E Magazine August 2021

August 2021 | Current Affairs Capsule
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Monthly Current Affairs Magazine – August 2021
It is the time to fast-track and target the UPSC Civil Services Examination preparation
for Prelims 2021. To ease the preparation, we are providing monthly current affairs
compilation for the aspirants. The magazine contains subject-wise distribution of
comprehensive news articles, and a separate section for Prelims Booster Articles.
"Every day is a chance to begin again. Don't focus on the failures of yesterday, start today with
positive thoughts and expectations." - Catherine Pulsifer
Contents
Polity & Governance ............................................................................................................................... 3
International Relations .......................................................................................................................27
Economy ....................................................................................................................................................32
Social Issues .............................................................................................................................................45
Environment & Biodiversity ..............................................................................................................50
Science & Technology ...........................................................................................................................60
Security ......................................................................................................................................................65
History, Art & Culture ...........................................................................................................................68
Prelims Booster Articles .....................................................................................................................70

Polity & Governance

Uttar Pradesh Draft Population Bill 2021 • Incentives for those with single child: This for
those who have only one child and undergo
Context
voluntary sterilization will get additional benefits
• Uttar Pradesh’s state law commission has presented
like-
a draft Population Bill 2021 while inviting
o Free health care facilities and free insurance
comments from experts and other stakeholders.
• It proposes to introduce two-child policy norms by coverage to the single child till they turn 20,
incentivizing it through various government o Preference to single child in admission in all
measure. educational institutions, including IIMs and
• The draft law is based on the findings of the National AIIMS, free education up to graduation level,
Family Health Survey-4. o Scholarship for higher studies in case of a girl
Key features: child and preference to a single child in
• Rationale for the draft bill: government jobs.
o Effective use of limited ecological and o Public servants: sticking to the one-child norm
economic resources at hand. will be eligible for four additional increments in
o For promotion of sustainable development all apart from the incentives promised to the
with more equitable distribution. general public doing the same.
o to ensure healthy birth spacing through o Couple living below the poverty line: having
measures related to augmenting the availability, one child and one of them go voluntary
accessibility and affordability of quality sterilization, will be eligible for monetary
reproductive health services to achieve the benefits (Rs 80,000 if the single child is a boy,
goal of population control, stabilization and and Rs 1 Lakh if the single child is a girl) from the
its welfare in the State government.
• Dis-incentives: for couples violating the two-child
policy norms. Associated concerns with the draft bill
• Puts women’s health and well-being at risk:
o Debarred from benefits of all government-
o Women sterilization will likely to get increased
sponsored welfare schemes,
as burden of contraception and family planning
o Cannot contest election to local bodies,
disproportionately falls on women.
o Ineligible to apply for government jobs under
o Stringent population control measures have
the state government, potential to magnify unsafe abortion as there is
o Cannot get a promotion in a government job, strong son-preference in Indian society as has
o His or her ration card would be limited to four been seen in many states.
members, and
o He or she shall be ineligible to receive any kind
of government subsidy.
• Incentives: for couples adhering to two-child policy
norms.
o A soft housing loan, rebate on charges for
utilities such as water, electricity, and house tax
among other things.
o Government employees who adhere to the
two-child norm will also get two additional
increments during the entire service, maternity
or paternity leave of 12 months with full salary
and allowances and free health care facility and
insurance coverage to the spouse.

• Disproportionately affecting marginalized Background
sections of the society: as they are prone to socio- • The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act was enacted
economic benefits provided by the government. in 2011 to deal with issues relating to co-
Evidence also suggests that coercive measures operatives societies of our country.
doesn’t result in population control in India. • The amendment inserted the word cooperatives
o For example, putting bar on individuals having
in Article 19(1)(c), Article 43B and Part IXB
more than two children from contesting local
elections, will disproportionately affect poor’s of Indian Constitution.
representation in local bodies.
View of the Union Government
Way forward: • The centre has emphasised on the importance of
• Focusing on socio-economic empowerment: will 97th amendment. It said that the provision was
lead to comprehensive development of new added to bring uniformity and professionalism in
generation along with reducing the fertility rate of the management of cooperative societies.
the state as has been witnessed in many south • Cooperative societies were suffering from poor
Indian states. services and low productivity due to lack of
• Harnessing the population growth for achieving
accountability by the members.
sustainable economic growth: this can be done by
• Elections are not held on time. Co-operative
comprehensively researching various aspects of
population growth. societies need to run on democratic principles.
• Collaborative and cooperative approach These reasons have made it imperative for the
towards family planning: The government at all centre to intervene.
levels- Union, State and Local, citizens, civil societies
as well as the businesses must take the onus to Supreme Court reply
promote awareness and advocate the sexual and • Supreme Court, however, said that had the centre’s
reproductive rights of women and encourage the objective were to bring uniformity, it should have
use of contraception. done it through Article 252 of Indian Constitution
that deals with power of Parliament to legislate for
Supreme Court Verdict on 97th Amendment
two or more states by consent.
Context • It held that as per Article 368(2) of the
• Recently, Supreme Court quashed some Constitution, the 97th Constitutional Amendment
provisions of 97th Constitutional Amendments required ratification by at least one-half of the state
that deals with cooperative societies. legislatures.
Key points • Since such ratification was not done in the case of
• The Supreme Court has upheld the judgement of the 97th amendment, it was unconstitutional and
the Gujarat High Court and has struck down some need to be struck down.
of the provisions with a 2:1 majority.
• While Justices Nariman and Justice Gavai struck What the SC upheld?
down only that part of Part IXB that dealt with • The SC upheld the validity of provisions related to
cooperative societies and were confined to states, Multi State Cooperative Societies (MSCS).
Justice Joseph in a separate judgment struck down • It did not strike down the portions of Part IXB of the
the entire 97th constitutional amendment.
Amendment concerning ‘Multi State Co-operative
• Supreme Court held that cooperative societies is a
Societies (MSCS)’ due to the lack of ratification as
subject in List II (State List) of the 7th Schedule of
Indian Constitution. So, the Parliament do not have discussed above.
the constitutional mandate to make laws on this • Here SC was of the view that MSCS are not confined
subject. to one state, thus, the legislative power dealing with
• The 97th amendment gave usurping power to the this section would reside with Union of India as
Parliament and made a direct in-road into the given under Entry 44 List I (Union List) of the 7 th
exclusive domain of states to enact laws with Schedule of the Constitution.
regard to cooperatives.
Way forward Historical background
• The judgement declared that Part IXB of the • It was originally drafted in 1837 by Thomas
Constitution is operative only insofar as it concerns Macaulay but later inexplicably omitted when the
MSCS both within the various States and in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was enacted in 1860.
Union Territories. • It was further re-introduced as Section 124A under
IPC in 1870 by Sir James Stephen in response to
Sedition Law: Background, Relevance and the Wahabi movement.
Challenges of the Colonial Law o It was one of the many draconian laws enacted
to stifle any voices of dissent at that time.
Context
Government’s argument for retaining the sedition
• Recently, Supreme Court while criticizing the
law
government for its frequent use of sedition law,
• To help in effectively combating anti-national,
asked why a colonial law used against Mahatma
secessionist and terrorist elements in the
Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak continued to
country.
survive in the law book after 75 years of
• To ensure stability of the state established under
Independence.
the law: from any attempts to overthrow the
Key points about sedition law government with violence and illegal means.
• About: It is a crime under Section 124A of the Indian • To counter violent activities of internal armed
Penal Code (IPC). groups: who openly talk about overthrowing
• Definition: Section 124A defines sedition as an democratically elected state government by
offence committed when "any person by words, revolution. For example, Moist insurgency.
either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible Arguments against sedition law
representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to • Violates right to freedom of speech and
bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts expression: which is provided by the Constitution
to excite disaffection towards the government as fundamental rights under article 19.
established by law in India". • Widespread misuse: it is being invoked even in
o Disaffection includes disloyalty and all cases where there is no incitement to violence or
feelings of enmity. tendency to create public disorder.
o However, comments without exciting or o Its provisions are vague and prone to multiple
attempting to excite hatred, contempt or interpretation, for example, ‘public order’,
disaffection, will not constitute an offence under ‘disaffection’, etc. This leads to misuse by the
this section. government based on their whims and fancies
• Punishment under sedition law: and other narrow political interest.
o Sedition is a non-bailable offence. o Government use this tool to suppress dissent
o Punishment under the Section 124A ranges from and criticism of government which are
imprisonment up to three years to a life term, to essential ingredients of public policy in a vibrant
which fine may be added. democracy.
o A person charged under this law is barred from o It is also being misused as a tool to persecute
a government job. political dissent.
o They have to live without their passport and • Other section of IPC and laws like Unlawful
must produce themselves in the court at all Activities Prevention Act 2019 have provisions
times as and when required. that penalize "disrupting the public order" or
• Observations made by freedom fighters: "overthrowing the government with violence and
o Mahatma Gandhi called it- the prince among illegal means".
the political sections of the IPC designed to o These are sufficient for protecting national
suppress the liberty of citizens. integrity, eliminating the need for a dedicated
o Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said that the Section 124A under IPC.
provision was “obnoxious” and “highly • Britain (introduce sedition to oppress Indians) has
objectionable” and “the sooner we get rid of it already abolished sedition law in their country,
the better”. prompting India to do so.

Way forward • Implementing mechanism: the department of
• Reconsideration of the sedition law: In August school education and literacy is the nodal agency for
2018, the Law Commission of India published a implementation.
consultation paper recommending that it is time to • State/UT level: Implementation through a single
re-think or repeal Section 124A of the Indian Penal State Implementation Society (SIS). States would be
Code that deals with sedition. expected to bring a single Plan for the entire school
• Limiting the scope of the section 124A: to education sector.
terrorist activity against India and interests of India • Union level:
along with issue affecting territorial integrity and o Governing Council headed by Minister of
the sovereignty of the country. Human Resource Development: empowered
• Sensitization of police and magistrates at the to modify financial and programmatic norms
ground level: who often use this draconian law on and approve the detailed guidelines for
people committing minor offenses or for which implementation within the overall Framework
other laws are available. of the scheme.
• India is the largest democracy of the world and the o Project Approval Board (PAB) headed by
right to free speech and expression is an essential Secretary, Department of School Education and
ingredient of democracy. The expression or thought Literacy.
that is not in consonance with the policy of the • Funding pattern: it is a centrally sponsored
government of the day should not be considered as scheme.
sedition. o 90:10 for 8 North-Eastern States (Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Samagra Shiksha Scheme Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura) and 3
Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir,
Context Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand).
• Central government has launched National Initiative o 60:40 for all other States and Union
for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Territories with Legislature.
Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) scheme under its o It is 100% centrally sponsored for Union
flagship scheme- Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. Territories without Legislature.
• Aim of NUPUR initiative: to create an enabling Important features of the scheme: it focuses on-
environment to ensure universal acquisition of • Administrative reform: harmonized
foundational literacy and numeracy, by the end of implementation through Single and unified
Grade 3, by 2026-27. administrative structure and flexibility to states to
prioritize their interventions under the scheme.
About Samagra Shiksha
• Quality Education through:
• It is an overarching program for the school
o Capacity Building of Teachers and School Heads
education sector extending from pre-school to
o Improving the quality of prospective
class 12 with the goal of improving school
teachers: by strengthening Teacher Education
effectiveness-measured in terms of equal
Institutions like SCERTs and DIETs.
opportunities for schooling and equitable
o Support for Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan: to
learning outcomes.
promote Science and Maths learning in schools.
• Integration: of three erstwhile schemes-
o Support Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat
1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
Programme: to develop foundational skills at
2. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)
primary level.
and
• Digital Education
3. Teacher Education (TE)
o Support ‘Operation Digital Board’ in all
• It aims to improve quality of school education by
secondary schools over a period of 5 years.
focusing on the two T’s – Teacher and Technology.
o Enhanced use of digital technology in education
• Vision: to ensure inclusive and equitable quality
through smart classrooms, digital boards and
education from pre-school to senior secondary stage
DTH channels
in accordance with the Sustainable Development
o Digital initiatives like UDISE+, Shagun, to be
Goal (SDG) for Education (SDG 4).
strengthened
• Strengthening of Schools Revamped BharatNet
o Transport facility to children across all classes
Context:
from I to VIII.
• Recently, the cabinet has approved the revamped
o Supports ‘Swachh Vidyalaya’: for ensuring
BharatNet (BharatNet 2.0) project, with an
cleanliness.
additional allocation of more than Rs.19,000 crore.
o Improve the Quality of Infrastructure in
Government Schools Key points:
• Girl Education • Private players will be enrolled through Public-
o Upgradation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Private Partnership (PPP) model, and it will be
Vidyalayas (KGBVs) from Class 6-8 to Class 6-12. implemented in 16 states.
o Self-defence training for girls from upper • It will extend to all inhabited villages, beyond the
primary to senior secondary stage Gram Panchayats (GPs).
o Enhanced Commitment to ‘Beti Bachao Beti • The responsibility of creation, maintenance,
Padhao’ operation, upgradation, and utilisation will rest with
• Skill Development the concessionaire, who will be selected through an
o Exposure to Vocational Skills at Upper international bidding process.
Primary Level would be extended.
o Vocational education for Class 9-12 as What is BharatNet?
integrated with the curriculum and to be made • It is a central sector scheme of Ministry of
more practical and industry oriented. Communication.
o Reinforce emphasis on ‘Kaushal Vikas’ • It is implemented by Bharat Broadband Network
• Sports Education to be an integral part of Limited, a special purpose vehicle.
curriculum: allocation for buying sports • It was first launched in 2011 as National Optical
equipments, aims to inculcate and emphasize Fibre Network, and was renamed as BharatNet in
relevance of sports. 2015.
• The objectives under this mission were to connect
• Regional Balance
all the 2.50,000 GPs through an optical fibre
o Preference to Educationally Backward Blocks
network and provide 100 Mbps connectivity to all
(EBBs), LWE affected districts, Special Focus
GPs.
Districts (SFDs), Border areas and the 117
• It is funded, entirely, by the Universal Service
aspirational districts identified by Niti Aayog.
Obligation Fund (USOF), which was launched to
Expected benefits of the scheme:
improve the telecommunication services in rural
• Improve the transition rates across the various
areas of the country.
levels of school education and aid in promoting
universal access to children to complete school
Significance of BharatNet programme:
education.
• Digital divide: The programme can reduce the
• Integration of Teacher Education: would facilitate
division created by the digital technology in rural
effective convergence and linkages between
and urban areas.
different support structures in school education • It has cross sectoral benefits ranging from e-
through interventions such as a unified training governance, e-farming, e-healthcare, e-
calendar, innovations in pedagogy, mentoring education, e-commerce among others.
and monitoring, etc. • It will help integrating the rural areas of the country
• Need-focused and dynamic in-service program: in achieving the objectives of digital India.
as this will conducted and monitored by the SCERT • It will help in expediting government initiatives like
(nodal agency) under the scheme. Start-up India, Stand-up India, Make-in India.
• Use of technology: would help in widening the • The project has a special advantage in the present
access of good quality education across all States power line infrastructure like easy maintenance,
and UTs and across all sections of the Society. faster implementation etc.

Reasons for the launch of BharatNet 2.0: Recusal Of Judges and The Issues Arising from
• The earlier version was unable to achieve the last It
mile connectivity. Context
• Lack of functional Internet connectivity: The • Recently, a Delhi High Court judge recused himself
report of Digital Empowerment Foundation’s from hearing a petition of digital media houses,
research has found that only 50 of the 269 surveyed which challenged the validity of the IT rules
GPs had broadband internet connection and only regulating intermediaries. It is not a one-off case
11% of them had functional internet connection. and, just a few days ago, two Supreme Court judges
• Poor internet speed: The objective of 100 Mbps had recused themselves from hearing a plea relating
to West Bengal.
was not met and the internet speed in GPs, wherever
it was available, was very slow. Recusal of Judges: What it means?
• Poor Implementation: Most of the delay was due to • Recusal or judicial disqualification means an act
the absence of any detailed project report. of abstention by any presiding court officer or an
administrative officer from participating in an
Steps needed to make BharatNet 2.0 successful: official action due to a conflict of interest.
• Establish accountability: This is one of the cardinal
Grounds for recusal
steps in making a project successful. Government • The judge is biased in favour of a litigant of any case.
should fix accountability and put the name in the • The judge has an interest in the subject matter,
public forum. either directly or indirectly.
• Use funds properly: The earlier phase of the • The judge is having prior experience on the subject
project faced the dearth of funds. The allocated of litigation.
amount in the successive budget has not been used • The judge knows the litigants personally.
effectively.
What does the constitution say?
• Digital Literacy: The digital divide could be
Article 14, under its due process of law, states that no
reduced by increasing the digital literacy in the one can be a judge of her own case. Owing to this
remote areas. cardinal feature, conflict of interest was accepted as a
o Initiatives like PM Grameen Digital Saksharta ground for recusal.
Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) can prove to be a game
changer in this direction. Process of recusal
o This could also reduce the financial frauds, • The decision of recusal is, generally, taken by the
judge herself. There are no formal laws, which
which are prevalent in rural areas of the country.
defines the process of recusal.
• Affordability: The internet should be made
• It is left on the conscience of judges to declare
affordable to the people. Just making internet whether there is any potential conflict of interest
accessible to rural areas is only a half-won battle. arising from the litigation.
• Gender gap: The internet service should be made • When a judge recuses, the case is listed before the
inclusive by focussing on the socio-economic Chief Justice for allotment to a fresh Bench.
weaker section of the society including women.
Past Supreme Court judgements
• It is a central sector scheme of Ministry of
Way Forward:
Communication.
In the era of digital revolution, internet services have
• Although there are no formal rules, several Supreme
become a necessity. The objective of inclusive Court judgements have dealt with the issue.
development needs an equity-based solution, • Ranjit Thakur v Union of India (1987): In this
specifically tailored for the socio-economic backward case, the Supreme Court opined that the test of the
strata of the Indian population. BharatNet has the likelihood of bias is the reasonableness of the
potential to make our country, truly, Aatmanirbhar! apprehension in the mind of the parties to the
litigation.
• The 1999 charter ‘Restatement of Values in Judicial • Supreme court ruling:
Life’— a code of ethics adopted by the Supreme o It directed States and UT to distribute dry
Court—states, “A Judge shall not hear and decide a rations and run community kitchen for migrant
workers and center to provide needed grains to
matter in a company in which he holds shares…
implement this.
unless he has disclosed his interest and no objection o Directed the Centre to re-determine the total
to his hearing and deciding the matter is raised”. number of beneficiaries under National Food
Security (NFS) Act, 2013.
Issues with the recusal of judges ONORC scheme:
• Frequent recusal of judges from the cases raises • About:
o Due to large scale intra-state and inter-state
questions on the independence of the judiciary, a
migration, a large section of the Public
basic feature of our constitution. Distribution System (PDS) beneficiaries under
• Parties, sometimes, suggests that the judge should NFS Act 2013, were unable to access their
recuse herself from litigation. This precedent of entitlements.
judging the judge, without any significant evidence, o This is because NFSA beneficiaries were allowed
is an alarming trend. to collect their subsidized rations from assigned
Fair Price Shop (FPS) only.
• It allows parties to cherry-pick judge of their own
o To rectify this anomaly, ONORC was launched in
choice. August, 2019.
• The rule, which states that no one should be the o Nodal ministry: Ministry of Consumer
judge of her own case, is subject to different Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
interpretations. The conflict-of-interest clause is, • Aim: to ensure hassle-free delivery of subsidized
food grains to all migratory beneficiaries anywhere
at many times, misused.
in the country by ensuring nationwide portability of
• Judges do not record the reasons for recusal in
their ration cards under the National Food Security
writing, leaving plenty of scope for conjecture. Act (NFSA).
How does ONORC work?
Way forward • Technology enabled ONORC:
• In 2015, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Madan o It involves details of beneficiaries’ ration card,
Aadhaar number, and electronic Points of Sale
Lokur, while holding the National Judicial
(ePoS).
Appointments Commission unconstitutional, stated o Identification of beneficiary: through
the need for judges to give reasons for recusal to biometric authentication on ePoS devices at fair
build transparency and help frame rules to govern price shops.
the process. o Two portals to run the system that also host
• Recusal must not become an instrument to all the relevant data:
1. Integrated Management of Public
navigate the justice delivery.
Distribution System (IM-PDS) portal:
• Judicial officers must resist all the pressure, no records the inter-state transactions.
matter where they are coming from. It is what our 2. Annavitran Portal: maintains a record of
constitution expects from them. intra-state transactions (inter-district and
• There is a need for definite and exhaustive rules, intra-district).
which deals specifically with this issue. Implementation status:
• Covid economic relief package: by center
government incentivized states to implement
One Nation One Ration Card ONORC scheme by increasing the of borrowing limit
of the compliant states.
Context
o Till date, 32 states and Union Territories have
• Recently, the Supreme Court directed all states and joined the ONORC, covering about 69 crore
Union Territories to implement the One Nation, One NFSA beneficiaries.
Ration Card (ONORC) system, which allows for o Four states are yet to join the scheme —
inter- and intra-state portability, by July 31. Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and West Bengal.

Benefits of the ONORC System: Office of Governor: Issues and Challenges
• Reduce the leakages: by better targeting of the
Context
beneficiaries and preventing duplication and double
• Questionable conduct by many governors of states
benefits, resulting in reduced corruption in the PDS have again raised the question about constitutional
system. propriety of their actions.
• Efficient and effective implementation: of the • S/he often has been criticised for being a puppet at
PDS scheme as it provides grains to the needy the hands of the central government, instead of
people around the country, irrespective of their performing his/her constitutional role.
residence, as envisaged under NFSA 2013.
• Achieving the target of SDG 2 of ending the Important Constitutional provisions about governor
hunger 2030: as it will result in access to requisite • Background: The office of governor has been
food-grains to the poorest people living in the borrowed from the Government of India Act 1935.
different parts of the country. He is to be appointed by the president of India.
• Economic benefits: as availability of basic food- o Unlike British Indian government, the governor
grains in different parts of the country will facilitate is a nominal head of a state. Like president at the
smooth movement of the workforce, resulting in the centre, s/he is expected to act on the aid and
enhanced economic activity and better utilization of advice of the Council of Ministers (COM) state,
huge human resource present in India. barring few constitutional and situational
• Nutritional security: as availability of cheap food- discretions.
grains for free under the scheme will leave room for • Article 163: It is the source of all discretionary
people to spend a share of their income on powers of the governor, resulting in conflict with
nutritional items like fruits and vegetables. elected state executives and legislature.
• Article 153: Governor for each State or two or more
Challenges with the scheme: States.
• Article 256: The executive power of the Union
• Against federal scheme of the constitution: as
shall extend to the giving of such directions to a
alleged by many states due to its centralization
State as may appear to the Government of India
features and top-down approach.
to be necessary for that purpose.
• Non-compliance by many states: for various
• Emergency powers (Art 356): Governor can
reasons. For instance- recommend imposition of emergency in the state on
o Delhi is yet to start the use of ePoS in fair price grounds of failure of constitution machinery in the
shops, which is a prerequisite for the state and issues the proclamation, after obtaining
implementation of ONORC. the consent of the President of India.
o West Bengal has demanded that the non-NFSA • Act as a bridge between states and union
ration card holders (ration cards issued by the government: Constitution makers imagined
state government) should also be covered under governor to be a common link between centre and
the ONORC. states, ensuring smooth functioning of the
• Administrative challenges: for instance, different democratic government in the state.
states have different rates and this mismatching rate
will be a big challenge.
Way forward:
• Union government should hold consultation with all
the relevant stakeholders including state
governments to ensure a more inclusive and
comprehensive ONORC scheme with adequate
flexibility for states to incorporate their local
requirements.
• This will facilitate effective implementation and
coverage of the scheme, resulting in the
universalization of rations to all migrant workers
across India.
Issues with the office of Governor Suggestions:
• Appointment/removal process: Governors hold • Implementing the S.R Bommai judgement in the
office till the pleasure of the president as no grounds letter and spirit: which allows the Supreme Court
to investigate the imposition of emergency in the
for removal is mentioned in the constitution. state on the grounds of being mala-fide and
o This leads to favouritism in the appointment unreasonable.
process and well-suited candidates are ignored • Develop a sound procedure for appointment and
in favour of the less competent individuals. removal of the governors: as suggested by Puchhi
and Sarkaria Commissions, governors should be
• Acting as an agent of political party at the centre:
selected based on impeccable character and quality
Due to favouritism in appointment and lack of any and should be provided with fixed tenure.
security of tenure in the constitution, the office of • Develop a code of conduct for the office of
governor often works as a puppet/agent of the governor: with prior consultation and agreement of
union government instead of acting as bridge the union and state governments along with
Supreme Court, high courts and other constitutional
between state and centre government.
experts in the field.
• Discretionary powers: • Upholding the constitutional principles:
o Partisan role in Hung assemblies: It is a Governor should uphold the constitutional morality
situational discretion where s/he is free to invite by upholding the spirit of the constitution, instead of
a party/alliance to form the government in case acting in the narrow political interests of the ruling
party at the centre.
no single party/pre-poll alliance has won the
majority of the seats in the state assembly Not-for-profit hospital model
elections.
Context
 Ex: Karnataka where governor invited single
• Recently, NITI Aayog has released a report on the
largest party to form the government not-for-profit hospital model in India.
instead of inviting the leader of a post-poll
alliance which had won the majority seats in Constitutional provisions regarding public health
the elections. • Article 39(e), Article 47, Schedule 11 (entry 23).
o Misuse of power of reserving a bill for
Not-for-profit hospitals: What are they?
president’s consideration: It is his • These hospitals, as the name suggests, do not have
constitutional discretion to reserve certain state making money as their prime objective. The fees,
bills for the consideration of the president. Mis- above the cost of service, are re-invested in the
using this power, governors often interfere in hospital. This is a kind of charitable organisation,
and is more popular in the developed countries like
the law-making process of the state assembly,
the US.
especially for the bills which are uncomfortable
to central government. Key Points:
• Misuse of the emergency powers: Governors have • The cumulative cost of care at not-for-profit
hospitals are far lesser than the for-profit hospitals.
often found to be recommending imposition of the
• Almost all the identified not-for-profit hospitals are
president’s rule in state on the frivolous grounds, empanelled with either state or central
especially when ruling party at centre is different governments through schemes like Ayushman
from that of the concerned state. Bharat.
• Bypassing the elected government: There has • Salaries of doctors, in the not-for-profit hospitals,
are 50-75% lower than the market standards.
been instances when governors found to give orders
• On the infrastructure front, 90-95% are general
to state officials directly or visit public offices ward beds in these hospitals.
without informing the state governments. This is • Not-for-profit hospitals have lower operating costs
against his/her constitutional mandate as he is only as compared to for-profit hospitals.
a nominal head and expected to act on the advice of • Categories of such hospitals: Faith-based hospitals,
Community-based hospitals, Cooperative hospitals,
the COM in the state.
and private trust hospitals.

Significance of not-for-profit hospitals: • Not-for-profit hospitals could be given working
• India’s policies and programmes aims to achieve capital loans with lower interest rates.
Universal Health Coverage by 2030. This objective • The long-pending reimbursements should be
demands a comprehensive analysis of healthcare cleared soon to maintain their financial viability.
infrastructure in our country. • A mechanism should be developed to rank such not-
• These institutions provide affordable and accessible for-profit hospitals based on their operational
health care to people. efficiency.
• Although various institutions have been established • A national level directory, in the lines of National
for different purposes, this sector provides not only Health Resource Repository, should be created to
curative healthcare, but also preventive healthcare. effectively monitor the operations and of not-for-
• It links healthcare with social reform, community profit hospitals.
engagement, and education. • A collaborative and coordinated approach, among
• India has a much lower bed density than the rest of the different institutions— government, private,
the world. The public hospitals are overstretched. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)—is needed to
So, loads of health care provision shift towards the achieve the objectives under SDG 3 and the aims of
private sector, which generally provides health care Astana Declaration.
at a much higher cost. In this background, focussing
on non-for-profit hospitals could have a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):
multipronged benefit. Structure, Functions, Powers and Challenges
• The expertise of these hospitals can come to much
better use in rural areas, where the issue of limited Context
• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
finance persists.
committee formed to investigate complaints of
Limitations: postpoll violence in West Bengal has recommended
• According to the report, not-for-profit hospitals that cases of heinous crimes be transferred to the
account for only 1.1% of treated ailments, while for- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
profit hospitals it is 23.3%, as of June 2018.
• According to the report, while for-profit hospitals
Key points about NHRC
• Formation: NHRC is an independent statutory
account for 55.3% of in-patients, not-for-profit
hospitals account for 2.7% of in-patients in India. body, setup in 1993 as per provisions of Protection
• People remain unaware of the services rendered by of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993, later amended
the not-for-profit hospitals. in 2006.
• Headquarter: New Delhi, India
• According to the NSSO 75th round survey, for-profit
• Statutory mandate: It is responsible for the
accounts for 55.3% of in-patients, while for not-for-
profit hospitals, it is just 2.7%. protection and promotion of human rights.
• Human rights: PHRA defines human rights as the
Way Forward: rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of
• NITI Aayog recommends 100% income tax the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or
exemption for donations (against the 50% embodied in the International Covenants and
exemption given earlier), quick release of funds enforceable by courts in India.
• In conformity with the ‘Paris Principle’: which
from government schemes and grants to strengthen
the not-for-profit hospitals. was adopted at the first ‘international workshop
• NITI Aayog also recommended allowing not-for- on national institutions for the promotion and
profit hospitals to use Primary Health Care protection of human rights’ held in Paris in
infrastructure to take healthcare to rural India. October 1991, and endorsed by the General
• High performing hospitals should be involved in Assembly of the United Nations in 1993.
• The NHRC is an embodiment of India’s concern
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models for
managing primary health care and operating for the promotion and protection of human
government facilities. rights.

Structure of NHRC • Tenure: The Chairperson and Members of the
• After an amendment to the PHRC in 2019, the Commission hold office to three years or until they
organizational structure of the NHRC comprise of attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
following members with required qualifications- o They shall also be eligible for re-appointment.
• Grounds for Removal:
Members Appointment criteria • Removal is done by president on grounds of
A Chairperson Who has been Chief Justice of bankruptcy, unsound mind, infirmity of body or
India or a Judge of the Supreme mind, sentenced to imprisonment for a crime, or
Court (added after an engages in paid employment.
amendment in 2019) • He can also be removed for proved misbehaviour
One member Who is, or has been, a Judge of the or incapacity if SC enquiry finds him guilty.
Supreme Court of India • They can resign by writing to president.
One member Who is or has been the chief
justice of a High Court Powers and Functions of NHRC
Three members To be appointed from among • Intervention: It intervene in any proceeding
(of which one persons having knowledge of, or involving any allegation of violation of human rights
must be women) practical experience in, matters pending before a court with the approval of such
relating to human rights court.
Deemed/ex- Chairpersons of the following • Enquiry: It can enquire into any complaints of
officio members bodies- violation of human rights or negligence in the
• National Commission for prevention of such violation by a public servant.
Scheduled Castes; o While making an inquiry into the complaints, the
• National Commission for commission enjoys the powers of a civil court.
Scheduled Tribes, National • Safeguards the interests of the vulnerable: for
Commission for Minorities; example, NHRC can visit any jail or any other
• National Commission for institution under the control of the State
Women; Government to see the living conditions of the
• National Commission for inmates and to make recommendations thereon.
Backward Classes; • Scope: It can recommend to both the central and
• National Commission for the state governments to take suitable steps to prevent
Protection of Child Rights and the violation of Human Rights.
• Chief Commissioner for o It submits its annual report to the President of
Persons with Disabilities India who causes it to be laid before each
House of Parliament.
• Appointment of the members: President appoints o the Commission also studies treaties and
the Chairman and members of NHRC on international instruments on human rights and
recommendation of high-powered committee make recommendations for their effective
headed by Prime Minister. Composition of this high- implementation to the Government.
powered committee includes- • Awareness generation: NHRC spread human
1. The Prime Minister (chairperson) rights literacy among various sections of society and
2. The Home Minister of India promote awareness of the safeguards available for
3. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
the protection of these rights through publications,
(House of the People)
the media, seminars and other available means.
4. The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha
o It also plays an active role in coordinating with
(Council of States)
other NHRIs of the world to enhance awareness
5. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of the
from the perspective of human rights.
People)
• It has also hosted delegations from UN Bodies
6. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
and other National Human Rights Commissions
(Council of States)
as well as members of civil society, lawyers and
political and social activists from many countries.

• Collaboration with Civil societies: It encourages • Armed forces: The definition of the armed forces
the efforts of non-governmental organizations and should be restricted to only army, navy, and air
institutions working in the field of human rights. force.
• It is also known for promoting research and o Further, even in these cases the Commission
encouraging NGOs in the field of human rights. should be allowed to independently investigate
cases of violation of rights.
• For NHRC to be an effective watchdog of the
Associated challenges with the NHRC
human rights in the country, it is important to
• Recommendatory nature of advice: it means that
empower NHRC to make it work more efficiently
it cannot legally enforce its decisions and depends and independently. This will help in improving and
on the wishes of the concerned authority for the strengthening the human rights situation in India.
same. This lack of authority to ensure compliance
can lead to outright rejection of its decision too. National Education Policy
• Lack of independent investigative machinery: as
it does not have its own independent investigative Context
• NEP, 2020 has completed one year of its launch. On
machinery. So, it has to be dependent on other
this occasion, let us know the policy in detail.
agencies like CBI who may not function in fair and
independent manner. Key points
• Bounded by time duration: as Under the • It is the third education policy of our country. The
Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, human rights earlier two was launched in 1968 and 1986.
commissions cannot investigate an event if the o This national policy came after a gap of 34 years.
complaint was made more than one year after the • It is based on the recommendations of
incident. Therefore, a large number of genuine Kasturirangan committee.
grievances go unaddressed. • It renames the Ministry of Human Resource
• Many a times NHRC is viewed as post-retirement Development to Ministry of Education.
destinations for judges and bureaucrats with • It proposes a 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical
political affiliation. Along with this, inadequacy of structure.
funds also hampers its effective functioning.
• Exclusion of Armed forces from investigative
Stages Years Class Features
powers of the NHRC further restricts its powers 3 years
Flexible, multi-
of pre-
and authority to serve as the guardian of human Foundational 3-8 level, activity-
primary
rights in India. based learning
and 1-2
Light textbooks,
Suggestions for Improvement in the Human Rights
more formal but
situation in India Preparatory 9-11 3-5 interactive
• Revamping the institution of the NHRC: classroom
o By entrusting it with powers to ensure learning
enforcement of its decisions by implementing Introduction of
authorities. subject teachers
o Independent investigating machinery: for learning of
should be set under complete control of the Middle 12-14 6-8 more abstract
NHRC in order to ensure free and fair concepts,
investigation in the human rights violation experimental
cases. learning
o Diversify its composition by including people Reading in-
from civil society, human rights activists etc.: depth, critical
this will reduce bureaucratization of the NHRC, Secondary 15-18 9-12 thinking, greater
resulting in better functioning of the attention to life
organization. aspirations

Elementary Education Equity-based education
• Preparatory classes or Bal vatikas for the children • Special Education Zones will be created in regions
up to class 1. where there is large population of socially and
• Universal foundational literacy by 2025. educationally disadvantaged students.
• Mid-day meal scheme to be extended to • Gender Inclusion Fund to be created for holistic
preparatory classes. development of all genders, including transgenders.
• Major reconfiguration of curricular and
pedagogical structure. Teacher Education
• Aanganwadi workers, having qualification up to
• Make early childhood care and Education an
class 12, to be given 6 months certification program
integral part of school education.
and those workers having qualification less than the
above, should be given a one-year diploma program.
School education
• 4 years integrated stage specific B.Ed. program to be
• Seeks to reduce load in school education
the minimum qualification for teachers.
curriculum. • Each teacher will participate in at least 50 hours of
• There will be NCFSE (National Curriculum Continuous Professional Development.
Framework for Secondary Education), which will be • Pupil-teacher ratio of 30:1 in normal areas and
revised and updated once in every 5-10 years by 25:1 in socio-educationally disadvantaged areas.
NCERT. • NCFTE National Curriculum Framework for Teacher
• A National Assessment Centre, PARAKH Education) will be formulated by NCTE and NCERT
(Performance Assessment Review, and Analysis of by 2021.
Knowledge for Holistic development) will be • Shutting down sub-standard teacher education
established. institutions.
• 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in preschool to • Move all teacher education programmed to large
secondary by 2030. universities.
• All subjects including art, music, sports, yoga,
community service will be part of the curricular. Research and Technology
• No difference between curricular activities and • National Research Foundation to be created for
extra-curricular activities. instilling research-based behaviour among
students.
• National Education Technology Forum for
Higher education
exchange of ideas on use of technology.
• 50% GER in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs)
• Agricultural technology parks for implementing
by 2035.
lab to land programs.
• Academic Bank of Credit to be created to provide
multiple entry and exit options for students in Implementation
Higher education. • There will be an apex body called Higher Education
• The M.Phil program to be discontinued. Commission of India (HECI), which will resolve
• Multidisciplinary Education & Research University disputes among the following bodies.
(MERU) to be created. Bodies Features
• By 2040, all HEIs to be multi-disciplinary. NHERA (National Light but tight regulation
• Over a period of 15-years, all HEIs to become Higher Education
independent and self-governing (ending of Regulatory Authority)
affiliation system). NAC (National Meta-accrediting agency
• Higher education institutions to be driven by two Accreditation
missions: Mission Nalanda and Mission Commission)
Takshashila. HEGC (Higher Responsible for funding
Education Grants
Vocational Education Council)
• By 2025, 50% students will have vocational GEC (General Education frame expected learning
exposure and to serve this purpose, NCIVE (National Council) outcomes for higher
Committee for the Integration of Vocational education programmes.
Education) is to be created.
Language 1. Education;
• Medium of Instruction should be mother tongue 2. Child health, care, welfare or child development;
till class 5. It, however, is preferable upto class 8. 3. Juvenile justice or care of neglected or
• Promotion of Indian classical language. marginalized children or children with
• Indian Institute of Translation and disabilities;
Interpretation to be created. 4. Elimination of child labour or children in
• 3 new national institutes for Pali, Prakrit and distress;
Persian language. 5. Child psychology or sociology; and
6. Laws relating to children.
• Tenure: All members are to be appointed by Central
National Commission for Protection of Child
Government for three years. The maximum age to
Rights (NCPCR): Constitution, Composition and
serve in commission is 65 years for Chairman and
Key Functions 60 years for members.
Context
• A recent report by the National Commission for Key functions of NCPCR
Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) showed that • Assess and review the safeguards that are
6,855 children had been orphaned between April 1, provided for child rights protection in India
2020 and July 23, 2021. under existing laws and also suggest measures for
implementing them effectively.
• Present reports on the workings of the laws in
About NCPCR
this domain to the central government as and when
• Constitution: It was set up in March 2007 under the
necessary.
Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
• Study the factors that prevent the enjoyment of
It is a statutory body under the Act.
rights of children impacted by terrorism, riots,
• Ministry: It functions under the administrative
natural calamities, communal violence, trafficking,
control of the Ministry of Women & Child HIV/AIDS, torture and exploitation, maltreatment,
Development, Government of India. prostitution and pornography, and suggest remedial
• Definition of child: The Child is defined as a person measures for them.
in the 0 to 18 years age group. • Inquire cases of child rights violations and
• Mandate: to ensure that all Laws, Policies, initiate proceedings.
Programs, and Administrative Mechanisms are • Review current policies with respect to children’s
in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as rights and protection by studying treaties and
enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the international instruments and suggest changes as
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989. needed.
o The above Convention was ratified by India in • Conduct research in the field of child rights.
1992. This convention defines child as a human
being below 18 years of age.
Composition:
NCPCR consists of the following members namely:
• Chairperson: a person of eminence and has done
outstanding work for promoting the welfare of
children.
• 6 other members, of which two must be women.
They are to be appointed by the Central
Government from amongst person of eminence,
ability, integrity, standing and experience in the
following fields-
• Inquire into complaints and take Suo-motu 1. Producer cooperatives: seek to obtain the
notice of matter relating to- highest possible value for the goods and services
o Deprivation and violation of child right supplied by farmers, fisherfolk, artisans or
o Non implementation of laws providing for labourers.
protection and development of children; 2. Consumer cooperatives: provide inputs
o Non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines
(fertiliser, seed, credit, etc), groceries, housing,
or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships to
health and other services at the most economic
and ensuring welfare of the children and provide
relief to such children; rates to their members.
o Or take up the issues arising out of such matters
with appropriate authorities. Legal provisions related to Cooperatives in India
• It is a state subject under entry 32 of the State list
Mandates under following Acts under the Schedule 7 of the Constitution.
• Right to Education Act, 2009: Inquires into o Cooperatives having presence in a single
complaints relating to a child's right to free and state: are governed by laws in their respective
compulsory education. states, with a Cooperation Commissioner and
o Examine and review the safeguards for rights the Registrar of Societies as their governing
provided by or under this act and recommend office.
measure for their effective implementation.
• Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002:
• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
enacted by the parliament to govern societies with
(POCSO) Act, 2012: Monitors the implementation
of the POCSO Act. It is also mandated- operations in more than one state.
• To monitor the designation of Special Courts by o The Central Registrar of Societies is their
State Governments; controlling authority, but on the ground the
• To monitor the appointment of Public Prosecutors State Registrar takes actions on his behalf.
by State Governments; • Formation of the National Cooperative
Development Corporation (NCDC): works for the
Ministry of Cooperation promotion of the cooperative movement in India. Its
Context main functions include-
• Recently, a separate Ministry of Cooperation was o Planning, promoting, coordinating and financing
created by the Government of India for realizing the cooperative development programs at the
vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’. national level.
o Announcement for such a move was made in the o it provides financial, insurance and technical
union budget 2021 which proposed to set up a support to cooperative institutions of farmers
separate administrative structure for and other weaker sections.
cooperatives.
Constitution provisions regarding the cooperatives
About co-operatives: • The Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011
• Definition: International Labour Organisation
added a new “Part IXB” right after Part IXA
(ILO) defines cooperatives as an autonomous
(Municipals) regarding the cooperatives working in
association of persons united voluntarily to meet
their common economic, social and cultural needs India.
and aspirations through a jointly owned and • Article 19(1)(c) under Part III of the
democratically controlled enterprise. Constitution: provides for “cooperatives”,
o The United Nations General Assembly had allowing all the citizens to form cooperatives by
declared the year 2012 as the International Year giving elevating it to the status of a fundamental
of Cooperatives. right.
• Categories of cooperatives: There are many types • Article 43B was added in the Directive Principles
of cooperatives Society but can be classified of State Policy (Part IV) regarding the “promotion
broadly in two types, especially in agriculture of cooperative societies”.
sector.
Key objectives of the newly formed cooperation Way forward
ministry • Ensure Ease of Doing business for the
• To provide a separate administrative, legal and cooperatives: Ministry of Cooperation should make
policy framework for strengthening the it easier for cooperatives to do business, right from
cooperative movement in the country. registration to winding up.
• To make the cooperative movement a true people- • Cooperation with states: to ensure compatible
based movement by helping it reach the legislation with the requirements of a modern
grassroots level. market economy and effective implementation of
• To streamline processes for ease of doing business various measures on the ground.
for cooperatives and enable the development of • Unified regulation: by providing for a single
multi-state cooperatives (MSCS). regulator for all the cooperative societies.
• Facilitating women led cooperatives: to ensure all
Benefits of a dedicated Cooperation Ministry round development of the society. Currently they
• Help in expanding the reach of the cooperatives: constitute less than 3% of the 8 lakh cooperatives in
Presently, cooperative structure has managed to the country.
flourish and leave its mark only in a handful of states
like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka etc. Legislative Council: A Complete Analysis
o Under the new Ministry, the cooperative
movement would get the required financial Context
and legal power needed to penetrate into other • Recently, West Bengal government has passed a
states also. resolution to create legislative council in the state.
• Strengthen cooperative funding structure:
Cooperative institutions get capital from the Centre, What is a legislative council?
either as equity or as working capital, for which the • India follows bicameralism—two Houses in the
state governments stand guarantee. Parliament, which has two houses, lower house or
o Under the new Ministry, the cooperative funding Lok Sabha, and upper House or Rajya Sabha.
structure would be able to get a new lease of • Similarly, at state-level, we have lower house or
life. legislative assembly and upper house or legislative
• Dedicated ministry will correct the present council.
administrative anomaly: previously cooperatives • Legislative council is a permanent body like Rajya
were under agriculture ministry which is not Sabha and is not subject to dissolution but, has
designed to focus on the specific needs of the many inherent differences from the Rajya Sabha.
cooperatives. This resulted in poor focus and • Article 171 of Indian constitution provides that the
development of the cooperatives in India. Legislative Council of a state shall not have more
o Separate ministry would effectively cater the than one-third of the total strength of the State
needs of the evolving cooperatives: Most new Assembly, and not less than 40 members.
registrations for co-operatives are not in the
agriculture sector and now coming up in sectors States having Legislative Council
like housing and labor. • As of now, six states have legislative councils
namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka,
Associated concerns with the separate ministry Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Centralization of power: “cooperatives” are state • Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir too had legislative
subject under the constitution and many states council, but it got dissolved once the state was
believe that formation of a separate ministry will bifurcated into two UTs—Jammu and Kashmir, and
concentrate powers in the hands of Centre. Ladakh.
• Compromises the principle of federalism: as
many believed that it is yet another attempt by
Creation of legislative council
central government to gain control over grassroots
• Article 168 of Indian constitution provides for
institutions, especially in Opposition-ruled states.
option for a state to establish a legislative council.

• Article 169 of the constitution provides that to • Graduates, doctors, academicians are not rare today
create a legislative council, state legislative and neither is their presence in active politics.
assembly need to pass a resolution to this effect by a Way forward
majority of total membership of the Assembly and • There is a need for national policy on legislative
by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the council, which should ultimately decide whether
members of the Assembly present and voting. state needs such body or not.
• There should be a report, which provides data
• Parliament then passes a resolution with simple
regarding the positive impacts of legislative
majority and creates a legislative council
council in ensuring good governance.
• The final decision of abolishing or creation of
• Legislative council should be given power
legislative council rests with the Parliament. equivalent to Rajya Sabha and should be made
second house and not a secondary house.
Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha
• Unlike Legislative Council, Rajya Sabha has power Information Technology Rules, 2021
to reject a non-financial bill and a constitutional
amendment bill. Context
• Recently, the Information Technology
• Rajya Saba members can vote in the election of the
(Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics
President and the vice-president, while the
Code) Rules, 2021, came into effect.
members of legislative council cannot.
o It will supersede the earlier Information
• Rajya Sabha has exclusive powers related with All-
Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules
India Services and making laws on the subject of 2011.
state list, while there is no such power vested with o These rules have been prepared by the Ministry
legislative council. of Electronics and Information Technology
(MEITY).
Importance • Central government has formed these rules under
• It checks hasty decision of the legislative assembly section 87 (2) of the Information Technology Act,
• It enables a non-elected but deserving individual 2000.
to contribute to policy making
• It provides a platform for the academicians and Key guidelines Related to Social Media Platforms: to
intellectuals, who are unaware of the political Be Administered by Ministry of Electronics and IT.
know-hows, to contribute to the development of • Mandatory Due diligence: to be followed by
state. intermediaries, including social media
intermediaries. In case, due diligence is not followed
• It is like a House of elders at state level and thus
by the intermediary, safe harbour provisions will
provides a wise counselling to the legislative
not apply to them.
assembly.
• Safe harbour provision under section 79 of IT
• It provides opportunity for people from various act 2000: It says any intermediary shall not be held
communities to play an active role in policy making legally or otherwise liable for any third-party
and thus work for the upliftment of their information, data, or communication link made
community. available or hosted on its platform.
• Mandatory Grievance redressal mechanism:
Criticism: appointment of Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO)
• In the name of giving deserving ones an opportunity, by intermediaries for receiving and resolving
the council has become a back door entry of the complaints from the users or victims.
politicians, who lose in election. o GRO shall acknowledge the complaint within
• It causes an unnecessary delay to pass a bill as the twenty-four hours and resolve it within
ultimate authority lies with the state assembly. fifteen days from its receipt.
• It is an unnecessary burden on state exchequer and • Ensuring online safety and dignity (especially of
the money can be used in other developmental women) users: Intermediaries are directed to
remove or disable access withing 24 hours of receipt
work.
of complaints of sexual contents.
o Such a complaint can be filed either by the • Violates right to free speech and expression:
individual or by any other person on his/her which is a fundamental right under Article 19 of the
behalf. constitution as these rules fixes the Government as
• Categorization of social media intermediaries in the ultimate adjudicator of objectionable speech
two categories: to encourage innovations and online.
enable growth of new social media intermediaries • Issue with traceability of originator of the
by reducing their compliance requirement. information: previously, end-to-end encryption of
1. Social media intermediaries and user content and messages resulted in lack of access
2. Significant social media intermediaries to intermediaries, hence, immunity from
o Government is empowered to notify the government dictate to provide access to these
threshold of user base that will distinguish contents.
between social media intermediaries and • Violates right to privacy: by imposing a mandatory
significant social media intermediaries. requirement of traceability, which will break this
• Additional compliance mechanism for immunity, thereby weakening the security of the
Significant social media intermediaries: they are privacy of these conversations.
mandated to- • Lack of legal protection for privacy: as country
o Appoint a Chief Compliance Officer does not have a dedicated privacy law, which may
(responsible for ensuring compliance with the result in unhindered violation of citizens privacy
Act and Rules) and a Nodal Contact Person for under the guise if these rules.
24x7 coordination with law enforcement • Excessive compliance burden: especially on the
agencies. Both shall be a resident in India. small and new platforms may hinder innovation and
growth of new player in this space.
o Publish a monthly compliance report:
mentioning the details of complaints received
Way forward
and action taken on the complaints as well as
• Accommodating the differences: by ensuring
details of contents removed proactively.
participation of and deliberation with all the
o Identification of the first originator of the
concerned stakeholders while forming the rules.
information (by messaging service
• Strengthening the privacy infrastructure in the
providers): would be required in case of an
country: by enacting a comprehensive data security
offence related to sovereignty and integrity of
law. In this context, there is a need to expedite the
India.
passing of the personal data protection bill, 2019.
o Mandatory physical contact address in India
• Providing statutory backing: by widely debating
published on its website or mobile app or both. and deliberating the issue with experts and
o Voluntary User Verification Mechanism: to stakeholders and putting it on parliamentary
be provided to users who wish to verify their platform for its legislative scrutiny. This will also
account. enhance its acceptability among all stakeholders I
o Appropriate mechanism to be provided to users particular and people in general.
to contradict removal/disablement of their
content by the significant social media
intermediaries.
• Removal of Unlawful Information/fake news: by
the intermediaries after receiving the actual
knowledge in the form of a court order or by an
authorized government officer.
Issues associated with the rules concerning social

media intermediaries
• Depriving intermediaries from their right to be
heard in case of disagreement: as intermediaries
are expected to take down content within 36 hours
upon receiving orders from the Government.
Improvement in education: United District • To give quality education to rural areas, Navodaya
Information System for Education Plus Vidyalayas were established. Even now, they set a
(UDISE+) Report high standard in school education.
• Showing affirmative action, the government
Context: focussed on tribal education through schemes like
• Recently, the Ministry of Education released the the Aspirational district programme and Eklavya
UDISE+ report 2019-20 for school education in Model Residential Schools.
India.
Limitations of the steps taken by the government:
Key Points: • Annual Survey of Education Report (ASER) 2018
On GER is an indication that GER should not be the only
• The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for school criteria to decide improvement in education. The
education has improved for all levels in 2019-20 report found that only around 50% of the children
as compared to the previous year. enrolled in Std V can read an Std II level book.
• The GER, of both boys and girls, has seen a • Kasturirangan Committee reported that
significant improvement. o majority of the teachers lacks proper quality and
• Between 2012-13 and 2019-20, the Gender Parity proper training.
Index (GPI) at both secondary and higher secondary o We have a substandard pedagogy.
levels have improved. o We have a low focus on educational aspects of
On Facilities early childhood.
• The number of schools with functional electricity, • The funds allocated to education still hovers around
functional computers, internet facilities, 3% of the GDP.
handwash facilities has improved incredibly. • COVID-19 has widened the digital divide between
rural and urban areas, as reported by ASER 2020.
On Teacher Pupil Ratio
• The teacher-pupil ratio has increased at all levels Steps needed:
of school education. • Higher education:
o Develop world-class research institutions to
Significance of the report: attract students from around the world.
• GER and teacher-pupil ratio are important Programs like the Institute of Eminence should
indicators of education improvement in any be implemented properly.
country. An increase in these parameters indicates o Provide apprentice opportunities to graduates
an increase in footfalls in the schools, which implies through schemes like Scheme for Higher
a social inclination towards education. Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills
• An increase in toilets, drinking water facilities, (SHREYAS).
electricity indicates steps towards robust
infrastructure, which implies the government’s • Primary education:
efforts towards providing effective education. o Increase remuneration to teachers. Example-
Bhutan increased the salary of teachers and
Steps taken by the government to increase GER: doctors to an amount greater than that given to
a civil servant. This increases the status of
• Right to Education Act, 2009 has not only teachers and the attrition rate would decrease.
increased the GER but also decreased the drop-out o NITI Aayog, in Strategy for New India @75,
rate recommended spending 6% of its GDP on
• For the comprehensive solution, Samagra Shiksha education, by 2022.
Abhiyaan was launched. It caters to the needs of o Make education an integral part of programs like
students from class 1 to class 12. the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
• Schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mid-day • We more research institutions apart from TIFR, IISc
meal scheme and Kasturba Gandhi Balika and Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education,
Vidyalaya have ensured that girl children should and we need more interaction between such
get efficient and timely education. institutions and teaching universities.
• We need to make the undergraduate program more Criticism:
research-based. • Compromise the spirit of Federalism: as many of
• Teacher training should form an important part of the above features seem to give priority to L-G of
the school curriculum. Programs like National Delhi (appointed by President of India) over
Initiative for School Heads and Teacher’s Holistic elected Delhi government.
Advancement (NISHTHA) are a welcome step.
• Affecting governance of Delhi: as elected
• For vocational education, National Skills
Qualification Framework should be expedited government has to take prior consent of the L-G,
upon. which may affect speed and efficacy of the
governance.
Way Forward • Lack of any timeline for L-G to give his/her
National Education Policy 2020 is a comprehensive opinion: A politically motivated L-G could exploit
policy, which aims to address every issue our education this loophole to hamper elected government’s
system is facing. Implementing it in letter and spirit will various administrative functions.
not only help us reap the benefits of demographic • Impact on Committees: Prohibiting Committees
dividend, but also help us achieve the targets under to conduct inquiries in relation to the
SDG 4. administrative decisions (an extremely broad
exception) completely negates the ability of
Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act, committees to function effectively as the
2021 Assembly’s advisors and agents.
Context: Constitutional provisions: inserted by 69th
• The Government of National Capital Territory Constitutional Amendment Act
(GNCT) of Delhi (Amendment) Act, passed by the • Article 239AA: provides that the Union Territory of
Parliament, has come into force recently. Delhi be called the National Capital Territory of Delhi
• It amends Sections 21, 24, 33 and 44 of the
and its administrator shall be known as Lt. Governor.
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
o creates a legislative assembly for Delhi which
Act, 1991.
Features of the GNCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act, can make laws on subjects under the State List
2021: and Concurrent List except on these matters:
• Strengthening the position of the Lieutenant- public order, land, and police.
Governor (L-G) of Delhi: o provides for a Council of Ministers for Delhi
o Prior approval of the L-G: before taking any consisting of not more than 10% of the total
executing action based on decisions taken by the number of members in the assembly.
Cabinet or any individual minister. Article 239AB: provides that the President may by
o Restriction on laws passed by the Assembly: order suspend the operation of any provision of Article
Act provides that the term “government” 239AA or of all or any of the provisions of any law made
referred to in any law made by the Legislative in pursuance of that article. This provision resembles
Assembly will imply LG of Delhi.
Article 356 (President’s Rule).
o Widening the discretionary powers of L-G:
• Rules of Procedure of the Assembly: Rules made
by Legislative Assembly to regulate the procedure o This will also affect quality of quality of
and conduct of business in the Assembly shall be legislative work emanating from the Assembly.
consistent with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct • Against supreme court’s 2018 judgement: In the
of Business in the Lok Sabha. Government of NCT of Delhi vs Union of India and
• Limits the powers of Assembly in administrative Another in 2018 case, the SC held that:
decisions: Act prohibits the Legislative Assembly o The LG’s concurrence is not required on issues
from making any rule to enable itself or its other than police, public order and land.
committees to: o That any differences between them should be
1. Consider the matters of day-to-day resolved keeping in view the constitutional
administration of the NCT of Delhi and
primacy of representative government and
2. Conduct any inquiry in relation to
administrative decisions. cooperative federalism.
It also provides that all such rules made before o Made it extremely difficult for the L-G to refer
its enactment will be void. such matters to the President.

Union government’s justification: o The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements,
• Aimed to clear ambiguities: in the roles of various abuse of dominant position by enterprises, and
stakeholders and provide a constructive rules-based regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring
framework for stakeholders within the government of control, and Merger and acquisition), which
of Delhi to work in tandem with the Union causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse
government. effect on competition within India.
• Provides Rules-based framework: which is o In 2017, functions of the COMAT were
important given that Delhi is also our national subsumed under National Company Law
capital and carries the symbolism that comes with Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
being the seat of the sovereign power. • Composition: it has a chairperson and 6 Members
appointed by the Central Government.
Way forward: o These members are appointed for 5 years or 65
• Defining the time-limit for L-G to give his years of age (whichever comes first). However,
opinion: this will reduce the possibility of misuse of these members are eligible for reappointment.
powers by L-G under political influence and help in • Objectives and functions of CCI:
effective functioning of the elected government.
o To Eliminate practices having adverse effect on
• Upholding constitutional Principles of
cooperative federalism in letter and spirit: by competition
giving adequate space for elected government of o To Promote and sustain competition
Delhi, representing the will aspirations of the people o To Protect the interests of consumers
of Delhi. o To Ensure freedom of trade in the markets of
• L-G should act in the spirit of constitutionalism India
instead of undue narrow pollical interest of o To Establish a robust competitive environment
concerned political party at the Center. through:
• Interest of people of NCT of Delhi should be the  Proactive engagement with all stakeholders,
guiding principle for both L-G and elected
including consumers, industry, government
representatives of the Delhi assembly.
and international jurisdictions.
 Being a knowledge intensive organization
Competition Commission of India: India’s Anti-
trust Regulator with high competence level.
 Professionalism, transparency, resolve and
Context: wisdom in enforcement.
• Recently, Competition Commission of India has
accused Amazon of concealing facts and making
Powers of the CCI:
false submissions when it sought approval for a
2019 investment in a Future Group unit. It derives following authority from the competition
Act 2002-
Competition Commission of India (CCI) • It can inquire about the acquisition or combination
• About: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) to understand if there is any appreciable adverse
was established in March 2009 (established in 2003 effect on competition.
but became fully functional in 2009) by Government • CCI has the authority to notify organizations that sell
of India under the Competition Act, 2002 for the to India if it feels they may be negatively influencing
administration, implementation, and enforcement competition in India’s domestic market.
of the Act.
• It can issue of interim orders in case of anti-
o It is a statutory and quasi-judicial body and
competitive agreement.
works under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Competition Act, 2002: it repealed and replaced • The central or state government may reference the
the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices commission for the opinion. But that is not binding
Act, 1969 (MRTP Act). on the Government.
o Under the Act, the Competition Commission of • CCI gets its powers to execute orders against any
India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal unlawful trade practices.
(COMAT) have been established.
Functions of CCI: It takes following measure to achieve Background
its objectives- • Prevalence of serious exploitative practices:
• Ensuring that markets work for the benefit and such as large recruitment charges, contract
welfare of consumers. substitution, deception, retention of passports, non-
• Ensure fair and healthy competition in economic payment or underpayment of wages, poor living
activities in the country for faster and inclusive conditions, discrimination and other forms of ill-
growth and development of the economy.
treatment.
• Implement competition policies: aimed at
• Emigration Act, 1983: governs labour migration
ensuring most efficient utilization of economic
from India. It has following provisions to protect the
resources.
• Ensure effective relations and interactions with
interests of the migrants-
sectoral regulators: to ensure smooth alignment of o Provides for hiring through government-
sectoral regulatory laws in tandem with the certified recruiting agents — individuals or
competition law. public or private agencies.
• Awareness generation: among all stakeholders to o Outlines obligations for agents to conduct due
establish and nurture competition culture in Indian diligence of prospective employers,
economy. o Sets up a cap on service fees, and
o Establishes a government review of worker
Why we need an Anti-trust regulator? travel and employment documents (known as
• To protect the interests of the consumers: emigration clearances) to 18 countries mainly in
competition leads to fair pricing of goods and West Asian states and South-East Asian
services. Lack of competition leads to monopoly, countries
harming the interests of the consumers. CCI ensures
that interests of the consumer are secured by
Key features of the Emigration Bill, 2021
ensuring fair competition in the market.
• Purpose: to consolidate and amend the law relating
• To provide an equal opportunity to all
enterprise by ensuring fair competition: by to emigration of citizens of India.
thwarting the big players in a particular industry • Positives features:
from misusing their position to avoid competition. o It launches a new emigration policy division,
• To counter market distortion: Markets are prone o Establishes help desks and welfare committees,
to failures and distortions, and various players can o Requires manpower agencies to conduct pre-
resort to anti- competitive activities such as cartels, departure briefings for migrants, and
abuse of dominance etc. CCI aims protects o Increases accountability of brokers and other
consumers against these malpractices. intermediaries who are also involved in labour
hiring.
Way forward
• CCI is an important institution to ensure fair • Concerning features:
competition in Indian economic system. This will o Lacks a human rights framework: which is
boost confidence of various stakeholders in the
needed to secure the rights of migrants and their
Indian market. In this context, government should
families and these frameworks are part of
further strengthen institutional and functional
progressive regimes.
capacity of the CCI by ensuring adequate financial
and human resources. o For example, Philippines: which recognizes
the contributions of Filipino workers and “the
The Editorial Analysis: An emigration Bill that dignity and fundamental human rights and
does not go far enough freedoms of the Filipino citizens”.
o Provision for charging services fee from
Context migrants: the Bill permits manpower agencies
• The Emigration Bill, 2021 presents a long overdue
to charge workers’ service fees, and even allows
opportunity to reform the recruitment process for
agents to set their own limits.
nationals seeking employment abroad.

o Against International Labour Organization Background
(ILO) convention: which provides that it is • ECI was established on 25th January 1950 as per the
employers, not workers who should bear provisions of the constitution of India.
recruitment payments including the costs of • Till 1989, it was a single member commission
their visas, air travel, medical exams, and service which was further expanded to three members by
charges to recruiters. the Election Commissioner Amendment Act
o Exorbitant charges paid by Indian workers
1989.
for jobs, found surveys conducted by the ILO
• Later in 1990, two posts of Election Commissioners
and World Bank. For example, Indians in Saudi
Arabia paid on average $1,507 in recruitment (EC) were abolished but again in 1993, president
charges; their counterparts in Qatar paid $1,156. appointed two more EC. Since that time, ECI has one
o Gives power to government authorities: to CEC and two EC.
punish workers by cancelling or suspending Constitutional provisions
their passports and imposing fines up to • Part XV of the Indian constitution: deals with
₹50,000 for violating any of the Bill’s provisions. elections, and establishes a commission for these
This could have following implications- matters.
o Criminalizes the choices migrant workers • Article 324 to 329 of the constitution: deals with
make either because they are unaware of the powers, function, tenure, eligibility, etc. of the
law, under the influence of their recruiters, or commission and the member.
simply desperate to find a decent job.
o Recruiters and public officials could misuse
the law to instil fear among workers and report Articles related to Elections
or threaten to report them.
o Discourages complaints of abuse: especially Superintendence, direction and control of
by migrants in an irregular situation due to fear 324 elections to be vested in an Election
that they could be fined or have their passports
Commission.
revoked.
• Does not adequately address the gender
dimension of the migration: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in,
o Women having limited agency in recruitment or to claim to be included in a special,
325
compared to their counterparts, are more likely electoral roll on grounds of religion, race,
to be employed in marginalised and informal caste or sex.
sectors and/or isolated occupations in which
labour, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse Elections to the House of the People and
are common.
326 to the Legislative Assemblies of States to
o Inadequate labour representation or civil
be on the basis of adult suffrage.
society engagement in the policy and welfare
bodies that the bill sets up.
Power of Parliament to make provision
327
Conclusion: The Ministry of External Affairs must draft with respect to elections to Legislatures.
a clearer purpose which explicitly recognises the
contributions of Indian workers, the unique challenges Power of Legislature of a State to make
they face, and uphold the dignity and human rights of 328 provision with respect to elections to such
migrants and their families. Legislature.
Election Commission of India (ECI)
Bar to interference by courts in electoral
About ECI 329
matters.
• The ECI is an autonomous constitutional authority
responsible for administering Union and State
election processes in India. Organizational structure
• The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, • ECI consists of one Chief Election Commissioner and
Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in two Election Commissioners.
India, and the offices of the President and Vice • Secretariat: It has a dedicated secretariat located in
President in the country. New Delhi.
• At the state level, ECI is assisted by the Chief o It also advises the president whether elections
Electoral Officer (CEO) who is generally an IAS rank can be held in a state under president’s rule in
officer. order to extend the period of emergency after
• At the constituency level, ECI appoints a Returning one year.
Officer and Assistant Returning Officer in • Model Code of Conduct (ECI): Issued by the ECI in
consultation with the government of State or Union election for political parties and candidates so that
Territory as the case may be. the no one indulges in unfair practice or there is no
Appointment and removal arbitrary abuse of powers by those in power.
• Appointment: Chief Election Commissioner and Key concerns about ECI
Election Commissioners are to be appointed by the • Concerns related to independence and
President of India. They have a fixed tenure of six partiality: as Constitution does not mention any
years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is qualifications for CEC and ECs. This gives scope
earlier. for favoritism in the appointment process.
o They enjoy the same status and receive salary • Lack of security of tenure to Election
and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Commissioners (EC): as constitution of India
Court of India. provides security of tenure only to CEC and not
• Removal process: to the other ECs who can be removed by the
o Chief Election Commissioner: S/he is to be recommendation of CEC.
removed from office only through a process of • Post-retirement appointment by the
removal similar to that of a Supreme Court judge governor: as the constitution doesn’t bar
for by Parliament. retiring election commissioners from accepting
o CEC can be removed from office through a further job opportunity from the government.
motion adopted by Parliament on grounds of • This may lead to government having
‘Proved misbehavior or incapacity’. Removal undue influence in the ECI as it can offer
requires special majority of 2/3rd members post retirement opportunities to sitting
present and voting supported by more than ECs in the exchange of some political
50% of the total strength of the house. favor in the elections.
o Other Election Commissioners: they can be • Increasing mis-trust and deterioration faith
removed from the office by the President only on in the institution of Election Commission:
the recommendation of the CEC. mainly due to lack of transparency in the
selection process of CEC and ECs and removal of
Key functions the ECs.
• Constitutional duty of the ECI: to ensure that the o This mistrust has been further intensified due to
elections held in free and fair manner. allegations of EVMs malfunctioning, getting
• For this purpose, it is entrusted with hacked and not registering votes which corrodes
powers and duties to superintends, general masses trust from the institution.
directs and controls the conduct of
elections. Way forward
• ECI decides the election schedules for the conduct of • Ensuring transparency in the selection process:
periodic and timely elections, whether general or by forming a collegium headed by the Prime
bye-elections. Minister with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the
• It is responsible for granting recognition to Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Law Minister
political parties & allot election symbols to them and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha as
along with settling disputes related to it. members (recommended by the 2nd ARC).
• It is responsible registering political parties for o This collegium should recommend CEC and EC
the purpose of elections and grant them status of candidates for the consideration of the
national or state parties on the basis of their poll President.
performance. • Provide security of tenure to Election
• Advisory jurisdiction: The Commission advises the Commissioners similar to CECs: by amending the
president (governors in case of state legislature) on Constitution of India.
the matters relating to post-election disqualification • Provide cooling-off period for retiring members of
of sitting members of Parliament. the EC to ensure functional autonomy and
institutional independence of the ECI.

International Relations
Crafting a unique partnership with Africa India-Africa agricultural cooperation
• Multifaceted Engagement: with projects being
Context
implemented under Indian lines of credit, capacity-
As Indian-African relationship enters the post-
building initiatives, and cooperation in a range of
pandemic world, it is vital to prioritize and channel
sectors.
resources into augmenting partnership in agriculture.
• Institutional and individual capacity-building
Potential of African Agriculture Sector:
initiatives: Such as
Opportunities for India
o The India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and
• Unexplored potential: as Africa has 65% of the
Rural development in Malawi,
world’s uncultivated arable land, employing over o Extension of soft loans and Supply of machinery,
60% of the workforce, and accounting for almost
o Acquisition of farmlands: Indian farmers have
20% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP. purchased over 6,00,000 hectares of land for
• Potential of start-up ecosystem in African Agri-
commercial farming in Africa.
tech sector: which saw a 110% growth between o The presence of Indian entrepreneurs in the
2016 and 2018. Last year, despite the pandemic, the African agricultural ecosystem.
sector witnessed a record increase in investments. • Co-operative mechanism:
• Crucial for future global food security: as it has o Direct cooperation with Indian states: for
large untapped and underdeveloped agricultural example, Kerala government trying to meet its
sector which can help in ensuring global food steep requirement for raw cashew nuts with
security if properly utilized. imports from countries in Africa to complement
its limited production capacity.
Analyzing Chinese Engagement in Africa o There is a proposal to create jointly-owned
• Important partner: China is among Africa’s largest brand of Africa-Kollam cashews.
trading partners and single biggest creditor. Its
corporations dominate the region’s infrastructure Learning from Chinese mistakes
market and are now entering the agri-infra sector. • Negative perception about Chinese engagement:
• Access to Africa’s natural resources, its due to insular diaspora, lopsided trade, looming
untapped markets and support for ‘One China: debt, competition with local businesses
are the primary drivers of Chinese engagement in accompanied by greater political and socioeconomic
the region. interlinkages.
• Built industrial parks and economic zones in • Disconnect with ground realities:
Africa: which are attracting low-cost, labour- • In some cases, the technology taught in China is
intensive manufacturing units from China. not available locally and in others, there is
• Training and capacity building: African inability to implement lessons learnt due to the
agriculture experts, officials and farmers are absence of supporting resources.
provided opportunities to augment skills and be • Language barrier: Larger commercial farms
trained in China. run by Mandarin-speaking managers and the
• Focus on market capture: by building ‘brand presence of small-scale Chinese farmers in local
China’ to dominate the African market, even at the markets aggravates socio-cultural stresses.
cost of short-term profits. This is being done
through- Way forward
o Pushing Chinese standards in host countries. • Promote cooperative and collaborative
o Laying critical telecommunications mechanisms: on the lines of proposed African-
infrastructure by Chinese tech companies. Kollam Cashew brand in other areas of agriculture
o Investment by venture capital funds in African sector.
fintech firms, • Incentivize Indian industries: to tap into African
o Expansion of smaller Chinese enterprises across agri-business value chains and connecting Indian
the region. technology firms and startups with partners in
Africa.
• Effective Impact Assessment: of the existing Why Afghanistan is important?
capacity-building initiatives in agriculture for India • Strategic Importance
to stand in good stead. o Considering the worsening India-Pakistan
• Creating demand-led skill development relations, Afghanistan becomes important for
program: by drawing up a Country-specific and India.
localised curriculum. o India could keep an eye on terrorists at
• India should be mindful of increasing Chinese Pakistan soil and its supporters in Afghanistan.
presence because Beijing’s model, if successful o The country has Central Asian Republics to the
here, could be heralded as a replica for the larger North, Pakistan to its East, and through Iran and
global south. Pakistan the Indian Ocean deeper south.
• Economic importance
Conclusion: India has consistently chosen well to
o Afghanistan provides us an alternate door—
underline the development partnership to be in line
completely bypassing Pakistan—to reach the
with African priorities. It is pertinent, therefore, that we
world.
collectively craft a unique modern partnership with o The proposed INSTC (The International North–
Africa. South Transport Corridor) of India with Iran and
Russia could increase connectivity with
Understanding the India- Afghanistan Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Conundrum
India’s importance for Afghanistan
Context
• India’s generous humanitarian aid and
• US has been pulling out its troops from
infrastructural development assistance like building
Afghanistan. Consequently, it has resulted in Taliban
hospitals, enhancing power infrastructure has put it
increasing influence over the Afghan territory and considerably high position in the eyes of Afghan
India is wary of some of the events that followed. people.
• India has always followed a principle of non-
Recent developments intervention in the internal affairs of Afghanistan
• India pulling out its nationals from its consulate in and always abided by the principle of Doha
Kandahar, Afghanistan. agreement—not letting any foreign country use
• Killing of India-based journalist in Afghan Afghanistan for perpetuating violence.
territory. • India’s engagement has not been at military level,
this makes India a desirable country for Afghan
Why is India worried? people.
• India is cementing relations with Afghanistan since
last 20 years. Why Taliban will keep relations with India intact?
• India has many developmental works in the country Even if Taliban forms government, there is little chance
including Salma dam, parliament building, Zeranj that it will return like 1989 because:
Delaram highway, etc. • There are more educated people in Afghanistan as
compared to 1990s.
• Technology, social media will make the activities of
Taliban global. The group would not like to be
tagged as a terrorist organisation if they need to
govern Afghanistan.
• The goodwill that India holds for the Afghan
citizens are immense, it is unlikely that Taliban will
do anything will could endanger India's position vis-
a-vis Afghanistan.
• India holds a sizeable population of Afghans
today. Taliban is well aware of importance of India
in the development of Afghanistan.

Way forward o Protest by the African Union: on the grounds
• India should remain in contact with the Taliban of promoting “inequality” for those from India
through indirect channel, if not directly. and “lower-income” countries for whom the
• India's strategy to build relation with Afghanistan Covishield vaccine was the “backbone” of the
population should continue. international COVAX alliance programme.
• India could play a proactive role in stabilising
Afghanistan through enhanced advocacy of 6+1— India-EU relations: Areas of cooperation
Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, China, India, Pakistan and • Connectivity partnership: launched during India-
the US— dialogue. EU virtual summit held in May, 2021.
• India’s soft power diplomacy has reaped multiple o Aim: to ensure connectivity in the sectors like
benefits so far. Taliban to be a people’s government, digital, energy, transport, and people-to-people
must acknowledge India’s importance in and enabling the two countries to pursue
maintaining the stability of Afghanistan. sustainable joint projects in regions spanning
• Though establishment of a democratic Afghan from Africa, Central Asia to the wider Indo-
government is in the best interest of India, being Pacific.
ready for any eventuality in future will only • Economic Importance:
strengthen our approach to deal with this issue o The EU is India's third largest trading partner,
comprehensively. accounting for €62.8 billion worth of trade in
goods in 2020 or 11.1% of total Indian trade
India – European Union relations after China (12%) and the US (11.7%).
Context o The EU is the second-largest destination for
• European Union (EU) plans to institute a “green Indian exports (14% of the total) after the USA.
pass” (also called EU digital Covid Certificate) • Strategic partnership: India is a suitable partner
from July 1, 2021. for India to balance growing influence of China while
• India has warned EU to introduce a “reciprocal EU can be a reliant partner of India to ensure
policy” only allowing ease of travel for those stability in the Indo-pacific theatre.
European countries that recognise Indian vaccines • Climate change: India can learn from a new
Covishield and Covaxin. industrial strategy called the ‘Green Deal’ of EU to
render its carbon-emission neutral by 2050.
Green Pass and associated issues: o Cooperation: between India and EU to achieve
• Green pass: It is a digital proof showing that a the goals of Paris Agreement and Other
person has either been vaccinated against Covid-19, Sustainable Development targets.
received a negative test result or recovered from • Cooperation on global health: EU member-states
Covid-19. have rallied to support India by sending critical
o The certificate is both in digital and paper medical supplies in the last few weeks in recognition
format, comes with a QR code is free of charge, is for the role India had played in helping others over
in the national language and English, is safe and the last year.
secure and valid in all EU countries.
o Four approved vaccines by European Challenges ahead:
Medicines Agency (EMA): Comirnaty of • Economic issues:
Pfizer/BioNTech; Moderna; AstraZeneca’s o Unmet potential: India is the EU’s 10th largest
Vaxzervria; and Janssen by Johnson & Johnson. trading partner (1.8% of EU total trade in goods
• Associated Concerns: in 2020) well behind China (16.1%), the USA
o Exemption of Indian vaccines: like Covishield (15.2%), and the UK (12.2%).
(the version of the AstraZeneca vaccine being o Bilateral Broad-based Trade and Investment
manufactured in India by SII) and Covaxin Agreement (BTIA): started in 2007, is yet to be
(manufactured by Bharat Biotech), are not finalized. Recently both India and EU had agreed
eligible for the EU Digital Covid certificate or to accelerate the process.
“green pass”.
o Restrictive regulatory environment: Cooperation between India-Maldives:
Technical barriers to trade (TBT), sanitary and • Geo-strategic cooperation:
phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures, and o Both are partners in Important regional (like
discrimination based on legislative or SAARC AND SASEC) and international groupings
administrative measures by India, affect a wide (Various UN organizations and other
range of sectors, including goods, services, groupings).
investment and public procurement. o Maldives is an important part of India’s
o Strategic issues: Growing influence of China in Neighbourhood-first policy and its aspiration
economic and other strategic sectors in EU is a to become a dominant global player in world
concern for India. affairs.
 EU recently signed a Comprehensive
o Similarly, Maldives also follows ‘India first
Agreement on Investment with China, which
policy’, showing importance of India in its
has drawn a lot of criticism and its
o Toll gate in Indian Ocean region (IOC): Given
ratification has now been suspended
the strategic location of the Maldives, it acts as a
because of diplomatic tensions.
toll gate in the IOC, hence very important for
Way forward: securing India’s geostrategic and economic
• Geo-Economic Cooperation: India can pursue EU interests.
countries to engage in Indo-pacific narrative, geo- o Nearly 50% of India’s external trade and 80% of
economically if not from security prism. its energy imports transit these sea lanes of
• Potential for economic growth: India can leverage communications (SLOCs) in the Arabian Sea.
EU’s market to expand its export market, resulting
in more sustained growth in the national income • Economic cooperation:
and industrial sector as suggested by Economic o Tourism sector: contributes to major portion of
Survey, 2020-21. Maldives economy. In this context, a large
o Conclude India-EU BIT treaty: to achieve full portion of tourists are from India, hence
trade potential of the two countries. boosting Maldives economy.
• Investment in clean energy technologies: EU can o Indian citizens participate in the Maldivian
help India in achieving carbon-neutral status by workforce and contributes to the economy.
2050 by investing in clean energy technologies. o Medical tourism: From Maldives to India,
o They can also cooperate for implementing clean especially in super-speciality healthcare sector
energy technologies in other resource-deficient due to liberal visa regime offered by India.
countries.
• Combating after effects of COVID-19 pandemic:
• Defence cooperation:
EU shall include Indian vaccines under its green pass
o Training of Maldivian National Defence
system to ensure barrier free movement of
Force (MNDF): provided by India, meeting
vaccinated Indian people, resulting in quick
recovery in good and services trade between the around 70% of their defence training
two countries. requirements.
o Ensuring resilient medical supply chains: should o Operation Cactus, 1988: India deployed its
be the priority for both India and EU in order to military on the request of Maldives government
fight against current COVID-19 pandemic and for successfully thwarting coup attempt by
other future health challenges. rebels.
o ‘Ekuverin’: a joint military exercise between
India- Maldives Relations India and Maldives.
o India as a ‘Net Security Provider’ in the
Context
region: Maldives is a very important part of
• In a letter, India has sought Maldivian government
many Indian initiatives like SAGAR initiative,
action on persons behind media reports and social
media posts “attacking the dignity” of its resident Mausam Initiative, etc. directed towards
diplomats, while seeking greater security for the achieving its goal of becoming net security
officials. provider in the region.

o Cultural affinity: People from both the Way forward:
countries share many common traditions, • Continue to follow non-interference policy in the
cultural practices and religious beliefs, helping internal matters: like it did in the previous
people to connect. presidential election, will help in further
o India provides opportunities to students from strengthening trust among people of Maldives
Maldives in its various prestigious education towards India.
institutions. • Cooperate on global issues: Issues like Climate
Change, of which both Maldives and India are facing
• Disaster Management: major existential challenge and Terrorism which
o Tsunami 2004: India was the first country to threatens internal peace and security. On such issue
respond to help Maldives counter this disaster. both countries should continue to work together for
o Operation NEER: Under it, India immediately
ensuring a peaceful and sustainable future.
• India should continue to work for a more
rushed bottled drinking water to Malé utilising
prosperous, stable, peaceful and sustainable
Air Force aircraft and Navy ships during 2014
Maldives.
male water crisis.
• Use of diaspora and cultural aspects: like films,
o COVID-19 Crisis: India provided essential
music, and people to people contacts should be
medical supplies during the times of need and
employed by India to strengthen its relations with
later also supplied Vaccines under its ‘Vaccine
Maitri Initiative’.
Protests in Cuba
Friction areas in the relation: Context
• India Out campaign: by opposition party (under • The people in Cuba are protesting against the
previous president Abdulla Yameen) against New government due to the prevailing economic
Delhi’s massive developmental funding for creating situation and the mishandling of the COVID-19
physical, social and community infrastructure in pandemic.
Maldives.
Key points
o Frequent political instability and opposition
• About Cuba
parties playing India card: to win political o Cuba is a Latin American country under an
brownie points in the elections, could cause authoritarian communist regime for the last six
damage to India’s interests in the region. decades.
• China factor: Rising influence of Chine in Indian o It is primarily a Spanish speaking population
ocean region is a matter of concern for India. In this and has a GDP of around $ 100bn.
context China’s growing presence in the Maldives o The majority of the population in this country
threatens India’s geo-political interests in the follows Christianity.
region. • About the protest
o The Maldives has emerged as an important o The protest started due to the economic crisis,
'pearl' in China’s “String of Pearls” construct in which is worst since the fall of the Soviet Union.
South Asia. o People took to the streets due to food shortages,
• Terrorism and Radicalization of youth: Growing rising cases of COVID-19 and severe electricity
radicalization in the world has also affected youths blackouts in the country.
of the Maldives. There has been growing instances o These domestic issues, coupled with the
of Maldivian nationals joining ISIS and Pakistan- economic sanctions put by the US government,
based madrassas and jihadist groups. under Trump, has further exacerbated the
o Socio-economic uncertainty in the backdrop situation.
o The COVID-19 followed by the nationwide
of political instability: has acted as a fuel for
lockdown has put a strain on the people who
disheartened youth and driven them towards
depended on the tourism sector—particularly
terrorist activities.
the taxi drivers and the tradesmen.
• Steps by the government Cuban Missile Crisis
o The government allowed private businesses to • After the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, which was
operate in most sectors of the national economy, aimed at overthrowing Fidel Castro’s government in
an unusual measure from a communist country. Cuba, Castro asked for help from the Soviets against
o The authorised industries have seen a sudden any future US aggression.
rise and the majority of them are held privately. • Khrushchev, the President of the Soviet, installed
o The government has accused the US-based nuclear weapons in the country, which were
supporters of fuelling the protests. directed towards the US.
• Khrushchev argued that it was for the protection of
Reaction from the world Cuba, while the hidden objective was to alter the
• US President, Joe Biden, came out in support of the global power in favour of the Soviets.
Cuban people and supported their call for ‘freedom’. • After the US get to know about these developments,
• Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, however, its President, J.F.Kennedy, established a naval
gave a mild response and called for a peaceful blockade to prevent more missiles from reaching
solution to the ongoing protest. Cuba and asked the Soviets to remove those already
• While Russia warned against outside interference established.
over the protests. • This whole episode is referred to as the Cuban
Missile Crisis.
Significance
• The magnanimity of the protest and the How did it end?
international reaction that followed, has brought the • The crisis ended with a peace deal between the US
island country into the limelight. and Russia, whereby both the countries agreed to
• The contradictory responses of the US and Russia reduce the tensions. However, Cold War was far
have reminded of the Cuban crisis of 1962, the from over. This crisis has further amplified the
epicentre of the Cold War. arms build-up of both the countries, which ended
only after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
Economy
Agricultural Exports from India: Recent • Despite the pandemic, India stepped in to meet
Performance, Challenges and Solutions increased demand & emerged as a significant global
Context supplier of food & other essential agricultural
• According to a recent report published by WTO products.
(World Trade Organisation) on the trends in world
agricultural trade in the past 25 years, India has Government support
entered the top 10 list of the countries exporting • Export Promotion Schemes of Agricultural &
agricultural produce in the year 2019. Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA), Marine Products Export
Key points
• India with 3.1% share in global Agri exports Development Authority (MPEDA), Tobacco Board,
replaced New Zealand (9th) as the largest exporters Tea Board, Coffee Board, Rubber Board and Spices
across the globe. Board to boost the exports of agricultural produce.
• This achievement is mainly contributed to the • Agriculture Export Policy, 2018 was launched to
sizable share in the export of rice, cotton, soya double the exports from present $ 30 bn to $ 60 bn
beans and meat. by 2022 and $ 100 bn thereafter, and integrate the
• India became the top exporter of rice by
farmers with global chains.
overtaking Thailand. Similarly, India is also the
third-largest cotton exporter, and the fourth- o It can also help achieve the target to double the
largest importer in 2019. farmers income by 2022.

• Transport and Marketing Assistance for Way forward
Specified Agriculture Products scheme for • India performance in global agriculture basket can
providing assistance for the international be improved further if certain issued are properly
component of freight, to mitigate the freight resolved. Focussing on agriculture export can
disadvantage for the export of agriculture products, contribute significantly to doubling farmer income
and marketing of agricultural products. by 2022.
• The Government has several schemes to promote
exports, including exports of agricultural products, Bad Bank: Importance And Criticism
viz. Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES), Context
Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme, • Recently, Ministry of Finance has launched a Bad
Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS). Bank for stressed assets as a measure to clean up
• The Government has allowed 100% FDI in the bank books.
activities of agriculture through the automatic route.
What is a bad bank?
Challenges • It is place like an Asset Reconstruction Company
• Lower yield of agricultural crops as compared to (ARC) where a struggling financial institution can
the world average. Also, the increase in put assets it wants off its own books to eventually
landholdings leads to decrease in average farm sell or unwind.
size, which further intensifies the issue. • Bad Bank then takes such bad loans, manages them
• No dedicated study, till date, has been undertaken
and finally recovers the money.
• Unlike commercial banks, bad bank is not involved
that can estimate the long-term impact of
in lending and taking deposits.
agricultural exports.
• Many global lenders set up such divisions after the
• Trading across border is considered to be a risky
2008 financial crisis.
affair. Farmers have reservations about the way
market works. History
• Pro-consumer bias of government hurts • In 1988, US-based Mellon Bank created the first
agricultural exports. For example- putting export bad bank after which the concept was replicated in
restrictions on imported food items prevents food many developed and developing countries.
inflation but also discourages the farmers. • Last year, China appointed a new state-owned
bad-loan manager to overcome the ill-effects of the
Solutions pandemic.
• Government should consider giving infrastructure • Even in India, it is not a new concept.
status to agricultural value chains, such as • Under the SARFAESI Act, 2002, ARCs were created
warehousing, pack-houses, ripening chambers, and to buy bad loans from banks and recover cash from
cold storage, etc. It would increase the credit flow in the defaulted borrowers.
the sector.
• Village level procurement centres should be
created as recommended by NITI Aayog.
• Improve lab to land connectivity. Krishi Vigyan
Kendras (KVKs) should be trained to focus on the
export-ability of the crops.
• Creation of a Green channel clearance for
perishable agro products in road, air, and freight
cargo stations can reduce the regulatory delays.
• Regional production belts should be established. It
can be done by linking the Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme and
Self-Help Groups.

How it will work? Way forward
• Banks will, at first, transfer those assets to the said • Creation of a bad bank is a necessary but not
bad bank with a 100% provision on its book and sufficient measure to reform the banking sector. It
then, based on their experience, they will decide on must be supported by other governance measures to
transferring assets with less than 100 per cent help banking sector contribute more to the
provisioning at a later date. economy.
• It is being envisaged that out of the total amounts
recovered, certain percentage will be in the form of Data Localisation: Advantages and Challenges
security deposits. Context
• Although these receipts will reside in the bank • Visa becomes the first global financial services
balance sheets, they will bear a zero-risk weight, company to comply with RBI’s data localisation
and will carry full government guarantee for a mandate.
specified period of time.
Data Localisation: What is it?
Benefits • Data localisation is the act of storing data on any
• It helps expedite the process of debt restructuring device physically present within the borders of a
by reducing the number of lenders who must agree country. As of now, most of these data are stored, in
to a proposed deal. a cloud, outside India.
• It makes easier for foreign funds to build
controlling positions in the debt of a firm by Developments around the world
allowing them to negotiate with a single seller. • Data localization comes in various forms. Where
• placing non-core assets in a separate division can
some countries enact blanket bans on data
transfers, many are sector specific, covering
help the process of restructuring become more
personal, health, accounting, tax, financial, mapping,
efficient and transparent as it will provide investors
government, telecommunications, e-commerce and
with financial disclosures to better track the
online publishing data.
progress of a lender’s overhaul and hold
• According to European Union GDPR (General Data
management accountable. Protection Regulation), companies have to keep
• Putting the assets in the bad bank frees up capital the data secure inside the EU and if the data is to be
that can be used to bolster a firm’s financial strength transferred outside of the EU, then it can only be
or be redeployed to more profitable businesses. transferred to countries that have signed up to
• In case it is a separate entity, it can also allow a equivalent privacy protection.
bank to clean up its balance sheet, stem losses and • While Australia mandates data localisation for
protect its depositors. health sectors, Canada and Russia mandates the
same for all personal data.
Criticism • Similarly, while China mandates data localisation
• Creation of bad bank is more like shifting the for personal, business and financial data, South
problem rather than solving it. Creating bad bank Korea does it for geospatial and map data.
without governance reforms in banking sector will
not give the desired result. Developments in India
• Government, from time to time, infuses money • Srikrishna Committee recommended that at least
through bank capitalisation to compensate the one copy of personal data will be stored within the
write-offs. In such a situation, the reason for the Indian territory. Moreover, critical personal data
creation of bad bank is unjustified. will be stored in India only.
• The price at which bad banks will buy the bad loans • Data Protection Bill 2018 has a provision where
will not be market-determined. It will inhibit price the Central Government shall notify the critical
personal data that shall only be processed in a date
discovery.
centre located in India.
• Banks will continue reckless lending practices,
• Draft National E-Commerce Policy recommends
without any commitment to reduce NPAs. It might
that 2-year sunset period will be given to the
create a moral hazard in the economy. companies to adjust with the data localisation.

Advantages Digital Rupee: India’s National Digital Currency
• Protection of personal and financial information
of the country’s citizens and residents from foreign Context
surveillance and giving local governments and • The Reserve Bank of India is likely to soon kick off
regulators the jurisdiction to call for the data when pilot projects to assess the viability of using digital
required. currency (Digital Rupee) to make wholesale and
• This aspect has gained importance after a spate of retail payments to help calibrate its strategy for
lynching across states in India was linked to introducing a full-scale central bank digital
WhatsApp rumour. currency (CBDC).
• Facebook sharing user data with Cambridge • A high-level inter-ministerial committee (SC Garg
Analytica, which is alleged to have influenced voting Committee) set up by the Finance Ministry had
outcomes. recommended the introduction of a CBDC with
• It is essential for national security. Storing of data changes in the legal framework including the RBI
locally is expected to help law-enforcement agencies Act.
to access information that is needed for the
detection of a crime or to gather evidence. About National Digital Currency or central bank
• Where data is not localised, the agencies need to rely digital currency (CBDC)
on mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs) to • It is simply the digital form of a country’s fiat
obtain access, delaying investigations. currency. Instead of printing paper currency or
• On-shoring global data could also create domestic
minting coins, the central bank issues electronic
jobs and skills in data storage and analytics.
tokens. This token value is backed by the full faith
and credit of the government.
Challenges
• Maintaining multiple local data centres may entail • It is denominated in a sovereign currency and
significant investments in infrastructure and higher appears on the balance sheet of a nation’s central
costs for global companies, which is why they bank.
seem to be up in arms against these rules. • It can be converted/exchanged at par with similarly
• India lacks efficient infrastructure for data denominated cash and traditional central bank
collection and their management. deposits of a nation.
• These protectionist policies have a spill-over effect
on the other countries and every country will try to Need for NDC in India
follow suit, making it difficult for the companies to • Curtail malpractices: anarchic design of existing
manage data. cryptocurrencies, wherein their creation and
• The geographical location of data centres provides maintenance, both are in the hands of the public,
no guarantee that the encryption keys will also be results in many malpractices, requiring a creation of
placed within the national boundaries. a national digital currency, maintained and
• Strict data localisation norms can be seen as a trade supervised by the RBI.
barrier and lead to retaliatory measures. o Malpractices: like tax evasion, terror funding,
money laundering, etc.
Way forward • Protecting citizens: as huge volatility associated
• We need an integrated, long-term strategy for data
with the cryptocurrencies due to fact that they are
localisation policies.
not tied with any asset or currency, often results in
• Data localisation should integrate a range of
harming the financial health of the citizens.
perspectives—social, political and economic.
• Keeping pace with the advancement in the
• An optimal regulatory and legislative framework
need to be developed for data processors in the technology: A Bank for International Settlements
country. (BIS) survey reports that around 80 per cent of the
• Adequate attention needs to be given to the interests 66 responding central banks said they have
of India’s Information Technology enabled begun working on central bank-issued digital
Services (ITeS) and Business Process currency (CBDC) in some form.
Outsourcing (BPO) industries, which are thriving o Moreover, China has already implementing its
on cross border data flow. Digital Renminbi pilot project and aiming to
implement it on large scale in the country.

• Reducing Dependency on Dollar: India can use its • Opportunity to private players: As the state-
Digital Rupee for trade with its strategic partners, backed digital currency can provide
hence reducing the need for dollar. investor/consumer protection, the private can
confidently invest in the associated infrastructure
Associated concerns without any doubts over its regulation. This will
• Cybersecurity threats: Cyberspace is vulnerable to improve the services to people.
spyware and other threats. This is important as an
attack on national digital currency can cripple Way forward
Indian economy or may even lead to the bankruptcy. • Create digital infrastructure and safeguards: in
o Technology failures that are commonplace, terms of ensuring digital literacy, advance cyber
especially in the government, may further harm security infrastructure, and enact data privacy
the economy and become vulnerable to attacks legislation.
from cyber criminals. • Keeping pace with futuristic technology and
• Inadequate digital literacy in India: as per Digital other nations: as CBDCs will have far-reaching
Empowerment Foundation in 2018 report, around implications on the future of digital finance,
90% of India’s population is digitally illiterate. So, including cryptocurrency and digital securities.
without creating enough literary awareness o Countries that lead CBDC race will most
introduction of digital currency will create a host of certainly gain a significant advantage and may
new challenges to the Indian economy. have the possibility to spearhead many of the
• Privacy issues: as the digital currency must collect other innovations that come from this
certain basic information of an individual so that the technology.
person can prove that he’s the holder of that digital • Introduce Digital rupee with adequate
currency. This is a significant concern, especially in safeguards: as creation of a Digital Rupee will
the absence of any individual privacy law in India. provide an opportunity for India to empower its
• It may also create various associated challenges in
citizens and enable them to use it freely in our ever-
regulation, tracking investment and purchase, expanding digital economy and break free from an
outdated banking system.
taxing individuals, etc.
Benefits of CBDC Exports from India

• Help in complete monetary policy transmission: Context
as presently banks do not completely transmit • India has registered highest quarterly merchandise
changes in the monetary policy, resulting in exports of $95 billion during the first quarter (April-
ineffectiveness of RBI’s policies. June) of 2021-22, surpassing the previous record of
o Directly influenced creation and supply flow $90 billion in January-March 2020.
using a Digital Rupee will immediately reflect • Government aims to achieve the target of $400
the effects of policy changes instead of relying on billion merchandise exports in FY22.
commercial banks to make those changes when Indian Exports: Trends and Analysis
they deem fit. • Global share: At 13th position globally, India has a
• Creating a cashless society: as government has share of 2.2% in world exports of goods and
taken many initiatives like Aadhar, Digital India services—nearly a fifth of China (10.6%).
Mission, demonetization, etc. aimed at creating a o India’s trade to GDP ratio has surpassed that of
digital and cashless society. In this context, digital China since 2008, but our imports outweigh
rupee will prove a milestone in creating a cashless exports significantly.
and digital society. • Export as a % of GDP: the share of India’s exports
• Reduce the cost of currency management: as it of goods and services in GDP has declined steadily
will enable real-time payments without any inter- from 24.5% in 2011 to 18.7% in 2019.
bank settlement. • India has traditionally a merchandise trade deficit
o Reduction in currency-to-GDP ratio due to and trade surplus in services.
introduction of CBDC, will substantially reduce • Government’s aim: merchandise exports target of
the cost of printing, transporting and storing $500 billion for FY23 and $1 trillion in the next five
paper currency. years.

Why India should focus on export? Way forward
• Creates a virtuous cycle of employment, income • Export Focus should be on
growth and demand led industrial growth: as o High potential manufacturing sectors: like
export will drive domestic manufacturing led electronics, apparels, pharma, among others and
employment and per-capita income. This will o High value services: in ICT, healthcare, and
increase the disposable income resulting in demand business and professional services.
driven economic growth. o Specialization in few products: will result in
• Export and economic growth: competitive advantage for those Indian
o Pre-1991, a 3.5% growth rate was associated products.
with export growth of about 4.5%.
• Diversification of export markets: to countries
o However, India’s GDP growth of over 6% after
around the world instead of focusing on few
1991 was associated with real export growth of
destinations.
about 11%.
o Government can help exporters by preparing a
• Improved sovereign credit rating: Export growth
will help in reducing India’s trade deficit, nudging list of potential goods and services demanded by
credit rating agencies to improve India’s credit a particular importing country.
rating resulting in lower interest loans and • Improving domestic infrastructure: will result in
economic growth. better connectivity between remote locations and
ports and airports, leading to reduced logistics cost
Challenges of Indian Export ecosystem: and competitive products in the international
• Government’s focus on domestic consumption- markets.
led growth model:
o Poor growth in per capita income: will limit Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
the consumption of goods and services. Composition, Functions, and Its Fight against
o COVID-19 effect: resulted in poor public Terror Financing
spending, tax cuts, private investment, etc.,
limiting the scope for domestic demand led Context
growth. • Recently, Pakistan has accused India of ‘using’ FATF
• Disconnect with Global Value Supply Chains for political ends against Pakistan.
(GVC): Unlike major exporting countries of east and • Pakistan had accused that India had pushed for
south-east Asia, India is poorly connected with Pakistan’s grey listing in 2018 for “political” rather
GVCs. This limits its export potential. than “technical” reasons, which continues to date.
o This results in low penetration in high-income Key points
countries. • About FATF: It is the global money laundering
• Focus on limited export destination: This results and terrorist financing watchdog.
in high competition and fewer growth o FATF is an inter-governmental body,
opportunities. established in 1989 during the G7 summit in
• Poor domestic infrastructure and clear policy Paris, France.
direction: for example, India spends more than o Secretariat: located at the Organization for
14% of its GDP on the logistics, resulting costlier Economic Cooperation and Development
products for international markets, diminishing (OECD) headquarters in Paris.
their competitiveness. o Organizational composition: It currently
• Lack of awareness: There is information gap
comprises 37 member jurisdictions and 2
among people of India, resulting in fewer people
regional organizations. It also has observers and
participating in the export market.
associate members.
• Technical barriers to trade: Imposed by many
o India is a member of the organization since
developed countries to reject exports from India.
For example, use of sanitary and phytosanitary June 2010. It had earlier acquired ‘Observer’
measures by European Union countries to rejects status at FATF in 2006.
various Indian goods. o The FATF Plenary: is the decision-making body
of the FATF which meets thrice a year.

o FATF President: S/he is a senior official 2. Black List: Countries known as Non-
appointed by the FATF Plenary from among Cooperative Countries or Territories
its members, having a two-year tenure. (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries
 S/he convenes and chairs the meetings of support terror funding and money laundering
the FATF Plenary and the Steering Group, activities.
and he/she oversees the FATF Secretariat. o The FATF revises the blacklist regularly,
 The President is the principal adding or deleting entries.
spokesperson for the FATF and represents o Countries like North Korea are included in
the FATF externally. this list.
Importance of FATF
Role and Functions FATF
• Prevention: though the FATF Blacklist carries no
• As a policy-making body: works to generate the
formal sanction under international law, in reality, a
necessary political will to bring about national
legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas. jurisdiction placed on the FATF Blacklist often found
• The FATF reviews money laundering and itself under intense financial pressure. Hence, it
terrorist financing techniques and continuously prevents jurisdictions from prohibited activities
strengthens its standards to address new risks, such under the FATF recommendations.
as the regulation of virtual assets, which have spread • Fighting terror financing and money laundering:
as cryptocurrencies gain popularity. It has been at the forefront of international efforts to
o It also works to stop funding for weapons of fight money laundering and combating finance to
mass destruction. terrorism.
• Protection: The role of the FATF is to protect the o Its efforts have been in conjunction with
integrity of the financial system, and enhance its relevant resolutions of the United Nations
transparency, which contribute towards global Security Council (UNSC).
security. o It has made it difficult to access financial
• Monitoring function: it monitors countries to resources for terror organizations that are
ensure they implement the FATF Standards fully causing these crimes against humanity.
and effectively, and holds countries to account that • Promoting cooperation: it has intensified
do not comply. cooperation with bodies such as the United Nations,
• Developed standards/recommendations: the IMF, the World Bank and the G-20 Finance
develops and sets global policies, standards, best
Ministers and Central Bank Governors on the issues
practice, and guidance to ensure a coordinated
of terror financing, money laundering and other
global response to prevent organized crime,
corrupt practices.
corruption and terrorism.
• Awareness generation: FATF has gained
o It conducts and publishes expert operational
and strategic studies on risks, trends, and credibility as a professional organization, ensuring
methods. increased awareness regarding the challenges being
o Coordination: these standards help authorities faced by the global financial system, and human
coordinate with each other and go after the security issues like terrorism.
money of criminals dealing in illegal drugs,
human trafficking and other crimes. Way forward
• FATF prepares two lists: • FATF is a global watchdog for ensuring a
1. Grey List: Countries that are considered safe transparent and clean global financial ecosystem
haven for supporting terror funding and money where there is no place for money being used for
laundering are put in the FATF grey list. illegal activities like terror financing, money
o This inclusion serves as a warning to the laundering and production of weapon of mass
country that it may enter the blacklist. destruction.
o Pakistan was retained in the grey list • As a standard setting body, its puts pressure on
because it was unsuccessful in prosecuting terrorism funding and money laundering by
the top leadership of UN Security Council- blacklisting a country which cuts the lifeline of
designated terror groups which includes terrorist activity supported by the state through
Lashkar-e Toiba, Jaish-e Mohammad, and
blockage of funds.
Al Qaeda.

Financial Stability Report What is Financial Stability Report
• It is a report published by RBI twice in a year.
Context
• It presents picture of the status of financial sector
Recently, RBI has released its bi-annual Financial
Stability Report. The report highlighted state of Indian in our country.
economy in the times of pandemic. • It looks at bank operations and their sustainability
to provide credit support to different sectors.
Key Points
• The policy support has helped the country mitigate Significance of the report
the impact of COVID-19. The dent on balance • It provides coverage of macro-financial risks,
sheets of financial institutions of India has been which our economy is facing.
much lower than the earlier projection. True picture • The data allows RBI to assess the state of domestic
will, however, emerge once the relief measures end. economy.
• Banks are relatively less affected by the
• RBI conducts Stress Tests of banks to determine
pandemic-induced disruptions, due to various
whether banks have enough capital, if there is a
government measures.
situation of negative economic shock.
• Public finances have been affected due to
increased expenses and substantial reduction in tax
revenue. Moreover, the debt-to-GDP ratio is also Fishery Subsidy
rising. Context
• Our country’s net Foreign Portfolio Investment
• A key meeting of trade ministers at the World Trade
(FPI) increased due to
Organisation (WTO) is underway in Geneva where
o Stable financial market
o Favourable economic prospects
negotiations are on the matter of declining global
o Easy liquidity condition fish stock, which is also encouraged by government
• Our foreign exchange is at all time high crossing $ subsidies.
600 billion, thus providing respite from the global
turbulence. Key points
• MSME sector has seen a growth in FY 21 largely • The negotiations were first started at the Doha
due to ECLGS (Emergency Credit Line Guarantee ministerial conference in 2001.
Scheme). • The mandate was further expanded in 2005 at the
• In the pandemic, bank deposits have increased Hong Kong meet, which also included call for
reflecting precautionary savings by the people. prohibiting certain forms of fisheries subsidies that
• The Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA), as of
contribute to overcapacity and overfishing.
March 2021, has been lower than what was earlier
• In the WTO's 11th Ministerial Conference held in
predicted in June 2020. The actual GNPA is 7.5%
Buenos Aires in 2017, negotiators were given the
against the predicted 14.7%.
• Credit growth may take time to recover due to the
task of finding ways to eliminate subsidies for illegal,
sluggish demand, which has been a cause of concern unreported and unregulated fishing.
since before the pandemic hit us. • It was also aimed to secure pacts to prohibit
• Capital to risk-weighted asset ratio (CRAR) has certain forms of fishery subsidies that contribute
increased to 16% in March 2021. to overcapacity and overfishing.
• Systemic Risk Survey, which depicts risks of Indian • Proposal is to prohibit subsidies for fishing in
financial system has put the overall risk perception exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and completely
to be ‘medium’. exempt fishing activities in territorial waters,
• RBI has asked for a comprehensive approach to deal which is considered as 12 nautical miles from the
with climate risk assessment in India, similar to the sea shore.
steps taken by the developed countries.

Reasons for subsidy prohibition Way forward
• According to a report by The UN Food and • Subsidies per se do not lead to trade distortions.
Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s fish Subsidies for food security needs to be treated
ecosystem is at a risk of collapsing due to differently than the subsidies for exports.
overexploitation.
• One of the key reasons for the above stated problem Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment)
is massive subsidies provided by governments Bill 2021
each year across the globe per year, which largely
benefits large-scale fishing operations while Context
discriminating against smaller ones. • Recently, the parliament has passed the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill 2021,
Importance of fisheries in India replacing the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code
• Fisheries sector provides livelihood to about 16 (Amendment) Ordinance 2021.
million fishermen at the primary level, apart from • It amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code,
contributing hugely to the value chain. 2016.
• The share of the fisheries sector in the total GDP (at • It has introduced ‘pre-packs’ as an insolvency
current prices) increased from 0.40 percent in resolution mechanism for Micro, Small and
1950-51 to 1.03 percent in 2017-18. Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• India ranks among the top seven producing Pre-packaged insolvency resolution Process (PIRP)
countries of global capture fisheries, which account • Definition: PIRP is an alternate insolvency
for almost 50% of total captures. resolution process for Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) with defaults up to Rs 1 crore.
India’s view o The pre pack is merely an informal way of
• While developed nations like the US and UK are providing a corporate rescue plan for which
pushing for total ban on fisheries subsidies, India, approval from the National Company Law
along with some developing countries, argues for an Tribunal (NCLT) will be sought.
equitable and balanced outcome. • Minimum default amount for initiating the PIRP is
• It is because our country provides support to its
1 lakh rupees which can further be increased up to
small and marginal fishermen who depend on the Rs 1 crore by the central government.
sector for sustenance.
• Eligibility for debtor: PIRP may be initiated in the
• Such a measure would be detrimental to the food
event of a default by a corporate debtor classified as
security of the nation.
an MSME under the MSME Development Act, 2006.
• India also argues that such treatments will amount
• Initiation process: the corporate debtor himself is
to dilution of Special and Differential treatment
required to apply to the adjudicating NCLT who
Rights of developing countries—a provision that
must approve or reject the application for PIRP
provides flexibility to developing countries for
implementing these agreements. within 14 days of its receipt.
• Unlike some developed nations that provide billions
of dollars of subsidies to their fishermen, India's
subsidy amounts to only about Rs 770 crore—that
too on things like fuel and boats.
• India will oppose developed nations’ proposal of
forging government-to-government access
agreements wherein two countries can sign a pact
for fishing activities. India is critical of such
agreements as they will lead to exploitation of
least developed nations.
• India is also of the view that developed nations
should assume more responsibility for the huge
amounts of subsidies and should cut it down to
reduce overfishing.
• Approval of creditors: Prior approval of 66% of Associated challenges with the PIRP
creditors (who is not related to debtors) is to be • Difficulty in meeting timeline: It is challenging for
taken by the debtors before submission of a CoC (Committee of Creditors) and NCLT to complete
resolution plan in the NCLT. the process within just 120 days (similar to CIPR
o The debtor must also propose the name of the mechanism).
resolution professional (RP) who then must be • Issue with NPA status: firm can restructure its
approved by at least 66% of the financial outstanding debt through a PIRP with the existing
creditors. management retaining control. So, the NPA status of
• Moratorium: During PIRP, the debtor will be the company’s account with lenders may not be
provided with a moratorium under which certain automatically upgraded under RBI guidelines.
actions against the debtor will be prohibited.
Way forward
How it is different from the corporate insolvency • The amendment will be beneficial for the small
resolution process (CIRP)? players and would encourage time-bound
• Initiation: Unlike CIRP, PIRP may be initiated only resolution of stressed assets similar to the IBC
by debtors. The debtor should have a base model. However, further improvement and
resolution plan in place. augmentation is necessary for its success.
• Duration of resolution process: For PIRP, it is • Government should increase the manpower of
limited to a maximum of 120 days while in CIRP, it is NCLT along with setting up regional centres
270 days. At the end of March 2021, 79% of the aimed at ensuring easy access to resolution
ongoing insolvency resolution proceedings had mechanism and timely completion of the resolution
crossed the 270-day threshold. process.
• Control: In CIRP, a resolution professional takes • Introduction of PIRP is a step in the right direction.
control of the debtor as a representative of financial Its scope and coverage must be widened in order
creditors but in PIRP, the existing management to ensure optimum benefits to businesses and
retains control, ensuring minimal disruption of Indian economy.
operations relative to a CIRP.
• Initiation of CIRP: At any time from the PIRP
MSME definition expanded: Importance and
commencement date but before the approval of the
Associated Challenges of MSME in Indian
resolution plan, the committee of creditors may
economy
decide to terminate PIRP and instead initiate CIRP in
respect of the debtor (by a vote of at least 66% of the Context
voting shares). The Ministry of MSME (Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises) has revised the MSME guidelines and
Advantages of PIRP included retail and wholesale traders under the ambit
• Quick resolution process, aimed to be completed of MSME. Earlier, only manufacturing and service
within 120 days. enterprises were considered MSME
• Offers a way for MSMEs to restructure their debts.
• Reducing the workload of NCLT: by providing an Why it is a significant move
alternate speedy mechanism CIRPs, for debt • It was a long-standing demand of the trader
resolution. associations and will support the community to
• Business friendly: results in minimum disruption survive, revive and thrive.
to businesses as control remains under existing • It will benefit the traders to avail the benefits of
management, unlike CIRPs where resolution priority sector lending of RBI.
professionals take over the control of the business. • The decision is expected to benefit 2.5 crore retail
• Prevents job losses: Under PPIR, there is less and wholesale traders in the country.
probability of liquidation. Thereby ensuring • It will allow them to register themselves in the
continuity of business and resulting in fewer layoffs Udyam Registration portal and avail the benefits
for workers. of various schemes of the ministry.

Classification of MSME • Ripple effect of a few government steps: The
steps like Demonetisation, GST and the COVID-19
Micro Small Medium
Investment 1 crore 10 crores 50 crores induced lockdown, though had noble intentions,
Turnover 5 crores 50 crores 100 crores have adversely affected the operation of MSMEs
Importance of the MSME sector in the Indian Steps needed:

economy: • Improve the penetration of institutional credit:
• Employment provider: It employs around 120 The government has been expediting this through
million people. It is the country’s second-largest measures like the Mudra scheme, Stand-up India,
employment generating sector, second only to Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme and the ECLGS.
agriculture. NGOs should be roped in for better implementation
• The backbone of the Indian economy: MSME
of these schemes.
sector, in our country, act as a bulwark against the
• Promote Research and Development: To align
global economic shocks, besides providing an
entrepreneurial base to a large section of people. with the international standards, innovation is a
• Checks rural-urban migration: A stable and must. This needs pro-active government support.
growing MSME sector reduces immigration in urban Schemes like ASPIRE (A Scheme for Promotion of
areas, thus reducing the resource stress in these Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship)
areas. are a welcome step.
• GDP and exports: the sector contribute 6.11% of • Improve marketability: The products of MSME
the manufacturing GDP and around 25% of the needs to be made global, which needs skill upgrade.
service sector GDP and around 9% of the overall Schemes like SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for
GDP. Moreover, they constitute around 45% of Regeneration of Traditional Industries) need to be
India’s overall exports.
implemented well to achieve this objective.
• Inclusive Development: MSME ensures equitable
• Special provisions should be made under GST to
distribution of national income and checks regional
imbalances. Around 20% of MSMEs are based in ease the burden on this sector.
rural areas, which indicates a significant rural • Improve the quality of products produced by the
workforce in the sector. MSMEs. The Zero Defect Zero-Zero Effect scheme
needs to be implemented well.
Challenges faced by the MSME:
• Finance crunch: It is estimated that more than Production Linked Incentive Scheme: A
90% of the MSME lacks credit facilities from Complete Analysis
formal institutions. They rely more on informal
institutions like money lenders, who charge Context
exorbitant interest rates. • Union Cabinet has approved the Production Linked
• Lack of basic infrastructure: Though MSME has Incentive (PLI) Scheme for speciality steel.
been growing rapidly, the lack of basic facilities like
power, roads, connectivity to towns etc have been Key points
hindering their growth potential. • The duration of the scheme will be from 2023-24 to
• Lack of technology: We are, presently, in an era of 2027-28.
a digital revolution. MSMEs, however, remains • It is expected to bring in an investment of
detached from technological advancements and approximately ₹40,000 crores.
hence produces low-quality products with high
• It will give employment to about 5,25,000 people of
capital.
which 68,000 will be direct employment.
• Lack of skill development and training: MSMEs,
• By becoming Aatmanirbhar in producing speciality
in our country, are more like a family business. The
skills get carried over by the next generation and the steel, India will move up the steel value chain and
process goes on. With time, their adaptability to the come at par with advanced steelmaking countries
present situation remains a cause of concern. like Korea and Japan.

What is Speciality Steel? Challenges
• Speciality steel is value-added steel wherein normal • Higher cost manufacturing in India. According to a
finished steel is worked upon by way of coating, study by Ernst & Young, if the cost of production of
plating, heat treatment, etc to convert it into high one mobile is Rs.100, then the effective cost of
manufacturing the mobile is 79.55 in China, 89.05 in
value-added steel that can be used in various
Vietnam, and 92.51 in India (including PLI).
strategic applications like Defence, Space, Power, • The market share of domestic companies is not
apart from the automobile sector, specialized capital promising. In such cases, this scheme could benefit
goods etc. international companies more than domestic
companies.
What is PLI Scheme? • These schemes might get challenged in WTO for
• It was launched as a part of the National Policy on contravening the national treatment principle.
Electronics 2019.
Way forward
• The objective is to give incentives of 4-6% to
• The scheme must focus on both the service and
electronic companies especially for the companies manufacturing sectors and, both the sectors must
which are indulged in manufacturing electronic not be seen as a trade-off.
components like mobile phones, diodes, transistors, • The focus should also be on the co-location of the
among others. companies to balance the regional economic
growth.
Expansion of the scheme • The Government need to cooperate with the states
and encourage them not to indulge in trade-
• Initially, the focus of the scheme was on three
restrictive practices like job reservation for locals.
sectors—Mobile Manufacturing and Specified • Implement structural reforms like land reforms,
Electronic Components, Critical Drug single-window clearance etc.
Intermediaries, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, • India, to be an international hub of
and Manufacturing of Medical Devices. manufacturing companies, the PLI scheme must
• In 2020, the Government decided to introduce the be coupled with other systemic reforms.
PLI Scheme for another 10 key sectors, namely,
Electronic/Technology Products, Pharmaceutical Project BOLD and Importance of Bamboo in
drugs, Telecom & Networking Products, Food India
Products, White Goods (ACs & LED), High-Efficiency Context
Solar PV Modules, Automobiles & Auto Components, KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) has
Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery, Textile launched Project BOLD (Bamboo Oasis on Lands in
Products, and Speciality Steel. Draught), a first-of-its-kind exercise, to create bamboo-
based green patches in arid and semi-arid land
zones.
Advantages of this scheme
• It will expand the present output and will further Key Points
augur the achievements. For example, Textile • KVIC has launched this project from Rajasthan.
Industry in India is one of the largest in the world • Under this project, 5000 saplings of bamboo
and this scheme will contribute to further growth of species—BambusaTulda and
this sector. BambusaPolymorpha—has been planted on vacant
and arid land in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Notably, the
• PLI Scheme will provide low-cost indigenous raw
bamboo species have been specially brought from
materials for schemes like Smart City, Digital India Assam.
mission. • The step will help in preventing desertification in
• It will give a shot in the arm for the local the country and thus meet the targets under UNCCD
manufacturing units of our country. (United Nations Convention to Combat
• It will create skilled manpower for the masses and Desertification).
reduce the unemployment ratio as these • The initiative is a part of KVIC’s “Khadi Bamboo
manufacturing sectors are labour-intensive. Festival”—a program to celebrate 75 years of
independence.

Why to choose bamboo Steps taken by the government to support bamboo
• Bamboo grows very fast and can be harvested cultivation
within 3 years. • National Bamboo Mission was launched in 2007. It
• They are famous for conserving water and emphasised mainly on propagation and cultivation
reducing water evaporation from the land, making it of bamboo. The project, however, had limited
perfect to grow in arid regions. success as it did not focus enough on bamboo’s
processing, product development and value-
What is bamboo addition. Taking into consideration these
These are a group of woody perennial evergreen limitations, a restructured National Bamboo
plants. Although it appears like a tree, taxonomically, it Mission was launched in 2018.
is grass. In India, North-eastern states grow around • In 2017, the government passed the Indian Forest
70% of the country’s total bamboo production. (Amendment) Act and relaxed the restrictions on
harvesting, transit and trade of bamboo, in non-
Benefits forest areas.
• Ecological benefit • The government allocated $200 million in the
o It conserves water and hence can show a path budget 2018 to support bamboo cultivation,
for the future in the water-stressed districts of especially in North-Eastern states.
our country.
o It could perform the function of carbon Way forward
sequestration (Green House Gases) from the • Bamboo is often referred to as ‘green gold’ due to
atmosphere and thus reduce global warming. its variety of applications.
• Economic benefits • We can use bamboo in the schemes PMAY (PM
o It contributes significantly to sustainable Awas Yojana) as a construction material.
development and ensuring food security. • Bamboo-based cuisines are very famous in Asian
o It can be used as a food, a wood substitute, regions. We need to tap such opportunities, which
building and construction material, making could contribute to boosting tourism.
handicrafts and paper or, even can be used in • We can learn from China how it achieved success
making artefacts. in growing bamboo forests on barren slopes.
o It creates self-employment for the farmers,
hence leading to an increase in farmer’s income.
o It is part of the rural economy of many
developing countries, including India. Due to its
multipronged uses, it is often referred to as poor
man’s timber.
• Social Benefits
o It ensures equity among the rural people as it
benefits a large section of women and
unemployed people.
o Bamboo, historically, is mostly grown in tribal
areas. Using bamboo can help the tribals connect
with the mainstream population and hence be a
part of inclusive development.

Social Issues
Migrant labour Crises: Supreme Court • Social issue
Guidelines, Issues and the Proposed Solutions o The influx of people from ‘foreign’ land induces
friction of the native people from the migrant
Context labourers. The migrants, due to this reason, face
• Recently, Supreme Court has laid down a few
social isolation in urban areas.
guidelines while pronouncing its judgement in the • Political issue
migrant labour case. o Migrant labourers are always wandering in
search of better opportunities. Due to this
The guidelines nature of employment, they are rarely able to
vote. The political leaders too did not feel
• The Supreme Court has asked the states to necessary to vouch for their just cause.
formulate their migrant policies and guarantee
food grains to the migrants. Government steps
• The court also directed that dry ration should be
provided to migrants, who are returning to their • Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 aims to
homes. prevent the exploitation of migrant labour.
• It said that identity proof should not hinder the • NITI Aayog has recently prepared a draft document
assistance of migrant labourers. on policy for migrant labour.
• It asked the states to arrange for the • Two new cabinet committees have been formed to
transportation of migrant labourers. give a renewed focus on employment. One is the
cabinet committee on investment & growth and
Who is a migrant? the other is the cabinet committee on
• According to the International Organization for
employment & skill development.
Migration (IOM), a migrant is a person who is
moving or has moved across an international border
Solution needed
or within a state away from his/her habitual place of
• Corrective measures need to be taken to reduce the
residence.
• They constitute 20% of the total workforce and disparities and inequalities in the development
contribute to around 10% of the national GDP. process.
• Providing social security to migrant labours.
Why this crisis is different? • Create a universal registration system and, issue
• The lockdown induced migrant crisis is an issue of smart social security cards, as recommended by
reverse migration—people going back from urban National Commission for Enterprises in the
areas to rural areas, to their homes. Unorganised Sector (NCEUS).
• The 4 new Labour Codes should contain special
Issues of reverse migration
• Rural areas cannot employ such a large workforce,
clauses for the migrant labourers.
thus leading to disguised unemployment. • Need employment guarantee scheme for urban
• The industries started facing a labour shortage and areas, similar to MGNREGA of rural areas.
they are eagerly waiting for the reverse migration • Need to develop the rural areas of our country to
to reverse. reduce the push factors of migration.
• The heavy flux of labourers has brought stress to the
availability of essential resources. Way forward
We need a comprehensive strategy to formulate a
Migrant labour issues national policy on migrant labour, which addresses the
• Economic issue
socio-economic needs of the labours holistically. This
o The migrant labourers live in deprivation in
would be a step towards achieving SDG 8.
urban areas due to limited opportunity, inflation
and high living standard in the urban areas.
Mental Health Care • Lack of awareness and sensitivity about mental
health issues: leading to high prevalence of social
Context
stigma and abandonment of being mentally ill in
• Recently, the Supreme Court asked the government
India.
to ensure that patients in mental health institutions
• Post-treatment gap: in terms of proper
are tested for COVID-19 and vaccinated.
rehabilitation of the mentally ill persons post
Mental health disease his/her treatment which is currently not present.
• Definition: World Health Organization (WHO) • Role of health (COVID-19) and Economic
defines mental health as a state of well-being in disasters: they further intensify and enhances the
which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, numbers and severity of the mental health problem.
can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work o For example, Practo (a healthcare company)
productively, and is able to make a contribution to reported a 665% jump in the number of mental
his or her community. health consultation. Further, more than two-
o The WHO stress that mental health is “more than thirds of these consultations belongs to the age
just the absence of mental disorders or of 21-40.
disabilities.”
o Peak mental health is about not only avoiding Impact of Mental health conditions: It has disastrous
active conditions but also looking after ongoing impacts on the suffering individual, economy and the
wellness and happiness. society as shown by WHO data. For example-
• Depression: is one of the leading causes of
Challenges of mental healthcare in India disability.
• Severity: According to The Lancet report published • Suicide: is the second leading cause of death among
in February 2020, there were 197.3 million people 15-29-year-olds.
with mental disorders in India in 2017. • People with severe mental health conditions die
o WHO estimate: Mental health illness makes prematurely-as much as two decades early – due to
about 15% of the total disease conditions preventable physical conditions.
around the world. • Limits the achievements of national and global
o In 2018 the WHO labelled India as the world’s
developmental goals (including Sustainable
‘most depressing country’. Development Goals).
• Lack of access to mental healthcare resources:
• Leads to low self-confidence and societal neglect of
o Human resources for healthcare: Low
the suffering individuals.
proportion of mental health workforce in India
• Loss of economy: as youth population (most
(per 100,000 population) include psychiatrists
productive) is most affected by mental health
(0.3), nurses (0.12), psychologists (0.07) and
disease, leading to loss of individual/national
social workers (0.07).
o Poor budgetary allocation: India is barely
productivity and economy.
spending 0.5% of the health budget on the
mental health sector, creating further Steps taken to improve the mental healthcare
impediments in public access to affordable • Globally:
mental healthcare. o WHO:
o Poor health infrastructure and lack of mental 1. launched ‘Mental Health Atlas’ in 2017.
healthcare facilities: even available mental 2. WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health
healthcare institutions have inadequacy in (2019-2023): Universal Health Coverage
terms of quality mental healthcare professionals for Mental Health to ensure access to quality
and other infrastructural facilities. and affordable care for mental health
o According to estimates, nearly 92% of the conditions in 12 priority countries to 100
people who need mental health care and million more people.
treatment do not have access to any form of o Target 3.4 and 3.5 of the Sustainable
mental health care. Development Goals (SDGs) talk about
o Rural-urban divide: most of the mental reducing mental health illness for the global
healthcare facilities and professionals are community.
located in urban areas.
• Indian government: • Sexual and reproductive health and rights
o National Mental Health Program (NMHP), (SRHR) (defined by the Guttmacher–Lancet
1982: to improve the status of mental health in Commission): includes issues such as violence,
India, focusing on three main components: stigma and respect for bodily autonomy, which
1. Treatment of the Mentally ill, greatly impact the psychological, emotional and
2. Rehabilitation and social well-being of individuals along with SRHR.
3. Prevention and promotion of positive
mental health. India’s demography: achievements
o The Mental Health Care Act (MHCA) 2017: • Stabilization of population: due to decline in the
repealed the Mental Health Act, 1987. The Act Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (presently at 2.2 children),
seeks to ensure the rights of the person with which will soon reach replacement level (2.1).
mental illness to receive care and to live a life o But due to ‘population momentum’ effect, Indian
with dignity. population will continue grow.
 Decriminalizes suicide under section 309 o Population momentum: occurs when a
of Indian Penal Code: by presuming country's fertility rate declines to or below
suicidal person to be “suffering from severe replacement level, yet the population size
stress’’. The person will also not subject to continues to grow due to the age structure of the
any investigation or prosecution. population.
 Right to mental healthcare: is provided • Improved rates of institutional delivery and a
under the Act in order to ensure access to decline in maternal mortality ratio (MMR): MMR
mental healthcare facilities to suffering has declined from 327 in 1999-2001 to 113 per
individuals. 100,000 live births in 2016-18, as per Sample
Registration System (SRS) data.
• Improved family planning: for instance,
Way forward:
contraceptive prevalence has improved in most
• Improving the supply side: by ensuring adequate
States (the National Health Family Survey 5 for the
mental healthcare facilities, professionals and funds
year 2019-20).
for treatment and care of mentally ill individuals.
• Sensitization: of medical professionals and people
Challenges faced by women:
in general to eliminate stigma against mentally ill
• Rural-urban divide: as TFR in rural women is
persons and re-integration in the broader society.
higher than the national average of 2.2 children.
• Awareness campaign and community o This is due to lack of formal education and
partnership: by forming their self-help groups of poverty, as most of them live in the pooper
carers families along with NGO’s which brings states.
community participation and helps reduction in • Limited access to SRHR: due to pervasive negative
social stigma associated with mental illness. social norms, health system barriers and gender
• Centre-states cooperation: as health is a state inequality.
subject, will help in effectively eliminating the • Inadequate information and access to SRH
mental health challenge from India. services:
o Two million adolescent girls (15-19 years) each
India’s demographic opportunities and issues year had a pregnancy, and of these, nearly 63%
faced by women were unwanted or unintended (Guttmacher
Institute, 2021).
Context
o 22.2% adolescent girls had an unmet need for
• In these troubled times of the COVID-19 pandemic,
contraception, according to NFHS-4.
the World Population Day on July 11 brings some
• Denial of bodily autonomy to women: socially
positive news — India has entered a demographic
sanctioned harmful practices such as child marriage,
sweet spot that will continue for another two to
gender-based violence are often rooted in social
three decades.
norms, beliefs and practices.
• Drivers of economic growth and social progress:
o For instance, 26.8% of women aged 20-24 years
as more than half of the India’s population is under are married before they turn 18, often having
29 years of age. their first child within the first year of marriage.
• Poor performance on The World Economic • According to an estimate, by 2040, there will be
Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report more members of the silver generation than
(2021): India has slipped 28 places to rank 140th those under 20.
among 156 countries, becoming the third-worst • Development of Longevity Finance Hub is a step
performer in South Asia. towards providing them a quality life.
Way forward
• Government should - Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Report
o Ensure that youth of the nation is healthy, • About the report
knowledgeable and skilled. o The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
o Provide youth with the rights and choices to (MoH&FW) released the LASI Wave-1 Report in
develop to their fullest potential, including, and December 2020.
especially, sexual and reproductive health and o It was India’s first ever and the world’s largest
rights (SRHR). survey to provide a longitudinal database of
o Triggering positive ripple effects: by placing senior citizens to enable the government to form
youth, women and girls at the centre of more responsive policies for them.
policymaking and services.
o It covered the population of age 45 and above.
• Ensure adequate provisions for sexual and
• Findings
reproductive health (SRH) services: as any
o The number of elderly people will rise to 319
further delays will curtail the health and well-being
of women and girls, the consequences of which can million in 2050, growing 3% annually.
last a lifetime. o 75% of the elderly people suffer from some
• Collaborative approach: all sections of society form of chronic disease.
must embrace this call for positive change, each o 40% of them have some disability issue and,
doing their part, from the individual to the 20% have issues related to mental health.
institution level. o The multi-morbidity conditions are more
• Investment in social causes must go alongside prevalent among the silver population in the
economic progress: as highlighted by the success states/UTs of Kerala, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep,
of programmes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Goa and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
(BBBP). Issues of elderly population
• Ensuring woman bodily autonomy: which will
• Economic
result in advances in her health, education, income
o Poor financial status of family often puts
and safety. She is more likely to thrive, and so is her
elderly people at the receiving end. They do not
family.
get the required nutrition and suffer from
Elderly Population of India: Expert Committee various health issues.
on Longevity Finance o Increase in health care cost: With increasing
age, the cost of healthcare increases. Families
Context
could not take care of their health as their
• International Financial Services Centres Authority
situation demands, sometimes out of financial
(IFSCA) constituted an Expert Committee on
Longevity Finance Hub to develop a roadmap for issue while sometimes due to complete
creating a Longevity Finance Hub in GIFT (Gujarat insensitivity.
International Finance Tec-City) IFSC. • Social
o Lack of space: With increase in family member,
Key points the elderly people are often left out and are not
• According to global estimates, currently, there are provided requisite space.
one billion people who has age 60 or above— o Declining moral value system: The concept of
referred as silver generation. nuclear family has reduced the importance of
• Development in medicinal science and technology elderly population in the family. The social
will support their longevity and extend their isolation has put these people in a mental stress.
lifespan.
• Health • Earlier, under the same provision, two commissions
o Chronic diseases of elder people are another were set up to investigate the conditions of
reason why they become immobile and backward classes.
members perceive them to be burden on the o The first Backward Classes Commission was
family. set up in 1953 under the chairmanship of Kaka
o Elderly women issues: Women, unlike men, Kalelkar. Its report, however, was never
implemented.
faces more isolation due to social isolation and
o Second Backward Classes Commission was
some health issues specific to women
set up in 1979 under B.P.Mandal. The
commission decided to give 27% reservation
Solution needed in jobs and education to the OBCs. In 1990, the
• Change the social dynamics: Staying connected Union Government decided to implement the
with family and friends and making sure their proposals of the commission.
financial and legal affairs are in order should be a o The decision to implement the Mandal
priority for every family member. Commission met with protests across India.
• Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior The issue was then raised in the Supreme Court.
Citizens Act 2007 should be effectively amended to The case is often called Indira Sawney
make it more relevant in the present times. judgement. In this judgement, Supreme Court
• Implementation of programs like PM Vaya upheld the 27% reservation to OBCs. It,
Vandana Yojana, Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, Atal however, advocated not to decide upon the
Pension Yojana should be regularly monitored and social and educational backwardness of a
community on the sole basis of caste.
the true beneficiary should be benefited.
o To promote equitable distribution of benefits,
• The geriatric care health infrastructure should
the concept of creamy-layer and non-creamy
be taken care of, especially in the rural areas. layer emerged. The judgement excluded the
• Entertainment facilities like libraries and clubs creamy layer from accruing the benefits of
should be arranged at the grassroot level. reservation.
• Senior citizens should be made priority while • National Commission for Backward Classes
implementing schemes like PM Awas Yojana. (NCBC), in 2015, gave the proposal to sub-
categorise the OBCs to ensure that the benefits of
Way forward reservation could reach the desired beneficiary.
Social security comes in the concurrent list of if • The Constitution (102nd Amendment Act), 2018
Schedule VII. This means both central and state made NCBC constitutional and inserted a new
government has the responsibility to take care of the Article 338B in the Constitution. It was placed
silver generation. under the Ministry of Social Justice and
The National Policy on Senior Citizens, 2011 must be Empowerment.
replaced with a new policy, which addresses this issue
OBC: Who are they?
comprehensively.
• They are socially and educationally backward
classes, different from Scheduled Castes (SCs) or
The History of Backward Classes Commission Scheduled Tribes (STs). The union government
And the Sub-Categorisation of OBCs maintains the list of castes, which are to be
included OBCs.
Context
• The Union Cabinet has recently extended the term
Constitutional Provisions
of the commission for six months, for the eleventh • Article 14 of the Indian Constitution provides
time, to examine the sub-categorisation of OBCs. equality before the law. This means the government
could practice affirmative discrimination to uplift
Background the backward classes.
• Union Government constituted Rohini • Article 16(4) mentions that State can make any
Commission under Article 340 of our Constitution provision for the reservation of appointments or
to examine the sub-categorisation of Other posts in favour of any backward class of citizens
Backward Classes (OBCs) and the equitable who, in the opinion of the State, are not adequately
distribution of benefits among the various strata. represented in the services under the State.

Why sub-categorisation? • Sub-categorisation, however, is criticised as it can be
• It will ensure that the more deserving people— used as a populistic measure and, community
those belonging to the Extremely Backward appeasement could overshadow its just cause.
Classes—reap the benefits of reservation.
• The process of sub-categorisation is too complex at
• 27% reservation to a large community would mean
the socially affluent people are getting the benefits the grass-root level. Extension of the third Backward
at the cost of those who need it. Commission, for the eleventh time, provides a
• It will attest that caste is not the only factor to glimpse of the difficulty.
determine the socio-economic status of a Way forward
community. • Sub-categorisation, with adequate safeguards to
• It will ensure equitable distribution of prevent it from becoming an electoral tool, can
government resources.
empower communities and bring them to par with
Criticism
others.
Environment & Biodiversity

Microplastic Pollution: Severity of the Problem, 1. Primary microplastics: include microbeads
Its Impacts and Suggestive Measures found in personal care products, plastic pellets
(or nurdles) used in industrial manufacturing,
Context
and plastic fibres used in synthetic textiles (e.g.,
• A new study by an NGO has found evidence of a
nylon).
modern-day scourge, microplastics, in the river
Ganga, with the highest concentrations in 2. Secondary microplastics: originate from the
Varanasi and Kanpur, followed by Haridwar. breakdown of larger plastics. Plastic bottles,
o ‘Quantitative analysis of Microplastics along bags, fishing nets, and food packaging are some
River Ganga’ study was conducted and examples of the larger pieces that break down
published by Delhi-based environment NGO into microplastics, eventually finding their way
Toxics Link. into the soil, water and the air we breathe.
Key findings of the report Microplastic Pollution in the World

• Microbeads were observed in Varanasi and Kanpur, • Microplastic pollution in the Arctic: was
while no beads were found in Haridwar. discovered by a study. Wind acted as transporting
• The shapes and nature of the observed resins agent for this.
ranged from fibres to fragments, films and beads. o The study claims to be the first that contains
• Fragments were the predominant shape in all data on contamination of snow by microplastics.
locations, followed by film and fibre. • According to an estimate, an average human ends
• Their sources could be from tyres, clothing, food up consuming at least 50,000 particles of
packaging, bags, to cosmetics with microbeads, microplastics in food every year.
garland covers and other municipal waste. • Marine plastic pollution: According to the
International Union for Conservation of Nature
About Microplastics:
(IUCN), at least 8 million tons of plastic end up in
• Microplastics are small pieces of plastic, less than
the oceans every year.
5 mm (0.2 inch) in length, that occur in the
• Measurements of the top 200 meters of the Atlantic
environment as a consequence of plastic pollution.
• Microplastics are present in a variety of products,
found 11.6 - 21.1 million tonnes of microscopic
from cosmetics to synthetic clothing to plastic particles.
bags and bottles. Many of these products readily • In India: Average Indian consumes approximately
enter the environment in wastes. 11 kg of plastic products in various forms every
• They can be classified in two categories based on year. Though it is much less than what an American
their origin- or a Chinese does, it still is a problem.

Impacts of microplastic pollution safeguarding our ecosystem is the way forward for
• On human health: ensuring a safe and sustainable planet earth.
o Human exposure to microplastics likely to
come from airborne dust, drinking water National Mission for Clean Ganga
(including treated tap water and bottled water)
o Microplastics can reach our stomach where Context:
they can either excreted, get entrapped in • Recent National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
stomach and intestinal lining or move freely in guidelines directs cities situated on river banks to
body fluids such as blood, thereby reaching incorporate river conservation plans when they
various organs and tissues of the body. prepare their Master Plans.
o Negatively affects nervous system, hormones, • The recommendations are currently for towns that
immune system and have cancer-inducing are on the main stem of the river Ganga (97 towns
properties. encompassing 5 States — Uttarakhand, Uttar
• On marine ecosystem: Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal).
o On marine organisms: when consumed,
microplastics stuck in their digestive tracts and About NMCG
also alter their feeding behavior. • Origin: it is registered as a society under the
o Accumulation of toxic plastics in the stomach Societies Registration Act 1860.It acted as
leads to starvation and death, resulting in implementation arm of National Ganga Council
reduced growth and reproductive outputs. (which replaced National Ganga River Basin
o Magnify marine pollution: by acting as a Authority in 2016).
binding and transporting agent for heavy metals o National Ganga Council: constituted in 2016
and organic pollutants because of its water- under the Environment (Protection) Act
repellant properties. (EPA),1986 and headed by the Prime Minister of
India.
Way forward • Administrative structure:
• Reduce, reuse and recycle: this should be the o It is part of the five-tier governance structure
mantra to eliminate menace of the microplastics in envisaged under EPA act to ensure a clean river
the world. Ganga. They are-
o open landfills and open-air burning that are 1. National Ganga Council under chairmanship
often practiced to manage domestic waste of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
should be banned and replaced with 100% 2. Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river
collection and recycling of the used plastics. Ganga under chairmanship of Hon’ble Union
• Promote bioplastics as an alternative to Minister of Jal Shakti
microplastics: this can be done by investing in the 3. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
industry and government support which will reduce 4. State Ganga Committees and
its cost of production and enhance its attractiveness 5. District Ganga Committees in every specified
to various industries. district abutting river Ganga and its
• Awareness generation: among the masses on the tributaries in the states.
lines of Swachha Bharat Mission (SBM), about
microplastic derived products, harmful impacts, and
ways to reduce its usage should be done on priority
basis.
• Cooperative and collaborative partnership
among all stakeholders (the community, industry,
government and civil society organizations) with an
aim to ensure effective plastic waste management
and the subsequent reduction in microplastic
pollution.
To deal with a planetary crisis like Microplastic
pollution, a global collaboration on the lines of Paris
agreement is the need of the hour. Collective public
efforts aimed at stopping plastic pollution and

o NMCG has two wings, both of them headed by o Untreated Sewerages flow: which brings many
Director General, NMCG (a Additional Secretary types of degradable and non-degradable
in Government of India). pollutions from the habitations along the river
1. Governing Council banks.
2. Executive Committee: authorized to • Illegal Construction: The problem of illegal and
accord approval for all projects up to rampant construction near river beds led to
Rs.1000 crore. encroachment of the river banks, obstructing the
o Similar to structure at national level, State river flow and has become a major hurdle in
Program Management Groups (SPMGs) acts cleaning the river.
as implementing arm of State Ganga • Violation of ecological- flow (e-flow) of the river:
Committees. mainly due to unscientific construction of hydro
power projects.
• Key objectives o Central Water Commission (CWC) findings: 4
• To ensure effective abatement of of the 11 hydro power projects on the upper
pollution and rejuvenation of the river reaches of the river Ganga’s tributaries are
Ganga by adopting a river basin violating Ganga’s e-flow norms which is further
approach to promote inter-sectoral co- interrupting the natural flow of the river
ordination for comprehensive planning • Poor Governance: There is less utilization of funds
and management and allotted under the programs due to lack of
• To maintain minimum ecological flows monitoring and super-vison.
in the river Ganga with the aim of
ensuring water quality and Steps needed to ensure clean and rejuvenated
environmentally sustainable Ganga river system
development. • Building and effectively operation critical
• Key function to achieve above objectives: Sewerage Treatment Plants (STP): in this context,
o Implement the work program of National World Bank funded initiative to build sewerage
Ganga Council (NGC). infrastructure in 20 pollution hotspots along the
o Implement the World Bank supported river is noteworthy.
National Ganga River Basin Project. o The government should prepare a proper plan
o Coordinate and oversee the implementation and ensure effective monitoring of the running
of projects sanctioned by Government of STPs to ensure proper treatment of city
India under NGC. sewerage before it gets into the rivers.
o Undertake any additional work or functions • Sensitization and awareness campaign: to make
as may be assigned by MoWR, RD &GJ in the it a ‘Jan Andolan’ so that each and every individual is
area of conservation of river Ganga. aware about importance of clean and e-flow of the
o Accept or to provide any grant of money, rivers in a sustainable future of humankind.
loan securities or property of any kind and o In this context, Swachha Bharat Mission (SBM)
to undertake and accept the management of is a notable step forward.
any endowment trust, fund or donation not • Collaborative approach: Government should
inconsistent with the objectives of NMCG. further build on the success of SBM initiative
o Take all such action and to enter all such through a collaborative approach with concerned
actions as may appear necessary or states, civil societies and other motivated
incidental for the achievements of the individuals.
objectives of the NGC.
Ozone Pollution: Causes, Impacts and Steps
Associated concerns taken to Reduce Ozone Pollution
• Widespread pollution: as many cities across the Context
five states are present on the banks of the ganga • Recently, a study conducted by Centre for Science
river, polluting it indiscriminately. For example- and Environment has found that ozone levels are
o Industrial pollution: from tanneries in Kanpur, exceeding the permitted levels even during winter
distilleries, paper and sugar mills in the Kosi, in Delhi-NCR, making the smog more “toxic”.
Ramganga and Kali-river catchments are major o The study was done by analyzing the Central
contributors. Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

Key findings of the study • On Environment
• Despite the pandemic and lockdowns, more days o Can reduce species diversity among animals,
and locations witnessed higher and longer plants, insects, fish, etc.
duration of ozone spells. o Damage to crops: make vegetation prone to
• Contrary to the notion that ozone is predominantly various diseases, leading to poor quality and
a summer phenomenon, the analysis finds the gas quantity of grains produced.
has emerged as an equally strong concern during o Damage to forests: it may result in reduced
winter as well. forest growth and negatively affect habitat
• Even smaller towns of NCR, including quality in the forests. It also results in reduced
Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh and Bhiwani in commercial forest yields.
Haryana, appeared in the top 20 list of ozone-
afflicted towns and cities. Efforts taken to control ground-level Ozone
• South Delhi locations dominate the list with four pollution
mentions in top 10. • Adoption of BS-VI standards: Government has
directed mandatory adoption of BS VI norms for
About Ground-level Ozone vehicles in India with an aim to control vehicular
• Ozone (O3) is a colourless, reactive oxidant gas that pollution including the Ozone pollution.
is a major constituent of atmospheric smog. • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi:
o It is ground-level ozone which is known as it was prepared by the Ministry of Environment,
Tropospheric ozone. Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC) after the order
• Formation: Ozone is produced photochemically
of Supreme Court of December 2016.
from interaction between gases in the presence of
o Environmental Pollution (Prevention and
sunlight.
Control) Authority (EPCA) is responsible for its
o It is created by chemical reactions between
implementation.
oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic
o It aims to prevent worsening of Air Quality of
compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight.
Delhi-NCR including Ozone pollution.
o Major sources of NOx and VOC: Emissions
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):
from industrial facilities and electric utilities,
government launched this campaign to reduce air
motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and
pollution in 102 non-attainment cities including
chemical solvents.
Ozone pollution.
• A sunny weather problem in India: as the
o Non-attainment cities: cities that have fallen
presence of sunlight has a direct impact on the
short of the National Ambient Air Quality
formation of ground-level ozone.
o Heat acts as a catalyst, facilitating
Standards (NAAQS) for over five years.
photochemical reactions. Hence, higher Way forward:
concentrations of ozone are seen during the • Promoting sustainable and healthier mode of
summer months. transportation system like cycling and walking
along with electric and CNG vehicles.
Impact of Ozone pollution o Government should also incentivize use of
• On health: public transportation through various
o Highly reactive gas and even short-term measures.
exposure of an hour is dangerous for those with • Awareness generation: about various ill-effects of
respiratory conditions and asthma. pollution in general and ozone pollution in
o Exposure to Ozone can cause chest pain, particular will go a long way in ensuring a
coughing, throat irritation and airway sustainable future.
inflammation. • Effective implementation of programs and
o Long-term breathing of Ozone may cause policies: including extensive real-time monitoring
cardiovascular diseases and result in premature infrastructure across cities.
death.
SDG India Index SDG India Index 2020–21:
• Developed in collaboration with the United
Context
Nations in India.
• Recently, the third edition of the Sustainable • The index tracks progress of all States and UTs
Development Goals (SDG) India Index and on 115 indicators that are aligned to Ministry of
Dashboard 2020–21 was released by NITI Aayog. Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI)’s
o Title of the report -SDG India Index and National Indicator Framework (NIF).
Dashboard 2020–21: Partnerships in the Decade o These II5 indicators Incorporate 16 out of 17
of Action. SDGs, with a qualitative assessment on Goal 17,
• NITI Aayog has the mandate for coordinating the
and cover 70 SDG targets.
o 2018-19 index- utilized 62 indicators across 39
adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and
targets and 13 Goals; 2019-20 index-100
sub-national levels. indicators across 54 targets and 16 Goals
About SDG India index
• It is an annual index launched in 2018 by NITI Analysis of the SDG India index 2020-21
Aayog on the lines of annual Sustainable • At national level:
Development Report prepared by the Sustainable o Positives: The country’s overall SDG score
Development Solutions Network (SDSN). improved by 6 points—from 60 in 2019 to 66 in
o SDG India index represents the articulation of
2020–21, mainly driven by excellent
performance on Goal 6 (Clean Water and
the comprehensive nature of the Global
Sanitation) and Goal 7(Affordable and Clean
Goals under the 2030 Agenda while being Energy).
attuned to the national priorities. o Poor performance: there has been a major
• Aim: twin aim of the NITI Aayog- decline in the areas of industry, innovation
1. To monitor the country’s progress on the goals and infrastructure (Goal 9) as well as decent
through data-driven assessment, and work and economic growth (Goal 8).
2. To foster a cooperative and competitive spirit o Currently, there are no states in the aspirant and
among the States and Union Territories in achiever category; 15 states/UTs are in the
performer category and 22 states/UTs in the
achieving them.
front runner category.
• Ranking method:
• State/UT performance:
o The SDG India Index computes goal-wise scores o Top performers- states: Kerala retained its
on the 16 SDGs for each State and Union position (score 72) followed by Tamil Nadu and
Territory. Himachal Pradesh, both scoring 72.
o Measurement of aggregate performance: o Top performing UTs: Chandigarh maintained
Overall State and UT scores are generated from its top spot among the UTs with a score of 79,
goal-wise scores at the sub-national unit followed by Delhi (68).
o Worst performers: Bihar (52), Jharkhand (56)
based on its performance across the 16 SDGs.
and Assam (57).
o Scores range between 0–100: The higher the
o Top gainers in comparison to 2019-20:
score of a State/UT, the greater the distance to Mizoram, Haryana, and Uttarakhand with an
target achieved. A score of 100 signifies increase of 12, 10 and 8 points, respectively.
achievement of 2030 SDG targets.
• Classification of states/UTs: based on their Significance of SDG India index
performance on the SDG India index, they are • It helps in identifying crucial gaps related to tracking
classified into four categories- the SDGs and the need for India to develop its
statistical systems.
1. Aspirant: 0–49
• Act as a Key Policy tool: for focused policy
2. Performer: 50–64
dialogue, formulation and implementation through
3. Front-Runner: 65–99 development actions, in line with the global SDG
4. Achiever: 100 framework.
• The SDG India Index 2020–21 is also live on an • Germany has advanced flood warning system that
online dashboard, which has cross-sectoral forecasts heavy rain and forecasts possibility of
relevance across policy, civil society, business, and floods. The recent flood, however, was so quick that
academia. there was no time to evacuate all residents to
• Upcoming North Eastern Region (NER) District safety and fully deploy the formidable rescue and
SDG Index: The Index is presently being adapted relief infrastructure that they possessed.
and developed by NITI Aayog at the granular level of • People demand that such warnings must be
districts for NER. communicated to the general public in simple
• Encouraging evidence-based policymaking: by language and specific information regarding the
supporting States and UTs to benchmark their
extent of damage to property and life should be
progress, identify the priority areas and share good
conveyed. It would likely encourage affected
practices.
communities to remain alert and respond quickly.
The Editorial Analysis: Let’s make room for the
Lessons for India
river
• We must think beyond the conventional
Context dependence on dikes, dams, walls and gates to
• Recent flood in few European countries, namely protect ourselves from floods.
Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and • Just like Dutch, our current disaster resilience
Switzerland have killed many people while many mantra should be live with water, build with
remain missing. nature and make room for the river.
• Flood-prone areas should be identified, and
Key points
projects should be initiated to create room for
• The flood is being referred as one of the worst such
rivers.
event in a century.
• The United Nations Development Programme-
• A month’s rain poured in just a span of 24 hours
and the regions of Germany and Belgium were the World Bank-European Union Post Disaster
most affected regions. Needs Assessment report prepared for Kerala after
• This ‘flash flood’ led to bursting of river banks that the 2018 floods pointed out that the drainage
further led to floods in Netherlands and capacity of the rivers and canals must be increased
Luxembourg. by creating more room for the water to flow.
• The floods find resemblance with the Kerala floods o It called for removing obstructions and
of 2018. encroachments from existing water channels,
the proper maintenance of such channels and
Reasons for the flood creating additional channels for water to flow.
• Experts are linking this flood with the climate • We must create adequate space for rivers to
change as more CO2 the world emits into the overflow by protecting floodplains from human
atmosphere, the warmer will be the air temperature. interference, deepening riverbeds and creating
Warmer air holds more moisture and results in alternate channels for excess water.
excess rainfall, which leads to flooding. • It is worth noting that after two major floods in 1993
• Also, increasing temperatures at the poles result and 1995, the Dutch embarked on several projects
in slower movement of storms in the mid-latitudes. to widen riverbanks and reshape the areas
As a result, storms stay for a longer duration at a
around rivers.
specific place. The combination of a slow-moving
• Low-risk areas such as playgrounds, maidans, or
storm and the presence of surplus moisture in the
atmosphere leads to intense rainfall in one location agricultural fields should be earmarked to store
within a short period of time. excess rainwater.
• Drains must be built for diverting water into these
Responses from the countries storage units. This will relieve the stress on the
• Netherlands was less-affected due to superior existing drainage infrastructure. The stored water
organisation, better preparedness and an can later be discharged back into the drainage
advanced flood management system. channel once the high water subsides.

• In the short term, strengthened disaster readiness, Anthropogenic factors responsible for Urban
planning and preparation would help us in dealing Flooding
with sudden, intense rain and consequent floods. • Unplanned urbanization: it results in excessive
• There is need for a higher degree of coordination and unplanned use of available resources, leading to
and preparation across all levels of government. overstressed city infrastructure, including drainage
• Practice drills need to be conducted in flood-prone system, reduced seepage and encroachment by
areas. builders and contractors.
• Poor waste management system: Domestic,
Urban Flooding: Overview, Causes and commercial and industrial waste and dumping of
Suggestive Measures construction debris into the drains without proper
collection and treatment, contribute significantly to
Context
reducing capacities of the drainage system.
• Recently many people have lost their lives due to
o Improper waste management system, clogging of
incessant rain in the Mumbai, Maharashtra,
reinforcing the gravity problem of urban storm-water drains because of silting,
flooding in Indian cities. accumulation of non-biodegradable wastes and
• Earlier, in October 2020, similar incident construction debris are major concerns.
happened in the Hyderabad, Telangana, • Indiscriminate encroachment of waterways and
resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people. wetlands: Growing habitations into towns and
cities alongside rivers and watercourses, led to their
Urban flooding encroachment, causing urban flooding during high
• Definition: Flood is defined as “an overflow of a rainfall scenario.
large body of water over areas not usually o Unauthorized colonies and excess
inundated”. Thus, flooding in urban areas is caused construction: results in reduced infiltration and
by intense and/or prolonged rainfall, which decreased ground absorption and increases the
overwhelms the capacity of the drainage system. speed and amount of surface flow, causing urban
• Urban flooding is different from rural flooding, floods.
both in respect magnitude and size of population • Issue with city drainage infrastructure: there is
affected: this is because- an issue with city drainage system at both capacity
o Urbanization increases flood risk by up to 3 and management level.
times, increased peak flow result in flooding o There is lack of adequate drainage
very quickly. infrastructure in the cities, leading to urban
o It affects large number of people due to high flooding during high intensity rainfall.
population density in urban areas. o Lack of maintenance of existing drainage
infrastructure: for example, de-clogging the
Natural factors causing Urban flooding storm-water drains before monsoon season
• Meteorological Factors: Heavy rainfall, cyclonic results malfunctioning drainage system, leading
storms and thunderstorms causes water to flow to urban flooding.
quickly through paved urban areas and impound in
low lying areas.
• Hydrological Factors: Overbank flow channel
networks, occurrence of high tides impeding the
drainage in coastal cities are major hydrological
factors responsible for urban flooding.
• Changes in the rainfall pattern driven by Climate
Change: The rainfall intensity, duration and
frequency are going to increase in the future,
suggests the International Panel for Climate Change.
o Flash floods: often caused by the incidence of
cyclonic circulations and cloud bursts are
increasing due to climate change. Recent
flash flood in Germany is a case in point.

• Neglect of pre-disaster planning: in India, focus is Rainwater harvesting: Countering Water
mainly on post-disaster relief efforts rather than Scarcity
pre-planning to counter urban floods.
Context
• Lack of community participation: Indian cities
• The rainwater harvesting structures in the villages
lack participation from people, right from planning
of Rajasthan, including ponds, anicuts, check dams,
to implantation stages. This is mainly due to apathy
‘johads’ and ‘nadis’, will be studied to find out their
on the part of government officials, members of
contribution to the increase in groundwater level.
municipal bodies and lack of awareness among
people of the city. About Rainwater harvesting
• Reducing Seepage: Indian cities are becoming • Definition: Rainwater harvesting is the collection
increasingly impervious to water, not just because of and storing of rain water that runs off from tops of
increasing built up but also because of the nature of roofs, open spaces like parks and roads or especially
materials used. prepared ground.
• Traditional rainwater harvesting methods: due
Suggestive measure: mitigation of urban floods to temporal and spatial variation in the rainfall
• Better forecasting of rainfall: by concerned pattern across the country, many traditional
organization. This must be followed real-time methods were developed since ancient times to
dissemination of flood warning to concerned conserve and store water. Some of these are:
authorities and people in general. o Tanks in Karnataka: these are artificial
• Effective pre-disaster planning: for each city on reservoirs to store water taking advantage of
local level by involving all the stakeholders, depression.
including inhabitants of the city. o Zing -Tanks: for collecting water from melted
o Concerned authorities should highlight ice in Ladakh.
o Stepwell: these are found in Rajasthan and
flooding prone areas in the cities and avoid
Gujarat.
building any emergency infrastructure in that
o Baoris / bers – they are community wells in
area. People in that locality should also be
Rajasthan.
informed and trained to effectively deal with
o Apatani -Terraced plots connected by inlet and
such situations. outlet channels in Arunachal Pradesh.
o Each city should have their Flood mitigation o Pyne-ahar: system of south Bihar on which the
plans strongly embedded within the master cultivation of paddy depends.
plan of the city. o Kuls: Often spanning long distances, with some
• Drainage infrastructure: adequate drainage over 10 km long, kuls have been around for
infrastructure must be created and existing ones centuries. They are present in mountain areas
should be well-maintained. Jammu, Himachal Pradesh.
o Role of local bodies in this respect becomes very o Tanka system: it is used in Rajasthan, which is
important. a cylindrical ground pit which receives
• Develop ‘sponge’ cities in line with cities in rainwater from the nearby catchment area.
China: it envisages replacing concrete pavements o Bamboo drip irrigation: used in the northeast,
with porous pavements to insure better infiltration suitable for irrigation in hilly terrains.
ow surface water. It further aims to restore
Need for rain water harvesting (RWH) systems
wetlands, develop rain gardens and rooftop gardens
• To Counter water scarcity: as per a report of NITI
for better absorption of rainwater.
Aayog in 2018, 21 major cities are racing to reach
• Effective implementation of National Disaster
zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access
Management (NDMA) Guidelines on Urban Flood for 100 million people.
Management. o Water collected through RWH can be used for
• Better waste management system: by ensuring recharging groundwater, that is replenishing the
adequate collection and treatment infrastructure in water that has been extracted from the aquifers.
each city. This will solve the issue of clogging of o Hence, RWH is a sustainable and reliable
drainage system. method to effectively use rain water towards
meeting the growing needs of vast Indian
population.
• Rapid urbanization and industrialization: will o For example, laws relating to water harvesting
need more fresh water supply from already in metros such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru
crumbling public water supply infrastructure. exist but only on paper.
o This problem can be solved through effective • Lack of participation by private sector: this is
implementation of RWH techniques in
mainly due to lack of clear guidelines and
collaboration with community.
framework by the government for private
o Rooftop RWH technique can be the most
effective method in this regard, where rainwater participation in construction and maintenance of
is captured from the roof catchments and stored RWH systems.
in reservoirs. • Lack of financial and technical support to
• To fulfill irrigation needs of agriculture sector: community by the government towards
as 60% of India’s net sown area is unirrigated (rising construction and maintenance of RWH structures.
cases of drought in the dry belt of India) meaning • Poor literacy and awareness about water
depended on rainfall. In India, most of rainfall conservation: this results in not only wastage of
happens during monsoon season, leaving farmers water but also negligence towards water
vulnerable in other seasons.
conservation methods like RWH. Many times, it
o RWH can help in providing regular water supply
for irrigation needs of the farmers. This will becomes the prime reason for failure of many good
further ensure food security in the long term. government policies and programs for water
o This water can also be used variously for conservation.
purposes like drinking (after treatment),
household use, and for livestock. Way forward
• To reduce Runoff loss: More than 3/4th of the • Ensure widespread awareness campaign:
precipitation In India comes during 4 months towards water conservation in general and methods
(monsoon). A significant part of which is lost in of water conservation like RWH in particular.
runoff and evaporation, this can be controlled by
Making RWH a ‘Jan Andolan’ through ‘Jan
rain water harvesting.
Bhagidari’ will go a long way in ensuring
Advantages of rainwater harvesting sustainable water use and future for India.
• Counter disasters like flood and drought: as it o ‘Catch the Rain’ Awareness Generation
stores access water during monsoon season which Campaign, under National Water Mission,
reduces the chances of flooding and secures Ministry of Jal Shakti is a step in the right
community from the adversity during a drought. direction.
• Reliable and cheap mechanism for recharging • Government should provide incentives and
groundwater: as no land is wasted for storage logistical support towards creation of RWH
purpose and no population displacement is
structures around the country.
involved. Under Ground water is not directly
o As RWH not only provides the most sustainable
exposed to evaporation and pollution.
• Reduces soil erosion: as it restricts unhindered and efficient way of water management but
flow of rainwater. Methods like check dams, are very also opens the vista of several other economic
effective in reducing soil erosion and loss of soil activities leading to Empowerment of people
nutrients. at grass root.
• Underground stored water in urban areas also
acts as a cheaper method for water supply for Wetland Ecosystem: Importance, Concerns and
household needs after their treatment. Conservation Measure
Associated challenges with rainwater harvesting in Context:
India • The Mumbai Metropolitan Region is likely to get
• Lack of community participation: governments its first Ramsar site at the Thane Creek Flamingo
often ignore local participation and needs while Sanctuary. The Maharashtra Mangrove Cell
framing and implementing RWH policies. This submits the proposal for approval to the State
results in poor implementation and lack of any Wetland Authority.
significant change on the ground.

About Wetlands • Help in carbon sequestration: they act as carbon
• Definition: As per the Ramsar Convention on sinks and wetland soil contains a high amount of
Wetlands, “…wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, carbon.
peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, o They also provide the conditions needed for the
permanent or temporary, with water that is static or removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from
flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of surface water.
marine water the depth of which at low tide does not • Ground water recharge: by storing water, they
exceed six metres.” help in increasing the water level by recharging the
o They are transition zones- they lie between deep groundwater aquifers. Further, they discharge
groundwater into lakes, rivers, and streams during
water and terrestrial ecosystems.
dry periods, helping in fulfilling the freshwater
• Major characteristics that describe a wetland:
needs of the people.
o Hydrology: The sources of water into wetlands
• Helps in ecological conservation: by hosting of a
include precipitation, surface water (from rivers
large number of species of microbes, plants, insects,
and sea) and groundwater. amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and mammals.
o Soil Type: Wetlands are covered with hydric o They also help in countering certain
soils. In such soils, the spaces between each environmental problems such as algal blooms,
grain of soil are filled with water. These soils are dead zones, and fish kills that are generally
anaerobic- the soil lacks oxygen. related to nutrient overloading.
o Biota: Plants that live in wetlands and are • Economic benefits:
adapted to the hydric soil are called o Support various plants and animals having
hydrophytes. Examples: cypress, silver maple, medicinal and commercial values.
mangroves. o Many countries have their fishing and shell
• Classification of wetlands: fishing industries dependent on wetlands.
o Marine: coastal wetlands including coastal o Acts as a source of livelihood for local people as
lagoons, rocky shores, seagrass beds and coral many of them are dependent upon wetlands
reefs resources for their employment.
o Estuarine: wetlands associated with deltas, • Provides recreational, educational and tourism
tidal marshes and mudflats, and mangrove opportunities: for example, many people visit
swamps. these places for birdwatching or wildlife
o Lacustrine: wetlands associated with lakes.
photography.
o Riverine: wetlands along rivers and streams.
Associated concerns
o Palustrine: wetlands like marshes, swamps and
• Unplanned urbanization and encroachments:
bogs.
results in increasing pressure on urban wetlands
due to growing demands and widespread
Importance of wetlands encroachment of these bodies.
• Biological supermarkets: Wetlands are amongst • Increasing pollution: They are unable to clean
the most productive ecosystems and often called the growing mercury, plastic and other industrial
“biological supermarkets” as they produce a huge pollutions, hence, reports of worsening of the
amount of food which attracts many animal species. problem of groundwater pollution.
• Flood control: they act as natural sponges, helping • Introduction of alien species: results in damaging
in avoiding floods. They temporarily storing and the natural ecological balance of a particular
gradually releasing stormwater. wetland ecosystem. For example, introduction of
• Water purification: They help in improving water exotic plant species such as water hyacinth and
quality through removing or retaining inorganic Salvinia have resulted in clogging of waterways and
nutrients or by processing organic wastes and extinction of many native vegetation.
reducing suspended nutrients. • Climate change: Increased air temperature; shifts
o For this function, wetlands are often referred to in precipitation; increased frequency of storms,
as “Kidneys of the Earth”. droughts, and floods; and sea level rise could also
affect wetlands.
• Drainage of wetlands for agricultural and o Wetlands (Conservation and Management)
construction activities causes harm to wetlands. Rules, 2017: along with other things, it
o Construction of a large number of reservoirs, prohibits-
canals and dams to provide for irrigation  conversion wetlands for non-wetland uses,
significantly altered the hydrology of the  setting up or expansion of industries in
associated wetlands. wetland areas and
 disposal of construction and demolition
Conservation measures waste within the wetlands.
• At international level
o National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic
o Ramsar Convention: also know as ‘convention
Ecosystems (NPCA): launched in 2015, aims at
on wetlands’, it was adopted in 1971 in the
holistic conservation and restoration of lakes
Iranian City Ramsar for protection and
and wetlands.
preservation of national and international
wetlands. o Wetland health cards: In 2019, the
 Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are government identified 130 wetlands in the
protected under strict guidelines of the country to be restored in the next five years.
convention. Each wetland will be issued a health card, which
 Presently India has 37 Ramsar wetland sites. will denote its health.
o Montreux Record: maintained as a part of the  Wetland Mitras to be selected for taking
Ramsar list. care of the 130 identified wetlands across
 It is a register of wetland sites on the List of India.
Wetlands of International Importance o Centre for Wetland Conservation and
where changes in ecological character have Management (CWCM): established in 2021 as a
occurred, are occurring, or are likely to part of the National Centre for Sustainable
occur as a result of technological Coastal Management (NCSCM).
developments, pollution or other human  Aims to address specific research needs and
interference. knowledge gaps and will aid in the
• By India: over the period of time India has taken application of integrated approaches for
various conservation measures to protect ecological conservation, management and wise use of
sanctity of the wetlands. Few of them are – the wetlands.
Science & Technology

5G Technology: Everything You Need to Know for very high-speed internet, the low band spectrum
may not be optimal for specialised needs of the
Context industry.
• The telecom companies have been urging the • The mid-band spectrum offers higher speeds
Department of Telecommunication (DoT) to reduce
compared to the low band. It, however, has
the spectrum prices.
limitations in terms of coverage area and
• The companies have also warned that in the absence
penetration of signals.
of a cut in the base price of 5G spectrum, country
could be staring at a third failed auction in the near • The high-band spectrum offers the highest speed
future. of all the three bands, but has extremely limited
coverage and signal penetration strength.
What is 5G technology?
• 5G or fifth generation is the latest upgrade in the Evolution
long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband • 1G
networks. It works in 3 bands, namely low, mid and o 1G is the first generation of wireless cellular
high frequency spectrum — all of which have their technology, which began in 1980s. 1G supports
own uses as well as limitations. voice only calls.
• The maximum speed in the low band spectrum is o The maximum speed of 1G technology is 2.4
100mbps. So, while it can be used and installed for Kbps.
cell phone users who may not have specific demands
• 2G Intelligence, Big Data need more speed to process
o Cell phones received their first major upgrade— than 4G can offer.
from analog to digital communications—when • With 5G, users can stay connected despite being on
their technology went from 1G to 2G. a network where thousands of other devices are
o 2G introduced call and text encryption, competing for the bandwidth.
besides data services such as SMS, picture • 5G could save money on addressing issues like
messages, and MMS. water supply, infrastructure, by way of smart
o The maximum speed offered by 2G with
meters, sensors, among others ways.
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is 50
• The hurdles to filmmaking—huge crews,
Kbps.
expensive equipment and big budgets—would fall
• 3G away with the use of 5G technology.
o The urge for faster data-transmission gave • 5G connection could make the remote collaboration
birth to 3G technology. Here, people could use applications like Augmented Reality, Virtual
their cell phones for video calling and mobile Reality available, accessible and affordable.
internet access. • 5G can make the concept of ghost kitchen—chef-
o The term “mobile broadband” was first applied led kitchens that exist exclusively for online
in this technology. ordering and delivery—a reality.
o The maximum speed of 3G is around 2 Mbps for
non-moving devices and 384 Kbps for moving Challenges
vehicles. • Few studies claims that 5G waves will emit more
radiation and can cause harm to humans as well as
• 4G other living beings.
o Besides providing all the services like 3G, it also • 5G frequency is interrupted by physical
provides gaming services, video obstructions such as trees, towers, walls and
conferencing, 3D TV, HD mobile and other
buildings, which will block, disrupt or absorb the
features that demand high speeds.
high-frequency signals.
o The max speed of a 4G network in a moving
• The customers might bear the brunt of high initial
vehicle is 100 Mbps but the speed is 1 Gbps for
low-mobility communication such as when the costs for roll-out.
caller is standing or walking. • The roll-out would happen more in urban areas than
in rural areas thus further widening the digital
Advantages divide.
• Latency measures how long a signal takes to go from • Current battery technology is not suitable for this
its source to its receiver, and then back again. One of advanced connectivity.
the goals for each wireless generation has been to
reduce latency. New 5G networks will have even Way forward
lower latency than 4G LTE, with the round-trip • World is moving towards 5G and India must be in
transmission of data taking less than five the race to be a global superpower. It, however,
milliseconds. should be implemented not in a haste and all the
• 5G latency will be faster than human visual challenges should be carefully taken care of, before
processing, making it possible to control devices a nationwide roll-out.
remotely in near-real time. Human reaction speed
will become the limiting factor for remote
applications that use 5G and IoT—and many new
Artificial Intelligence: A Detailed Analysis
applications will involve machine-to-machine Context
communication that isn’t limited by how quickly • According to a NASSCOM study, India has witnessed
humans can respond. a substantial rise in the number of Artificial
• Across industries, from the public sector to Intelligence patents filed in the last 5 years—6
business and more, 5G promises to provide certain times higher than those filed between 2011 and
advantages over today’s 4G networks. For instance, 2015.
the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial
Key points Challenges
• On a global level, India was ranked at 8 among the • Data Centre: AI-based technologies work on big
top 10 AI-related patent filers. Notably, India had no data, which has high computational capacity.
AI-related patent filing till 2002. Establishing such a centre in our country, with the
• More than 5,000 patents filed in the last decade, current technology is challenging.
94% of them in the last 5 years. • Energy Consumption: To reduce energy
• More than 60% of them has origin in India. consumption, IT companies are shifting their data
• Machine learning is the most popular AI technique centres to cooler locations like Siberia as around
followed by computer vision. 40% of the energy consumption is directed towards
• 5-fold increase in funding in those Indian AI firms, cooling IT equipment.
which are held privately. • Sovereign Laws: Data localisation is becoming a
norm lately. Example: EU GDPR. In such a situation
What it is? it is becoming increasingly difficult for the
• Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer companies to store data in the countries of their
science, which makes machines behave like convenience.
humans and help these machines perform
• Environmental Impact: The coolants are made of
cognitive functions like decision making, thinking
hazardous chemicals which produce toxic gases,
and perceiving, problem-solving among others.
thus increasing the carbon footprint.
Benefits • Widening gap: The technology gap between
• Economic growth driver: NITI Aayog stated that developed and developing countries is furthering
the adoption of AI could increase the Gross Value the gap among the countries. AI-assisted
Addition (GVA) of our economy by 15%. technologies will widen this gap.
• Agriculture: The use of AI-based technology can • Privacy concerns: AI uses digital footprints, which
improve the efficiency of precision farming and could help exploit the consumers without their
remote sensing in crop selection. consent.
• Manufacturing: The Make-in-India programme
could get a shot in the arm with AI-assisted
Steps by government
technology.
• In 2014, a laboratory of the DRDO, Centre for
• Transport: The driver-less car has the potential to
reduce the number of road accidents and thus Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) was
achieve the targets set by the Brasilia Declaration. established for research and development in AI.
• Education: AI-based technology can help in • The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum
assessing the reasonableness of the learning gap and (IUSSTF) launched the US-India Artificial
recommend measures to reduce the same. It can also Intelligence Initiative to foster AI innovation
help automate the assessment activities. through collaboration.
• Health: AI tools help in analysing data and diagnose
diseases with much accuracy and help solve the
complex issues in the healthcare system.
• Banking sector: With AI, banking would get more
streamlined and the issues of risk management,
customer experience would get a comprehensive
solution.
• Weather forecast: AI-based technology could
enhance weather predictability and thus can help
strengthen our climate-resilient practices.
• AI can also help in mining and exploration. For
example, the exploration of shale gas is difficult due
to the uncertainties revolving around it. AI could
help reduce the economic drain in such processes.

• Responsible AI for Youth was launched for Geo-Spatial Technology for Water Sector
government schools to empower the young • These are extremely critical for the water sector.
generation to become AI-ready and reduce the skill • Besides collecting data about assets and resources,
gap in India. it also enables analysis, reporting and
• NITI Aayog started a program called National monitoring, planning and decision making and to
Programme on AI to guide research and take informed action to tackle the issue.
development in this rising technology. • It can also help in process efficiencies, reducing
• NITI Aayog set up a platform named AIRAWAT time for project deployment, ensure better
(Artificial Intelligence Research, Analytics and resource management, and it also offers an
Knowledge Assimilation Platform) for cloud integrated platform for assimilating data from
computing. varied sources for informed decision making.
Geospatial Technologies in Water Sector Application of geo-spatial technologies in various

undergoing schemes
Context • Jal Jeevan Mission: These technologies can help in
• National Mission for Clean Ganga recently released mapping population density vis-a-vis water
a detailed report on how use of Geospatial source/pipelines, mapping of piped water network,
technologies can benefit the water sector in India. water metering etc.
• Namami Gange: GIS ready database of wetlands,
What are geo-spatial technologies? flood plain with 10 km buffer on both sides of river
• Technologies like Satellite based Remote Sensing, Ganga using LiDAR, Water quality mapping using
Surveying and Mapping, GPS based equipment and IoT sensors into GIS system, Real time river water
sensors, GIS and Spatial Analytics, Artificial quality, etc.
Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Internet of • National River Linking Project: High-Resolution
Things, 5G, Robotics and Digital Twin, are Satellite Imagery datasets can be used to identify the
collectively called geo-spatial technologies. potential routes in geospatial domain for
interlinking. These images can be used for
Why needed? delineating drought prone areas.
• India is heavily dependent on groundwater due to • Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
its population and requirement of water in Transformation (AMRUT): Mapping of piped water
agriculture. network distribution and movement of water,
• India is the largest user of groundwater in the scanning of underground utilities using GPR, Real
world and is one of the worst hit countries by time communication and collaboration platforms
water crisis. for city administrations.
• National Water Mission: Mapping of catchments
• World Economic Forum (WEF) has regarded water
and surveying land use patterns while emphasising
crisis as one of the major global issues of this
on drainage, vegetation cover, silting,
century.
encroachment, conservation of mangrove areas,
• The hydroelectricity projects in Alaknanda and
human settlements and, human activities and its
Bhagirathi have turned upper Ganga into ecological
impact on catchments and water bodies.
deserts.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY): High resolution images
• Uranium contamination in groundwater due to
can be used for understanding terrain, soil texture,
mining in Rajasthan and Gujarat. GW potential zones, rainwater infiltration capacity,
• The energy sector in the country is highly water site selection for water extraction, rainwater
dependent. harvesting.
• NITI Aayog reported 30% Himalayan springs
already dried up due to receding glaciers. Way forward
• NITI Aayog's composite water management index • Water crisis should be seen as a need-based
reported that persistent water crises will lead to 6% approach instead of right-based approach.
loss in the country's GDP by 2030. • A just and comprehensive solution is must to
promote the inter-generational justice.
Malaria Disease • Performance of India: The World Malaria Report
Context: 2020-
• The World Health Organization (WHO) declared o India showed a reduction in reported malaria
China as “malaria-free” which followed a seven cases of 49% and deaths of 50.5% compared
decade-long, multi-pronged health strategy that was with 2017.
able to entirely eliminate indigenous cases for four o The estimated malaria cases were reduced by
straight years.
24% in 2017 compared to 2016 and 28% in
• “Malaria-free” certificate by WHO requires four
consecutive years of no malaria cases in the 2018 compared to 2017.
concerned country which is to be verified by an o Malaria cases reduced by 73% in the region,
independent panel. from 23 million in 2000 to about 6.3 million in
2019.
About Malaria:
o Malaria deaths in India declined from about
• Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease
caused by parasites (Plasmodium vivax, 29,500 in 2000 to about 7,700 in 2019.
Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae and Steps taken to eliminate malaria:
Plasmodium ovale) that are transmitted through • By WHO:
the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. o WHO Global technical strategy for malaria
• Symptoms: usually appear 10–15 days after the 2016-2030: provides a technical framework for
infective mosquito bite.
all malaria-endemic countries and intended to
o The first symptoms – fever, headache, and chills
guide and support regional and country
– may be mild and difficult to recognize as
malaria. If not treated within 24 hours, P. programmes as they work towards malaria
falciparum malaria can progress to severe control and elimination.
illness, often leading to death.  The Strategy sets ambitious but achievable
o Children with severe malaria: frequently global targets, including:
develop one or more of the following symptoms- 1. reducing malaria case incidence by at least
severe anaemia, respiratory distress in relation
90% by 2030;
to metabolic acidosis, or cerebral malaria
• Geographical spread: It is predominantly found in 2. reducing malaria mortality rates by at least
the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South 90% by 2030;
America as well as Asia. It is preventable as well as 3. eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries
curable. by 2030;
o In 2019, The WHO African region was home to
4. preventing a resurgence of malaria in all
94% of malaria cases and deaths.
countries that are malaria-free.
• Severity of the disease: The World malaria report
2020 estimates o WHO Global Malaria Programme: coordinates
o In 2019, there were an estimated 229 million WHO's global efforts to control and eliminate
cases of malaria worldwide. malaria.
o The estimated number of malaria deaths stood  It is supported and advised by the Malaria
at 409 000 in 2019. Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC), a group
o Children aged under 5 years are the most
of global malaria experts appointed
vulnerable group affected by malaria; in 2019,
they accounted for 67% (274 000) of all malaria following an open nomination process.
deaths worldwide. o E-2025 Initiative: based on the successes of E-
20 initiative (aimed at eliminating malaria in 21
Malaria in India: countries across five regions).
• WHO South-East Asia Region (accounts for 3.4%
 Aim: WHO identified 25 countries having
of the cases globally): main contributor being India
(58%), followed by Indonesia (30%) and Myanmar potential to stamp out malaria within a 5-
(10%). year timeline (by 2025).
• By India: o RTS,S vaccine (branded as Mosquirix): found
o National Strategic Plan for Malaria to be safe and reducing the risk of malaria by
Elimination (2017): shifted focus from Malaria nearly 40%, the best ever recorded. It has been
control to elimination and provided a roadmap approved by the European Medicines Agency in
to end malaria in 571 districts out of India’s 678 2015.
districts by 2022.  It trains the immune system to attack the
o Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India malaria parasite (Plasmodium (P.)
(MERA-India): a conglomeration of partners falciparum, the most-deadly species of the
working on malaria control (established by malaria parasite).
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)). o Treatment: best available treatment is
artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).
Ways to eliminate malaria disease: o Early diagnosis and complete treatment: of
• Prevention: malaria reduces disease and prevents deaths
o Insecticide treated nets (LLINs) by people at along with reducing malaria transmission.
risk and indoor residual spraying (IRS) with Increased malaria prevention and control
insecticide to control the vector mosquitoes are measures have dramatically reduced malaria in
useful. India.
Security
Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute • The 1875 demarcations, when Mizoram was known
as Lushai Hills, was derived from the Bengal
Context
• The border dispute between Assam and Mizoram
Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.
turned violent leading to the death of at least 6- • It differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of
Assam policemen, while injuring around 50 Cachar in Assam’s Barak Valley.
individuals. • The whole demarcation was done in consultation
with the Mizo chiefs, and it became the basis for the
Key points Inner Line Reserve Forest demarcation in the
• The current issue began when Assam police Gazette two years later.
allegedly took control over ‘Aitlanghar’, accusing the • The 1933 demarcation marks a boundary between
people of Mizoram of encroaching on its territory. Lushai Hills and Manipur, beginning at the tri-
• Since then, the region is witnessing frequent junction of Lushai Hills, Cachar district and Manipur.
clashes from the people and the police of both the • The Mizos do not accept this demarcation on the
sides. ground that their chiefs were not consulted this
time.
Border of Assam with Mizoram
• Three districts of Assam, namely Cachar, Different border perceptions
Hailakandi and Karimganj, share boundary with • While the Mizo leaders believes that the only
three districts of Mizoram, namely Kolasib, Mamit, acceptable boundary is the Inner Line of 1875, the
and Aizawl. people of Assam consider the demarcation of
• Both sides have a different perception of the
1933 to be the actual boundary.
border line, which is an imaginary line through
rivers, hills, forests, and valleys.
Simmering of the dispute
Background • The dispute started becoming bitter when Mizoram
• The boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram was made a Union Territory in 1972, and
is nearly a 150-year-old issue. eventually a state in 1987, on the basis of 1933
• There are two boundary demarcations, one in 1875 demarcation. The two states signed an agreement
and the other in 1933, which are the root cause of that status quo should be maintained at no-man’s
the current tension. land set up in the boundaries.

• In 1995, the first major tension was reported in • Severity of drug abuse problem in India:
Lushai Hills along the border when the Mizoram o According to a survey by the Ministry of Social
government tried to settle people there as per the Justice and Empowerment, India has more than
1875 demarcation. 70 million drug addicts.
• Again, in 2018, nearly 50 persons were injured in o An AIIMS study in February 2019: found that
action by Assam police after some Mizo civil society around 5 crore Indians reported to have used
groups tried to set up a hut on the disputed cannabis and opioids at the time of the survey.
boundary.  Alcohol is the most commonly abused
• These skirmishes again resulted in the two states psychoactive substance followed by
agreeing to maintain a status quo and have no cannabis, opioids (heroin, opium) and
man’s land in the disputed area. inhalers.
• Recent tensions, however, exposed the pent-up
 It has been estimated that there are about
issues of the border demarcation.
8.5 lakh people who inject drugs.
o As per National Crime Records Bureau’s
Way forward
• This is not a one-off issue and Assam has border (NCRB)’s suicide data, In the year 2019, 7719
disputes with all the states that were carved out of out of the total 7860 suicide victims due to drug
it, namely Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Arunachal abuse/alcohol addiction were male.
Pradesh.
• The issue finds its roots in the British rule. It, Causes of growing drug menace in India
however, need to be resolved soon as India is a • Location of the country: India is sandwiched
Union of states and ensuring peace and stability in
between two largest Opium producing regions of
the region is the prerogative of the Union
Government. the world that is the Golden triangle (comprises
• A multistakeholder approach, whereby no Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos) on one
affected community is left out, is the need of the side and the Golden crescent (includes Pakistan,
hour. Afghanistan and Iran) on other.
• Peer pressure and on the pretext of being stress
Menace of Drug/Substance abuse in India: buster: school and college students often starts using
Causes, Impacts and Solutions drugs under peer pressure and on the pretext of
Context being immense exam pressure.
• Recently, India has signed 26 bilateral pacts, 15 • Poor implementation of laws: drug trafficking
memoranda of understanding and two agreements across the borders, corruption in policing system,
on security cooperation with different countries for negligence on the part of law enforcement agencies
combating illicit trafficking of narcotic, drugs and
psychotropic substances. (for example use of drugs in rave parties), etc. are few
• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) coordinated of the example of poor implementation of laws.
with various international organizations for sharing • Changing traditional societal values: The
information and intelligence to combat processes of industrialization, urbanization and
transnational drug trafficking. migration have led to loosening of the traditional
methods of social control rendering an individual
Drug/Substance abuse in India vulnerable to the stresses and strains of modern life.
• Definition: World Health Organization (WHO)
• Financial problems and social neglect: it often
defines Drug Abuse as the harmful or hazardous use
of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and found that people under immense financial pressure,
illicit drugs. especially unemployed youth start consuming drugs.
o Addiction is an advanced stage of substance o When an adolescent does not get adequate
abuse where the addict develops a compulsion attention and love in the family or from
to take the drug, persists in its use despite friends/intimate partner, s/he often feels
harmful consequences and exhibits a neglected and to cope up with this, they start
determination to obtain the drug by almost any
using drugs.
means.

Impacts of rampant drug abuse o About 350 to 400 Integrated Rehabilitation
• On society: Rampant drugs use among people, Centres for Addicts (IRCAs) are functioning
especially youth affect relationships with family, with the support of the Ministry.
friends creating emotional and social problems. o National Centre for Drug Abuse Prevention
o Drug use have also linked with rise in the has been set up for capacity building and
domestic abuse of women in the family. training of NGOs running De-addiction centres.
• On national economy: it results in the wastage of
Way forward
demographic dividend that India has as drug use
• Drug menace is the manifestation of deep-rooted
harms individual’s mental, physical and emotional distortions in the socio-cultural, economic and
capabilities, hence, negatively affecting the Indian political system. Being systemic and multi-
economy. dimensional, its solution shall have to be systemic
• On health: drug use often results in unintentional and multi-pronged.
injuries, accidents, incidents, medical problems, and • Reducing the stigma attached to drug problem:
death. by being empathetic towards victims of drug addicts
• Internal security: terrorists and other extremist and should not treat them criminals.
organizations often sell drugs to garner money for • Awareness: should be done by the government
their terrorist activities, hence, harming India’s with the coordination of civil societies in this field.
national security and sovereignty. o Educational curriculum should be revised and
chapter on drug addiction and ways to counter
Important government steps to check drug menace it should be included.
in India • Strengthening the rehabilitation and other
• Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD): established health infrastructure to ensure quality care to
in 2016 by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for drug addicts and re-integration in the society.
effective drug law enforcement. This NCORD system
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA),
has been restructured into a four-tier scheme up to
district level in 2019, for better coordination.
1967
• E-portal ‘SIMS’ (Seizure Information Context
Management System): launched in 2019 by MHA • Father Stan Swamy died in jail as he could not get
for digitization of pan-India drug seizure data which bail under the UAPA Act. This brings the Act to
is to be used by all the drug law enforcement attention, again.
agencies under the mandate of NDPS Act.
• Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Key points
(NDPS) Act, 1985: It prohibits a person from • Stan Swamy was a Jesuit priest, who died waiting
producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, for bail for nine months.
• He was booked by National Investigative Agency
transporting, storing, and/or consuming any
(NIA) under UAPA concerning Bhima Koregaon
narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
violence.
o It also applies to all Indian citizens outside India
• His death has, again, brought the spotlight on the
and to all persons on ships and aircraft credibility of UAPA.
registered in India.
o It empowers the Directorate of Revenue Background of UAPA
Intelligence, the Border Security Force, • The, 1967 was enacted to provide prevention of
Sashastra Seema Bal, Indian Coast Guard, certain unlawful activities of individuals and
Railway Protection Force and the National associations.
Investigation Agency for making drug seizures. • The 1967 version of the Act gave certain powers to
• Role of Ministry of Social Justice and the central government to deal with activities that
Empowerment: it is the nodal ministry for drug are meant to undermine the sovereignty and
demand reduction that coordinates and monitors integrity of India.
all aspects of drug abuse prevention which include • Originally, the act was not a terror law and it
assessment of the extent of the problem, preventive became so after the amendment in 2004 when
action, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. Parliament inserted a chapter to punish terror
activities.

• The act was subsequently amended many times to • It violates one of our cardinal Fundamental Rights,
broaden its scope, the last being the amendment in freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under
2019 when it was decided to include not only certain Article 19(1)(a).
groups as a terrorist organisation, but also certain • It has a low conviction rate. According to the data
individuals as terrorists. of the Home Ministry, only 2.2% of cases registered
under the Act led to conviction by courts.
Importance of UAPA • It undermines federalism because ‘police’ is a state
• The act forms the foundation of India’s legislative subject and the act has a limited role of state police.
policy against terrorism.
• It ensures the government’s responsibility towards Way forward
upholding the security of individuals. • The Act should be implemented in letter and spirit
• It helps in maintaining the sovereignty and to prevent its misuse.
integrity of India. • There is a need to maintain a balance between the
• It puts law enforcement agencies one step ahead freedom of the individual and national security.
of the terrorists. This increases the morale of our Ensuring both is sine-qua-non to India’s democracy.
security forces. • Since the issue is of interpretation of the Act, the
role of the judiciary becomes important.
Criticism Arbitrariness and ulterior motive should be decided
• The act makes bail difficult. Moreover, it extends from the lens of constitutionalism. Example-
the pre-charge sheet custody period from 90 days to Guwahati High Court observed that civil
180 days. disturbance, which arises out of protests cannot
be considered as an act of terror.
History, Art & Culture

Dholavira: A City of Harappan Civilization Importance of the Dholavira site:
• It is the first site of the ancient Indus Valley
Context
Civilisation (IVC) in India to get the tag.
• Dholavira, the archaeological site of a Harappan-
• It was a commercial and manufacturing hub for
era city, received the UNESCO world heritage site
tag during 44th meeting of UNESCO’s World about 1,500 years before its decline and eventual
Heritage Committee. ruin in 1500 BC.
o It is locally as Kotada timba. • Dholavira is the fifth largest metropolis of IVC
• Earlier, Government of India had submitted after Mohen-jo-Daro, Ganweriwala and Harappa in
nomination dossier of ‘Dholavira: A Harappan Pakistan and Rakhigarhi in Haryana of India.
City’ for inclusion in the World Heritage List for the
year 2020. Key features/findings
• Dholavira has now become 40th Indian site to be • Only Harappan site to be divided into three
on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. parts: it has a fortified citadel, a middle town and
a lower town with walls made of sandstone or
About Dholavira site limestone instead of mud bricks in many other
• Location: It is located on a hillock near present-day Harappan sites.
Dholavira village in Kutch district, from which it • Cascading series of water reservoirs: Dholavira
gets its name. appears to have had several large reservoirs, and an
o It is located in the Khadir Bet Island of the elaborate system of drains to collect water from the
Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. city walls and house tops to fill these water tanks.
o Dholavira’s location is on the Tropic of Cancer.
• Two multi-purpose grounds — one of which was
• Discovery: discovered in 1968 by archaeologist
used for festivities and as a marketplace.
Jagat Pati Joshi. The site’s excavation between
• Nine gates with unique designs.
1990 and 2005 under the supervision of
• Funerary architecture featuring tumulus —
archaeologist Ravindra Singh Bisht uncovered
the ancient city. hemispherical structures like the Buddhist Stupas.

• No mortal remains of humans have been o Harappans lost a huge market, affecting the local
discovered at Dholavira unlike other graves at mining, manufacturing, marketing and export
other IVC sites. Memorials contain no bones or
businesses once Mesopotamia fell.
ashes but offerings of precious stones, etc.
• Climate Change: from 2000 BC, Dholavira entered
• Other findings: include painted pottery, seals,
stone figures, weights, sign board etc. a phase of severe aridity due to climate change and
• Knowledge of metallurgy: as indicated by the rivers like Saraswati drying up.
remains of a copper smelter in Dholavira. o Drought like situation resulted in large-scale
o It is believed that traders of Dholavira used to migration from Dholavira toward the Ganges
source copper ore from present-day
valley or towards south Gujarat and further
Rajasthan and Oman and UAE and export
finished products. beyond in Maharashtra.
• It was also a hub of manufacturing jewellery • The Great Rann of Kutch, which surrounds the
made of shells and semi-precious stones, like agate Khadir island on which Dholavira is located, used to
and used to export timber. be navigable, but the sea receded gradually and the
• Trade with the Mesopotamia: as beads peculiar to
Rann became a mudflat.
the Harappan workmanship have been found in the
Conservation status
royal graves of Mesopotamia.
• Remained free from encroachment in the
Other Harappan sites in Gujrat historical period as well as in the modern times.
• Lothal: located in Saragwala village on the bank of o UNESCO termed Dholavira as one of the most
Sabarmati in Dholka taluka of Ahmedabad
remarkable and well-preserved urban
district.
settlements in South Asia dating from the 3rd
o It was excavated between 1955 and 1960.
o It is an important port city of the ancient to mid-2nd millennium BCE.
civilisation, with structures made of mud • Development of a museum here by the
bricks. Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
o Key discoveries: 21 human skeletons from a
• Fossil Park: near the Dholavira city has been
graveyard, Foundries for making copperware,
developed where wood fossils are preserved.
Ornaments made of semi-precious stones, gold
etc.
• Rangpur on the bank of Bhadar river in
Surendranagar district was the first Harappan
site in the state to be excavated.
• Other sites: Rojdi in Rajkot district, Prabhas near
Veraval in Gir Somnath district, Lakhabaval in
Jamnagar, and Deshalpar in Bhuj taluka of Kutch.
Possible Reasons for downfall of the city

• Collapse of Mesopotamia: due to integrated
economic system between the two civilizations,
downfall of Mesopotamia may have caused the
downfall of Dholavira.

Prelims Booster Articles

Catch the Rain Campaign 1. Gharial:
• Habitat: mostly found in fresh water. In India,
Context
the chambal river of the Vindhya mountains
• Odisha has come up with more than 10,000
rainwater harvesting structures (RWHS) to facilitate (Madhya Pradesh) is considered primary
water conservation and groundwater recharge habitat. They are also found in rivers like ghagra,
before onset of southwest monsoon. gandak, Girwa, Ramganga and the Sone.
o These were created under ‘Catch the Rain” • Threats: Illegal sand mining, poaching,
campaign. increased river pollution, dam construction, etc.
Key points • Protection status:
• “Catch the Rain” campaign: a nation-wide o IUCN List of Threatened Species: Critically
campaign by National Water Mission (NWM) Endangered
Ministry of Jal Shakti. o CITES: Appendix I
o Focus: on saving and conserving rainwater in o Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
the pre-monsoon and monsoon periods of 2021,
covering both urban and rural areas of all the 2. Mugger or Marsh Crocodile:
districts in the country. • Habitat: can be found in both freshwater
o Tagline: “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it habitats (like rivers, lakes and marshes) and
falls”. saltwater habitats (like coastal saltwater
o Aim: to nudge the states and all stakeholders to lagoons and estuaries).
create RWHS suitable to the climatic conditions • Threats: Habitat destruction, fishing activities
and sub-soil strata, with people’s active
and use of crocodile parts for medicinal
participation.
purposes. It is already extinct in Bhutan and
• Awareness campaign: in collaboration with the
Myanmar.
"Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan" (NYKS),
• Protection status:
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports involving youth
o IUCN List of Threatened Species:
clubs.
Vulnerable
Miscellaneous o CITES: Appendix I
• Water is a state subject under seventh schedule o Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
of the constitutional: Hence, Central government
provides only technical and financial assistance to 3. Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile:
states through various schemes and programs. • Habitat:
• Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) o India: Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National
report: released by the NITI Aayog since 2018. Park, the Sundarbans in West Bengal and
o Second edition (2019) ranked all states in the the Andamans and Nicobar Islands.
index on the composite water management, o Globally: found across Southeast Asia and
comprising 9 broad sectors with 28 different northern Australia.
indicators. • Threats: Illegal hunting, habitat loss, and
antipathy toward the species (as it is considered
Crocodile Conservation
as man-eater).
Context • Protection status:
• 194 crocodiles have been relocated from the o IUCN List of Threatened Species: Least
Panchmuli lake near the Statue of Unity, Concern
Gujarat, in the last two years for the safety of o CITES: Appendix I (except the populations of
tourists who come to enjoy boat rides there. Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea,
which are included in Appendix II).
About Crocodiles: three species of the crocodiles are o Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
found in India.
NIPUN Bharat Programme o It reports to the Department of Agricultural
Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture
Context and Farmer Welfare.
• The Ministry of Education has launched NIPUN o Union Agriculture Minister is its ex-officio
Bharat Programme to cover learning needs of president.
children belonging to age group of 3-9 years. o Headquarter: New Delhi
o It is the apex body responsible for agriculture
Key Points education and research, and farm extension.
• National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading o It acts as a nodal agency for Krishi Vigyan
with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Kendras.
Bharat), aims at ensuring that every child attains
foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Relics of Georgian Queen St. Ketevan
Grade 3, by 2026-27.
Context
• The program is expected to transform learning at
• Recently, foreign minister of India handed over
the foundational level and make it Holistic,
relics of 17th century Georgian Queen St. Ketevan
Integrated, Inclusive, Enjoyable, and Engaging. to Georgia.
• It has been launched under Samagra Siksha o It is the first-ever visit by Indian External
Scheme, a centrally sponsored scheme. Affairs Minister since the country's
independence in 1991.
Miscellaneous
• Samagra Siksha Abhiyan
About the relics
o It was launched in Union Budget 2018-19
• St. Queen Ketevan’s relics were found in 2005 at the
o It aims to treat education holistically, without
St. Augustine Convent in Old Goa.
segmentation, from pre-nursery to Class 12. • The relics are believed to have been brought to Goa
o It subsumes three schemes, namely, Sarva in 1627 and interred in St. Augustine Complex.
Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik o The relics were authenticated by the CSIR-
Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology,
Education (TE). Hyderabad, on the insistence of the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Harit Dhara and Tamarin Plus
About Georgia:
Context
• Georgia declared its independence in the wake of
• ICAR (Indian Council of Education and Research)
disintegration of USSR in 1991. India recognized
has launched Harit Dhara and Tamarin Plus—anti-
Georgia on 26th December 1991.
methanogenic feed supplements for livestock. • Strategic location: it is a country at the
intersection of Europe and Asia.
Key Points o It is bounded on the north and northeast by
• It could reduce methane emissions by 20% when Russia, on the east and southeast by
mixed with livestock feed. Azerbaijan, on the south by Armenia and
• It is expected to overcome production inefficiency, Turkey, and on the west by the Black Sea.
thus leading to higher milk yield, and stabilise global
warming. Supernovae
Context
Miscellaneous
• Indian researchers have spotted an extremely
• Methane is a Green-House Gas (GHG) and its global
bright, hydrogen deficient, fast-evolving supernova
warming potential is 25 times more than Carbon
(named SN 2020ank) that shines with the energy
Dioxide over 100 years.
borrowed from an exotic type of neutron star
• ICAR
with an ultra-powerful magnetic field.
o Earlier known as Imperial Council of o It was studied by scientists from Aryabhatta
Agricultural Research, it was established in Research Institute of Observational Sciences
1929 as a society registered under the Societies (ARIES), Department of Science and Technology
Registration Act, 1860. (DST).
• These observations were made using three Indian o Recently it established its own indigenously
telescope: designed and developed the Devasthal
1. Devasthal Optical Telescope (recently Optical Telescope. the largest optical
commissioned) telescope of its kind in Asia. It will be used to
2. Sampurnanand Telescope study star structures and magnetic field
3. Himalayan Chandra Telescope structures of stars.
About supernova Right to Repair Movement

• Supernovae (SNe) are highly energetic explosions in
Context
the Universe releasing an enormous amount of
• Developed countries like the US and the UK are
energy.
pushing forward the concept of ‘right to repair’
o It is the explosion of a star. It is the largest
which allow the consumers to fix their gadgets
explosion that takes place in space.
themselves.
• Supernovas are often seen in other galaxies. But
supernovas are difficult to see in our own Milky Way
Key points
galaxy because dust blocks our view.
• ‘Rig ht to repair’ movement
• A supernova happens where there is a change in
o Consumers depend a lot on the manufacturers
the core, or centre, of a star. A change can occur in
for repairing the gadgets, which sometimes are
two different ways, with both resulting in a
inaccessible for most of us.
supernova.
o Activists around the world have been voicing
1. In binary star system: binary starts are two
this concern since 1950s—dawn of the era of
stars that orbit the same point. One of them, a
computers.
carbon-oxygen white- dwarf, steals matter from
o The goal of this movement is to urge the
its companion star, eventually leading to
companies to make spare parts, tools and
accumulation of matter on the white dwarf,
also make the information available for the
causing it to explode, resulting in a supernova.
common people, to increase the life span of
2. Occurring at the end of a single star’s
these products and thus reduce the e-waste.
lifetime: as the star runs out of nuclear fuel,
• Manufacturing is a highly polluting process and
some of its mass flows into its core. This results
when gadgets become obsolete quickly, this
in core becoming so heavy that it can’t withstand
process becomes frequent and thus contribute
its own gravitational force. Eventually core
significantly to the heap of e-waste generated across
collapses resulting in the giant explosion of a
the world.
supernova.
• Activists accuse the companies of ‘planned
obsolescence’, which means these companies
Additional information
deliberately make gadgets that do not last long, so
• Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational
that people fall in their trap and are left at the mercy
Sciences (ARIES):
of these companies.
o It is an autonomous institute of the
• With no surprise, this movement has been facing
Department of Science & Technology (DST),
resistance from the tech-giants like Microsoft and
Government of India.
Apple.
o It is one of the leading research Institutes which
• The activists of this movement also argue that the
specializes in observational Astronomy &
implementation of this movement will help create
Astrophysics and Atmospheric Sciences.
employment opportunities at the grassroot level.
o The unique position of ARIES (79° East),
places it at almost in the middle of 180° wide
longitude band, between Canary Island (20°
• Basel convention is an international effort to
West) and Eastern Australia (157° East), and
reduce the e-waste generation around the world.
therefore complements observations which
• Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative (MPPI) is a
might not be possible from either of these two
project under Basel Convention to address the issue
places.
of end-of life mobile phones.

Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021 Key facts about Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020
• Background:
Context o Historic postponement: This is the first time
• Recently, UN Sustainable Development Solutions that the Olympic Games have been postponed
Network (SDSN) has released the 6th edition of and rescheduled.
Sustainable Development Report 2021. o It is also considered as the first postponement
of an Olympics in peacetime.
Key points • Tokyo was selected as the host city during the 125th
• Ranking and Score IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2013.
o Finland topped the report followed by Sweden • Hosting Olympics in Tokyo in 1964 making this the
and Denmark. first city in Asia to host the Summer Games twice.
o India has secured the 120th rank among the 165 • Tokyo 2020 medals have been crafted with
countries with a score of 60.1. recycled electronic waste.
• Other inference • Athletes representing 206 National Olympic
o It is the first time since the launch of this report Committees, including a refugee Olympic team, are
that all the countries have shown a reversal expected to participate. Indian contingent will
in progress in achieving the goals, owing the compete across 18 disciplines.
• Manpreet Singh and Mary Com will be the flag-
COVID-19.
bearers for India at the opening ceremony.
o The low-income countries are lacking the
financial capacity to achieve the goals under
About Olympics:
SDG, the pandemic has only worsened the • The first modern Olympic Games were held in
situation. 1896 at Athens (Greece) and the architect of the
o East and South Asia have been showing more modern Olympics Games was Pierre, baron de
progress in achieving the SDGs than any other Coubertin.
region. • Missing Olympic: In 1940, Japan was about to
o 3 countries have shown a remarkable progress become the first Asian country to host Olympics but
since 2015—Bangladesh, Ivory Coast, and it got canceled due to its military aggression in Asia.
Afghanistan. • 1940 Olympics also called ‘Missing Olympics’
as it later got cancelled due to World War 2.
Additional information Additional information
• Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 goals • International Olympic Committee (IOC): it was
and 169 targets, which are set to be achieved by created in 1894 and is the supreme authority of the
2030. Olympic Movement.
• Recently, NITI Aayog has released the 3rd edition of o It is a non-governmental sports organisation
SDG India index. In this index, Kerala has retained based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and
the top position and Bihar is named as the worst responsible for organising the Summer and
performer. Winter Olympic Games.
UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites

Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020
• Context: Recently, the English city of Liverpool
Context
has been removed from UNESCO’s list of world
• The Summer Olympics 2020 is being held in
heritage sites after the United Nations' cultural
Tokyo, Japan between 23 July-08 August, 2021. agency found new buildings, including a football
With no fans permitted in Japan, foreign or local, it stadium, undermined the attractiveness of its
has the distinction of being the first Games without Victorian docks.
spectators. • The city is only the third place to be removed from
• Even after postponement, the Olympics Games will the prestigious list, other two being- a wildlife
keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games sanctuary in Oman in 2007 and the Dresden Elbe
Tokyo 2020. valley in Germany in 2009.

Key facts • Empowered Committee of officers:
• About UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites: A o They are constituted to appraise and
World Heritage site is officially classified as a natural recommend the proposals for funding under
or man-made area or a structure that is of Nirbhaya Fund.
international importance and requires special o They also review the status of implementation of
protection. These sites are officially recognized by approved projects from time to time in
the UNESCO.
collaboration with the concerned
o The list is maintained by the international
Implementing Agencies.
World Heritage Program administered by the
UNESCO World Heritage Committee, • After appraisal by the EC, the concerned Ministries
composed of 21 UNESCO member states which (or Departments) obtain approval of the Competent
are elected by the General Assembly. Financial Authority (CFA), release funds and
• Criteria for selection: To be included in the list, a implement the project /scheme either directly or
World Heritage Site must be an already classified through various Implementing Agencies.
landmark, unique in some respect as a
geographically and historically identifiable place Additional information
having special cultural or physical significance. • Nirbhaya Fund:
• Benefits: The heritage label gives historic sites
• It was set up in 2013 to implement the initiatives,
access to UN conservation funding as well as
which are aimed at improving the security and
featuring in tourist guidebooks across the world.
India and UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites safety of women in our country.
• At present, India has 38 World Heritage Sites. • It is a non-lapsable corpus fund where the
These include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural government contributed Rs. 1000 crores.
properties and 1 mixed site. • Administration of the fund rests with the
• Recently, six Indian sites have been added to the Department of Economic Affairs under the
tentative list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Ministry of Finance, while the MW&CD is the nodal
These are – agency for expenditure from this fund.
1. Ganga ghats in Varanasi, U.P. • Under this scheme, the Centre grants money to the
2. Temples of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. states, which in turn spend it on women safety
3. Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh,
programs.
4. Maratha military architecture in
• 3 schemes have been implemented by the Ministry
Maharashtra
5. Hire Bengal megalithic site in Karnataka and of Women and Child Development from this fund.
6. Bhedaghat-Lameta Ghat of Narmada Valley o ‘One Stop Centre’
in Madhya Pradesh. o ‘Universalisation of Women Helpline’
o ‘Mahila Police Volunteer’
Nirbhaya Fund
Context
• Ministry of Women and Child Development
(MOW&CD) recently reported that out of the
allocation of around Rs.6200 crore till date, under
Nirbhaya Fund, a sum of approx. Rs. 4100 crores
have been disbursed/ released by the concerned
Ministries/ Departments and approx. Rs. 2800
crores have been reported to be utilized.
Key points
• Since the inception of Nirbhaya Fund, schemes/
projects worth Rs. 9764.30 Cr. have been appraised
by the Empowered Committee (EC).

Stand-Up India Scheme Key points about the Ramappa temple
• It is Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is situated in
Context
Palampet Village, Warangal (Telangana). It is also
Government has recently decided to extend the duration
known by the name Ramalingeshwara Temple.
of this scheme till 2025. o The temple has its name after its
architect/sculpture, Ramappa.
Key points o It is perhaps the only one in the country that is
Till now, banks have sanctioned Rs 26,204 crore to known by the name of the architect rather than
1,16,266 beneficiaries under the Scheme in the last the king who commissioned it or its presiding
five years. deity.
The scheme has benefited more than 93,000 women • it was built under the supervision of Chief
entrepreneurs till date. Commander Recherla Rudra, during the reign of
Ganapati Deva from Kakatiya dynasty in 1213
Additional information century AD.
Stand Up India Scheme was launched on 05th April, • The stunning dance sculptures and friezes of the
2016. temple appear as if they have been machined into
shape on black dolomite, rather than being chiseled.
Objective: • The temple is built on a valley and it rests on bricks
• The objective of the Stand-Up India Scheme is to that are scientifically shown to float in water.
facilitate loans between Rs. 10 lakh and Rs.1 Crore
to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled
• UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC):
Tribe (ST) borrower and one woman borrower
o It is composed of representatives of 21 States
per bank branch for setting up only a green field
Parties to the World Heritage Convention and
enterprise in manufacturing, services or trading meets once in year.
sector. • Key functions of the Committee-
o Responsible for the implementation of the
Eligibility:
World Heritage Convention,
• The SC/ST or Women entrepreneur should be o Defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and
above 18 years of age. o Allocates financial assistance upon requests
• In case of non-individual enterprises, 51% of the from States Parties.
shareholding should be held either by SC/ST o It has the final say on whether a property is
and/or Women entrepreneur. inscribed on the World Heritage List.
o Examines reports on the state of conservation of
Margin Money: inscribed properties and asks States Parties to
• In the budget 2021-22, the margin money take action when properties are not being
requirement for loans under the Scheme has been properly managed.
reduced from 'upto 25%' to `upto 15%' and o Decides on the inscription or deletion of
activities allied to agriculture have been included in properties on the List of World Heritage in
the Scheme. Danger.
Ramappa temple AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV (INDIA@75)

Context Context
• Recently, the 13th century Ramappa temple in • Prime Minister of India has urged Indians to
Palampet, Telangana was inscribed as a UNESCO participate in the “Amrit Mahotsav” launched to
World Heritage Site at the ongoing online meeting of mark the 75th year of Independence.
the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Fuzhou, • He asked citizens to forge a unity of purpose or
China. “Bharat Jodo Andolan” in the same manner as
o It was the only nomination by India in 2019 for Mahatma Gandhi’s “Quit India” or “Bharat Chhodo
the World Heritage Site selection process. Andolan”.

Key points about Amrit Mahotsav institutional support, energy storage and
• The Prime Minister, in march 2021, flagged off the advance technology initiatives.
‘Padyatra’ (Freedom March) from Sabarmati • Per capita electricity consumption in India is around
Ashram, Ahmedabad and inaugurated the curtain a third of the world average, and is expected to
raiser activities of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ continue increasing despite the government’s
(India@75). energy efficient initiatives, including LED lighting,
o It is a symbolic 386-km “Dandi March” from efficient cooling and building standards.
Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to Dandi in • Solar and wind form the majority of India’s
Navsari district of South Gujarat. renewable capacity.
o It has marked the 91st anniversary of the
• Renewable energy penetration is highly variable in
historic salt march led by Mahatma Gandhi.
the states of India. The share of solar and wind in
• The launch of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ 75
India’s ten renewables-rich states (Tamil Nadu,
weeks before 15 August 2022 will continue till 15
August, 2023. Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh,
• Under it, a series of events to be organised by the Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab
Government of India to commemorate the 75th and Kerala) is significantly higher than the national
Anniversary of India’s Independence. average of 8.2%.
• It is based on five pillars i.e. Freedom Struggle, Ideas
at 75, Achievements at 75, Actions at 75 and Recommendations
Resolves at 75 as guiding force for moving forward • The report recommended to remove the
keeping dreams and duties as inspiration. barriers—both technical and economic—between
inter-state trading.
Additional information • Indian states should leverage all potential sources
• Quit India movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan): of power system flexibility to maximise the value of
o On 8th August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave a solar and wind.
clarion call to end the British rule by launching • Rooftop solar systems need to be monitored and
the Quit India Movement at the session of the managed.
All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai.
o Here, he gave the clerical call of ‘Do or Die’ at the
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Annual
Gowalia Tank Maidan, now popularly known
as August Kranti Maidan. Report
o The slogan ‘Quit India’ was coined by Yusuf Context
Meherally, a socialist and trade unionist who • National Statistical Office (NSO) launched the third
also served as Mayor of Mumbai. Annual Report on the basis of Periodic Labour
Renewables Integration in India 2021 Force Survey conducted during July 2019-June
2020.
Context
• The report was jointly launched by NITI Aayog and Key points
IEA (International Energy Agency). The report is • Considering the importance of availability of labour
based on the outcome of three states workshops
force data at more frequent time intervals, National
held with the Governments of Maharashtra,
Statistical Office (NSO) launched Periodic Labour
Karnataka and Gujarat to understand the specific
Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017.
energy transition challenges faced by these
renewable-rich states. • The objective of PLFS is primarily twofold:
• to estimate the key employment and unemployment
Key points indicators (viz. Worker Population Ratio, Labour
• According to the report, India is the third largest Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate)
energy-consuming country in the world. in the short time interval of three months for the
• India’s power system can efficiently integrate urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’
renewables (175 GW by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030), (CWS) and,
but it would require identification of resources and • to estimate employment and unemployment
proper planning, regulatory, policy and indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ (ps+ss) and CWS in
both rural and urban areas annually.
Key Findings:
Rural Urban Rural+Urban

Rates
male female person male female person male female person
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
PLFS 2019-20
LFPR 56.3 24.7 40.8 57.8 18.5 38.6 56.8 22.8 40.1
WPR 53.8 24.0 39.2 54.1 16.8 35.9 53.9 21.8 38.2
UR 4.5 2.6 4.0 6.4 8.9 7.0 5.1 4.2 4.8
Additional information Key points

• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is • Hepatitis: it refers to any inflammation of the liver
defined as the percentage of persons in labour force — the irritation or swelling of the liver cells from
(working or seeking or available for work) in the any cause. It disturbs various metabolic
population. processes such as bile production, excretion, fat and
protein metabolism, activation of enzymes and
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined
synthesis of proteins.
as the percentage of employed persons in the
o Recently, an automated coronavirus testing
population. device named ‘COBAS 6800’ was launched
• Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the which can also detect viral Hepatitis B & C,
percentage of persons unemployed among the among others.
persons in the labour force. • Causes:
• Activity Status- Usual Status: The activity status of o Viral causes: caused by a group of viruses
a person is determined on the basis of the activities known as the “hepatotropic” viruses, including
pursued by the person during the specified A, B, C, D and E.
reference period. When the activity status is o Other causes: cab be caused by drugs and
alcohol abuse, fatty liver hepatitis or an
determined on the basis of the reference period of
autoimmune process in which a person’s body
last 365 days preceding the date of survey, it is
makes antibodies that attack the liver
known as the usual activity status of the person. (autoimmune hepatitis).
o Covid-19 virus SARS-CoV-2 has also been
Activity Status- Current Weekly Status (CWS): The found to injure the liver.
activity status determined on the basis of a reference • Types: there are five types- Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B,
period of last 7 days preceding the date of survey is Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E.
known as the current weekly status (CWS) of the person. o Hepatitis A-
 Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, fever,
Hepatitis Disease severe abdominal pain, jaundice, weakness
and these symptoms might last longer till
Context eight weeks.
• World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28th  Treatment: Hepatitis A is a self-limiting
July to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis. disease and require no specific antiviral
• Theme of World Hepatitis Day 2021 is ‘Hepatitis medications.
Can’t Wait’. o Hepatitis B:

 Symptoms: include abdominal pain, fatigue, • Participation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs):
and jaundice. Symptoms do not come to underprivileged women from self-help groups who
limelight until one to six months. are designated as 'Jalsaathis' have been hired and
 Treatment: effective medications are trained for meter reading, revenue collection,
available. Hepatitis B Vaccine could be conducting field water quality tests, and sensitising
done for both adults and children as a people.
• Display of Real-time water quality: at public
preventive measure. Hepatitis B vaccination
places by way of LCD screens to ensure public
is included under India's Universal
confidence and a mass shift from bottled water to
Immunization Program (UIP). tap water.
o Hepatitis C:
 Symptoms: loss of appetite, tiredness, Agarwood
frequently occurring fever, yellowing of your
skin or eyes, joint pain, abnormalities in Context
• The Tripura government has approved the ‘Tripura
urine and abdominal pain.
Agarwood Policy, 2021’ to promote agarwood
 Treatment: like Hepatitis B, effective
business in the state with an aim to develop a Rs
medications are available for its 2000 crore economy in the state within 2025.
treatment.
 Hepatitis D: caused by a virus Hepatitis D. Key points
It spreads from infected blood or wound. • The project’s worth is Rs 100 crore, and has been
Sometimes it might occur in conjunction undertaken as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’
with Hepatitis B. So, its symptoms and and ‘Vocal for Local’ initiatives of the Centre.
treatment are similar to Hepatitis D/B as the • It has received the necessary clearance from the
case may be. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate
 Hepatitis E: They are self-limiting diseases Change.
(go away on their own) and require no • Steps has been taken to legalize marketing of
specific antiviral medications. agarwoods and oil used as chips and in perfume
industries respectively in the gulf countries.
• The government has stated that Agarwood species
‘Drink From Tap’ Mission have a huge potential of creating an Economic
Context Revolution in Tripura.
• Odisha's Puri, the holy land of Lord Jagannatha,
became the first city in India where people can Additional information
• Aquilaria malaccensis or Agar Tree is a
avail high-quality drinking water directly from
substratum of economic prosperity in the North-
the tap on a 24-hour basis.
Eastern region in India, besides being an aromatic
o This feat was achieved under Odisha
plant.
government’s the ‘Drink From Tap’ mission. • Agarwood is an economically important and fast-
growing evergreen tree species native to North
Key points East India.
• Coverage: The initiative is set to provide drinking • Apart from India, the Agar tree’s distribution ranges
water to every household in Odisha across all 114 from the foothills of the Himalayas to Papua New
urban local bodies, with an inclusive mandate Guinea.
covering all slum households. • It is the most expensive raw material in the world.
• Quality potable water: provide water supply • Agarwood oil is also known as liquid gold.
adhering to "Quality Standards of IS 10500" and
will benefit the city’s 2.5- lakh population and 2 National Research Foundation
crore tourists who visit the holy place annually. Context
• Reduce plastic waste: as provision of safe drinking • Recently, the Government proposes to set up a
water will help prevent the use of three crore plastic National Research Foundation (NRF) to
bottles, and reducing the state’s carbon footprint. strengthen the research ecosystem in the country.

Key points • HRW in 1997 shared in the Nobel Peace Prize as a
• NRF is being envisaged as an umbrella structure that founding member of the International Campaign
will improve linkages between R&D, academia to Ban Landmines, and it played a leading role in
and industry. the 2008 treaty banning cluster munitions.
• Functions:
• The total proposed outlay of NRF is Rs 50,000 crore
o The group conducts research and advocacy on
over a period of five years. human rights.
• One of its main objectives is to seed, grow and o HRW investigates and reports on human rights
facilitate research at academic institutions, abuses happening in all corners of the world.
particularly at universities and colleges, where o The group pressures governments, policy
research capacity is currently in a nascent stage. makers, companies, and individual human rights
• It will also fund and support high-impact, large- abusers to denounce abuse and respect human
scale, multi-investigator, multi-institution and, in rights.
o It coordinates with governments, the United
some cases, interdisciplinary or multi-nation
Nations, rebel groups, corporations, and others
projects in collaboration with relevant Ministries,
to see that policy is changed, laws are enforced,
Departments, and other Governmental and non- and justice is served.
Governmental entities, especially industry. o The group often works on behalf of refugees,
children, migrants, and political prisoners
• NRF is envisaged under National Education Vultures in India
Policy 2020. Context
• NEP 2020: It is the 3rd NEP, other two were launched • A recent study of the population of vultures in the
in 1968 and 1986. Sigur plateau has found that the population of all
o It proposes a 5+3+3+4 model of school system. four resident vulture species have seemingly been
on the rise over the past few years.
o It proposes a universal foundational literacy
o White-rumped vultures were the most
by 2025.
frequently recorded, followed by the
o It proposes a Higher Education Commission of populations of long-billed vultures, Asian king
India (HECI), which would be mandated to vultures and Egyptian vultures using the
regulate the educational institutions of the landscape was increasing.
country.
Key facts
o It proposes 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio in
• Vultures in India: Out of 23 species of vultures in
preschool to secondary by 2030.
the world, India is home to 9 species of Vulture
namely the Oriental white-backed, Long-billed,
Human Rights Watch Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian,
Context Bearded, Cinereous and the Eurasian Griffon.
• Recently, Human Rights Watch accused the Israeli
military for committing war crimes in Gaza during
an 11-day war in May, 2021 against the Hamas
militant group.
• The international human rights organization issued
its conclusions after investigating three Israeli
airstrikes that it said killed 62 Palestinian civilians.
Key points
• About Human Rights Watch (HRW): it is an
international non-governmental organization,
headquartered in New York City.
• It was founded in 1978 as “Helsinki Watch,”.

• Conservation status as per IUCN red list of • In urban areas the need is of protecting,
threatened species conserving and restoring ecosystem and not just
o Critically endangered: Oriental white-backed pollution abatement.
vultures, Slender-billed vultures, Long-billed • There is a huge need for public spaces in urban
vultures, Red-headed vultures spaces. River fronts can be a boon in such situation
o Endangered: Egyptian Vultures as it connects community with water bodies in cities.
o Near threatened: Himalayan Vultures, Bearded • “River Cities Alliance” need to be developed that
Vultures, Cinereous Vultures will provide a unique platform for river cities to
o Least Concerned: Indian Griffon Vultures collaborate for collectively achieving river
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972: rejuvenation through sustainable development and
o Schedule-1: Bearded vultures, Long-billed capacity building.
vultures, Slender-billed vultures, Oriental white-
backed vultures. Additional information
o Schedule IV: Egyptian Vultures, Red-headed • Water Sensitive Urban Design and Planning
vultures, Himalayan Vultures, Cinereous (WSUDP) is an emerging urban development
Vultures, Indian Griffon Vultures. paradigm aimed to minimize hydrological
• Threats to their survival impacts of urban development on environment.
o Increasing anthropogenic activities leading to • NMCG is the implementing agency of Namami
loss of natural habitats. Ganga Programme
o It is the implementation wing of National Ganga
o Widespread use of Diclofenac as a medicine
for livestock. Vultures consuming carcasses of River Basin Authority (NGRBA). It is a
registered society originally formed by Ministry
these livestock, get exposed to Diclofenac which
of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
has been found to cause kidney failure in
(MoEFCC) in 2011, under the Societies
vultures.
Registration Act, 1860.
o Food Dearth and Contaminated Food.
o At present it comes under Ministry of Jal Shakti.
o Electrocution by Power lines.
Russian ‘Nauka’ Module

Making Water Sensitive Cities in Ganga Basin
Context
Context • Russia is sending its biggest space laboratory,
• It is a new capacity building initiative to improve
‘Nauka’, to the International Space Station (ISS).
river health/flow.
• It is launched by National Mission for Clean Ganga Key points
(NMCG) in association with Centre for Science and • ‘Nauka’ means science in Russian. It will replace
Environment (CSE). Pirs, which was recently detached from the ISS.
• It will serve as the country’s main research facility
Key points on the space station.
• The key focus areas of the programme will be to
develop Water Sensitive Urban Design and Additional information
Planning, Urban Water Efficiency and • ISS: It is a collaborative effort between five
Conservation, Decentralized Wastewater Treatment participating space agencies: NASA (United States),
and Local Reuse, Urban Groundwater Management Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe)
and Urban Waterbodies / Lake Management. and CSA (Canada).
• There will be more than 40 training programs o It is a low-earth orbit space station, launched in
supported with development of learning material/ 1998.
practitioner’s guides and spread over a period of 3 o It serves as a microgravity and space
years. environment research laboratory where
• It is launched because there is a need for respecting crew members conduct experiments in human
traditions and focusing on the basics of water cycle biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology,
in urban areas. among other fields.

• China is set to complete its permanent space station, EXERCISE INDRA-21
Tiangong station, by the end of 2022.
• Russia, on the other hand, is planning to launch its Context
own launch satellite by 2025. • 12th Edition of Indo-Russia joint military
• India, in 2019, announced that it will not be a part Exercise INDRA 2021 will be held at Volgograd,
of ISS and instead will set up its own small module Russia from 01 to 13 August 2021.
space station. • The exercise will entail conduct of counter terror
o The proposed space station will be developed in operations under the United Nations mandate by
5-7 years’ time frame. a joint force against international terror groups.
Sanjay Gandhi National Park Key points

• The INDRA series of exercise began in 2003 and
Context
• The Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) has
the first joint Tri Services Exercise was conducted
invited citizens, corporates and institutions to in 2017. The last joint, tri-services exercise
adopt animals such as lion, tiger, leopard, rusty- between India and Russia was conducted in India in
spotted cat, blue bull, barking deer and spotted deer December 2019.
for up to one year upon paying a fee. • The exercise is conducted alternatively in India
• This scheme started in 2013 and have been and Russia.
approved by the Central Zoo Authority and till last • Significance:
year 20 animals have been adopted at a total charge o Strengthen mutual trust and confidence
of Rs 16.6 lakh annually. between military forces and also between the
two countries in general.
Key points about Sanjay Gandhi National Park o Enhanced interoperability: between the
• It is a protected area within the metropolis limit Indian & Russian Armies and enable sharing of
of Mumbai in Maharashtra. best practices between the contingents of both
• It is part of the Western Ghats biodiversity, the countries.
forming roughly 20 per cent of Mumbai’s o Promotes brotherhood and camaraderie
geographical area. between soldiers and militaries.
• It was formerly known as Borivali National Park.
• Presence of two lakes named Vihar and Tulsi:
Other military exercises between India and Russia
they are places of immense natural beauty and also
• Exercise Aviaindra: it is an Air Force level exercise
harbor a thriving population of mugger crocodiles
and are throbbing with migratory bird life between India and the Russian Federation. First
throughout the year. Aviaindra was conducted in 2014.
• ‘Kanheri Caves’: around 160 rock-cut caves are • Passage Exercise (PASSEX): It is a naval exercise
situated within the national park. which Indian navy conducts with other friendly
o They are carved from basalt rock and date from countries. In September 2020, India conducts
the 1st century BCE to the 10th century CE. PASSEX with Russia.
• Biodiversity • It is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving
• Flora: The Mauve flower is native to the park and understanding and imbibing best practices from
the surrounding regions. Karvi or karvy, a flowering each other.
plant that flowers once in seven/eight years, can be • Recently, Navies of India and the U.K. participated
found in the park. in a two-day bilateral Passage Exercise (PASSEX)
• Fauna: Spotted Deer, solitary Sambhar, darting in the Bay of Bengal from July 21 to 22, 2021.
Barking Deer, Black-naped Hare, Leopards, Rhesus
Macaque, etc. The Indian flying fox is the biggest Secured Logistics Document Exchange
of the 17 bat species found in the park.
o There are a wide variety of reptiles including Context
crocodiles and avifauna. • Ministry of Commerce & Industry has launched this
o There is high biodiversity of butterflies initiative to further improve ease of doing
including the blue Mormon. business.

Key points • In 2020, this day took place later in the year, on 22
• It is set to improve logistics efficiency, reduce August.
logistics cost, and promote multi-modality and • GFN says that humanity’s “ecological footprint”
sustainability. has increased by 6.6 per cent over the last year due
• These digital initiatives have been launched to fill to easing of COVID restrictions.
the gap areas where no action has yet been taken • Humanity currently uses 74 per cent more
either by private players or any of the line resources than what the planet’s ecosystems can
regenerate each year — or 1.7 Earths.
ministries.
• Ecological Deficit: From 29 July until the end of the
• It will replace the present manual process of
2021, the global economy will be operating in an
generation, exchange and compliance of logistics “ecological deficit”.
documents with a digitized, secure and seamless • Global forest biocapacity has decreased by 0.5%
document exchange system. since 2020, due to spike in deforestation of the
• It will enable generation, storage and interchange of Amazon rainforest.
logistics-related documents digitally using • This year EOD highlighted that the wealthy
Aadhaar and blockchain-based security protocols countries are exhausting much more ecological
for data security and authentication. resources than the less developing countries. For
• It will also provide a complete audit trail of example- if the world’s population lived like the US,
document transfer, faster execution of transaction, EOD would fall on 14 March. It, however, would be
lower cost of shipping and overall carbon footprint, 18 December, if humanity lived like the people of
easy verification of authenticity of documents, Indonesia.
lowered risk of fraud, among other benefits.
• Global Footprint Network: It is an international
Green House Gas Emission Calculator
research organisation that observes humanity’s
• Along with the above initiative, Green House Gas use of natural materials.
(GHG) Emission calculator was also launched. • The 26th COP (Conference Of Parties) of UNFCC
• It is an efficient, user-friendly tool and provides for (United Nations Framework for Climate Change)
calculating and comparing GHG emissions across will be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November this
different modes. year.
• It allows for commodity-wise comparison of GHG
emissions and total cost of transportation, Qutub Minar
including their environmental cost, between Context
movement by road and rail. • Recently, the Delhi High Court has directed South
Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to submit a
Additional information report on the properties being constructed in the
• Ease of Doing Business and Logistics Performance vicinity of Qutub Minar.
index are released by the World Bank. • It has also directed SDMC commissioner to fix
responsibility on officers who have permitted illegal
Earth Overshoot Day and unauthorised constructions.
Context Key points about Qutub Minar

• According to the World Wide Fund for Nature • Construction: the foundation of Qutub Minar was
(WWF), this day shifted back to 29th July this year, laid down by Qutub-ud-din-Aibak- the mamluk
the same date as in 2019. (slave) commander-in-chief of Muhammad of
Ghori, and founder of Muslim rule in India
o Shamsu’d-din Iltutmish (1211-36), successor
Key points
of the Qutub-ud-din-Aibak, added three more
• Earth Overshoot Day (EOD), calculated by the
storeys.
Global Footprint Network (GFN), marks the date o Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-88) constructed
when humanity’s demand for ecological resources the topmost part, a fine specimen of
and services in a given year exceeds what Earth workmanship in white marble and red
can regenerate in that year. sandstone.

o It was later also repaired by Sikandar Lodi. Additional information
o It has a diameter of 14.32m at the base and about • Chandrayan-2:
2.75m on the top with a height of 72.5m. It is an o It was India’s first lander mission.
architectural marvel of ancient India. Unfortunately, it failed to successfully land at the
• Location: Mehrauli, New Delhi. desired location on the moon. Vikram lander
• Alai Darwaja: located in Qutub Complex. It was crash-landed on the lunar surface.
built by Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1311 AD.
o It also carried a rover named Pragyan.
• Mehrauli Iron Pillar: is also located in the Qutub-
o It aimed to attempt soft landing at the south
Minar complex. It was built by Chandragupta II, in
pole of the moon-a site where no earlier
the 4th century.
• Alai Darwaza- located in the Qutub Minar Complex, mission had gone.
It was built by Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1311 AD.
o It is the earliest known example of a true Mughal CA|TS accreditation
arch, with hollow minarets and a unique dome
Context
housing a small cupola on top of the larger one.
• 14 tiger reserves in India have received
o It is built of red sandstone and white marble and
accreditation of the Global Conservation Assured
extensively decorated with jaali (lattice-screen)
patterns, and geometric and floral designs. Tiger Standards (CA|TS).
• Other important monuments in the Qutub Minar
complex: Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque; the tombs of Key points
Altamish, Ala-ud-din Khalji and Imam Zamin; the • CA|TS is a globally accepted conservation tool
Alai Minar, etc. that sets best practice and standards to manage
tigers and encourages assessments to benchmark
Chandrayaan 3 Mission progress.
Context • It is being implemented across 125 sites in seven
• Recently, the government has informed the Lok tiger range countries and India has the highest 94
Sabha that Chandrayaan 3 is scheduled to be sites, out of which assessment was completed for 20
launched during the third quarter of 2022. tiger reserves this year.
• The 14 tiger reserves, which have been accredited,
Key points are Manas, Kaziranga and Orang in Assam;
• The Chandrayaan-3 is the successor to the Satpura, Kanha and Panna in Madhya Pradesh;
Chandrayaan-2 mission and it will likely Pench in Maharashtra; Valmiki Tiger Reserve in
attempt another soft-landing on the lunar Bihar; Dudhwa in Uttar Pradesh; Sunderbans in
surface. West Bengal; Parambikulam in Kerala; Bandipur
• ISRO is planning to land the Chandrayaan 3 at the
Tiger Reserve in Karnataka; and Mudumalai and
lunar South Pole (similar to Chandrayaan 2),
Anamalai Tiger Reserves in Tamil Nadu.
which is a singularly promising part of the moon’s
• We now have 51 tiger reserves across 18 states.
surface.
• Unlike its predecessor, Chandrayaan-3 will not
have an orbiter. However, it will have a lander Additional information
and rover similar to that of Chandrayaan-2. • Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme
o The Chandrayaan-3 lander will also be launched in April 1973.
equipped with a Laser Doppler Velocimeter • It was launched in Jim Corbett National Park,
(LDV). Uttarakhand.
• It will communicate with Earth via the existing • Recently, Manas tiger reserve of Assam has
orbiter from Chandrayaan-2 whose lifespan has achieved a rare-feet by increasing its tiger
been estimated to be seven years. population from zero to 48 in just 2 decades.

NEFT, RTGS for Non-banks • Nature of transactions that can be executed shall
depend upon the type of membership approved for
Context RTGS.
• RBI has allowed non- banks—Prepaid Payment
• Non-banks to be allotted a separate IFSC (Indian
Instrument issuers, White label ATM operators—to Financial System Code) for the same purpose.
participate in its Centralised Payment Systems • They will also be allocated a current account by the
through RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) and RBI and a settlement account is also to be
NEFT (National Electronic Fund Transfer). maintained by the RBI.
Key points Additional information
• Both RTGS and NEFT are instruments of RBI’s
• NEFT: It is a nation-wide centralised payment
Centralised Payment Systems. system owned and operated by the RBI.
• Till now, only banks were allowed to deal with o It was made available on all days of the year
these payment facilities. from December, 2019.
• Beside banks only few non-banks were allowed to
o It was launched in November 2005.
participate in CPS. Those are financial institutions • RTGS: It is a Funds transfer system where money
like NABARD, EXIM Bank, clearing corporations of is transacted from one bank to another in ‘real-
stock exchanges, standalone primary dealers, retail time’, and on gross basis.
payment system organisations and DICGC (Deposit o It is used for high-value fund transfers.
Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation). o It is the fastest possible way to transfer money,
if we are using the banking method.


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August 2021 | Current Affairs Capsule

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Monthly Current Affairs Magazine – August 2021

International Relations .......................................................................................................................27

Social Issues .............................................................................................................................................45

Environment & Biodiversity ..............................................................................................................50

Science & Technology ...........................................................................................................................60

History, Art & Culture ...........................................................................................................................68

Prelims Booster Articles .....................................................................................................................70

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Polity & Governance

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Issues associated with the rules concerning social

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Benefits of CBDC Exports from India

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Importance of the MSME sector in the Indian Steps needed:

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Environment & Biodiversity

Key findings of the report Microplastic Pollution in the World

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Science & Technology

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Geospatial Technologies in Water Sector Application of geo-spatial technologies in various

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History, Art & Culture

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Possible Reasons for downfall of the city

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