9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – March 25th, 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Crisis in Sri Lanka 
• Time for India to redefine its relationship with Russia 
• Sealed justice: On sealed cover jurisprudence
• The peculiar case of Ladakh’s eastern boundary
• The worsening hunger problem of India’s poor

GS Paper 3

• Food processing potential
• On boosting exports: Beyond $400 billion
• The effect of farm sector changes on agrarian movements in India 
• Technology can make policing better — and also more dangerous 

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• 100 years of RIMC: Making soldiers of steel
• IQAir’s 2021 report: Mumbai’s pollution level 9 times above WHO limit
• Union Minister announced launch of “Dare2eraD TB” by the Department of Biotechnology, M/o Science & Technology
• Bhoomi Rashi Portal
• Pacer Initiative
• On cooperatives, House panel tells Govt: Ensure federal features intact
• India’s First-ever SAI National Centre of Excellence for Mountain Terrain Biking and Bicycle Motocross to be set up in Shimla
• Mange in Jaisalmer’s desert foxes worries experts
• Ministry of Education to conduct a ‘Foundational Learning Study’ to draw a first-hand understanding of the learning levels at the foundational learning stage
• Wings India 2022, Asia’s largest event on Civil Aviation, got underway today at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad
• Union Minister of Rural Development felicitates 75 trained candidates of Project UNNATI under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Crisis in Sri Lanka

Source: The post is based on an article “Crisis in Sri Lanka) published in The Hindu on 25 Mar 22. 

Syllabus: GS2 – International Relations – India and its neighbourhood

Relevance: Indo-Sri Lanka relations

News: Sri Lanka is going through an economic crisis. It’s facing issues like long queues in front of petrol stations, steep rise in prices of essential commodities and frequent blackouts. 

The Sri Lankan economy has been facing both domestic and foreign debt. In addition, Sri Lanka has been facing a trade imbalance crisis since COVID-19 pandemic.  

What are the cascading impacts on India? 

Illegal migrants have started entering Tamil Nadu (16 people already entered recently). In addition, Tamil Nadu is already hosting nearly three lakh refugees after the anti-Tamil pogrom of 1983.  

It can also increase the smuggling and trafficking related activity from Sri Lanka to India. 

What steps can be taken by Sri Lanka?

Colombo has approached India, China and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for help.  

Sri Lankan leadership should restructure the administration of concessions and subsidies. It should not bother about the Compulsions of electoral politics while doing so.  

In addition to areas badly hit by the current crisis. The political devolution and economic development of the war-affected northern and eastern provinces should also be carried out.  

How has India helped Sri Lanka? 

In response, India has provided assistance of $2.4 billion. It includes a $500 million loan deferment and $1 billion credit line to enable the supply of essential commodities. 

Way forward

The crisis may serve as an opportunity to solve the bilateral issues of Palk Bay fisheries dispute. 

Time for India to redefine its relationship with Russia

News: Russia’s war in Ukraine has decisively shaped international opinion. Indian Diplomacy is facing the question of how to navigate India’s great power relations in the future.  

What has been the impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis? 

Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine has changed the global order. The Western world has imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia and banned energy imports.  

These sanctions can have an impact on global finance, energy supplies, and transportation, amid growing signs that they will constrain India’s ability to import Russian oil. 

What has been India’s foreign policy so far on such global matters?

Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru advocated for India’s neutrality in the bloc politics. It was the basis for India’s pursuit of an independent post-colonial foreign policy.  

Since the end of the Cold War, India has been advocating the policy of strategic autonomy.

– It is a re-branded form of India’s non-aligned posture during the Cold War. It refers to the doctrine of ‘multi-alignment’ which is a reality of the 21st century.  

Therefore, India expanded its engagement with all the major powers.

– For example, following the Soviet collapse, India joined Russia and China to promote a multi-polar world (against the unipolarity of the U.S.). Later, Brazil and South Africa were also brought into this coalition.  

What has been India’s stand on the present crisis?

India has not directly criticised Moscow’s actions. It has abstained from voting at the UNSC.

Kremlin has praised India for taking an “independent and balanced” position. 

Why is India facing a foreign policy conundrum? 

The following factors are causing India a strategic headache and have come to restrain India’s strategic autonomy:

– At present, India is heavily dependent on Russia for its arms imports.

– Also, it has supported India during the Cold War era, like voting against pro-Pakistani diplomatic activism by powerful Western countries in the UNSC.

– China is blatantly expanding its sphere of influence in the military, economic and political domains through the Belt and Road Initiative in the Indo-Pacific Region (IPR). Moscow has drifted much closer to Beijing. The present may push Russia further into China’s military and economic orbit. 

– The U.S. is most likely to bolster India’s future as a great power. It also counters China, which is asserting itself in India’s backyard. But Moscow is also sharply critical of India’s engagement with the U.S. and the Quad.

– The US cannot ignore Russia’s aggression along NATO’s periphery. Therefore, The US may find it difficult to digest India’s stand on Russian Invasion. 

Way Forward

The Russia- Ukraine Conflict implies that Russia is unpredictable now. For example, it is acting as a nuclear-armed bully. It is swinging wildly from one crisis to another. Therefore, it is too risky for India to pursue vague aims vis-à-vis Russia in these uncertain times.  

Russia should rethink its concern against the eastward expansion of NATO. It is because a NATO-Russia Council was formed specifically to alleviate Russia’s concerns.  

The Ukrainian tragedy has introduced a new era in international relations. Therefore, amid such a crisis, New Delhi needs to be ready to radically redefine its relationship with Moscow. 

Sealed justice: On sealed cover jurisprudence

News: Recently, the Supreme Court has decided that it will examine the issue of ‘sealed cover jurisprudence’ in the Media One channel case.

What is ‘sealed cover jurisprudence’?

This practice gained much traction in recent years, in this contents or evidences are provided to judges in sealed envelopes, withheld from lawyers appearing against the government, which is seen by judges alone. In this manner, the courts can rule in favour of the government without providing an opportunity to the affected parties to know what is being held against them.

In Media One case, Kerala High Court upheld the validity of an order revoking broadcasting rights of Malayalam news channel Media One, on the basis of a sealed envelope evoking national security. For now, the Supreme Court has allowed the channel to resume broadcasting.

What is the validity of ‘sealed cover jurisprudence’ under law?

Law permits the submission of confidential material in some cases. Courts can also order some contents to be kept confidential. The Evidence Act allows the privilege of non-disclosure of some documents and communications. The government usually justifies the submission of secret material on the basis of national security or ongoing investigation.

What are the undesirable consequences of such practice?

1. Compromising defence of accused– especially in cases of national security, money laundering, or corruption.
2. Denying bail on the basis of undisclosed material. (P. Chidambaram case)
3. Gives scope to state to avoid scrutiny of the need and proportionalityof its restrictions on freedom.

The Supreme Court should determine and prescribe circumstances in which confidential government reports can be used by courts for adjudication.

The peculiar case of Ladakh’s eastern boundary

Context: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval. This provides a chance to focus on Ladakh’s eastern boundary and ongoing conflict.

History of Ladakh’s boundary:

There has never been a defined boundary in this area because high watershed frameworks do not apply to parallel ranges in Ladakh.

By Treaty of Timosgang, 1684, Ladakh emerged as a distinct entity. This treaty established relations between Leh and Lhasa through trade exchanges.

Treaty of Chushul, 1842 – Ladakh and Tibet agreed to maintain the status quo.

Treaty of Amritsar, 1846  between the East India Company and the State of Kashmir included Ladakh with its eastern boundary undefined, and the focus remained pashmina trade.

During British rule, the focus shifted to the northern boundary of Ladakh because of the threat of Russian advance. In eastern Ladakh, however, the customary boundary was defined only for a very limited area under human occupation. This was also stated in the ‘Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak’ in 1890. In this unoccupied Aksai Chin was described as “neutral territory”.

New domestic consensus:

The year 1954, was a turning point in complicating the situation. Unilateral actions in ‘neutral territory’, establishing a strategic road, and defining the boundary converted a colonial ambiguity into a dispute. Instead of adopting the watershed principle as in the case of other Himalayan states.

In 1959 – Both nations hardened their positions relying on selective historical correspondence that would justify their stand.

In 1993  – Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control was signed, moving from history to principles.

In 2020 – Focus has shifted to the ground situation. The recent joint statement highlights continuing dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

What is the solution?

Solution lies in continuing dialogue. An agreement on the watershed boundary following a well-established principle could meet national security concerns of India and China without bringing in intractable issues of sovereignty.

The worsening hunger problem of India’s poor

Context: In October 2020, The Right to Food Campaign conducted a Hunger Watch Survey (HW-1) to analyze the effect of lockdown. Covering close to 4,000 people in 11 states, the survey highlighted the extent of widespread hunger and a deterioration in the quality of diets compared to the pre-pandemic period.

The second round of the Hunger Watch survey (HW-II) was conducted in December 2021-January 2022, following the second wave of pandemic.

Findings of the survey:

Food insecurity was widespread – 79 per cent of the overall sample reported experiencing conditions ranging from worrying about not having enough food, to not being able to eat a diet of sufficient quality or quantity, to running out of food and having to go without eating a whole day.

Situation worse in urban Areas – As 87% reported food insecurity compared to 76% in rural areas.

Availability of cereals: In HW-II only one in three households said that their consumption of cereals was sufficient for their needs. Two-thirds of households could not afford cooking gas in the month before the survey. This was higher in rural areas than urban.

Nutritional Deficiency: More than a quarter could only eat more affordable items like dark green leafy vegetables and pulses fewer than two-three times a month. The conditions were poorer in rural areas.

Other findings: Two in five respondents said that the nutritional quality of their food had worsened since the pre-pandemic period.

Way forward: There is an urgent need to acknowledge the problem of hunger and take immediate action, including allocating sufficient resources to address the issue.

GS Paper 3

Food processing potential

News: Food processing sector has performed impressively in the past few years on the back of govt support. Even in times of the pandemic, this sector has grown due to the inc in demand for ready-to-consume and home-deliverable foods.

But, it still has a huge untapped potential.

The article throws light on the current situation of the food processing industry in India and issues being faced by the sector.

Why the food processing industry is important to India’s economy?

The food processing industry has emerged as the biggest employer of labour in the manufacturing sector.

– As per the Govt, over 2 million people were engaged in the food processing units in 2018-19 (Annual Survey of Industries data). This means the textiles sector, employing about 1.6 million people, is now at the second position.

This sector has attracted nearly $5.51 billion foreign direct investment between 2014 and 2021. The gross value added in this sector has therefore risen from Rs 1.34 trillion in 2014-15 to Rs 2.24 trillion in 2019-20.

What is the situation wrt food processing in India?

India is the world’s second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables, a sizeable part of which goes to waste for want of processing facilities.

– Currently, hardly 10% of the produce is processed into value-added and shelf life-enhanced products. This compares poorly with the developed countries, where over 80% of the harvest is processed into value-upgraded products.

– Even in several emerging economies, more than a third of the farm produce is processed to prolong its shelf life.

Though India has also set a goal to raise the processing level to 25% by 2025, it can achieve a far more ambitious target if some major constraints faced by this sector are addressed.

What are the challenges being faced?

The lack of supply chain infrastructure, including storage and transportation facilities.

The much-needed preliminary post-harvest treatment of the produce, in terms of cleaning, grading and safe handling, is generally missing. This is vital given that the quality of agricultural produce begins deteriorating immediately after harvest.

Besides, most of the crop varieties planted by the farmers are meant for fresh consumption rather than processing. It is only recently that the plant breeders have begun to churn out crop varieties suited specifically for industrial processing.

The research and development facilities for evolving innovative processed products and convenience foods are also underdeveloped as yet.

On top of that, the food processors have to procure their supplies through the regular marketing channels (read regulated mandis) in most states, which add to the costs besides creating several other problems.

On boosting exports: Beyond $400 billion

News: Recently, there has been an export boom in the international market. Therefore, India has fixed a goal of attaining the $400 billion target for the current fiscal year.  

What are the factors driving India’s exports?

All-around performance of the engineering goods, petroleum products, and chemicals have played a significant part in boosting the merchandise trade of India. Factors responsible are:

– Higher global commodity prices have pushed up the value of Indian export. For example, Petroleum products contribute about 15% to total exports and have grown significantly in the current year.  

– The global economy’s recovery from the pandemic-induced disruption has revived the merchandise exports. 

– Major share in India’s export basket includes engineering goods, chemicals, petroleum products, and gems and jewellery. These products have higher elasticity to global growth.   

Thus, India’s export performance significantly depends on the pace of global growth. 

Why global economy is expected to slow down? 

– Global growth is going to be impacted by ongoing geo-political uncertainty. At present, the commodity prices have been pushed up due to this. For example, India’s imports have reached a record high of $589 billion. It has resulted in a trade deficit of $189 billion. 

– Global growth is going to be impacted by the increase in interest rates by the US Federal Reserve and other large central banks. This could tighten financial conditions in the coming months.  

– The Covid cases have been surging in China and other countries. Such a surge would affect supply chains. It would result in lower output and higher inflation.  

How India’s policies may obstruct its export growth?

– On the policy front, the government has been raising tariffs. It may obstruct India’s participation in the global value chain, which is essential for attaining sustained exports growth. 

– India also decided against joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). India is negotiating bilateral trade deals with a number of counties, which might take time, and will not compensate for its decision to not join the RCEP.  

– Higher current account deficit and capital outflow over the coming quarters will put pressure on the rupee. 

What is the way forward?

RBI should manage the rupee and allow it to depreciate in a non-disruptive manner.  

The RBI should not defend the Indian rupee to contain inflation caused by expensive imports. It would affect exports and create longer-term macroeconomic imbalances.

The effect of farm sector changes on agrarian movements in India

News: In recently-concluded state elections, the farmer’s movement and the repeal of the three farm laws that passed in 2020 were referred to during the political discourse in some parts of the electoral landscape. 

In Punjab, a group of farm protestors who contested elections failed to register their presence.  

In Uttar Pradesh, the agitation failed to mobilize farmers beyond the state’s western belt, which was the hotbed of farmer mobilization. The political articulation failed to find resonance even in other parts of UP or neighbouring Uttarakhand. 

Why the movement couldn’t succeed in generating any political consensus on farmer issues? 

The movement was restricted to a narrow geographical region. Therefore, It could not influence voters beyond that. 

The farmer movement 2020 was largely a response to an action of the government. It was not an organic mobilization over the concerns of a large majority of farmers. The 2020 protest ceased to exist with the repeal of the farm laws.

The farmers movements have failed to build alliances. During the past five years, there were protests in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra (Long March to highlight their plight) and Tamil Nadu (Farmers protested in Delhi for 100 days). But they could not come together. 

It could not reach common ground with agricultural and non-farm casual labourers. In fact, their lives and livelihoods are also affected by agriculture. 

Agricultural concerns differ across states because the nature of agriculture (like cropping patterns) has changed across states.

– For example, now, horticulture and commercial crops dominate over cereal-based cropping patterns. Unlike rice and wheat, they do not enjoy state support through public procurement at minimum support prices (MSPs). 

Decline in use of farm labour due to an increase in capital intensity and mechanization of agriculture. Therefore, most casual-wage farm labourers are now seeking employment elsewhere. It has weakened the solidarity among wageworkers and cultivators

Now the non-farm sector has become dominant. Therefore, the challenge for agrarian politics has gone beyond the narrow demands of loan waivers and MSP guarantees. 

What is the way forward?

To have any political impact, the agrarian mobilizations require a broadening of the movement. This requires building coalitions across different classes of farmers as well as wageworkers who are impacted by the prevailing rural distress.  

Mobilization of farmers is necessary for farmers to attain a stronger bargaining position vis-a-vis the market and the state. It is because the farmers are now vulnerable to unexpected market changes.

Also, the state has a duty to protect agriculture, farmers and the rural economy. 

Technology can make policing better — and also more dangerous

News: On March 11, the NCRB Foundation Day, the union home minister said that the second phase of the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) Project is going to be completed by the year 2026. 

Features & advantages of ICJS

The system will include artificial intelligence, fingerprint systems and other tools of predictive policing.

For example, Recently, the Indore Police Commissioner unveiled a “fingerprint-based criminal record data fetching system” developed to control crime in the state. 

Advantages

– The CCTNS and ICJS can lead to cross-referencing of data. It can help to make policing more efficient. 

– The criminals can be traced easily. For example, if a small thumb impression machine is added to a phone. It can be placed to capture fingerprints at checking points, public spaces, etc. All information about a person’s criminal record will be pulled up.  

What are the issues with the ICJS project?

Privacy concerns: The predictive policing practices will give birth to mass surveillance. It may violate the private which has been declared as a fundamental right to informational privacy by The Supreme Court in K.S Puttaswamy Case.  

Oppression of communities: The mass surveillance may be put on certain oppressed caste communities, like Nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, which are referred as Habitual Offenders (HO).

– For example, after an introduction of the Commissionerate system in Bhopal and Indore, members of Vimukta and Adivasi communities are being summoned as part of “Operation clean“. Those subject to policing rarely includes dominant caste persons having resources, who may have even been convicted of a crime. With ICJS and CCTNS, this system may be replicated as a pan-India phenomenon. 

What is the way forward? 

Any measure that seeks to collect information or surveillance must be legal, necessary, and proportionate so that it does not violate the fundamental right to informational privacy. 

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

100 years of RIMC: Making soldiers of steel

What is the news?

Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, previously the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, turned 100 years recently.

About RIMC

The Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), is an Inter Service Category ‘A’ establishment, administered through the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Motto: ‘Ich Dien’ or ‘I Serve’.

It was raised as Imperial Cadet College (Rajwada Camp) on March 13, 1922, with cadets mainly from princely families.

The defining moment in RIMC’s history must be the initiative of General Thimayya and a few other nationalist alumni soon after Independence. They insisted that measures be taken to ensure that RIMC does not remain an elitist school, as it largely was in British times.

– Consequently, Govt assigned at least one seat to every state in the admission process with some of the larger states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra sending two cadets to the school should they meet the admission criteria.

Its illustrious alumni include a Victoria Cross, independent India’s first Param Vir Chakra, six Indian service chiefs, accomplished generals, admirals, air marshals, bureaucrats and corporate leaders

It fulfils its role as a feeder institution to NDA, NAVAC (Naval Academy), and also enable Cadets to apply for CME & Technical entry (CTW) and any other schemes from where Cadets can join the Defence Services.

The College provides Public School education to young boys in the age group of 11½ to 18 years, specially selected through an All-India Competitive Examination.

RIMC will open its gates to girls in a phased manner, with an initial intake of five girls in the autumn term of 2022.

Way forward

Like every institution, RIMC must also reinvent itself in several areas to keep pace with the demands of the changing character of conflict.

– It must develop multidisciplinary expertise to create future hybrid warriors who combine the traditional ‘guts and glory’ paradigm with intellectual prowess and a technological orientation.

RIMC is a special institution and must be nurtured because it represents an aspirational idea of India as articulated in the Constitution.

IQAir’s 2021 report: Mumbai’s pollution level 9 times above WHO limit

What is the News?

The 2021 World Air Quality Report has been released.

What is the World Air Quality Report 2021?

Released by: IQAir, a Swiss organization

Purpose: The report is based on Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 air quality data from 6,475 cities in 117 countries, regions, and territories around the world.

What are the key findings of the report related to India?

For the fourth consecutive year, Delhi has been named the most polluted capital in the world, with pollution rising almost 15% over 2020.

35 of the 50 cities with the worst air quality are in India. Among these cities, Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi tops the list, followed closely by Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad.

Mumbai had recorded a PM 2.5 annual average of 46.4 microgram/cubic metre – nearly nine times above the World Health Organization (WHO) limit.

48% of Indian cities exceeded 50 μg/m3 air quality level, which is well over 10 times the WHO guidelines.

Note: WHO’s guidelines of September 2021 warrant good air quality with a PM2.5 concentration level between 0-5 g/m3.

What is the significance of the report?

Air pollution is now considered to be the world’s largest environmental health threat, accounting for seven million deaths around the world every year. 

Air pollution causes and aggravates many diseases, ranging from asthma to cancer, lung illnesses and heart disease.

The estimated daily economic cost of air pollution has been figured at $8 billion (USD), or 3 to 4% of the gross world product.

Why does the report measure PM 2.5?

PM2.5, particulate matter consisting of fine aerosol particles measuring 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter, is commonly accepted as the most harmful to human health due to its prevalence in the environment and a broad range of health effects.

In 2021, the deaths of 40,000 children under the age of five were directly linked to PM2.5 air pollution.

PM2.5 is generated from many sources and can vary in chemical composition and physical characteristics. Common chemical constituents of PM2.5 include sulfates, nitrates, black carbon, and ammonium. 

The most common human-made sources include internal combustion engines, power generation, industrial processes, agricultural processes, construction, and residential wood and coal burning. 

The most common natural sources for PM2.5 are dust storms, sandstorms, and wildfires.

Union Minister announced launch of “Dare2eraD TB” by the Department of Biotechnology, M/o Science & Technology

What is the News?

On the Occasion of World TB Day, the Union Minister of Science & Technology has announced the launch of the “Dare2eraD TB” program.

What is the Dare2eraD TB program?

Launched by: Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology.

Full-Form: Dare2eraD TB stands for Data-Driven Research to Eradicate TB.

Components: Dare2eraD TB will be the umbrella TB program of DBT, comprising the following key initiatives:

– InTGS – Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance Consortium: It is proposed on lines of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG). It aims to monitor the genomic variations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network 

– InTBK Hub-Indian TB Knowledge Hub- Webinar Series: It will be a Webinar series starting from World TB Day that will create Academia-Industry connect to discuss challenges and exchange ideas and carry forward open innovations between all TB stakeholders.

– Host Directed therapies against TB and developing an evidence-based regimen for treating extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis.

What are the other initiatives related to Tuberculosis(TB)?

Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT) India initiative: It is a bilateral, multi-organizational, collaborative research effort established in 2013 under the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program(VAP). It aims to advance tuberculosis(TB) research in India.

Department of Biotechnology has initiated a major network programme on “MDR-TB in North East India: a genomic driven approach” involving 22 North East Region(NER) institutes from 8 states and 14 other Institutes.

Bhoomi Rashi Portal

What is the News?

The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has informed Lok Sabha about the Bhoomi Rashi Portal.

What is Bhoomi Rashi Portal?

Launched by: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in 2018.

Aim: To digitize the land acquisition process for National Highway (NH) projects.

The portal is also integrated with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) for depositing the compensation in the account of affected/ interested persons on a real-time basis.

Significance of the portal: The portal has expedited significantly the process of land acquisition for National Highways, making it error-free & more transparent with notifications at every stage being processed on a real-time basis. 

Pacer Initiative

What is the News?

The Minister of Earth Sciences has informed Rajya Sabha about the Polar Science and Cryosphere Research(PACER) Initiative.

What is PACER Initiative?

Launched by: Ministry of Earth Sciences

Objective: To ​​study various aspects relating to Polar and the Cryosphere with special emphasis on the Antarctic, Arctic and Glaciers of the Himalayas.

Programmes: The important programmes under the initiative include: the Antarctic program, Indian Arctic program, Southern Ocean program and Cryosphere and Climate program.

Implementing Agency: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)

Duration of the Initiative: The initiative has been approved for continuation during 2021- 2026.

What are the major achievements of the PACER Initiative?

– Executed 39th & 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. The 41st Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica is ongoing.

– Ten sediment cores were collected from lakes to reconstruct the past climate associated with the ice-sheet dynamics.

– Clear-air atmospheric observatories containing automatic weather stations, a suite of sensors to measure aerosol and greenhouse gas concentrations has been established at Maitri and Bharati stations. 

– The IndARC mooring system along with the Hydrophone system was successfully retrieved and deployed in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. 

– Glaciological field campaigns were carried out in six benchmark glaciers in Chandra basin of Lahaul-Spiti region of Western Himalaya.

– The 11th Indian Southern Ocean Expedition was executed successfully. 

On cooperatives, House panel tells Govt: Ensure federal features intact

What is the News?

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing has submitted its report on the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation.

What is the Ministry of Cooperation?

The Ministry of Cooperation was created by the Government of India in 2021 to work towards strengthening the cooperative movement in India.

Click Here to read more

What are the views of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation?

The committee welcomed the government’s decision to create a separate Ministry of Cooperation for strengthening the cooperative sector in the country to realize the vision ‘From Cooperation to Prosperity’

However, the panel highlighted that cooperative society is a State subject included in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

Hence, the Cooperation Ministry should exercise utmost precautions in planning activities and programmes at the national level so that federal features of the country are not impinged upon.

India’s First-ever SAI National Centre of Excellence for Mountain Terrain Biking and Bicycle Motocross to be set up in Shimla

Source: This post is based on an article “India’s First-ever SAI National Centre of Excellence for Mountain Terrain Biking and Bicycle Motocross to be set up in Shimla” published in PIB on 24th March 2022 

What is the News?

India’s First-ever Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence(NCOE) for Mountain Terrain Biking and Bicycle Motocross is to be set up in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

What is the National Centre of Excellence(NCOE) for Mountain Terrain Biking and Bicycle Motocross?

Setup by: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Youth Services and Sports department of the Government of Himachal Pradesh.

Purpose: To provide world-class training facilities to Indian cyclists in Mountain Terrain Biking and Bicycle Motocross so that they can compete for Olympic medals.

Features: The Centre will be located at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. It will have world-class infrastructure, a state-of-art sports science high-performance centre, Olympic-level track and coaches of international repute

Besides, the centre will also have a High-Performance Center for Sports Science with state-of-the-art facilities such as an indoor recovery pool, a biomech lab, strength and conditioning hall, physiotherapy and anthropometry. 

Mange in Jaisalmer’s desert foxes worries experts

Source: This post is based on an article “Mange in Jaisalmer’s desert foxes worries experts” published in Down To Earth on 25th March 2022 

What is the News?

Wildlife conservationists have expressed concern after locals spotted a few desert foxes, found in the scrub forests of Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, suffering from a loss of fur due to the Mange Skin Disease.

What is Mange Disease?

Mange is a type of skin disease of animals caused by parasitic mites.

The disease is characterized by inflammation, itching, thickening of the skin and hair loss.

Caused by: The most severe form of mange is caused by the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which also causes human scabies. 

Transmission: The disease is transmitted between animals by direct contact and by objects that have been in contact with infected animals. 

– Humans can also catch sarcoptic mange from dogs, but the mites involved cannot complete their life cycle in human skin. As a result, the issue can cause some skin irritation in humans, but it does not last long.

Treatment: The treatment of mange requires both oral medicines as well as the application of skin medicine.

Ministry of Education to conduct a ‘Foundational Learning Study’ to draw a first-hand understanding of the learning levels at the foundational learning stage

Source: This post is based on an article “Ministry of Education to conduct a ‘Foundational Learning Study’ to draw a first-hand understanding of the learning levels at the foundational learning stage” published in PIB on 24th March 2022 

What is the News?

The Ministry of Education will be conducting a ‘Foundational Learning Study’.

What is Foundational Learning Study?

Conducted by: National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) 

Aim: To get a first-hand understanding of the learning levels of the students at the foundational learning stage (at the end of Grade 3). 

Objectives of the study

– To conduct a large-scale assessment of the foundational learning of grade 3 students to establish a baseline for the NIPUN Bharat mission.

– To establish reading proficiency benchmarks for fluency with comprehension for each of the languages being assessed under the study

– To provide the data for SDG 4.1.1. (Covering aspects of foundational literacy and numeracy).

Coverage: The study will be conducted across all states and union territories. Approximately 10,000 schools and one lakh students are expected to participate in the study.

Significance: This study is the first of its kind in the world, as it aims to set up benchmarks for reading with comprehension in 22 Indian languages. 

What is the importance of Foundational Learning?

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has highlighted that “the ability to read, write, and perform basic operations with numbers, is a necessary foundation and an indispensable prerequisite for all future schooling and lifelong learning”. 

Therefore, focusing on ‘learning achievement’ in the foundational years is essential to empower learners with capabilities to make their subsequent learning experiences more meaningful and absorb.

Wings India 2022, Asia’s largest event on Civil Aviation, got underway today at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad

Source: This post is based on an article “Wings India 2022, Asia’s largest event on Civil Aviation, got underway today at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad” published in PIB on 24th March 2022

What is the News?

Wings India 2022 has started at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad.

What is Wings India 2022?

Organized by: Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FICCI) 

Purpose: It is Asia’s largest event on Civil Aviation. It is held biennially (once every two years). 

The theme for 2022: ‘India@75: New Horizon for Aviation Industry’

Components: The components of the event include Exhibition, Conference, Chalets, CEOs Forum, Static Display, Media Conferences and Awards.

About India’s Civil Aviation Market

India’s Civil Aviation is among the fastest-growing aviation markets globally and will be a major growth engine to make India a $5 trillion economy. In terms of domestic air passenger traffic, India is the 3rd largest aviation market, which stood at 274.05 million in FY20.

75 airports were opened in 75 years of Civil Aviation in India while under the aegis of UDAN, within a span of 3 years, the government provide connectivity to 76 unserved / 20 underserved airports, 31 heliports and 10 water aerodromes. 

The scheduled Indian carriers have a fleet strength of 713 aircraft operating year around; private scheduled airlines plan to add over 900 aircraft in the next 5 years. 

Union Minister of Rural Development felicitates 75 trained candidates of Project UNNATI under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA

Source: This post is based on an article “Union Minister of Rural Development felicitates 75 trained candidates of Project UNNATI under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA” published in PIB on 23rd March 2022 

What is the News?

Union Minister of Rural Development has felicitated 75 trained candidates of Project UNNATI under MGNREGA.

What is Project UNNATI?

Launched by: Ministry of Rural Development

Purpose: It is a skilling project that aims to upgrade the skill base of the MGNREGA beneficiaries, thereby improving their livelihoods so that they can move from the current partial employment to full-time employment and hence reduce their dependence on Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.

Eligibility: The project is meant for providing training for one adult member (of age 18-45 years old) of a household who has completed 100 days of work under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in the previous financial year from the year of commencement of the project.

Stipend: The candidates undergoing training are paid a stipend for a maximum period of 100 days and for one program per household as per the wage rate prevailing in the concerned State/UT as per the provisions of the project. 

Funding: Full expenditures towards a stipend, against wage loss compensation, are entirely borne by the Central Government.

Target: ​​A total of 2 lakh beneficiaries shall be imparted training under this project in a span of three years in 26 states and 2 UTs. 

What are the other steps taken by the Government under MGNREGA?

The Government of India is focusing on complete transparency in the implementation of the MGNREGA scheme. 

For this, the Ministry of Rural Development has decided that presence of Ombudspersons in at least 80% districts would be insisted as a precondition for the approval of the Annual Action Plant and Labour Budget for FY 2022-2023 under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.