9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – January 12th, 2023

Dear Friends,

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

  1. Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today’s newspaper are readily available to you.
  2. 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
  3. We have also introduced the relevance part to every article. This ensures that you know why a particular article is important.
  4. Since these changes are new, so initially the number of articles might increase, but they’ll go down over time.
  5. 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 BriefClick Here
    • For individual articles of 9 PM BriefClick Here

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2


Reducing preterm births and stillbirths

Source– The post is based on the article “Reducing preterm births and stillbirths” published in The Hindu on 12th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Issues related to development and management of health

Relevance– Child and maternal health

News– The article explains the issue of child mortality caused by preterm births and stillbirths in India. It also explains the scenario of healthcare funding in India.

What are some statistics about child mortality in India?

The ‘Levels and Trends in Child Mortality’ report on child mortality by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation estimates that globally, five million children died before their fifth birthday in 2021.

India’s share in these child mortalities was estimated at 7,09,366 under-five deaths; 5,86,787 infant deaths; and 4,41,801 neonatal deaths.

The Sample Registration System of 2022 showed wide inter-State variations in child mortality in India. The infant mortality rate in Madhya Pradesh was six-fold of the rate in Kerala. The children in rural parts have much higher mortality rates than their urban counterparts.

What are the challenges that are at the root of child deaths in India?

There are two neglected challenges:

  1. Preterm births– It means they are born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. Preterm babies are two to four times at higher risk of death after birth in comparison to those born after 37 weeks of gestation.

India has a high burden of preterm births. One in every six to seven births is preterm. Studies have shown that preterm births contribute to one in every six under-five child deaths.

  1. Stillbirths– A baby who dies any time after 22 weeks of pregnancy, but before or during the birth, is classified as a stillborn. Globally, an estimated 1.9 million stillbirths happened in 2021. In 2021, the absolute estimated number of stillbirths in India was greater than the death amongst children in 1-59 months of age.

One of the reasons preterm births and stillbirths do not get due attention is lack of reliable data. The data on stillbirths and preterm births are scarce. Even at the global level, the first-ever report on stillbirths was released only in October 2020.

What is the way forward to prevent stillbirths and preterm births?

The majority of these births can be prevented by scaling up the proven interventions and improving the quality of health services.

The focus must be on increasing access to family planning services. There is a need to improve antepartum services such as health and nutrition, including the intake of iron folic acid by pregnant mothers. Further providing counselling on the importance of a healthy diet and identification and management of risk factors is also important.

There is a need for measures to prevent, detect early and manage diseases which put mothers at high risk, such as diabetes, hypertension.

Monitoring labour and functional referral linkages and improving the quality of health care services can help in preventing stillbirths.

Data on preterm births and stillbirths need to be better recorded and reported.

The maternal and perinatal deaths surveillance guidelines need to be effectively implemented and the International Classification of Diseases’ definition for perinatal mortality must be adopted.

India needs to identify the hot spot clusters of stillbirths and preterm births for local and targeted interventions.

Multi-stakeholder collaboration is needed for effective health interventions.

What is the scenario of funding for the healthcare sector in India?

In the National Health Policy of 2017, the government had committed to investing 2.5% of the GDP on health by 2025. Even by the best estimate, spending on health is around 1.5% of the GDP. It is among the lowest in the world.

There are multiple reasons why India’s health system needs more government funding. Children continue to die from preventable causes. Pregnant women do not receive good quality care. Inequities in the health system impact the poorest and marginalised families. The primary healthcare system is underfunded.


Mystery of vanishing monuments: Why we need to think about the way we preserve heritage

Source– The post is based on the article “Mystery of vanishing monuments: Why we need to think about the way we preserve heritage” published in The Indian Express on 12th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Architecture from ancient to modern India

Relevance– Preservation and management of heritage

News– The article explains the preservation and management of monuments in India. It also tells about missing monuments.

What does the 324th report of Rajya Sabha’s Standing Committee on transport, tourism and culture say about monuments and missing monuments in India?

The primary mandate of the Ministry of Culture is preservation and conservation of ancient cultural heritage and promotion of tangible and intangible art and culture. The Ministry manages all the Centrally Protected Monuments of national importance, through the ASI.

There are 3,693 Centrally Protected Monuments and 4,508 State Protected Monuments in the country. 92 monuments are missing.

Vigorous efforts to identify the reportedly untraceable monuments were carried out by the respective field offices of Archaeological Survey of India. The exercise gave fruitful results and many monuments were traced out. But, there are 24 that have still not been rediscovered.

What are some examples of missing monuments?

Barakhamba Cemetery in Delhi is a missing monument. Barakhamba simply means 12 pillars. It seems to have been in the Nizamuddin area.

Other missing monuments are the Kos Minars in Mujesar (Faridabad) and Shahabad (Kurukshetra). Kos Minars marked out the distance of one kosha and proliferated along the Grand Trunk Road.

What are important questions regarding monuments and its management by ASI?

First question is related to the method of deciding a national monument.

The second question is related to de-notification of those monuments for which there is no hope?

Another question is related to ASI capability to protect national monuments.


Does the governor have the right to delete portions of his address to the legislative assembly?

Source: The post is based on an article “Does the governor have the right to delete portions of his address to the legislative assembly?” published in The Indian Express on 12th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Governance

Relevance: issue associated with the Governor

News: The Tami Nadu Governor has sparked controversies after speaking outside the customary government-prepared address.

What are various constitutional provisions and judgements related to the role of the governor in addressing the assembly?

Constitutional provisions: Under Article 176(2(b)), the governor has the right to address the first session of the House. This address is an integral part of constitutional symbolism.

However, the Constitution has not given discretion to governors in the matter of convening the session of the assembly and Governors have no right to question the purpose of convening the sessions of the House.

Judgements: A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Nabam Rebia (2016) had observed that the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh who advanced the session of the assembly without the advice of the chief minister had exceeded his jurisdiction.

The Calcutta High Court in Andul Gafoor Habibullah v. Speaker, West Bengal Assembly (1966) held that the governor cannot decline to deliver his address and refuse to fulfil his constitutional duty. Thus, the address under Article 176 is mandatory.

However, the HC also held that when the governor fails to deliver his address under Article 176 and walks out of the House after laying down the address on the table of the House, will be considered as irregularity not illegality.

Therefore, the validity of the House proceedings cannot be challenged on the ground of irregularity under Article 212.

The Calcutta HC in another case held that the governor has the right to delete or not read irrelevant portions which do not deal with the policy of the government.

It observed that the Governor can exercise his discretion in leaving out of his address the irrelevant matter.

Moreover, as per the British convention since 1829, the governor must read the full speech as it is basically the government’s statement about which the governor like that of the British monarch has no responsibility.

What can be the implications of the governors editing/deleting the government prepared speech?

Governors editing/deleting the speech may create a constitutional crisis.

For example, the governor’s address is defeated when the chief minister refuses to defend the address of the governor leading the House to reject the resolution on the governor’s speech.

This defeat is considered as a no-confidence motion and the chief minister needs to resign.

Therefore, such a resignation for something that the government did not include in the ceremonial address but the governor had said on its own is undemocratic. Hence, the governor has no discretion in editing the address.

GS Paper 3


Delays, even with no jurisdiction

Source: The post is based on an article “Delays, even with no jurisdiction” published in Business Standard on 12th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Indian Economy

Relevance: problems with the IBC, 2016.

News: Judicial delays are acting as hindrance towards the insolvency process. It takes almost two years to admit an application and another two years to approve a resolution plan. This affects the purpose of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).

What are the issues with the IBC?

The IBC provides for a regulator in the form of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) which makes regulations relating to resolution processes.

It provides for an Adjudicating Authority (AA) to adjudicate matters in relation to insolvency proceedings. It designates the National Company Law Tribunal to act as the AA for corporate insolvency proceedings.

The market participants and insolvency professionals conduct processes in accordance with the IBC and the regulations and submit them to the AA for adjudication.

The AA provides that a tribunal cannot test the legality of the parent legislation but claims that it is competent to test the legality of regulations, including the competence of the IBBI to make a regulation.

Hence, AA has been striking down regulations in collateral proceedings which is one of the reasons behind the delay in insolvencies.

Moreover, other tribunals which have exceeded its jurisdiction have faced setbacks from the Supreme Court.

The Court ruled in 2010 (PTC India Ltd vs Central Electricity Regulatory Commission) and in 2013 (BSNL vs Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) that the appellate tribunal does not have the jurisdiction to entertain challenges to regulations framed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

What can be the way ahead?

The shift to a market economy required two major changes – a) the institutional environment and b) the institutional arrangement.

The IBC provides the institutional environment but it needs to evolve with the dynamics of the ecosystem for the institutional arrangement (regulators and tribunals) for implementing the law to work efficiently.

Therefore, these agencies need to discharge their assigned roles and not take over others’ roles for best results.


Reckless spree – Authorities must heed science and people living near mines, dams

Source: The post is based on the article “Reckless spree – Authorities must heed science and people living near mines, dams” published in The Hindu on 12th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Disaster and disaster management.

Relevance: About protecting Hilly areas.

News: The land subsidence in Joshimath has highlighted geological disasters that have in fact manifested across India.

What are the other geological disasters?

There have been reports of land subsidence from a) Jharia, Bhurkunda, Kapasara, Raniganj and Talcher coal mines, b) Delhi and Kolkata due to the over-extraction of groundwater, and c) Mehsana for hydrocarbons.

The land in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, began to sag shortly after a hydroelectric power project began test runs in the region.

Heavy rains in Aizawl triggered subsidence, exposing poor zoning enforcement and oversight of the regional carrying capacity.

Read more: Who Tunnels Through A Sinking Town?

What should be done to prevent further ecological disasters?

Accept scientific findings: Scientists from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Geophysical Research Institute set out to examine the circumstances of the subsidence in Joshimath. Both the national and the State governments must agree to the team’s findings, even if it means ceasing further construction work.

Repair and restore: The government must undertake whatever repair and restoration efforts it is undertaking at Joshimath at all the other sites as well.

Must read: A mountain reeling under human aggression

There is an argument to allow economically developing countries to emit more before becoming carbon-neutral. But that does not mean the government can plunder natural resources at the cost of climate justice.


Bhopal’s Real Lesson – Attempts to get more out of Carbide for the gas tragedy are futile. India needs good law on civil liability

Source: The post is based on the article “Bhopal’s Real Lesson – Attempts to get more out of Carbide for the gas tragedy are futile. India needs good law on civil liability” published in The Times of India on 12th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Disaster Management.

Relevance: About compensation for industrial disasters.

News: The government filed a writ petition against the 1989 settlement directing Union Carbide Corporation to pay $470 million (nearly Rs 750 crore) as damages for the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

This is because, the settlement was panned for short-changing the victims, for being inadequate for environmental repairs and as an ineffective financial deterrent against gross negligence.

About Bhopal Gas Tragedy, and What are SC’s remarks on increased compensation?

Read here: Bhopal tragedy compensation fund of ₹50cr unutilised: SC

The court held that demanding a settlement after over three decades could damage India’s investment climate.

What are the present issues with deciding compensation?

At present, tourts are arbitrarily deciding compensation. For instance, a) SC reduced the compensation decreed by Delhi high court to be paid in the Uphaar fire tragedy, b) SC set aside a Madras HC order that closed the Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin but ordered the company to deposit Rs 100 crore with the district administration as pollution damages.

So to prevent such adhocism by the government and judiciary, comprehensive legislation is needed. It will help in promptly and accurately fixing civil liability for negligent conduct.


India’s e-bus adoption ambitions require a financially sound plan

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s e-bus adoption ambitions require a financially sound plan” published in the Livemint on 12th January 2023.

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

Relevance: About e-bus adoption.

News: At CoP-26 in Glasgow, India committed itself to a net-zero target by 2070 and set ambitious goals to achieve by 2030. Electrification of India’s public bus fleet is an important aspect of the agenda for clean energy to replace fossil fuels in the transport sector and help to curb carbon emissions.

What are the steps taken for e-bus adoption?

e-bus auctions: In 2022, India opened a window for ‘Grand Challenge’ bids. One of the world’s biggest tenders for electric buses, it sought 5,450 e-buses in five major cities.

Partnership agreements: State transport corporations (STC) form agreements with private players to operate buses in partnerships. Under this, the private operator procures buses, complete with batteries and battery charging systems, operates and maintains them, and the STCs provide land, infrastructure and other support.

What are the advantages of e-bus adoption?

The major advantages are its potential to address concerns of air pollution, climate change and, most importantly, escalating fuel bills. The other major advantage is,

Low operating cost: According to government tenders operating costs of e-buses were a modest ₹47.49 per km for the most expensive 12m low-floor air-conditioned e-bus. This is almost 30% less than the price of operating a diesel bus and 25-40% less than the price found by tendering processes for smaller quantities.

Read more: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways -Annual report ‘Road accidents in India — 2021’

What are the challenges in e-bus adoption?

High initial cost: Each e-bus costs about ₹1-1.5 crore. For companies to deliver buses against this tender, they have to raise a minimum of 70% as debt.

Financial condition of STCs: Of India’s 72 STCs, only six are financially stable. the rest have been loss-making for years. The average earnings of an STC is ₹35- 40-per-km, whereas the cost-per-km (of operating diesel buses) is upwards of ₹90.

Further, the financial health of STCs does not help them to procure loans as they have historical payment delays and failures.

What should be done to increase India’s e-bus adoption rate?

Project financing is key: The government must provide payment security, just as it has done for the renewable energy sector in a transformational way. It could start with a payment security fund until a longer-term institutional solution is put in place.

Dedicated institution: The public transport system in India needs a dedicated institution, like Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), to de-risk the market and raise capital. This entity needs to be capable of handling contract processes and also providing the necessary bankability to contracts. Over time, it could become the one-stop-shop responsible for the deployment of electric mobility in India.

Tripartiate agreements: A tripartite agreement should be signed between the Centre, state governments and Reserve Bank of India. This should ensure state government guarantees on STC payments.


Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Atmospheric rivers: California’s record-breaking storm: What is the ‘Pineapple Express’ phenomenon underlying it

Source: The post is based on the article “California’s record-breaking storm: What is the ‘Pineapple Express’ phenomenon underlying it” published in the Indian Express on 12th January 2023.

What is the News?

Forecasters in the US have said that the rain arriving in California is caused by a “true Pineapple Express” -a specific example of a common atmospheric phenomenon resembling a conveyor belt for moisture.

Note: The global conveyor belt is a “constantly moving system” in the ocean driven by changes in temperature and salinity. 

What are atmospheric rivers?

Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport most of the water vapor outside the tropics.

Occurance: These rivers in the sky often occur on the US’s West Coast but can happen in other locations, including the eastern United States.

Moisture content: These rivers often channel moisture from the Caribbean. They carry a lot of moisture which is enough to equal or sometimes exceed the average flow of the Mississippi River at the point where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

How do atmospheric rivers aid rainfall or storms?

When atmospheric river moisture begins to interact with land, it can fall as rain or snow. These rivers provide a continuous flow of moisture so, the precipitation will usually be abundant.

According to the NOAA, between 30% and 50% of the annual precipitation on the US’s West Coast occurs from just a few atmospheric river events.

Over the past two weeks, California and other parts of the West Coast have been hit with a series of atmospheric rivers.

What are atmospheric river families, and what are their impacts?

When the atmospheric rivers come back-to-back then they are called “atmospheric river families”. The effects can be serious, like extensive flooding.

What is a true Pineapple Express?

Atmospheric rivers come in different shapes and sizes. A Pineapple Express is a strong atmospheric river that builds up in the tropical pacific, according to the NOAA.

Some necessary conditions for pineapple express are, a) The moisture is pulled from the tail end. This tail end must start near Hawaii, b) The river must stretch continuously through the atmosphere to the U.S. West Coast.


How the VSHORAD missile system will boost the Indian Army’s mountain warfare prowess

Source: The post is based on the article “How the VSHORAD missile system will boost the Indian Army’s mountain warfare prowess” published in the Indian Express on 12th January 2023.

What is the News?

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to procure the Very Short Range Air Defence System or VSHORAD (IR Homing) missile system.

What is a Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORAD)?

Read here: Successful Flight Tests of Very Short Range Air Defence System(VSHORADS) Missile by DRDO

Incorporation of technologies: The missile is propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor. The missile incorporates many novel technologies including a miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics. The DRDO has designed the missile and its launcher in a way to ensure easy portability.

How will VSHORAD help India?

Deployed faster: Being man-portable and lightweight compared to the other missile systems in the Army’s armoury, it can be deployed in the mountains close to the LAC and rugged terrain at a short notice.

Strengthen India’s air defence capabilities: Others like the Akash Short Range Surface to Air Missile System are heavier with a theatre air defence umbrella of up to 25 km and can be deployed further away from the LAC for static formations.

Overall, the VSHORAD will be the best option for mountain warfare.


Centre earmarks ₹2,600 crore as incentive for banks to promote digital payments

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre earmarks ₹2,600 crore as incentive for banks to promote digital payments” published in The Hindu on 12th January 2023

What is the News?

The Union Cabinet approved an outlay of ₹2,600 crore incentive scheme to promote payments using RuPay cards and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

How will the scheme promote payments using RuPay cards and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)?

promote payments using RuPay cards and UPI
Source: The Hindu

Under the scheme, banks will be provided financial incentives for promoting Point-of-Sale (PoS) and e-commerce transactions using RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (P2M) for the current financial year.

The fund will be paid to banks in view of the lack of a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) — a commission on digital transactions — for UPI and RuPay transactions.

The scheme will also promote UPI Lite and UPI 123PAY as economical and user-friendly digital payment solutions and enable further deepening of digital payments in the country.

Significance: This incentive scheme will facilitate the building of a robust digital payment ecosystem and promote RuPay Debit Card and BHIM-UPI digital transactions. 

What is Unified Payments Interface(UPI)?

Click here to read

What are RuPay cards?

RuPay is a product of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating indigenous retail payments and settlement systems in India. 

RuPay is India’s indigenous payment network.The name, derived from the words ‘rupee’ and ‘payment’, indicates that it is India’s own initiative for card payments. 

Products offered by Rupay: RuPay has both debit and credit cards on offer for individuals and corporates. It also has prepaid and ‘Kisan Credit Card’ as well. It also offers a ‘contactless’ card that facilitates transactions with a single tap, thereby making payments without revealing crucial card details.

Advantages of Rupay: Banks that issue RuPay cards enjoy an advantage because they don’t need to pay network registration fees, unlike in the case of a MasterCard or Visa registration. This is because RuPay is a domestic framework. Thanks to a zero merchant discount rate, banks charge nothing on UPI and RuPay card transactions.

What are UPI Lite and UPI 123 Pay?

UPI LITE is a new payment solution that leverages a trusted technology to process low-value transactions that have been set at below ₹200. 

UPI 123PAY is an instant payment system for feature phone users who can use UPI payment service in a safe and secure manner.


Godavari estuary has become prime habitat for Indian skimmer: expert

Source: The post is based on the article Godavari estuary has become prime habitat for Indian skimmer: expertpublished in The Hindu on 12th January 2023

What is the News?

The Godavari estuary in Andhra Pradesh has become a prime and safe habitat for the Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis).

Great Knot and Caspian Terns have also been sighted in good numbers during the census.

What is an Indian Skimmer?

Click Here to read

What is Great Knot?

Click Here to read

What are Caspian Terns?

Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world, easily recognized by its brilliant red fish-knife of a bill and deep, raspy call. 

Found all over the world, the Caspian Tern favors both freshwater and saltwater environments. 

It feeds mostly on fish, captured in nimble aerial dives. 

They migrate nocturnally and in autumn their rolling calls are sometimes heard overhead during the night.

IUCN Status: Least Concern

What is Godavari Estuary?

The Godavari estuary is situated at the place where the 1330 km long Godavari meets the Bay of Bengal on the east coast of India in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary situated in Andhra Pradesh is part of Godavari Estuary.

Godavari Sanctuary including the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), is one of the rarest eco-regions on the earth. It is home to India’s second-largest mangrove cover after the Sundarbans. 


Vice-President says court can’t dilute Parliament’s sovereignty

Source: The post is based on the article “Vice-President says court can’t dilute Parliament’s sovereignty” published in The Hindu on 11th January 2023

What is the News?

The Vice President of India has addressed the 83rd All-India Presiding Officer’s conference.

What are the key highlights from his address?

On Basic Structure: He cited the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 judgment in the Kesavananda Bharati case in which it ruled that Parliament had the authority to amend the Constitution but not its basic structure

He said that he cannot subscribe to the idea of a basic structure as laid down by the Supreme Court, where Parliament can amend the Constitution but not its basic structure.

He asked should the power of the Parliament to amend the constitution be dependent on any other institution.

Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, he said it must be remembered that the Constitution never envisaged a Third and Superior Chamber for Parliament to grant approval to the legislation passed by the two Houses.

On National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill: Vice President said there was complete unanimity in the Lok Sabha while passing the Constitutional Amendment Bill. In Rajya Sabha, there was unanimity but there was one abstention.

But in 2015, the Supreme Court held both the 99th Constitution Amendment Act, 2014 and the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 unconstitutional on the premise of being in violation of the basic structure.

He called the striking down of the NJAC Act a “severe compromise” of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the “mandate of the people”. 


White tufted royal butterfly, a rare species, found in Kerala’s Kannur

Source: The post is based on the article “White tufted royal butterfly, a rare species, found in Kerala’s Kannur” published in TOI on 12th January 2023

What is the News?

A team of butterfly observers and researchers have found white tufted royal butterfly, a rare butterfly species in Kannur, Kerala.

What is White tufted royal butterfly?

White tufted royal butterfly is a rare butterfly species.

It is protected under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act. 

The wingspan of the butterfly is just 32-40 mm. Its larvae feed on Scurrula parasitica, a plant belonging to the Loranthaceae family.

The species had been spotted in Agasthyakoodam in 2017 and the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.

Significance of finding: There were eight species of the butterfly. While two are common, the others are rare. Since we are able to get the egg, the life cycle of the butterfly can be documented. 

Threats: The survival of such rare species is under severe threat and steps should be taken to protect the hills. 


Centre notifies protocols to make flying easy for disabled

Source: The post is based on the articleCentre notifies protocols to make flying easy for disabledpublished in TOI on 12th January 2023

What is the News?

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has released the ‘Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for Civil Aviation’.

What are Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for Civil Aviation?

These are standards and guidelines to allow persons with disabilities easier access to airport infrastructure, the facilities and features that airlines need to provide, as well as the security protocols they need to follow. 

These guidelines are in line with the mandate set out by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

What are the key provisions of the guidelines?

The airport operator will have to provide accessible and reserved parking, along with drop-off/ pick-up points. The parking area should also be connected to the building entrance through an accessible route.

The guidelines call for a helpdesk near the entry gate, proper signage, designated seating at check-in, security hold and boarding gates that also allow display boards to be seen and announcements to be heard clearly. 

Accessible toilets and drinking water facilities must be offered in common areas.

All airports should provide either an aerobridge or an ambulift to facilitate the movement of people with reduced mobility. 

In case a ramp or another facility is not available, the passenger could be seated in a wheelchair, which can then be lifted manually.

Airlines have to make their website, apps and forms accessible to such passengers. Flyers with an impairment have to inform airlines about their requirements 48 hours prior to departure.

Screening points should have full-body scanners/door frame metal detectors, chairs and walking aids. If a flyer expresses concerns about being checked using any of these devices, they can request a private, physical search.


Corbusier’s vision for Chandigarh: The genius & the flaws

Source: The post is based on the article “Corbusier’s vision for Chandigarh: The genius & the flaws” published in Indian Express on 12th January 2023

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and the Chandigarh administration to take a number of steps to preserve Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh.

Who was Le Corbusier?

Le Corbusier was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner and one of the pioneers of what is now regarded as modern architecture. 

In 2016, seventeen projects by Le Corbusier in seven countries were inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement. Chandigarh is one of the sites.

What are the key features of Le Corbusier Chandigarh Plan?

Corbusier’s plan would have a heart and a head, where the “head” would contain the Capital Complex and the “heart” the commercial area. 

The “hands” would host recreational spaces and academic institutions. His rectangular grid encouraged self-sufficient units, dividing the city into different sectors.

He planned for the city to be built in two phases, where Phase I would contain Sectors 1 to 30 for 150,000 people, while Sectors 31-47 would host a denser population of nearly half a million. 

To do this, locals were evicted and refugees shown the door. Records claim nearly 28,000 people had to leave the land. The government bought it all under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894, allowing the inhabitants to remain as tenants.

Why has Le Corbusier’s plan for Chandigarh been criticized?

Chandigarh became home to the wealthy and the government officials, the poor were excluded from Corbusier’s master plan. 

Critics also mention that besides segregating housing based on income, another flaw was that the wage earners’ location outside city limits made it tedious for them to access jobs. 

Hence, there is a saying that Chandigarh is a well-designed city, not a well-planned city.


Indian football has Vision 2047 but does it have the legs?

Source: The post is based on the article “Indian football has Vision 2047 but does it have the legs?” published in Hindustan Times on 11th January 2023

What is the News?

The All India Football Federation(AIFF) has unveiled its strategic roadmap titled ‘Vision 2047’. The plan hopes that in the country’s centenary year of independence, India will emerge as a new powerhouse of Asian football.

AIFF has broken down ‘Vision 2047’ into six four-year strategic plans. The first of these will look to cover the period till 2026.

What are the key features of AIFF Vision 2047?

National Football Philosophy: The national football philosophy of India would be based on collecting data from scouting, creating a technical curriculum, focusing on coach and player development and hoping it would translate into a talent pool for the national team.

– As part of this, the AIFF will develop the Coach Education Program to improve the quality of football at all levels of the ecosystem.

Top Footballing nation in Asia: The roadmap envisions India to be among the top four footballing nations in Asia, host one of the top leagues in Asia, and create a vibrant footballing ecosystem.

Village Grassroots Programmes: AIFF aims to implement village grassroots programmes to reach 35 million children across 100 villages throughout India and also aim to register 1 million registered players and provide football education to 25 million children through Football for Schools.

Increase Women Participation: A four-level league table pyramid will be created for women’s football by 2026 with the top of the pyramid to be occupied by the Indian Women’s League (featuring 10 teams), followed by the 2nd Division (8 teams). 

– AIFF has also targeted a minimum of 20 states to implement the new women’s youth structures by 2027.

Football infrastructure: The AIFF will improve infrastructure by putting in place policy interventions that will incentivise government authorities, football clubs, corporates, and private investors to invest in infrastructure.

What is the All India Football Federation (AIFF)?

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is the national governing body of football in India. It is a member of FIFA, the international governing body of football and affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation.

It is affiliated to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and is a member of the South Asian Football Federation. 

The AIFF manages, sanctions, conducts, schedules and runs all national-level football tournaments and leagues in India, including major tournaments Indian Super League, I-League and Super Cup. 

The federation is currently based in Delhi. 


Cabinet approves Setting up of a national level multi-state cooperative seed society under Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002

Source: The post is based on the articleCabinet approves Setting up of a national level multi-state cooperative seed society under Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002published in PIB on 12th January 2023

What is the News?

The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of three new cooperative bodies under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act,2002.

Which are these three new cooperative societies?

National multi-state cooperative export society: It will provide thrust to exports from the cooperative sector by acting as an umbrella organization for carrying out and promoting exports. This will help unlock the export potential of Indian cooperatives in global markets. 

– The society will also help cooperatives in getting benefits of various export-related schemes and policies of different ministries of the Government of India

– Benefits: Higher exports through the proposed society will increase the production of goods and services by the cooperatives at various levels, thus leading to more employment in the cooperative sector. Processing of goods and enhancing the services to match international standards will also generate additional employment. 

National multi-state cooperative organic society: It will manage various activities related to the organic sector by providing certified and authentic organic products. 

– It will also help cooperatives and ultimately their farmer members in getting benefits of high price of organic products through aggregation, branding and marketing on a large scale by facilitating testing and certification at affordable cost.

National multi-state cooperative seed society: It will act as an apex organization: 1) For production, procurement, processing, branding, labelling, packaging, storage, marketing and distribution of quality seeds, 2) For strategic research and development and 3) to develop a system for preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds.

– The society will also help to increase the seed replacement rate, and varietal replacement rate, ensuring the role of farmers in quality seed cultivation and seed variety trials.


India’s urban water crisis-From Bengaluru to Chennai and beyond

Source-This post on India’s urban water crisis-From Bengaluru to Chennai and beyond has been created based on the article “How to fix India’s urban water crisis, from Bengaluru to Chennai and beyond” published in “The Indian Express” on 28 March 2024. UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper 1- Urbanization, their problems and their remedies Context– Bengaluru is experiencing… Continue reading India’s urban water crisis-From Bengaluru to Chennai and beyond

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Limitation of Welfare Policies Politics in India

Source-This post on Limitation on Welfare Policies Politics in India has been created based on the article “Welfare is on the agenda of all political parties. But is it adequate” published in “The Indian Express” on 28 March 2024. UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2– Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States… Continue reading Limitation of Welfare Policies Politics in India

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Challenges of implementing a wealth tax: Piketty’s wealth tax: An idea that just can’t work

Source: The post challenges of implementing a wealth tax has been created, based on the article “Piketty’s wealth tax: An idea that just can’t work” published in “Live mints” on 28th March 2024. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy – Inclusive growth and issues News: This article discusses the rise in billionaires… Continue reading Challenges of implementing a wealth tax: Piketty’s wealth tax: An idea that just can’t work

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Avoid pre-trial injunctions against the media in defamation cases: Timely restatement

Source: The post avoid pre-trial injunctions against the media in defamation cases has been created, based on the article “Timely restatement” published in “The Hindu” on 28th March 2024. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-polity-judiciary News: The article discusses the Supreme Court’s recent judgment advising courts to avoid pre-trial injunctions against the media in defamation… Continue reading Avoid pre-trial injunctions against the media in defamation cases: Timely restatement

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Impact of politics on humanitarian aid: The politics of humanitarian aid

Source: The post impact of politics on humanitarian aid has been created, based on the article “The politics of humanitarian aid” published in “The Hindu” on 28th March 2024. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-International Relations-Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interests. News: The article discusses how politics often… Continue reading Impact of politics on humanitarian aid: The politics of humanitarian aid

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Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD): WTO’s investment facilitation negotiations are not illegal

Source: The post Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) has been created, based on the article “WTO’s investment facilitation negotiations are not illegal” published in “The Hindu” on 28th March 2024. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-International Relations-Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate. News: The article discusses India’s opposition to the Investment Facilitation… Continue reading Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD): WTO’s investment facilitation negotiations are not illegal

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Sustainable building materials

Source-This post on sustainable building materials has been created based on the article “On sustainable building materials” published in “The Hindu” on 26 March 2024. UPSC Syllabus–GS Paper-3- Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment. Context- India housing construction sector is booming, with over 3,00,000 housing units built annually. However, the building sector is a… Continue reading Sustainable building materials

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2nd Employment Working Group (EWG)

Source-This post on Employment Working Group (EWG) 2023  is based on the article “India At G20 2nd Employment Working Group Meeting At Brasilia” published in “PIB” on 27th March 2024. Why in the News? Recently, the 2nd Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting held under the Brazilian Presidency in Brasilia. About 2nd Employment Working Group (EWG)… Continue reading 2nd Employment Working Group (EWG)

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50,000-year-old magnetofossil

Source-This post on 50,000-year-old magnetofossil is based on the article “Goa scientists find 50,000-year-old magnetic fossils in Bay of Bengal” published in “The Hindu” on 26th March 2024. Why in the News? Recently, scientists have found 50,000-year-old magnetic fossils in the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the youngest giant magnetofossils to be found… Continue reading 50,000-year-old magnetofossil

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Meme coins

Source-This post on meme coins is based on the article “Explainer: What are meme coins and should you add them in your portfolio?“ published in “Business Standard” on 25th March 2024. Why in the News? Recently, meme coins have gained significant popularity in the digital currency space. About Meme Coins 1. About: Meme coins are… Continue reading Meme coins

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