9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – February 10th, 2023

Posted on February 10th, 2023 Last modified on February 26th, 2023 Comments

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
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Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Exploring the blue in the India-France partnership

Source– The post is based on the article “Exploring the blue in the India-France partnership” published in The Hindu on 10th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Bilateral grouping and agreements

Relevance– India and France bilateral relationship

News– India and France are celebrating 25 years of their strategic partnership.

What is the current status of the relationship between the two countries?

Strategic cooperation– Strategic partnership was signed in 1998. They have shared values and aspirations of peace, stability. Both have a desire for strategic autonomy.

There are no real substantive disagreements between the two nations.

There is a high level India-France political dialogue that is ongoing in defence, maritime, counterterrorism and the IndoPacific.

Trade and investment– France has emerged as a key trading partner of India. Annual trade was $12.42 billion in 2021-22.

It is the 11th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of $10.31 billion from April 2000 to June 2022. It represents 1.70% of the total foreign direct investment inflows into India.

Defence partnership– It has emerged as a key defence partner for India, becoming the second largest defence supplier in 2017-2021.

Key examples of defence cooperation are the induction of the French Scorpene conventional submarines, built under technology transfer agreement of 2005, and the Rafale fighter jets.

The Tata group has also tied up with Airbus to manufacture C295 tactical transport aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat.

There is a robust network of military dialogues. They regularly held joint exercises like Varuna, Garuda, and Shakti.

Civil nuclear cooperation– France was among the first countries with which India signed a civil nuclear deal. It has also played a critical role in limiting India’s isolation in the non-proliferation order after the 1998 nuclear tests.

France supports India’s bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council as well as its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Climate change– it is an area of importance for both. India has supported France in the Paris Agreement expressing its strong commitment towards mitigating climate change impact. Both countries launched the International Solar Alliance in 2015.

Cooperation in the Indian ocean– India and France are resident powers of the Indian Ocean and in the Indo Pacific. Both have signed “Joint Strategic Vision of India France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region” which presented a blueprint for a strengthening of ties. In operational terms, both do joint patrolling in the Indian Ocean.

Indo Pacific– Both countries have articulated their common vision for a free, fair and open Indo Pacific. It seeks to provide comprehensive solutions for maritime security, regional cooperation, and climate change adaptation.

India and France in September 2022 agreed to set up an Indo-Pacific Trilateral Development Cooperation Fund that will support sustainable innovative solutions for countries in the region. The two partners have formed a trilateral grouping with the United Arab Emirates to ensure maritime domain awareness and security from the east coast of Africa to the far Pacific.

Global cooperation– While there are divergences over the Ukraine crisis, there is a broad understanding of each other’s position. Both countries are working together to coordinate on playing a constructive role in the crisis.

Mr. Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are among the few world leaders who have maintained open communication channels with the Russian President and Ukraine’s President.

Both countries share concerns over the rise of China and its aggressive behaviour.

Cooperation in emerging areas– They are looking for cooperation in issues such as digitisation, cyber, green energy, a blue economy, ocean sciences, and space.

About Child marriages: In Assam, The Answer Is Schools, Not Jails

Source: The post is based on the article “In Assam, The Answer Is Schools, Not Jails” published in The Times of India on 10th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.

Relevance: About early child marriages.

News: Thousands are being arrested in Assam as part of a crackdown on child marriage.

Why arrest is not a correct solution for reducing early child marriages?

Studies from across the world and in India have shown that educational attainment and the socio-economic status of a household are the most significant correlates of child marriage.

People, mostly the poorest, are being punished through the arrests, for the state’s failure to provide good quality schooling and health facilities and its inability to empower its women.

How educational backwardness in Assam led to early child marriages?

Almost 86% of Assam’s population is rural. The state also has among the largest proportion of rural women who haven’t completed 10 or more years of schooling, roughly 74%.

According to the latest National Family Health Survey (2019-21), about one-third of rural women in the 20-24 age group in Assam were married before the age of 18.

Based on the recommendations of Niti Aayog, the Assam government shut down 1,700 government-run elementary schools and merged them with neighbouring schools as a part of the school’s ‘rationalisation’ plan. Such mergers usually hurt girl students the most as they often have to travel long distances to go to school.

About child marriages in other states

According to the UNICEF study on child marriages in India, “among individual characteristics, the level of education of females has the most profound impact on the age they marry, irrespective of household wealth, locality and other characteristics.”

Though a Muslim girl can marry on completing 15 years or when she attains puberty according to Muslim personal law – a provision being challenged before the Supreme Court – child marriage is not exclusive to the community. According to the 2011 Census, 84% of the 12 million children (7. 8 million girls) who married before 10 years in India were Hindus and mostly from rural India.

There are only two states – West Bengal (48%) and Jharkhand (36%) – with a higher proportion of rural women in the 20-24 age group who were married before 18. They also have roughly the same proportion of women who did not complete more than 10 years of schooling as Assam, about 74%.

What are the other reasons for early child marriages?

The other reasons are, a) Limited paid work opportunities for women and girls. For example, Assam has the second lowest female worker population ratio of just 14.2%, b) Poor quality and inaccessibility of facilities and services, whether in health or education.

The state governments should invest in more schools and improve the condition of existing schools

GS Paper 3

Global green growth conundrum

Source– The post is based on the article “Global green growth conundrum” published in the Business Standard on 10th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Economy

Relevance– Green transition of economy across the globe

News– Green growth is the overarching theme across the world. Every country is wooing investment in manufacturing.There is a “buy local” wave depending on the “make at home” initiative.

What are initiatives taken by countries across the globe for domestic manufacturing of components needed for green transition?

The US climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed last year offers incentives for local manufacturing of batteries and electric vehicles and also gives a boost to technologies like carbon capture.

As per BloombergNEF estimates, about $35 billion have been committed to the North American electric vehicle supply chain since the new law was passed. Over half of this is for battery manufacturing.

India’s self-reliance initiatives cover 14 sectors under the production-linked incentive scheme for domestic manufacturing including batteries and solar panels.

The European Union is planning its own set of incentives to boost local manufacturing and ensure that competitive offers by other countries do not affect investments and jobs. It has unveiled the “Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age”.

Canada plans to bring its own incentives in line with those of the US. Australia, Brazil and Chile are likely to explore similar options.

China has a dominant presence in the battery as well as the solar supply chain. It is considering proposals to restrict export of certain equipment for making solar ingots and wafers.

What shows the focus of the Indian government on green growth?

Green growth is the overarching theme across the world.

It was a core part of the Indian government’s Budget for 2023-2024. There were as many as 25 mentions of “green” in the Budget speech.

Budget announced a Customs duty exemption for import of capital goods and machinery required for manufacture of lithium-ion cells for batteries used in electric vehicles.

Rs 35,000 crore were allocated for priority capital investments towards energy transition and net zero objectives, and energy security.

What are examples of countries levying carbon border tax?

The European Union has recently agreed upon a carbon border adjustment mechanism. It would tax imports into the EU according to the amount of carbon emitted in their production.

Canada plans to introduce a similar levy, and the US is exploring its options.

India’s green hydrogen challenge

Source– The post is based on the article “India’s green hydrogen challenge” published in The Hindu on 10th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Infrastructure: Energy

Relevance– Renewable sources of energy

News– On India’s 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the National Hydrogen Mission to make the country a production and export hub of green hydrogen.

What are some facts about the National Hydrogen Mission?

It has an initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore over the next five years. The target is 5 million metric tonnes production per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW by 2030.

It will lead to savings of $12.5 billion from fuel imports, averting 50 MMTs of annual emissions of Carbon dioxide, fresh investments of $100 billion, and 6,00,000 green jobs.

What are challenges in production and use of green hydrogen?

Electrolyser challenge: According to IEA, as of 2021 the global manufacturing capacity of electrolysers stands at 8 GW/year.

If India were to achieve its 2030 target, it would need 60-100 GW of electrolyser capacity. It is almost 12 times the current global production capacity.

India currently has launched projects to manufacture electrolysers, but the actual numbers as of today are negligible.

Access to critical minerals such as nickel, platinum group metals and rare earth metals could hinder scaling up electrolyser manufacturing capability in India.

These resources are concentrated in countries such as China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Chile and Peru. India also has limited processing capabilities in these minerals.

Energy source challenge: As per current estimates a completely efficient electrolysis system would require 39 kWh of electricity to produce 1 kg of hydrogen. Green hydrogen requires renewable energy as a source of electricity.

India currently estimates a capacity of 125 GW of renewable energy to meet its green hydrogen 2030 targets. So far India has only achieved 119 GW of the 175 GW targeted capacity using solar, wind, bio-power and small hydro.

In addition to the generation capacity, the transmission capacity for cross-border exchange of power between states is a critical requirement.

End use challenge: Currently, most of the demand for hydrogen comes from the chemical industry to produce ammonia for fertilisers, refining for hydrocracking and the desulphurisation of fuels.

It can be a source of heat for industries such as steel, cement and aluminium production. It can be used as fuel for heavy duty vehicles, aviation and shipping.

The conversion efficiency from one form of energy carrier to another in the end use application will determine the scale of green hydrogen’s applicability.

Hydrogen is a highly combustible and volatile element. Its potency in other forms such as ammonia or methanol is only relatively reduced.

It is critical to establish safety standards for storage and transportation. It will add to the cost of hydrogen as a fuel.

Endogenous resources challenge: In the case of India, approximately 50 billion litres of demineralised water supply will be required for production of green hydrogen.

Several parts of India are already severely water-stressed. So, solutions need to be found to cater to this additional water demand.

Desalination has been suggested. But, this will increase the physical footprint of the required infrastructure. It will lead to more land use, impact biodiversity and create limitations in the location of electrolysers.

What is the way forward to overcome these challenges?

India needs to set up large scale manufacturing for electrolysers, building expertise and securing geo-political partnerships for procurement of critical minerals. There is a need for improving the overall technical and economic viability of electrolysers.

Proposed green hydrogen hubs will be required to strike a fine balance between availability of renewable energy and being close to hydrogen demand centres for economic feasibility.

India needs to add close to 100 GW of overall renewable energy capacity per year over the next seven years and. Dispatch corridors and mechanisms should be made available..

India must avoid growing into a dystopia

Source– The post is based on the article “India must avoid growing into a dystopia” published in The Hindu on 10th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Indian economy

Relevance– The focus of economic growth has been on income generation. The development of masses is often neglected.

News– The focus of economic growth has been on income generation. The development of masses, rising inequalities and employment generation is neglected.

What is the economic scenario of India?

Private investment plans during the first nine months of this year to be over 50% greater than what they were a year ago.

India it seems is on a roll as far as economic growth is concerned.

India has overtaken the United Kingdom to become the world’s fifth largest economy.

The London Based consultancy Centre for Economics And Business Research (CEBR) predicted that by 2035, India’s economy would reach $10 trillion and become the world’s third largest by 2037.

Why is the West interested in the growth of the Indian economy?

India is a democracy in the east and also the largest one in terms of population. All the countries in the West are democracies. So, they see a possible alliance of interests.

India’s growing economic size has made it attractive in a way that it was not before. Its fast growth is an investment opportunity for the surplus savings of the West. Investing money in India is likely to yield the highest returns globally.

What is the status of employment in India?

Government data show that in mid 2022, unemployment among urban males was much higher than it was a decade ago.

Data from the Centre For Monitoring Indian Economy show that the number of people employed in December 2022 was less than it was in 2016.

Clearly, the growth of the national economy has not generated an equal growth in employment.

What are the impacts of growth on Environment?

Uncontrolled growth will almost certainly result in ecological insecurity. .

The construction of new elevated national highways destroys agricultural land and jeopardising

livelihoods.

Plans for infrastructure aimed at religious tourism in Uttarakhand and Kerala have caused landslides and flooding. It led to suffering for their people.

What can be done to improve employment opportunities for the masses?

Employment opportunities for the mass population will arise only when there is demand for goods in the production of which they can participate.

Growth of the IT sector or of exportable manufactures will not be of much use for them. They possess low education and skills.

Increased demand for goods of mass consumption alone will lead to an expansion in the demand for these workers.

For an expansion of this demand, low inflation is essential. Only then will low income households have enough to demand more manufactured goods.

A concerted policy focus can create the conditions for employment generation in India. Welfarism, defined by the free or subsidised distribution of private goods, is no substitute.

What is the way forward for economic policy?

India needs growth as it has a backlog of poverty. But growth alone is not enough for improving the lives of the poorest. It is ecologically harmful.

Size is valuable only when it enhances the well being of the population.

Unintended consequences – Subsidy on EVs must be revisited

Source: The post is based on the article “Unintended consequences – Subsidy on EVs must be revisited” published in the Business Standard on 10th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Relevance: About Subsidy on EVs.

News: Government subsidy provided for electric vehicles (EVs) under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme might have some unintended consequences.

Why government is providing Subsidy on EVs?

The government is subsidising EVs a) To help consumers make the transition of adoption of EVs, b) EVs will help reduce vehicular pollution in cities, c) The EVs will assist the government in containing the import of fuel, d) To improve external financial balance.

Read more: Our unique EV transition is a leadership opportunity

How do the Subsidy on EVs cause unintended consequences?

Market participants aim to maximise returns, But this profit maximisation is not always in line with the spirit of the rules designed by the state. This might hold true for EVs. Hence, EV subsidies cause unintended consequences. Such as,

a) Some electric two-wheeler manufacturers have been violating rules at different levels, b) Some firms were not following the localisation norms and depend on imports, presumably to contain costs, c) EV makers are also being probed for bypassing the price cap set by the government.

All this partly defeats the purpose of the EV subsidies, because it would not help develop an indigenous value chain to enable sustainable growth. Hence, the government has so far barred 17 manufacturers from the pool of 64 registered under the scheme.

How India can revamp the Subsidy on EVs that are causing unintended consequences?

At the micro level, the scheme will need to be redesigned. Such as a) Instead of capping the price, the government can give subsidies directly to the consumer, like direct benefit transfer, lower interest rates on loans for EVs, etc, b) The localisation condition can be monitored with better use of technology.

GS Paper 4

India must become a knowledge republic as it charts its way ahead

Source: The post is based on the article “India must become a knowledge republic as it charts its way ahead” published in the Live Mint on 10th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS 4 – Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance

Relevance: India as a knowledge republic.

News: Recently, a prominent NRI has said that India should work on ways to become a knowledge republic.

What is a knowledge republic?

Knowledge has a crucial role in building India’s republic. It represents India’s collective desire to learn and apply that learning, the ability to learn and create systems of learning, and the know-how Indians have gathered as a civilization.

The knowledge republic must comprise knowledge in economy, society, and even in diplomacy. Becoming a knowledge republic is a worthy choice as a unified objective of nationhood, especially for India.

Why India is still at crossroads in building a knowledge republic?

Right after the Independence, the environment of resource constraints and weak economic growth kept India from becoming a knowledge republic. At that time India has been busy with setting priorities in order.

Eventually, India has come out of those traps and has expressed itself globally as a leading nation.

Why it is time for India to become a knowledge republic?

India’s young demographic profile: India still has undisputed strength that will continue at least in the foreseeable future.

The paradox at the global level: The world at present is facing a) ecological crises in times of improved living standards, b) rising inequality in times of large wealth creation, c) depression and loneliness in times of a growing population, and d) humans losing to machines in times of rapid innovation.

In this paradoxical nature of modern development, India has emerged on the world stage as a responsible power and trustworthy partner. It can lead global efforts in fundamental thinking for problem-solving.

India’s civilizational heritage: Indian civilisation always revered knowledge. For instance, India’s richness of languages, the vastness of scriptures, the lore of ancient universities and the living tradition of rishis are testimony to the nation’s respect for knowledge.

Even now, there is a special place for teachers, gurus and knowledgeable people in the Indian heart. Typical Indian parents see education as a ticket to professional success and save significantly to support their children’s studies.

What should be done to make India as a knowledge republic?

Make the domestic environment competitive: The government has to double the investment in youth talent through education, strengthen avenues for research and innovation, and continue policy reforms that lead to its gainful occupation, including entrepreneurship. This will also showcase India’s talent to global markets.

Inculcate knowledge in governance: Indian society’s reverence for knowledge should be acknowledged and leveraged in policymaking and nation-building.

Worship of knowledge can pave the way for a modern republic. It is time for India to choose that path and move ahead.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

How RBI rate hikes impact your home loan EMIs, and what can help

Source: The post is based on the article “How RBI rate hikes impact your home loan EMIs, and what can help” published in Indian Express on 10th February 2023.

What is the News?

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India has increased the Repo rate.

How the repo rate increase will impact the borrowings?

People with loans are set to witness a spike in their equated monthly instalments (EMIs). This is because the interest rates of banks and finance companies are likely to go up with their cost of funds expected to rise post the Repo rate hike.

a) Although the rate hike will impact all types of borrowings, the rise will be immediate in the personal loan category, b) The marginal Cost of Funds-Based Lending rates (MCLR) will also increase, c) Home loans witness a nearly 19% increase in EMIs for the past 9 months.

Overall, the rate hike will put a strain on borrowers and might reduce the overall demand for homes, PLs, etc. Short-term moves are likely to have a major impact on the buyer’s decision. For instance, the decision will the price-sensitive homebuyers and weak the supply of the developers.

What options do borrowers have with the repo rate increase?

-Hoam loan borrowers might ask their lender to increase the spread (difference between MCLR and home loan rates offered to borrowers). This can provide some respite and reduce the financial burden on borrowers.

-Another option is to choose a floating interest rate. This type of rate is tied to market conditions, and if interest rates decrease, the EMI will also decreases.

Customers should make a higher down payment depending on their financial position.

Centre blocks 200 online platforms under Section 69(A) of IT Act: What is the provision, the debate around it

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre blocks 200 online platforms under Section 69(A) of IT Act: What is the provision, the debate around it” published in Indian Express on 10th February 2023.

What is the News?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued orders to block 138 online betting platforms and 94 money lending apps under Section 69(A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The decision was based on a recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The MHA had received inputs from central intelligence agencies that some of the sites and apps were allegedly linked to China and contained material prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

What is Section 69 of the IT Act?

Section 69 of the IT Act allows the government to issue content-blocking orders to online intermediaries such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecom service providers, web hosting services, search engines, online marketplaces etc.

However, the Section requires the information or content being blocked to be deemed a threat to India’s national security, sovereignty or public order.

What is the procedure to block such apps?

Since 2009, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) has possessed blocking powers.

Although MeitY derives these powers from the IT Act, it is the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules,2009 which explain the process to issue such orders.

What have the courts said on Section 69A?

In a landmark 2015 ruling, the Supreme Court in “Shreya Singhal vs Union of India” struck down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act of 2000 which entailed punishment for sending offensive messages through communication services etc.

The plea had also challenged Section 69A of the Information Technology Rules 2009 but the SC held this to be “constitutionally valid”.

‘Victory City’: A brief history of the kingdom of Vijayanagara, in which Salman Rushdie’s latest novel is situated

Source: The post is based on the article “Victory City: A brief history of the kingdom of Vijayanagara, in which Salman Rushdie’s latest novel is situated” published in Indian Express on 10th February 2023

What is the News?

Salman Rushdie released a new novel “Victory City” – a fictionalized story of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.

About Vijayanagara Empire

Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by Harihara I of the Sangama dynasty.

The kingdom expanded from a strategic position on the banks of the Tungabhadra river with Hampi as its capital.

The kingdom reached its peak under Krishna Deva Raya (reign 1509-1529), a period in which it enjoyed military superiority to its rival kingdoms such as the Bahmani Sultanate, the Golconda Sultanate and the Gajapatis of Odisha.

At its peak, the kingdom stretched from Goa on the Konkan coast to parts of southern Odisha in the east and all the way to the very tip of the subcontinent in the south.

Economy: The economy of the kingdom was largely dependent on agriculture, and trade thrived in its many ports on either coast.

– Traveller Abd al-Razzaq Samarqandi chronicled how the ports of Mangalore, Honavar, Bhatkal, Barkur, Cochin, Cannanore, Machilipatnam and Dharmadam saw traders from Africa, Arabia, Aden, the Red Sea, China and Bengal and also served as shipbuilding centres.

– The empire’s principal exports were pepper, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, myrobalan, tamarind timber, anafistula, precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, musk, ambergris, rhubarb, aloe, cotton cloth and porcelain.

– Coins were minted by the state as well as by merchant guilds using gold, silver, copper and brass, and their value depended on material weight.

Architecture and Literature: Literature in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, as well as Sanskrit, was produced in the kingdom with new writing styles and methods emerging.

– Vijayanagara architecture is a vibrant combination and blossoming of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya and Chola styles.

– The Prasanna Virupaksha temple of Bukka I and the Hazara Rama temple of Krishna Deva Raya are striking examples of Vijayanagara’s characteristic style and intricate artistry.

– Vijayanagara’s capital Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its sophisticated fortifications as well as innumerable temples and other architectural marvels.

– From accounts of foreign travellers, by the beginning of the 16th century, Hampi-Vijayanagara was probably the second-largest urban settlement on the planet (after Beijing).

Geological Survey of India Finds Lithium and Gold Deposits

Source: The post is based on the article “Geological Survey of India Finds Lithium and Gold Deposits” published in PIB on 9th February 2023.

What is the News?

The Geological Survey of India has for the first time discovered Lithium reserves in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District of Jammu & Kashmir(UT).

What is Lithium?

Click Here to read

What are the uses of Lithium?

Click Here to read

What is the importance of Lithium discovery?

Lithium is one of the key components in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. As the world transitions from gasoline and diesel to electric vehicles, the demand for lithium is going up rapidly too.

Lithium is used not only in EVs but also in batteries for gadgets like laptops and mobile phones. It has also found application in the glass and ceramics industries.

In fact, lithium has been dubbed “white gold” for its widespread usage in items indispensable to modern-day living

Already, the world’s lithium supply can barely keep up with its demand. A report from the International Energy Agency says that the world could face lithium shortages by 2025.

Surging demand is not the only problem with lithium supply – another factor to consider is the fact that lithium resources are concentrated in a few places. Around 50% of the world’s lithium deposits are found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. Australia also has around 2.7 million tonnes of lithium resources.

China meanwhile controls 60% of the world’s capacity for processing raw lithium products into batteries.

Why is this Lithium discovery a big deal for India?

India currently relies on imports to meet its mineral demand, including lithium, nickel, and cobalt.

As the world tries to wean itself off dependence on China for crucial battery materials, India is taking bold steps to position itself as an alternative in the electric vehicle supply chain.

Hence, the discovery of Lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to give a big push to the government’s plans of expanding into the Electric Vehicles(EV) market.

Israeli scientists develop sniffing robot with locust antennae

Source: The post is based on the article “Israeli scientists develop sniffing robot with locust antennae” published in The Hindu on 10th February 2023.

What is the News?

Scientists at Tel Aviv University have developed a bio-hybrid robot.

What is a Bio-hybrid Robot?

Biohybrid robots are composed of biological and synthetic components.

These robots are being developed to reconstruct biological functions in mechanical systems to obtain a better understanding of biological designs.

For example, biohybrid robots powered by skeletal muscle tissue have already succeeded in performing various movements.

What have the scientists from Israel developed?

Scientists from Israel have developed a sniffing robot which is equipped with a biological sensor.

The robot uses the antennae of a locust to diagnose disease and improve security checks.

Locusts smell with their antennae. The scientists will use the locust’s antennae to hone the computer’s scent detection abilities.

Significance: This could help advance disease diagnosis and improve security checks.

India’s accreditation system ranked 5th globally; overall quality infrastructure system in Top 10

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s accreditation system ranked 5th globally; overall quality infrastructure system in Top 10” published in PIB on 10th February 2023

What is the News?

According to the Global Quality Infrastructure Index(GQII) 2021, India has been ranked as the 5th best country in the world when it comes to its accreditation system.

What is the Global Quality Infrastructure Index(GQII)?

GQII ranks the 184 economies in the world on the basis of quality infrastructure (QI).

A formula calculates a score for each country based on its position in the sub-rankings for metrology, standards and accreditation.

The index is supported by Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany.

What is India’s ranking in GQII 2021?

India’s overall ranking is still 10th in the GQII index.

In terms of metrology and standardization, India was ranked 21st and 9th respectively, in the world.

Note: In India, the Quality Council of India(QCI) is the national body for accreditation, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the main body for the formulation of standards and the Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research – National Physical Laboratory(CSIR-NPL) for the metrology system.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation helps establish the competence and credibility of conformity assessment bodies (CABs) which perform testing, certification, inspection, etc.

The National Accreditation System as per international standards in India are established by the Quality Council of India (QCI).

The accreditation is carried out through the constituent Boards of QCI primarily the 1) National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) which provides accreditation to the certification, inspection, and validation/verification bodies and 2) National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories(NABL) which provides accreditation to the testing, calibration and medical laboratories.

U.S. will not sanction India for buying Russian oil, say senior American officials

Source: The post is based on the article “U.S. will not sanction India for buying Russian oil, say senior American officials” published in The Hindu on 10th February 2023.

What is the News?

A Senior US diplomat has made it clear that the United States was not looking to sanction India for its purchases of Russian oil.

Background

Following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia had fewer buyers for its Ural crude oil, with some foreign governments and companies deciding to shun its energy exports, and its price started to fall.

At one point in early 2022, Russian Urals crude was more than $30 a barrel cheaper than Brent Crude (the global benchmark).

India’s oil purchase from Russia

In recent months, Indian purchases of Russian oil have increased steadily with Russia displacing traditional heavyweights like Iraq and Saudi Arabia to become India’s top supplier of oil.

According to numerous reports, the sale of oil to India and China may be helping Russia stay afloat even as powers like the United States and the European Union work to shrink Russia’s oil revenues.

Apart from oil, India and Russia’s defence deals are also on track. Russian Ambassador said that Russia will soon complete the supplies of the third regiment of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems to India as both sides are committed to completing the whole contract.

Tree rings unlock mystery of Hittite Empire’s fall in 12th century BCE

Source: The post is based on the article “Tree rings unlock mystery of Hittite Empire’s fall in 12th century BCE” published in The Print on 9th February 2023

What is the News?

Researchers have found that a three-year drought may have led to the fall of the Hittite empire in the Middle East 3000 years ago.

What is the Hittite Empire?

The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian (modern-day Turkey) people who formed an empire between 1600-1180 BCE.

The Hittites manufactured advanced iron goods, ruled over their kingdom through government officials with independent authority over various branches of government and worshipped storm gods.

They became the main geopolitical rivals of ancient Egypt during its glittering New Kingdom period.

The empire had long proved itself to be resilient against regular sociopolitical, economic and even environmental challenges such as the threat of drought. However, around or shortly after 1200 BCE, the empire collapsed.

Why did the empire collapse?

Researchers examined long-lived juniper trees that grew in the region at the time.

They found that a series of droughts around 1198 and 1196 BCE may have brought down the empire.

This research shows how extreme climate change can push populations beyond their adaptation limits and centuries-old resilience practices.

Marine Protected Areas must be evaluated for effectivenes

Source: The post is based on the article “Marine Protected Areas must be evaluated for effectivenes” published in Down To Earth on 9th February 2023

What is the News?

The 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) was held in Canada in order to discuss the solutions to address the Funding Gap of Marine Protected Areas(MPAs).

What are Marine Protected Areas(MPAs)?

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Currently, MPAs represent only about 6% of the ocean. Of this, 2.4% are fully and highly protected and 3.6% are highly protected.

Note: Fully protected areas prevent extractive or destructive activities, while highly protected MPAs allow light extractive activities.

Significance of MPAs: Marine protected areas help protect important habitats and representative samples of marine life and can assist in restoring the productivity of the oceans and avoiding further degradation.

– They are also sites for scientific study and can generate income through tourism and sustainable fishing.

What are the key highlights from the IMPAC5 meet?

Roughly 10 million square kilometres of the ocean must be annually brought under Marine Protected Areas(MPA) to protect 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.

– Countries had set a target of protecting 30% of the planet’s lands and oceans by 2030 at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in 2022.

As many as 70% of MPAs are underfunded.A well-managed and sufficiently funded MPA can restore good health to vulnerable ecosystems.

The countries also discussed ways to comprehensively monitor the effectiveness of protected areas (PA) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) at the global level.

Note: OECMs are different from PAs.

What are Other effective area-based conservation measures(OECMs)?

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What happened to your data on Aarogya Setu?

Source: The post is based on the article “What happened to your data on Aarogya Setu?” published in Indian Express on 10th February 2023

What is the News?

The Government of India has said that all contact-tracing data collected via the Aarogya Setu mobile application has been deleted.

What is Aarogya Setu?

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What happened to citizens’ data on Aarogya Setu?

In accordance with the Aarogya Setu Data Access and Knowledge Sharing Protocol,2020, the contact tracing feature of the Aarogya Setu mobile application has been discontinued and contact tracing data collected through it has been deleted.

Note: Aarogya Setu app collected personal details like a person’s name, phone number and gender, along with having access to their live location and Bluetooth.

What were the concerns with the Aarogya Setu app?

There were primarily two concerns:

Firstly, Aarogya Setu was initially mandatory for rail and air travel, among other things, and the concerns raised around this were that people availing rail services for instance, may not own a smartphone which was necessary to use the app.

Secondly, people also raised privacy concerns given the nature of the data the app needed to function. While the government claimed the data was encrypted and anonymised, it was unclear what anonymisation protocols were being used.

RBI announces pilot for QR code-based Coin Vending Machine

Source: The post is based on the article “RBI announces pilot for QR code-based Coin Vending Machine” published in Economic Times on 10th February 2023

What is the News?

Reserve Bank of India(RBI) is preparing a pilot project on QR code-based Coin Vending Machine(QCVM) in collaboration with a few leading banks.

What is a QR code-based Coin Vending Machine(QCVM)?

QCVM is a cashless coin dispenser that dispenses coins in exchange for a debit to the customer’s bank account via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

Unlike standard cash-based Coin Vending Machines, the QCVM would not require actual tendering of banknotes or their validation.

Customers will also be able to withdraw coins in the required number and denominations from QCVMs.

Where will QCVM be launched?

The trial project will begin with 19 locations in 12 cities across the country. These vending machines are designed to be deployed in public spaces such as railway stations, shopping malls, and marketplaces to improve convenience and accessibility.

Based on the results of the pilot tests, banks will be given guidance to promote improved coin distribution using QCVMs.

[social_warfare]