9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – January 27th, 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• Remembering the Holocaust

GS Paper 2

• Voter turnout: Targeting 75%: With migration on the rise, EC must evolve strategies so that migrants don’t lose out on voting day
• Keeping faith – On India- Pakistan Relations
• Credibility of govt accounting – On Public Account Committees
• Reservations in super-speciality courses: The Dravadian model of public health
• A proposal that has stirred up questions of IAS control

GS Paper 3

• Unlock India’s food processing potential
• A brief history of Indian budgets as economic constraints shifted
• Lesson from Air India sale: Do more by doing less
• The consequences of an ill-considered green strategy
• “Taxing Drama-on Retroactive tax disputes”

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Negative Ion Technology: Adding radioactive substances in wearables unjustified
• Western Naval Command conducts Joint maritime exercise Paschim Lehar (XPL-2022)
• Year-End Review-2021- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
• Year End Review: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
• Kerala gets its first ever scientific bird atlas
• Explained: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refused Padma award – is the recipient’s consent sought?
• Spot-billed pelicans dying en masse in Andhra Pradesh
• This winter has been colder, wetter, and largely fogless. Here is why
• Anti-dumping duty: India probes China, Vietnam over ‘dumping’ of vinyl tiles
• Explained: ISRO’s SSLV, a small satellite launcher with big prospects ahead

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Remembering the Holocaust

News: United Nations marked 27th January every year as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

What is International Holocaust Remembrance Day?

The day marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in January 1945. It provides an opportunity to recount the atrocities of the Holocaust that resulted in the death of an estimated 6 million Jews.

Why there is a need to remember the holocaust?

As society moves away from the holocaust, forces of antisemitism, racial and religious intolerance, discrimination, and hate speech pose new challenges to global civilization and values. The Anti-Defamation League Global 100, An index of antisemitism, found that an estimated 1 billion people harbor antisemitism attitudes. It was found that

Across Asia, only 23% of persons surveyed had heard of the Holocaust and believed the historical account.

North America and Europe show that younger people are less likely to be aware of the historical accounts of the Holocaust, with less than half of those surveyed under the age of 35 has ever heard of the Holocaust.

Why India’s youth is vulnerable to hate speech and racial ideologies?

India growing global efforts towards digitization provides an opportunity to expand youth networks. But misinformation on social media needs to be monitored, as it can leave youth vulnerable to hate speech online and racial ideologies.

According to the Center for Countering Digital Hatred, online hate speech is more challenging for languages other than English, as social media companies like Facebook and YouTube lack global content moderation teams.

This marks the importance of empowering youth with knowledge, educating them about the Holocaust and antisemitism today to deepen reflection about contemporary issues that affect societies around the world, like the power of extremist ideologies, propaganda, the abuse of official power, group-targeted hate etc.

What steps did world countries initiate to educate students about the holocaust?

India: through its National Education Policy 2020, already creates a fertile ground for working on Holocaust education programmes.

Embassies of Israel and Germany: Together with the support of UNESCO, are organizing a workshop on antisemitism for policymakers, school principals and educators. The aim is to equip educators with the knowledge and use history to teach the lesson of ‘Never Again’.

What should be the way forward?

As the memory of the Holocaust fades, its lessons must not. It is important that youth are given the knowledge to combat myths and falsehood. Only this can lead to an enlightened society.

GS Paper 2

Voter turnout: Targeting 75%: With migration on the rise, EC must evolve strategies so that migrants don’t lose out on voting day

News:  Indian PM urge citizens and party workers to achieve 75% voter turnout in upcoming elections. As it is achievable due to the extraordinary work done by the Election Commission to expand the voting rights of citizens.

How India electoral process is different from the USA?

Indian Constitution makers favoured an independent constitution body “Election Commission” to oversee elections. This works better than the US model of a decentralized electoral process. That model is sewing chaos and leading to voter suppression.

In fact, owing to the efforts of the Election Commission, India has moved in the direction of easier enrolment and improved access to voting for citizens.

What are the achievements of the Election Commission in voter turnout?

The body gave special attention to regions with low women enrolment. This resulted in new female voters having grown at a faster rate (5.1%) than male voters (3.6%) and also resulted in increased female participation in elections. For e.g. Bihar in 2020 has witnessed 60% of eligible women turning out to vote against 54% of men.

What are the areas of voter turnout, that needs the Election Commission’s attention?

It has been noticed that urban voters are not turning up for voting despite rapid urbanization. Voting percentages in 2017 Mumbai’s BMC and Delhi’s MCD elections were low at 52% and 54%, respectively. Similarly, in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Chennai’s turnout was 61% against TN’s 73%, Bengaluru’s was 48% against Karnataka’s 58%, and Hyderabad’s 52% against undivided AP’s 72%.

According to the 2017 EPW paper, the authors argued that it is recent migrants to cities that are not turning out to vote. With increasing internal migration, migrants are losing their votes at their source and destination. This needs the immediate attention of the Election Commission.

Keeping faith – On India- Pakistan Relations

News: Recently, Pakistan Hindu Council has sent a proposal to India to allow pilgrims of both countries to travel by air to avoid complicated procedures. The proposal is sent at a time when other India-Pakistan exchanges are suspended.

What is the scenario in religious exchanges?

First, the Kartarpur corridor came up in 2019 due to attempts made by both governments. This was the year when the two countries nearly went to war over the Pulwama attack.

Second, religious exchanges between both countries are governed by a protocol signed in 1974.

Third, the routes for Sikh pilgrims from Punjab to the Pakistani Punjab province are easy. But pilgrims who cross over at the Wagah/Atari border to travel to the Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Balochistan, the Paramhans Mandir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Ajmer Sharif dargah in Rajasthan, the Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi faced difficulty due to complex routes.

What is the proposal?

The Pakistan Hindu Council has signed an MoU with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to facilitate faith-based tour groups. It has asked that PIA charters from Karachi and Lahore be allowed to fly direct to Indian cities.

It has proposed this with a view of reciprocal air charters from India. This is the first time ever that pilgrimages would be given this facility.

Why is the present state of India-Pakistan relations?

One, India-Pakistan ties are at worst currently even when there is peace. There is no political dialogue at a bilateral or multilateral level for over five years.

Two, due to many attacks, India has stopped normal communications and cultural exchanges. Pakistan also stopped all trade ties after the Government’s moves on Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Both countries have also reduced their diplomatic missions.

Three, the COVID-19 pandemic has further resulted in the virtual sealing of borders. Now, only a few direct routes are operating.

What is the way forward?

First, there is a need for proper security checks to avoid any security threat.

Second, people-to-people initiatives can help build goodwill in an atmosphere of tension. For example, the LoC ceasefire announcement in February and the decision to reopen the Kartarpur corridor or the Government’s approval for cricket under the T20 World Cup. Hence, it is wiser to give the proposal some consideration.

Credibility of govt accounting – On Public Account Committees

News: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) completed a hundred years of existence, and this article discusses ways to improve the PAC’s oversight.

What is the significance of the PAC?

One, it plays a crucial role in scrutinizing the use of government funds. The PAC is a parliamentary committee, and customarily the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha is the chairperson.

Two, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) reports are submitted to Parliament, which are examined by the PAC.

What are the issues existing with government accounting?

First, both central and state governments use cash flow accounting, while private Indian companies follow accrual-based accounting standards.

Second, there are issues related to the appointment of CAG (article 148). For example, usually serving or recently retired government officer is appointed as CAG, and CAG is repeatedly selected from the Indian Administrative Service rather than from any other service.

Third, CAGs can be influenced to overlook errors, intentional or otherwise. The final appointing authority for the CAG appointment is the prime minister (PM). The selection process of the CAG is driven by the ruling central government, compared to that for the CVC or director, CBI.

Similarly, the dismissal of the CVC requires the recommendation of the Supreme Court, but only a special resolution has to be approved by both houses of Parliament to remove the CAG.

Fourth, PAC members are usually generalists and CAG’s reports require independent expert evaluation in the simplest of terms.

Fifth, Separate sub-committees of the PAC consider expenditures, and their reports are made available on Parliament’s website. However, these reports lack in-depth scrutiny of the government’s accounts.

What are the changes required to improve the PAC’s oversight?

First, the selection panel for the CAG’s office should include the PAC chairperson and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Second, there is a need to choose a professional who can present complex audit reports in simple terms. If CAG reports are complex, it becomes difficult for the PAC to go through the details and unjustified government spending go undetected.

Third, the PAC chairperson should have a reasonable understanding of accounting principles and practices.

Fourth, two independent private sector accounting firms can be selected by the PAC to provide analytical comments about CAG reports confidentially to the PAC. It would help in realizing transparency in government spending.

Fifth, huge volumes of funds are allocated repeatedly to recapitalize public sector banks (PSBs). The CAG needs to assess the extent and manner in which taxpayer funds are used to recapitalize PSBs.

Similarly, the implementation of farm loan waivers is also puzzled. The PAC should check if the net present value of the amounts waived added up to more than the announced total amounts.

What is the way forward?

First, the need is to correlate the budget numbers with recent CAG reports or the deliberations of the PAC.

Second, accounting statements of several state governments too, need careful examination by the PAC as they collectively spend more than the central government.

Reservations in super-speciality courses: The Dravadian model of public health

News: Supreme Court judgment upholding OBC reservation in NEET is a landmark judgment. Merit has to be contextualized socially and seen as an instrument of advancing social goods like equality. Tamil Nadu model where merit also takes historical privileges into account can be replicated in the rest of India.

What is the model adopted by Tamil Nadu? 

It introduced a scheme that provide 50% reservation of postgraduate and super-speciality medical seats for government doctors. To avail of the reservation, candidates have to serve three years in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in rural areas.

The scheme also introduced a superannuation bond, to ensure that the doctors who are availing the reservation benefits must serve the government till their retirement. It’s legally binding to prevent the brain drain of the doctors either to the private sector or to places abroad.

How the scheme proves beneficial to Tami Nadu?

Expansion of public health infrastructure: It contributed to a steady rise in the availability of multi-speciality experts in metropolitan cities like Chennai, Coimbatore and in Tier-2 cities. Presently, the public health sector in Tamil Nadu has 900 super-specialists in different disciplines like Urology, Nephrology, Cardiology etc

No shortage of doctors in rural areas: It encouraged young MBBS graduates to serve in rural areas. State PHCs and government hospitals never witnessed a shortage of doctors and people got better healthcare facilities at their doorsteps.

How does the introduction of NEET affect this scheme?

With the introduction of NEET and Regulation 9 by the Medical Council of India (MCI), weightage for government doctors who serve in rural areas has been reduced. According to MCI policy, only 50% of postgraduate diploma seats are reserved for service doctors, and MCI also exempted service doctors for postgraduate degrees.

It is now compulsory for individual States to surrender all the seats of super-speciality courses to the central pool for common counselling. The new rule also abolished the government doctors’ reservation.

What is the Supreme Court view?

Service Doctors and Postgraduates Association filed the case for the reintroduction of 50% of service doctors’ reservations in super-speciality courses. The court has now directed the Centre to provide reservations for service doctors in super-speciality courses.

A proposal that has stirred up questions of IAS control

News: The Union Government proposal to amend IAS Cadre Rules has attracted the opposition of various states.

What is All India Services?

IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Services comes in the list of AIS. According to P.S. Appu, these services play a pivotal role in holding the country which holds great diversity. Members appointed to these services stand by the constitution and gave fearless advice to the politicians.

Why did centre propose the amendments to the deputation of cadre officers?

Why did state governments oppose the proposed amendments?

Trust deficit: Officers often caught in the political battles, raised issues like who really controls members of Indian bureaucracy and raised the trust deficit between centre and states.

What should be done to resolve the problem?

First, Cadre and career planning should be scientific and future-looking.

Second, Each officer should be motivated to work at the centre and this process should be included in the induction training itself.

Third, The list of the officers who are to be deputed should be finalized in the annual joint exercise between the states and the centre.

GS Paper 3

Unlock India’s food processing potential

News: There is a challenge in front of all of us to feed the 10 billion population by mid-century. Hence, food production needs to be both economically viable and ecologically sustainable.

How Production-Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) scheme is helping in the growth of the food processing sector?

One, India is one of the largest producers of fruits and vegetables in the world. PLIs aims to boost the processed food sector and incentivize incremental sales.

60 applicants have already been selected and beneficiaries have to commit a minimum investment. It will attract ₹6,500 crores worth of investment over the next two years.

Two, a 1% increase in public infrastructure increases the food manufacturing output by 0.06%, as per a study in the United States. This correlation is good as a higher investment is concentrated in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

According to Good Governance Index 2020-21, these States performed well in terms of public Infrastructure and Utilities parameters and Connectivity to Rural Habitations.

Three, the PLI scheme earmarks a dedicated Category 3 for supporting branding and marketing activities in foreign markets.

It will help in increasing the share of value-added products in the exports basket and also help in reaping benefits of unique geographical proximity to the untapped markets of Europe, the Middle East/West Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Japan.

Four, PLI is helping in the growth of new brands and aims to create an enabling ecosystem for innovation in both food products and processes. Now there are technologies that change the traditional approach of farm to fork and also reduce the environmental footprint.

What are the growth opportunities available for the food processing sector?

First, the pandemic has increased the number of people working from home and that has increased the sale of ready-to-eat products by 170% in sales volume between March-June 2020(Netscribes).

Second, it has also increased consumer awareness of functional foods that offer health benefits beyond their nutritional value. This will provide an opportunity for health-orientated start-ups and micro-food processing units.

Third, India has a growing population with changing food habits. These factors along with unrestricted use of natural resources require a sustainable food ecosystem.

Fourth, new alternatives are explored in India which can replace rice and wheat with Nutri-cereals, plant-based proteins, fermented foods, health bars.

What are the challenges still existing?

Access to finance is a continuing problem and another challenge is the lack of a proper credit history mechanism for MSMEs. MUDRA has helped more than 1,18,000 small businesses. Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) is also a platform for facilitating the financing/discounting of trade receivables of MSMEs through multiple financiers.

What is the way forward?

First, smart financing alternatives such as peer-to-peer (P2P) lending need to be explored for micro-food processors. However, the platform needs to grow in size and focus on the enforcement of strict measures for corporates.

Second, integrating the TReDS platform with the Goods and Service Tax Network’s e-invoicing portal will make TReDS more attractive and give relief to financiers.

Third, policymakers need to lay out a road map for a common efficient food value chain.

A brief history of Indian budgets as economic constraints shifted

News: India will complete 75 years as an independent nation in August 2022 and the Finance minister will present the annual budget against the backdrop of this anniversary.

This article analyses the budgets of the following years 1948, 1972, 1997, and explains the various reforms undertaken to overcome the constraints/challenges faced during those budgeted years.

What do 1948 budgetary episodes tell us?

Challenges faced 

Independent India began its development journey with a very weak fiscal capacity. The amount of tax collected was very low.

More than half of annual tax revenues came from direct taxation, and the tax base was narrow.

The government had very few financial resources due to the minimum budget deficit in 1948.

Economic policy was severely constrained by shortages in food grain supplies, domestic savings, and foreign exchange.

Reforms undertaken

The Nehruvian strategy of rapid industrialization required a fiscal base, and hence tax rates were increased.

Higher fiscal deficits were funded by new money created by the Reserve Bank of India.

Since domestic financial resources were not enough, there was a need for foreign aid.

What do 1972 budgetary episodes tell us?

Significant improvements between 1948-1972 budget years

The Green Revolution had helped in reducing the food shortage.

Nationalized banks mobilized higher deposits, Life Insurance Corp, and provident funds helped in facilitating market borrowings.

Challenges faced

During this period, much of the revenue came from indirect taxation. It meant that the Indian tax system was most regressive.

The major issue during that period was that very little money was left for the country’s private sector. Also, the money was not used efficiently. For example, many capital goods and intermediate goods sectors were operating below capacity.

There was still not enough foreign exchange to import goods that were in short supply. India had enough foreign exchange to cover only 2.9 months of imports.

What do 1997 budgetary episodes tell us?

Significant improvements between 1972-1990 budget years

The three old macro constraints on Indian economic policy i.e., inadequate domestic savings, shortages of wage goods such as food, and the unavailability of enough foreign exchange for imports were eased by the late 1990s.

Challenges faced

There were new constraints related to energy, infrastructure, and institutional quality. These were dealt with in 1997.

Reforms undertaken

The tax reforms of the 1990s also helped push up the contribution of direct taxes in total tax collections. In other words, the Indian tax system became more progressive.

What are the present challenges to the 2022 budget?

The budget will be presented at a time when the economy is recovering from the covid shock. The recovery in domestic demand is uneven.

Inflationary pressure is increasing further, crude oil prices are also increasing.

Indian economy continues to be underfunded. The tax/GDP ratio was barely increased over the past 30 years.

Hence, Budget 2022 should focus on these challenges along with fiscal consolidation.

What is the way forward?

The tax/GDP ratio needs to be increased so that the state’s growing infrastructure, development, subsidy, and welfare commitments are funded adequately.

Lesson from Air India sale: Do more by doing less

News: Air India’s sale is important for three reasons priorities, resources, mindset. It is a template for the Indian state to do more by doing less.

What are the reasons that make the Air India sale important?

Priorities: Public commercial enterprises do not perform well in Human resource efficiency. Air India had 12 trade unions and employee cost was as high as 20% of the revenues.

The state’s job should be to maintain security, family healthcare, education, justice delivery, etc. Activities in which the private sector can do better should be left with a private sector.

Resources: In 1953 Hungarian economist Janos Kornai pointed out that state firms indulge in “investment hunger”, they don’t fear losses because they know they will be bailed out. For example, Air India costs the government only Rs.2.5 crore to buy. But it has consumed Rs 1.1 lakh crore since 2009. Kornai termed this as a soft budget constraint.

Even Supreme Court termed Air India’s acquisition of 111 planes in 2007 as excessive. This resulted in the loss of Rs.20 crore per day.

Mindset:  The “fatal conceit” represented by Air India’s seven-decade tragedy suggests that India need a better role balancing between the three pillars of team India — private, public, and nonprofits.

What India should learn from other countries?

China: China converted over two-thirds of its state-owned enterprises to private ownership under its various leaders. China is considered powerful because of a $14 trillion GDP fueled by private entrepreneurs, foreign investors, and multinational companies. It today accounts for half of Asia’s military spending

Even, the top ranks of  Norway, Sweden, and Finland in government spending are because a share of GDP is financed by their private efficiency. Hence, the government should further divest the remaining 360-plus central PSU’s. Given state finances after the pandemic, privatizing over 1500 poorly run state PSUs could ease the financial burden.

The consequences of an ill-considered green strategy

News 

Europe’s push for renewable energy at the cost of conventional fuel may lead to some second and third order effects, which will have global ramifications.  

What is the issue? 

As it cannot depend entirely on energy generated through Sun or wind, Europe has been relying more on natural gas to make up the electricity shortfall. 

Europe’s sudden increased demand for natural gas has pushed up the prices of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the form in which gas is traded globally. Higher gas prices have pushed up energy bills globally for households and are expected to impact household spending and consumption as well.  

The sudden dependence on natural gas during winter has also made European countries wary of upsetting Russia amidst the Ukraine conflict.  

What are the implications of this upsurge in Natural gas demand on other sectors of global economy? 

Natural gas is used to produce urea – if gas prices go up, fertiliser also becomes expensive. 

Expensive fertilizer means more expensive food – that will hurt the world’s poor disproportionately.  

What are the lessons for India? 

India is relatively less affected as the share of natural gas in the country’s energy mix is low but will still face problems due to high food prices. This will be above the negative effect that pandemic has already inflicted on the poor and disadvantaged. 

India though has ambitious plans for using renewable technologies but doesn’t have the financial resources that are available with the European nations. So India should adopt a balanced approach in energy transition. 

Cheap and reliable energy sources should not be abandoned until the alternatives have been stringently tested. India will be especially hard hit if oil prices spike as it is highly dependent on import. 

“Taxing Drama-on Retroactive tax disputes”

News 

Cairn energy, a British firm will be getting around 7,900 crore rupees from Indian government. It has won an arbitration proceeding against India regarding the retroactive tax dispute.   

What was this dispute? 

Government of India had introduced a retroactive tax in the year 2012. Accordingly, it pursued proceeding against Vodafone and Cairn energy asking them for paying these taxes retroactively. 

More on the dispute here 

What was has been the result in two disputes? 

Cairn and Vodafone initiated arbitration proceedings against Indian tax authorities and won in late 2020. The Permanent Court of Arbitration also directed Indian government to pay penal damages worth 1.2 billion dollar to Cairn energy. 

Government in return worked out a compromise with Cairn. Under which it will drop all legal proceeding seeking to enforce the arbitration award against India, forgo the damages and indemnify the Government against all future claims or liabilities. 

What is the way forward? 

Government should now try to work swiftly to process their paperwork and preferably remit their dues before the financial year concludes. This is especially necessary to restore some of the damage caused to Brand India. 

India needs to demonstrate greater certainty and predictability across economic policy. This will bolster its credentials as an ideal investment destination.  

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Negative Ion Technology: Adding radioactive substances in wearables unjustified

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Negative Ion Technology: Adding radioactive substances in wearables unjustified’ published in The Hindu on 25^th January 2022. 

What is the news?

The Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS), Netherlands has issued a statement identifying various negative ion wearable products containing more Radioactivity than legally permitted.

What are Negative Ions?

An ion is an atom, or a molecule, which has gained or lost one or more electrons.

Negative ions are made when sunlight, radiation, air, or water break down oxygen.

It is believed that negative ions create positive vibes and uplift the mood. These ions also have an impact on pollutants by making them negatively charged and get them collected on surfaces.

What is Negative Ion Technology?

Negative ion technology embeds negative ions in personal products and is currently being advertised as a means to maintain health, balance energy, and improve well-being.

This technology is used in certain silicone wristbands, quantum or scalar-energy pendants, sleep masks, jewellery among others.

The minerals that produce these negative ions often include naturally occurring radioactive substances such as uranium and thorium.

What are the concerns related to Negative Ion Technology?

The radiation detected in some of these Negative Ion Technology products has been higher than the background level, and in some cases high enough to require licensing.

Moreover, these products were found to contain radioactive materials and therefore continuously emit ionizing radiation. Exposure to ionizing radiation can cause adverse health effects, and wearing the products for extended periods could pose health risks that include tissue and DNA damage.

What are the steps being taken against these ​​consumer products containing radioactive substances?

IAEA has released the “Radiation Protection and Safety of radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards” in 2014.

These standards says that the frivolous use of radiation or radioactive substances in toys and personal jewellery or adornments, which result in an increase in activity, is unjustified.

In India, the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004 also contains provisions consistent with those of the IAEA.

Western Naval Command conducts Joint maritime exercise Paschim Lehar (XPL-2022)

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Western Naval Command conducts Joint maritime exercise Paschim Lehar (XPL-2022)’ published in PIB on 25^th January 2022.

What is the news?

The Indian Navy has conducted a joint maritime Exercise Paschim Lehar (XPL-2022) off the West Coast.

What is Exercise Paschim Lehar?

Exercise Paschim Lehar is a joint maritime exercise conducted under the aegis of Western Naval Command.

Objective: To validate operational plans of the Western Naval Command and enhance Inter-Service synergy among the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Army and Coast Guard. 

The exercise included the participation of ships and submarines of the Indian Navy, Aircrafts of IAF, various elements of Army and Patrol Vessels of Coast guard.

Significance of the exercise: The exercise provided all participating forces an opportunity to operate together under realistic conditions, in responding to contemporary maritime challenges, across the areas of the Command’s responsibility.

Year-End Review-2021- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Year-End Review-2021- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’ published in PIB on 25^th January 2022.

What is the news?

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has taken several steps in the year 2021.

Initiatives taken by CSIR

National Metrology Conclave

CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories(NAL)’s “Octacopter” drone

Swasth Vayu

CSIR Aroma Mission

India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus: India’s first indigenously developed and manufactured Hydrogen fuel cell bus was launched in Pune.

Hydroxyurea in Sickle Cell Anaemia treatment: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved the use of Hydroxyurea in the treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA). 

UV-C Disinfection Technology

Saline gargle RT-PCR Technique

CSIR Jigyasa programme

Hansa New Generation (NG) aircraft 

Sustainable Aviation Fuel: CSIR’s Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, and IndiGo have signed an agreement to manufacture and deploy Sustainable Aviation Fuel(SAF) (SAF are renewable or waste-derived aviation fuels that meet sustainability criteria).

​​Covaxin

Heli-Borne Survey

Indian Bio-jet fuel Technology

Mechanized Scavenging System

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library(TKDL): It is an initiative under the joint collaboration of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), to prevent exploitation and to protect Indian traditional knowledge at Patent Offices worldwide. 

Year End Review: Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Year End Review: Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ published in PIB on 25^th January 2022.

What is the news?

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched several initiatives for the welfare of the Tribal community in the year 2021.

Initiatives by Min of Tribal Affairs in 2021

Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

Birsa Munda Museum

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs)

Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum at Luangkao village in Manipur

Certificate course on Experiential Learning for the 21st Century for educators from CBSE and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs)

NISHTHA Programme

School Innovation Ambassador Training Programme

SKOCH Challenger Award

Vruksha Bandhan Project

GOAL (Going Online as Leaders)

One Day National Conference on Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA)

COVID Teeka Sang Surakshit Van, Dhanaur Uddyam” campaign

Adi Prashikshan Portal

Unmukt Project: Ministry of Tribal Affairs has flagged off mobile vans under the Unmukt project for strengthening screening and timely management of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Khunti district of Jharkhand and Kanker in Chhattisgarh, two tribal districts with a high prevalence of sickle cell disease among tribals.

Anamaya Initiative — a Tribal Health Collaborative

Forest Rights Act

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana

Kerala gets its first ever scientific bird atlas

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Kerala gets its first ever scientific bird atlas’ published in The Hindu on 25^th January 2022.

What is the news?

The Kerala Bird Atlas (KBA) has been released.

What is Kerala Bird Atlas (KBA)?

It is the first-of-its-kind state-level bird atlas in India.

The Atlas is arguably Asia’s largest bird atlas in terms of geographical extent, sampling effort and species coverage.

It was conducted as a citizen science-driven exercise with the participation of over 1000 volunteers of the bird watching community.

The atlas has created data about the distribution and abundance of various bird species across all major habitats for futuristic studies.

What are the key findings of the Atlas?

The species count was higher during the dry season than in the wet season in Kerala.

Species richness and evenness were higher in the northern and central districts of Kerala than in the southern districts.

Most of the endemic species were concentrated in the Western Ghats while the threatened species were mostly along the coasts. 

The survey ignored the short duration passage of migrant species.

Explained: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refused Padma award – is the recipient’s consent sought?

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Explained: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refused Padma award – is the recipient’s consent sought?’ published in Indian Express on 27th January 2022.

What is the News?

The Padma awards were announced on the eve of Republic Day. As many as 128 people were conferred with the Padma awards this year. While most accepted the award, former West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refused to accept it.

What are Padma Awards?

Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honors of India, announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The award was instituted in 1954 along with Bharat Ratna.

Purpose: The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.

Categories: The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). 

Eligibility: All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. However, Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these awards.

Selection for Awards: All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.

Limitations and Exceptions: 

The awardees do not get any cash reward, but a certificate signed by the President apart from a medallion which they can wear at public and government functions.

The awards are not a conferment of title, and the awardees are expected to not use them as prefixes or suffixes to their names.

A Padma awardee can be given a higher award only after five years of the conferment of the earlier award.

The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than 120.

Does the Recipient Consent be sought before giving the award? ​​

There is no provision for seeking a written or formal consent of the recipient before the announcement of the award. However, before the announcement, every recipient receives a call from the Ministry of Home Affairs informing him or her about the selection. In case the recipient expresses a desire to be excluded from the award list, the name is removed.

Spot-billed pelicans dying en masse in Andhra Pradesh

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Spot-billed pelicans dying en masse in Andhra Pradesh’ published in The Hindu on 27th January 2022.

What is the News?

A parasitic (nematode) infestation has led to mass deaths of spot-billed pelicans (Pelicanus philippensis) at Telineelapuram Important Bird Area (IBA) in Andhra Pradesh.

What is a Spot Billed Pelican?

Spot Billed Pelican or grey pelican is a member of the pelican family.

It is a bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially large lakes. The main habitat of the bird is in shallow lowland freshwaters.

The bird is found to breed only in peninsular India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

IUCN Status: Near Threatened

What is the threat faced by Spot-Billed Pelicans in Telineelapuram Important Bird Area(IBA)?

Nematode Infestation has led to mass deaths of spot-billed pelicans at Telineelapuram Important Bird Area(IBA).

Nematode infestation does not spread from one species to another species. But the infestation transfers from the fish, snails, and invertebrates.

Since spot-billed pelicans are capable of hunting huge fish from the water bodies and swamps it is vulnerable to infestation.

This winter has been colder, wetter, and largely fogless. Here is why

Source: This post is based on the article ‘This winter has been colder, wetter, and largely fogless. Here is why’ published in Indian Express on 27th January 2022.

What is the News?

For many people, especially in North India, the winter of 2021-22 is appearing to be unusually cold and unusually long. The days, in particular, have felt colder and chillier than normal.

What is happening?

Since December 2021, maximum temperatures across the North, Northwest and Central India regions have consistently remained below normal, resulting in “cold day” conditions. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines a “cold day” as one in which the maximum temperature falls below 16 °C.

“Cold days” often mean warmer nights. Persistent clouding blocks out the rays of the Sun and heating during the day but keeps the nights warmer than normal.

Why is this happening?

Winters over India are directly affected by the intensity and frequency of western disturbances.

Note: Western Disturbances are eastward propagating wind streams, capable of inducing rain or snow-bearing weather systems along their path.

Frequent and higher numbers of western disturbances are associated with La Niña. Until January 26th 2022, seven western disturbances had passed over India. These caused hail storms in northern Maharashtra and heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu.

Moreover, after a western disturbance crosses India, cold winds from the far north penetrate to lower latitudes, and can reach up to even Telangana and Maharashtra, leading to colder weather, and sometimes to cold wave conditions. 

Since consecutive western disturbances were separated by 10 days earlier this month, it caused a prolonged cold spell in North, Northwest and Central India.

Anti-dumping duty: India probes China, Vietnam over ‘dumping’ of vinyl tiles

Source: This post is based on the article ‘India probes China, Vietnam over ‘dumping’ of vinyl tiles’ published in The Hindu on 27th January 2022.

What is the News?

India has initiated an anti-dumping probe against imports of Vinyl Tiles from China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Note: Vinyl Tile is a type of tile used for covering the floors in residential and commercial buildings.

What is Anti-dumping duty?

Dumping is said to occur when the goods are exported by a country to another country at a price lower than their normal value. This is an unfair trade practice that can have a distortive effect on international trade. 

Countries start anti-dumping probes to determine whether their domestic industries have been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports.

If it is established that the dumping has caused material injury to the domestic players, the country would impose anti-dumping duty on these imports.

The use of anti-dumping duties is permitted under the multilateral regime of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Explained: ISRO’s SSLV, a small satellite launcher with big prospects ahead

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Explained: ISRO’s SSLV, a small satellite launcher with big prospects ahead’ published in Indian Express on 27th January 2022.

What is the News?

ISRO Chairman has said that the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle(SSLV) named “SLV-D1 Micro SAT” will be launched in April 2022.

What is a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle(SSLV)?

It is an all-solid three-stage vehicle with the capability to launch up to 500 kg satellite mass into 500 km Low Earth Orbit(LEO).

Why was the SSLV developed?

The SSLV  has been developed to cater to a market for the launch of small satellites into low earth orbits.

The demand for small satellites has emerged in recent years on account of the need for developing countries, private corporations, and universities for small satellites.

Until now, the launch of small satellites is dependent on ‘piggy-back’ rides with big satellite launches on ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, which has had over 50 successful launches so far.

What are the advantages of SSLV? 

The SSLV would help in a) Reduced Turn-around Time b) Launch on Demand c) Cost Optimization for Realization and Operation d) Flexibility in accommodating Multiple Satellites and e) Minimum launch infrastructure requirements.

What is the significance of SSLV Satellites?

The development and manufacture of the SSLV are expected to create greater synergy between the space sector and private Indian industries – a key aim of the space ministry.