9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – October 22nd, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• Not Hindi or English, the real language question is status of vernacular
• A crisis is brewing in coffee industry

GS Paper 2

• An online fight where children need to be saved

GS Paper 3

• Wars aren’t won with peacetime economies
• Solution for stubble burning
• Yes, it’s all about rocket science
• Religions-20: A pioneering initiative in G-20 to build a God-centric value system

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Uttarakhand Governor felicitates astronomers, encourages young scientists at commemoration of 50 years of telescope
• DefExpo 2022 propels ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence to next level
• Pakistan is out of FATF ‘grey list’ on terror funding
• Don’t wait for complaints to act against hate speech, Supreme Court tells police
• Explained | How is the energy crisis in Europe shaping up?
• Are critically endangered Great Indian Bustards now migrating to Pakistan?
• This September was 5th warmest in 143 years: NOAA report
• October storm in Bay of Bengal after 3 years: When, where it is likely to hit
• State governments cannot enter into broadcasting on their own: I&B Ministry
• Centre launches programme to strengthen Kashi-Tamil Nadu bond

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Not Hindi or English, the real language question is status of vernacular

News- The article explains the issues related to the status of vernacular language in India. It also explains the state performance in solving the challenges posed by linguistic diversity.

What are the challenges posed by linguistic diversity?

Imposition of Hindi– It is related to establishing Hindi as primary language.

Status of vernacular language– The Indian language experiment has given political accommodation to so many languages. But the accommodation comes with a hierarchy. The main issue is that language identity and culture are different from the language of knowledge, privilege and access.

The vernacular had become increasingly confined to identity, culture, and a marker of second-class status.

English has been the language of power. It opens the frontiers of knowledge and access to privilege. Hindi language is seen as closing off the access to frontiers of knowledge in science ,law and civic studies.

What is the Indian state record in resolving language related issues?

The state has a good track record in resolving issues related to Hindi imposition. But it has not been able to resolve the issues related to the status of vernacular.

India’s two-language formula produces a superficial bilingualism. We may speak two or three languages. But we don’t have access to knowledge in two languages. The teaching of the third language is totally wasted. It gives no competence in that language.

Our translation mission has not been successful in translating knowledge in vernacular.

The parents are demanding English education. Many Dalits have glorified  English as a sign of emancipation. But the state also fails in providing equal access to English learning. Divisions have been created that are based on English fluency.

What is the way forward?

The focus should be on pedagogical rather than political issues. Knowledge should be provided in English in areas like research and science where access to knowledge in vernacular is not possible.

The ability to communicate fluently in vernacular languages will be a great asset. Those who did not get an English education, continuing vernacular education should be a medium of expanding their opportunities.

A crisis is brewing in coffee industry

News- The article explains the challenges faced by the Indian coffee sector and suggests the solutions.

Coffee plantations in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have suffered high losses due to heavy rains between July and September this year.

What are the issues faced by the coffee sector?

Climate change–  Over the last few years, it has adversely impacted India’s coffee production and the quality of the crop. According to the Coffee Board of India, production for the 2022 crop year was estimated at 393400 metric tonnes. But given the extreme climatic conditions, it is anticipated to be some 30% Lower.

Cost of financing– There is volatility in market prices. Influence of producers in the value chain has reduced. They are getting marginalised. This has rendered coffee cultivation a loss making enterprise.

Around 75% of coffee is exported. The producers from other exporting countries have competitive advantage of low cost finances.

The cost of financing is one of the biggest challenges of the coffee sector. Most private banks provide financing against collaterals. Since small and medium-size growers are not in a position to provide collateral, the interest rates are high.

Debt issues– There are debt issues faced by farmers. As per the information compiled by United Plant Association of Southern, there were short-term and long-term loans amounting to ₹395.54 crore and ₹40.4 crore respectively at the end of year 2019.

Banks have not restructured the loans. The accounts of many coffee growers have turned to NPAs. These growers are now facing recovery proceedings under the SARFAESI Act.

Low production and higher input cost– The productivity of coffee is low. The cost of production is on the rise compared to other coffee countries such as Vietnam and Brazil.

Labour costs are on a higher side. In Brazil, labour charges account for 25% of the entire production cost. But in India They account for about 65%. India’s coffee terrain and topography makes mechanisation difficult.

There is a shortage of labour in the coffee sector. Plantations have to be dependent heavily on migrant labourers who are unskilled. Wage costs are not linked to productivity. growers are mandated to pay the usual wage along with other social costs such as housing and medicines. It adds up some 30% more to the wages.

The cost of production per acre has gone up substantially to ₹80,000-85,000 from ₹50,000 five

years ago. The cost of inputs such as fertilisers and agrochemicals has increased by almost 20% in a year.

The plantations face power cuts during the summer months. This makes irrigation expensive as the cost of diesel is high.

What is the way forward?

Additional income– Growers should create additional revenue streams through inter-cropping or through innovative measures like fish farming, dairy farming or green tourism.

Branding and promotion– There is a need for better branding and promotion of Indian coffee in the global market. Indian coffee is highly rated and commands premium prices in the global coffee markets. India has several speciality coffees and over three dozen estate brands for the global markets. It provides better opportunities for marketing.

GS Paper 2

An online fight where children need to be saved

News: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently conducted a pan-India operation called “Megh Chakra”. This operation was against the online circulation and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) using cloud-based storage.  

What is the law in India regarding CSAM? 

The law in India allows viewing adult pornography in private whereas browsing, downloading or exchanging child pornography is a punishable offence under the IT Act.  

However, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are exempted from liability for any third-party data if they do not initiate the transmission.  

The public reporting of circulation of online CSAM is very low in India and there is no system of automatic electronic monitoring. Therefore, India’s enforcement agencies are mostly dependent on foreign agencies for information.  

How are countries around the world taking action against CSAM? 

USA: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a non-profit organization in the US. It operates a programme called Cyber Tipline. This programme is meant for public and electronic service providers (ESPs) to report instances of suspected child sexual exploitation. It also notifies ISPs to block the transmission of online CSAM. 

UK: Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is a non-profit organisation in the UK. It is established by the United Kingdom’s Internet industry to ensure a safe online environment for users with a particular focus on CSAM.  

INHOPE: It is a global network of 46 member countries that has 50 hotlines to report CSAM. It provides a secure IT infrastructure called ICCAM which is hosted by Interpol. It facilitates the exchange of CSAM reports between hotlines and law enforcement agencies. 

What efforts have been made by India to prevent CSAM? 

Supreme Court Judgement: SC in Shreya Singhal (2015) case read Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act. SC said that the ISP shall remove or disable access to illegal content if notified by the government or court. 

In Kamlesh Vaswani (2013) case, the advisory committee (constituted under Section 88 of the IT Act) issued orders to ISPs to disable nine URLs which hosted contents in violation of the morality and decency clause of Article 19(2) of the Constitution. 

NGO: ‘Aarambh India’ is a Mumbai-based non-governmental organization. It launched India’s first online reporting portal in 2016 with the partnership of IWF to report images and videos of child abuse. 

Government: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched a national cybercrime reporting portal in 2018 for filing online complaints related to child pornography and gang rape. 

This was developed to comply with SC directions after a PIL was filed by Prajwala, a Hyderabad-based NGO that rescues and rehabilitates sex trafficking survivors. 

Further, the National Crime Records Bureau signed a MoU with the NCMEC in 2019 to receive CyberTipline reports to take action against those who upload or share CSAM in India. 

Parliamentary Committee: The ad hoc Committee of the Rajya Sabha, headed by Jairam Ramesh raised concern about pornography on social media and recommended broadening the definition of ‘child pornography.  

It also said that proper monitoring along with blocking of CSAM by ISPs should be done. 

It further recommended building partnerships with the industry to develop tools using AI for dark-web investigations and tracing the identity of users engaged in cryptocurrency transactions to purchase child pornography online. 

This shows that there are different steps taken by different organizations in India. However, there is more to be done. 

What can be a further course of action? 

First, India needs to join INHOPE and establishes its hotline to utilise Interpol’s secure IT infrastructure.   

Second, it also needs to collaborate with ISPs and financial companies by establishing an independent facility such as the IWF or NCMEC. 

Third, the Jairam Ramesh committee’s recommendations must be followed up seriously and the Prajwala case should be brought to a logical end.

GS Paper 3

Wars aren’t won with peacetime economies

News: Russia-Ukraine war has caused concerns towards the economies around the world as it has led to the increase in energy prices along with others. 

Even though Europe and America have provided economic and military assistance to Ukraine they are facing effect of the war along with other countries.  

However, it is a mistake to think that the war can be won with a peacetime economy as no country has ever prevailed in a serious war by leaving markets alone.  

So, efforts such as imposing windfall tax are required from the US and European countries to better their economic conditions to support Ukraine. 

How does not imposing the windfall tax create impacts on the economy? 

War caused shortages, but it leads to windfall gains for some companies. Therefore, there is a need for the country to enforce windfall profit tax on the companies making windfall gains. 

The EU and the US have failed to come up with a windfall tax on the companies due to the concerns of appearing antibusiness. 

However, taxing windfall profits and using the proceeds to finance the necessary war spending and support for those hurt by high prices is not anti-business.  

But it is responsible wartime governance which is necessary to maintain popular support for the war. 

These temporary taxes neither hurt investments nor employment and there is nothing wrong to tax exceptional gains. 

Moreover, the prices of electricity and food are also increasing which has affected the consumers and raised concerns for the government. 

How marginal-cost pricing is impacting Europe? 

Europe needs more comprehensive effort as its market structure was not designed to deal with wartime conditions. It follows the principle of marginal-cost pricing. 

The marginal cost pricing means the extra price required for the production to meet the demand.  

Therefore, with the increase in gas prices, the marginal costs have risen above average costs and this acts as a burden on the consumers of electricity in Europe.  

Moreover, economists love marginal-cost pricing because it attracts incentives and its distributive consequences on consumers is small and manageable.  

However, looking at the present condition of the increase in global prices there are low incentives available and distributive effects are huge on consumers. 

Therefore, there is another simpler system in the discussion that would retain most of the marginal-cost pricing’s incentive effects without the distributive effects.  

It is a non-linear pricing framework and this can be adopted by the European countries. 

What is a non-linear pricing framework? 

The non-linear pricing framework works on the principle where the total charges payable by customers are not proportional to the number of their consumed services. 

Therefore, it is better to fix a certain amount of prices for the consumer based on non-linear pricing framework and the rest amount should be based on marginal-cost price. 

Further, the non-linear pricing framework cannot be used in all the markets but it can be used in electricity and it is an important framework that can be followed by the government during the wartime. 

Therefore, countries in Europe and the West require more efforts like windfall profit taxes, controlling prices of food and electricity and encouraging necessary government interventions to generate more gains to support Ukraine. 

Solution for stubble burning

News: The problem of stubble burning is prevailing for many years. The farmers clear the stubble from the previous crop by putting it on fire because it is quick and cheap method. 

What solution has been provided by the Ministry of Power (MoP)? 

The Ministry of Power (MoP) has provided the to harvest stubble compact into pellets and to burn those pellets in thermal power plants as a coal substitute. 

It has also mandated that thermal plants must substitute 5 per cent of their coal with biomass pellets for the next 25 years. 

What are the concerns associated with burning pellets? 

The cost of the energy unit generated by biomass may be higher than thermal coal. 

Pellets yield lower cal per kg compared to coal and according to some studies the end-to-end carbon impact from burning biomass is higher than the impact from coal burning. 

What are the advantages of pellets or biomass burning? 

Pellets could be sourced by thermal power plants through long-term contracts with pellet suppliers.  

This would create a supply chain where farmers sell stubble to pellet-makers who further sell pellets to power plants and everyone get benefits. 

It will also benefit towards fulfilling the renewable obligations for power generators and distributors as pellets are easily manufactured, stored and transported.  

Power plants can even source biomass and store it using torrefaction (heating in an inert atmosphere) method.  

Moreover, burning pellets releases COs, SPM, etc. but it is categorised as green since plants absorb Carbon dioxide (Co2).  

Therefore, pollutants are removed by the same agents that produce biomass. 

India uses surplus biomass (stubble, straw) to burn in the thermal power plants and it is considered greener compared to other countries. 

Yes, it’s all about rocket science

News: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark3 (GSLV-Mk3) which is India’s heaviest rocket will enter into the commercial market after attempting to put 36 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for UK-based OneWeb on October. 

ISRO has already launched 345 foreign satellites using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). However, this time it will be GSLV that will launch the satellites. 

What is the importance of GSLV-Mk3 on the present mission? 

GSLV-Mk3 first mission was the Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment in 2014. However, it was declared operational in the year 2019 after the launch of Chandrayaan-2. 

It was also used in demonstration missions in 2017 and 2018 by launching Gsat-19 and Gsat-29. 

Therefore, from past experience, ISRO is confident in this mission as well. This mission will show India’s ability to launch heavier payloads to LEO.  

It will also attract commercial customers through Space PSU New Space India Limited (NSIL) and provide future opportunities for launches into higher orbits. 

There are also strategic benefits of a successful Mk3 such as launching a group of remote-sensing satellites in the future. 

However, the future lies in the development of rockets along with the increasing demands and India needs to address it. 

What are the current problems with rocket development in India and how can they be solved? 

India is currently working with GSLV-Mk3 to launch third-party commercial satellites but simply relying on GSLV-Mk3 will not work.  

Rocket technology is developing rapidly and India also needs to move along with the global development if it wants to compete with the world leading space agencies. 

There is also a need to increase the payload of rockets as GSLV-Mk3 is currently the highest payload capacity in India but it is at best only a medium-lift rocket by global standards. 

Moreover, India is taking efforts towards manufacturing GSLV-Mk3 to be in the line of competition as NSIL is looking to manufacture more launch rockets (GSLV-Mk3). 

India is also looking to develop a second spaceport spread across 2,300 acres in Tamil Nadu’s Kulasekharapatnam. 

However, out of these, the cost of launching a satellite into space is a major concern. 

What is the cost of launching a satellite and how can it be reduced? 

At present, it would cost an estimated Rs 14 lakh to put 1 kg in LEO using a PSLV and an estimated Rs 5. 7 lakhs on an Mk3.  

However, the cost of global space agencies are also along the same line, but there is a need to reduce the cost and that is why reusable rockets holds importance. 

According to ISRO scientists, reusable rockets would reduce one-tenth of the present launch cost but India is a long way away from this technology. 

Therefore, to cut the launch cost ISRO is planning to build New Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) which is reusable. 

What can be the further course of action? 

ISRO is planning in the right direction and it further needs to develop heavier Mk3 and reliable Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to fulfil all types of demands. 

Further, any unsuccessful mission like Gaganyaaan should not be a setback for ISRO, and it should always prioritise the development of launch vehicles as it is important for future successful missions. 

Religions-20: A pioneering initiative in G-20 to build a God-centric value system

News- The article explains the R-20 forum’s role in achieving a common value system for different faiths across the world to secure global peace and prosperity.

What are different perspectives about the existence of God?
One of the earliest arguments for the existence of God was by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Anselm in 1078 AD. He argued that “there must be that thing, the greater than which cannot be conceived.

The conflicts over God led to the rise of Deism and atheism. Deism insisted on having God, but not religion.

Deists and Enlightenment thinkers wanted a universal God. Spinoza equated God with nature. Voltaire declared that If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.

 What is the R-20 forum?

The mediaeval understanding of inconceivable God has been continued. It has promoted conflicts and loss of life. There is a need for spiritual guidance to promote the idea of common humanity.

Two important Muslim organisations from Asia want to take the lead in this effort by launching the R-20 forum on the sidelines of the G-20 summit. They are the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) of Indonesia and the Muslim World League (MWL) of Saudi Arabia.

Effort by Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia, has led to the inclusion of R-20 in the G-20 agenda as the G-20 Forum of Religions this year.

Global issues like health, economy, climate and technology and war have been considered the concern of the political leadership. That religious and cultural leaders too can play a complementary role.

What is the objective of both NU and MWL?

They are working towards more humanitarian version of Islam. They rejects fundamentalism and radical interpretation of Islam. They call for building a universal consensus on “common principles of human values, tolerance and peace to immunise against the dangers of extremist ideology.

What can be the future scope of R-20?

The R-20 will be historic if it succeeds in building a God-centric value system in place of the current religion-centric one.

The R-20 will move from Muslim-majority Indonesia this year to Hindu-majority India next year and Catholic-majority Brazil in 2024. It can help the three world religions, together with Buddhism and other important religions, evolve a universal value system.

The religious leadership can be equal partners with the political, economic and technological leadership of the world in defining the destiny of mankind in the 21st century.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Uttarakhand Governor felicitates astronomers, encourages young scientists at commemoration of 50 years of telescope

Source: The post is based on the article “Uttarakhand Governor felicitates astronomers, encourages young scientists at commemoration of 50 years of telescope” published in PIB on 21st October 2022.

What is the News?

Uttarakhand Governor felicitated scientists at a workshop organized to commemorate the completion of 50 years of successful operations of the Sampurnanand Telescope (ST).

What is the Sampurnanand Telescope(ST)?

The 104-cm Sampurnanand Telescope(ST) is located at ARIES, Manora Peak, Nainital (Uttarakhand).

It was established in 1972 when ARIES was known as the UP State Observatory (UPSO). 

Purpose: The telescope has been extensively used for optical observations of comets, occultation by planets and asteroids, star-forming regions and star clusters, variable stars, transients, and active galactic nuclei among others.

Achievements: Some of the breakthrough science results contributed by the telescope include 1) Discovery of rings of Uranus, 2) First detection of optical afterglows of GRBs, 3) Micro-lensing event from Indian soil and 4) Discovery of quakes in a half dozen of stars under “The Nainital-Cape Survey” the one of the longest and unique ground-based survey initiated jointly at the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

Significance: The instrumentation and science capabilities of ST have paved the way for setting up National and International facilities by ARIES, such as the 3.6m DOT and the 4 meter International Liquid Mirror Telescope at Devasthal.

DefExpo 2022 propels ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence to next level

Source: The post is based on the article “DefExpo 2022 propels ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence to next level” published in PIB on 21st October 2022.

What is the News?

The 12th Edition of DefExpo 2022 is being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

What is DefExpo?

DefExpo is a flagship biennial event of the Ministry of Defence showcasing the land, naval, air as well as homeland security systems.

Aim: To serve as a unique platform to project India’s vision for ‘Aatmanirbharta in Defence’ as an integrated pursuit of economic development and national security. 

Theme: ‘Path to Pride’

What are the key events that took place at DefExpo 2022?

Mission DefSpace

India Africa Defence Dialogue(IADD)

The second Indian Ocean Region Plus(IOR+) Defence Ministers Conclave was held. It witnessed participation from 41 countries and India communicated its vision of international relations as a win-win rather than a zero-sum paradigm. 

Invest for Defence: It was conducted by the Ministry of Defence to promote investment in the defence sector in the country both by the Indian industry as well Foreign OEMs.

Pakistan is out of FATF ‘grey list’ on terror funding

Source: The post is based on the article “Pakistan is out of FATF ‘grey list’ on terror funding” published in The Hindu on 22nd October 2022.

What is the News?

Pakistan has been taken off the ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after four years.

What is the Financial Action Task Force(FATF)?

Click Here to read

What is the FATF Grey list?

FATF maintains a “grey list” of countries that it watches closely. In essence, these are countries that have, in the assessment of the FATF, failed to prevent international money laundering and terrorist financing, and are, therefore, on a global watchlist for bad behaviour.

Countries on the list are The Philippines, Syria, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Morocco, Jamaica, Cambodia, Burkina Faso, and South Sudan, and the tax havens of Barbados, Cayman Islands, and Panama.

What are countries on the grey list expected to do?

FATF calls these countries “jurisdictions under increased monitoring”. Basically, these countries have to comply with certain conditions laid down by the FATF, failing which they run the risk of being “blacklisted” by the watchdog. Their compliance is periodically reviewed by the FATF.

Why was Pakistan taken off the grey list?

FATF has said that Pakistan had completed two action plans comprising a 34-point tasklist in the period since 2018. Based on this progress, FATF has taken Pakistan off the Grey list.

What practical benefits can Pakistan get as a result of the FATF de-listing?

There is research that suggests grey-listing negatively impacts the relationship of the concerned countries with international funders including banks and financial institutions that take note of FATF rankings as well as existing and potential overseas investors in those countries.

Don’t wait for complaints to act against hate speech, Supreme Court tells police

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | How is the energy crisis in Europe shaping up?” published in The Hindu on 20th October 2022.

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has directed the police and authorities to immediately and suo motu register cases against hate speech makers without waiting for a complaint to be filed.

The action should be taken regardless of the religion of the speaker. Any hesitation to act as per the directions would be viewed as contempt of court.

What is Hate Speech?

There is no specific legal definition of ‘hate speech’. Provisions in law criminalize speeches, writings, actions, signs and representations that foment violence and spread disharmony between communities and groups and these are understood to refer to ‘hate speech’.

The Law Commission of India in its 267th Report, says: Hate speech generally is an incitement to hatred primarily against a group of persons defined in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and religious belief.

How is Hate speech treated under Indian Law?

Sections 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code are generally taken to be the main penal provisions that deal with inflammatory speeches and expressions that seek to punish ‘hate speech’.

Under Section 153A, ‘promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony’, is an offence punishable with three years’ imprisonment.

– It attracts a five-year term if committed in a place of worship, or an assembly engaged in religious worship or religious ceremonies.

Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) makes it an offence to making “statements conducing to public mischief”.

What has the Law Commission proposed on Hate Speech?

The Law Commission has proposed that separate offences be added to the IPC to criminalize hate speech quite specifically instead of being subsumed in the existing sections concerning inflammatory acts and speeches. 

Explained | How is the energy crisis in Europe shaping up?

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | How is the energy crisis in Europe shaping up?” published in The Hindu on 20th October 2022.

What is the News?

The gas field in Groningen, the Netherlands, has again come under the spotlight amid concerns over energy supplies.

The Dutch government announced that the field would be shut down by the end of 2024 due to the stress and suffering caused by earthquakes and tremors connected to gas extraction in the area.

About Groningen Gas Field

The Groningen gas field is a natural gas field in Groningen province in the northeastern part of the Netherlands. It is the largest natural gas field in Europe

The region saw multiple earthquakes throughout the 1980s. The Dutch government said it would close the field in response to protests by locals. The closing date was moved up from 2030 to 2022.

However, the unsure geopolitical developments have prompted the Dutch government to refrain from permanently closing any wells this year.

Significance of the field: Bloomberg reported earlier this month that if allowed, the additional supply from the gas field could go up to a level that would make up for what Germany imported from Russia.

Can oil or gas exploration cause earthquakes?

The damming of rivers to build reservoirs, the extraction of oil and gas, and mining are some examples of human activities that could lead to ‘induced seismicity’.

For instance, to enhance energy extraction, wastewater, sand and chemicals are injected into the earth at high pressure to create fractures in the rocks. This process is called “hydraulic Fracturing”.

This process helps improve the interconnectivity of the pores in order to enhance oil and gas extraction. In some cases, fluid is injected into pores connected to the fault which may substantially increase the pore pressure within the fault to counteract the effective frictional forces. This may trigger earthquakes.

Note: Earthquakes caused by fluid extraction need not happen at every place that sees extraction. The geomechanical properties of the rock in question determine outcomes.The reaction of rocks to stresses can be different.

Should India be concerned about the energy crisis in Europe?

India’s domestic gas price is determined from the average of four global indices viz U.S.’s Henry Hub, the U.K.’s National Balancing point, Canada’s Alberta and Russian gas. 

Compared with pre-pandemic times, the average domestic price of gas has more than doubled.

Imports alone accounted for close to 50% of consumption.

Global production is estimated to decline further. The situation would become challenging for the government unless the formula for determining domestic gas prices is reviewed.

Till then, the government has to bear the higher subsidy burden on fertilizer — in the manufacture of which natural gas is used — as well as for the LPG sector.

Are critically endangered Great Indian Bustards now migrating to Pakistan?

Source: The post is based on the article “Are critically endangered Great Indian Bustards now migrating to Pakistan?” published in The Hindu on 22nd October 2022.

What is the News?

The recent sighting of three Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) deep in Pakistan’s Cholistan desert has given rise to speculation that the GIB might have flown across the international border from India’s Desert National Park(DNP). 

What are Great Indian Bustards(GIBs)?

The Great Indian Bustard(GIB) is the State bird of Rajasthan.

Its population is about 150 in Rajasthan which accounts for 95% of its total world population. 

The captive breeding of GIBs was taken up in the Desert National Park(DNP) through a project executed by the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India in 2019.

Threats faced by GIBs: The GIBs in the Thar desert have been facing threats to their survival because of intensive agricultural practices, laying of power lines and industrialisation.

Click Here to read more

Why have GIBs flown to Pakistan?

Environmental activists suggest the GIBs may have migrated due to their shrinking habitat in Desert National Park.

What can be done to protect Great Indian Bustards(GIB)?

India and Pakistan can collaborate on the conservation of GIBs by developing a protocol through diplomatic channels. Pakistan could be given a demonstrative example of India’s ex-situ breeding project for GIBs in the Desert National Park(DNP).

Note: GIB was added to the world list of protected species of the ‘Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals’ during its 13th conference in Gandhinagar in 2020. Pakistan is a signatory to the Conference of the Parties(COP) of the convention.

This September was 5th warmest in 143 years: NOAA report

Source: The post is based on the article “This September was 5th warmest in 143 years: NOAA report” published in Indian Express on 22nd October 2022.

What is the News?

The US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) in its latest report have said that September was the fifth warmest in 143 years.

What are the key highlights from the NOAA report?

2022 could feature among the 10 warmest years ever recorded on Earth.

September 2022 was the fifth warmest in 143 years with the recorded global average temperature rising by 0.88 degrees Celsius over the 20th-century average.

Higher than normal temperatures were recorded over Africa, North America, southern Asia, Atlantic and northern South America regions. 

Near normal or cooler temperatures were recorded over Europe, northern Asia, most parts of India and the southeastern Pacific Ocean. This was mainly due to above-average rainfall over northern and southern Asia, Australia, Central Europe, Caribbean islands and the Southeastern US.

Sea Ice extent: The sea-ice extent coverage dropped to the eighth lowest ever. The Arctic sea ice now covers 5.95 lakh square miles below the 1981-2010 average, whereas the Antarctica sea ice is 1.90 lakh square miles below average.

October storm in Bay of Bengal after 3 years: When, where it is likely to hit

Source: The post is based on the article “October storm in Bay of Bengal after 3 years: When, where it is likely to hit” published in Indian Express on 22nd October 2022.

What is the News?

The first tropical cyclone of the post-monsoon season of 2022 is likely to form in the Bay of Bengal on October 24. The cyclone has been named Sitrang.

Note: This will be the first cyclone to develop in the Bay of Bengal in October since 2018. The last October cyclone in the Bay of Bengal was Titli in 2018.

Cyclone storms in October 

The months of October-November and May-June see storms of severe intensity develop in the North Indian Ocean — comprising the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea — with an average of five developing in a calendar year. 

In the past 131 years, October saw 61 storms develop in the Bay of Bengal. In comparison with the Bay of Bengal, only 32 storms have developed in the Arabian Sea in October since 1891.

The east coast, notably Odisha, has faced many of its severest storms in October, including the Super Cyclone of 1999.

What is the reason for the cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal in October?

After the withdrawal of the Southwest monsoon, there is a rise in ocean heating, which leads to rising in sea surface temperature over the Bay of Bengal. The atmospheric moisture availability over the ocean region, too, is higher. 

So, when remnant systems from the South China Sea reach the Bay of Bengal, they get conducive conditions, aiding the formation and intensification of cyclones in October.

About Cyclone Sitrang

The name Sitrang (read Si-trang) has been given by Thailand, and features in the list of tropical cyclone names prepared by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) being followed since April 2020. 

IMD is one of the world’s six RMSCs mandated to provide cyclone advisories and alerts to 13 member countries — Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Impact of Cyclone Sitrang

The prevailing low-pressure system will strengthen and move towards India’s east coast in the coming four days. Gale winds and enhanced rainfall are expected mainly over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh particularly the coastal districts.

State governments cannot enter into broadcasting on their own: I&B Ministry

Source: The post is based on the article “State governments cannot enter into broadcasting on their own: I&B Ministry” published in The Hindu on 22nd October 2022.

What is the News?

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB) has issued an advisory stating that the Central, State and Union Territories Governments as well as ministries and government departments should not be in the business of broadcasting/ distribution of TV channels.

Those already broadcasting their content have been told to get it done through the public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati and the entities distributing the broadcasting content have been asked to “extract themselves” from it by December 31, 2023.

Why has this advisory been issued?

The advisory has been issued based on following reasons:

The exclusive privilege of Centre in respect of telegraphs: The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry is the nodal agency for all the matters related to broadcasting as Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 gives exclusive privilege in respect of telegraphs and power to grant licenses to the Central Government.

TRAI recommendations: In 2012, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) suggested that the Central and State governments, their companies, undertakings, joint ventures with the private sector and the entities funded by the governments should not be allowed to enter the business of broadcasting or distribution of TV channels.

– It relied upon the Sarkaria Commission’s recommendation and the Supreme Court’s judgment in the case of the Cricket Association of Bengal.

– In this judgment, the Supreme Court had observed that state control really meant governmental control which in turn meant control of the political party or parties in power for the time being. 

– The court had further observed that public service broadcasting should be in the hands of a corporation (s) set up under a statute and the constitution of such a corporation (s) should be such as to ensure their impartiality in political, economic and social matters and on other public issues. They should promote pluralism and diversity of opinions and views, said the advisory.

Ministry of Law and Justice recommendations: It suggested that the central/ state government should not enter into the business of broadcasting and distribution of TV channels.

Importance of Prasar Bharati should not be lost: The importance of Prasar Bharati, which is an independent statutory body, should not be lost sight of. The TRAI has suggested that the body should fulfil the legitimate aspirations of government entities as regards broadcasting activities, while at the same time recommending the ‘arm’s length’ relationship between Prasar Bharati and the government be further strengthened to enhance its autonomy and functional independence.

What is the impact of this advisory?

The advisory may have political implications as among those who could be impacted by the advisory are Tamil Nadu’s Kalvi TV and Arasu Cable, besides the Andhra Pradesh government’s IPTV.

Note: Under the existing policy guidelines, government universities, colleges, schools, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, certain autonomous bodies and agricultural universities are eligible to set up community radios.

Centre launches programme to strengthen Kashi-Tamil Nadu bond

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre launches programme to strengthen Kashi-Tamil Nadu bond” published in The Hindu on 22nd October 2022.

What is the News?

The Union Government has announced a month-long programme named ‘Kashi-Tamil Sangamam’.

What is Kashi-Tamil Sangamam Programme?

Aim: To rekindle the civilisational link between the new Kashi and Tamil Nadu — both deep centers of knowledge.

Part of: The programme would be a part of the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

The programme would be held from November 16 to December 16, 2022.

As part of the programme, 2,500 people divided into 12 groups would be travelling to Varanasi by train during the period.

– The groups would include students, teachers, artisans and people from various walks of life.

– The tours would include seminars, lectures, group meetings and visits to the Kashi Vishwanath temple and centres of important Tamil cultural heritage in Varanasi.

Knowledge Partners: The knowledge partners for the programme would be IIT-Madras and the Banaras Hindu University, while the Uttar Pradesh government would be the host State.