9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – January 5th, 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 1

GS Paper 2

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1


NFDC merger: In unified National Film Corporation, a theatre of the absurd

Source– The post is based on the article “NFDC merger: In unified National Film Corporation, a theatre of the absurd” published in The Indian Express on 5th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Indian culture

Relevance– Issues related to regulation of film industry

News– The article explains the restructuring of film-related bodies in India. It also explains the issues related with this move.

What is the restructured form of film bodies in India?

The film related bodies in India have been restructured. The Films Division, National Film Archives of India, Directorate of Film Festivals, Children’s Film Society of India have closed.

National Film Development Corporation with an expanded charter will carry forward the activities hitherto performed by these departments in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

This has been undertaken on the basis of recommendations submitted by an expert committee headed by retired I&B secretary Bimal Julka.

The logic behind this move is that a single corporation will lead to synergy amongst the various activities. It will lead to better and efficient utilisation of infrastructure and manpower.

What are the issues with the new arrangement?

The infrastructure has been dismantled. All specialists within these structures have been declared as surplus, without any designations attached to them. They are waiting to be redeployed in any government department.

The logic of synergy raises some concerns. As per the arrangement in place now, the NFDC is producing feature films and DFF decides the national film awards.

AS per new arrangements, the NFDC will be producing feature films and non-feature films It will also decide whether its own films or others will win national awards. It is an absurd exercise. It creates conflict of interest.

GS Paper 2


The values of local self-governance

Source– The post is based on the article “The values of local self-governance” published in The Hindu on 5th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Devolution of powers and finances up to local level and challenges therein

Relevance– Issues related to panchayat and municipalities.

News– The article explains the working of local self-governance in India. It also explains the normative basis of local self-governance.

What is the normative basis of local self-governance?

Local self-governance is linked to the idea of subsidiarity. It is based on two broad arguments.

First, it provides for efficient provision of public goods. Governments with smaller jurisdictions can provide services as per the preferences of their residents.

Second, it promotes deeper democracy. Governments that are closer to the people allow citizens to engage with public affairs more easily.

India’s decentralisation agenda is also driven by these values. The 73rd and 74th amendments require States to give powers to local bodies to enable them to function as institutions of self-government.

These amendments also provide for the regular conduct of local elections, reservation of seats for backward sections. They also institute participative forums like gram sabhas in panchayats and ward committees in municipal corporations.

What are the issues with local governments in India?

Despite the constitutional mandate, local governments operate with limited autonomy and authority. It may be attributed to the inherent limitations of the 74th amendment.

There is failure on parts of State governments and courts to implement and interpret the amendment in letter and spirit. States have been provided with discretion regarding devolution of powers and levying of local taxes.

State governments are reluctant to implement the 74th amendment. Cities are economic powerhouses and controlling urban land is important for financing State governments and political parties.

How recent order of Patna High Court is pathbreaking?

It declared some provisions of the Bihar Municipal (Amendment) Act, 2021 as unconstitutional.

The 2021 amendment had transferred the powers of appointment of Grade C and D employees from the of the municipality to the State government. The court held that these provisions violate the 74th Amendment.

How can the local governments and federalism  be strengthened?

As centralising tendencies are increasing in India, there’s also been a renewed assertion of federalism. However, this assertion of State rights is hardly articulated as value-based normative claims.

Hence, debates on federalism should include larger discussions on how power should be divided and shared between governments at the Union, State, and local level.


Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: Making healthcare accessible, the digital way

Source– The post is based on the article “Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: Making healthcare accessible, the digital way” published in The Indian Express on 5th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Issues related to development and management

Relevance– Use of digital technology for healthcare sector

News– The article explains the use of digital technology by the government for improving the heal;thcare services. It explains the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

How India has leveraged digital technology for provisioning of public goods?

India has demonstrated its digital prowess by building digital public goods like Aadhaar, the Unified Payments Interface.

India leveraged information and communications technologies during the pandemic. Digital health solutions played a crucial role in bridging the gap in healthcare delivery. Health systems moved online to accommodate contactless care.

Some examples of Digital Public Goods developed during the pandemic include the CoWIN and the Aarogya Setu application. CoWIN enabled the digitalisation of the vaccination process. Aarogya Setu provided real-time data on active cases and containment zones.

Telemedicine platforms saw a steep increase in user acquisitions. 85% of physicians used teleconsultations during the pandemic.

What is Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and its components?

The PM launched this mission in September 2021, under the aegis of the National Health Authority. It has established a robust framework to provide accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare through digital highways.

The ABDM has implemented vital building blocks to unite all stakeholders in the digital healthcare ecosystem. The Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) creates a standard identifier for patients across healthcare providers.

By using ABHA and its associated Personal Health Record app, citizens can link, store, and share their health records to access healthcare services with autonomy and consent.

The Health Facility Registry and the Health Professional Registries provide verified digital identities to public and private health facilities and professionals. This enables them to connect to a central digital ecosystem. HFR and HPR help health professionals build an online presence and offer services more effectively.

The Drug Registry is designed to create a single, up-to-date, centralised repository of all approved drugs across all systems of medicine.

What are other digital initiatives planned by the government for the healthcare sector?

The Unified Health Interface is another Digital Public Good being launched by the government. It enables all healthcare service providers and end-user applications to interact with each other on its network.

To give UHI the necessary push, the government is repurposing Aarogya Setu and CoWIN. Aarogya Setu is being transformed into a general health and wellness application.

CoWIN will be plugged with a lite Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) for small clinics. The purpose is to bring digitisation to the masses.

The government is also introducing Heal by India. It will make India’s healthcare professionals’ services available worldwide.

A platform is being developed to automate the allocation of deceased organ and tissue donations. It will make the process faster and more transparent.

Health Claim Exchange platform will automate the insurance claim settlement process.


Jallikattu: cultural practice or cruelty?

Source: The post is based on the article “Jallikattu: cultural practice or cruelty?” published in The Hindu on 5th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Governance

Relevance: issues associated with Jallikattu

News: Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court to strike down a 2017 Tamil Nadu law that protects Jallikattu. SC will give the verdict in a few days.

What is the issue?

SC imposed ban on Jallikattu through a judgment (Animal Welfare Board of India vs A. Nagaraja) in May 2014.

However, in January 2017, people demanded the Central and State governments to come up with a law that would annul the Supreme Court’s ban and allow jallikattu.

This led to the enactment of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Ordinance 2017. It was later replaced by a bill adopted by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

However, some people moved against this law to SC and this issue was referred to a Constitution Bench.

How is the SC examining the case?

The court is examining the case from various perspective.

  1. whether jallikattu should be granted constitutional protection as a collective cultural right under Article 29 (1) which protects the educational and cultural rights of citizens.
  2. Whether the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act of 2017 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules of 2017 promote cruelty to animals or ensure the survival and well-being of the native breed of bulls.
  3. Whether jallikattu and bullock-cart race laws of Karnataka and Maharashtra would serve the objective of prevention of cruelty to animals under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960.

Moreover, SC in 2014 struck down the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, which had allowed jallikattu because the bulls were tortured to the hilt in the process of performing for the event.

SC at that time relied on Article 48 of the Constitution which urged the state to endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines to check the validity of the law.

What were the arguments presented for and against Jallikattu?

For – a) jallikattu is both a religious and cultural event celebrated by the people of the State and its influence extends beyond the caste and creed, b) it is centuries-old and symbolic of a community’s identity which can be regulated and reformed rather than completely banning, c) any ban on such a practice would be viewed as hostile to culture and against the sensitivities of the community, d) it is a tool for conserving this precious indigenous breed of livestock and does not violate principles of compassion and humanity, e) children are also being taught in school about the significance of the culture to preserve it beyond generations.

Againsta) Liberty is necessary for every living being, an aspect that had been recognised by the Constitution, b) there are deaths and injuries caused to humans as well as bulls in the event, c) animals face extreme cruelty and there is no evidence to justify jallikattu as a part of culture.


Delhi road accident once again shows how public spaces are hostile to women

Source: The post is based on the article “Delhi road accident once again shows how public spaces are hostile to women” published in The Indian Express on 5th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS-2/3 – Women Issues/Infrastructure

Relevance: concerns associated with women’s safety and road accident

News: The death of a girl in Delhi has highlighted the concerns over women safety and increasing road accidents.

What are the concerns with road safety in India?

According to NCRB data from 2021, driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol contributed to 1.9 percent of deaths from accidents. Around 90 percent of deaths on the road were due to speeding, overtaking, and dangerous driving.

According to the World Bank’s data from 2019, India ranked first among the top 20 countries for road accidents.

What are the concerns with women?

Women fear sexual assaults in public places. According to researchers from the UN and ICRW confirms that women face multiple forms of violence and sexual harassment in cities.

This affects women’s choices and abilities to access opportunities which ultimately leads to low workforce participation by women.

Further, women going to work fear violence and it further increases due to the lack of women focused public transport.

Transport planning generally focuses on male travel patterns during peak hours of work. However, the World Bank’s report on women’s mobility in India has shown that women’s travel patterns can often be different due to their caregiving roles.

The report provides that 84 percent of women’s trips were by public transport, and 45.4 percent of women tend to walk to work compared to 27.4 percent of men.

This difference in travel pattern by women and lack of proper women’s safety mechanism increases chances of violence and safety concerns.

What can be the course of action?

India has the highest rate of fatality in road accidents in the world and a high rate of violence against women in public places.

Therefore, it should a) design streets for safe pedestrian movement, b) streets should be well lit with good pavements and the presence of street vendors, shops, and cafes with surveillance are necessary for women to feel safe, c) infrastructure should be provided for cycling and public transport should be made accessible and affordable.


How Free Now? – SC did well to warn against further restrictions on free speech. But misuse of IPC provisions needs checking too

Source: The post is based on the following articles

“Why the Supreme Court is right to not curb ministers’ free speech” published in the Indian Express on 5th January 2023.

“How Free Now? – SC did well to warn against further restrictions on free speech. But misuse of IPC provisions needs checking too” published in the The Times of India on 5th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

Relevance: About the SC ruling on Fundamental Rights.

News: Recently, the Supreme Court has ruled that Articles 19(1) (free speech) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty) can be enforced against private entities also and the state is bound to protect these rights, even when they are infringed by non-state actors.

What are the salient points in the recent SC ruling on Fundamental Rights?

-No more reasonable restrictions can be envisaged other than the eight existing ones for the fundamental rights in Article 19(2). These are sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, contempt of court, defamation, and incitement to an offence.

-Individual statements of ministers were inadequate to invoke the collective responsibility of the cabinet. Like other citizens, Ministers are also guaranteed the right to freedom of expression under Article 19(1) (a), governed by the reasonable restrictions laid out in Article 19(2).

-The violation of constitutional rights and invoking constitutional tort for securing damages happens only when the Minister’s statement results in harm or losses to the complainant.

The court held that “the role of the court is to protect fundamental rights limited by lawful restrictions and not to protect restrictions and make the rights residual privileges.”

What are the implications of the SC ruling on Fundamental Rights?

-If the state brings a new law curbing free speech on grounds of public interest that cannot be located within eight “reasonable restrictions” can be struck down.

-Many ordinary citizens find their ways of life, privacy, choices and liberties constrained by dominant groups. Now, the court reminded the state to proceed against those vigilantes.

What should be done to improve free speech?

The judicial pronouncements are not able to fix the misuse of IPC provisions drawing their constitutionality from Article 19(2)’s reasonable restrictions. Further, the problem of hate speech is also not clearly addressed.

For hate speech, the will of governments and political consensus is required, especially when they involve one of their own. The message from those in the ruling party and its government needs to be firm and consistent.

GS Paper 3


India in the GVC diversification strategy: A reality check

Source– The post is based on the article “India in the GVC diversification strategy: A reality check” published in the Business Standard on 5th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Economy

Relevance– Issues related to the global economy and trade.

News– The article explains the restructuring of the global value chain(GVC) in recent times. IT also compare India and VIetnam on their GVC diversification

How is the restructuring of the global economy taking place?[Text Wrapping Break]The restructuring of global value chains and their resilience remained the dominant global concerns of 2022.

“China plus one” is now the predominant strategy of large MNCs as they face the consequences of the US-China stand-off.

Large MNCs have opted for friendshoring as their preferred relocation strategy. Among South and Southeast Asian economies, Vietnam seems to be the preferred location for regional shifts in GVCs.

What are the differences in trends of GVC diversification by India and Vietnam?

Between 2010 and 2018, Vietnam showed large improvement in the foreign value added component of its gross exports. It registered an annual increase of 17.3% in the FVA component over this period. It was less than 5% for Asia and India.

It helped to substantially increase Vietnam’s share in global exports. Vietnam’s share increased from 0.5% in 2010 to 1.6% in 2020. It is now the 20th largest goods exporter in the world. India’s share has remained stagnant at 1.6% during this period.

A further reflection of the difference in GVC participation is evident from the share of manufactured exports.

Both had equal share of manufactured exports in their total merchandise exports in 2010. It was 63% for both at that time. Vietnam recorded an increase to 86% in 2020 while India registered only a small increase to 71% in 2020.

How can India and Vietnam be compared on their trade arrangements?

Free trade agreements– In the case of Vietnam, the number of FRAs signed and their depth, nature of partner economies are conducive for trade. It has also Included WTO++ provisions on environment and labour issues in FTAs.

Vietnam’s FTAs include RCEP, CPTPP and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework trade pillar as well as bi-laterals with the UK and EU. It is a party to the ASEAN FTA.

India has an almost equal number of FTAs. But, these are not deep trade agreements. India does not have FTA with developed economies except Japan and Korea. The FTAs with Japan and Korea are under review.

India  is not a member of any mega-regional trade agreement. India continues to be reluctant to include labour and environment-related issues in FTAs.

Tariff structure– Vietnam’s tariff structure is another indicator of its more open trade regime. Its average most favoured nation tariff for non-agricultural goods is much lower than India. A significantly higher number of tariff lines are included in the duty-free category and in the lowest bracket.

Logistics– Good logistics help in reducing trade costs and facilitate GVC operations. In the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, Vietnam has registered a significant increase in the last decade. In 2018, it ranked at 39 among 160 countries. It is a major improvement relative to its consistent ranking at 53 during 2007 to 2012.

In contrast, India was ranked at 44 in 2018. It was an improvement over its 2010 rank but of a much smaller magnitude.


Cost advantages – Nano-fertilisers will reduce subsidy outgo

Source: The post is based on the article “Cost advantages – Nano-fertilisers will reduce subsidy outgo” published in the Business Standard on 5th January 2023.

DAP is the second-most consumed fertiliser in India. After the success of nano-urea, the nano version of DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) has now cleared the bio-safety and toxicity trials.

Relevance: About Nano-fertilisers.

News: DAP is the second-most consumed fertiliser in India. After the success of nano-urea, the nano version of DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) has now cleared the bio-safety and toxicity trials.

Nano-fertilisers are so far commercialised only in India. Further, more nano varieties of fertilisers are under development and will become available for commercial use soon.

Read more: PM inaugurated One Nation One Fertilizer Scheme

What are the benefits of nano-fertilisers?

Benefits to government: a) Reduce dependence on imports, b) Reduce government subsidies for essential plant nutrients, c) Aid in the self-sufficiency of fertilisers over the next few years, d) Provide cushion against international prices. For instance, in the aftermath of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, there is a spike in the international prices of plant nutrients. This led to rise in fertiliser subsidies to an all-time high of over Rs 2.3 trillion in India.

Benefits to farmers: a) Provide higher nutrient-use efficiency and help augment soil fertility to boost crop yields and improve the quality of farm produce. For instance, the efficiency, yield increase of nano-urea is more than 80% (about double that of conventional urea) and 3-16% respectively, and b) Nano-fertilisers, being liquids packed in small bottles, are convenient to carry, thereby enabling the farmers to save on the cost of transporting bulky conventional fertilisers, c) These are substantially cheaper and more effective than normal fertilisers.

Overall, these nano-fertilisers would facilitate a substantial reduction in crop production costs and an improvement in the profitability of farming.

Environmental benefits: Conventional fertilisers are typically potent polluters of air, soil, and water. On the other hand, nano-fertilisers have low environmental footprint. They are non-toxic and harmless to health and natural biodiversity. So, they will help to cut down the agriculture sector’s greenhouse gas emissions to a considerable extent.

Read more: Draft Integrated Plant Nutrition Management Bill, 2022

Therefore, promoting nano-fertilisers is a win-win situation for all stakeholders.


Online gaming must not get to game this market

Source: The post is based on the article “Online gaming must not get to game this market” published in the Livemint on 5th January 2023.

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

Relevance: About regulation of Online Games.

News: Recently, the government released draft IT regulations for gaming.

About the Draft Rules for Online Games

Must read: Draft Rules for Online Gaming

What is the need for regulating Online Games?

The regulation is required because a) Gaming can be an addiction, just like gambling, or perhaps even alcohol, b) India’s gaming industry will be an $8.6 billion industry by 2026-27. So, the online game industry should flourish within a well-defined framework of rules, and c) With the grievance and compliance norms, online games will gain legitimacy for operating in India.

What are the challenges associated with the regulation of Online Games?

Ambiguity in definition: Online gaming betting and gaming betting advertisements have been brought under prohibition. But there is a grey area of what constitutes a game of skill, as opposed to a game of chance.

Difficult in slotting games: In the digital realm, distinctions can be even harder to make. Further, the division of roles played by skill and luck in a game can be blurry.

Extra burden on companies: There are many rules that exist at the state level, and imposing a central rule on top of it will create an additional burden for internet gaming companies.

What should be done to ensure proper regulation of Online Games?

-Create a single-market regulation: Under the regulation of Online Games, the government should create an all-India legal code.

-The government should study the social impact and efficacy of rules. This is because a peculiar mix of vulnerabilities warrants special caution in the online game market.


Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

50 ASI-protected monuments disappear: How did they go ‘missing’, what happens next

Source: The post is based on the article “50 ASI-protected monuments disappear: How did they go ‘missing’, what happens next” published in Indian Express on 4th January 2023

What is the News?

According to a submission made in Parliament by the Ministry of Culture, as many as 50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments are missing.

What are centrally protected monuments?

The centrally protected monuments are sites which have been declared so under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act).

The AMASR Act regulates the preservation of monuments and archaeological sites of national and historical importance that are more than 100 years old.

Under the act, the conservation, preservation and environmental development of the protected monuments are undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI).

How can a monument go missing?

Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham when he realized the need for a permanent body to oversee archaeological excavations and conservation. But the body remained largely dysfunctional in the 19th century owing to the fund crunch.

Even after independence, the focus of successive governments was to uncover more monuments and sites instead of conservation. 

So in due course, many monuments and sites were lost to activities like urbanization, construction of dams and reservoirs, and even encroachment

For instance, as per the ASI submission in Parliament, 14 monuments have been lost to rapid urbanization, 12 are submerged by reservoirs/dams, and 24 are untraceable which brings the number of missing monuments to 50.

Is this the first time monuments have been reported missing?

As per ASI officials, a comprehensive physical survey of all monuments has never been conducted after Independence.

However, in 2013, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report said that at least 92 centrally protected monuments across the country had gone missing. Out of these 92 monuments, 42 have been identified due to efforts made by the ASI.

The CAG report also said that the ASI did not have reliable information on the exact number of monuments under its protection. It recommended that periodic inspections of each protected monument be carried out by a suitably ranked officer.

What is the process of deleting the lost/untraceable monuments from the protected list?

The deletion requires denotification of the said monument under Section 35 of the AMASR Act, which happens to be a long-drawn process.

Hence, the Parliamentary Committee recommended that the untraceable monuments may not be removed from the list, because once that is done, there would be no imperative to find them.

Instead, the committee recommended that the list of Untraceable Monuments may be maintained as such and if necessary, the AMASR Act be amended to include this terminology.


Silent Valley bird species’ number goes up to 175

Source: The post is based on the article “Silent Valley bird species’ number goes up to 175published in The Hindu on 5th January 2023

What is the News?

A bird survey conducted at the Silent Valley National Park in Kerala has identified 141 species of which 17 were new. So far, 175 species of birds have been spotted in Silent Valley.

About Silent Valley National Park

Silent Valley National Park is located in Palakkad district in Nilgiri Mountains of Kerala.

It was declared as a National Park in 1984 and formally inaugurated in the year 1985.

The park is located in the rich biodiversity of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Mukurthi peak, the fifth-highest peak in South India and Anginda peak are also located in its vicinity.

Bhavani River, a tributary of Cauvery River originates in the vicinity of Silent Valley. 

The park harbors a viable population of Lion-tailed macaques which also is the flagship species of the Park. 

The park is one of the last undisturbed tracts of South Western Ghats mountain rain forests and tropical moist evergreen forests in India.

Plans for a hydroelectric project that threatened the park’s biodiversity led to an environmentalist social movement in the 1970s, known as the Save Silent Valley movement which resulted in cancelling the project and creating the park in 1980.


Halteria: What is ‘virovore’: An organism that eats viruses discovered

Source: The post is based on the article “What is ‘virovore’: An organism that eats viruses discovered” published in Hindustan Times on 4th January 2023

What is the News?

Researchers have found the first known “Virovore”, an organism that eats viruses.

What is Virovore?

A virovore is an organism which obtains energy and nutrients from the consumption of viruses. 

Scientists were conducting research to find out whether any microbes actively eat viruses.

They found a species of Halteria. These are microscopic ciliates that populate freshwater throughout the world. These can eat huge numbers of infectious chloroviruses. Both share an aquatic habitat.

What is the significance of this finding?

This marks a first-of-its-kind finding which has shown that a virus-only diet, termed “virovory” is enough to fuel the physiological growth and even the population growth of an organism.

Hence, these new findings may change human understanding of the role viruses play in the food chain at a microscopic level.


Cabinet approves National Green Hydrogen Mission

Source: The post is based on the articleCabinet approves National Green Hydrogen Missionpublished in PIB on 4th January 2023

What is the News?

The Union Cabinet has approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission.  

What is Green Hydrogen?

Click Here to read

What is the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

National Green Hydrogen Mission
Source: Hindustan Times

Aim: To make India a global hub for the production of green hydrogen.

Implementing Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE) 

Key Components of the mission

Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme(SIGHT): Under this, two distinct financial incentive mechanisms – targeting domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and production of Green Hydrogen – will be provided.

Support to pilot projects: The Mission will support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways. 

Research and Development(R&D): A public-private partnership framework for R&D (Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership – SHIP) will be facilitated under the Mission.

Other components: A coordinated skill development programme will be undertaken under the Mission.

– Regions capable of supporting large-scale production and/or utilization of Hydrogen will be identified and developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs.

What are the expected benefits of the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

1) Creation of export opportunities for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives, 2) Decarbonisation of industrial, mobility and energy sectors, 3) reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock, 4) development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities, 5) creation of employment opportunities and 6) development of cutting-edge technologies.  

What are the steps taken by other stakeholders to promote green hydrogen?

Kerala has set up a high-level working group for its own Hydrogen Economy Mission to devise a strategic roadmap, policy formulations, and implementation plans for facilitating investments in green hydrogen and making the state “a green hydrogen hub”.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd R&D centre, in collaboration with Tata Motor Limited, had earlier carried out trials of hydrogen fuel cell buses. 

US-based Ohmium International has commissioned India’s first green-hydrogen factory in Karnataka.


700-ft-long mural Wall of Peace thrown open at last

Source: The post is based on the article “700-ft-long mural Wall of Peace thrown open at last” published in The Hindu on 4th January 2023

What is the News?

The Wall of Peace was inaugurated in Kerala.

What is the Wall of Peace?

Wall of Peace is a great work of modern mural art on the 700-feet long compound wall of the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Cherpulassery in Kerala.

The project was named Wall of Peace not only because by reminding people of history and tradition it promotes the beauty of diversity, tolerance and harmonious co-existence but also because the word “peace” is written on the wall in 250 languages.

The wall has a portrait of Mozhikunnath Brahmadattan Namboodiripad, an eminent figure of the 1921 Malabar rebellion. Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to the region is also portrayed on the Wall.

What is Mural?

A Mural is any piece of graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrates. Mural techniques include fresco, mosaic, graffiti and marouflage.

The existence of mural paintings in India dates back to the 2nd century BC to 8-10th century AD. 

Some of the places where this painting is found include- Ajanta, Bagh, Sittanavasal, Armamalai cave, Ravan Chhaya rock shelter and Kailashnath temple in Ellora caves. The majority of the themes in these paintings relate to religion- Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.


Explained | Why has a high-power Ladakh committee been formed?

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | Why has a high-power Ladakh committee been formed?” published in The Hindu on 4th January 2023

What is the News?

The Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) has constituted a high-powered committee chaired by the Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai for the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Why was the committee formed?

Civil society groups in Ladakh have been demanding protection of land, resources and employment for the past three years after the special status of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution was read down by Parliament in 2019. 

The fear of big businesses and conglomerates taking away land and jobs from the local people has contributed to this demand.

What is the mandate of the committee?

The committee will discuss measures to 1) protect the region’s unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and strategic importance, 2) ensure the protection of land and employment for the people of Ladakh and 3) strategies for inclusive development and discuss issues related to the empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill District Councils of Leh and Kargil.

Note: Several members of the committee have said that their demands of statehood for Ladakh and safeguards under the sixth schedule of the Constitution were not there in the mandate of the committee.

What is the sixth schedule?

The sixth schedule under Article 244 of the Constitution protects the autonomy of tribal populations through the creation of autonomous development councils which can frame laws on land, public health and agriculture. As of now, ten autonomous councils exist in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

As per the 2011 Census, the total population of Ladakh was 2,74,289 and nearly 80% of them are tribals.


Supreme Court expands Article 19 ambit: Not just state, even pvt citizens can face challenge

Source: The post is based on the article “Supreme Court expands Article 19 ambit: Not just state, even pvt citizens can face challenge” published in Indian Express on 4th January 2023

What is the News?

A constitution bench of the Supreme Court has said that the fundamental rights in Articles 19 and 21 of the constitution are enforceable even against other persons, and not just the state and its instruments.

About the Supreme Court judgment

The Supreme Court has ruled that the fundamental rights in Articles 19 and 21 of the constitution are enforceable even against other persons and not just the state and its instruments.

This interpretation could bring an obligation on the state to ensure private entities also abide by Constitutional norms. These questions could hypothetically range from seeking enforcement of privacy rights against a private doctor to seeking the right to free speech against a private social media entity.

While delivering this judgment, the Court relied on the 2017 verdict in Puttaswamy where an SC unanimously upheld privacy as a fundamental right. One of the key arguments by the government was that privacy is right enforceable against other citizens and therefore, cannot be elevated to the status of a fundamental right against the state.

The court also referred to several foreign jurisdictions such as the US where there is a shift from a purely vertical approach to a horizontal approach.

What is the vertical and horizontal application of rights?

A vertical application of rights would mean it can be enforced only against the state while a horizontal approach would mean it is enforceable against other citizens.

For example, a horizontal application of the right to life would enable a citizen to bring a case against a private entity for causing pollution which would be a violation of the right to a clean environment.


Acid attack victims failed by lack of a cohesive law, legal process

Source: The post is based on the articleAcid attack victims failed by lack of a cohesive law, legal processpublished in The Hindu on 4th January 2023

What is the News?

Activists have been calling for strict curbs on acid sales to curb the incidents of acid attacks.

What is the data on acid attack cases in India?

Acid attack cases: According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, in 2011, there were 83 acid attacks. By 2021, it grew to 176 (though down from 249 in 2019).

State wise: West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh consistently record the highest numbers of acid attacks, generally accounting for nearly 50% of all cases in the country year on year. 

Conviction rate: In 2021, 153 men were charge-sheeted for acid attacks. Merely seven have been convicted.

Majority victims are women: A study by Nalanda University in 2019 showed that in a majority of cases, acid attack victims are women who have resisted persistent declarations of “love” or proposals of marriage.

Most cases in rural areas: According to the Sheroes Hangout, most acid attacks take place in rural or semi-rural areas though those that get highlighted in the media are almost always from the cities.

– Note: Sheroes Hangout is a cafe and community in India set up by the Chhanv Foundation and run by survivors of acid attacks. The cafe aims to increase awareness of acid attacks and empower acid attack survivors. There are currently two cafe locations in Agra and Lucknow.

Are there any laws to punish acid attack cases in India?

In India, the National Commission for Women floated a draft Prevention of Offences (by Acid) Bill in 2008, but it failed to see the light of the day.

However, following the Nirbhaya gang rape case and the Justice Verma Commission report in 2013, the Union government amended the Indian Penal Code recognising acid attacks as a separate offence with a minimum punishment of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.

Read here: What is the law on acid attacks in India?

Why are acid attack cases rising in India?

Many activists say the lack of cohesive legislation in regulating the sale of acids and in ensuring punishment for perpetrators is probably the chief reason for the rise in acid attacks.

They give the example of Bangladesh where acid attacks came down drastically after the government brought in two laws dedicated to the control and prevention of this crime.


RBI launches Utkarsh 2.0 for the period 2023-2025

Source: The post is based on the article “RBI launches Utkarsh 2.0 for the period 2023-2025” published in Moneycontrol on 4th January 2023

What is the News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched Utkarsh 2.0.

What is Utkarsh?

Utkarsh is a three-year roadmap of the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) to improve regulation and supervision among other functions of the central bank.

The first strategy framework (Utkarsh 2022) covering the period 2019-2022 was launched in 2019.

What is the purpose of Utkarsh 2.0?

Utkarsh 2.0 addresses the period 2023-25. It harnesses the strengths of Utkarsh 2022 by retaining the six vision statements as well as core purpose, values, and mission.

The six vision statements are: 1) excellence in performance of its statutory and other functions, 2) strengthened trust of citizens and institutions in the RBI, 3) enhanced relevance and significance in national and global roles, 4) transparent, accountable and ethics-driven internal governance, 5) best-in-class and environment-friendly digital and physical infrastructure and 6) innovative, dynamic and skilled human resources will guide the strategy.


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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