it has become a viral sensation

Source: The post is based on the article “What is OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, why it has become a viral sensation” published in Indian Express on 7th December 2022

What is the News?

Artificial Intelligence(AI) research company OpenAI has announced the launch of ChatGPT.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a dialogue-based AI chatbot that will understand natural human language and generate natural human-like written text with impressive detailing.

It is the latest evolution of the GPT or Generative Pre-Trained Transformer.

Note: GPT is a kind of computer language model that relies on deep learning techniques to produce human-like text based on inputs.

Developed by: The chatbot is made by an independent research body OpenAI foundation.

How does ChatGPT work?

ChatGPT is trained with AI and machine learning to provide information and responses through a conversational interface instead of already system-generated or “computerized” responses.

It is trained on a huge sample of text taken from the internet. The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer follow-up questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests. It can even recall previous comments in a conversation and relay them to the user.

How can it be useful?

ChatGPT can be used in real-world applications like generating content for websites, answering customer inquiries, providing recommendations as well as creating automated chatbots. It can even discover new knowledge for the user and can play the role of a virtual assistant.

What are ChatGPT’s limitations?

OpenAI claims ChatGPT will occasionally produce inaccurate information and that its knowledge is restricted to global events that occurred before 2021. AI technology can also perpetuate societal biases like those around race, gender, and culture.

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