Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Is caste discrimination so rampant in the US to warrant separate legislation?
• Section 153A: its use and misuse
• Not neutral: On India’s stand on Ukraine at the U.N.

GS Paper 3

• Slow path to peace in J&K
• Banga Message – On Appointment of Indians in
• Cyberattacks are rising, but there is an ideal patch

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Medicinal plant commonly called Borthekera in Assamese found to have cardioprotective potential
• MGNREGS: Over 40% of gram panchayats do not report digital attendance
• 42% Indian students meet global minimum proficiency level: Study
• Why Venice’s famous canals are now drying
• Bengal reports 489 species in Great Backyard Bird Count 2023
• Lithium discovery important but mining hold risks
• Union Minister says, India’s bioeconomy is poised to touch 300 billion USD (US Dollar) by 2030
• International climate regime should move from a ‘country-centric’ approach to ‘people-centric’ approach: Union Minister

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Is caste discrimination so rampant in the US to warrant separate legislation?

News- Recently, Seattle passed a resolution in its city council against caste-based discrimination in Indian American social life.

What is the status and historical origins of the Indian diaspora in the US?

Indians are the second largest immigrant group in America after the Mexicans. They went there in the late 19th century, mainly as agricultural or railroad workers.

In the early 20th century, Indian students started sailing to universities like the University of California and Cornell.

Hindus were not always welcome in America in the initial years. There was a riot in Bellingham town near Seattle in September 1907 in which a mob white Americans attacked Hindus .

The situation has reversed now. Indians in America are now the most desired immigrants. They are now professionals, earned riches, and nation’s public life figures.

Is caste discrimination a reality among Indian-Americans today or is it a design to malign the community?

There are some vested interests with weak credentials and opaque funding sources. They lead this campaign against Indian-Americans.

These include organisations like Equality Labs. It produced a controversial report on caste discrimination in workplaces in the US in 2018,

There are enough federal and state legislations in the US that prohibit any form of discrimination based on national origin, ancestry, and ethnicity. Many transnational corporations too have strict guidelines with regard to such discrimination.

The Carnegie report on ‘Social Relations of Indian Americans’ suggests that more than half of all Indian-Americans do not identify with caste at all.

It dismisses the Equality Labs survey. It actually says that Indian-Americans as a group are the second most discriminated against in America.

Groups that champion caste discrimination are generally Hinduphobic. They are using this discrimination card to malign the Hindu religion.

Singling out Indian-Americans in the name of caste discrimination is in itself a discriminatory approach.

What will be the impacts of such groups on Indian immigrants in America?

Their politics may harm the entire Indian-American community. Apple has included caste discrimination as one of the prohibited aspects of employee behaviour.

Persons of Indian origin may have difficulties in getting jobs.

Section 153A: its use and misuse

News- Recently, AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera was arrested by Assam Police for alleged hate speech by him.

What are some facts related to Section 153A and Section 505?

Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code penalises “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony”.

This is punishable with imprisonment up to three years, or with fine, or both. The provision was enacted in 1898 and was not in the original penal code.

Section 505 penalises statements conducing to public mischief.

In 1969, the offence was widely amended to enlarge its scope to prevent communal tensions. The offence was also made cognisable.

How have these laws been applied by various governments?

Hate speech laws have been invoked by governments to crack down on criticism of public functionaries and to arrest individuals.

In May last year, Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale was arrested for a Facebook post allegedly defaming NCP leader Sharad Pawar.

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) show that the rate of conviction for Section 153A is very low.

In 2020, 1,804 cases were registered. However, the conviction rate in 2020 was 20.2%. It suggests that the process often becomes the punishment.

What are safeguards available against misuse of these laws?

There are safeguards against its misuse. Sections 153A and 153B require prior sanction from the government for initiating prosecution. But this is required before the trial begins, and not at the stage of preliminary investigation.

The Supreme Court laid down a set of guidelines in the Arnesh Kumar v State of Bihar, 2014 case. The police cannot automatically arrest an accused before investigation for offences that carry a sentence of less than seven years.

In a 2021 ruling, the SC said that the state will have to prove intent for securing a conviction under Section 153A. The SC in this case quashed an FIR against the editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim.

As per SC, Words used in the alleged criminal speech should be judged from the standards of reasonable, strong-minded, firm and courageous men and not those of weak minds.

Not neutral: On India’s stand on Ukraine at the U.N.

News: There has been a year since the UN General Assembly’s voted on the resolution to criticise Russia on Ukraine invasion. The resolution called for a just and lasting peace.

The resolution was sponsored by more than 70 countries which demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities and appealed for accountability at international courts for rights violations and war crimes.

However, even adopting the resolution there has not been enough improvements in the situation.

Why has there not been much improvement in the situation?

The sponsors, led by the U.S., its allies, and European Union countries, did not call for peace talks because of the status quo advantage that lies with Russian forces.

Russia has claimed about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Hence, even Ukraine would not go for peace talks because it might lose its territories.

Belarus, which is an ally of Russia, has also suggested the peace talks. However, Russia has rejected it.

This has been the reason behind the increasing casualties in Ukraine and western sanctions have also not found favour with much of the world.

What has been the stand of India on the issue?

India has abstained from voting on any resolution at key UN bodies that has been critical of Russia.

India has given the reasons behind it that it wants to maintain a strategic autonomy and has stressed on diplomacy and dialogue as the only way forward.

It also wants to maintain neutrality and leave space for mediation.

India has decided to continue trade with Russia despite the sanctions imposed.

However, despite this, Russia has hardly given its attention to India’s call that “this era is not of war” and it is also unclear if Ukraine sees India as an unbiased mediator.

GS Paper 3

Slow path to peace in J&K

News- Union government is discussing a “proposal to withdraw the Indian Army completely from the Valley hinterland.

Why is the Union government considering the proposal to withdraw the Army from the Valley?

The levels of violence in J&K are decreasing since the August 5, 2019 decisions. It should lead to a reduction in the number of security forces deployed for internal security roles.

The Army is also facing manpower pressures. The two-year freeze on recruitment during Covid-19 has led to a shortage of around 1,20,000 soldiers. The enhanced deployment of troops along the LAC has exacerbated the problem.

Any reduction in internal security duties gives the Army an opportunity to right-size its force structure.

How should the proposal be implemented?

The manner of execution, in terms of timing and phasing, will be the key to success.

Timing– Assessing normalcy requires us to look at external and internal factors impacting the situation in J&K.

The external factor has been weakened. Pakistan’s ability to support the terror activities today stands diminished. This is due to India’s strong response to terrorist acts and weak political, economic, and internal security scenario in Pakistan.

The internal factors need to be addressed. These include bringing the security situation under control, tackling radicalisation, meeting the aspirations of the people, bringing economic development, and resumption of political activity.

The security situation today is stable. But, it would be prudent to take some more time to tackle the underlying causes comprehensively.

Phasing– Handing over areas to the CRPF should be done in a phased manner. The start could be made in the Jammu region. Here, the CRPF can take over the complete responsibility for counter-terror operations. A few RR units could be kept as a reserve for any contingency that may arise.

After the stabilisation of the CRPF deployment in the Jammu region, the second phase could be the handover of the Kashmir hinterland to the CRPF. Bulk of RR units can be disbanded, except for a few that could act as reserves.

However, handing over some districts in Kashmir on an experimental basis is not recommended. It would create problems of operational integrity, intelligence collection, and command and control issues with neighbouring forces operating under different ministries.

Phasing is being suggested for two primary reasons. Today, the Army, CRPF, and J&K police work in synergy.

The Army possess highly trained soldiers, logistics, communication, engineering, and medical support. In the absence of the Army, this capability void would need to be filled up.

The initial deployment of CRPF in the Jammu region could provide valuable lessons in this regard before they take up responsibility in the Kashmir valley.

The phased deployment would also ensure that the complete RR is not quickly disbanded. This is India’s most experienced counter-terrorism force for J&K. It would be prudent to ensure that the situation is stabilised before we lose this capability.

Banga Message – On Appointment of Indians in

News-  Ajay Banga has been nominated as World Bank president.

What are the issues faced by WB (World Bank) and IMF(International Monetary Fund)?

WB and IMF is certainly in dire need of reform.

The US and EU have controlled the leadership of the two institutions. It does not reflect the actual economic weight of their global membership.

What is the significance of the Banga nomination for American Indians?

The nomination marks an important trend in India diaspora’s performance. They have achieved high- profile positions in the business world in the US.

YouTube’s Neal Mohan, Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Novratis’s Vasant Narasimhan are just some of the names in the CEO list .

Banga’s nomination shows their rising profile in US politics and governance.

What are the lessons for India?

Banga’s US citizenship was a prerequisite for the top WB job.

If India’s economic heft grows, it will be successful in pushing reforms at WB and IMF. It will be able to nominate its own citizen for this.

Getting there needs to create opportunities like the US. Many more Indians should be able to rise to the top without travelling to America.

Cyberattacks are rising, but there is an ideal patch

News: There has been an increase in Ransomware attacks in India. The attack on AIIMS and on the parent’s company of Solar Industries Limited are some of the examples.

These incidents highlight the need for mechanisms and laws that prevent such attacks.

What is Ransomware and what are threats from it?

Read Here: What is a Ransomware?

According to the data, over 75% of Indian organisations have faced such attacks.

Further, as India is moving towards digitisation, every critical infrastructure, from transportation, power and banking systems, would become extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

There has also been misuses of the cyber capabilities in the Ukraine war like hacking and GPS jamming.

Hence, cyber security has emerged as a serious concern for nations including India and a comprehensive cyber security policy is the need of the hour.

What are some cyber security policies present in India?

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): It introduced a set of guidelines in 2022 that included the mandatory obligation to report cyber-attack incidents within hours of identifying them, and designating a pointsperson with domain knowledge to interact with CERT-In.

Digital Personal Protection Bill 2022: The draft bill proposes a penalty of up to ₹500 crore for data breaches.

Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA): It has recently been created by armed forces which is capable of offensive and defensive manoeuvres.

What are the challenges with India in cyber security?

Lack of cybersecurity tools: Most organisations lack the tools to identify cyberattacks.

Scarcity of cybersecurity professionals: India faces an acute scarcity of cybersecurity professionals.

Lack of participation of private sectors: Most of the organisations in India are in the private sector, and their participation remains limited in India’s cybersecurity structures. Hence, they should also come together like the Digital Geneva Convention.

Under the convention, over 30 global companies have signed a declaration to protect users and customers from cyber breaches and collaborate with like-minded intergovernmental and state frameworks.

Increasing Risk: There are risks of increasing cyber-attacks in the future with the introduction of 5G and the arrival of quantum computing.

What are some efforts taken by India at the global level to prevent cyber-attacks?

India has signed cybersecurity treaties with countries like the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, South Korea and the European Union.

There are also efforts in Quad and the I2U2 (which India is a member of) to enhance cooperation in cyber incident responses, technology collaboration, capacity building, and in the improvement of cyber resilience.

United Nations General Assembly has also established two processes – a) Open-ended Working Group (OEWG), comprising the entire UN membership, b) the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE), comprising 25 countries from all the major regions.

However, there are differences amongst the member nations of these groupings and there is also a lack of global framework on cyber security.

What is the way forward for India?

India is presiding over the G20 this year. Therefore, it could make an effort to conceptualise a global framework of common minimum acceptance for cybersecurity.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Medicinal plant commonly called Borthekera in Assamese found to have cardioprotective potential

Source: The post is based on the article “Medicinal plant commonly called Borthekera in Assamese found to have cardioprotective potential” published in PIB on 24th February 2023

What is the News?

A medicinal plant commonly called ‘Bor Thekera’ in the Assamese language, traditionally forbidden for raw consumption, has been found to protect from heart diseases.

What is Bor Thekera?

Garcinia pedunculata popularly known as Bor Thekera in Assamese, is an evergreen tree related to the more familiar purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana).

The tree is endemic to the south-eastern regions of Asia such as parts of Myanmar and north-eastern parts of India.

Uses: The sun-dried slices of the Bor Thekera are used for culinary and medicinal purposes and are known to have therapeutic properties like anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, nephroprotective, and even neuroprotective activity.

– Multiple studies have been reported that G.pedunculata is a rich source of antioxidants. 

– In Assam, such slices are much valued and used for preparing delicacies like “tenga diya masor jol” meaning Assamese sour fish curry.

What have the scientists found about Bor Thekera?

Scientists have conducted a study to explore the medicinal plant “Bor Thekera” potential to prevent heart diseases.

They found that administration of the dried pulp of the ripe fruit of Bor Thekera reduced cardiac hypertrophy indicators and oxidative stress and heart inflammation.

MGNREGS: Over 40% of gram panchayats do not report digital attendance

Source: The post is based on the article “MGNREGS: Over 40% of gram panchayats do not report digital attendance” published in The Hindu on 25th February 2023

What is the News?

Recently, the Union Government had made it mandatory that the attendance for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers be captured through a mobile application, National Mobile Monitoring System(NMMS).

However, over 40% of gram panchayats have not reported digital attendance through the app.

Note: Only community work under MGNREGS requires NMMS.

What is the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app?

Launched in: 2021 by Ministry of Rural Development

Aim: To bring more transparency and ensure proper monitoring of the schemes. 

Features: The App is applicable for the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers for all the States/ Union Territories.

– It permits taking real-time attendance of workers at Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worksites along with geo-tagged photographs. This helps in increasing citizen oversight of the programme.

What are the issues with making NMMS App mandatory for MGNREGA workers?

Poor internet connectivity, little access to smartphones, and glitches in the app have created a problem in the daily activities of the workers.

Many workers have also complained that the process is very difficult, and they are illiterate. 

42% Indian students meet global minimum proficiency level: Study

Source: The post is based on the article “42% Indian students meet global minimum proficiency level: Study” published in TOI on 25th February 2023

What is the News?

Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) has released The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy report. 

What is the purpose of the report?

Source: TOI

The report captures the role of language in education and focuses on improving the learning outcomes using appropriate assessments and medium of instruction. 

The report continues to be a benchmark for states and union territories to track their performance relative to their peers in achieving universal foundational learning by 2026-27.

Key findings of the report: The report said that 250 million Indian students were affected adversely due to the pandemic and that recovering from the learning loss required more effort than simply reopening classrooms.

What do the other reports say about India’s Foundational Literacy?

According to a study by Stanford University’s Institute for Competitiveness, around 42% of students surveyed across India achieved global minimum proficiency while 37% partially met it in mathematics.

According to UNICEF, nearly two-thirds of 10-year olds globally are unable to read and understand a simple text. 

According to a World Bank assessment, in India, around 50% kids lack foundational learning. By the time they reach Class V, it becomes difficult for them to grasp what’s being taught and learn as per their grade level.

As per a World Bank 2021 report, it is estimated that 25% primary school kids in India face a moderate to severe disadvantage as a consequence of the fact that the language used at school is not their home language.

Why Venice’s famous canals are now drying

Source: The post is based on the article “Why Venice’s famous canals are now drying” published in Indian Express on 25th February 2023

What is the News?

A high-pressure system is stuck over Venice, creating low tides.This has led to low water levels and dry canals.However, experts suggest the root cause behind the issue is the drought-like situation across Italy.

About City of Venice:

Venice is located in northern Italy.

The city has a unique geography.It is a collection of over 118 small islands spread over a lagoon, which is a kind of water body that is separated from a larger water body through some kind of land formation.

The islands are located in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay that lies between the mouths of the Po and the Piave rivers.The Venetian lagoon is separated from the Adriatic Sea.

The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Why have some Venetian canals gone dry?

Since last summer, the City of Venice has been seeing a severe shortage of water in its rivers and lakes.

The Italian Alps have received nearly half of the normal snowfall during this winter. This is worrying as snow is an important source of water in spring and summer when, by melting, it ensures water supplies in the months it is most needed.

Meanwhile, Italy’s longest river, the Po, which travels from the Alps to the Adriatic, has 61% less water than normal at this time of year.

To make matters worse, Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda, is also suffering from low water levels.

Bengal reports 489 species in Great Backyard Bird Count 2023

Source: The post is based on the article “Bengal reports 489 species in Great Backyard Bird Count 2023” published in The Hindu on 25th February 2023

What is the News?

The findings of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2023 have been released.

What is the Great Backyard Bird Count(GBBC)?

The Great Backyard Bird Count(GBBC) was launched in 1988. It is a global bird count, during which thousands of birdwatchers all across the world look for birds for four days in February each year.

The event is supported by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. 

In India, GBBC is coordinated by the Bird Count India (BCI).

Note: BCI is an informal partnership of organizations and groups working together to increase collective knowledge about bird distributions and populations. 

What are the key findings of GBBC 2023?

West Bengal reported the highest number of species, followed by Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.

Kerala recorded the highest number of checklists of birds.

Lithium discovery important but mining hold risks

Source: The post is based on the article “Lithium discovery important but mining hold risks” published in Livemint on 25th February 2023

What is the News?

According to experts, discovery of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir is significant for India’s push towards electric vehicles but any environmental gains could be negated if it is not mined carefully.

Lithium discovery in Jammu and Kashmir:

The Geological Survey of India has identified a potential deposit of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium in Reasi district’s Salal-Haimana area in J&K.

The site is an “inferred resource” of the metal, which means it is at a preliminary exploration stage, the second of a four-step process.

Significance of this discovery:

The lithium reserves are significant, and can reduce India’s reliance on imports of lithium-ion cells, which are a key component for Electric Vehicles (EV) batteries and other clean energy technologies.

Risks involved in Lithium mining:

Lithium mining involves several risks.Approximately 2.2 million litres of water are needed to produce one tonne of lithium.Further, mining in the unstable Himalayan terrain is fraught with risks.

For instance, lithium mining in Chile, Argentina and Bolivia has led to concerns over soil degradation, water shortages and contamination, air pollution and biodiversity loss.

This is because the mining process is extremely water-intensive and also contaminates the landscape and the water supplies if not done in a sustainable method.

Moreover, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), about a fourth of the Earth’s known lithium deposits (88 million tonnes) would be economical to mine.

Applying this benchmark, India could probably economically extract 1.5 million tonnes of lithium from the 5.9 million tonnes discovered in preliminary studies.

Note: Economically here would mean that the resources and technology used to extract will give good return in terms of usage of the resource.

Union Minister says, India’s bioeconomy is poised to touch 300 billion USD (US Dollar) by 2030

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister says, India’s bioeconomy is poised to touch 300 billion USD (US Dollar) by 2030” published in PIB on 24th February 2023

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Science & Technology has said that India’s bioeconomy is poised to touch 300 billion USD (US Dollar) by 2030, with its rising innovation and scientific temper.

Government is also committed to enable Circular-Bio-economy by advancing ‘High- Performance Bio-manufacturing’ in the country.

What is Bioeconomy?

Click Here to read

What is Circular Bioeconomy?

The bioeconomy aims to drive both sustainable development and circularity. In particular, the principles of the circular economy — reuse, repair and recycle — are a fundamental part of the bioeconomy. 

Through reuse, repair and recycling, the total amount of waste and its impact is reduced. It also saves energy, minimizes pollution of soil, air and water, thus helping to prevent damage to the environment, climate and biodiversity.

India’s Bioeconomy sector

India’s bioeconomy is likely to touch USD 150 billion by 2025 and over USD 300 billion by 2030.

The country’s bioeconomy has reached over USD 80 billion in 2021, registering a 14.1% growth over USD 70.2 billion in 2020.

On average, at least three biotech startups were incorporated every day in 2021 (a total of 1,128 biotech startups set up in 2021) and the industry crossed USD 1 billion in research and development spending.

Bio-Industry got a fillip from India’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision and India becoming“energy independent” by 2047.

Bio-Agri which comprises Bt Cotton, pesticides, marine biotech, and animal biotech and has the potential to nearly double its Bioeconomy contribution from USD 10.5 billion to 20 billion in 2025.

International climate regime should move from a ‘country-centric’ approach to ‘people-centric’ approach: Union Minister

Source: The post is based on the article “International climate regime should move from a ‘country-centric’ approach to ‘people-centric’ approach: Union Minister” published in PIB on 24th February 2023

What is the News?

At the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2023, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs said that “The time has come for a paradigm shift in the international climate regime which has to move from a ‘country-centric’ approach to ‘people-centric’ approach to climate actions”.

What is the World Sustainable Development Summit(WSDS)?

World Sustainable Development Summit(WSDS) was instituted in 2001.It is the annual flagship initiative of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

It was earlier known as Delhi Sustainable Development Summit. 

Objective: It has been conceptualized as a single platform to accelerate action towards sustainable development and climate change.

– It aims to bring together global leaders and thinkers in the fields of sustainable development, energy and environment sectors on a common platform.

Theme for 2023: Mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience for Collective Action.

What are the key highlights from the Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs address at the summit?

On Sustainable development: The world is recovering from a once-in-a-century pandemic; there are geopolitical conflicts in parts of the world; the three-F crisis (food, fuel, fertilizer) threatens energy security and economic uncertainty will continue for the next couple of years.These issues are closely linked to the sustainable development.

Progress of India: The transformational progress of India in water and sanitation, housing, food, energy access, digital connectivity, and financial inclusion have led to an unprecedented ‘saturation of service’.This approach to development resonates with the ‘leave no one behind’ philosophy of the SDGs.

On SDGs: India has shown remarkable progress on numerous SDG targets without causing any negative spillovers while other countries have stagnated.The SDG Report 2022 highlights India’s particularly rapid improvement on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

India’s path towards Green transition: The Government is implementing many programmes for transition to a greener economy and efficient use of energy across various sectors. 

– We have increased ethanol blending in petrol from 1.53% in 2013-14 to 10.17% in July 2022, and have advanced our target to achieve 20% ethanol blending from 2030 to 2025-26. 

– India is launching a Global Alliance on Biofuels, along with USA and Brazil, during India’s Presidency of G20.