Antarctica’s emperor

penguins
•The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes
forsteri) is the tallest and heaviest of all
living penguin species & is endemic to
Antarctica.

•Populations of up to 97% of land-based

Antarctic species may decline by 2100
if the negative consequences of climate
change are not addressed.

CURRENT AFFAIRS 30
DECEMBER 2022
WWW.INSIGHTSONINDIA.COM
 GS2
INSIDE
Indian Constitution
• Laws on religious conversions 22

GS1 • Ladakh under 6th Schedule?

Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the
23

States, issues and challenges

Modern Indian history
• How are disputes between states resolved in India? 24
• A brief history of the INC 8
Parliament and State Legislatures
World History • Reservation for Dalit converts 25
• Kerala’s university laws (amendment) Bills 26
• Vijay Diwas – Bangladesh Liberation War 9
• Maharashtra passes Lokayukta Bill that brings CM under
the ambit of the anti-corruption body 26
Judiciary
Political philosophies like communism
• The impasse over the appointment of judges 27
• Mahaparinirvan Diwas: Comparing Ambedkar’s views on
• The problem of vacancies in the Indian Judiciary  29
Buddhism and Marxism 11
• National Judicial Commission Bill introduced in Rajya
Indian Society Sabha 30
• Society through cinema’s lens 12 • Court vacations: What are the arguments for and against
judges taking breaks? 31
Salient features of the RPA
• What are exit polls, and what rules govern them in In-
dia? 32
Constitutional posts and Bodies.
• Counting process after polling is over 33
• What is the CAG audit report on Assam’s NRC? 34
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
• Parliamentary Panel on CBI 35
• North-East Zonal Councils 36
Effects of globalization on Indian society • NCW issues memo on prevention of sexual harassment
• This was the year that said goodbye to hyper globaliza-  38
tion 13 Government policies and interventions
Factors responsible for the location of primary, second- • Pendency falls in the rate of adoption 40
ary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the • Need to upgrade sports infra in villages for podium fin-
world (including India) ishes 40
• Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) • World Bank’s new toolkit on Enabling Gender Respon-
Promotion Task Force report 14 sive Urban Mobility  41
Geophysical phenomena and environmental impact • J&K’s Family Pehchan Patra 42
• Heatwaves in India  15 • The caste census debate to craft reasoned and inclusive
policies 43
• Behind Mumbai’s unusually foul air, changes in wind pat-
terns 16 • Remote voting for migrant workers 44
• Arctic Report Card 17 • The National Geospatial Policy, 2022 46
• 60% of India prone to earthquake 18 Social Justice
• What is a ‘bomb cyclone’?  20 • Five social sector ministries join PM Gati Shakti
• Arctic warming and extreme cold weather in the US 21  47
• India Inequality Report 2022 48

2 www.insightsonindia.com
Welfare schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and • Parliamentary Panel on ‘India’s Soft power’ 68
Bodies Important International institutions, agencies and fora-
• Disability Rehabilitation Centres: Centre’s casual ap- their structure, mandate.
proach flagged 49 • If not reformed, the UN will be overtaken 69
• Going beyond OPS Vs NPS debate 50
• What is the law on acid attacks in India? 52
GS3
Indian Economy and issues, mobilization of resources
• What’s the effect of the Russian oil price cap, ban? 71
• The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) 71
• Digital lending guidelines 73
• CAG data on Pension bills for centre and states 74
• India’s slowing exports  75
• Decriminalisation of offences under GST 76
• The dark pattern: How companies are tricking their users
 77
• Why do some Indian states ban alcohol and what are its
• Draft National Retail Trade Policy 77
effects?  53
• India’s start-up ecosystem: Opportunity for cloud ser-
• The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and
vices 78
Remains (Amendment) Act, 2010 54
• Delegated law should not travel beyond the purview of Employment
the parent act: SC  55 • New labour codes give a free hand to employers: Unions
Issues related to Health  80
• The lingering labour crisis post-pandemic 81
• Pharma pollution 56
• The Great Jobs Hunt 82
• GLAAS Report on WASH 57
• ILO declaration to ensure labour protection 83
• COVID-19: The emerging Omicron sub lineages 57
Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Issues Related to Women
• India’s Century – Achieving sustainable, inclusive growth’
• Efficacy of female leadership in government  58
initiative 84
• Trends and Progress of Banking in India 2021-22 85
Issues relating to Education
Irrigation systems storage
• The poor state of elementary education in Jharkhand59
• Regenerative agriculture 86
• Need for a national policy to combat viral diseases  60
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and
Governance minimum support prices
• Bill to amend Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act in-
• Subsidised fertilisers and the fear of crop yield  87
troduced in LS 61
• NFSA: 81 cr. people to get free food grains for one year
• Good Governance Practices 62
88
Role of civil services in a democracy. • MSP for cotton – to rise or not? 89
• District Collector, Magistrate, Development Commis- Issues of buffer stocks and food security
sioner: what to call an IAS officer? 63
• Onion storage woes 90
India and its neighborhood- relations.
Economics of animal-rearing.
• India Central Asia Security Meet 64
• Socio-economic benefits of the fisheries sector 91
• New tie-ups in Nepal, concern in India 65
Land reforms in India.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements
• New land rules bring J&K on par with the rest of India93
• India-China relations 66
• Urban-20 (U20)  68 Effects of liberalization on the economy
Effect of policies and politics of developed and develop- • Parliamentary Panel on Competition Amendment bill
2022 93
ing countries on India’s interests

www.insightsonindia.com 3
Changes in industrial policy and their effects on indus- • Academic Distress’ and Student Suicides in India 124
trial growth. Human Values – lessons and teachings of great leaders
• The Green in our Weaves: Sustainable Cotton Textiles94 • Ambedkar’s idea of a moral democracy 125
Infrastructure: Energy • Atal Bihari Vajpayee 126
• Energy Conservation Bill 2022 95 Contributions of moral thinkers and phi-
• India renewable power capacity in the next 5 years 96 losophers from India and world.
• What’s shadowing the solar power projects? 97
• India is all set to go for its first waste-to-hydrogen project • Ethical Values – Pranab Mukherjee 127
 98 • Lessons from the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 128
Science and Technology Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public adminis-
• End – to - end encryption: Tech Companies vs Govt 99 tration
Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, robotics, nano-tech- • President’s note for IPS probationers 129
nology, bio-technology Corporate governance
• Fusion energy breakthrough: boosts hope for clean • ICICI Videocon fraud – An issue of Corporate Ethics 130
power 100
• India’s first 5G-enabled auto manufacturing unit 101
• The challenges of quantum computing 103 Facts for Prelims;
• India pitch for Biofuels 104
• James Webb Telescope 105
• What lies ahead in 2023 - A new social media, Metaverse,
GS1
and more AI? 106
Indian Heritage and Culture
Environmental Conservation
• Kashi Tamil Sangamam 130
• UN Groundwater Summit 2022  107 • The story of Meitei script 131
• Intergovernmental meeting to end plastic pollution 108 • Tripura’s Unakoti (the ‘Angkor Wat of the North-East’)
• Access and benefit-sharing (ABS) mechanisms 109  131
• Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill 2022 110 • Sanskrit problem in Panini’s ‘Ashtadhyayi’ 131
• ‘Clean Ganga’ – Now towards conservation, tourism, • UNESCO Tentative list 132
livelihood 111 • Dokra metalcraft 132
• U.N. Nature summit’s Directive to Industries 112 • Moa Makers of Joynagar 133
• WB report on Curbing air pollution in India  113 • Ratnagiri Rock carvings 133
• Methane from livestock belches- can be reduced? 114 • ‘PRASAD’ project - Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh 134
• What are carbon markets and how do they operate? • Dhanu Yatra 134
 115
• EU’s Carbon Border Tax  116 Prize
• A new global biodiversity framework 117 • Dominique Lapierre 134
Pollution and Degradation Festival in News
• MoEF&CC to handle plastic waste finds CAG 119 • Losar Festival 135
• Data on polluted rivers 120 • Sammakka Saralamma Jatara 135
Environmental impact assessment History/Personality
• Environment Impact Assessment  121 • Jagadish Chandra Bose 135
• Sri Aurobindo’s Birth Anniversary 136
Security challenges
• Veer Bal Diwas (26th December) 136
• India to become a hub of drone technology 122
• Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill 123 Geography
• Arctic Landscape 137

GS4 • Repository of paleoclimatic records of Himalayan tec-

tonics & geomorphic evolution in Kashmir Valley 137
• Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Bhadracha-
Ethics and Human Interface lam group of temples and Ramappa Temple 138

4 www.insightsonindia.com
• Land Subsidence 138 • EAGLE ACT: Bill to eliminate per-country quota for Green
• Mango flowering 138 Cards 162
Places in News • India urged to adopt ASEAN consensus on Myanmar162
• Group of Friends 163
• Mapping 139
• US’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDDA) 163
Society and Social Justice • UNSC resolution 2593 164
• Social Hostilities Index (SHI) 148 • Lusophone world 164

GS2 GS3
Polity Economy
• National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) 148 • Essential Commodities 164
• Right to Conversion 148 • Calling Name Presentation (CNP) 165
• Print and Digital Media Association (PADMA) 149 • YK ALAGH 165
• Conjugal visits for prisoners 149 • Power from Sea Waves 165
• What it takes to become a National Party in India?  149 • European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) 166
• Appointment of Ad hoc Judges  150 • Circular Trading 167
• Textbooks in Indian languages 150 • What are the Factors of Production? 167
• Job reservation for Women in Uttarakhand 151 • Alternative Investment Funds 167
• Gond Tribes and Hattee community 151 • Banks’ NPAs written off 168
• Underutilisation of Fund 152 • Customs Act 1962 completes 60 years 168
• Rule 267  152
• Karnataka: Hike SC, ST quota 153
• Short transfers of cess funds 153
• Malnutrition, NCPCR, JJ Act 154
• Official recognition of Esports 155
Government Initiative and Policies
• eSanjeevani 155
• National Single Window System (NSWS) 155
• SHE STEM 2022 156
• Maulana Azad Fellowship 156
• GHAR- Go Home and RE-Unite 156 • National Rail Plan (NRP) 169
• Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana 156 • National Energy Conservation Award 169
• National Policy on Rare Diseases 157 • Registered GI rise to 432 169
• India Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2022 157 • Global Minimum Tax 170
• Operationalising Unified Health Interface (UHI) 157 • Insurance Regulations 170
• Bharat (BH) Series Registration Mark 158 • Purse Seine Fishing 171
• Social Progress Index (SPI) for States and Districts 158 • SIDBI to support micro-lending
• Frontier Highway 159  172
• New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) 159 • Freeing up EEZ 172
• Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System 159 • QR Code for LPG Cylinders 172
• AYURSWASTHYA Yojana 160 • Stock exchange route to buyback banned? 173
• Portals in News 160 • Bijli Utsav by REC 173
• National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) 161 • Amrit Bharat Station Scheme 174
• e-HRMS (Electronic Human Resource Management Sys- • Social stock exchange (SSE) 174
tem) 2.0 Portal 161 • Rules of Origin 175
International News and Organization • Organic Solar Cells 176
• Paris Club 162 • National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) 176

www.insightsonindia.com 5
• ‘Stay Safe Online’ Campaign and ‘G20 Digital Innovation • How nasal vaccines work? 190
Alliance’ 176 • Bimetallic antitumor to manage platinum-resistant can-
• WAPCOS 177 cers 190
• Cooperative society 177 • Brain-eating amoeba 190
Agriculture • GNB1 Encephalopathy 191
• Black Soil 178 Space
• Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS) 178 • Steam-propelled spacecraft 191
• Eastern Rajasthan canal project (ERCP) 179 • SpaceTech Innovation Network (SpIN) 191
• Arecanut 179 • Kilonova 192
• National Farmers Day 180 • India’s Space Headway 192
• Basmati rice 180 • NASA’s Artemis 1 Mission 192
Science • ISRO’S NAVIC 193
• Professor Suman Chakraborty (from IIT, Kharagpur) 181 • Japanese Firm’s Lunar Lander 193
• Bio-insecticide by ICRISAT 181 • The Geminids meteor shower 194
• Science and Engineering Indicators  181 • Aeronomy 194
• “World-first” operation using stem cells 182 • Water worlds detected 194
• CrCoNi alloy 182 • First global water survey satellite 195
• Odd Radio Circles (ORC) 195
Technology
• The uncontrolled re-entries of satellites 195
• Ransomware 183 • Mars - less oxygen- rich than assumed 196
• OPEN AI’s CHATGPT 183 • NASA’s Perseverance 196
• Forabot: The Fossil sorting robot 183 • Omega Centauri 197
• DNA fingerprinting to solve the crime 184 • Five space exploration missions to look out for in 2023
• DNA fingerprinting in India 184  197
• Doxxing 184 • Tidal disruption event 198
• Project Vaani 185
Environment
• Platinum Icon in Digital India Awards 2022 185
• World Soil Day 2022 199
• Not everything we call AI is Artificial Intelligence 185
• Smaller Animals 199
• GRI’s Self-reporting of environmental impact approved
 199
• Koundinya Sanctuary sees a massive shift 200
• Nature Positive Fund 200
• Environment Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT)
 201
• Restoration Barometer Report 2022 201
• UN recognises Namami Gange 201
• Asola Bhatti sanctuary 202
• Water Impact Summit 202
• Oran land 202
• Project ICARUS 203
• Facial Recognition Technology 186 Climate Change
Health • Microplastics 203
• Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) 186 • Why did methane emissions spike in 2020? 204
• Brain fog after COVID-19 187 • Pathogens frozen in permafrost resurface as Earth heats
• Global Pandemic Treaty  187 up 204
• Anti-Bacterial Resistance 188 • Green Methanol Production 204
• PathoDetect Kit 188 • Great Barrier Reef frozen for trial 205
• Stiff-Person Syndrome 188 Pollution and Waste
• The Battle against Cancer 189

6 www.insightsonindia.com
• Green Wall/ Bengal Barrier 205 • Scotland’s new gender recognition Bill 218
Species in News • Punjab renames 56 govt schools with caste tag 219
• International Cheetah Day 206 Polity
• Three Himalayan medicinal plants enter IUCN Red List • Mother of Democracy 220
 206 Governance
• Cactus Plantation 207
• Governance: Sethrichem Sangtam: Rural Development
• CoP 15 Montreal: Abalone, dugong, pillar coral threat-  220
ened with extinction 208
• India’s Disappearing donkeys 209 Economy
• Orcas 210 • ‘Lollapalooza Effect’ on Meta stock 220
• IUCN Updated Red List of Threatened Species 210 • Pension scheme for Gig workers 221
• Secret behind long lifespan of Banyan, Peeple trees 211 • How India can produce companies like Apple, Google,
• Mammalian evolution 211 Pfizer 221
• Hippopotamus 213 Environment
• Lion @ 47: Vision for ‘Amrutkal’ 213 • Fleather: The Vegan Leather 222
Health
• Curbing malnutrition in Children 222
Education
• Reforms in Content and Design of School Textbooks 222
Ethics
• Manav Mandir 223
• Stan Lee’s 100th birth anniversary 223
Sports
• PT Usha: ‘Payyoli Express’ 224
• Antarctica’s Emperor Penguins 213 • It’s time for Africa: Morocco football team breaks stereo-
• Polar Bears 214 types 224
• Project Nilgiri Tahr 214 • Project BOLD 229
• Ikki Jathre (or the Festival of Rice) 230
Defence
• Free bus service 230
• New Indian Navy Crest 214
• Mission Olympics 231
• Women in CAPF 215
• Story: You Lose but Win 231
• Agni-V 215
• Vagir 216 Science and Technology
• Shalini Kumari from Bihar 231
Internal Security
• Misc. 232
• Prahari App 217
• Global North and South 233
• Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) 217
• Community-driven water conservation and Harvesting
initiatives: (Case studies)  234
Content for Mains
Enrichment (Eth-
ics/Essay):
Culture
• Kochi-Muziris Biennale 218
Society

www.insightsonindia.com 7

GS1
Modern Indian history
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE INC
Context:
The Indian National Congress (INC), India’s largest opposition
party, marked its 138th foundation day on December 28.
How the Congress was founded:
The English bureaucrat Allan Octavian Hume or AO Hume is
credited as the founder of the organization. On December
28, 1885, 72 social reformers, journalists and lawyers con-
gregated for the first session of the INC at Gokuldas Tejpal
Sanskrit College, Bombay.
Its objective is often described as providing a “safety valve”
as the time, through which Indians could air out their griev-
ances and frustration.
Struggle for Independence:
• The wave of Swadeshi movement swept INC and
the members wished to follow the concept of
‘home rule’
• Finally, by the end of the British Rule, the Congress
saw the Quit India Movement, the formation of the
Indian National Army Defense Committee, and the
unfortunate Partition of India and Pakistan
Important INC Sessions:
• First Session:  Bombay in 1885. President: W.C.
8 www.insightsonindia.com
Bannerjee
• Second
.
Session: 
:
Calcutta in
1886  President  Dadabhai Naoroji
• Third Session:  Madras in 1887. President: Syed
Badruddin Tyabji, the first Muslim President.
• Fourth Session: Allahabad in 1888. President: George
Yule, the first English President.
• 1896: Calcutta. President: Rahimtullah Sayani - Na-
tional Song ‘Vande Mataram’ sung for the first time
by Rabindranath Tagore.
• 1899:  Lucknow. President:  Romesh Chandra Dutt -
Demand for permanent fixation of Land revenue
• 1905: Benaras, President: Gopal Krishan Gokhale -
Formal proclamation of Swadeshi movement against
the government
• 1906: Calcutta, President: Dadabhai Naoroji - Adopt-
ed four resolutions on: Swaraj (Self Government),
Boycott Movement, Swadeshi & National Education
• 1907:  Surat,  President:  Rashbihari Ghosh - Split in
Congress- Moderates & Extremist
• 1911: Calcutta, President: B.N. Dhar - First recital of
Jan-Gan-Man in Congress session
• 1915: Bombay. President: Sir S.P. Sinha - Constitution
of the Congress was altered to admit the delegates
from the extremist section
• 1916:  Lucknow.  President:  A.C. Majumdar - Unity
between two factions-Moderates and Extremists of
Congress
 Lucknow Pact signed between Congress and
Muslim League to build political consensus
• 1917: Calcutta. President: Annie Besant, First Wom-
an President of Congress
• 1918 (Special session):  Bombay.  President:  Syed
Hasan Imam - The session was convened to delib-
erate the contentious  Montagu–Chelmsford Re-
forms Scheme
• 1919: Amritsar. President: Motilal Nehru - Congress
extended support to Khilafat Movement
• 1920 (Special Session): Calcutta. President: Lala
Lajpat Rai - Mahatma Gandhi moved the non-
cooperation resolution
• 1920:  Nagpur.  President:  C. Vijayaraghavachariar -
MA Jinnah left the Indian National Congress
• 1922: Gaya. President: C.R. Das - CR Das and other
leaders broke away from INC
 Formation of Swaraj Party
• 1924: Belgaum. President: M.K. Gandhi - Only Ses-
sion presided over by Mahatma Gandhi
• 1925: Kanpur. President: Sarojini Naidu, First Indian
Woman President
• 1927: Madras. President: Dr M.A. Ansari - Passed a
resolution against the boycott of the Simon Commis-
sion
 Adoption of resolution on Purna Swaraj
• 1928: Calcutta. President: Motilal Nehru - Formation
of All India Youth Congress
• 1929: Lahore. President: Jawahar Lal Nehru - Passed
the resolution on ‘Poorna Swaraj.’
 Civil Disobedience movement for complete
independence to be launched
• 26 January  is to be observed as ‘Independence
Day’.
• 1931: Karachi. President: Vallabhbhai Patel - Resolu-
tions on Fundamental Rights and National Econom-
ic Programme
 Endorsement of the Gandhi-Irwin pact
• Gandhi was nominated to represent INC in the Sec-
ond Round Table Conference to be held in London
• 1934:  Bombay.  President:  Rajendra Prasad
1936: Lucknow. President: Jawahar Lal Nehru - Push
towards socialist ideas by Jawahar Lal Nehru
• 1937:  Faizpur.  President:  Jawahar Lal Nehru - First
Session to be held in a village
• 1938:  Haripura.  President:  Subhas Chandra Bose -
National Planning Committee set up under Jawahar
Lal Nehru.
• 1939:  Tripuri.  President:  Rajendra Prasad - Subhas
Chandra Bose was re-elected but had to resign
• Rajendra Prasad was appointed in his place
• Subhash Chandra Bose formed Forward Bloc
• 1940:  Ramgarh.  President:  Abul Kalam Azad - Civil
Disobedience movement to be launched at appro-
priate time and circumstances.
• 1941–45:  This Period is marked by events i.e.,  the
Quit India movement, RIN Mutiny & INA trials.
• The phase of constitutional negotiations such as the
Cripps Mission, Wavell Plan and Cabinet Mission.
• On account of these events during this phase,  no
congress session was held.
• 1946: Meerut. President: J.B Kripalani - Last session
before independence
Insta Links: Foundation of the Indian National Congress
Prelims Link: UPSC 2016
What was the main reason for the split in the Indian Na-
tional Congress at Surat in 1907?
(a) Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord
Minto
(b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates
to negotiate with the British Government
(c) Foundation of Muslim League
(d) Aurobindo Ghosh’s inability to be elected as the Presi-
dent of the Indian National Congress
Solution: B
Mains Link:
Q. How different would have been the achievement of Indi-
an independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss. (UPSC
2015)
World History
VIJAY DIWAS – BANGLADESH LIBERA-
TION WAR
Context:
Vijay Diwas or Victory Day is commemorated on December
16, marking the end of the 1971 Indo-Pak War and the lib-
eration of Bangladesh. India declared victory on this day 51
years ago after Pakistan signed the Instrument of Surrender.
What led to the 1971 Indo-Pak War?
After the partition of India following the end of British rule in
1947, two independent countries were formed – India and
Pakistan. The latter consisted of East Pakistan (now Bangla-
desh) and West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan).
Issues within Pakistan:
• Geographical disconnect between them.
• Cultural conflict. For instance, when Urdu, used in
West Pakistan, was made the official language of
the country, it was seen as an imposition on the
culture of the people in the East (Bengali-speaking
www.insightsonindia.com 9
 majority).
Background of the war:
• In the first-ever free and fair elections in Pakistan in
1970, Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
from East Pakistan came to power. However, Mili-
tary  General Yahya Khan did not accept the result
and started “Operation Searchlight”, committing
genocide to cleanse the land of Bengali and Hindu
populations and political distracters. 
• China gave its support to Pakistan against India,
while  the US believed a victory for India would be
considered an expansion of Soviet hegemony in
South Asia.
• In the background of large-scale genocide, looming
refugee crisis, and threat to internal security. India
felt  strategically isolated. Therefore, India and the
Soviet Union inked the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace,
Friendship and Cooperation to neutralize the
emerging US-China–Pakistan axis and defend their
vital geopolitical interests.

India’s role in the 1971 War

• Launched  Operation Jackpot, an operation to re-
cruit, train, arm, equip, supply and advise Mukti
Bahini fighters engaged in guerrilla warfare against
the Pakistan military.
• When the Pakistan Air Force launched pre-emptive
strikes towards Western India (including Amritsar,
Pathankot, Srinagar, Avantipura, Ambala, Sirsa and
Agra), India formally declared war on December 4.
• An important figure in this war was India’s Field Mar-
shal Sam Manekshaw, who is often evoked in rela-
tion to it. His planning and strategy helped secure
one of the quickest victories in recent military his-
tory.

Shimla Agreement:
• The Agreement was a peace treaty signed between
India and Pakistan on 2 July 1972 in Shimla, the capi-
tal city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh
• The agreement converted the cease-fire line of 17
December 1971 into the Line of Control (LOC) be-
tween India and Pakistan and it was agreed that
“neither side shall seek to alter it unilaterally, irre-
spective of mutual differences and legal interpreta-
tions”.

Insta Curious:
Don’t get confused with Shimla Convention:
The  Simla Convention, officially the  Convention Between Great
Britain, China, and Tibet, was ambiguous concerning the status
of Tibet negotiated by representatives of the Republic of China, Ti-
bet and Great Britain in Simla in 1913 and 1914.

10 www.insightsonindia.com
 Marxism is a social, political, and economic philosophy
Insta Links: Vijay Diwas 2020 named after Karl Marx. It examines the effect of capitalism
on labour, productivity, and economic development and ar-
gues for a worker revolution to overturn capitalism in favour
Mains Link: UPSC 2013 of communism.
Q. Critically examine the compulsions which prompted In-
dia to play a decisive role in the emergence of Bangladesh. Ambedkar on Buddhism and Marxism:
• Buddhism is superior to other religions and the Bud-
dha’s path was superior to the prevalent religion-re-
Political philosophies like communism jecting theory, Marxism.
• Ambedkar has compared Buddhism to Marxism,
claiming that while both seek the same end of a just
MAHAPARINIRVAN DIWAS: COMPARING and happy society, Buddha’s methods are superior.
AMBEDKAR’S VIEWS ON BUDDHISM
AND MARXISM Similarities

Buddhism Marxism
Direction:
The article helps to understand the similarities and differenc- Basic philosophy: Basic philosophy:
es between Marxism and Buddhism. • Function of Religion: • Function of philosophy:
To reconstruct the To reconstruct the world
world to make it hap- and not to explain the or-
Context:
py and not to explain igin of the world.
The death anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, the Father of the
its origin or its end. • Private ownership:
Indian Constitution, is celebrated on December 6 as the Ma-
haparinirvan Diwas. • All human beings are Brings power to one class
equal. and sorrow to another
• Private ownership through exploitation.
Parinirvan: It translates as “Nirvana” after death or libera- of property: Brings • For a happy and fair so-
tion from the cycles of life and death. power to one class ciety: Sorrow is removed
and sorrow to anoth- by the abolition of private
Significance of December 6: Dr Ambedkar died on De- er. property.
cember 6, 1956, less than 2 months after converting to Bud- • For a happy and fair
dhism and fulfilling his promise that “I will not die a Hindu” society: Sorrow is re- Communism: Dictatorship of
moved by removing the Proletariat (working class)
its cause. is the ultimate goal.

Communism: A socioeco-
nomic order that involves
the absence of private
property, social classes,
money and the state.
● Buddha estab-
lished Commu-
nism (on a very
small scale) in
Sangh without
dictatorship.

www.insightsonindia.com 11
 Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
Differences
a) 1 only
Means to achieve a hap- Means: Violence and Dicta- b) 2 only
py and fair society: torship of the Proletariat. c) Both 1 and 2
• Buddha was born • Snatching private prop- d) Neither 1 nor 2
a democrat and he erties of the rich class by Solution: b)
died a democrat. force/violence and es-
• Moral appeal: His tablishing the rule of the
working class. Indian Society
path for believers
converts a man by
changing his moral SOCIETY THROUGH CINEMA’S LENS
inclination to pursue
Religion is anathema (some-
the path voluntarily.
thing intensely disliked) Context:
• Bhikshus, for exam-
ple, give up all world- Cinema as a medium has incredible power in our country.
ly goods, indicating The reach and impact of a movie are far wider than in any
the abolition of pri- other place. Thus, it acts as a powerful tool of soft diplomacy
vate property. too.

Importance of Religion: Indian Cinema – a reflection of our society:

The only thing which
could sustain the state is
Religion.
Marxists’ criticism of the above comparison: Marx is so
modern and Buddha so ancient.
Criticism of Marxism:
● The Communists believe that the state will inevita-
bly die. However, they do not address what would
replace the state.
● Communists admit that their conception of the
state as a permanent dictatorship is a flaw in their
political ideology.
Conclusion:
● Ambedkar is often misunderstood as being anti-re-
ligious, despite the fact that he was highly spiritual
and aware of the necessity of religion in public life.
● Marxists can reform Marxism if they keep their prej-
udices away and study the Buddha.
Insta Links: Buddhism
Mains Links:
Q. Examine Ambedkar’s critique of Marxism.
Prelims Links:
Consider the following statements:
1. Kushinagar is the place where the Buddha attained
Mahaparinirvana, and is, therefore, an international
Buddhist pilgrimage centre.
2. Kushinagar has the highest population of Buddhists
in India.
• Promoting Indian rich culture - Classical dances, folk
dances, and festivals are an integral part of Indian
cinema.
 Natyam - a Telugu movie that portrays Ku-
chipudi classical dance.
• Social issues - Films are being produced to reflect
the contemporary social and political scene.
 Bollywood Movie Sherni reflects environ-
mental issues.
• Patriarchy: ‘Great Indian Kitchen’ Malayalam mov-
ie shows prevailing hidden discrimination and new
forms of patriarchy against homemakers.
• Recognizing regional languages
• Nationalism
 Bose: Dead/Alive web series is based on the
life of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.
 War Movies – Uri, Gunjan Saxena – The
Kargil Girl
• Politics and administration - Indian cinema is not
only for entertainment, they are also about reality.
They show Indian politics, corruption, nepotism in
administration etc.
 Rajneeti’s movie portrays how political
games unravel in India.
• Mythology - Mythological stories are also depicted
in both north and south movies.
 Kannada movies Bhakta Prahlada and Satya
Harishchandra.
• Tribal Culture: Kannada movie Kantara showing an-
imistic practices was largely accepted by the public
all over.
• Biopics: Knowing about great personalities e.g.,
Gandhi, Kapil Dev (83)

12 www.insightsonindia.com
 • Breaking stereotypes: Movies like English Vinglish,
Hichki etc.
Insta Links: Indian Cinema and Circus
Mains Link:
Q. Does cinema influence society or is it vice-versa? Com-
ment in the context of Indian cinemas and society.
Effects of globalization on Indian society
THIS WAS THE YEAR THAT SAID GOOD-
BYE TO HYPER GLOBALIZATION
Context:
Two wars (Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and an economic
war - a geopolitical confrontation between two superpowers
- the US and China) are raging in 2022, which have under-
mined the assumption of “hyper-globalisation”.
Background:
• Though the term “globalisation” refers to the in-
creasing integration of world trade and financial
markets, the term “hyper-globalisation” refers to
the dramatic increase in international trade.
• This occurred for about a decade and a half begin-
ning in the early 1990s, resulting in unprecedented
capital and human movement across borders.
Ups and downs in the globalisation era:
• The first golden age of globalisation (1870 - 1914):
It saw the world trade in goods surging from 9% to
16% of global GDP, leading to the internationalisa-
tion of economic and social life.
 This led the British journalist Norman Angell
(in his book ‘The Great Illusion’) to claim
in 1910 that war in the modern era was an
economic impossibility due to the sheer
extent of financial and commercial interde-
pendence between countries.
 This made conflict as futile for the conquer-
or as the conquered.
• The era of world wars and the decline in world trade:
 In 1914, World War-I broke out and World
War II began in 1939.
 The share of merchandise trade in global
GDP had collapsed to 5.5%, recovering grad-
ually to reach the pre-World War-I levels
only towards the late-1970s.
• The second golden age of globalisation - The era of
“hyper globalisation”:
 Between 1990 and 2008, global trade in
goods soared from 15.3% to 25.2% of the
world GDP.
 Thomas L Friedman asserted in 1996 that
no two countries with McDonald’s have ever
fought a war against each other.
 Hyper-globalisation’s chief protagonist was
China which emerged as the “world’s facto-
ry” and a “mega-trader.”
 China’s estimated share in world merchan-
dise trade has risen from 1.8% in 1990 to
11.1% in 2012 compared to the US (11.3%
to 8.4%).
• Characteristics of a hyper-globalised world:
 In such societies, there was the absence of
wars and economies largely followed the
laws established by late-18th/early-19th
century economists Adam Smith and David
Ricardo.
 According to Smith (in his book ‘Wealth of
Nations’), if a foreign country can supply a
commodity at a lower cost, then it should
be bought.
 Ricardo gave the concept of “comparative
advantage” - each country devotes its re-
sources to produce goods most beneficial
to each. For example, wine shall be made in
France and Portugal, corn shall be grown in
America and Poland, etc.
 The entire system of free trade was found-
ed upon trust and comparative advantage
trumping geopolitics. For example, Rus-
sia supplied close to 40% of the European
Union’s total natural gas consumption in
2021.
• The end of the era of hyper-globalisation: It formal-
ly ended in 2022, which has seen not one, but two
wars.
Impact of the end of the era of hyper-globalisation:
• The greatest collateral damage is to the global trad-
ing order. From production based on comparative
advantage and gains from trade, it’s each nation for
itself now.
• For example, India is granting incentives amounting
www.insightsonindia.com 13
 to 30-50% of project cost for semiconductor units
manufacturing less-sophisticated chips that can be
used in mobile phones, home appliances and cars.
 Five years ago, it may not have considered
this to be worth spending taxpayer money
on.
Conclusion:
According to the French philosopher Montesquieu - “Com-
merce heals the most harmful biases,” and “Peace is the
inevitable result of trade.” However, rebuilding trust and
restoring global trade from the ravages of militarism takes
time.
Insta Links: Impact of globalisation on the Indian economy
Mains Links:
Q. Are diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to
globalisation? Justify your answer. (UPSC 2020)
Factors responsible for the location of primary, second-
ary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the
world (including India)
ANIMATION, VISUAL EFFECTS, GAMING
AND COMICS (AVGC) PROMOTION TASK
FORCE REPORT
Context:
The AVGC Promotion Task Force (Chaired by I&B Secretary
Apurva Chandra) report has proposed a national AVGC-Ex-
tended Reality Mission with a budget outlay to be created
for integrated promotion and growth of the sector.
Background:
• The Union Budget 2022-23 announced the forma-
tion of an AVGC Promotion Task Force to realise
and develop - local capacity, and local and global
demand, to widen the scope of the AVGC industry.
• Accordingly, the Ministry of Information and Broad-
casting (I&B) has established an AVGC Promotion
Task Force.
• The Task Force’s Terms of Reference include:
 Developing a national AVGC policy.
 Recommend a national curricular frame-
work for AVGC-related graduate, postgrad-
uate, and doctoral courses.
 Collaborate on skilling initiatives with aca-
demic institutions, vocational training cen-
tres and industry.
14 www.insightsonindia.com
 Increase employment opportunities.
 Increase exports and recommend incen-
tives to attract FDI in the AVGC sector, etc.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Tech-
nology (MeitY) has been appointed as the nodal
ministry for online gaming in India.
About the AVGC sector in India:
• Current situation: The AVGC sector in India, which
may have witnessed 28% growth in 2021, contrib-
utes about $2.5-3 billion of the estimated $260-275
billion worldwide AVGC market and employs about
1.85 lakh AVGC professionals.
• Nature (Expanding): India has moved into the glob-
al Top 5 in the gaming industry and can witness a
growth of 14-16% in the next decade and by 2023,
the number of online gamers is expected to reach
45 crores.
• Potential:
 To become a $40 billion industry (5% of
the global market) by 2025, with annual
growth of 25-30% and the creation of about
1,60,000 new jobs.
 It has the potential to become the “Create
in India” and “Brand India” torchbearer.
• Challenges: Despite the fact that the AVGC sector
in India is rapidly growing, there remains a vacuum
due to a lack of formal gaming training courses and
legal clarity.
Recommendations of the Task Force:
• Draft national and State policies: For the promotion
of the sector.
• Launch the ‘Create in India’ campaign: With an ex-
clusive focus on content creation.
• An international AVGC platform: Aimed at attract-
ing foreign direct investment (FDI).
• Co-production treaties and innovation:
 A Memorandum of Cooperation may be
signed between India and other developed
global AVGC markets for providing intern-
ships to Indian AVGC professionals.
 Establishment of AVGC accelerators and in-
novation hubs in academic institutions.
• National and regional centres of excellence: For
skill development.
 The skilling and industry outreach for youth
in Tier 2 and 3 towns and villages.
 There should be special incentives for wom-
en entrepreneurs in the sector.
• Leveraging National Education Policy: To develop
creative thinking at the school level. The Ministry
of Education may advise NCERT (National Council of
Educational Research and Training) to create books
 focusing on subjects relevant to AVGC. Insta Links: Rules regarding online gaming
• A University Grants Commission (UGC)-recognised
curriculum: For undergraduate and postgraduate
degrees.
Geophysical phenomena and environmental impact
• Standardisation of admission tests: For AVGC-relat-
ed courses.
• A framework to protect child rights in the digital HEATWAVES IN INDIA
world and promotion of local children’s channels for
raising awareness.
Context:
A new report by the World Bank suggests India could soon
Way ahead: become one of the first places in the world to experience
• Democratising AVGC technologies by promoting heatwaves that break the human survivability limit.
subscription-based pricing models for MSMEs, start- India has witnessed a concurrent increase in meteorological
ups and institutions. droughts and heat waves over the last 60 years.
• Indigenous technology development through in-
centive schemes and Intellectual Property creation.
About Heatwaves:
• Setting up a dedicated production fund for domes- A Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures,
tic content creation to promote the country’s cul- more than the normal maximum temperature that usually
ture and heritage globally. occurs during the summer season.

Conclusion: About Human Survivability Limit:

With an eye on the demand for 20 lakh skilled professionals The  Human Survivability Limit  refers to the rule of thumb,
in the AVGC sector in this decade, there is a need to augment which states humans can survive three minutes without air,
skilling initiatives and enhance industry participation for three days without water, and three weeks without food.
training purposes and to ensure employment opportunities.

Heatwave in India
• In April 2022, India suffered an early spring heat
wave that saw temperatures in New Delhi, topping
46 degrees Celsius.
• The month of March was the hottest ever recorded.
• The heatwaves would be devastating for many poor
and marginalized communities across India, who
live in inadequately ventilated, hot, and crowded
homes without proper access to cooling.
• Only 8% of Indian households own air-conditioning
units, according to an analysis presented in the India
Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), 2019. 

Negative effects of Heatwaves:

On Indian economy
• By 2030, India may account for 34 million of the
projected 80 million global job losses from heat
stress-associated productivity decline.
• Analysis by McKinsey & Company shows that lost la-
bour from rising heat and humidity could put up to
4.5% of India’s GDP 
• On food and public health
• India’s long-term  food security and public health
security  will depend on a reliable cold chain net-
work. A single temperature lapse in the journey can
break the cold chain, spoiling fresh produce and
weakening the potency of vaccines.

www.insightsonindia.com 15
Human Health bai, has been worse than in prior years, giving Mumbaikars
• Heat conditions can alter human behaviour, the a taste of what people in Delhi have become used to at this
transmission of diseases, air quality, and critical so- time of year.
cial infrastructures such as energy, transport, and
water.
Background:
• Ecological impacts Since December 5, the AQI in Mumbai has consistently been
• Heatwaves, without increases in precipitation, can in the “very poor” range (AQI > 300), according to the SA-
lead to water shortages and increased stress for FAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Re-
plants, particularly in arid regions. search) network.
• Animals are also highly impacted because of heat
waves.
Why is this unusual?
Way forward to sustainability • This is not the first time Mumbai’s air has been so
• The most effective way to avoid the negative im- toxic, but it has never lasted more than 1-2 days.
pacts of heatwaves is to mitigate climate change by • Though Mumbai generates pollutants in equivalent
reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and min- amounts as compared to Delhi, it has an important
imising the rise in global mean temperatures.  location advantage.
• New initiatives to create early warning and re-  Mumbai’s relatively clean air is the result of
sponse systems and improved communication ap- strong sea breezes that sweep air pollutants
proaches can help to save lives and build resilience away from the land.
to heat waves.
• Decision-makers can employ a range of strategies
and policies to modify social behaviour and reduce
exposure to heat by closing schools or offices, which
lack adequate air conditioning, ensuring availability
of water, health care, and first aid, and extending ac-
cess to pools, parks, and public cooling centres.
• Improved urban design and sustainable planning
that increases access to green space and other cool
environments (pools, air-conditioned spaces) and
encourages white roofs.

Insta Links: Heatwaves

Prelims Link:
• IMD criteria for Heatwaves
• India Cooling Action Plan

Mains Link:
Q. What is a heatwave? Account for the increasing frequen-
cy and unprecedented heatwaves across multiple cities in
India. 150 Words

BEHIND MUMBAI’S UNUSUALLY FOUL

Reasons for this unusual pattern:
AIR, CHANGES IN WIND PATTERNS
Direction:
The article mainly highlights how local winds like sea breezes
could influence the pollution level of a place.
Context:
Over the last month, air quality in India’s financial hub, Mum-
• Change in flow patterns: In Mumbai, winds move
from land to sea for a few days and then from sea
to land and this cyclic pattern usually repeats every
3-4 days.
 When the wind is not moving away from the
land, air pollutants accumulate over the
city. But then the wind direction changes,
and it all gets cleaned.

16 www.insightsonindia.com
  This cycle is delayed this year. Instead of re-
peating every 3-4 days, it is happening after
a week, even 10 days.
 Even when the wind direction turns favour-
able, the lack of adequate speed means that
the air is not entirely cleaned.
Probable causes:
• Though the meteorological reasons behind this change
needed to be probed, this can be attributed to some un-
usual global events like the third consecutive year of La
Niña.
• La Nina is an abnormal cooling of the Pacific Ocean
that impacts weather events across the world.
• More construction activities: Large infrastructure proj-
ects, like the Mumbai Metro or the Coastal Road Project,
could be generating significantly higher amounts of pol-
lutants.
• This could be possible, as Mumbai is currently wit-
nessing a rise in PM10 (particulate matter of the size
of 10 micrometres or smaller) levels as well.
About SAFAR:
• It is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Earth Sci-
ences (MoES) launched in 2010 (for Delhi) for greater
metropolitan cities to provide -
 Location-specific information on air quali-
ty in near real-time and
 It’s forecast 1-3 days in advance.
• It is developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Me-
teorology, Pune, and is operationalised by the India
Meteorological Department (IMD).
• SAFAR framework considers almost all pollutant levels
- PM10, 1, 2.5, CO, NOx, SO2, Volatile Organic Com-
pounds, etc., to compile the Air Quality Index (AQI).
• It promotes public awareness by educating the pub-
lic, encouraging self-mitigation, and assisting policy-
makers in developing mitigation policies.
Insta Links: Land and Sea Breezes
Mains Links:
Q. Explain local winds and how they impact the weather
condition of a region? (250 words)
Prelims Links:
Consider the following statements:
1. The air pressure is highest at sea level and decreases
with height.
2. In nature, the air always moves from high-pressure
areas to low-pressure areas.
3. Low-pressure systems are usually characterised by
dry and settled weather.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1, 2
b) 1, 3
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution: a)
ARCTIC REPORT CARD
Direction:
The article highlights the environmental changes in the Arc-
tic, the factors responsible for these changes, their impact
and the way ahead.
Context:
This year’s assessment of Arctic conditions - the Arctic Re-
port Card, which the US NOAA has produced since 2006, has
highlighted rapid environmental changes in the Arctic.
Background:
Insights about the circumpolar region are relevant to the
conversation about the warming of planet Earth, as the im-
pacts of climate change have been witnessed first in polar
regions.
Highlights of the Arctic Report Card:
www.insightsonindia.com 17
 • Temperatures in the Arctic Circle have been rising About the Arctic region:
much more quickly than the rest of the planet.
• This has transformed the region’s climate into one
defined less by sea ice, snow and permafrost and
more by open water, rain and green landscapes.
• It has turned the Arctic to be wetter and stormier
(rainier), with shifts in its climate and seasons.
• Although 2022 was only the Arctic’s 6th warmest
year on record, researchers saw plenty of new signs.
For example, a recent heat wave in Greenland.

Factors behind rapid Arctic environmental change:

• Warmer air can hold more moisture.
• Sea ice retreats and storms absorb more open ocean
water.
• Storms are passing over warmer water before reach-
ing the Arctic, feeding them with more energy.

• It is a polar region located at the northernmost part of

Consequences of rapid Arctic environmental change:
In the form of combined effects of -
• Physical conditions,
• Responses of biological resources,
• Impacts on infrastructure,
• Decisions influencing adaptive capacities and
• Environmental and international influences on eco-
nomics and well-being.
Way ahead:
• Indigenous expertise needs to be augmented by
scientific abilities to reconstruct past environments
and to model and predict future changes.
• Decision-makers need to apply this experience and
knowledge to help mitigate and adapt to a rapidly
changing Arctic.
Conclusion:
Addressing unprecedented Arctic environmental changes
requires listening to one another, aligning values and collab-
orating across knowledge systems, disciplines and sectors of
society.
Earth, bordered by the subarctic, and is a unique area
among Earth’s ecosystems.
• Land within the Arctic region has seasonally varying
snow and ice cover, with predominantly treeless per-
mafrost (permanently frozen underground ice) con-
taining tundra. Arctic seas contain seasonal sea ice in
many places.
• Life in the Arctic includes zooplankton and phyto-
plankton, fish and marine mammals, birds, land ani-
mals, plants and human societies, which have adapt-
ed to its cold and extreme conditions.
Insta Links: India and the Arctic
Mains Links:
Q. How does the cryosphere affect global climate? (UPSC
2017)
60% OF INDIA PRONE TO EARTHQUAKE
Direction:
The article tries to explain the phenomenon of Earthquakes
and earthquake risk in India.

Context:
According to the Union Minister of State (independent
charge) for S&T and Earth Sciences, around 60% of the land-
mass of India (covering all states) is prone to earthquakes of
different shaking intensities.

About Earthquake:

18 www.insightsonindia.com

• An earthquake is the shaking of the surface (occurs
without warning) of the Earth resulting from a sudden
release of energy in the Earth’s lithosphere that creates
seismic waves.
• It is tectonic in origin and results from the release of ac-
cumulated stress of the moving lithospheric or crustal
plates.
• The earth’s crust is divided into seven major plates (and
several minor plates), which move slowly and continu-
ously over the earth’s interior.
• Causes of earthquakes can be natural (tectonic, volca-
nic) and anthropogenic (mining activities, construction
of dams, nuclear-chemical explosions).
• The occurrence of an earthquake in a populated area
may cause numerous casualties and injuries as well as
extensive damage to property.
Measuring Earthquakes
• The earthquake events are scaled either according to
the magnitude or intensity of the shock.
• The magnitude scale is known as the Richter scale
(0-10), indicating energy released during the quake.
• The intensity scale is named after Mercalli (1-12), in-
dicating the visible damage caused by the event.
The Earthquake Risk in India:
• India has been divided into four zones - II, III, IV and
V - according to the seismic zoning map of India pre-
pared by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Zone
V is seismically the most active region, while Zone II
is the least.
• Around 11% of the country falls in Zone V, 18% in
Zone IV, 30% in Zone III and the remaining in Zone II.

Earthquake waves are basically of two types: Reasons for the Earthquake proneness in India:
• Body waves: Generated due to the release of energy at • The Indian plate is driving into Eurasia at a rate of
the focus and move in all directions travelling through approximately 47 mm/year.
the body of the earth. There are two types of body • Himalayan belt: Collision between Indo-Australian
waves. plate with Eurasian plate causes lots of strain in un-
P-waves or ‘primary S-waves or secondary waves derlying rocks’ energy, which is released in the form
waves’ of earthquakes.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Seafloor displace-
• Faster and are the • Arrive at the surface with ment and underwater volcanoes disturb the equilib-
first to arrive at the some time lag. rium of earth’s surface.
surface. • Travel only through solid • Deccan Plateau: The emergence of a fault line and
• Similar to sound materials, helping scien- energy build-up along the fault line of the river Bhima
waves. tists to understand the (Krishna) near Latur and Osmanabad (Maharashtra).
• Vibrate parallel to structure of the interior
• Increasing population and unscientific land use for
the direction of the of the earth.
construction make India a high-risk land for earth-
wave. • Direction of vibrations of quakes.
• Travel through gas- S-waves is perpendicular.
eous, liquid and sol- • Can create troughs and
id materials. crests in the material
through which they pass.
Surface waves (most damaging): The body waves interact
with the surface rocks and generate new sets of waves called
surface waves, which move along the surface.
● Shadow zones: These are specific areas where the
waves are not reported by seismograph.

www.insightsonindia.com 19
 sudden drop in barometric pressure — at least 24
millibars within 24 hours
• This quickly increases the pressure difference or
gradient, between the two air masses, therefore
making the winds stronger.
● This process of rapid intensification is called Bom-
bogenesis.

Insta Links: Earthquakes

Mains Links:
Q. Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located
along the margins of continents? Bring out the association
between the global distribution of Fold Mountains and the
earthquakes and volcanoes. (UPSC 2014)

WHAT IS A ‘BOMB CYCLONE’?

Context:
An intense blizzard/snowstorm/bomb cyclone is wreaking
havoc across the United States and Canada.

Background:
• The air flows from high to low pressure, creating
winds. Storms form when a mass of low-pressure air
meets a high-pressure mass.
• Forecasters have dubbed the blizzard a “bomb cy-
clone,” describing it as distinct from typical weather
patterns.
• While this type of storm is not uncommon, it is ex-
tremely powerful (as a result of a blast of Arctic air
plunging south), with high winds delivering heavy
snow or rain to many regions.

What defines a bomb cyclone?

• Bomb cyclones form when the air near Earth’s sur-
face rises quickly in the atmosphere, triggering a

20 www.insightsonindia.com
 Concept

Types of air masses

How do they influence the weather?
Air masses and fronts On the basis of tem- On the basis of mois-
peratures ture

• Air masses are • Cold air mass: • Continental air • Interaction between two different air
enormous bodies of When the air mass masses masses frequently generates atmo-
air that have almost above is cooler than • Oceanic air mass- spheric instability, leading to cyclonic
consistent physical the surface it is rela- es: These are moist, formations.
properties such as tively unstable since resulting in rainfall. • According to the polar front hypoth-
temperature and the land is warmer The migration of esis, the polar front is created at
moisture. and the air rises af- oceanic air masses the meeting point of warm humid
• Because of the ter heating, leading toward the Indian air masses from the tropics and dry
varying densities of to the formation of subcontinent caus- cold air masses from the poles → low
nearby air masses, Cyclones. es monsoon rains in pressure is formed near the polar
they do not com- • Warm air mass: It India. front resulting in the formation of an
bine easily. occurs when the extratropical or temperate cyclone.
• As a result, distinc- air mass is warm-
tive weather phe- er than the surface
nomena known as above it, contribut-
fronts occur at the ing to atmospheric
convergence zone stability and an-
or boundary zone of ti-cyclonic condi-
two air masses. tions.

(2) 2 only
(3) Both 1 and 2
(4) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: 2

ARCTIC WARMING AND EXTREME COLD

WEATHER IN THE US

Mains Links:
Q. Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in
macro-climatic changes. (UPSC 2016)
Context:
In a report published in The Washington Post, scientists have
once again started to discuss if the rising temperatures of
the Arctic are responsible for extremely cold conditions in
the US and other areas of the Northern Hemisphere.

Prelims Links: (UPSC 2015) Background:

Consider the following statements:
1. The winds which blow between 30 N and 60 S lati-
tudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in the
North Western region of India are part of westerlies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(1) 1 only
• A deadly blizzard (bomb cyclone) has gripped the US,
leading to the death of more than 60 people as of now
and the complete disruption of normal life.
• A similar chain of events took place back in 2021 when
Texas witnessed a deadly cold storm that killed 246 peo-
ple.

www.insightsonindia.com 21

The findings of the study:
• The study largely focused on the polar vortex, which
is a mass of cold, low-pressure air that consistently
spins over the Arctic region counter-clockwise, just
like a hurricane does.
 Usually, the polar vortex remains strong
and compact, meaning the mass of frigid air
stays at the North Pole.
 But sometimes it weakens (like a wobbling
top) and expands to influence the jet stream
- an area of fast-moving air high in the atmo-
sphere that surrounds the polar vortex.
 Once the jet stream is impacted, the cold
polar air finds its way towards the mid-lati-
tude regions.
• The polar vortex has been expanding more than
twice as frequently in recent years, owing to the
steadily warming Arctic.
• The melting sea ice in the Barents and Kara seas
north of Russia and Scandinavia and increasing Si-
berian snowfall create larger and more energetic
atmospheric waves that ultimately stretch the polar
vortex
• This has resulted in extreme winter weather in the
US and other places.
Earlier studies:
• The debate started in 2012 after research showed
that the warming of the Arctic was reducing the
temperature difference between the polar and
tropical regions.
• This has weakened the jet stream, allowing the
southward movement of frigid air.
Conclusion: Despite some evidence, the scientific communi-
ty still has conflicting opinions about its claim. Hence, more
22 www.insightsonindia.com
data is required to determine whether and where warming
is weakening the jet stream.
GS2
Indian Constitution
LAWS ON RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONS
Direction:
The article discusses the issue of religious conversion in India
and its constitutional-legal-judicial interpretation.
Context:
The SC’s recent remarks on religious conversions have
brought into the spotlight the long-standing debate about
what the fundamental right to propagate one’s religious
faith implies.
Background:
• Recently, the SC stated that acts of charity to benefit
a community or the poor should not be followed by
a desire to religiously convert them as a payback.
• The SC has been hearing a plea seeking a special law
against forced conversions, alleging that mass con-
versions of underprivileged people are being carried
out.
• Earlier, the SC stated that religious conversions by
means of force, allurement or fraud may ultimately
affect the security of the nation and the freedom of
religion and conscience of citizens.
• The SC asked the Centre to clarify what it was doing
to curb such conversions.
Freedom of Religion in India:
• Constituent Assembly discussed the inclusion of the
“right to propagate” as a fundamental right and replac-
ing the word “propagate” with “practise privately”,
fearing forceful conversions.
• Constitutional provisions: Article 25(1) entitles all per-
sons to the freedom of conscience and the right to pro-
fess, practise and propagate religion.
• Judicial interpretation:
• In 1950, the SC held (in Arun Ghosh vs. State of
West Bengal) that attempts to raise communal pas-
sions through forcible conversions would be consid-
ered a breach of public order.
 It is within the power of States under the
State List of the 7th Schedule of the Consti-
 tution to enact Freedom of Religion laws.
• The SC (in Rev. Stainislaus vs. State of Madhya
Pradesh, 1977), dissected Article 25 to hold that the
Article does not grant the right to convert other per-
sons to one’s own religion.
 The court upheld the validity of two regional
anti-conversion laws - the Madhya Pradesh
Dharma Swatantraya Adhiniyam (1968) and
the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (1967).
Anti-conversions laws enacted by the States in India:
• Before independence, princely States had Acts such
as the Raigarh State Conversion Act of 1936, which
were mainly against conversion to Christianity.
• In post-independence India, more than ten Indian
States have passed laws prohibiting certain means
of religious conversion.
 Odisha became the first State to enact a law
restricting forceful religious conversions (a
model to other states).
 The MP Dharma Swatantraya Adhiniyam
(1968), required whoever converted any
person to intimate the District Magistrate
that such a conversion had taken place.
 The UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion
of Religion Act, 2021, declares marriages
“null and void” if the conversion is solely
for that purpose and provides for imprison-
ment up to 10 years and a fine.
Why have these laws been challenged? Several HC verdicts
and SC’s views (as mentioned in the ‘Background’ above),
invoked the Puttaswamy judgement (2018) to hold that re-
ligious faith was a part of the fundamental right to privacy.
The Centre’s stand:
• The right to religion did not include the right to con-
vert other people through fraud, deception, coer-
cion, allurement and other means.
• According to the SC, fraudulent or induced conver-
sion impinged upon the right to freedom of con-
science apart from hampering public order.
• Therefore, the state is well within its power to reg-
ulate/restrict forceful conversion.
Conclusion:
“What is freedom for one is freedom for all, and hence there
can be no such thing as a fundamental right to convert oth-
ers to one’s own religion” – SC
Insta Links: Do we need a Central law against forced con-
version?
Mains Links:
Q. Examine the various issues in India’s fundamental right
to religion. How can the issue of “forced” or “deceitful”
conversions be addressed? (250 words)
LADAKH UNDER 6TH SCHEDULE?
Direction:
The article covers the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitu-
tion and examines the case of UT of Ladakh to be included
under the Schedule.
Context:
• The objective of the including tribal populations un-
der the 6th schedule of the Constitution is to ensure
their overall socio-economic development, which
the Ladakh UT administration has already been tak-
ing care of.
• This was a reference made by the Union Home Min-
istry to a Parliamentary panel, evading a direct reply
on the possible inclusion of Ladakh under the 6th
Schedule.
Background:
• On August 5, 2019, the former State of J&K was bi-
furcated into – Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh,
the latter without a Legislative Assembly.
• After the special status was removed, several polit-
ical groups (the apex body for Leh) in Ladakh have
been demanding that its land, employment, and
cultural identity should be protected under the 6th
Schedule.
• In 2021, the only MP from Ladakh demanded consti-
tutional safeguards by amending the Ladakh Auton-
omous Hill District Council (LAHDC) Act under the
6th Schedule.
About the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution:
• It protects tribal populations, providing autonomy
to communities by creating Autonomous District
Councils (ADCs).
• It also provides for Regional Councils for each area
constituted as an autonomous region.
• It consists of provisions for the administration of trib-
al areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
(Article 244).
• As of now, 10 autonomous councils exist in the
above 4 states.
About Autonomous District Councils (ADC):
• Composition: Each autonomous district and regional
council (term - 5 years) consists of not more than 30
members (4 nominated by the governor and the rest via
elections)
www.insightsonindia.com 23
• Powers:
• Enact legislation on topics such as land, forestry, fish-
eries, social security, entertainment, public health,
etc., with due approval from the Governor.
• Constitute village courts within their jurisdiction to
hear trials of cases involving the tribes.
• Role of:
• Governors of states: specifying the jurisdiction of
High Courts and are empowered to organise or re-
organise boundaries of the tribal areas and alter or
change the names of autonomous regions without
separate legislation.
• The central and state governments: are restricted
from the territorial jurisdiction of these autonomous
regions.
 For example, Acts passed by Parliament and
state legislatures may or may not be applied
in these regions. In the case of Assam, the
direction of the Governor, both in respect
of acts of Parliament or state legislature is
required to be applicable. In the case of Me-
ghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, the direction
of the president with respect to acts of Par-
liament and the governor in respect of acts
of the state legislature is required.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Af-
fairs report:
• According to the 2011 Census, the tribal population
in the UT of Ladakh is 2,18,355, which is ~80% of the
total population.
• Special status may be granted (under the 5th/6th
Schedule) to the UT considering the developmental
requirements of the tribal population.
Union government’s response:
• Sufficient funds are being provided to Ladakh to
meet its overall developmental requirements.
• The Ladakh administration recently increased the
reservation for STs in direct recruitment from 10%
to 45%.
Insta Links: 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution
Mains Links:
Q. “Sixth schedule of the Indian constitution has been
successful in protecting the tribal culture and inclusivity”.
Analyse. (250 words)
24 www.insightsonindia.com
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the
States, issues and challenges
HOW ARE DISPUTES BETWEEN STATES
RESOLVED IN INDIA?
Context:
As the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka
(over Belagavi, Karwar and Nipani in North Karnataka) is in-
tensifying, the article highlights formal methods in the Con-
stitution of India to resolve inter-state disputes.
Background:
• Often, attempts are made to resolve inter-state dis-
putes with the cooperation of both sides, with the
Centre working as a facilitator or a neutral mediator.
• This was followed by Parliament bringing a law
to alter state boundaries, such as the Bihar-Uttar
Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act of 1968 and
the Haryana-Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundar-
ies) Act of 1979.
Methods available to resolve inter-state disputes:
Judicial redressal:
• Article 131: Supreme Court has the original jurisdic-
tion in any dispute between -
 The Government of India and one or more
States; or
 The Government of India and any State or
States on one side and one or more other
States on the other; or
 Two or more States,
• If the dispute involves any question (whether of law
or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal
right depends.
• Exemption: The said jurisdiction shall not extend to
a dispute arising out of any treaty, agreement, cov-
enant, or engagement, having been entered into or
executed before the commencement of this Consti-
tution.
Inter-state Council:
• Inter-State and Zonal councils’ role in resolving in-
ter-state disputes has been covered in a recent arti-
cle which can be accessed through this link.

The Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute:
• When state boundaries were redrawn on linguistic
lines as per the States Reorganisation Act of 1956,
Belagavi became part of the erstwhile Mysore state.
• Maharashtra claims that parts of Belagavi, where
Marathi is the dominant language, should remain in
Maharashtra.
• In 1966, the Centre set up the Mahajan Commission,
to resolve the border dispute in Maharashtra, Karna-
taka and Kerala.
• The Commission recommended that Belgaum and
247 villages remain with Karnataka. Maharashtra re-
jected the report and moved the SC in 2004.
• The union home minister met the Chief Ministers of
both states and asked them to form a six-member
team, comprising three ministers from each side, to
address all boundary issues.
• However, both states hardened their stance passing a
unanimous resolution to support a legal battle to re-
solve the dispute.
Other inter-state disputes in India: There are border dis-
putes mostly arising out of claims and counter-claims over
territories between Assam-Meghalaya; Assam-Nagaland;
Assam-Mizoram; Assam-Arunachal Pradesh and Maha-
rashtra-Karnataka.
Insta Links: The Belagavi border dispute between Maha-
rashtra and Karnataka
Mains Links:
Q. How far do you think cooperation, competition and con-
frontation have shaped the nature of the federation of In-
dia? Cite some recent examples to validate your answer.
(UPSC 2020)
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2014)
The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes
between the Centre and the States falls under its
(a) advisory jurisdiction
(b) appellate jurisdiction
(c) original jurisdiction
(d) writ jurisdiction
Ans: c
Parliament and State Legislatures
RESERVATION FOR DALIT CONVERTS
Direction:
The article highlights the issues related to the inclusion/ex-
clusion of communities in the SC list.
Context:
The SC stated it would consider whether to wait for the Jus-
tice K.G. Balakrishnan Commission’s report or hear a series
of petitions seeking Scheduled Castes quota benefits for Dal-
it converts to other religions, notably Christianity.
Article 341 of the Indian Constitution:
• Clause (1): The President may with respect to any
State/UT and where it is a State after consultation
with the Governor, may notify the castes, races or
tribes or parts of or groups within castes, races or
tribes to be SCs in relation to that State/UT.
• Clause (2): Parliament may by law include or exclude
from the list of SCs specified in a notification issued.
Background:
• Earlier, the SC had sought the Union government’s
position on petitions challenging the Constitution
(Scheduled Castes) Order of 1950.
• The Order allows only members of Hindu, Sikh and
Buddhist religions to be recognised as SCs.
• A group seeking inclusion under the Order, is re-
quired to show extreme social, educational and
economic backwardness arising out of the practice
of untouchability.
• The Union government rejected the possibility of
including Dalit Christians and Muslims and recent-
ly constituted a new Commission (under former CJI
K.G. Balakrishnan) under the Commission of Inquiry
Act, 1952 to re-examine their inclusion.
• A case for inclusion:
• The existence of caste and caste inequalities among
Indian Christians and Indian Muslims.
• The caste-based discrimination continues even af-
ter conversion.
• The 1st Backward Classes Commission’s report
(1953), the Mandal Commission Report, the Ranga-
nath Misra Commission Report, etc., highlight the
same fact.
• In Sikhism and Buddhism, though casteism is not
present, they have been included as SCs.
www.insightsonindia.com 25
Arguments against inclusion:
• Christianity is an egalitarian religion which did not
adhere to any caste system. As a result, a 1936 Impe-
rial Order, specifically excluded “Indian Christians”
from the Depressed Classes list.
• The Union government refuses to accept the reports
as they lack empirical evidence to support their
claims.
• The government said that Dalits who converted to
Christianity or Islam to escape caste discrimination
could no longer claim the reservation benefits en-
joyed by those who remained in the Hindu religious
system.
• SC members had converted to Buddhism at the call
of B.R. Ambedkar in 1956 on account of “some in-
nate socio-political imperatives”.
Insta Links: The criterion for SC status
Mains Links:
Q. Whether the National Commission for Scheduled Castes
(NCSC) can enforce the implementation of constitutional
reservation for the Scheduled Castes in religious minority
institutions. Examine. (UPSC 2018)
KERALA’S UNIVERSITY LAWS (AMEND-
MENT) BILLS
Direction:
The article discusses the controversies surrounding the ap-
pointment of Chancellors and VCs at Kerala State Universi-
ties.
Context:
The Kerala government has passed the two University Laws
(Amendment) Bills to amend laws relating to the gover-
nance of 14 State universities and to remove the Governor
as Chancellor of said universities.
Background: Governor vs Government
• The Governor denied assent to the controversial
Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill and University Laws
(Amendment) Bill passed earlier by the State Assem-
bly.
• A Supreme Court order invalidated the Kerala Tech-
nological University VC’s appointment.
• Henceforth, the Governor demanded the resigna-
tions of 11 other VCs claiming that they were ap-
pointed through the same procedure invalidated by
the SC.
26 www.insightsonindia.com
About the Bills:
• Entrust the government to appoint eminent aca-
demicians as Chancellors of various universities,
ending the Governor’s watchdog role in university
administration.
• Provide provisions to limit the term of the appoint-
ed chancellor to 5 years.
• Need to amend the University laws:
• The UGC guidelines (partially mandatory for State
universities earlier) have been made legally binding
for all universities by way of recent SC rulings.
• An executive order issued by the Centre (UGC guide-
lines), undermines the Assembly’s powers under
the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
• The Punchhi Commission on Centre-State Relations
recommended not to confide the Governor with
powers that are not envisaged in the Constitution
and which may lead to controversies.
Arguments against the Bill:
• Give the State Government more leeway in appoint-
ing its own nominees as VCs.
• It would result in the transfer of power over univer-
sity administration from the Governor and the UGC
to the State Government.
• The State Government’s control over State universi-
ties will erode the autonomy they enjoy.
Insta Links: This unseating of vice-chancellors is faulty
Mains Links:
Q. Whether the Supreme Court Judgement (July 2018) can
settle the political tussle between the Lt. Governor and the
elected government of Delhi? Examine. (UPSC 2018)
MAHARASHTRA PASSES LOKAYUKTA
BILL THAT BRINGS CM UNDER THE AM-
BIT OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION BODY
Context:
This bill will replace the 1971 Lokayukta Bill
Important provisions of the Maharashtra Bill:
• Will need assembly approval of two-thirds of the to-
tal strength of the Assembly before starting any inqui-
ry against a minister and the motion to do so has to be
placed before the House.
 Analysis: Such Two-third strength may not
be possible in most the cases
• Transparency and privacy provisions: Any such inquiry
 shall be held in-camera and if the Lokayukta comes to Aim: “ombudsman” and inquire into allegations of corrup-
the conclusion that the complaint deserves to be dis- tion against certain public functionaries and related matters.
missed, the records of the inquiry shall not be published • Till 2011 eight attempts were made to pass the Bill,
or made available to anyone. but all met with failure.
 Analysis: It’s a good provision to ensure that • Commission to Review the Working of the Consti-
public figures are not victimized. tution (2002) headed by M.N. Venkatachaliah, 1st
• Exceptions added: Lokayukta will not investigate cases ARC and 2nd ARC recommended the appointment
involving allegations of corruption against the chief min- of the Lokpal and Lokayukta.
ister on matters related to internal security or public
order
 Analysis: Which matter will be considered
related to internal security or public order
has not been clearly defined
• Limited timeline: The trial against the chief minister, any
other Cabinet minister and elected representatives will
need to be completed within a year of the date of com-
plaint
 Analysis: Good provision but many times in-
vestigation and trial take more than a year.
• Selection of members of the Lokayukta: They will be
selected by a panel of the chief minister, deputy chief
minister, Assembly Speaker, Legislative Council chair-
person, Leaders of the Opposition in the Assembly and
the Council and a judge appointed by the chief justice of
India or the chief justice of the Bombay High Court.
 Analysis: There is a heavy bias towards gov-
ernment nominees in the selection panel.
• Chairperson: The chairperson of the anti-corruption
body will be led by a person who is the present or for-
mer chief justice of a High Court. The body will also have
judges of the Supreme Court or the Bombay High Court Insta Links: Lokpal, Lokayukta
as its member.
• The number of members: The Lokayukta will have a
maximum of four members, of whom two will be from Mains Links:
the judiciary. Q. Lokpal and Lokayukta as the ombudsmen for anti-cor-
ruption are underperforming and need reforms to achieve
their true potential and ensure accountability in the admin-
Good points: istration.  Examine. (250 words)
• Wider consultations: Discussions were held with so-
cial activist Anna Hazare before bringing the Bill and
a committee had been formed to obtain suggestions Judiciary
and objections on the draft Bill.
• Provisions against misuse: If in verification, the case
is wrongly filed then there is a provision in the law to THE IMPASSE OVER THE APPOINTMENT
take action against that person. OF JUDGES
Direction:
Concerns: The article discusses the issue of the appointment of judges
• The Bill was passed without any discussion and in to the higher judiciary in the context of the 2015 SC’s verdict
the absence of the Opposition. which struck down NJAC.

What are Lokpal and Lokayukta? Context:

The  Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013  provided for the The Vice President of India recently commented on the on-
establishment of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for going heated debate between the Central government and
States (as statutory bodies without any constitutional status)

www.insightsonindia.com 27
the Supreme Court over the matter of judicial appointments.
Background: The VP questioned the SC’s 2015 decision,
which struck down the National Judicial Appointments Com-
mission (NJAC) and the 99th Constitutional Amendment,
2014, on the grounds of endangering judicial independence.
Changes brought by the Constitution (99th Amend-
ment) Act, 2014:
• In order to replace the collegium system, it intro-
duced 3 primary Articles.
 Article 124A, created a constitutional body -
NJAC to replace the collegium system.
 Article 124B, which conferred the NJAC
powers to make appointments.
 Article 124C, empowering Parliament to
regulate the NJAC’s functioning.
Appointment procedure provided under the NJAC Act: the HCs and the SC
• The NJAC was to recommend the Chief Justice of In-
dia and Chief Justices of the HCs based on seniority,
while SC and HC judges were to be recommended
based on ability, merit and other criteria.
• Unlike the collegium system, the Act enables both
executive and judicial members to serve on the
NJAC and empowered any 2 members of the NJAC
to veto a recommendation.
Why was the NJAC challenged?
• In 2015, the Supreme Court Advocates on Record
Association (SCAORA) filed a plea arguing that -
 The NJAC took away the primacy of the
judiciary’s collective opinion as it could be
vetoed.
 The amendment “severely” damaged the
basic structure (independence of the judi-
ciary) of the Constitution.
28 www.insightsonindia.com
The Centre’s argument:
• The collegium that worked on an “intradependence”
structure has “no transparency.”
• The Act did not deprive the judiciary of its primacy
but rather diminished the executive’s power be-
cause the NJAC had only 1 member (Law Minister),
as compared to 3 SC judges.
• The amendment was “perfectly consonant” with
the basic structure as it strengthened the indepen-
dence of the judiciary, checks and balances and de-
mocracy.
The SC’s 2015 ruling (4:1 majority) (4th Judge Case):
• The NJAC was unconstitutional and violated the ba-
sic structure of the constitution.
• The Bench admitted that all was not well even with
the collegium system and that the time was ripe to
improve the system of judicial appointments.
Criticism of the ruling: The NJAC came through a unanimous-
ly passed constitutional provision that reflected “the will of
the people,” as both the bills were ratified by the required
number of State Legislatures.
Current arrangement of judicial appointments:
• The collegium system was restored.
• The Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) - an agree-
ment between the judiciary and the government
(which came into existence after NJAC) that outlines
the criteria for appointing judges to the SC and HCs.
Insta Links: Collegium system of appointments of judges to
Mains Links:
Q. Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgment on
‘The National Judicial Appointments Commission Act,
2014’ with reference to the appointment of judges of the
higher judiciary in India. (UPSC 2017)
Prelims Links:
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) governs the
appointment of members of the higher judiciary in
India.
2. The MoP says that the Union Minister of Law and
Justice would seek the recommendation of the out-
going Chief Justice of India for the appointment of
the next Chief Justice of India.
3. Article 124 of the Constitution contains the provi-
sions related to MoP.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
 a) 1 and 2 only • The lower judiciary presently has around 5,300
b) 1 and 3 only seats vacant – over 20% of its capacity.
c) 2 and 3 only • These vacancies are important as around 4.1 crores
d) All of the above of pending cases are before these courts.
• While the Union Ministry of Law and Justice pub-
Solution: a) lishes a comprehensive dataset every month noting
vacancies in the Supreme Court and High Courts, it
has no similar mechanism for the lower courts.
THE PROBLEM OF VACANCIES IN THE
INDIAN JUDICIARY How many judges do we need?
The Law Commission of India (1987) noted the importance
Context: of manpower planning for the judiciary.  The lack of an ad-
Parliamentary panel has asked the Executive and the Judicia- equate number of judges means a greater workload per
ry to come up with “out of box thinking” to deal with the judge.   Thus, it becomes essential to arrive at an optimal
“perennial problem” of vacancies in High Courts. judge strength to deal with pending and new cases in courts. 
Methods recommended for calculating the required num-
ber of judges for subordinate courts
Vacancies in the Indian Judiciary at various levels
• Out of 1,100 judges in various high courts in the
country, there are about 400 to 500 posts vacant all
the time.

Method Of Calculation Recommendation and its status

Judge-to-population ratio:  optimum number of The Law Commission of India (1987) recommended increasing this
judges per million population ratio to 50 judges per million people. For 2020, the judge-to-popula-
tion ratio was 21 judges per million population 
Rate of disposal The Law Commission of India (2014) proposed this method.  It re-
jected the judge-to-population ratio method, observing that the fil-
ing of cases per capita varies substantially across geographic units
depending on socio-economic conditions.
Weighted case load method:  calculating judge The National Court Management Systems Committee (NCMS) (2016)
strength based on the disposal by judges, taking proposed the weighted caseload method. It addresses the existing
into account the nature and complexity of cases in backlog of cases as well as the new flow of cases every year in sub-
local conditions. ordinate courts. In 2017, the Supreme Court accepted this model.

Way forward:
Time-based weighted caseload method: calculating
the required judge strength taking into account the
actual time spent by judges in different types of
cases at varying stages based on an empirical study
Used widely in the United States, a long-term method recommend-
ed by the NCMS (2016) to assess the required judge strength for sub-
ordinate courts.  It involves determining the total number of ‘judicial
hours’ required for disposing off the caseload of each court.  The Del-
hi High Court used this approach in a pilot project (January 2017- De-
cember 2018) to calculate the ideal judge strength for disposing off
pending cases in certain courts in Delhi.

www.insightsonindia.com 29
Other reforms needed in Indian Judiciary
Insta Links: Increasing Vacancies in Courts
Mains Link:
Q. Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgement on
the ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014’
with reference to the appointment of judges of higher judi-
ciary in India. (UPSC – 2017).
NATIONAL JUDICIAL COMMISSION BILL
INTRODUCED IN RAJYA SABHA
Direction:
The article highlights the recently introduced National Ju-
30 www.insightsonindia.com
dicial Commission Bill, 2022, its criticism and its way ahead.
The earlier article will help to understand the issue of Na-
tional Judicial Appointment Commission and why it was de-
clared unconstitutional.
Context:
A private member bill - the National Judicial Commission Bill,
2022, to regulate the appointment of judges through the Na-
tional Judicial Commission was introduced in RS.
Background:
● Both have pointed fingers at each other for delaying
judicial appointments.
● While government accuses Collegium for being
Opaque, SC blames government for the delay.
● The government has also voiced its grievance
against the invalidation of NJAC by the SC.
Key features of the Bill:
● The bill provides for the establishment of the Na-
tional Judicial Commission, to regulate -
 the procedure for appointment of the CJI
and other judges of the SC and Chief Justices
and other judges of HCs
 transfer of HC judges
 to lay down judicial standards
 provide for accountability of judges
● To establish a credible and expedient mechanism
for investigating individual complaints of misbe-
haviour or incapacity of a judge of the higher judi-
ciary.
● It proposes the presentation of an address by Par-
liament to the President in relation to the proceed-
ing for the removal of a judge.
Criticism of the move:
● The concept of NJAC has come under the consider-
ation of the SC 3 times - 1993, 1998 and 2015.
● All 3 times, while giving importance to the indepen-
dence of the judiciary, the SC dismissed the frame-
work of the NJAC.
 ● In its 2015 ruling, the SC declared the 99th Consti-
tutional Amendment and NJAC unconstitutional, vi-
olating the basic structure of the constitution. How-
ever, the SC admitted that all is not well even with
the collegium system.
Way ahead:
● Both the judiciary and the government need to do
some “out-of-the-box” thinking to deal with the
“perennial” judicial vacancies in HCs.
● Both institutions need to adhere to the timeline giv-
en in the 2nd Judges case and the Memorandum of
Procedure (MoP).
● Until consensus is built on a mechanism, the need is
to improve the collegium system through conversa-
tion with the judiciary.
Private Member’s Bills:
• An MP who is not a minister is a private member and
the Bills introduced by such private members are re-
ferred to as Private Member’s Bills.
 It requires notice of one month and can be
introduced or discussed only on Fridays.
Till now 14 such bills have been passed
• The Bills introduced by ministers are called govern-
ment Bills, which have the backing of the government
and reflect its legislative agenda.
• Whether Private Bill has to be admitted or not is decid-
ed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairperson
of the Rajya Sabha.
Insta Links: The impasse over the appointment of judges
Mains Links:
Q. Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgement on
‘The National Judicial Appointments Commission Act,
2014’ with reference to the appointment of judges of high-
er judiciary in India. (UPSC 2017)
Prelims Links:
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the ap-
pointment of Supreme Court judges:
1. The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme
Court are appointed by the President of India.
2. Whenever there is any doubt about the senior most
Judge holding the office of the Chief Justice of India, the
matter is decided by the Parliament.
3. For appointing Judges of the Supreme Court, the recom-
mendation of the collegium to the President is binding
during the first instance.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 2 only
COURT VACATIONS: WHAT ARE THE AR-
GUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST JUDGES
TAKING BREAKS?
Direction:
The article covers the issue of vacations in SC, its need, criti-
cism, suggestions to reform the system and how SCs of other
countries perform.
Context:
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) recently said that no Vacation
Benches will be available in the SC during the winter break.
Background:
• The announcement came a day after the Union Law
Minister criticised the long vacations of the court
and the inconvenience it caused to litigants.
• According to an SC’s earlier circular, a senior SC Reg-
istry official is specially deputed as a ‘Vacation Of-
ficer,’ who could be approached in matters seeking
urgent relief and, in such instances, a Bench would
be constituted if required.
What are court vacations?
• The SC has 193 working days a year for its judicial
functioning, while the HCs function for approximate-
ly 210 days and trial courts for 245 days.
• The SC breaks for its annual summer vacation which
is typically for seven weeks (May-July), a week-long
break each for Dussehra and Diwali and two weeks
at the end of December.
The fate of the important cases during court vacations:
• The Supreme Court Rules, 2013, provides that the
CJI may appoint one or more Judges to hear during
vacation (vacation benches) all matters of an urgent
nature (bail, eviction, etc) and s/he may likewise
appoint a Division Court for the hearing of urgent
cases.
• For example, in 2015, a five-judge Bench of the SC
heard the challenge to the constitutional amend-
ment setting up the NJAC during the summer vaca-
tion.
Criticism of the court vacations:
• The colonial origins: the European judges of the
Federal Court of India found Indian summers too hot
and took the winter break for Christmas.
www.insightsonindia.com 31
 • Mounting pendency of cases: the court’s pendency
as on December 1 is 69,598 cases.
• The calendar for the year 2023 shows the court
would not be fully functional for nearly 180 days.
Arguments in favour of court vacations:
• The judges do not take leave of absence (family
tragedies, and health are rare exceptions) like other
working professionals when the court is in session.
• In a profession that demands intellectual rigour and
long working hours, vacations are needed for reju-
venation.
• The judges utilise the vacation to write judgments.
• Cutting the vacation period would be a solution to
pendency that is not backed by data.
• The issue of pendency relates largely to legacy cases
that need to be tackled systemically.
Reforms were undertaken: In 2014 when the SC reduced
the period of summer vacation from 10 to 7 weeks.
Suggestions:
• The Justice Malimath Committee: vacation period
should be reduced by 21 days and the SC work for
206 days and HCs for 231 days every year.
• The Law Commission of India: Vacations in the high-
er judiciary are to be curtailed by at least 10 to 15
days and the working hours should be extended by
at least half an hour.
• Former CJI R M Lodha:
 Keep the SC, HCs and trial courts open
around the year.
 The schedules of individual judges should
be sought at the beginning of the year, and
the calendar should be planned accordingly.
Compared with other countries:
• Indian SC: It has the highest caseload among the
apex courts around the world and also works the
most. For example, with 34 judges in 2021, 29,739
cases came before the SC and 24,586 cases were dis-
posed of in the same year.
• US SC: Hears approximately 100-150 cases a year,
and sits for oral arguments for five days a month.
• In the UK, High Courts and Courts of Appeals sit for
185-190 days a year.
Insta Links: Reforms brought by CJI Lalit in SC
32 www.insightsonindia.com
Salient features of the RPA
WHAT ARE EXIT POLLS, AND WHAT
RULES GOVERN THEM IN INDIA?
Direction:
As exit polls are always in news in India, the article discusses
all aspects of exit polls – meaning, regulatory backing, signif-
icance, and criticism.
Context:
Exit polls for the Gujarat elections are now available, as the
results of exit polls for a specific election are not permitted
to be published until the last vote has been cast.
About exit polls:
• Meaning: An exit poll asks voters, which political
party they are supporting after they have cast their
votes in an election.
• History: In 1957, during the 2nd Lok Sabha elec-
tions, the Indian Institute of Public Opinion conduct-
ed such a poll.
• Conducted by: A number of organisations, often in
tie-ups with media organisations.
• How does it differ from an opinion poll? Unlike exit
polls, which are post-voting polls/surveys, opinion
polls are held before the elections.
Rules governing exit polls:
• In 1998, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is-
sued guidelines under Article 324 of the Constitu-
tion, restricting media from publishing results of
opinion and exit polls during a prohibited period.
• In 1999, the SC stated that in the absence of a statu-
tory sanction, the ECI cannot impose any guidelines
prohibiting such polls.
• The inclusion of Section 126(A) in the Representa-
tion of the People Act, 1951, in 2010 imposed re-
strictions only on exit polls.
 Section 126(A): No person shall conduct
any exit poll and publish or publicise its re-
sults through the print or electronic media,
during such period as the ECI may notify in
this regard.
 Any person who violates the provisions of
this section shall be punished with impris-
onment for a term up to 2 years/ a fine/
both.
• Currently, exit polls can be telecast only after the
conclusion of the last phase of the election.
Common parameters for a good/accurate exit poll:
 • Large and diverse sample size.
• A clearly constructed questionnaire with no bias.
Significance of exit polls: Gives an indication of -
● Who might secure the maximum votes
● The issues, personalities and loyalties that have in-
fluenced voters
Criticism of exit polls:
● Political parties often allege that these polls are mo-
tivated or financed by a rival party.
● The results can be influenced by the choice, word-
ing, timing of the questions and by the nature of
the sample drawn.
Insta Links: Exit polls
Mains Links:
Q. Differentiate between an opinion poll and an exit poll. Do
you think these polls can impact free and fair elections by
affecting voting patterns? Critically comment. (250 words)
Constitutional posts and Bodies.
COUNTING PROCESS AFTER POLLING IS
OVER
Direction:
The article covers the process and apparatus involved during
the counting of votes once polling is over.
Context:
As Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh wait for the results of their
Assembly elections, we will try to understand the process of
counting votes.
Background:
For a country like India where each individual constituency
can have lakhs of voters, counting votes is a complex pro-
cess that requires both pace and precision.
Process of counting of votes:
Location:
• Ideally, all votes should be counted in one location
in the constituency. But during General Elections,
many counting centres can be appointed.
• The location(s) for counting votes is decided by the
Returning Officer (RO), with multiple centres being
under the supervision of the Assistant Returning Of-
ficers (each centre under one ARO).
Role played by the Returning Officer (RO):
• The RO is appointed for each constituency by the
Election Commission and is the highest authority
(during the course of the election) in the constitu-
ency to peacefully and impartially conduct elections.
• Generally, the District Magistrate is the ex-officio
RO in Lok Sabha elections while the Sub-Divisional
Magistrate is the RO in state assembly elections.
• With respect to the counting of votes, the RO has
the following duties:
 To designate the counting centres and get
them approved by the Commission well in
advance;
 To send notice to the candidates about the
place, date and time of counting of votes;
 To appoint and train counting staff;
 To count the votes and declare the result.
However, ROs themselves do not count all
votes but verify the counting at multiple
stages.
• They are the final authority in the matter of vote
counting in an election. The EC also appoints AROs
to assist the RO in carrying out all the duties.
Other participants in the counting apparatus:
• Counting Supervisors and Assistants: They should
be gazetted officers and are appointed by the RO.
• Observers:
 The EC appoints observers at each counting
room, who are supposed to record the pro-
ceedings and file a report.
 They are the eyes and ears of the EC on the
ground, who ensure that all procedures are
being followed and are also supposed to
randomly verify votes counted for some
EVMs in each round of counting.
• Candidates and Counting Agents: Candidates who
were on the ballot are also allowed in the counting
room along with their representatives.
www.insightsonindia.com 33
• Security:
• While armed forces are typically not supposed to en-
ter counting rooms, they are in charge of maintain-
ing multiple layers of security, both at the
 Counting room
 Path through which EVMs are brought to
the counting rooms from their strong rooms
(where they are stored after polling).
• The security forces, including CRPF and local police,
are under the authority of the RO of the constitu-
ency.
Insta Links: Election Commission
Mains Links:
Q. In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of
Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challeng-
es before the Election Commission of India to ensure the
trustworthiness of elections in India? (2018)
WHAT IS THE CAG AUDIT REPORT ON
ASSAM’S NRC?
descendants of people living in Assam before March
25, 1971 - the cut-off date for deportation of for-
eigners as per the Assam Accord of August 1985.
• As many as 19.06 lakh people out of 3.3 crore appli-
cants were excluded due to a lack of adequate doc-
uments to prove their citizenship.
• The final list was rejected by some stakeholders as
faulty, and the process is still on hold because the
Registrar General of India (RGI) is yet to notify the
final list.
Findings in the CAG report:
• Haphazard development of software for the exer-
cise, making it prone to data tampering.
• Undue profits worth crores amassed by the system
integrator (SI) by violating the Minimum Wages Act.
Concerns raised by the CAG:
• The process to update the NRC has seen a five-fold
increase in the cost (Rs 1,600 crore) due to time
overruns and updates in the software.
• Irregularities in the utilisation of funds including ex-
cess and inadmissible payment to vendors.

Context: Recommendations of the CAG:

The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) have • Penal measures against Wipro Limited for violating
flagged serious concerns in a compliance report of ‘logistical the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act and for
arrangements for National Register of Citizens (NRC) update paying data operators less than minimum wages.
project in Assam’ tabled in the Assam Assembly recently. • Action against the State Coordinator of National
Registration (SCNR) for excess, irregular and inad-
What is the NRC exercise? missible payments.
• It contains demographic information on all legal In- • Fixing accountability of the SCNR as the principal
dian citizens, allowing illegal immigrants to be rec- employer for not ensuring compliance with the Min-
ognised and deported. imum Wage Act.
• It is mandated under a 2003 amendment to the Cit-
izenship Act of 1955, which specifies the criteria un-
der which a person obtains Indian citizenship.
• Until now, such a database has only been main-
tained for Assam. However, India’s Home Minister
recently stated that the register would be expanded
to include the entire country.

Background:
• An NRC was first created in 1951 in Assam to iden-
tify those born in India and migrants from erstwhile
East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
• In 2013 (on a petition urging the removal of illegal
immigrants’ names from voter lists), the Supreme
Court issued directions to the Centre and State to
initiate an exercise to update the 1951 register.
• The final list (2019) included those who could es-
tablish their Indian citizenship by being residents or

34 www.insightsonindia.com
 Related news: EC begins delimitation in Assam
Context: The Election Commission of India (EC) has begun the process of delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary
constituencies in Assam, based on the 2001 Census data.
Legal/constitutional provisions:
● Article 82: Following each census, the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to the states, as well as the division of each
state into territorial constituencies, shall be readjusted by such authority as Parliament may by law determine.
● Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950: It allows for delimitation of Parliamentary and Assem-
bly constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur or Nagaland.
● Article 170 (Composition of the Legislative Assemblies): Census figures (2001) shall be used for the purpose of
readjustment of constituencies in the State.
● Reservation of seats for the SCs/STs will be provided as per Articles 330 (Lok Sabha) and 332 (State Assemblies)
of the Constitution.

Delimitation Commission:
● Delimitation is the responsibility of a high-level body known as the Delimitation Commission or a Boundary Com-
mission, whose orders have the force of law and cannot be challenged in court.
● Article 82 of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of such a commission through a Parliamen-
tary act.
● The orders will come into effect on a date to be determined by India’s President.

Need of delimitation in Assam:

● Assam currently has 14 Lok Sabha and 126 Assembly constituencies.
● The last delimitation of constituencies in Assam was done in 1976 on the basis of the 1971 Census.
● In 1971, Assam’s population was 1.46 crore, which increased to 2.66 crore (2001) and to 3.12 crore (2011).

Concerns:
● Why is the delimitation exercise being done on the basis of the 2001 Census, and not the 2011 Census?
● Several pressure groups have urged to stop the delimitation till the NRC is final.

Key points highlighted by the Panel:

Insta Links: NRC
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
PARLIAMENTARY PANEL ON CBI
Recommendations by the Panel:
Context:
The department-related Parliamentary Standing Commit-
tee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice have
highlighted that the CBI’s conviction of cases rate has come
down while its pendency in courts has escalated
• Decline in conviction rate: From 743 (2012), the
numbers slipped to 169 in 2020 and 202 in 2021.
• Pendency: Probe was pending in 1,025 CBI cases as
of January 31, 2022, with 66 languishing for more
than five years and some cases being pending for
over 20 years
• Reducing the number of registered cases: From
about 1,000-1,150 cases registered by the agency
during 2012-17, the number dipped to 600-900 cas-
es between 2017 and 2021.
• Issues with recruitment: There is a huge manpower
shortage and no provision for direct recruitment of
candidates above the rank of sub-inspector in CBI.
• Withdrawal of General Consent: Over 9 state gov-
ernments have withdrawn their general consent to
CBI.
• Case Management system: Should be put in place
to track the progress and pursue it to its logical con-
clusion. This will expedite the disposal of cases, en-
hance transparency and promote accountability in

www.insightsonindia.com 35
 the functioning of the agency.
• Direct recruitment: provision for the posts of in-
spector or deputy superintendent of police.
• Politics should not override the practical nature
of crime: CBI deals with complex nature crimes in-
volving various states and agencies, which should be
considered by the sates before withdrawal of con-
sent.

Other issues with CBI:

• Politicisation of the CBI has been a work in progress
for years.
• Corruption and Political biasedness: of CBI was
highlighted by SC, by calling it as a ‘Caged Parrot’.
• CBI has been accused of becoming  a ‘handmaid-
en’ to the party in power, leading to negligence of
high-profile cases.
• Since CBI is run by central police officials on depu-
tation, there is a tendency to function on a quid pro
quo basis to gain favours.
What other reforms are needed for CBI?
• The Second Administrative Reforms Commis-
sion (2007) suggested a new law to be enacted for
governing CBI.
• Parliamentary standing committee (2007)  recom-
mended a separate act to be in tune with require-
ments with time to ensure credibility and impartial-
ity (ex- specify criminal culpability for government
interference)
• Financial and administrative Autonomy of CBI simi-
lar to CAG, must be ensured.
• CBI to develop its own dedicated cadre of officers
who are not bothered with deputation and abrupt
transfers.
• A  more efficient parliamentary oversight  over the
federal criminal and intelligence agencies to ensure
better accountability.
 
Prelims Link:
1. About CBI, ED, SFO and its establishment.
2. Provisions of the DSPE Act and other laws backing inves-
tigating agencies.
Mains Link:
Q. Discuss the need for an independent umbrella body to
regulate various central investigating agencies in India. Sug-
gest reforms in this regard. (15M)
NORTH-EAST ZONAL COUNCILS
Context:
Recently, PM Modi attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations
(50 years) of the North-Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong
Points highlighted by the PM
• Regular meetings: Prime Minister himself has visit-
ed the North-East more than 50 times in the last 8
years, while ministers have also visited the North-
East more than 400 times
• 8 pillars of North-East development: e.g., Peace,
Power, Tourism, 5G connectivity, Culture, natural
farming, Sports etc.
• Infrastructure development: The government has
taken up the project of connecting every capital of
a North-Eastern State by road, train and air connec-
tivity
 Dhola-Sadiya bridge (the longest bridge in
India over the Lohit River in Assam)
• PM’s Development Initiative for North-East (PM-
DevINE)
• Strategic policies:
 ‘Act Fast for Northeast and Act First for
Northeast’ Policy
 India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral high-

36 www.insightsonindia.com
 way project, Kaladan project and Agarta-
la-Akhaura Rail project.
Inter-state council Vs Zonal Councils
 About Inter-state council: It is a mecha-
nism that was constituted “to support Cen-
tre-State and Inter-State coordination and
cooperation in India”. It will be constituted
by the President under article 263 of the
constitution.
About Zonal Council (see Infographic below)
o liminary step.
o Need of Zonal councils.
• Provide an excellent forum where conflicts between
the Centre and States and States can be resolved.
• Act as a regional forum of cooperative endeavour for
States linked with each other economically, politi-
cally and culturally.
• As they are meant for looking after the interests of
respective zones, they are capable of focusing atten-
tion on specific issues taking into account regional
factors, while keeping the national perspective in
view.
• Bringing out national integration and arresting the
growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism,
linguism and particularistic tendencies.
o Effectiveness of Zonal councils.
• In the last 8 years, more than 1,000 issues were dis-
cussed in the meetings of the Zonal Councils and 93
per cent of them were resolved, which is a huge
achievement.
• With the help of Zonal councils, instances of Left-
Wing Extremism and North East insurgency have
been minimized.
o Issues associated with Zonal councils.
• The complexity of issues – The Council(s) may not
deliver fruitful results in the ongoing crisis due to the
traversing nature of the issues involved between the
states.  stitutional or statutory responsibility of the Union to
• Statutory Basis – Moreover, the statutory basis of
the Council may also mar the efficiency of the insti-
tution while dealing with the sovereign exercise of
power by the states.
• Advisory in nature – It is just a recommendatory
body to investigate and discuss subjects, in which
some or all of the states or the Central government
have a common interest.
• Lack of expertise – No presence of technical and
management/administrative experts.
o Need for Inter-state councils (ISC):
• Resolving new issues – The ISC in recent times is in-
evitable in the context of a growing divide between
the states and the Union government as a result of
the experiments of demonetisation and the GST,
farm laws and the subsequent repeal, NEET exam-
ination, Agnipath scheme and the deepening tussle
between the Governors
• Constitutional body – As it is a Constitutional body
it has more importance in establishing national inte-
gration and ensuring healthy federalism than zonal
councils.
• Effective communication between different levels
of government – In a decentralized polity where the
interaction between several levels of government is
significant, the interstate council is an essential pre-
• Focusing on National issues – It provides an ideal
environment for discussing the needs of the people
of the country, dealing with their issues, and making
decisions that benefit everyone rather than just fo-
cusing on particular zones.
o Effectiveness of ISC.
• The formation of “The National Commission to re-
view the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC)”
under the Chairmanship of Justice M N Venkatacha-
laiah in 2001 is one of the outcomes of the ISC meet-
ings.
• Interstate council helped to ensure Horizontal fed-
eralism in India.
o Issues associated with ISC.
• Inconsistent meetings – As per mandate ISC have to
meet at least thrice a year. But since 1990 only 12
meetings have been held against the mandate of 96
as per the order.
• Lack of diversification of issues – Out of 12, nine
meetings were held by and large to discuss the rec-
ommendations of the Sarkaria Commission and con-
sensus-building on the same.
• Lack of Functional autonomy – ISC is excluded from
discussing topics that fall under the purview of the
National Development Council, the Finance Com-
mission, etc. and also areas that relate to the con-
www.insightsonindia.com 37
 discharge any duty.
• Lack of political will – There has been a lack of will
by the political parties to strengthen the ISC through
consensual governance.
• Not participatory – There is no presence/engage-
ment of the civil society in the council which makes
it less participatory and cooperative.
• Not permanent body – The Inter-state council is not
a permanent constitutional body for coordination
between the states and Central government.
o Way forward
• A regular meeting schedule and a permanent sec-
retariat to ISC will ensure that the periodic meetings
are more fruitful.
• Making ISC a permanent body as suggested by the
Sarkaria commission.
• Bills of national importance should be placed be-
fore the ISC and Zonal councils before being tabled
in Parliament.
• Zonal councils have to be strengthened with techni-
cal and administrative expertise to handle complex
issues.
• Advises given by the zonal councils have to be taken
seriously by the centre in implementing policies or
programs.
o Conclusion
o The interstate council and Zonal councils are
the most dynamic platform to discuss poli-
cies and strengthen Centre-State relations.
These work as an instrument for coopera-
tion, coordination and the evolution of com-
mon policies and act as a bridge to the trust
deficit between the centre and the state.  the centres.
Insta Links:
• Inter-State Council
• Zonal Council
• North-East Council
Mains Links
Q. A rejuvenated Inter-State and Zonal Councils can play a
vital role in better implementation of governance practices,
involve the states more closely in the planning and delivery
of services and lead to a more prudent fiscal discipline. Dis-
cuss. (15M)
Prelims Links
Q. Which of the following bodies does not/do not find
mention in the Constitution? (UPSC 2013)
1. National Development Council
2. Planning Commission
3. Zonal Councils
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
38 www.insightsonindia.com
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 only
Answer: D
NCW ISSUES MEMO ON PREVENTION
OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Direction:
The article covers the salient features of the Sexual Harass-
ment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and
Redressal) Act, 2013.
Context:
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has asked all
states to ensure that coaching centres and educational in-
stitutes strictly enforce the Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act,
2013.
The Commission has also asked:
• To conduct awareness programmes on the Act
among all stakeholders in order to ensure that cases
of sexual harassment at work are reported responsi-
bly and effectively.
• To ensure that these coaching centres are registered
with the relevant authorities and a background
check is conducted on those responsible for running
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act,
2013:
Background:
• The Vishakha Guidelines were issued by the Su-
preme Court (in Vishakha and others v. The State of
Rajasthan 1997) with the primary goal of creating a
framework for workplace sexual misconduct redress
and grievance processes.
• The Act of 2013 was motivated by these guidelines.
About the Act of 2013:
Objective: Its goal is to safeguard women’s rights at work
and make the workplace a safer place for them. It also serves
as a platform for both avoiding and addressing problems.
Provisions of the Act:
● It is applicable to all sectors including organised and
unorganised sectors.
● It defines a workplace as an extended space by cov-
ering any place visited by an employee during the
 course of his or her employment which would in-
clude transportation, etc.
● Internal Complaint Committee (ICC): Any corpora-
tion or organisation with more than 10 employees to
establish an ICC to hear and address sexual harass-
ment allegations.
● Local Complaint Committee in each district where
there are less than 10 workers.
● Duties of employer: The employer must disclose
the legal repercussions of engaging in sexual harass-
ment-related activities, as well as the composition
of the ICC.
● Penalties: If an employer fails to comply with the
regulations, a penalty of Rs. 50000 may be imposed,
and the licence may be revoked.
Procedure to be followed:
• An aggrieved female has 3 months to make a written
complaint with the ICC.
• Before initiating an investigation, the committee can
try to resolve the matter through mediation.
• While directing the investigation (to be completed
in 90 days), the Committee has the same authority
as a civil court and works on Principles of Natural
Justice.
National Commission for Women (NCW):
• It is a statutory body of the Government of India that
was founded on January 31, 1992, by the National
Commission for Women Act, 1990.
• Its mandate is to:
• Review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards
for women;
• Recommend remedial legislative measures;
• Facilitate redressal of grievances and
• Advise the Government on all policy matters af-
fecting women.
• Functions:
• Investigate and examine all issues concerning the
protection provided to women under the Consti-
tution and other legislation.
• Report on the effectiveness of those safeguards to
the Central Government.
• Make recommendations in such reports for the
effective application of those protections.
• Propose corrective legislative actions to address
any flaws in laws.
• Investigate complaints and take suo moto action
in cases involving the denial of women’s rights.

Loopholes and issues in the law:

• Not a gender-neutral law.
• Legislation is very vague in respect of the ICC consti-
tution (includes only personnel from the company
itself).
• Necessary steps against malicious complaints would
discourage women from coming forward.

Conclusion:
A law as revolutionary as Sexual Harassment of Women in
the Workplace will have huge social implications, if public
awareness, sensitivity and robust implementation are en-
sured.

Insta Links: Prevention of sexual harassment or POSH Act

Mains Links:
Q. “Though women in post-Independent India have ex-
celled in various fields, the social attitude towards women
and the feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart
from women’s education and women empowerment
schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu?”
(UPSC 2021)

www.insightsonindia.com 39
Government policies and interventions
PENDENCY FALLS IN THE RATE OF ADOP-
TION
Context:
The pendency in the adoption of children has come down
to 644 from 905 over the last two months since the new
Adoption Regulations were notified.
• The new rules empowered District Magistrates to
issue adoption orders, which were exercised by the
judiciary earlier.
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)
Amendment Bill, 2021:
• Section 61 of the JJ Act:  Authorizing  District
Magistrates  and  Additional District Magistrates  to
issue adoption orders by striking out the word
“court”.
Reforms made in the Adoption Rules:
• Pre- and post-adoptive counselling sessions for
prospective adoptive parents by counsellors trained
with the help of the National Institute of Mental
Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS).
• A complete health check-up is being done through
the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the child before
processing the adoption.  • CARINGS Online Platform
• Changes have also been made to the Child Adoption
Resource Information and Guidance System (CAR-
INGS) online platform for adoption.
• If the child adjusts well to the foster family, it can
adopt the child after two years of fostering (earlier
it was five years).
Need for reforms:
• To prevent court-related delays during adoptions
because of a large number of pending cases.  VILLAGES FOR PODIUM FINISHES
• Issues with Adoption in India:
• Conflict -  There is an anomaly on the legislature
front as adoption is being governed by the Hindu
Adoption and Maintenance Act of 1956, which is
under the Ministry of Law and Justice while the as-
pects of Orphans are dealt with by the Ministry of
Women and Child Development.
• Emotional trauma – Children face a lot of pressure
in getting adjusted to a new family and culture.
• Trafficking: The trafficking of such children is a chal-
lenge, especially in the eastern part of the country
like Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
40 www.insightsonindia.com
Laws governing adoptions in India:
• Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956
(HAMA): A “dattaka hom” ceremony or an adoption
deed or a court order is sufficient to obtain irrevoca-
ble adoption rights.
• Juvenile Justice Act, 2015: Parents have to register
on CARA’s portal after which a specialized adoption
agency carries out a home study report.
Way Forward:
• Changing behavioural mindset related to “my child
being of my blood”, which was initiated by banning
commercial surrogacy in India.
• Adoption rates will begin to increase both when
there are enough children in the adoption pool, and
when more parents are willing to adopt.
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
• It has been set up as a statutory body of the Ministry of
Women and Child Development.
• It functions as a nodal body for the adoption of Indi-
an children and is mandated to monitor and regulate
in-country and inter-country adoption.
Insta Link:
The tedious process of Adoption
Prelims Link:
• CARA
• Juvenile Justice Act
• Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act
Mains Link:
Q. Explain the rationale behind the recent Juvenile Justice
(Amendment) Bill 2021 and account for its key features.
150 Words
NEED TO UPGRADE SPORTS INFRA IN
Context:
Recently, during a Parliamentary discussion on promotion of
sports in India, MPs raised the issue of limited spending on
sports, inadequate infrastructure and inclusivity.
Background:
● Sports being a ‘State’ subject, the responsibility for
development of sports, including opening sports
schools, rests with the State/ UT governments.
● India’s poor performance at international sporting
events such as the Olympics, as evidenced by the
country’s low medal record, is cause for concern.
Issues faced by the Indian sports sector:
• Inadequate funding: Though India is a 3.5-trillion
economy, it spent just Rs 11,482.77 crore (in the last
5 years) for the development of sports.
• Inadequate infrastructure: Low number of sports
academies, stadiums and equipment.
• Rural-urban gap: Most of the facilities are concen-
trated in urban India.
• Lack of inclusivity in sports: In terms of class, caste
and gender.
Way ahead:
• There is a need to support talent from the villages.
• Mega events and sports in the urban and the prac-
tising academies should be concentrated in villages.
• Making sports mandatory in schools and schools
must have a sports ground and a sports teacher.
• Inviting CSR funding and Public Private Partnerships
in Indian sports.
• Ensuring more participation of children, women,
and trans-sportspersons.

Related news: The scheme of National Centre of Sports Science and Research (NCSSR)
Source: PIB
Context: The scheme of NCSSR being implemented by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, aims to support high
level research education and innovation in respect of high performance of elite athletes.
About the scheme:
● It is implemented through the Sports Authority of India (SAI) - an Autonomous Body under the Ministry and se-
lected universities/institutes/medical colleges in the country.
● Under the scheme, medical care and management as well as rehabilitation of injuries of athletes at the SAI Na-
tional Centre of Excellence (NCOE) and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) is undertaken.

Other schemes to promote sports in India:

1. Fit India Movement: Launched in 2019, the movement’s goal is to influence people’s behaviours and encourage
them to live more physically active lifestyles.
2. Khelo India 2020 program: The government would train the athletes and their coaches to improve their perfor-
mance on the world stage (Olympics).
3. Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): Its goal is to find, develop and prepare future medal contenders for the
Olympic and Paralympic Games.
4. The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF): It gives athletes opportunities to train with renowned interna-
tional coaches, technical, scientific support.
5. Mission Olympics 2024: To assist India in winning 50 medals in the 2024 summer Olympics, NITI Aayog has devel-
oped a short- and medium-term action plan.

Insta Links: National air sports policy
Mains Links:
Q. Analyse the importance of reviving the sports culture in
India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework
for all sports. (250 words)
WORLD BANK’S NEW TOOLKIT ON EN-
ABLING GENDER RESPONSIVE URBAN
MOBILITY
Context:
World Bank launched a  “Toolkit on Enabling Gender Re-
sponsive Urban Mobility and Public Spaces in India” which
aims at suggesting ways to make public transport in Indian
cities more inclusive of women’s travelling requirements.
WHY URBAN PUBLIC SPACES AND MOBILITY SERVICES
SHOULD BE VIEWED THROUGH A GENDER LENS?
• Women are amongst the biggest users of public
transport across Indian cities.
• Lack of safety deters women from stepping out; cre-
ating a vicious cycle that lowers their presence in
public spaces.
• Women face barriers in using public transport owing
to gender-blind design elements during access and
egress, waiting at stops and transfers, boarding and
alighting, and inside the vehicle.
• Barriers to women’s mobility actively restrict their
choices around education and employment.
• Deep-rooted gender-based social norms actively re-
strict women’s movement outside their homes.
• Women bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid
care work in India necessitating public transport
solutions for the mobility of care.
• Women’s ‘time poverty’ constrains time available
for commuting.

www.insightsonindia.com 41
The World Bank suggests a four-pillared approach to help
address prevailing issues in urban transport for women.
Recommendations given in the new toolkit:
• Integrating gender elements while developing com-
prehensive mobility plans at the city level.
• Developing Gender Action Plans as an integral part
of plans at the city level.
• Incentive-based policies may be brought in by state
governments to enable women’s workforce partici-
pation in the mobility sector.
• Establish a Gender Advisory Committee to monitor
GAP implementation.
• Strengthen grievance redressal cells to fast-track
sexual harassment complaints by commuters and
users of public spaces, ensuring representation of
women and persons of minority genders.
• Establish one-stop centres at public transport facil-
ities.
• Digitizing ticketing systems and adopting a com-
mon mobility card through an integrated mobility
system.
Insta Links: Is Access to Transport Slowing Participation of
Women in India’s Workforce? 
Mains Link:
Q. The Delhi government’s decision to make public trans-
port free for women has opened a debate about the ways
in which women access transport and the barriers they
face. In such a context analyse how reforms in public trans-
port affect women. (250 words)
J&K’S FAMILY PEHCHAN PATRA
Direction:
The article highlights the new family ID for residents of J&K,
42 www.insightsonindia.com
its criticism, and other states with a similar mechanism.
Context:
J&K Lt Governor’s announcement to introduce a family Pe-
hchan Patra (identity card) for residents of the UT has been
criticised by the opposition parties in Kashmir as a surveil-
lance tool.
The proposed family Pehchan Patra:
• It will be an identity card with a unique 8-digit al-
phanumeric number, containing details of all mem-
bers of the family, including their name, age, qualifi-
cation, employment status, etc.
• The card will be linked with the Aadhaar and bank
account number of the head of the family.
• While Aadhaar contains information about an in-
dividual, the family ID card will collate a database
about families, with the consent of the family.
• Not consenting is likely to attract practical difficul-
ties as benefits (subsidised rations etc) will be linked
with the family ID card.
The purpose of introducing the identity card:
• To create an authentic, verified and reliable data-
base of families in J&K that will help in policy plan-
ning.
• To facilitate direct transfer of benefits to their bank
accounts.
• To ensure speedy and transparent doorstep deliv-
ery of welfare schemes to eligible beneficiaries.
• To identify and weed out duplicate ration cards and
Aadhaar.
Issues with the proposed family ID:
• It symbolises the widening trust deficit especially
post 2019 when the erstwhile state of J&K was bifur-
cated into two UTs.
• Unproductive use of resources.
• The protection of personal data - a major challenge.
Government’s response to this criticism:
• An information security policy and an appropriate
cyber security framework are under planning.
• Minimum human interference will result in better
utilisation of resources.
• Better delivery of services will strengthen trust be-
tween the government and the people.
Similar databases in other states:
• Haryana was the first state to introduce the concept
of the family Pehchan Patra, and Punjab introduced
 it last year.
• UP Parivar Kalyan Card, Rajasthan’s Jan Aadhaar
and MP’s Samagra ID are other examples.
Insta Links: This is what has changed in Jammu and Kashmir
Mains Links:
Q. Trace the changed security situation in Jammu and Kash-
mir and discuss the road ahead post the recent landmark
political changes. (250 words)
THE CASTE CENSUS DEBATE TO CRAFT
REASONED AND INCLUSIVE POLICIES
Direction:
The article highlights the triple test formula to provide OBC
reservation in ULBs and discusses the need to have a caste-
based census.
Context:
The judiciary has repeatedly established that caste popula-
tion surveys conducted by the states are insufficient to pro-
vide for political reservation in local body elections.
Background:
• The Allahabad HC recently dismissed the UP gov-
ernment’s caste census to count the Other Back-
ward Class (OBC) population across the state, ruling
that “counting of heads” is insufficient.
 The UP government had ordered (in 2017)
a “rapid survey” to count the population of
OBCs ward-wise in each municipal corpora-
tion, municipal council, and panchayat area.
• The HC, while directing that local body elections be
held in UP without any reservation for the OBC, add-
ed that the State had not followed the “triple test
formula” as suggested by the Supreme Court.
• This comes as the call for a caste census intensifies
in India, with several states considering introducing
reservations for the Backward Classes in urban local
body elections.
What is the Triple Test Formula to provide OBC reservation
in urban local body (ULB) elections? It requires a state gov-
ernment to -
• Set up a dedicated commission for a rigorous empir-
ical inquiry into the nature and implications of back-
wardness specifically with respect to local bodies;
• Specify the proportion of reservations required for
political representation based on the commission’s
recommendation;
• Ensure total reservations for SC/ST/ OBC groups do
not exceed 50% of the total seats.
The case of UP:
• The Allahabad HC noted that the government’s enu-
meration exercise does not provide for inquiry into
the political representation of the backward class.
• The court stated that the dedicated commission
must also ascertain under­representation in munic-
ipal bodies (if any).
Similar case:
The Patna HC had made a similar point on distinguishing the
social and education backwardness of a group from its polit-
ical backwardness.
www.insightsonindia.com 43
 The debate on caste census in India:
Background: The decennial Census currently collects data only on SCs and STs and fails to provide comprehensive data
on India’s graded caste hierarchy.
The 2011 Census:
● Though the political leadership agreed to include a full caste count in the Census, it later excluded a caste-wise
enumeration in the Census.
● The probable reasons for this exclusion -
○ Caste elites generally believe that caste no longer matters in shaping opportunities and outcomes in the
21st century.
○ The exercise may lead to the misuse of public resources.
○ The exercise may be administratively difficult and cumbersome, jeopardising the whole exercise and
compromising the basic integrity of the Census.
● Following the suppression of the caste count in Census 2011, the bureaucracy reconfigured the Below Poverty
Line survey and renamed it the 2011 Socio-­Economic Caste Census.
○ This had little resemblance to the caste census and produced unusable caste data.

Need for collecting caste-wise data in the decennial Census:

● To understand the contours of inequality.
● To understand how caste intersects with class, gender, and regionality to structure access to resources.
● The Census has the legal/constitutional standing, public trust, operational expertise, and resources to collect,
analyse and make public caste data.

Global practices: Census bureaus in the U.S., Brazil, and South Africa, etc., with long histories of white supremacy, collect
detailed data on race and class to understand the current scope of inequality and develop justice-oriented policies.
Concerns:
● Some progressive scholars fear that a caste-wise count will further entrench caste identities, as a caste census
will require all households to think about, acknowledge, and speak about caste identities.
● Misuse of the caste data by the political parties.

Way ahead:
● The entire process requires external oversight (Anti Caste organisations and public intellectuals) if the data are to
be usable and to minimise potential harm.
● A public oversight group should work to ensure that major operational and methodological decisions align with
the data collection’s purpose.

Conclusion: While counting (or not counting) caste is political, the decision should not be reduced to immediate political
contingencies i.e., the expansion of reservation policies, the caste-based mobilisation by political parties, etc.

Insta Links: Caste census
REMOTE VOTING FOR MIGRANT WORK-
ERS
Direction:
The article covers Multi-Constituency Remote Electronic Vot-
ing Machine (RVM) - need, unique features, the voting pro-
cess and issues raised by the EC itself.
Context:
The EC announced that it has developed a prototype for a
Multi-Constituency Remote Electronic Voting Machine
(RVM), amid concerns over migration-based disenfranchise-
ment, to boost voter turnout and strengthen India’s demo-
cratic process.
Background - The problem of migration-based disen-
franchisement:
• While registered voters do not end up voting for a
variety of reasons, domestic migration - is driven by
marriage, natural disasters, employment, etc.
• As per the 2011 census, there are nearly 45.36
crores (forty-five point three six) migrants in India
(both intra and interstate) - nearly 37% of the coun-
try’s population.
• These migrants are unable to travel to vote, denying

44 www.insightsonindia.com
 a large chunk of the population its franchise, going
against the EC’s motto - “No voter left behind”.
• The EC had formed a Committee of Officers on Do-
mestic Migrants, which recommended (in 2016) in-
ternet voting, proxy voting, early voting and postal
ballots for migrant workers (rejected due to con-
cerns like lack of secrecy of the vote, the lack of
sanctity of one person one vote principle, issues of
accessibility, etc.)
• Thus, a technological solution was proposed which
allows voters to vote remotely, in a safe and con-
trolled environment.
The proposed solution - Remote EVMs:
• RVMs were developed by Bharat Electronics Limited
(BEL) and the Electronics Corporation of India Limit-
ed (ECIL).
• The RVMs are stand-alone, non-networked sys-
tems, allowing voters from multiple constituencies
to vote using the same machine.
• They will be set up in remote locations outside the
state under similar conditions as current polling
booths.
Unique feature of RVMs:
• A single Remote Ballot Unit (RBU): To cater to mul-
tiple constituencies (as many as 72) by using a “dy-
namic ballot display board” instead of the usually
printed paper ballot sheet on EVMs.
• Ballot Unit Overlay Display (BUOD): It will show
the requisite candidates based on the constituen-
cy number read on the voter’s Constituency card,
which can be read by a barcode scanning system.
The voting process:
• After verifying a voter’s identity, their constituency
card will be read with a public display showing the
constituency details and candidates.
• This will also be displayed privately (on the BUOD
in the RVM’s RBU) and the voter will then vote and
each vote will be stored constituency-wise in the
control unit.
• The voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) system
is expected to work along the same lines as the new
technology.
Concerns:
• The system has issues, some of which the EC has it-
self acknowledged. For example,
 Migrants are not a uniform and defined
class, with fluid identities, locations and sit-
uations.
 As various countries reject EVMs for pa-
per-based ballots, this move may have the
potential to raise further questions on the
sanctity of the electoral process itself.
 Remote voting can theoretically provide
an added edge to bigger parties and rich-
er candidates who can campaign across the
constituency and beyond.
Way ahead:
Resolving these issues will require wider consultations with
various legal and political stakeholders.
Conclusion:
The EC has invited all recognised eight national and 57 state
political parties on January 16 to demonstrate the function-
ing of the RVM and has asked for their written views by Jan-
uary 31.
Insta Links: VVPAT
Mains Links:
Q. In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of
Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challeng-
es before the Election Commission of India to ensure the
trustworthiness of elections in India? (UPSC 2018)
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2017)
Consider the following statements:
1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member
body.
2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the elec-
tion schedule for the conduct of both general elec-
tions and bye-elections.
www.insightsonindia.com 45
 3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating
to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 3 only
Ans: 4
THE NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL POLICY,
2022
Context:
After liberalizing the use of geospatial data under the draft
geospatial data policy in February 2021, the Ministry of Sci-
ence and Technology has notified the National Geospatial
Policy, 2022.
About the policy:
“The National Geospatial Policy, 2022 is  a citizen-centric
policy that seeks to strengthen the geospatial sector to sup-
port national development, economic prosperity and a thriv-
ing information economy
• Aim: The 13-year guideline promotes the country’s geo-
spatial data industry and develops a national frame-
work to use such data for improving citizen services, and
more.
• Themes: The policy has divided 14 Geospatial Data
Themes to support the development of commercial geo-
spatial applications in various sectors e.g., disaster man-
agement, mining, forestry etc.
• Technology Infrastructure:
• Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI):
 The government will establish an Integrated
Data and Information Framework by 2030
(to develop GKI)
 The government will also establish Nation-
al Digital Twin (for high-resolution topo-
graphical survey and mapping by 2035)
• Institutional Infrastructure:  
• Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Com-
mittee (‘GDPDC’) will be constituted for formulating
and implementing guidelines, strategies, and
programs for the promotion of activities related to
the Geospatial sector.
• Will put in place a legal framework (by 2025) that
supports the liberalization of the geospatial sector,
and democratization of data for enhanced commer-
cialization with value-added services.
46 www.insightsonindia.com
Significance of the policy:
• Increased Coverage: Government has opened its
geospatial data and services offered by government
agencies, academic and research institutions, pri-
vate organizations, NGOs, and individuals.
• No prior approval required: Government has re-
moved the requirement for prior approval, security
clearance, or other restrictions on the management
of geospatial data
o Self-Certification will be sufficient for ad-
herence to the guidance
• Freehand at Processing of geospatial data: Anyone
can process the acquired geospatial data, build new
applications and solutions using it and use it for prof-
it (except for defence or security-related data)
• Multi-dimensional Applications: E.g., economy, sus-
tainable national development initiatives, Agricul-
ture etc.
• Focus on ‘local’ relevance: The Policy recognizes the
importance of locally available and locally relevant
Maps and Geospatial Data
• Promoting Start-ups:  The Policy enables and
supports innovation, creation and incubation of
ideas and start-up initiatives in the Geospatial sector
• Support India’s ‘Blue Economy’: By 2035, the policy
will include mapping of sub-surface infrastructure
in major cities and towns across India, and the de-
velopment of accurate bathymetric geospatial data
(resources and economy of inland waters, and sea
surface topography of shallow and deep seas)
Applications of Geospatial data (in the Agriculture and
Allied sector):
• Drive private participation and competitiveness in
Agritech
• Wider Adoption of Precision farming: Precision
farming combines the power of artificial intelligence
(AI), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and
Big Data.
• Wider Adoption of Locational data: While the glob-
al positioning system (GPS) locates precise crop lo-
cations, the global information system (GIS) stores
this data.
o This data later helps in Crop scouting, Soil
 sampling, weed location, accurate plant-
ing, and harvesting.
• Better crop forecasting: The previous restriction on
geospatial data had limited use of remote sensing
data maps such as NDVI (Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index).
o 4 Rs approach to reduce nutrient losses
from farming systems (the Right Product,
at the right  rate, at the  right  time, and at
the right place)
• Better implementation of Government schemes
such as PM Fasal Bima Yojana and ‘Per Drop more
Crop’: Geospatial data will assist the BFSI (Banking,
Financial Services, and Insurance) segment to un-
derstand the risk better and underwrite loans and
insurance products.
• Increased Landholding size: Along with the SWA-
MITVA scheme, the geospatial data will help in the
pooling of lands by farmers. This will drive wider
adoption of Commercial and Precision Farming in Other Government initiatives in this direction:
India SWAMITVA Scheme (Survey of Villages and Mapping);
• Allow development of ecosystem markets: Drone sector (The Drones Rules 2021); India opened its
o E.g., the GIS nitrogen trading tool is used to
assess the effects of the implementation of space sector to private entities and 5G technology; PM Gati
conservation practices on reductions in ni- Shakti Masterplan (Infrastructure development is powered
trate leaching and GHG emissions that could by geospatial technology); Digital Ocean platform (for the
be traded in air and water quality market. management of our oceans)
Allied sectors
• Fisheries: better geospatial data will drive more tar- Insta Links: Geospatial data policy liberalized
geted and deeper fishing opportunities, thus help- Mains Link:
ing in the economic upliftment of fishermen
It will help bridge the infrastructure gap as Q. Democratizing geospatial data will enable the rise of
envisaged under PM Matsay Sampada Yojana new technologies & platforms that will drive efficiencies in
• Dairy: Geospatial data can help in better grazing agriculture and allied sectors. Discuss (15M)
grounds for cattle and their management
• Minor Forest Produce: Tribal collection of MFP and Q. What is Geo-Spatial data? Comment upon the present
marketing of their products can be advanced using Policy on Geospatial Data in the country while emphasizing
geolocation data in deep forests
o E.g., MoEF & CC is using LiDAR technology to map the liberalization aspect (10M)
out water requirements within the forest
o Ridge-to-valley approach: It seeks to detain, Prelims Link:
divert, store and use available rainwater us-
ing geospatial data 1. What is geospatial data?
2. Applications.
3. Policy on geospatial data.
4. Recent changes.

Social Justice
FIVE SOCIAL SECTOR MINISTRIES JOIN
PM GATI SHAKTI

Context:
Five key social sector departments – health, women and
child development, rural development and panchayat raj,
education, and housing and urban affairs – have joined the

www.insightsonindia.com 47
PM Gati Shakti Scheme, aimed at cutting India’s logistical
costs
• Implementing agency: DPIIT (Department for pro-
motion of Industry and Internal Trade) of the com-
merce and industry ministry.
• How Gati Shakti will improve the functioning of
these social sector departments:
• Improved Planning of the projects
• Improved coordination among departments e.g.,
concerned departments can upload their GIS data
(Geographic Information System) to be shared
among other departments.
• Improved monitoring of projects
• Improved evaluation of the impact of the projects.
About PM Gati-Shakti National Master Plan
PM Gati Shakti Master Plan (2021), is a Rs. 100 lakh-crore
projects for developing ‘holistic infrastructure’. It aims to
ensure  the speed (Gati) and Power (Shakti) of infrastruc-
ture projects in the next four years, with a focus on expedit-
ing works on the ground, saving costs and creating jobs, and
bringing down the logistics cost.
Gati Shakti scheme will give the necessary push to infra-
structure development:
• Boost to infrastructure: A plug-and-play model for in-
dustrial parks. It will subsume National Infrastructure
Pipeline launched in 2019
• Helps solve logistical issues: India’s logistics cost burden
is 13-14% of GDP, compared to 6-8% in more competi-
tive economies.
• Curbs red-tapism: E.g., the Railways has started a ‘Com-
mon Drawing Approval System’ on an online platform,
so all the approvals can be accessed on one portal.
• Increased coordination: Gati Shakti will bring together
16 infrastructure-related Ministries.
• Incorporation of various projects from different min-
istries: Gati Shakti will incorporate the infrastructure
schemes of various Union ministries and state govern-
ments: Bharatmala,  Sagarmala, UDAN, inland water-
ways, dry/land ports, etc.
Insta Curious
Insta Links
PM GatiShakti — National Master Plan
48 www.insightsonindia.com
Mains Links
Q. Gati Shakti will ensure integrated planning and imple-
mentation of infrastructure projects in the coming years,
with a focus on expediting works on the ground, saving
costs and creating jobs. Discuss. (250 Words) (UPSC Mains
2022)
INDIA INEQUALITY REPORT 2022
Context:
According to ‘India Inequality Report 2022: Digital Divide’
released by the NGO Oxfam India - growing inequalities
based on caste, religion, gender, class, and geographic loca-
tion are being worryingly replicated in the digital space in
India.
Key Highlights of the report:
• Gender Divide:
• Women constitute only one-third of internet users
in India
• 61% of men-owned mobile phones compared to
just 31 % of women in 2021
• Rural-Urban Divide:
• Only 31 per cent of the rural population uses the
Internet compared to 67 per cent of their urban
counterparts.
• Maharashtra has the highest internet penetration,
while Bihar has the lowest.
• Religion and Caste wise Divide:
• Sikhs have the highest likelihood of having a com-
puter followed by Christians, Hindus and lastly Mus-
lims.
• The tendency to use formal financial services is low-
est for ST households, followed by SC households
and OBC households.
• Division because of poverty:
• The chances of having a computer are higher with
higher levels of education as well as income. 
• The likelihood of a digital payment by the richest 60
per cent is four times more than the poorest 40 per
cent in India.
About Digital Divide:
The  digital divide  is a term that refers to the gap be-
tween demographics and regions that have access to
modern  information and communications technolo-
gy  (ICT), and those that do not or have restricted access.
Determinants of Digital Divide:
• Low literacy and income levels.
• Geographical restrictions.
 • Lack of motivation to use technology.
• Lack of physical access to technology.
• Digital illiteracy.
Tackling Digital Divide:
• Create awareness about digital platforms.
• Enhance digital skills among the population.
• Investment to bridge the digital divide – create bet-
ter infrastructure.
Indian Government Initiatives to tackle digital divide:
• Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity
• Bharat Net
• Digital Payments  ing as the convergence point.
• Optical Fibre Network (NOF-N)
Insta Link:
Digital Divide
Mains Link:
Q. What is the digital divide? What are its implications?  Ex-
amine how India and its states are faring in bridging the
digital divide. 150 Words
Welfare schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and
Bodies
DISABILITY REHABILITATION CENTRES:
CENTRE’S CASUAL APPROACH FLAGGED
Direction:
The article discusses District Disability Rehabilitation Cen-
tres (DDRC) and shortcomings on part of the govt to estab-
lish such centres.
Context:
According to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on So-
cial Justice and Empowerment, the Union Government looks
somewhat casual in its approach to establishing the District
Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRC)
Background:
• The revised DDRC scheme requires the establish-
ment of 269 DDRCs (only 55-60 DDRCs have been
made operationalised)
• The 2011 census estimated (based on questions on 7
kinds of disabilities) that the number of PwDs in In-
dia is close to 2.68 crores (2.2% of the population) –
that is more than the entire population of Australia.
Establishment of DDRCs:
• Background:
• During 1985-1990, District Resource Centres (DRCs)
started as an outreach activity of the National Insti-
tutes/ALIMCO under the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment.
• These centres provided comprehensive services to
persons with disabilities (PwDs) at the grass root lev-
el.
• 1999-2000 onwards, the DDRCs was established
with support from the State Governments, with the
District Management Team headed by Collector act-
• DDRCs are funded under the Deendayal Disabled Re-
habilitation Scheme (DDRS). Grants are released to
State Governments to support various activities for
the welfare of the disabled.
• Objectives of setting up DDRCs: To provide rehabilita-
tive support to PwDs through awareness generation,
early intervention, counselling, etc.
• Number of DDRCs: All the districts, including left-wing
extremism-affected districts, have been approved for
setting up of DDRCs. Each DDRC must provide rehabil-
itation services to PwDs of the adjoining/neighbouring
district if it does not have a DDRC.
Other findings of the panel:
• The government is yet to set up dedicated sports
training facilities for Divyangjans. Out of 5 such
facilities promised in 2014-15, only 1 has been ap-
proved so far at Gwalior.
• In 2021-22, only 16,000 students were paid pre-ma-
tric scholarships against 25,000 slots for PWDs.
Government’s reply to the panel’s findings:
• 269 DDRCs (those given funds at least once) have
been set up across the country.
• To upscale their services, a MODEL DDRC has been
conceptualised.
• There is an increase in the number of disabilities
covered from 7 to 21 in 2018 as provided under the
Rights of PwDs Act, 2016
• The revised guidelines for setting up the rest of the
DDRCs would be implemented in 2022-23.
• These centres are to be located near district hospi-
tals and intervention centres
Way ahead: The government should lay down a proper
roadmap with timelines for the establishment of the DDRCs
in every targeted district.
www.insightsonindia.com 49

Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO):
● It is a Central Public Sector unit, working under
the aegis of the Department of Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice
& Empowerment, Government of India.
● Incorporated in 1972, ALIMCO has been engaged
in the manufacture and supply/distribution of As-
sistive Devices for PwDs.
Insta Links: Health inequities to be blamed for premature
deaths among people with disabilities: WHO
Mains Links:
Q. There have been various efforts towards securing a life of
dignity for persons with disabilities (PwD). However, to be
able to realise the goal of inclusiveness, it is imperative to
involve persons with disabilities as equal partners in their
development and decision-making. Comment. (250 words)
GOING BEYOND OPS VS NPS DEBATE
Context:
Instead of discussing the issue of the old pension scheme
50 www.insightsonindia.com
(OPS) versus the new pension scheme (NPS), there is a need
to revisit the idea of reforming the pension system in the
country.
Need to reform the pension system:
• According to the World Economic Forum, people
aged 65 and above outnumber children aged five
or younger. Though India is at a low risk now, the
country may face a longevity risk.
• Longevity risk points to a scenario where rising life
expectancy could result in pension and insurance
companies needing more cash.
India’s pension system standing in the global context:
• According to the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pen-
sion Index 2022, which tracks -
 Adequacy: What benefits are future retirees
likely to receive?
 Sustainability: Can the existing systems con-
tinue to deliver, notwithstanding the demo-
graphic and financial challenges?
 Integrity: Are the private pension plans reg-
ulated in a manner that encourages long-
term community confidence?
• India’s pension system is ranked 41 out of 44 coun-
tries.
Gross inadequacy of India’s pension architecture:
• At least 85% of current workers are not members
of any pension scheme and are likely to remain un-
covered or draw only social pension in their old age.
• Of all elderly, 57% receive no income support from
public expenditure and 26% collect a social pension
as part of poverty alleviation.
• The system for old age income support entailed
11.5% of public expenditure and state governments
bear more than 60%.
• Contributory program funds invested in government
securities corner 40% of all interest payments of
state governments.
Comparing the Indian scenario with the WB pension
framework:
• In 1994, the World Bank provided a 5-pillar (0, 1,
2,3, 4) framework:
 • OPS falls under Pillar 1 and the NPS falls under Pillar
2.
• Pillar 1 - the government-funded pension schemes
to a small percentage of the elderly accounts for al-
most 62% of all public expenditure.
• Pillar 0, possibly the most essential one, gets just 4%
of the total outgo.

What can be concluded from above?

• India’s pensions system is in a dire need of reform
and doing so will be both good politics and good
• This framework is modified by the National Institute economics.
of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) - an autonomous • Merely fluctuating between OPS and NPS is not a
research institute under the Ministry of Finance, to reform.
suit Indian circumstances.
Conclusion: It is time for India to relook at its pension sys-
tem and for the current debate to be broadened to look at
pension requirements for the whole set of elderly.

National Pension Scheme (NPS):

● The NPS is a voluntary and long-term retirement investment plan administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory
and Development Authority (PFRDA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
● It was launched in January 2004 for government employees and it was decided to discontinue defined benefit
pensions/OPS for all employees who joined after April 1, 2004.

The Old Pension Scheme:

● It was discontinued in 2004, however, it guaranteed life-long income after retirement.
● Typically, the insured amount is equal to 50% of the most recently drawn salary.
● The expenditure incurred on the pension is borne by the government.

Criticism of the OPS: It is fiscally unsustainable - governments in India do not have the money to fund it.
Criticism of the NPS: It is politically unsustainable - it fails to address the felt needs of the people. For example, NPS does
not offer assured returns.

www.insightsonindia.com 51

Insta Links: National Pension Scheme
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2021)
Q. Who among the following can join the National Pension
System (NPS)?
(a) Resident Indian citizens only
(b) Persons of age from 21 to 55 only
(c) All State Government employees joining the services after
the date of notification by the respective State Governments
(d) All Central Government employees including those of
Armed Forces joining the services on or after 1st April 2004
Answer: c
WHAT IS THE LAW ON ACID ATTACKS IN
INDIA?
Direction:
The article discusses the heinous crime of acid attacks and
success and shortcomings of laws to prevent them and the
way ahead
Context:
A 17-year-old girl was recently attacked with an acid-like sub-
stance in Delhi while she was on her way to school.
Background:
• According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
data, there were 150 such cases recorded in 2019,
105 in 2020 and 102 in 2021.
• West Bengal and UP generally account for nearly
50% of all cases in the country year on year.
• The charge sheeting rate of acid attacks stood at
89% and the conviction rate at 20% in 2021.
• In 2015, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued
an advisory to all states to ensure speedy justice in
cases of acid attacks by expediting prosecution.
The law on acid attacks:
• Until 2013, acid attacks were not treated as separate
crimes.
• However, acid attacks were put under a separate
section (326A) of the IPC and made punishable with
a minimum imprisonment of 10 years which is ex-
tendable to life along with a fine.
• The law also has provisions for punishment for de-
nial of treatment to victims or police officers refus-
ing to register an FIR.
• Denial of treatment can lead to imprisonment of
up to one year and dereliction of duty by a police
52 www.insightsonindia.com
officer is punishable by imprisonment of up to two
years.
The law on the regulation of acid sales:
• In 2013, the SC took cognizance of acid attacks and
passed an order on the regulation of sales of corro-
sive substances.
• As a result, the MHA issued an advisory to all states
on how to regulate acid sales and framed the Model
Poisons Possession and Sale Rules, 2013 under The
Poisons Act, 1919.
• According to the MHA’s directions and the model
rules,
 Over-the-counter sale of acid is not allowed
unless the seller maintains a logbook/regis-
ter.
 The sale is also to be made only when the
buyer produces a photo ID, to prove that s/
he is above 18 years of age.
 Sellers are also required to declare all
stocks of acid with the concerned SDM
and the SDM can confiscate the stock and
impose a fine of Rs 50,000 for a breach of
directions.
 Educational institutions, research laborato-
ries, hospitals, etc, are required to keep and
store acid, to maintain a register of usage
of acid.
• The MHA asked states to frame their own rules
based on model rules, as the matter fell under the
purview of states.
Victim compensation and care:
• Based on SC directions, the MHA asked states -
 To make sure acid attack victims are paid
compensation of at least Rs. 3 lakhs (Rs 1
lakh within 15 days and Rs 2 lakh within 2
months thereafter) by the concerned State
Government/UT.
 To provide free treatment to acid attack vic-
tims in any hospital, public or private.
 To earmark 1-2 beds in private hospitals for
the treatment of underprivileged victims of
acid attacks.
 To extend social integration programs to
the victims for which NGOs could be fund-
ed to look after their rehabilitative require-
ments.
How did the above help in prevention?
• The regulations on acid sales largely help in tracking
the accused and not so much in prevention.
• Social attitudes are changing and the focus of the
police in dealing with crimes against women is ex-
pected to cause deterrence.
Shortcomings: The implementation of the regulations is not
very strict and acid is still easily available in many places.
The Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Direction:
Act, 2021: The article highlights the impact of the liquor ban in India
• In cases of acid attacks, the punishment has been
enhanced to a minimum of 15 years and extended
to the remainder of the natural life of the perpetra-
tor along with a fine.
• The bail-in cases of acid attacks, rape and gang rape
can be decided only by the sessions court and higher
courts.
• Grant of anticipatory bail in such cases has also been
prohibited.
Conclusion:
These are crimes of passion and in a majority of cases the
accused is not even thinking about the consequences. So,
the key to solving this problem will always remain in societal
awareness.
WHY DO SOME INDIAN STATES BAN AL-
COHOL AND WHAT ARE ITS EFFECTS?
against the backdrop of the recent hooch tragedy in Bihar.
Context:
The official death toll from the latest hooch tragedy in “dry”
Bihar has mounted to 38.
Background:
• The state’s prohibition policy is accused to have re-
sulted in a booming underground economy where
illicit alcohol is prepared and sold.
• Prohibition is a Gandhian principle under the Direc-
tive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
The alcohol ban in India:

Sheroes Café: It is a cafe and community in India, set up

by the Chhanv Foundation and run by survivors of acid at-
tacks. The cafe aims to increase awareness of acid attacks
and empower acid attack survivors.

Following the attacks, some women rarely went outside, in

part due to the shame attached to their physical appear-
ance. Some women endured multiple surgeries, and they
often struggled to find employment. Furthermore, they
sometimes dealt with family or community pressure to stay
silent on their attacks. Sheroes Hangout granted women a
place to find  acceptance,  community, and a means of in-
come.

The Indian constitution views on alcohol:

• Article 47: The State shall make every effort to ban
Insta Links: HC seeks govt. stand on plea to ban the acid the consumption of intoxicating drinks and sub-
sale stances that are injurious to health.
• Though not legally enforceable, DPSPs set goals for
the state so that citizens can lead a good life. Thus,
alcohol is seen by the Constitution as an undesirable
evil that needs to be regulated.
• 7th Schedule of the Constitution puts alcohol on

www.insightsonindia.com 53
 the state list i.e., state legislatures have the right
and responsibility to draft laws regarding it.
• Hence, alcohol regulations vary from state to state,
spanning the entire range from prohibition to pri-
vate sale.
• Currently, there are five states (Bihar, Gujarat, Lak-
shadweep, Nagaland, and Mizoram) with total pro-
hibition and some more with partial prohibition.
THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND AR-
CHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND REMAINS
(AMENDMENT) ACT, 2010
Direction:
The article highlights legal protection available to Ancient
Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains in India.

Case of Bihar: Context:

• Both the sale and consumption of liquor were com- According to the Ministry of Culture, Uttar Pradesh has the
pletely banned by the state government in 2016, to largest number of Centrally Protected Monuments which
keep a promise made to the women of Bihar ahead have been encroached upon, closely followed by Tamil Nadu.
of the Assembly polls.
• Severe punishments were imposed on those found
to be flouting the ban, including heavy fines and im-
prisonment.
• Earlier this year, the Bihar government amended its
prohibition laws to reduce punishment for first-time
“drinkers” and replaced imprisonment with a fine.
• This was done to free up Bihar’s already overcrowd-
ed jails and to direct the government’s attention
away from consumers and toward sellers and dis-
tributors of liquor.

Why haven’t all states banned alcohol?

• Liquor revenues are not easy to ignore. For instance,
in Maharashtra, state liquor revenues amounted to
Rs 11,000 crore in April 2020 (during lockdown),
compared with Rs 17,000 crore in March.
Background:
• The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites
Effects of prohibition: and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958 is one of the land-
Positives Negatives mark laws for the -
 Preservation of ancient and historical monu-
• A women’s right as • Boosts underground mar- ments and archaeological sites and remains
there is evidence ket. of national importance (over 100 years old).
linking alcohol with • Strengthening organised  Regulation of archaeological excavations
domestic abuse. crime groups (or mafias). and
• Case of Bihar: • Spurious liquor dispropor-  Protection of sculptures, carvings and other
Crimes against tionately affects poorer like objects.
women have clear- sections. • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) functions
ly declined both in • Case of Bihar: A spike in under the provisions of this act.
terms of rate (per substance (liquor) abuse • India has a total of 3,695 Centrally Protected Monu-
100,000 female after the ban. ments or Sites in the country, under the protection
population) and in-
of the ASI.
cidence (absolute
• The monuments are regularly inspected by the ASI
numbers).
officials to assess their present condition and the
Insta Links: Alcohol prohibition necessary conservation and preservation works are
Mains Links: taken up as per the requirement.
Q. Do you think that total prohibition on the sale and con-
sumption of alcohol is a wise policy move? State your opin- 2010 Amendment:
ion. (250 words) • The AMASR Act 1958, was amended in 2010 to strength-

54 www.insightsonindia.com
 en its penal provisions, to prevent encroachments and
illegal construction close to the monuments - which was
happening on a large scale.
• The main features of the amendments:
• Creation of a -
 Prohibited area 100 metre around every
national monument where no construction,
public or private is permitted,
 Regulated area 200 metres beyond the
prohibited area, where any construction
requires permission of a newly constituted
National Monuments Authority.
• Given the unique nature of each monument, the Act
also proposed heritage by-laws for each monument
to be prepared by an expert body.
• Further amendments have been proposed which seek
to do away with the ban on construction within 100 me-
tres of an ASI-protected monument and regulate con-
struction within 100-200 metres.
Concerns:
Public works by the central and state governments around
the monuments are causing disturbance to cultural or envi-
ronmental heritage.
Way ahead:
Development along with the lowest adverse impact on the
cultural heritage and environment should be the aim of the
governments.
Conclusion:
Because India has a large untapped tourism potential, devel-
opment should not come at the expense of our cultural or
environmental heritage.
Insta Links: AMASR Act
Mains Links:
Q. Examine why historians and archaeologists have ex-
pressed concern over amendments proposed to the An-
cient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act (1958).
DELEGATED LAW SHOULD NOT TRAVEL
BEYOND THE PURVIEW OF THE PARENT
ACT: SC
Context:
The Supreme Court ruled that delegated legislation, includ-
ing rules and regulations enacted by state and central gov-
ernments, should supplement rather than replace the par-
liamentary statute from which it derives power.
Background:
• An appeal was filed by the Kerala State Electrici-
ty Board against a State HC judgement upholding
Regulation 153(15) of the Kerala Electricity Supply
Code, 2014.
• Regulation 153(15) of the Code stated that an ‘unau-
thorised additional load’ in the same premises and
under the same tariff should not be counted as ‘un-
authorised use of electricity’.
The SC’s verdict:
• It reversed the HC decision and held that the Regu-
lation was inconsistent with Section 126(6) of the
Electricity Act, 2003.
• Section 126 of the 2003 Act was enacted with a
specific purpose to restrict such unauthorised con-
sumption of electricity.
Observations made by the SC in the above judgement:
• Overdrawing electricity is harmful to the public at
large, as it affects the efficiency, and efficacy of the
entire supply system, even increasing voltage fluc-
tuations.
• If a rule goes beyond or replaces the rule-making
power conferred by the parent statute, the same
has to be declared invalid.
• Delegated legislation should not travel beyond the
purview of the parent Act. If it does, it is ultra vires
and cannot be given any effect.
• A delegated power to legislate by making rules or
regulations cannot bring into existence substantive
rights, obligations or disabilities not contemplated
by the provisions of the parent statute.
• A body making rules or regulations has no inherent
power of its own to make rules but derives such
power only from the statute.
 Hence, it has to necessarily function within
the purview of the statute.
The delegated/secondary/subordinate legislation:
Meaning:
• It is the law established by the executive using the
authorities granted to them by the parent act in or-
der to implement and administer the primary legis-
lation’s requirements.
• Although the concept of delegated legislation was
not mentioned specifically in the Indian Constitu-
tion it can be understood by interpreting Article 312.
• This Article gives the right to the Rajya Sabha to
open a new branch of All India Service with a ma-
jority of two-thirds majority vote and delegate some
www.insightsonindia.com 55
 powers to the new recruiter - All India Service.
• There are many such cases through which delegat-
ed legislation under the Constitution of India can be
understood.
Advantages of delegated legislation:
• It saves time for the legislature.
• It can be easily done in consultation with the parties
affected.
• It allows for flexibility.
• Expert legislation.
• Parliament is not always in session.
• Resorted to in case of emergencies.
• It can be used on an experimental basis.
Criticism:
• Weakens legislative control over the executive.
• The executive has become more powerful and has
encroached upon the domain of legislature.
• The division between law-making and implementa-
tion gets blurred (against the theory of separations
of power).
• Possible misuse for political gains (legislation to ben-
efit the ruling party).
• Lacks rigorous discussion before law making.
• Delegated legislation changes with political changes
resulting in political and administration instability.
• Sometimes it is not in conformity with the rule of
law.
Conclusion:
• Delegated legislation is necessary, and is likely to
increase in volume, in view of the complex social
organisation and vast developmental and promo-
tional activities.
• Therefore, some safeguards and controls (courts’
jurisdiction should not be limited, uniform proce-
dures, etc) are necessary and desirable.
Mains Links:
Q. What is Delegated Legislation? Present the contradicting
views about delegation of power to legislate while evaluat-
ing its pros and cons. (250 words)
56 www.insightsonindia.com
Issues related to Health
PHARMA POLLUTION
Direction:
The article discusses pharma/drug pollution, its causes, ef-
fect and the way ahead to reduce it.
Context:
According to a paper published in the journal The Lancet,
pharmaceutical pollution is an overlooked but urgent issue
that needs coordinated action from across the pharmaceuti-
cal, healthcare and environmental sectors.
About drug or pharmaceutical pollution:
• It is a form of water pollution, caused by pharma-
ceutical drugs and their molecules which reach the
aquatic environment (groundwater, rivers, lakes,
and oceans) through wastewater.
• It is now detected in waters throughout the world
and its causes include -
 Effluents from pharmaceutical manufactur-
ing,
 Ageing infrastructure (such as water treat-
ment plants which cannot filter our too
small molecules),
 Sewage overflows (drugs in urine and excre-
ta) and
 Agricultural runoff (antibiotic use in live-
stock).
Effects:
● On human health: For example, Endocrine disrup-
tor chemicals (EDCs) (e.g., Endosulphan) directly in-
fluence sex hormones.
● On aquatic life: A suspected contributor in fish kills,
amphibian die-offs, etc.
Key highlights of The Lancet study:
• Almost 43% of the world’s rivers are contaminated
with active pharmaceutical ingredients in concen-
trations that can have disastrous ramifications on
health.
• Medicines are a vital part of the human healthcare
system, so there is a need to find ways to use them
without poisoning the environment.

Way ahead:
• Returning unused drugs to pharmacies rather than
disposing them off the sink or toilet.
• The domestic pharmaceutical industry needs to take
the lead in limiting antibiotic pollution.
• Upgrading existing water treatment plants to use ad-
vanced oxidation processes that can remove small
molecules.
Conclusion:
Societal-wide action on reducing pharmaceutical pollution
from human healthcare is the need of the hour.
Insta Links: India: Pharmacy of World
Mains Links:
Q. How does the pharma industry pollute the environment
and what are the effects of this pollution? Examine. (200
Words)
GLAAS REPORT ON WASH
Context: According to the World Health Organization
(WHO)  Director-General, increasing frequency and intensi-
ty of climate-related extreme weather events continue to
impact  universal access to safe and sustainably managed
water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
The GLAAS report, released by the WHO and UN-Water, pro-
vides the information on WASH systems in more than 120
countries, making it the biggest data collection ever.
Key highlights of the report:
• WASH and Health: Implementation of policies and
plans on WASH in health care facilities and on hand hygiene
is constrained by a critical lack of financial and human re-
sources.
• Climate resilience of WASH systems: Most WASH
policies/plans do not address climate-related risks to WASH
services.
• Finance: Insufficient WASH funding was reported
by 75% of countries.
• Human resources: Insufficient human resources are
limiting WASH service delivery.
• Gender: Increased inclusion, financial support and
monitoring are needed to ensure women are considered in
WASH decisions and services.
• Data use: Data are not sufficiently used in decisions
on planning or resource allocation for WASH.
• Regulation: Regulatory authorities often do not fully
perform their functions.
Note: GLASS and GLAAS are two different reports.
The  Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance
System (GLASS) report of WHO.
Provides a  standardized approach  to the collection, anal-
ysis, interpretation and sharing of data by countries and
seeks to actively support capacity building and monitor the
status of existing and new national surveillance systems.
The Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and
Drinking Water (GLAAS) is an UN-Water initiative imple-
mented by WHO. The objective of GLAAS is to provide pol-
icy- and decision-makers at all levels with a reliable, easily
accessible and comprehensive analysis of WASH systems to
make informed decisions for sanitation, drinking water and
hygiene.
Insta Links: Wash For Healthcare
Mains Link:
Q. The provision of safe water and sanitation coupled with
improvements in hygiene initiatives (WASH) can contribute
significantly to ameliorating nutritional challenges and im-
proving health outcomes. Explain.
COVID-19: THE EMERGING OMICRON
SUB LINEAGES
Context:
Since the initial outbreak in Wuhan (China) in 2019, the
world has seen many waves of COVID-19 infections, mostly
driven by new variants of concern (VOCs) of the primary vi-
rus - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-
CoV-2).
www.insightsonindia.com 57
Background: Variants of concern (VOCs): It is classified by WHO when
• Viruses constantly change through mutation which it is linked to an increase in transmissibility or a detrimen-
sometimes result in a new variant of the virus. A tal change in Covid-19 distribution, an increase in severity,
sub-lineage is a group of genetically similar viruses or a decline in the efficiency of public health efforts.
with a common ancestor.
• The SARS-CoV-2 virus has the potential to evolve by
exchanging large fragments of the genome, called
recombination.
• Until recently, China remained successful in contain-
ing the spread of the disease owing to its zealous
“zero-COVID” policy.
• However, with the abrupt lifting of the policy, the
country is now facing a surge of COVID-19 cases as a
result of BA.7 - a variant of Omicron. Insta Links: The COVID-19 pandemic, food and socializing

The SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in China: Mains Links:

• According to the SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data sub-
mitted from China to the Global Initiative on Shar-
ing All Influenza Data (GISAID) - a globally accessible
repository of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences, the
country has seen -
 Delta and its sub-lineages in 2021.
 Omicron and its sub-lineages (BA.5.2,
BQ.1.1, BF.7, BF.5, BA.2.75 and the recom-
binant lineage XBB) in 2022.
Omicron sub-variants under monitoring:
• Owing to the large-scale spread of Omicron and its
sub-lineages across the world, the World Health Or-
ganisation (WHO) has added another category of
variants referred to as ‘Omicron sub-variants under
monitoring’.
• Currently, under this category include BA.2.75,
BA.4.6, XBB, BA.2.3.20 and sub-lineages of BA.5 in-
cluding BF.7 and BQ.1, are being monitored.
Q. Explain the rationale behind the Goods and Services Tax
(Compensation to States) Act of 2017. How has COVID-19
impacted the GST compensation fund and created new fed-
eral tensions? (UPSC 2020)
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2022)
In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent the
COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:
1. The Serum Institute of India produced a COVID-19 vac-
cine named Covidshield using an mRNA platform.
2. The Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using a vec-
tor-based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Ans: 2

Concerns:
• An overwhelming increase of cases in a populous
country like China will not only result in tremendous
loss of life but will also allow the virus to mutate,
potentially resulting in new variants.
• Some of the lineages have seen a growth advantage
over others in highly vaccinated regions including
Europe and the U.S.
Way ahead:
• Monitor the spread and evolution of these sub lin-
eages.
• With vaccine immunity diminishing, genomic sur-
veillance will be critical to understanding Omicron’s
ongoing evolution.
Issues Related to Women
EFFICACY OF FEMALE LEADERSHIP IN
GOVERNMENT
Direction:
The article throws light on how female leadership in govern-
ment helps in achieving good governance and gender equal-
ity and what is the scenario in India.
Context:
The important takeaway from recent experience and studies
is the necessity of overcoming inherent biases and percep-
tions about female effectiveness in leadership roles.

58 www.insightsonindia.com
Background:
• Germany, Taiwan and New Zealand which had
women heading their governments, seem to have
managed the pandemic much better than their
neighbours.
• The States in the US which had female governors
had fewer COVID-19-related deaths because female
governors acted more decisively by issuing earlier
stay-at-home orders.
• The above concludes that women leaders are more
effective than their male counterparts in the times
of crisis.
Case of India:
• Women were allowed to vote from 1950 (right after
independence) onwards, whereas in the so-called
“mature democracies” of the west, right had to be
taken after protests (women were allowed to vote in
the US in 1920, after years of protest)
• Some charismatic female leaders were/are Indira
Gandhi, Jayalalitha, Mayawati, Sushma Swaraj, Ma-
mata Banerjee, and Draupadi Murmu among several
others. However, overall figures are depressing.
Reasons are:
• Poor representation in legislatures: For instance,
women constitute just over 14% of the total strength
of the 17th Lok Sabha.
 Best practice: Tiny Rwanda is on the top with
a staggering 60% of seats, when it comes to
women’s representation in its lower house.
• The Women’s Reservation Bill is dead: The Bill, first
presented to the Lok Sabha in 1996, provided quotas
for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
 Although the Rajya Sabha did pass the bill
in 2010, the Lok Sabha and the State legisla-
tures are yet to give their approval.
Importance of female leadership in government:
• Women leadership in gram panchayats show the
way.
• A study conducted by Nobel Laureate Esther Duflo
used the system of mandated reservations (73rd
Constitutional Amendment, 1992, reserves 1/3rd of
all positions of pradhan for women) to test the effec-
tiveness of female leadership.
• The study concluded that women pradhans are
more likely to invest in women-friendly infrastruc-
ture. For example, providing easy access to drinking
water.
Way forward for India:
• Building consensus on women reservation bill.
• Such quotas have both a short-term (increased fe-
male representation in policy making) and long-term
(improves perceptions about female effectiveness in
leadership roles) impact.
• Decreases the bias and results in a subsequent in-
crease in the percentage of female politicians con-
testing and winning elections.
Conclusion:
The instrumental importance of promoting more space for
women in public policy is an important goal from the per-
spective of gender equality.
Insta Links: Women in the Indian political system
Mains Links:
Q. “Though women in post-Independent India have ex-
celled in various fields, the social attitude towards women
and the feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart
from women’s education and women empowerment
schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu?
(UPSC 2021)
Issues relating to Education
THE POOR STATE OF ELEMENTARY EDU-
CATION IN JHARKHAND
Context:
Post pandemic attendance of students in Jharkhand schools
dropped to 58 per cent at the upper primary level and 68
per cent at the primary level, according to a survey ‘Gloom
in the Classroom: The Schooling Crisis in Jharkhand’ con-
ducted by Gyan Vigyan Samiti Jharkhand.
The report, prepared by economist Jean Dreze and research-
er Paran Amitava slammed “decades of state apathy” to-
wards education in the state and said it was “both a mistake
and an injustice”.
Key findings of the report:
• Underprivileged and tribal children were aban-
doned by the Education Department.
• Out of the 138 schools surveyed for the report, 20
per cent had a single teacher.
• At 55 per cent, para-teachers (teachers who are not
qualified to teach) accounted for the majority of
teachers at the primary level in these schools.
• Not one of the schools surveyed had a functional
toilet, electricity, or water supply.
• Around 66 per cent of the primary schools had no
www.insightsonindia.com 59
 boundary wall, 64 per cent did not have a play-
ground and 37 per cent had no library books.
• The majority of the teachers said that the school did
not have adequate funds for the midday meals
 Issues prevailing in the Education sector:
• Inadequate government Funding:  The country
spent 3% of its total GDP on education in 2018-19
according to the Economic Survey.
• Pandemic impact
• Digital Divide
• Quality of Education: Only 16% of children in Class
1 can read the text at the prescribed level, while al-
most 40% cannot even recognize letters.
• Lack of infrastructure
• Inadequate teachers and their training
• Huge dropout numbers
Way Forward
• Experiential Learning Approach
• Implementation of National Education Policy
• Education-Employment Corridor
• Reducing the Language Barrier
Some Government Initiatives Related to Educational
Reforms:
• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
• PM SHRI Schools
Insta Links: Initiatives to boost Education Sector
Mains Link: UPSC 2016
Q. Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms
in the realms of primary education and primary health care.
What are your suggestions to improve their status and per-
formance?
Prelims Link: UPSC 2012
Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of In-
dia have a bearing on Education?
1. Directive Principles of State Policy
2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies
3. Fifth Schedule
4. Sixth Schedule
5. Seventh Schedule
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3, 4 and 5 only
60 www.insightsonindia.com
(c) 1, 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Solution: C – 1, 2, and 5 only
NEED FOR A NATIONAL POLICY TO COM-
BAT VIRAL DISEASES
Context:
According to a parliamentary committee report, a national
policy to combat viral and other such diseases which have a
pandemic potential is the need of the hour.
Highlights of the report:
• Title - Covid-19 Pandemic: Global Response, India’s
Contributions and the Way Forward.
• It emphasised the necessity for mechanisms other
than the Union Health Ministry’s Crisis Management
Plan and the National Disaster Management Author-
ity of India’s Guidelines on Management of Biologi-
cal Disasters.
Key lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic:
• The importance of regular surveillance measures,
keeping in mind how quickly the SARS-CoV-2 virus
mutates.
 So far, the Indian Council of Medical Re-
search (ICMR) has conducted four sero
surveys at the national level. Sero surveys
should continue on a regular basis, state-
wise, with an increased sample size.
• The importance of keeping information/results of
such surveys easily accessible is to spread aware-
ness and modify behaviours to prevent community
transmission of the virus.
Issues raised in the report:
• Poor implementation of the One Nation One Ration
Card scheme among migrant workers.
• Poor implementation of the Aatmanirbhar Skilled
Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM) and the
Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment
Support.
 The Ministries of skill development, external
affairs and civil aviation launched the two
schemes to create a database of the skilled
workforce returning to the country under
the Vande Bharat Mission.
 Of the 7,16,662 workers who have returned
from Gulf countries due to the COVID-19
pandemic, job connect has been established
with only 7495 candidates.
• Lack of financial literacy and awareness about vari-
 ous schemes are creating hurdles.
• Digital divide exposed: With the education system
shifting online during the pandemic, access to edu-
cation became a challenge.
Way ahead:
• A national policy to combat viral and other such dis-
eases which have pandemic potential.
• The whole of government approach: This would
ensure that health issues are accorded the desired
priority towards prevention, containment and man-
agement of viral and other diseases.
• Creation of a national database of migrant workers.
• Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card and
other such schemes as it is the lifesaver for migrant
workers even in the post-Covid times.
• Review more comprehensive interventions in the
outreach programme of ASEEM.
• Mechanisms should be chalked out to bridge the dig-
ital divide and disseminate online learning through
private channels besides the DD channel.
Insta Links: The COVID-19 pandemic, food and socialising
Governance
BILL TO AMEND MULTI-STATE COOPERA-
TIVE SOCIETIES ACT INTRODUCED IN LS
Context:
A Bill to amend the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act
was introduced in the Lok Sabha recently.
Background:
• Multi-State Cooperatives: MSCS is a Cooperative
Society with objects to serve the interest of the
members in more than one State.
MSCS Act, 2002
• The MSCS Act was passed to govern such coopera-
tives whose members and areas of operation are
spread across more than one state.
• At present, India has more than 1,500 multi-State
cooperative societies.
Need for amendment:
• To strengthen governance, reform the electoral
process, improve the monitoring mechanism, and
ensure ease of doing business in multi-State coop-
erative societies.
• To improve the composition of boards and ensure
financial discipline, besides enabling the raising of
funds in the multi-State cooperative societies.
Key amendments suggested:
• To establish a “cooperative election authority”.
• To make provisions for the “appointment of cooper-
ative information officer”.
• To appoint  one or more “cooperative ombuds-
men”  with  territorial jurisdiction  to inquire
into members’ complaints. 
• Insert a new Section related to the “establishment
of the Cooperative Rehabilitation, Reconstruction
and Development Fund” for the revival of “sick
multi-state cooperative societies”
• Insert Section relating to  “concurrent audit” for
such multi-state societies  with an annual turnover
or deposit of more than the amount as determined
by the Centre.
• The merger of “any cooperative society” into an ex-
isting multi-state cooperative society.
Federal Issues concerning the bill:
• No provision of the Constitution makes way for
merging a cooperative society, which is incorporat-
ed under State law with a Multi-State Cooperative
Society. 
• The Centre is indirectly encroaching on the rights of
State Co-operative Societies through the introduc-
tion of the clause concerning the merger.
• Beyond the legislative competence of the Union as
State cooperative societies are within the exclusive
jurisdiction of States.
www.insightsonindia.com 61
Constitutional Provisions regarding Cooperative Soci-
eties:
• 97th Constitutional Amendment Act 2011
• The right to form cooperative societies is a funda-
mental right (Article 19).
• New Directive Principle of State Policy on the Pro-
motion of Cooperative Societies (Article 43-B).
• A new Part IX-B to the Constitution is titled “The
Co-operative Societies” (Articles 243-ZH to 243-ZT). 
Creation of a new Ministry of Cooperation – which gave
more acknowledgement to cooperative societies. Importance for India: It is the key to -
Related news: The government is planning to set up a “Na- • Achieve the vision of Minimum Government, Maximum
tional Cooperative Export Society” to help boost India’s ex- Governance and Whole of Government approach.
ports. • Make a New India by 2047 (100 years of India’s indepen-
dence).
Insta Link:
Urban, multi-State cooperative banks to come under RBI su- Recent efforts made by Indian government in this di-
pervision rection:
• Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022: It
promotes ease of living and doing business by decrim-
Mains Link: inalising minor offences in 42 Acts administered by 19
Q. The concept of cooperatives builds on the idea of com- ministries.
munities creating infrastructure by using local materials • Delayering, delegation of power and digitalisation in
and family labour, which is a vital component of inclusive governance: Initiatives -
development. Elaborate. 15M
• E-Office 7.0: Enables users to create and manage
electronic documents that can be viewed, searched
GOOD GOVERNANCE PRACTICES and shared.
• Swachhta Special Campaign 2.0: For Swachhta in
Direction: government offices and disposal of pending matters
The article highlights the meaning of good governance, its from 2nd to 31st October, 2022.
key attributes, importance and efforts made to promote it. • Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore 2022: It is a nation-wide
campaign for redressal of public grievances and im-
proving service delivery which is being held in all Dis-
Context: tricts, States, and UTs of India.
Speaking as a part of Good Governance Week (19th to 25th
December), Cabinet secretary (Rajiv Gauba) said that good
governance is all about improving outcomes and ensuring
deliverables while trusting citizens.

About good governance:

● It relates to the political and institutional process-
es and outcomes that are necessary to achieve the
goals of development.
● The true test of ‘good’ governance is the degree to
which it delivers on the promise of human rights:
civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.
● The key question is: are the institutions of gover-
nance effectively guaranteeing the right to health,
adequate housing, sufficient food, quality educa-
tion, fair justice and personal security?

Key attributes of good governance:

62 www.insightsonindia.com
 Related news: Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions)
Bill, 2022
Context: The Bill is put forward by the Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry
of Commerce, to amend 183 provisions across 42 Acts ad-
ministered by 19 ministries.
Purpose: It proposes to decriminalise a large number of
minor offences by replacing them with monetary penal-
ties.
It proposes amendments to the Acts, including The
Aadhar Act, 2016; Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; Cine-
matograph Act, 1952; Copyright Act, 1957; Patents Act,
1970; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; and Motor Ve-
hicles Act, 1988; etc.
Significance: A web of outdated rules and regulations
causes trust deficit. Hence, it will try to -
● Achieve the principle of ‘Minimum Government,
Maximum Governance.’
● Redefine the regulatory landscape of the country
under the Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Busi-
ness reforms.
Insta Links: Good Governance
Mains Links:
Q. Hunger and Poverty are the biggest challenges for good
governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive
governments have progressed in dealing with these hu-
mongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement.
(UPSC 2017)
Role of civil services in a democracy.
DISTRICT COLLECTOR, MAGISTRATE, DE-
VELOPMENT COMMISSIONER: WHAT TO
CALL AN IAS OFFICER?
Context:
Vidhi Center for Legal Policy  recently  released a book ti-
tled From Rule By Law to the Rule of Law — 25 Reforms to
Decolonise India’s Legal System.
Fig: District Administration in India
Role of DM/DC?
• A District Collector supervises the matter of reve-
nue administration in the district and a District Mag-
istrate is the chief in charge of the general admin-
istration, also responsible for maintaining law and
order
o He/She is the Head of  the land and reve-
nue administration
• Coordination: They coordinate with multiple de-
partments — health, revenue, education etc. The
current role helps serve development, revenue, pro-
tocol, and interdepartmental issues.
• Power to deploy and trigger the movement of
armed forces in the district in times of  emergen-
cy and crisis is done under his/her guidance.
• Power to issue licences e.g. Licences under Arms,
Explosives, Cinematography Acts etc.
• In some states, DM is the overall supervisory au-
thority responsible for the proper management
of jails and remand/juvenile homes in the district.
• Success during COVID-19 management: Covid was
managed well because, under the NDMA, it was the
DM who had the powers.
Need to Restructure the DC/DM’s Role?
• To remove the colonial legacy: The name of the po-
sition of the  District Collector  varies from place to
place (as per the diverse administrative develop-
ment in various British-administered India) in the
country which creates confusion.
• Uniformity in name of the position: In Punjab, Hary-
ana and regulation districts, the preferred term is
Deputy Commissioner. Though the legal terminology
is always District Magistrate.
• Devolution of power to local bodies
• Ensure effective separation of power: In many
states, DC/DM also acts as revenue judge.
o Article 50  of the  Constitution  states
that “The State shall take steps to separate
the judiciary from the executive in the public
services of the State.”
• Considerable accumulation of power in the hands
of the District Officer
Why there is a need to make the name of the position
the same throughout India?
www.insightsonindia.com 63
Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council
Bibek Debroy had worked on doing away with at least 248
redundant, outdated colonial laws.
• He recommended the designation and role  of the
District Collector should be made uniform through-
out the country.
Insta Links:
Role of Civil Services
Mains Links
Q. Discuss the various administrative reforms brought by the
government recently, to encourage greater efficiency, and
transparency and create corruption-free governance. (15M)

Counterviews: India and its neighborhood- relations.

• A mere name change can’t automatically change
mindsets
• Change in the nomenclature of a DM’s post will INDIA CENTRAL ASIA SECURITY MEET
bring confusion to the roles and in the distribution
of power.
Context:
India hosted a conclave of top security officials from Kazakh-
Other issues with Civil Services in India: stan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan with a focus on
• Structural Issues the evolving security situation in Afghanistan.
o Issue of colonial legacy: many of the struc- • This year was the 30th anniversary of the establish-
tures and processes in Indian civil services ment of diplomatic ties between India and Central
still rely on colonial rules and processes e.g. Asian countries.
Dual system of administration in Indian cit-
ies, outdated personal procedures
• The issue with the mindset: Indian civil service is About Central Asia:
o Aimed at development (rather than the out- It is a diverse region with a mix of upper-middle and low-in-
come of the policy area) come countries with major strategic importance.
o Committed to civil service (rather than pub-
lic service),
o Has a precedent of a follower (rather than
the creator)
o Is monopolistic (rather than competitive)
• Status Quoist: Civil service resist change since they
are wedded to their privileges and prospects e.g. lat-
eral entry at the undersecretary level has long been
fiercely opposed by Civil servants
o Despite 73rd and 74th amendments, grass-
root democracy has not given the desired
result due to the reluctance of civil servants
to accept changes in authority and control
• Rule-Book Bureaucracy: This has led to issues of
high-handed ‘bureaucratic behaviour’, (e.g. DM in Key highlights of the meeting:
Tripura was suspended recently for raiding a mar- • Support for a peaceful, stable, and secure Afghani-
riage party and misbehaving with guests). stan, emphasizing respect for its sovereignty, unity,
o This has also led to red-tapism, complicat- and territorial integrity and urging non-interference
ed procedures, and poor responses to the in its internal affairs.
needs of people.
• The participants supported India’s proposal to in-
• Political interference: This has led to issues of cor-
clude the Chabahar port within the framework of
ruption, arbitrary transfer of honest civil servants
the International North-South Transport Corridor.
(e.g., Haryana IAS office Ashok Khemka frequent
transfer), inefficiency, institutional decline, and lack • The communique also called for the early adoption
of professionalism of the UN Comprehensive Convention on Interna-
tional Terrorism (CCIT), which India had first pro-
posed in 1996.
Conclusion
As per the 15th report of the 2nd ARC, it is now vital to reeval-
uate and redefine the district administration’s function after Why Central Asia is important for India:
the constitutionally mandated establishment of Panchayati • Historical reasons: Central Asia was a transit route
Raj Institutions (PRI) and municipal bodies. “the silk route” for the continent.

64 www.insightsonindia.com
 • By acting as a bridge between Asia and Europe.
• As a bulwark against fundamentalism: Peace and
stability in the Central Asian region and adjoining Af-
ghanistan are important in the fight against religious
fundamentalism and terrorism.
• Against Non-State Actors
• Counterbalancing China’s belligerent attitude
• As a consumer market
• For Energy Security
 Kazakhstan has so far supplied a total of
9,000 tons of uranium
 The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Paki-
stan-India (TAPI) and Iran -Pakistan-India
(IPI) pipeline projects ensure energy securi-
ty for India.
• For connectivity and trade:
 Development of the International North-
South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
• Becoming a member of the Ashgabat Agreement
• War on Drugs: Drug trafficking poses a great chal-
lenge to the region; hence it is of utmost impor-
tance to check the drug menace by engaging with
the stakeholders.
• Soft power - sports, music, art, culture, and cinema
to have a philosophical and moral high ground in the
region.
Conclusion:
The vast scope for cooperation is evident from the fact that
there is a huge level of unrealized potential that needs to be
tapped. We need to revisit the Connect Central Asia Policy,
which is based on - the 4Cs:
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a
multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road routes for moving
freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbai-
jan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.
The Ashgabat agreement is a multimodal transport agree-
ment between India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Oman, Turkmenistan,
and Uzbekistan for creating an international transport and
transit corridor facilitating the transportation of goods be-
tween Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.
Insta Links: India Central Asia
Prelims Link:
• Central Asian Countries
• INSTC
• TAPI
Mains Link:
Q. India’s carefully calibrated strategy in the Central Asian
region is guided by mutual reciprocal interests both in eco-
nomic and strategic terms. However, recent events have
brought up new challenges to India’s interests. Analyse.
250 Words
NEW TIE-UPS IN NEPAL, CONCERN IN
INDIA
Context:
Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” was sworn in as Nepal’s
new Prime Minister after he switched sides to join hands
with a bitter foe, the former prime minister Kharga Prasad
Oli.
Delhi views Oli as pro-China, and the coming together of
Communist forces to form the government is a turning back
of the clock from its point of view. After the bitterness in
ties during Oli’s terms in office from 2015-2016 and 2018-
2021, India-Nepal relations improved after Deuba became
PM in 2021.
The issues/reasons for the bilateral relations slide
apart between India and Nepal are:
Territory claims issues at the Lipulekh pass
• The Treaty of Sugauli signed by Nepal and the Brit-
ish East India Company in 1816, defined River Ma-
hakali as the western border of Nepal.
• However, India claims that the river begins
in Kalapani as this is where all its tributaries
merge. But Nepal claims that it begins from Lip-
uLekh Pass, the origin of most of its tributaries
The ‘China card’
Trade agreements carrying vestiges of old rules
• India-Nepal trading agreements still carry vestiges of
old rules. For example, Nepali traders cannot import
products from India that are not manufactured in
India
Recalibration of ties, for better future India-Nepal relations:
• The boundary dispute should be resolved on affir-
mative lines
• Sensitizing Towards Nepal:  India should engage
more proactively with Nepal in terms of peo-
ple-to-people engagement, bureaucratic engage-
www.insightsonindia.com 65
 ment as well as political interactions.
• Investments from India.
Context:
Indian and Chinese  troops clashed in Arunachal Pradesh’s
Tawang sector, beating up each other with sticks and canes,
in their closest encounter since the deadly Galwan incident
in eastern Ladakh in June 2020.

The incident came days after China expressed objection to

Operation Yudh Abhyas, an India-US joint military exercise
at Auli in the Uttarakhand hills, claiming it to be a violation
of 1993 and 1996 border agreements.

What is the origin of the border dispute with China?

• After the communists took over in China, they with-
drew from all international agreements citing them
to be “unequal treaties” imposed on it during its
“century of humiliation”, and demanded a re-nego-
tiation of all its borders.
Insta Link: India Nepal Relations • The LAC separates Indian-controlled territory from
Chinese-controlled territory.
Prelims Link: UPSC 2016 • It is divided into three sectors: the Eastern Sector
(Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim), Middle Sector
Q. Consider the following pairs: (Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh) and Western
Community Sector (Ladakh).
sometimes men- • In the Eastern Sector, the alignment of the LAC is
In the affairs of
tioned in the along the McMahon Line, named after Sir Hen-
news ry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India. He
drew the 890-km line as the border between British
1. Kurd Bangladesh India and Tibet (a part of the 1914 Shimla Conven-
tion Between Great Britain, China, and Tibet). China
2. Madhesi Nepal
now doesn’t comply with this.
3. Rohingya Myanmar
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? What is China’s so-called claim on Arunachal Pradesh,
(a) 1 and 2 and on what grounds?
(b) 2 only • China claims around 90,000 sq km of Arunachal
(c) 2 and 3 Pradesh — the entire state — as its territory. It calls
(d) 3 only the area “Zangnan” in the Chinese language and
Ans: (c) makes repeated references to it as “South Tibet”.

Mains Link: Issue of recent Cyber-attack:

• The probe into the cyberattack on some servers at
Q. The Nepal-India relationship has never been free of con-
AIIMS in Delhi has found that the IP addresses of
troversy as the perspectives of both sides are yet to change,
two emails originated from Hong Kong and China’s
in this context discuss the need for recalibrating their ties.
Henan province.

Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements India’s reaction:

• China’s  latest transgression on the Line of Actual
Control  in Arunachal Pradesh led to calls for snap-
INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS ping trade ties to teach Beijing a “lesson”, but offi-
cial data show that India’s imports from the coun-
try have jumped to a record high over the last 30
Direction: months.
There were multiple articles on India-China relations. We
have tried to club them all together.

66 www.insightsonindia.com
India and China have taken different paths to development
Political system India is the world’s largest multi-party China is a one-party authoritarian rule.
parliamentary democracy.
D e v e l o p m e n t Policy of closed trade Great Leap Forward (GLF)
Strategy in the Ini- To give a thrust to domestic industries High-scale industrialization of the economy. Rural com-
tial years. and reduce dependence on foreign munities were allowed to undertake collective cultivation.
products and companies. Thus, India Urban communities were encouraged to undertake indus-
followed the Import substitution strat- trialization.
egy.
Economic reforms Economic reforms started in 1991. Economic reforms started in 1978.
India’s reforms have scaled back China’s reforms have created a pseudo-free-market com-
state-run industries driven by Liberal- mand economy.
ization, Privatization, and Globaliza-
tion.
External relations India is a masterful exponent of soft The economic diplomacy approach characterizes China’s
power compared to hard power. In- relations with the world. China is stronger than India in its
dia’s best brand ambassadors are its common hinterland in Asia and is gaining prominence in
companies, executives, academics and Africa and central Asia.
film stars.

Recent divergences various joint military exercises in IOR.

• Development Diplomacy vs Debt trap diplomacy China, Russia and Iran held naval exercises.
 China is often accused of “debt-trap di-
plomacy” - strategically trapping recipient
countries with loans they can’t repay. Upon
Impact on Indian Interest
default, China seizes strategic assets, thus • Regional Maritime Security.
extending its leverage E.g. Sri Lanka’s Ham- • Affects India’s Neighbourhood first policy
bantota Port. • Disruption of international shipping lanes
 India is using soft power and developmen- • Economy & trade in the Indian Ocean
tal assistance. It is steering more than 500
development projects across 64 countries • Threatens Energy Security
focusing on the empowerment of local • Loosing strategic projects-
communities through capacity building.  India’s failure to develop the Chabahar
• China’s 9 - dash lines vs India’s call for open and free port project in Iran might be China’s gain.
navigation.  Lost Hambantota Port to China.
• Minerals, Metals and Ores- Ocean drill-
ing, seafloor resources exploration and
Rising Influence of China in the region: development can be affected.
• China has invested hugely across the IOR littoral
states to secure its own interest through various
projects like the Belt and Road Initiative, ‘Maritime
Silk Road’, and String of Pearls.
• Economic Investment: Pakistan and Sri Lanka are
seeing a rising inflow of Chinese FDI.
• Comprehensive strategic partnerships with Thai-
land, Myanmar, Mozambique, and South Africa.
• Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) plat-
form for financing infrastructure construction in In-
dian Ocean countries.
• Military Base- China is building a military
base at Gwadar in Pakistan, a naval base
at Cox Bazaar Bangladesh, based in Djibouti.
• Mineral Exploration- China-Africa Cooperation (in-
vestments in mineral smelters)
• Military exercises- China participates in

www.insightsonindia.com 67
Way forward:
The Global balance of power has shifted to the east in recent
years. The concept of the Asian Century gained credence fol-
lowing the rapid economic growth of China and India since
the 1980s, which propelled both of them to the ranks of the
world’s largest economies. Thus, a rules-based Multi-Polar
World Order creates an enabling ecosystem.
Insta Links: India China Relations
Mains Link:
Q. ‘China is using its economic relations and positive trade
surplus as tools to develop potential military power status
in Asia’. In light of this statement, discuss its impact on In-
dia as her neighbour. (UPSC – 2017)
URBAN-20 (U20)
Context:
Under the G20, the presidency of India from December 01,
2022, to November 30, 2023, the Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs is organizing the Urban 20 event.
About Urban 20:
• U20 is an important city diplomacy initiative, which
reinforces the role of cities in taking the sustainable
agenda forward.
• Urban-20 (U20), provides a platform for cities from
G20 countries to facilitate discussions on various
important issues of urban development including
climate change, social inclusion, sustainable mobil-
ity, and affordable housing, and propose collective
solutions.
• The U20 2023 Cycle will be chaired by the City of
Ahmedabad
• The Urban 20 (U20) is a city diplomacy initiative
launched on December 12, 2017, at the One Planet
Summit in Paris.
• It aims to facilitate lasting engagement between the
G20 and cities, raise the profile of urban issues in
the G20 agenda, and establish a forum for cities to
develop a collective message and perspective to in-
68 www.insightsonindia.com
form G20 negotiations.
• C40 Cities (C40) and United Cities and Local Gov-
ernments (UCLG) convene the U20 under the lead-
ership of a Chair city that rotates annually, based in
the G20 host country.
• Ahmedabad will showcase its unique urban devel-
opment and climate change initiatives and rich cul-
ture and heritage to the participants.
• Resonating with India’s G20 theme of
‘वसुधैव  कुटुम्बकम्  - One Earth, One Family, One
Future’, U20 Ahmedabad will emphasize that ac-
tions at the city level can drive lasting positive global
outcomes underscoring the interconnectedness of
the world and our shared future.
• The effort of this cycle will be to move from ‘inten-
tion to action’ and draft a roadmap for closing the
gaps between policy and practice to address critical
urban issues. 
Why focus on urban development:
Today, more than half of the global population lives in cities,
and it is estimated that cities will host two-thirds of all peo-
ple by 2050.  Cities also consume over 75% of the world’s
energy, generate 75% of related emissions, and they are ex-
periencing the impacts of climate change first-hand.
Priority areas for the Urban 20 event are as follows:
• Encouraging environmentally responsive behaviour
• Ensuring water security
• Accelerating Climate Finance
• Leveraging ‘local’ potential and identity
• Reinventing urban governance and planning frame-
works
• Catalysing digital urban futures
Insta Links: Issues related to Urban Development
Mains Link: UPSC 2019
Q. The basis of providing urban amenities in rural areas
(PURA) is rooted in establishing connectivity. Comment.
Effect of policies and politics of developed and develop-
ing countries on India’s interests
PARLIAMENTARY PANEL ON ‘INDIA’S
SOFT POWER’
Context:
A parliamentary panel has recommended that the
ministry of external affairs (MEA) prepare a pol-
icy document on India’s soft power projections. important part of India’s “soft diplomacy” or “dias-
pora diplomacy”.
What is Soft Power?  For example, the Indian Diaspora played
Power is the ability to affect others to get the outcomes one a critical role in the fructification of the In-
do-US Nuclear deal.
prefers, and that can be accomplished by coercion, payment,
or attraction and persuasion. Soft power is the ability to ob-  They help in building its brand international-
ly through their huge success stories
tain preferred outcomes by attraction rather than coercion
or payment.

Elements of Soft power

Need for soft power:

• Potential in augmenting positive perceptions about
a country and its national interests.
• Change in other’s attitudes without competition or
conflict.
• India’s civilizational heritage has an advantage over
other countries in soft power: According to Brand Fi- Insta Links: Sports as soft power
nance’s Global Soft Power Index, India ranks 27th in
terms of soft power.
Mains Links:
Q. What is ‘soft power’? Evaluate the prospects & limita-
Recommendations of the Committee:
tions of the Indian diaspora with respect to the role they
• Prepare a policy document on India’s soft power
can play in India’s soft power and cultural diplomacy. (250
projection: To delineate India’s soft power toolbox
Words)
and how it is being projected abroad along with a
vision statement for the future
 Prepare a soft power Matrix Important International institutions, agencies and fora-
their structure, mandate.
• Comparative analysis of India’s soft power with oth-
er similar countries such as China
 E.g., China spends around $10 billion a year IF NOT REFORMED, THE UN WILL BE
just on its Confucius Institutes and soft pow-
er promotion whereas ICCR (Indian Council OVERTAKEN
of Cultural Relations) and other agencies
put together spending around Rs.300-400
crore. Direction:
The article discusses why the process to reform the UNSC is
 Most of India’s expenditure goes into the es-
tablishment and administration complex and suggests a way ahead.
• Get recognition for Ayurveda by adopting the phar-
macopoeia of India Context:
• Revamp the focus, structure and functioning of DD According to India’s Permanent Representative to the Unit-
India for its global outreach ed Nations (UN), Ruchira Kamboj, organisations such as the
• Proactive interaction with the Indian Diaspora is an G-20 may step up to play a more important role in interna-

www.insightsonindia.com 69
tional affairs if the UN fails to implement reforms in the UN
Security Council (UNSC).

Background:
• She stated during India’s December UNSC Presiden-
cy on the themes of reformed multilateralism and
counterterrorism, that the UN reformation is the
“most complex process” of the UN system.
• The item of reform has remained on the agenda of
the UNSC for nearly three decades without any sub-
stantive progress.
• Today, the UN has almost 200 member states. But
their voices are not being heard and everything is
being scripted for them.

Need to reform UNSC:

• Ineffectiveness: Global issues have been increasing-
ly complex and interconnected, yet UNSC remains
ineffective to address these.
• Underrepresentation: The composition (P5-Perma-
nent 5 members) does not reflect contemporary
geopolitical and economic realities and excludes
globally important and emerging economies like G4.
• Powerplay and division among P5: The P5 with veto
powers often act in self-interest rather than serving
the global interests.

Why is the process complex?

• Veto powers: Reform of the UN Charter requires
all the P-5 to be on board and none of them should
veto.
• Conflict of interest: There are many who aspire to
be in a reformed council but there are many who
would not like to see those in the council. For exam-
ple, the tussle between G4 and the coffee club.
India’s 2021-22 stint as a non-permanent member of
the UNSC (which ended with the Presidency):
• India has been vocal in expressing an opinion on dif-
ficult issues during the past two years (like the pan-
demic, and crisis in Ukraine).
• India’s role in providing vaccines to the least devel-
oped countries had been applauded by all.

Way ahead:
The possibility of “minilaterals” (like G20, which are more
democratic) taking centre stage in global affairs if the UNSC
refuses to make any progress.

Conclusion:
The reform requires not just the P-5 but also smaller group-
ings within the UN structure to be engaged in the broader
discussion on the reform.

Insta Links: UNSC Summit: A ground plan for India’s re-

formed multilateralism

70 www.insightsonindia.com
Mains Links:
Q. Compare the significance of IBSA and BRICS in the con-
text of India’s multilateral diplomacy. (UPSC 2012)
Prelims Links:
Consider the following statements:
1. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UN-
CAC) has a ‘Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants
by Land, Sea and Air’.
2. The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global an-
ti-corruption instrument.
3. A highlight of the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion
of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their
rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.
4. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
is mandated by its member States to assist in the imple-
mentation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: C
GS3
Indian Economy and issues, mobilization of resources
WHAT’S THE EFFECT OF THE RUSSIAN
OIL PRICE CAP, BAN?
Context:
Western countries, G7 and European Union have agreed to
cap the price of Russia’s oil exports (to $60 per barrel) in an
attempt to limit the fossil fuel earnings that support Russia’s
budget, its military and the invasion of Ukraine.
What is the price cap?
A price-cap regulation is a form of economic regulation that
establishes an upper limit on the prices that a utility provider
can charge.
Impact of the price cap:
• Increase volatility in the Oil market: The price cap
could have an uncertain effect on the price of oil as
worries over lost supply through the boycott com-
pete with fears about lower demand from a slowing
global economy.
• Hurt Russia’s Finance: The price cap is meant to hurt
Russia’s finances while avoiding a sharp oil price
spike if Russia’s oil is suddenly taken off the global
market.
• Insurance companies and other firms needed to
ship oil would only be able to deal with Russian
crude if the oil is priced at or below the cap.
Impact on India:
• Buyers in India might not go along with the cap
• Russia or China or India could try to set up their own
insurance providers to replace those barred by U.S.,
U.K. and Europe.
Counter-measures by Russia:
Experts say a $60 cap will not have much impact on Russia’s
finances. Russia (the world’s No. 2 in oil production) has al-
ready rerouted much of its supply to India, China and other
Asian countries at discounted prices after Western countries
shunned it even before the EU ban.
• Russia has said it will not observe a cap and will halt
deliveries to countries that do.
• Fear of Black Marketing: Russia also could sell oil off
the books by using “dark fleet” tankers with obscure
ownership
Conclusion:
Experts view that the $60 cap is way too high. A $30 cap
would “give Russia the financial crisis”. But “$60 is better
than not agreeing at all”
Insta Links:
Prelims link:
1. What is a Price cap?
2. Balance of Payments
3. Balance of trade
4. About Petrodollar System
Mains Link:
Q. Policymakers have little control over the dollar and
crude oil. It is impossible to take a call on how these prices
will move. Explain.
THE UNIFIED PAYMENTS INTERFACE
(UPI)
Direction: The article discusses UPI and the latest NPCI rules,
which affect both major and small payment apps.
Context: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
www.insightsonindia.com 71
has extended the deadline for platforms using UPI to meet
its 30% market share cap by two years.
Background: The NPCI’s market cap rules limit any single
payments app from processing more than 30% of UPI trans-
actions in a month.
About Unified Payments Interface (UPI):
● UPI is a technology that consolidates various bank
accounts into a single mobile app (of any participat-
ing bank) -
 Providing an instant real-time payment sys-
tem,
 Allowing users to transfer money across
multiple bank accounts without revealing
details of one’s bank account to the other
party.
● It was launched by the NPCI in 2016 in conjunction
with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian
Banks Association (IBA).
Features and benefits of UPI:
Performance of UPI:
• The UPI transaction value for the month of October
(2022) touched a new high at Rs 12.11 lakh crore,
with the transaction count touching 7.3 billion.
• According to the RBI’s Payment Vision 2025, UPI is
expected to register an average annualised growth
of 50%.
Why this extension? Taking into account the current usage
and future potential of UPI, other existing and new partici-
pants (banks and non-banks) have adequate time to upscale
their consumer outreach for the growth of UPI and achieve
72 www.insightsonindia.com
overall market equilibrium.
Impact of this move:
• The 30% limit will deny UPI payment services to mil-
lions of Indians, undermining the spectacular devel-
opment narrative of Indian digital payments.
• It recognizes that existing and new UPI firms must
commit more time, effort, and money to expand
their own UPI market share.
Who will benefit and who will suffer?
• Sufferers: PhonePe and Google Pay, which currently
command a majority (80%) of the UPI market share.
• Beneficiaries: Paytm (market - 15%), WhatsApp Pay
and other market players.
NPCI:
● It is an umbrella organisation incorporated in 2008
as a “Not for Profit” Company under the Compa-
nies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of the Companies
Act 2013).
● It is an initiative of RBI and IBA under the pro-
visions of the Payment and Settlement Systems
Act, 2007, for creating infrastructure for the en-
tire Banking system in India for physical as well as
electronic payment and settlement systems.
Insta Links: UPI
Mains Links:
Q. What is the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)? What are
its advantages over other cashless transaction methods?
Why is UPI significant to the Indian economy?
Prelims Links:
Consider the following statements about Unified Payments
Interface (UPI):
1. It is an instant real-time payment system jointly de-
veloped by the National Informatics Centre (NIC)
and the Centre for Development of Advanced Com-
puting (C-DAC).
2. It caters to the “Peer to Peer” collection request
which can be scheduled and paid as per require-
ment and convenience.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (b)
Refer: After Bhutan adopts India’s Bhim UPI securitisation, especially, synthetic securitisation.
 In synthetic securitisation, a bank buys
credit protection on a portfolio of loans
DIGITAL LENDING GUIDELINES from an investor.
 This means that if a loan in the portfolio de-
Direction: faults, the investor reimburses the bank for
losses on loans in the portfolio up to a cer-
The article discusses the current digital lending ecosystem,
tain amount, which is the amount invested.
the need to regulate it, RBI guidelines and confusion regard-
ing it. ● The RBI asked regulated entities like banks to ensure
that LSP and Digital Lending App (DLA) comply with
the guidelines.
Context:
Two months after the RBI issued guidelines on digital lend-
Significance of the guidelines: They aimed at protecting cus-
ing, Banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and
tomers from unethical business practices, such as mis-sell-
fintech players are still awaiting clarity on many aspects, in-
ing, breach of data privacy, unfair business conduct and
cluding the FLDG system.
charging of exorbitant interest rates.

First Loss Default Guarantee (FLDG): It is a lending model

between a fintech and a regulated entity in which a third
party guarantees to compensate up to a certain percentage
of default in a loan portfolio of the regulated entities (REs -
banks or NBFCs).
Why is there so much confusion?
• Guidelines are very stringent as far as the data stor-
age, confidentiality, role and responsibility of digital
partners are concerned.
• For example, REs should ensure that LSPs or DLAs
engaged by them do not store the personal infor-
mation of borrowers except for some basic minimal
data.

Digital lending:
• It involves giving and recovering loans through web
platforms or mobile apps by digital lenders.
• Lending Service Providers (LSPs) are engaged by the
REs to carry out some functions of RE in connection
with lenders’ functions on digital platforms.
• According to the RBI, as many as 600 out of 1100
lending apps currently available are illegal apps and
stringent norms for digital lenders, including sepa-
rate legislation to prevent illegal digital lending ac-
tivities, are the need of the hour.

The guidelines on digital lending:

● The RE will have to -
 Disclose upfront the rate charged to the
borrower of a digital loan,
 Ensure that borrowers are aware of the
products and
 Capture the economic profile of the borrow-
ers before offering the loans.
● On FLDG, RBI advised the RE to follow directions on

www.insightsonindia.com 73
 ed for 37 per cent of its total revenue expenditure of
Rs 26.15 lakh crore in 2019-20
 67 per cent on Interest Payment and Servic-
ing of Debt
 19 per cent on expenditure on Pensions and
Salary
 14 per cent Wages  
• Centre’s pension bill was 132 per cent of its expen-
diture on salary and wages in 2019-20
FRBM Act (2003)
• Aim: To make the Central government respon-
sible for ensuring  inter-generational equity in
fiscal management and long-term macroeconomic
stability .
• Fiscal Limits: The Act envisages the  setting of lim-
its on the Central and state government’s debt and
deficits.
• The States have since enacted their own respec-
tive  Financial Responsibility Legislation, which
sets the same 3% of Gross State Domestic Product
(GSDP) cap on their annual budget deficits.
• The NK Singh committee (set up in 2016) recom-
mendation: The debt to GDP ratio should be 7% for
the central government, and 20% for the state gov-
ernments together by the FY 2022 – 23. Fiscal defi-
cit: By FY 2022 – 23, the fiscal deficit should be 2.5%
of GDP.

Insta Links: RBI: Digital Lending Rules Conclusion:

The recent political move of going back to the old pen-
sion scheme by some of the state governments such as
CAG DATA ON PENSION BILLS FOR CEN- Jharkhand, and Himachal Pradesh may aggravate the fiscal
imbalance of the states.
TRE AND STATES

Context:
As per the latest data by CAG (titled ‘Union and State Financ-
es at A Glance’ for 2019-20), expenditure on the pension
has emerged as one of the major components of the Com-
mitted Expenditure of the Centre and states in recent years.
• Committed expenditure on revenue account mainly
consisted of interest payments, expenditure on sala-
ries, pensions and subsidies.
• If the Committed Expenditure is higher, it means
that the government has lesser flexibility to deter-
mine the purpose for which revenue expenditure is
to be incurred.

What does the report say:

• Expenditure on the ‘salary and wages’ of the Centre
and three states – including Gujarat, Karnataka and
West Bengal – during 2019-20.
• The Centre’s total Committed Expenditure account-

74 www.insightsonindia.com
Insta Links Background:
• Utilize fiscal room to ramp up capital spending • This is the first slide reported for any month since
• Five states need to take steps to stabilise debt levels: February 2021.
RBI • The October imports rose at a much milder pace
• Centre-State Relation than earlier, most likely because of softening com-
modity prices worldwide, resulting in the widening
of the trade deficit by 50%.
Prelims Links
Which of the following is/are included in the capital budget Main reason for this performance of the export sector:
of the Government of India? (UPSC 2016) • Engineering goods (the backbone of India’s mer-
1. Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, chandise exports previously), fell by 21%. The Engi-
buildings, machinery, etc, neering Export Promotion Council of India attributed
2. Loans received from foreign governments the slowdown to -
3. Loans and advances granted to the States and  High inflation in developed regions,
Union Territories  Falling demand in China,
Select the correct answer using the code given below.  The slowdown in the EU and the U.S. and
(a) 1 only  The Russia-Ukraine war.
(b) 2 and 3 only • In October, a decline of $2 billion worth of exports
(c) 1 and 3 only was seen in steel and allied products.
(d) 1, 2 and 3  Due to the export duty levied on these
products to help increase local availability.
Answer: D
 The government has since removed this
duty.
Q. With reference to the Fourteenth Finance Commission, • The Diwali festive season prompted workers to take
which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC leave, thus impacting output.
CSE 2015)
1. It has increased the share of States in the central How have the other exporting nations performed?
divisible pool from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. • Vietnam, an export-dominated country, recorded a
2. It has made recommendations concerning sec- 4.5% growth and in the Philippines, it grew by 20%.
tor-specific grants. • China is an exception this year (registering a decline
Select the correct answer using the code given below. in export growth) due to harsh lockdowns
(a) 1 only affecting its manufacturing output.
(b) 2 only
Signs of relief for the Indian economy:
(c) Both 1 and 2 • Resilient local demand: The investment cycle will
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 spur growth and job creation in the coming days.
Answer: A  The private sector capital expenditure
would be the highest in the last six years.
Mains Links  The private Capex typically depends on
credit or loans, from the banking system.
Q. Increasing fiscal deficit of states is a cause of worry and
• Inflation has been driven by local factors: Including
there is a considerable need to focus on state government
higher food prices, than imported reasons. However,
finances. Analyze. (250 words)
retail inflation, which has been consistently above
7% in the past few months, stood at 6.8% in October.
INDIA’S SLOWING EXPORTS • Easing international commodity prices and the ar-
rival of the Kharif crop.
Direction:
The article highlights the main reasons behind the declining Conclusion:
exports and areas where the Indian economy is doing well. Whether the above indicators (positive and negative) signify
Context: a temporary or permanent trend, remains to be seen over
According to the Ministry of Commerce, India’s exports de- the coming months.
clined by about 16.7 (sixteen point seven) % in October
compared with the year earlier.

www.insightsonindia.com 75
Insta Links: Exports cross $400 billion annual target as goods
shipments jump
Mains Links:
Q. How would the recent phenomena of protectionism and
currency manipulations in world trade affect the macroeco-
nomic stability of India? (UPSC 2018)
DECRIMINALISATION OF OFFENCES UN-
DER GST
Context:
The finance minister chaired the 48th GST Council, which
recommended decriminalising certain offences under Sec-
tion 132 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act,
2017
Background:
The GST law is still in its early stages of development. Hence,
it is vital to recognise that imposing penal provisions in an
uncertain ecosystem impacts an enterprise’s ability to con-
duct business.
About Goods and Services Tax (GST):
• It is an indirect tax (a tax which is not directly paid by
customers to the government) that came into effect
on July 1, 2017, as a result of the 101st Amendment
to the Indian Constitution.
• It has replaced several indirect taxes in the country,
including service taxes, VAT, excise, etc.
• It is imposed on both manufacturers and sellers of
goods, as well as suppliers of services.
• For tax collection, it is divided into five tax slabs - 0%,
5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%.
About GST Council:
• It is an apex committee to modify, reconcile or
makes recommendations to the Union and the
States on GST, like the goods and services that may
be subjected to or exempted from GST, model GST
laws, etc.
• Article 279A of the Indian Constitution empowers
the President of India to constitute a joint forum of
the Centre and States called the GST Council.
76 www.insightsonindia.com
Offences under GST:
Need:
• Despite technology leverage, instances of tax eva-
sion have surged due to culprits remaining unde-
tected.
• The GST law imposes severe penalties and guide-
lines in order to combat corruption and maintain an
efficient tax collection system.
Penalties under GST law:
• The department authorities have the jurisdiction to
impose monetary fines and the seizure of goods as
penalties for violating statutory provisions.
• Criminal penalties include imprisonment and fines
but can be awarded only in a criminal court follow-
ing a prosecution.
 The amount of tax evaded, the amount of
Input Tax Credit (ITC) improperly claimed or
used, etc, determines the length of the pris-
on sentence.
• The Act also divides offences into - cognisable and
bailable and non-cognisable and bailable.
Measures recommended at the 48th GST Council
meeting:
• Raising the minimum tax amount for commencing a
GST prosecution from one to two crore.
• Reducing the compounding amount from 50 to 150%
of the tax amount to 25 to 100% of the tax amount.
• Decriminalising certain offences under Section 132
of the CGST Act, 2017, such as preventing an offi-
cer from doing his duties, deliberate tampering with
material evidence and failure to supply information.
• Other suggestions include refunding unregistered
individuals and facilitating e-commerce for small
businesses.
What impact will the aforementioned measures have?
• Prosecution, arrest, and imprisonment in GST cases
would occur only in the most exceptional cases.
• Ease of doing business will be made more effective.
Insta Links: GST
Mains Links:
Q. Explain the rationale behind the Goods and Services Tax
(Compensation to States) Act of 2017. How has COVID-19
impacted the GST compensation fund and created new fed-
eral tensions? (UPSC 2020)
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2017)
What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing
‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’?
(1) It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple author-
ities and will thus create a single market in India.
(2) It will drastically reduce the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of
India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange re-
serves.
(3) It will enormously increase the growth and size of the
economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the
near future.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
THE DARK PATTERN: HOW COMPANIES
ARE TRICKING THEIR USERS
Context:
Some Internet-based firms have been tricking users by de-
ploying “dark patterns,” which are also known as “deceptive
patterns.”
What are dark patterns?
• Naming: The term is credited to UI/UX (user in-
terface/user experience) researcher and designer
Harry Brignull, who has been working to catalogue
such patterns and the companies using them since
around 2010.
• Meaning:
 These are unethical UI designs that deliber-
ately make one’s internet experience harder
or even exploit them and benefit the com-
pany or platform employing the designs.
 Uninformed users would not have accept-
ed such terms or clicked URLs (uniform re-
source location) if digital platforms had not
utilised deceptive tactics.
 Such acceptances and clicks flood consum-
ers’ inboxes with promotional emails they
never wanted, making it difficult to unsub-
scribe or request deletion.
 Examples: making cancellation buttons hard
to see or click, making ads appear as news
reports or celebrity endorsements, etc.
• Example:
 Amazon was criticised in the EU for their
confusing, multi-step cancelling process
for Amazon Prime subscriptions, which was
simplified after consulting with consumer
regulators.
What do users stand to lose because of dark patterns?
• Digital platforms take away a user’s right to full in-
formation about the services they are using and re-
duce their control over their browsing experience.
• Endanger the experience of internet users and
make them more vulnerable to financial and data
exploitation by Big Tech firms.
• Confuse users, introduce online obstacles, and make
simple tasks time-consuming.
• Force them to pay more money or share more per-
sonal information.
Way ahead: Internet users who are able to identify and rec-
ognise dark patterns in their daily lives can choose more us-
er-friendly platforms that will respect their right to choose
and privacy.
DRAFT NATIONAL RETAIL TRADE POLICY
Context:
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT) has sought the views of 16 departments and
ministries on its draft national retail trade policy
What is Retail Trade?
Retail trade  encompasses department store, bookstores,
and grocery stores, along with many others that sell new or
used goods to the public for personal or household use.
About the Policy:
Aim of the policy: To formulate strategies to provide a glob-
ally competitive and sustainable environment for the over-
all development of retail trade through targeted efforts.
This can be done through:
• Ensuring easy and quick access to affordable credit
• Facilitating modernization and digitisation of retail
trade by promoting modern technology and superi-
or infrastructural support
• Development of physical infrastructure across the
www.insightsonindia.com 77
 distribution chain
• Promotion of skill development and improve labour
productivity
• Providing an effective consultative and grievance
redressal mechanism for the sector
Government’s schemes for promoting the retail sec-
tor:
• Finance: PM Mudra Yojana, PM Jan Dhan Yojana
• Infrastructure status to Warehousing and logistics,
multi-modal logistics parks, Smart Cities Mission etc.
• Digital: ONDC, GeMS portal etc.
Other policies in the pipeline are:
• DPIIT is also working on formulating a national
e-commerce policy to promote the growth of the
online retail sector in the country.
• A new industrial policy is also on the anvil: This will
be the third industrial policy after the first in 1956
and the second in 1991
Insta Links: Committee Report- Promotion & Regulation of
E-Commerce
Mains Links:
Q. In the context of changing dynamics of commerce and
trade, Discuss the challenges in the formulation of a new
Retail Trade Policy for India. (15M)
78 www.insightsonindia.com
INDIA’S START-UP ECOSYSTEM: OPPOR-
TUNITY FOR CLOUD SERVICES
Direction:
The article tries to explain cloud computing, its significance
for India and the way ahead to promote the cloud computing
ecosystem in India.
Context:
AWS or Amazon Web Services, one of India’s largest provid-
ers of cloud-based services, has provided start-up credits
that allow aspirant start-ups to use a suite of services from
computing, storage and hosting for free.
Background:
• India has the world’s third-largest startup ecosys-
tem. Over the last 5 years, the number of registered
startups in India has grown from 452 in 2016 to
84,012.
• While startups in India span a variety of industries
from financial tech, gaming and health tech, several
are based in the cloud - the servers and data storage
accessible via the internet.
• Data-storage companies are offering a slew of incen-
tives to draw and retain these cloud-based start-ups
on their platforms.
What is cloud computing? It is the on-demand delivery of IT
resources (computing power, storage, and databases) over
the Internet with pay-as-you-go (pay for a service before you
use it) pricing, from a cloud provider like AWS.
Who is using cloud computing? Organisations of every type,
size, and industry are using the cloud for a wide variety of
use cases. For example, video game makers are using the
cloud to deliver online games to millions of players around
the world.
Types of cloud computing: The three main types of cloud
computing include Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Plat-
form as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Benefits of cloud computing:
• Agility: The cloud gives one easy access to a broad
range of technologies so that one can innovate fast-
er and build nearly anything that one can imagine.
• Elasticity: With cloud computing, one doesn’t have
to over-provision resources upfront to handle peak
levels of business activity in the future.
• Cost savings
• Deploy globally in minutes
Cloud services and their importance in India:
Potential: The cloud computing market in India is predicted
to develop at a rate of 28.1% between now and 2027.
Promoting e-governance:
• Cloud computing can further the motive of e-gover-
nance - service delivery, transparency, citizen aware-
ness and grievance redressal, by providing a faster,
easier and cost-effective platform that can be used
by multiple government agencies.
• “GI Cloud” - ‘Meghraj’, by the Government of India
to harness the benefits of cloud computing.
 The focus of this initiative is to accelerate
the delivery of e-services in the country
while optimising ICT spending of the Gov-
ernment.
Promoting startup ecosystem:
• An increasing number of small and medium-sized
businesses in India are rapidly shifting towards cloud
computing which is emerging as the major driving
factor for the market.
• As cloud services can simulate experiments on the
cloud, run tests, and learn from failed attempts, it
has helped “compress” the lifecycle of a startup, al-
lowing them to become more innovative.
 For example, HealthifyMe, which devel-
oped an app called ‘Vaccinate Me,’ allowed
feature phones to book close to 50 million
vaccination appointments.
• Cloud services are increasingly connecting to start-
ups located in tier 2 and 3 cities providing training to
even those with minimal education in cloud com-
puting skills.
Conclusion:
The way ahead lies in taking due care of security, interoper-
ability, licensing, reducing the digital divide, etc, to promote
the cloud computing ecosystem in India.
Insta Links: Cloud Computing
Mains Links:
Q. Discuss the advantage and security implications of cloud
hosting of servers vis-a-vis in-house machine-based hosting
for government businesses. (UPSC 2015)
Prelims Links
Q. With reference to “Software as a Service (SaaS)”, consider
the following statements: (UPSC 2022)
1. SaaS buyers can customise the user interface and
can change data fields.
2. SaaS users can access their data through their mo-
bile devices.
3. Outlook, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
All three  statements are correct. SaaS allows  each user
to access programs  via the Internet. Outlook, Hotmail or
Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS
www.insightsonindia.com 79
Employment
NEW LABOUR CODES GIVE A FREE HAND
TO EMPLOYERS: UNIONS
Direction:
The article covers issues faced by Indian labour policies, in-
cluding 4 new labour codes and suggests measures and best
practices to overcome the challenges. Kindly read yester-
day’s article on Lingering crisis of Labour.
Context:
At the 17th Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) of the ILO
in Singapore, international workers’ groups criticised the In-
dian government’s labour policies, including 4 new labour
codes.
About the 4 Labour Codes:
• The Indian Parliament enacted 4 labour codes - the
Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social
Security, 2020; the Code on Occupational Safety,
Health, and Working Conditions, 2020; and the Code
on Wages, 2020.
• These codes aim to consolidate and simplify the
country’s current and overlapping labour laws by
combining 29 pre-existing labour laws into 4.
• Labour is a concurrent subject, hence, states must
develop their own rules and only then can the codes
be fully implemented.
• There are suggestions of a phased implementation
as the Ministry of Labour and Employment lays the
groundwork for the 4 new labour laws.
Criticism of labour codes:
• Violate the tripartite agreements: Between work-
ers, employers and the government and give a free
hand to employers.
• The provisions given in the Industrial Relations Code
Bill will dilute the labour rights of workers in small
establishments having less than 300 workers.
• Mandatory compliance of registration of all work-
ers on the Shram Suvidha Portal may lead to exclu-
sion of many beneficiaries.
• The Code does not emphasize social security as a
right, nor does it make reference to its provision as
stipulated by the Constitution.
Other issues:
• 90% of India’s workforce belongs to the unorganised
sector and there are persistent challenges of low-
paid jobs and poor working conditions.
80 www.insightsonindia.com
• Declining productivity growth has a negative impact
on workers, and on the sustainability of enterprises
- especially MSMEs.
Measures of the Indian government to extend univer-
sal social security:
• E-Shram portal: Helps in identifying workers in the
unorganised sector and prioritising their needs.
• Extending health coverage through ESIC.
• Care for migrants e.g., Government scheme of One
Nation One Ration card
Opportunities: India has the largest youth popu-
lation in the world and the country is observing a
technological and entrepreneurial boom with start-
ups mushrooming across the country.
Way ahead:
• Need for a new social contract, which is based on
the availability of decent jobs for all, fair wages, so-
cial protection, etc.
• Enhancing productivity will be critical to economic
growth. For this, it is critical to harness digital, en-
trepreneurial skills.
• Recognizing Invisible Labour: A national policy for
domestic workers needs to be brought in at the ear-
liest to recognize their rights and promote better
working conditions.
Best practice - Singapore’s Progressive Wage Model. This
approach provides for raising wages in tandem with produc-
tivity growth achieved through upskilling workers and trans-
forming businesses.
Insta Links: Labour Codes
Prelims Links:
Which of the following laws is/are subsumed by the Code
on Social Security, 2020:
1. Employees Provident Fund Act, 1952
2. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
3. Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) All of the above
Ans: (a)
 THE LINGERING LABOUR CRISIS
POST-PANDEMIC
Direction:
The article highlights crises in global and Indian employment
scenarios, their impact and remedies.
Context:
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) recently pub-
lished two that provided insight into the global employment
scenario, including wages, following the pandemic.
What does the report say?
• The Global Wage Report 2022-2023: The impact of
twin crises - inflation and COVID-19 created a “strik-
ing decline” in real monthly wages and economic
slowdown around the globe.
• The Asia-Pacific Employment and Social Outlook
2022: The Asia-Pacific region lost about 22 million
jobs in 2022.
Scenario in India:
• According to the Ministry of Statistics and Pro-
gramme Implementation, the nominal wages rose
to ₹17,017 per month in 2021 from ₹4,398 in 2006.
• But when inflation is taken into account, real wage
growth falls to -0.2% in 2021, down from 9.3% in
2006. (In contrast, real wage growth in China was
around 2% (2019-2022).
Impact of job loss and decrease in wages:
• Millions of workers will be in a dire situation: The
increasing cost of living has the greatest impact on
lower-income earners.
• Income inequality will rise.
• Poverty will rise: 75 to 95 million people were
pushed into extreme poverty during COVID-19.
Remedies suggested by the ILO:
• Policy responses to the cost-of-living crisis: For ex-
ample, in the bargaining process for future nominal
wage adjustments, prudent price estimates should
be included.
• Strengthen labour market institutions and wage
policies.
• Governments should focus on the gender pay gap.
• There is an urgent need to address the negative ef-
fects of -
 Climate change;
 Increasing inequalities;
 Poverty, discrimination, violence and exclu-
sion;
 The lack of vaccines, inadequate access to
sanitation and essential healthcare for all;
 Growing digital divide
Way ahead:
• A multilateral approach is key to solving the labour
crises
• The creation of decent formal wage employment
Conclusion:
The above issues need to be addressed for a more equitable
distribution of wages and income - a key contributor to equi-
table and sustainable wage growth.
How is the word “Wage” defined?
● It is the total gross remuneration (including bonuses)
earned by employees during a given period for time
worked/not worked (such as paid leaves).
● A nominal wage (not inflation-adjusted) is the amount
paid by an employer in exchange for labour. A real wage,
on the other hand, has been adjusted for inflation.
● If the nominal wage grows at a slower rate than the rate
of inflation, purchasing power will decline.
Insta Links: India’s big problem of low-quality employment
Mains Links
Q. The covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the econ-
omy leading to an increase in unemployment rates across
the country. Discuss the steps that are needed to overcome
this issue as the economy recovers. (250 words)
Prelims Links:
Q. Identify the institution based on the information given
below:
1. Established as an agency for the League of Nations
following World War I.
2. Established by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
3. It became the first specialised agency of the United
Nations (UN) in the year 1946.
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
a) ILO
b) World Bank
c) WHO
d) IMF
Ans: a)
www.insightsonindia.com 81
 THE GREAT JOBS HUNT and services only by 93 lakhs.
 Regular salaried employees too have
dropped from 24% in 2018-19 to 21% in
Context: 2020-21.
Among other things, the quality of economic growth is best
measured by how well it translates into good quality jobs - a
metric on which India falls short. Recent initiatives to boost employment rate in India:
• Production Linked Incentives (PLI) scheme: 8 lakh
jobs will be created over the next 5 years by direct-
Status of employment in India: ing subsidies into capital-intensive industries.
• As per the NSO’s Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
• Indian military’s Agnipath Scheme
and CMIE’s Consumer Pyramids Household Survey,
India’s unemployment rate was 8% as of November
2022. Some employment Generation Schemes of Government of
• This means, around 3.5 - 3.9 crore Indians of work- India
ing age population, who are willing and able to S r . Name of the Ministry Remarks
search for jobs, aren’t able to get one. No. Scheme/ Pro-
• The labour force participation rate (LFPR) - the gramme
fraction employed or looking for a job, is currently
around 46% (in 2021, in Brazil - 58%, Indonesia - 68%, 1 Atmanirbhar Ministry of It was launched
all OECD - 60%). So, for every 100 Indians of working Bharat Rojgar Labour and with effect in 2020
age, 54 do not participate in the labour force. Yojana (ABRY) E m p l o y - as part of Atmanir-
ment bhar Bharat pack-
age 3.0 to incen-
Issues related to employment in India: tivise employers
• Lack of reliable jobs data: As such data helps the for creation of new
government to make more informed policy deci- employment along
sions. with social secu-
• Problems in the available data: For example, rity benefits and
 The unemployment rate excludes a 24-year- restoration of loss
old preparing for public sector jobs or a of employment
35-year-old who has given up looking. during Covid-19
 Silent on the quality and productivity of pandemic.
jobs. For instance, excludes data on dis-
guised unemployment - 5 people tilling a 2 Pradhan Man- “ It was launched in
small field, when only 2 would be sufficient. tri Rojgar Prot- 2016 to incentivise
• Missing women - gender discrepancy is enormous: sahan Yojana employers for cre-
At 19%, the female LFPR in India is even lower than (PMRPY) ation of new em-
Saudi Arabia. In 2019, only 30% of Indian females ployment.
(81% - males) with tertiary education participated in
the labour force (ILO). 3 National Ca- “ Project for trans-
reer Service formation of the
 It signifies both rising family incomes (fe-
males are not required to undertake jobs) (NCS) Project National Employ-
and shortage of safe and secure, attractive ment Service to
jobs for women. provide a variety
 This led to productivity losses, loss of new of career related
ideas and innovations. services like job
• Increasing youth unemployment: It was 22% in matching, career
2019, 28% in 2021 as compared to 18% in 2010. counselling, voca-
tional guidance,
• Quality and number of non-agricultural jobs de-
information on
creased:
skill development
 The PLFS indicates 46.5% of the labour force courses, etc.
works in the agriculture sector today as
compared to 42.5% in 2019. Programmes that have the potential to generate productive
 This increase is not just a pandemic effect, employment
as between 2018-2020, agricultural employ-
ment increased by 3.4 crore while industry

82 www.insightsonindia.com
 1 Digital India MeitY Digital India seeks to Context:
transform India into a The 17th Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) of the ILO
digitally empowered set 10-point priorities of national action for the members
society and knowledge to deal with the issue of dwindling wages, inflation and un-
economy. employment.

2 Stand up In- Ministry of Stand-Up India Scheme

dia Scheme Finance for financing SC/ST and/
or Women Entrepre-
neurs. The objective
of the Stand-Up India
scheme is to facilitate
bank loans for setting up
a greenfield enterprise.
3 Startup In- D P I I T , Startup India intends to
dia Ministry catalyse startup culture
of Com- and build a strong and
merce & inclusive ecosystem for
Industry innovation and entre-
preneurship in India.
Challenges ahead:
• 50 million job seekers will join the labour market
over the next 5 years period and crores are already
looking for jobs.
• The unexpected outburst of youth in response to the
Agnipath Scheme adds to the evidence that India is
failing to create jobs.
Way ahead:
Government, private sector and civil society must come to-
gether to find a sustainable way to create more and better
jobs.
Background:
The tripartite (governments, employers and workers) decla-
ration - the “Singapore Declaration”, adopted by the dele-
gates agreed to address labour market challenges and find
solutions to crises like the pandemic, natural disasters and
economic uncertainty.
Highlights of the Singapore Declaration:
• The governments must strengthen governance
frameworks and ensure -
 Labour protection through the promotion
of freedom of association and the effective
recognition of the right to collective bar-
gaining.
 Rights of migrant workers, including im-
proved accommodation, protection of wag-
es and extension of social protection, etc.
• It called for closing gender gaps through measures
that -
 Increase women’s labour force participa-
tion,
 Promote equal pay for equal work and re-
sponsibilities, and
 Promote women’s leadership.
• Governments and social partners should urgently
take effective measures to address allegations of se-
rious violations of these rights.

Insta Links: Unemployment in India Measures suggested in the declaration: Governments

must -
Mains Links:
Q. Examine the causes behind unemployment in India.
What measures are needed to ensure adequate job cre-
ation in order to reduce the rate of unemployment? (250
words)
ILO DECLARATION TO ENSURE LABOUR
PROTECTION
Direction:
Look out for the previous articles on labour published re-
cently- New labour codes give a free hand to employers:
Unions and The lingering crisis of labour post-pandemic
• Develop inclusive labour market programmes and
policies.
• Implement collective and determined efforts to
accelerate a smooth transition from the informal to
formal economy.
• Facilitate the transition to peace, security and de-
cent work in situations of crisis.
• Recognise the impact of climate change and devel-
op national plans that help build environmentally
sustainable economies and societies.
• Frame policies to regulate labour migration to co-
ordinate labour mobility and social protection and
harness opportunities arising from labour migration.

www.insightsonindia.com 83

Way ahead in the declaration:
• Strengthening the foundation for social and employ-
ment protection, especially for workers in the infor-
mal economy.
• The capacities and skills of the employer, worker
representatives and governments must be strength-
ened.
• Recognising that strong and representative organi-
sations of workers and employers are key to achiev-
ing social justice and decent work.
Conclusion:
Social dialogue is key to building trust and resilient labour
market institutions are essential to sustained recovery and
inclusive and sustainable growth.
International Labour Organization (ILO) is the only tripartite
U.N. agency, since 1919.  It brings together  governments,
employers and workers of 187 member States, to set labour
standards, develop policies and devise programmes promot-
ing decent work for all women and men
Insta Links: New labour codes give a free hand to employ-
ers: Unions
Mains Links:
Q. What are the issues with current labour laws in the
country? Examine the need for carrying out labour reforms
to progress the performance of India’s manufacturing sec-
tor. (250 words)
Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
INDIA’S CENTURY – ACHIEVING SUS-
TAINABLE, INCLUSIVE GROWTH’ INITIA-
TIVE
84 www.insightsonindia.com
Context:
FICCI, along with McKinsey, launched ‘India’s Century –
Achieving sustainable, inclusive growth’ initiative that out-
lines a roadmap to achieve  ₹10 lakh per capita income by
2047.
Aim:
India’s Century initiative sets out an actionable roadmap for
all stakeholders to unleash India’s potential in becoming an
economic superpower much before India turns 100.
• India is at an inflexion point in its journey of be-
coming the third largest and upper-middle income
economy.
Key Highlights of the report:
The roadmap identifies 11 priority sectors for growth over
the next 25 years, with a set of over 50 actions for compa-
nies and industry bodies (See Infographics)
Recommendations:
• Long-term:
• Increasing India’s innovation quotient: India has
made progress in innovation and has jumped from
81 to 41 in World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO) Global Innovation Index rankings.
 Sector-focused innovation clusters could
enhance the environment for innovation.
E.g., Smart mobility and water-adequacy
clusters.
• Scaling up India’s SMEs to grow 1,000 mid-sized and
10,000 small firms as global challengers: Currently,
India has a “missing middle”: a dearth of mid-sized
firms that typically grow into formidable competi-
tors for large companies.
 Easier access to low-cost capital.
 Simpler one-stop processes to start and run
their businesses.
 Support for resources they cannot always
afford to hire, such as in-house lawyers and
company secretaries.

• Empowering India’s next generation of talent for a
meaningful livelihood:
 By bolstering foundational skills to match
the requirements of high-potential sectors,
such as banking, healthcare, IT services
 Large-scale skilling and reskilling of the ex-
isting workforce:
 Creating the future workforce would re-
quire modernised teaching methods, with
a greater focus on practical apprenticeship.
• Shaping India into the preferred destination for glob-
al capital: Companies could attract international inves-
tors with a broader set of products and services, such as
high-rated ESG securities
• Short-term measures:
• Strengthen the digital landscape across high-poten-
tial sectors with pilot initiatives
 Healthcare: establishing the “hospital of
the future” with digital patient flow man-
agement systems and centralised medical
resource management platforms.
 Agriculture: piloting Agri Stack projects.
• Catalyse innovation across India and accelerate en-
trepreneurship and breakthrough ideas by rolling
out three innovation clusters across clean energy,
smart mobility and water adequacy.
• Accelerate the adoption of existing digital capabil-
ities by encouraging a 90 per cent adoption rate of
the GeM portal.
• Roll out structured training programmes and ven-
tures in collaboration with industry bodies and ed-
ucation technology (ed-tech) companies to provide
an additional three to four million people with skills.
• Drive water sustainability with industry campaigns
for net-zero consumption commitments and adop-
tion of water-efficient practices such as ZLD technol-
ogy, industrial water efficiency, water sustainability
audits and certification programmes
Insta Links: Inclusive growth: Basics
Insta Mains:
Q. What do you understand by inclusive growth? What are
the major impediments to inclusive growth and how can
they be overcome in the current scenario? Explain. (15M)
TRENDS AND PROGRESS OF BANKING IN
INDIA 2021-22
Context:
In a report - Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2021-22
– RBI said that banks must ensure due diligence and robust
credit appraisal to limit credit risk.
• This report is statutory compliance in accordance
with the Banking Regulation Act 1949, and presents
the performance of banking sectors (including coop-
erative banks and NBFCs)
Key findings of the report:
• Double-digit growth in the balance sheet of scheduled
commercial banks (SCBs)
 Impact: This is good news for the banking
sector in India.
 Definition: SCBs are those banks which are
included in the second schedule of the RBI
Act 1934  and which carry out the normal
business of banking such as accepting de-
posits, giving out loans and other banking
services.
• Gross non-performing assets (GNPA) for SCBs have de-
clined (from 9% (2017-18) to 5.8% (march 2022))
 Reasons for decline in GNPAs: Banks have
given write-offs or upgradation; greater
scrutiny and monitoring of loans; greater
recovery of loans after the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Act 2016
• The financial performance of Urban cooperative banks
showed improvement
• Non-banking financial company (NBFC) sector im-
proved in 2021-22. With strong capital buffers, adequate
provisions, and sufficient liquidity, NBFCs are poised for
expansion. 
 Definition: NBFC or Non-Banking Financial
Institutions are the  institutions that have
www.insightsonindia.com 85
 been registered under the Companies Act, Irrigation systems storage
1956. NBFCs offer bank-related services
without having banking licenses. Even
though NBFCs provide financial services, REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
they differ from banks in many ways.

Direction:
The article tries to establish the relationship between regen-
erative agriculture, soil health and conservation.

Context:
Farmers, activists and agricultural research organisations
across the world are developing methods of regenerative
agriculture, going a step ahead of sustainable agriculture,
not only to maintain the resources like soil and water but
also to improve them.

Background:
Insta Links: RBI financial stability report
Mains Links:
Q. Enumerate the steps taken so far to expedite and enable
the resolution of NPAs in India. Critically analyse the poten-
tial of National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL)
as the “Bad Bank” in addressing the issue of NPAs.
Q. How far can financial inclusion help in containing the
high level of NPAs of banks in India? Substantiate your
The regenerative agriculture:
views with two examples. (200 words)
About:
Prelims Links
Q.  Which of the following statements best describes the
term ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed As-
sets (S4A)’, recently seen in the news? (UPSC CSE 2017)
(a) It is a procedure for considering the ecological costs of
developmental schemes formulated by the Government.
(b) It is a scheme of RBI for reworking the financial structure
of big corporate entities facing genuine difficulties.
(c) It is a disinvestment plan of the Government regarding
Central Public Sector Undertakings.
Key techniques include:
(d) It is an important provision in The Insolvency and Bank-
ruptcy Code’ recently implemented by the Government.
Answer: B
• The Green Revolution in the 1960s saved India from
starvation and transformed it into not only a self-suf-
ficient but also a major food exporter country.
• But the revolution also made India the world’s big-
gest extractor of groundwater.
• According to the UN’s World Water Development
Report, 2022, the country extracts 251 cubic km or
more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater
each year and 90% of this is used for agriculture.
• Agriculture must operate in unison with nature, not
against it, if it is to continue feeding the country’s
undernourished population and driving the econo-
my.
• In India, the Union and state governments (UK, HP,
Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Gujarat) are promoting
regenerative agriculture with an aim to reduce ap-
plication of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and to
lower input costs.
• It is a system of farming principles and practices that
seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosys-
tem of the farm by placing a heavy premium on soil
health with attention also paid to water manage-
ment, fertiliser use, etc.
• It is a method of farming, under which emphasis is
placed on looking holistically at the agro-ecosystem,
improving the resources it uses, rather than de-
stroying or depleting them.

86 www.insightsonindia.com

Benefits: Links between regenerative agriculture, soil health
and water saving -
• Maintaining soil health: Chemical-less farming and
cultivation practices such as crop rotation and diver-
sification help improve soil structure and its organic
carbon content.
• Water conservation: Healthy soil helps in improving
water-use efficiency by better water storage, trans-
mission, filtering and reduces agricultural run-off.
Efforts in India to promote regenerative agriculture:
• The National Project on Organic Farming.
• Systematic rice intensification, a method in which
seeds are spaced at wider distances and organic ma-
nure is applied to improve yields.
• Zero-budget natural farming, now known as Sub-
hash Palekar Natural Farming, emphasises on pre-
paring and using inputs made from crop residue,
cow dung and urine, fruits, among other things.
Challenges:
There are no structured studies available on the water-sav-
ing potential of regenerative agriculture.
Way ahead:
• As civil society organisations and farmers do not
have the capacity to conduct long-term studies, sci-
entific bodies are best equipped to do such trials
and calculations.
• Such research will go a long way in promoting regen-
erative agriculture.
Insta Links: ZBNF
Mains Links:
Q. How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in
solving India’s water crisis? (UPSC 2021)
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2018)
With reference to organic farming in India, consider the fol-
lowing statements:
1. The National Programme for Organic Production’
(NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and direc-
tions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
2. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Ex-
port Development Authority’ (APEDA) functions as
the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP.
3. Sikkim has become India’s first fully organic State.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Ans: 2
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and
minimum support prices
SUBSIDISED FERTILISERS AND THE FEAR
OF CROP YIELD
Direction:
The article highlights the reasons behind high urea, and DAP
consumption, its impact and how to minimise the excess
consumption.
Context:
• Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers’ date reveal
www.insightsonindia.com 87
 that, the sale of urea and di-ammonium phosphate Insta Links: Reforming the fertiliser sector
(DAP) increased by 3.7% and 16.9%, respectively,
from April-October 2022 over the previous year.
Mains Links:
• However, the sales of other fertilisers including com-
plexes containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), K Q. How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diver-
(potash) and sulphur (S), have fallen. sity and economy of farmers? What is the significance of
crop insurance, minimum support price and food process-
Background: ing for small and marginal farmers? (UPSC 2017)
• Two schemes- Soil Health Card and mandatory
neem-coating of urea, were designed to promote
the balanced use of fertilisers.
• However, the annual consumption of urea (30 to 35
MT in the last 5 years) and DAP have grown over the
years.
• This means, instead of providing a balanced mix
of plant nutrients based on soil testing and crop re-
quirements, Indian farmers are applying only urea
and DAP - both containing 46% N and P, respectively.

Reasons behind increased consumption of urea and

DAP:
• High subsidy on urea: The maximum retail price
(MRP) of urea is fixed at Rs 5,628 per tonne, while
the MRPs of other fertilisers are technically decon-
trolled.
• DAP - a cheaper substitute: An upper ceiling of Rs
27,000/tonne has been fixed for DAP (Rs 29,000-
31,000/ tonne for NPKS complexes), which has 46%
P and 18% N.
• The choice of fertilisers depends more on its price
rather than NPKS complexes or other micro- macro
nutrients.
The effects of overconsumption of urea and DAP:
• The current NPK ratio of 13:5:1, as against the ideal
4:2:1, would adversely affect crop yields
• It will negatively impact the health of plants and hu-
mans, due to lack of a balanced nutrient mix.
Way ahead:
• Replacement of subsidies on individual fertiliser
products with a flat per-hectare cash transfer.
• e-wallet account for every farmer, to be used only
for the purchase of fertilisers.
• Maintaining a stock of decontrolled fertilisers to en-
sure no unexpected price rise.
Conclusion:
Under-pricing of urea (a historical phenomenon) and DAP
(recent) is a product of subsidy-induced market distortions.
Thus, concerns over soil nutrient imbalances should take
precedence over electoral politics.
Prelims Links: UPSC 2020
Q1. With reference to chemical fertilisers in India, consider
the following statements:
1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilisers is mar-
ket-driven and not administered by the Government.
2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from
natural gas.
3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fer-
tiliser, is a by-product of oil refineries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution: B
NFSA: 81 CR. PEOPLE TO GET FREE FOOD
GRAINS FOR ONE YEAR
Direction:
The article tries to compare the government’s two food se-
curity schemes - National Food Security Act, 2013 and the
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

88 www.insightsonindia.com
Context:
• The Union government announced free food grains to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013, for
a year commencing in January 2023, combining economic prudence and the need of a safety net.
• It has, however, discontinued the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), merging it with NFSA.

Comparing NFSA AND PMGKAY

NFSA PMGKAY
• Objectives: To provide for food and nutritional security. • Launched in April, 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat
• Key features: to supply free food grains to migrants and poor amid
 Food grains at subsidised price - rice at Rs 3/kg, Covid-19.
wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grain at Re 1/kg. • More than 81.35 crore people will be provided 5 kg
 2 categories of beneficiary - Antyoday Anna Yoja- free wheat/rice per person / month along with 1 kg free
na (35kg/family/month) and the Priority House- whole chana to each family per month.
holds (5kg/person/month). • This is over and above the regular monthly entitlements
 Covers 67% of the total population (75% of the under NFSA.
rural and 50% of the urban population).
• Families belonging to the Below Poverty Line - AAY and
 Meals to pregnant women and lactating moth-
PHH categories will be eligible for the scheme.
ers.
 Maternity benefits of not less than Rs. 6,000 to
such women.
 Children up to 14 years of age will be entitled to
nutritious meals.
 In case of non-supply of entitled food grains or
meals, the beneficiaries will receive food securi-
ty allowance.
 Grievance redressal mechanism at the District
and State levels.

Significance of the move: MSP FOR COTTON – TO RISE OR NOT?

• The discontinuation of PMGKAY comes at a time
when the food grains stock has depleted over the
months.
• The decision softens the blow the poor may suffer
with the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana being discon-
tinued by the end of the month.
Direction:
The article highlights the concept of MSP - meaning, objec-
tives, issues, etc.
Context:
While cotton farmers in several states have called for an in-
crease in the crop’s MSP, the Centre has stated that it is mon-
itoring the cotton output condition and will make a decision
accordingly.

The concept of Minimum Support Price (MSP) in India:

Insta Links: NFSA

Mains Links:
Q. The National Food Security Act (NFSA) with the Pradhan
Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) add-on during
the pandemic is a star achievement of our 75 years of inde-
pendence. Elaborate. (250 words)

www.insightsonindia.com 89
• Meaning: It is a policy decision not enforceable by law
- a sort of market intervention by the Government of
India to protect agricultural producers from a dramatic
drop in farm prices during abundant output years.
• Objectives:
 It is a price guarantee for farmer’s output intend-
ed to prevent farmers from selling their crops in
distress and to buy food grains for public distri-
bution.
 For example, if the market price for a commodi-
ty falls below the designated minimum price due
to excessive production and a market imbalance,
government agencies will purchase the whole
quantity produced by farmers at the declared
minimum price.
• Announced by: The Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (chaired by the PM) based on the recommenda-
tions of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Pric-
es (CACP) at the start of the sowing season for specific
crops.
• Crops covered:
 The government has announced minimum sup-
port prices (MSPs) for 22 specified crops as well as
a fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane
(total 23).
 14 kharif crops, 6 rabi crops and two other com-
mercial crops are mandated.
• Issues:
 Lack of government machinery for procurement
for all crops.
 Majority of farmers remain uncovered under the
MSP regime.
 MS Swaminathan Commission recommendation
of fixing MSP at 150% of production cost remains
unimplemented.
Case of cotton:
• The MSP for medium staple cotton for 2022-23 khar-
if season is ₹6,080.
• Though farmers said they got prices much higher
than MSP for their produce, it was inadequate given
the rise in price of input items such as seeds, pesti-
cides and fertilisers.
Insta Links: MSP
Mains Links:
Q. What do you mean by the Minimum Support Price
(MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low-in-
come trap? (UPSC 2018)
90 www.insightsonindia.com
Issues of buffer stocks and food security
ONION STORAGE WOES
Direction:
The article covers the reasons behind the fluctuation in the
prices of onions in India and steps taken by the government
to reduce this fluctuation.
Context:
According to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on
Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution report, stor-
age facilities for onions run by the Centre are poor and need
an immediate overhaul.
Background:
• Onion prices skyrocketed beyond Rs 150 per kilo-
gram in the winter of 2019 before stabilising.
• As a result, the Centre accorded utmost importance
to the reduction of storage loss in onion buffer
stocks.
• The percentage of loss on account of prolonged stor-
age of onion in the buffer had been reduced to 26%
in 2021-22 from about 28% in 2020-21.
Onion in India - Facts and figures:
• India is the second-largest onion-growing country in
the world and the Indian onions are famous for their
pungency (sharp smell, and taste) and are available
round the year.
• There are 3 sowing seasons for the onion crop in In-
dia - Kharif (10%), late Kharif (20%) and Rabi (70%).
• The Rabi onion crop is the mainstay of India and
the price of the onion is normally lower during these
months due to greater supply.
• In 2020-21, the major onion-producing states are
Maharashtra (39%), Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh
(17%), Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Haryana and Telangana.
• The major export destinations are Bangladesh, Ma-
laysia, Sri Lanka, UAE, Nepal and Indonesia.
• As India faces frequent onion demand-supply mis-
matches, resulting in price fluctuations, successfully
storing rabi onions and scientific management of on-
ion output in all three seasons is crucial.
Steps to arrest price rise and increase domestic supply:
• Besides production augmentation, there are several
policy tools available to arrest the increasing prices
such as the -
 Withdrawal of Merchandise Export Incen-
 tive Scheme (MEIS);
 Building of buffer stock with an aim to inter-
vene in case prices start rising abnormally;
 Implementation of minimum export price;
 Opening the export window for a limited pe-
riod or quantity;
 Imposition of stock limit on wholesale trad-
ers and retailers.
Operation Greens - From TOP to TOTAL:
Objectives of Operation Greens:
• Enhancing value realisation of TOP farmers through -
• Price stabilisation for producers and consumers
• Reducing post-harvest losses by creation of appro-
priate storage capacity
• Increasing food processing capacities and value addi-
tion in the TOP value chain.
Findings of the standing panel:
• 51,583 million tonnes (MT) of onion had been dam-
aged due to spoilage in the last three years.
• The price of onions mounted too high during the re-
cent months and such damage reflected poor man-
agement on the part of the Department (of Consum-
er Affairs).
• Onions were traditionally stored in open-ventilated
chawls while the development of modern scientific
technology was still in the experimental stage.
• It urged the Department to take due care for proper
storage of onions so as to refrain from price fluctu-
ation and to prevent black-marketing. This was also
to be done keeping in view the vast procurement of
onion (~250,000 MT).
Centre’s reply:
• Onions from the buffer are being released in a tar-
geted and calibrated manner to stabilise prices at
local as well as national levels.
• To develop technologies for the primary processing,
storage and valorisation of onion, the Department
has initiated a hackathon.
• The hackathon would cover comprehensive solu-
tions like improvement in the design of Kandha
Chawls, pre-harvest care, primary processing such
as drying, etc.
Insta Links: Operation Greens
Mains Links:
Q. Elaborate on the policy taken by the Government of In-
dia to meet the challenges of the food processing sector.
(UPSC 2019)
Economics of animal-rearing.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE
FISHERIES SECTOR
Direction:
The article highlights the relevance of fish production for the
economy and filling nutritional gaps. It also gives an over-
view of India’s fisheries sector.
Context:
According to a new study, small fish captured in lakes and
the oceans of low and middle-income countries (LMIC) of Af-
rica, Asia and the Pacific can help fill nutritional gaps.
Background:
• Over a billion people across the world depend heavi-
ly on fish and other aquatic foods for nutrition.
• The majority of these people reside in the LMIC of
Africa, Asia and the Pacific, often near rivers, lakes
or the ocean.
Highlights of the study - Small Pelagic Fish Supply
Abundant and Affordable Micronutrients to LMIC:
• Pelagic fish (herring, sardines and anchovies), which
live in the upper layers of open water, are the -
 Least expensive,
 Most nutrient-dense (in selenium, omega-3
fatty acids, zinc, iron and calcium) and
 Readily available fish.
• Cold-water species that are found close to the
ocean floor, such as cod and flounder, are the most
expensive.
Significance:
• These superfoods provide the micronutrients need-
ed for human health and cognitive growth.
• Small fish could provide environmental, social and
economic benefits and help fill nutrient gaps in
LMIC.
www.insightsonindia.com 91
 • The findings will help inform public health and fisheries strategies in areas with inadequate information on fish
nutrition.
Challenges to the availability of these small fish: Overfishing, trade and the growing international demand for fish oil.
Way ahead: Creating equitable and sustainable regulations for managing small-scale fisheries.

Fishery sector in India:

Overview:
• Fisheries is a fast-growing ‘Sunrise Sector’ in India, which provides nutrition and food security to a large population
and employment to over 28 million people.
• It occupies an important place in socio-economic development and has witnessed an average annual growth of 11%
since 2014-15.
• The sector has reached record fish production of 142 lakh tons in FY 2019-20, making India the second largest fish-pro-
ducing (7.56% of global production) country, contributing over 7.28% to the agricultural GVA.
• The sector has immense potential for growth and it has been instrumental in sustaining the livelihoods, especially of
vulnerable communities.

Schemes and programs:

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
• Implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
• Budget (2021-22) announcements -
• Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu
• Development of 5 Major Fishing harbours as the hub of economic activities - Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam,
Paradip, and Petuaghat
Recognising the sector’s enormous potential, the Indian government established a dedicated Ministry of Fisheries, Ani-
mal Husbandry and Dairy in 2019.

Insta Links: Fishing Industry in India

Mains Links:
Q. Examine the potential of and problems faced by India’s fisheries sector and measures taken to address these problems.
(250 Words)

92 www.insightsonindia.com
Land reforms in India.
NEW LAND RULES BRING J&K ON PAR
WITH THE REST OF INDIA
Context:
The abrogation of special status under articles 35A and 370
for Jammu and Kashmir was followed by various initiatives
to initiate land reforms and modernization in the erstwhile
state.
Toughening the stand on newly introduced land rules that
have ended leaseholders’ rights for extension in the Union
Territory (UT) has brought Jammu and Kashmir to par with
India.
Initiatives taken for land reforms:
• In 2020, the Centre notified ‘The Union Territory of
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of
Central Laws) Order which resulted in the repeal of
11 land laws in J&K, including the Big Landed Estates
Abolition Act of 1950.
• Domicile requirements to purchase non-agricultural
land have been removed, equalising J&K with other
states.
• Wife and children of an agriculturist would also fall
in the Agriculturist category for the purposes of the
Jammu & Kashmir Land Revenue Act, 1996.
• Implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and
Development) Act, 2016 or RERA to regulate the
real estate sector.
• ‘Aapki Zameen Aapki Nigrani’ under the Digital In-
dia Land Records Modernization Programme (DIL-
RMP) for modernizing the management of land re-
cords has been launched in the UT.
• These measures benefit economic development,
ease of service delivery to the citizens, and reduc-
tion in litigation due to poor record-keeping.
Shortcomings of these measures:
• Special-status of J&K still stands as articles that have
been abrogated and not completely abolished. This
indicates such reforms violate special rights given to
domiciles.
• Lack of consultation with local leadership - The
elected government has been disbanded and such
initiatives are almost completely a top-down affair.
• Popular dissent people have protested against the
measures as they see the removal of domicile needs
as an attempt to drastically shift the demography of
the region.
• Undoing reforms: legislations like the Big Landed
Estates Abolition Act of 1950 actually implemented
the intended post-independence land reforms, such
repeals are undoing the past progress.
Insta Links: Now, outsiders can buy land in J&K, Roshni Act
Effects of liberalization on the economy
PARLIAMENTARY PANEL ON COMPETI-
TION AMENDMENT BILL 2022
Context:
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, has
suggested that the government extend the provision of
settlement under the Competition Amendment Bill 2022
to cartels so as to make the initiative more pragmatic.
• The amendment to the competition act broadens
the scope of ‘anti-competitive agreements’ to bring
to books, entities that facilitate cartelization even if
they are not engaged in identical trade practices.
Further suggestions of the Committee:
• It recommended some changes to the transaction value
threshold prescribed in the draft bill to prevent certain
mergers and acquisitions (M&As) from coming under
the ambit of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
However, it didn’t suggest any change in the value of the
threshold set at Rs 2000 Crores.
 The Amendment Bill makes it  mandato-
ry  to notify the Commission of any trans-
action with a deal value in excess of ₹2,000
crores  and if either of the parties has
‘substantial business operations in India’.
• Don’t reduce the timeline as there is a shortage of staff
 The new Bill seeks to accelerate the timeline
from 210 working days to only 150 working
days with a conservatory period of 30 days
for extensions to approve the merger.
www.insightsonindia.com 93
 • The Commission should have at least one judicial
member
What are Antitrust laws?
They are regulations that encourage competition by limiting
the market power of any particular firm
Note: Further information about the Bill and related Ques-
tions have already been dealt with here. Please go through
it once.
Changes in industrial policy and their effects on indus-
trial growth.
THE GREEN IN OUR WEAVES: SUSTAIN-
ABLE COTTON TEXTILES
Direction:
The article tries to present the scenario of India’s cotton tex-
tiles since colonial times and suggests a way ahead and a best
practice that makes it sustainable.
Context:
The article discusses the past (colonial times), present and
future of cotton textiles in India.
Past scenario:
• Since the first century of the Common Era, Indian
weavers have supplied cotton cloth to the world’s
markets.
• The many forms of Indian cotton cloth - bafta, mul-
mul, mashru, jamdani, more, percale, nainsukh,
chintz, etc., were the source of India’s famed wealth
in pre-industrial times (before 1750).
• Until the industrial revolution in Britain (1750), all
yarn for handloom weaving in India was spun by
hand.
• But this occupation vanished with the invention of
spinning machines in Britain and the import of ma-
chine-spun cotton yarn.
• Since India was a British colony, the latter dictated
its economic policies (raw cotton was shipped to
supply British industry and machine-woven cotton
fabrics began to be imported).
Situation by 1947:
• Mass production was well established, and India’s
own spinning and weaving mills took over the role of
Lancashire in Britain.
• American cotton varieties and their hybrids gradu-
ally replaced native ones and native varieties grew
only in a few pockets.
94 www.insightsonindia.com
Impact:
• Cotton in India is grown largely by small farmers.
• Farm practices shifted from sustainable, family-based
agriculture to intense commercial farming.
• Input costs rose because -
 Seeds supplied by large multinational corpo-
rations are costly.
 Use of fertiliser, pesticide and fungicide.
American varieties → irrigation → increases
humidity → encourages pests and fungi →
adds to the cost of cultivation, but does not
guarantee a good harvest.
• Farmer indebtedness, impoverishment and sui-
cides.
• Diversity compromised - The machines needed a
uniform kind of cotton, so the hundreds of varieties
of Indian cotton (like the finest fabrics Dhaka mus-
lins) lost importance.
Current scenario:
• India is the largest producer (of 34.1 million bales
(bales of 170 kg each) in 2021-22) of cotton globally.
• It is a crop that holds significant importance for the
Indian economy (grows over 11.7 million hectares in
India compared to 31.2 million hectares globally) and
the livelihood of about 60 million Indian farmers.
• In 2020, India stood as the third highest exporter
of raw cotton globally, amounting to US$ 6.3 billion
(10.2% of the total global exports).
• The government has been implementing various
policy initiatives and schemes to encourage cotton
spinning mills in the country. For example,
 Amended Technology Upgradation Fund
Scheme (ATUFS)
 Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme
 SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in
the Textile Sector)
 Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA),
etc.
• However, the introduction of genetically modified
seeds (Bt. cotton) is causing worry because its long-
term impact on productivity and biodiversity is un-
known.
Way ahead:
• The world is looking for “green” industries.
• As independent India turns 100 in @2047, handloom
weaving located close to cotton fields can make it a
world leader in sustainable production.
Best practice (The malkha process):
• The process has pioneered yarn spinning suited to
the small scale of handloom production, using the
 different cotton varieties grown in various regions of
India to provide an alternative to the mass produc-
tion of cotton yarn.
• Malkha has also added natural dyeing of yarn to
make its fabrics even more sustainable.
The textile sector in India:
India is one of the largest consumers and producers of cot-
ton and jute in the world. 95% of the world’s hand-woven
fabric comes from India. The Indian technical textiles seg-
ment is estimated at $16 bn, approximately 6% of the global
market.
It is the 2nd largest employment provider after agriculture.
India is 2nd largest manufacturer of PPE and producer of poly-
ester, silk and fibre in the world.
The government has launched the Production Linked Incen-
tive (PLI) Scheme to promote the production of MMF Ap-
parel, MMF Fabrics and Products of Technical Textiles in the
country to enable Textiles Industry to achieve size and scale
and to become competitive.
Insta Links: Textile industry seeks govt support to stay com-
petitive
Mains Links:
Q. Analyse the factors for the highly decentralised cotton
textile industry in India. (UPSC 2013)
Infrastructure: Energy
ENERGY CONSERVATION BILL 2022
Context:
The Union Minister of Power introduced the Energy Conser-
vation (Amendment) Bill 2022 in Rajya Sabha.
Background:
• The bill seeks to amend the Electricity Conservation Act
2001 to include changes such as incentivising the use of
clean energy through the issuance of carbon saving cer-
tificates.
• The Electricity Conservation Act 2001 -
• Specify norms and standards of energy efficiency
for appliances, industrial equipment and buildings.
• Prohibit the manufacture/ sale/ purchase of equip-
ment unless it conforms to specified norms.
• Established the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
• Empowers the Centre to issue energy savings certif-
icates providing for a framework for energy trading
- given to industries that consume less and can be
sold to industries that consume more.
• Violators attract a penalty of Rs 10 lakh and consum-
ers will be penalised as per their excess consump-
tion.
• Appeals will be heard by the appellate tribunal es-
tablished under the Electricity Act, 2003.
www.insightsonindia.com 95
Need to amend the above Act:
• To consolidate on the current Act’s success. Accord-
ing to BEE, measures for efficient energy use saved
approx. 28 million tonnes of oil equivalent energy in
2019-20.
• To facilitate the achievement of COP-26 goals to en-
sure faster decarbonisation of the Indian economy.
Key features of the Energy Conservation (Amendment)
Bill 2022:
• Carbon credit trading scheme: Carbon credit implies
a tradable permit to produce a specified amount of
CO2 or other GHG emissions.
 The central government/ authorised agen-
cy may issue tradable carbon credit certifi-
cates to entities compliant with the scheme.
• Obligation to use non-fossil sources of energy:
Designated consumers (such as industries) may be
asked to meet a minimum share of energy consump-
tion from non-fossil sources.
• New Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building
Code: Unlike the old code, this will also apply to the
office and residential buildings with consumption
above a threshold.
• Standards for vehicles and vessels: The Bill expands
the scope to include vehicles and vessels (ships,
boats).
• Strengthening BEE: By changing the composition of
its governing council including representatives of in-
dustries and consumers.
• Promoting green hydrogen: As an alternative to the
fossil fuels used by industries.
• Penal provisions: Failure to comply with standards
will be punishable with a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh.
Main objectives of the Bill:
• Its goal is to reduce GHG emissions and combat cli-
mate change.
• To expand India’s carbon market and promote the
use of clean technology.
• To achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs), as outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement,
by 2030.
Key issues that need to be addressed:
• Appropriate Ministry to regulate the carbon credit
trading scheme: The Ministry of Power/ the Minis-
try of Environment?
• There is no clarity on whether renewable energy,
energy savings and carbon credit trading schemes
involve the same or different activities.
• Meeting non-fossil energy use obligations may ad-
96 www.insightsonindia.com
versely impact the competitiveness of the industry.
Insta Links: An Insight - The Energy Conservation (Amend-
ment) Bill, 2022
Mains Links:
Q. Evaluate the role that the Energy Conservation (Amend-
ment) Bill, 2022 can play in ensuring greater use of renew-
able energy and enforcing penalties on industrial polluters
for carbon emissions. (250 words)
INDIA RENEWABLE POWER CAPACITY IN
THE NEXT 5 YEARS
Context:
According to International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable
energy will comprise 90 per cent of global electricity capac-
ity expansion in the next five years and much of it will be in
India.
Reasons for such a spike:
The first truly global energy crisis, triggered by Russia’s in-
vasion of Ukraine, has sparked unprecedented momentum
for renewables. 
The favourable policies and market reforms the world over.
Key highlights of the report:
• China, the United States and India all to double
their renewable capacity expansion in the next five
years, accounting for two-thirds of global growth.
• The global solar photovoltaic (PV) supply chain is
diversifying, but China will continue to dominate
manufacturing.
• Waste and residues are a key growth area for bio-
fuels but require action to prevent a supply crunch
• Renewables become the largest source of global
electricity generation by early 2025, surpassing coal. 
• Solar PV’s installed power capacity is poised to sur-
pass that of coal by 2027, becoming the largest in
the world.
• Global wind capacity has almost doubled, with
offshore projects accounting for one-fifth of the
growth.
Initiatives taken by India to transition to renewables:
• The creation of a separate Ministry of New and Re-
newable Energy. 
• At  CoP26,  India committed 50% of its total power
generation from Renewable Energy.
• The  Production Linked Incentive Scheme
 (PLI) scheme is to enhance the manufacturing sector
for the production of raw materials for renewable
energy.
• India’s decision to achieve  ‘net zero’  by 2070 has
made reasonable progress by reaching nearly  110
GW of RE by the end of March 2022.
Challenges associated with Renewable Energy
• Shortage of Skilled Personnel
• High Installation Cost.
Insta Links:
Renewable Energy
Mains Link:
Q. Examine the various obstacles to an energy-secure In-
dia. How can the government ensure energy security while
honouring its net zero commitments? 10M
WHAT’S SHADOWING THE SOLAR POW-
ER PROJECTS?
Context:
According to the figures revealed by the Minister for New
and Renewable Energy- only a fourth of the total sanctioned
solar projects with a capacity of nearly 39,000 MW have
been commissioned so far.
Factors ailing the solar energy sector:
• Policy Constraints:
 Restrictions and/or ambiguity on provi-
sions.
 Varying and ineffective regulations on net
metering
• Infrastructural Constraints:
 Land constraints: e.g., high land prices, land
ceiling limits, and complex land acquisition
processes.
 Insufficient transmission facility: as the
renewable source of energy generation is
usually located in far-flung areas, insuffi-
cient transmission facility is also a major
constraint.
 Storage issues
 Solar energy is not consistent and continu-
ously dependent on the weather
• Financial Constraints:
 Unsustainable pricing
• Import Dependency:
 When it comes to solar modules, batteries
for power storage and manufacturing other
renewable energy systems, India is highly
dependent on import of these equipment
• Environmental issues
 The habitat of the Great Indian Bustard —
a critically endangered species— has been
encroached upon by solar power projects,
particularly by transmission lines that en-
danger the bird (Rajasthan case study)
Short-term and long-term measures:
Short Term:
• A uniform policy framework must be formulated, to
apply to all states in the union for at least the next
five years.
• Unrestricted access to net metering is vital to help
the growth of rooftop solar, especially in the MSME
segment.
• Augment Inflow of Low-cost Finance:
 Explore novel means to attract more streams
of concessional finance such as Mainstream-
ing of green bonds.
Long Term:
• Stricter renewable purchase obligation (RPO)En-
forcement:
 Pan-India implementation of renewable
purchase obligation (RPO) for utilities and
large consumers and strict penalties for
non-fulfilment of RPOs.
• Introducing Plans to Improve Financial Health of
Discoms.
• Reducing Cross-Subsidy Surcharge (CSS):
 Commercial and industrial consumers are
currently levied an additional CSS, leading
to higher-than-average electricity tariffs.
• Introducing Capital Subsidy for Battery Energy Stor-
age System (BESS).
India’s targets:
India has an ambitious target of installing 175 gigawatts
(GW) of renewable power by 2022, which includes 100 GW
from solar energy alone. (Also, a total renewable target of
500 GW by 2030).
Insta Links: Solar Energy
Mains Link:
Q. Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched
at the World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate
Change Conference in Glasgow in November 2021. When
www.insightsonindia.com 97
was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance • Replacement for fossil fuels.
(ISA)? (UPSC 2021) • Hydrogen fuel cells: Hydrogen fuel cells (HFCs) pro-
duce heat and water as byproducts, eliminating the
Prelims Link: UPSC 2022 costs associated with handling and storing toxic ma-
terials like battery acid or diesel fuel.
Q1. Consider the following statements:
1. Gujarat has the largest solar park in India. • Energy storage
2. Kerala has a fully solar-powered International Airport. • Stored for a long period: The stored hydrogen can
3. Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India. be used to produce electricity using fuel cells.
• Decarbonization of industries: green hydrogen can
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? easily be converted to green ammonia. It, there-
(a) 1 and 2 fore, assumes vast applications for agriculture, fer-
(b) 2 only tilizer-producing industries and refineries, steel and
(c) land 3 heavy-duty transportation industry.
(d) 3 only • Commercialization of Oxygen produced
• Reduced Dependence on Rare Minerals: Green Hy-
drogen holds the key to clean electric mobility that
INDIA IS ALL SET TO GO FOR ITS FIRST doesn’t depend on rare minerals.
WASTE-TO-HYDROGEN PROJECT
Challenges associated:
Context: • Economic feasibility
Hydrogen generated at a facility in Pune will be utilized lo- • Technological challenges: E.g., hydrogen storage
cally to help the city lower its emissions, and manage waste due to its embrittlement of storage metals is a major
optimally. issue in creating a sustainable supply chain.
• Investments needed
• Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has collaborated • Consumer adoption
with business management consultant The Green
Billions (TGBL) to manage its waste and generate it
into useable green hydrogen.
• The new facility will solve two major problems: Inef-
ficient waste management and carbon emissions.
Waste management is one of the prime issues in the
country, which is blamed for generating the pollu-
tion in the surroundings.
• With this project, Pune city can reduce up to 2.5 mil-
lion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, over 3.8
million tonnes of waste would be diverted from the
landfill/dumping site and more than 180,000 esti-
mated households will be served directly.
India’s stand on renewable energy:
India is one of the few countries that has kept up its Par-
is Agreement (21st Conference of Parties or COP21 to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
commitments, with an exponential increase in renewable
energy capacity.

Insta Links:
Green Hydrogen Potential
National Hydrogen Mission

About Green Hydrogen: Mains Link:

Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by splitting water by Q. The national hydrogen policy is a step in the right direc-
electrolysis using power from renewable energy sources. tion to harness the potential of green hydrogen but remov-
How green hydrogen could help in meeting India’s Net-zero ing production bottlenecks and incentivizing production
target? can be a game-changer for the energy security of India.

98 www.insightsonindia.com
Comment.
Science and Technology
END – TO - END ENCRYPTION: TECH
COMPANIES VS GOVT
Direction:
The article tries to explain the end-to-end encryption tech-
nology, its uses, the government’s concerns, and challenges.
Context:
• Apple announced that it will be increasing end-to-
end encryption, enabling user data protection even
in case data is breached in the cloud.
• Earlier, Elon Musk said that he wanted Twitter DMs
to be encrypted.
About end-to-end encryption:
• It is a communication process that encrypts data
being shared between two devices, preventing 3rd
parties (cloud service providers, internet service
providers (ISPs), and cybercriminals) from accessing
data while it is being transferred.
• It uses an algorithm that transforms standard text
into an unreadable format, which can only be un-
scrambled by those with the decryption keys.
• It has long been used to secure communications
and can also be used to secure passwords, protect
stored data and safeguard data on cloud storage.
Need:
● According to data breach research, the cases of data
breach more than tripled between 2013 and 2021,
exposing data of 1.1 billion personal records.
● End-to-end encryption is a technology that secures
users’ data from hacking, and snooping by govern-
ment agencies, making it a popular feature among
activists, journalists and political opponents.
Why are government agencies unhappy with it?
• They are deeply concerned with the threat that end-
to-end encryption and user-only access pose.
• For example, US FBI insisted that end-to-end encryp-
tion hinders its ability to protect Americans from cy-
ber-attacks, violence against children and terrorism.
Challenges ahead:
• The technology does not protect metadata which
includes information like when a file was created,
the date when a message is sent and the endpoints
between which data was shared.
• Conflict of interest between governments (national
security) and tech companies (privacy of users). For
example, in 2019, the U. S., the U. K., and Australia
planned to pressurise Facebook to create a back-
door into its encrypted messaging apps.
Conclusion:
While attempts by law enforcement to weaken encryption
with backdoors could compromise the reliability of the in-
ternet, the end-to-end encryption to secure more user data
seems to be getting stronger.
Insta Links: India joins UK-led fight against encrypted online
messages
Mains Links:
Q. What do you understand about encryption? Do you
think governments should be given the authority to break
into encryption and store the information? Comment. (250
Words)
Prelims Links: UPSC 2022
Q2. With reference to Web 3.0, consider the following state-
ments:
1. Web 3.0 technology enables people to control their own
data.
www.insightsonindia.com 99
2. In the Web 3.0 world, there can be blockchain-based so-
cial networks.
3. Web 3.0 is operated by users collectively rather than by
a corporation
Which of the following given above is correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution 2: D
Explanation:
WEB 3.0 is the decentralised form of the internet run on
blockchain technology. In this, users can own stakes in plat- Why is nuclear fusion so important?
forms and applications which are now controlled by big Tech • Nuclear fission reactors produce a lot of radioactive
companies. waste, which can be dangerous and must be stored
safely - potentially for hundreds of years whereas
the waste produced by nuclear fusion is less radio-
active and decays much more quickly.
Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, robotics, nano-tech-
• Nuclear fusion doesn’t need fossil fuels like oil or
nology, bio-technology
gas.
• It also doesn’t generate greenhouse gases
FUSION ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH: • Most fusion experiments use hydrogen, which can
be extracted cheaply from seawater and lithium,
BOOSTS HOPE FOR CLEAN POWER i.e., fuel supplies could last for millions of years.
• Fusion could generate four times more energy per
Direction: kilogram of fuel than fission (used in nuclear power
Nuclear Fusion technology is quite important for both pre- plants) and nearly four million times more energy
lims and mains. Go through the article to understand the dif- than burning oil or coal
ference between fission and fusion technology.

The US Experiment on Nuclear Fusion:

Context:
US government scientists have made a breakthrough in the
pursuit of limitless, zero-carbon power by achieving a net
energy gain in a fusion reaction for the first time.

About Nuclear Fusion:

• It is the process by which two light atomic nuclei
combine to form a single heavier one while releas-
ing massive amounts of energy.
• It is the opposite of nuclear fission, where heavy at-
oms are split apart.
• Nuclear fusion is described as the “holy grail” of en-
ergy production.
• It is the process that powers the Sun and other
stars.
• Fusion reactions take place in a state of matter
called plasma — a hot, charged gas made of positive
ions and free-moving electrons with unique proper-
ties distinct from solids, liquids, or gases.

100 www.insightsonindia.com
Challenges with Nuclear Fusion:
• It is challenging to obtain high enough plasma
densities, temperatures, and energy confinement
times simultaneously for a reactor to approach igni-
tion conditions.
• Forcing and keeping the elements together in fusion
requires very high temperatures and pressures.
• Evolution of Nuclear Fusion Study:
• The IAEA has been at the core of international fu-
sion research. The IAEA launched the Nuclear Fu-
sion journal in 1960 to exchange information about
advances in nuclear fusion.
• The world’s largest international fusion facility, ITER
was established in 2007 in France, to demonstrate
the scientific and technological feasibility  of fusion
energy production.
Insta Links:
• Nuclear Fusion Technology
• ITER
Mains Link:
Q. With growing energy needs, should India keep on ex-
panding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts
and fears associated with nuclear energy. (UPSC- 2018)
Prelims Link: (UPSC – 2020)
Q2. In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under
“IAEA Safeguards” while others are not?
(a) Some use uranium and others use thorium
(b) Some use imported uranium and others use domestic
supplies
(c) Some are operated by foreign enterprises and others are
operated by domestic enterprises
(d) Some are State-owned and others are privately-owned.
INDIA’S FIRST 5G-ENABLED AUTO MAN-
UFACTURING UNIT
Context:
Bharti Airtel and Tech Mahindra have announced a strategic
partnership under which they have deployed a “5G for En-
terprise” Solution i.e., a ‘captive private network’ at Mahin-
dra and Mahindra’s Chakan facility in Maharashtra, making it
India’s first 5G- enabled auto manufacturing unit.
• The partnership is in line with Tech Mahindra’s NXT.
NOWTM framework, which aims to enhance the
“Human Centric Experience”, focuses on investing
in emerging technologies and solutions that enable
digital transformation and meet the evolving needs
of the customer.
• As the industry 4.0 paradigm gathers momentum,
reliable data networks will prove to be a key differ-
entiator in factory and manufacturing performanc-
es.
About 5G:
• The fifth generation of mobile networks, or 5G, is
what comes after the 2G, 3G, and 4G generations.
5G is expected to deliver substantially higher con-
nection speeds.
About private 5G network:
• Also called a captive non-public network (CNPN), it
is a network that is set up solely for a firm’s own
use. Unlike a public network, it is closed to external
communication.
• The network relies on high-frequency, low-wave-
length airwaves and is therefore ideal for institu-
tions like factories, manufacturing plants, hospitals,
universities etc.
Significance of the move:
• Airtel and Tech Mahindra’s partnership shows the
opportunity for collaboration between telcos and
private enterprises.
How will the private 5G network work at the Chakan
plant?
• Improved speeds for software flashing – a critical
operation for all vehicular dispatches – and allow
managers to undertake multiple software flash-
ing sessions in parallel, thereby reducing the turn-
around time for an operation.
www.insightsonindia.com 101
Difference between 4G and 5G:
5G 4G
Frequency Uses utilise much higher radio frequencies of 28 Uses lower reading frequencies of 700 MHz to
GHz. 2500 MHz.
Speed Transfer more data over the air at faster speeds. Speed is lesser with less data transfer.
Data transfer speed is up to 1 Gbps Supports data bandwidth in Mbps
Latency Has ultra-reliable low latency (ranging between Has higher latency (20-30 milliseconds)
10 milliseconds and 1 millisecond) i.e., the
delay before a transfer of data begins following
an instruction.
Spectrum & Uses a millimetre wave spectrum which enables Support a lesser number of devices of about 4,000
Connectivity more devices to be used within the same geo- devices per square kilometre.
graphic area supporting around one million per
square kilometre.
Coverage Uses a new digital technology that improves Has led to more congestion and lesser coverage as
coverage, speed and capacity. compared to 5G.
Other Advantag- Has added advantages for machine learning, Limited
es robotics, IoT and other programming modules.
It can provide faster processing of data.

Opportunities of using 5G: Challenges for India:

• High-speed and Digital India • Indian operators have far less spectrum in compari-
• Better Governance: Better speed and connectivity son to international operators.
would reduce red-tapism • Indian spectrum is also rather expensive.
• Employment generation: 5G will open greater op- • The high investment cost makes telecom companies
portunities for new device manufacturers and appli- unsure about Return on Investment.
cation developers. • The switch from 4G to 5G will be infrastructure in-
• Enhanced coverage: Device-to-device communica- tensive and the development of infrastructure for
tion techniques will further enhance network per- 5G is very expensive.
formance. • The transition experience from one technology gen-
• Reduced digital gap: small cell concept used in 5G eration to another is not very good as one has to buy
will have multiple advantages of better cell cover- a whole new phone to start using the latest cellular
age, maximum data transfer, low power consump- technology, thereby creating financial liability.
tion and cloud access network etc.
• Entertainment and multimedia industry: Analysts
found that 55% of mobile Internet traffic has been
used for video downloads globally in 2015.
• Enhanced Security: 5G wireless technology is one
the best solution for security surveillance due to
higher bandwidth and unlicensed spectrum.
• Logistics and Shipping: Logistic and shipping indus-
try can make use of smart 5G technology for goods
tracking, fleet management etc.
• Boost Smart cities
• Industrial Growth
• Agricultural applications: 5g technology can be
used for agriculture and smart farming in future. Us-
ing smart RFID sensors and GPS technology.
• Healthcare and mission-critical applications
• Education

102 www.insightsonindia.com
Insta Links: 5G Technology
Mains Link:
Q. Discuss the benefits of 5G technology, its potential and
challenges for implementation on a large scale in India.
THE CHALLENGES OF QUANTUM COM-
PUTING
Direction:
The article tries to explain quantum technology, its working,
application, challenges and way ahead to make it more prac-
tical.
Context:
Several institutes and companies worldwide have invested in
developing quantum computer (QC) systems.
Background:
• The QC use quantum physics to tackle problems that
traditional computers cannot.
• It has wide-ranging applications and the scale of in-
vestments.
• In 2021, the Indian government launched a National
Mission on Quantum Technology to study quantum
technologies with an allocation of ₹8,000 crores.
• The Indian army opened a quantum research facil-
ity in Madhya Pradesh and the Department of Sci-
ence and Technology co-launched another facility in
Pune.
Quantum technology:
Background:
• Until the early 20th century, it was thought that clas-
sical physics - two objects cannot occupy the same
space at the same moment.
• Upon scientific investigation, microscopic/sub-atom-
ic particles such as atoms, electrons, and photons,
the subject of quantum mechanics (physics of sub-
atomic particles) were founded.
About:
Quantum technology works by using the principles of quan-
tum mechanics and is based on the phenomena exhibited by
microscopic particles (photons, electrons, atoms, etc) which
are quite distinct from the way normal macroscopic objects
behave.
The principles behind quantum technology:
Working:
• A bit is the fundamental computational unit of a
conventional computer, whose value is 1 if a corre-
sponding transistor is on and 0 if the transistor is off.
This means a bit can have one of two values at a
time, either 0 or 1.
• The qubit is the fundamental unit of a QC and in-
stead of being either 1 or 0, the information is en-
coded in the third kind of state i.e., superimposition
of 0 & 1.
• Thus, a qubit-based computer can access more com-
putational pathways and offer solutions to more
complex problems.
Applications:
• Quantum supremacy: a situation where quantum
computers can do things that classical computers
cannot.
• Quantum computers, provide more powerful com-
puting, help in a wide range of applications like -
 More reliable navigation, timing systems
and secure communications.
 Quantum sensing (using quantum phenom-
enon to perform a measurement of a phys-
ical quantity).
 Disaster management through better pre-
diction, etc.
 To understand biological phenomena such
as the spread of pandemics like Covid-19,
etc.
Challenges:
• A practical QC needs at least 1,000 qubits and the
current biggest quantum processor has 433 qubits.
• Qubits exist in superposition in specific conditions,
including very low temperatures (~0.01 K), with ra-
diation ­shielding and protection against physical
shock.
• Material or electromagnetic defects in the circuitry
between qubits could also ‘corrupt’ their states.
• Researchers are yet to build QCs that completely
eliminate these disturbances in systems.
www.insightsonindia.com 103
Way ahead:
To entangle each qubit with a group of physical qubits (a sys-
tem that mimics a qubit) that correct errors.
Categories of biofuels:
Insta Links: Quantum Computing
Mains Links:
Q. What is quantum computing? Explain its applications
and steps taken by India to promote quantum technologies
in the country. (250 words)
INDIA PITCH FOR BIOFUELS
Direction:
Indian efforts to promote Biofuels:
The article discusses biofuels, its classification and Indian ef-
forts to promote biofuels and way ahead.
Context:
India, during its Presidency of G20, is emphasising on inter-
national collaboration for energy security and enhanced de-
velopment of emerging fuels like biofuel and hydrogen.
Background:
• Government notified the use of hydrogen as auto-
motive fuel for fuel cell vehicles on 16th September,
2016.
• Oil CPSEs are setting up 2G ethanol bio-refineries
in the country at Panipat (Haryana), Bathinda (Pun-
jab), Numaligarh (Assam), Bargarh (Odisha) and one
demonstration project at Panipat.
About Biofuels:
104 www.insightsonindia.com
• Biofuels are liquid or gaseous fuels primarily pro-
duced from biomass, and can be used to replace or
can be used in addition to diesel, petrol or other fos-
sil fuels for transport and other applications.
• Crops used to make biofuels are generally either
high in sugar (such as sugarcane, sugarbeet), starch
(such as maize and tapioca) or oils (such as soybean,
rapeseed, coconut, sunflower).
• 1st-generation biofuels are made from sugar, starch,
vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional
technology.
• 2nd generation biofuels are produced from non-
food crops, such as cellulosic biofuels and waste
biomass (stalks of wheat and corn, and wood).
• 3rd generation biofuels are produced from microor-
ganisms like algae.
• National Policy on Biofuels 2018: It aims to have
country-wide blending rates of 20% ethanol and 5%
biodiesel by 2030. It also focused on using 2G tech-
nologies with agricultural/industrial waste products.
 However, through amendments to this
policy, government now aims to achieve
a blending target of 20% ethanol by 2025
rather than 2030.
• Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program: It aims to
achieve ethanol blending in order to reduce pollu-
tion, conserve foreign exchange, and so on.
• Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan - Vatavaran
Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana: Launched
in 2019 to create an ecosystem for commercial proj-
ect development and R&D in the 2G Ethanol sector.
• GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources)
DHAN scheme: It focuses on managing and convert-
ing farm animal dung and solid waste into useful
compost, biogas, and bio-CNG, thereby keeping vil-
 lages clean and increasing rural household income.
• Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO): It aims to cre-
ate an ecosystem that allows for the collection and
conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel.
Way ahead:
• The proposed expansions in 1G biofuel production
need to think about broader land-use strategies,
identifying land suitable for energy crops.
• India needs to develop alternative feedstocks for
biodiesel production.
• Existing frameworks like the Clean Development
Mechanism could be leveraged to directly fund R&D
in the sector.
JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE
Context:
It was launched one year ago on a mission to observe the
universe in wavelengths no human eye can see. With a pri-
mary mirror 21 feet wide, the Webb is seven times as pow-
erful as the Hubble Space Telescope, its predecessor.
About James Webb Telescope:
• James Webb Telescope  is an international collab-
oration between NASA, European Space Agency
(ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency.
• The telescope uses infrared light, which cannot be
perceived by the human eye, to study every phase
in cosmic history.

Mission objectives:
• It will help in a broad range of investigations across
the fields of astronomy and cosmology.
• It will help to understand the origins of the uni-
verse, the evolution of our own Solar System, and
search for signs of life on faraway planets.
• It can also analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets
that pass in front of their stars.
• It will look at a large number of things in the uni-
verse including icy moons, distant exoplanets and
galaxy clusters.
For a Comparison between James Webb and Hubble tele-
scopes, please click here

Insta Links: Biofuels

Parts of JWST (source: NASA):
Prelims Links: UPSC 2020
According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of
the following can be used as raw materials for the produc-
tion of biofuels?
1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet
Insta Links: James Webb Space Telescope
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only Mains Link:
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only Q. Compare and contrast James Webb Telescope with that
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Hubble Telescope. What insights can James Webb
Ans: (a) Telescope offer about our past?

www.insightsonindia.com 105
 WHAT LIES AHEAD IN 2023 - A NEW SO-
CIAL MEDIA, METAVERSE, AND MORE
AI?
Direction:
The article highlights new technological breakthroughs that
await in 2023 and the opportunities and challenges they
pose. The article also covers a study that points out the ad-
verse impact of social media.
Context:
• Around the same time last year (December 2021),
India was on the verge of a major technological shift
- the transition to 5G.
• Because the year 2022 has only reinforced our re-
liance on technology, we will try to figure out what
big tech breakthrough awaits us in 2023.
Trends to look out for in 2023:
More intelligent, more pervasive AI
• ChatGPT has shown the world that conversational
artificial intelligence (AI) is an idea whose time has
come.
• ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is
an OpenAI chatbot that was released in November
2022.
• It is based on top of OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 family of large
language models and is customised using both guid-
ed and adaptive learning techniques.
Fig: Application of ChatGPT for classifying reviews
Time for post-social:
• As Facebook’s user base becomes older by the
year, younger users are preferring new platforms
like Discord, where conversations happen more in
closed groups than in virtual town squares.
• The evolution of such platforms is already challeng-
ing traditional methods of monetising social media
engagement.
106 www.insightsonindia.com
Internet becoming more regional:
• As the Internet spreads to new users, especially in
countries like India, it is also becoming more local-
ised and multilingual.
• The English language internet appears to have peak-
ed around the world, prompting companies like Goo-
gle to focus more on the potential to serve smaller,
regional languages.
• Provides an opportunity to test new technologies
that can solve more localised problems and the one-
size-fits-all features will be limited.
Metaverse:
• The Metaverse is defined as a spatial computing
platform that offers digital experiences as an alter-
native to or replica of the real world.
• It also offers key civilizational aspects such as social
interactions, currency, trade, economy, and property
ownership - all built on the foundation of blockchain
technology.
• Expect a more commercial version of the Metaverse
to be accessible to regular users during the year.
However, the big disruptor could be an affordable
device (say, a smartphone) that logs users into the
Metaverse easily.
Related news: social media prevents ‘profound bore-
dom’ and that is harmful
Context: According to a new study, using spare time with
senseless scrolling through never-ending social media
feeds may be preventing people from discovering new
passions and meaningful activities.
Background: The research was carried out at a time when
governments enforced several restrictions on people’s
movement due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pan-
demic and they were forced to stay home.
Findings of the study:
● Constant usage of social media does not allow
consumers to enter a state of profound and se-
vere boredom, which promotes creative and in-
novative thinking.
● Instead, it confines them to a state of superficial
fatigue.

Insta Links: Metaverse
Mains Links:
Q. COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devasta-
tion worldwide. However, technological advancements are
being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account
of how technology was sought to aid the management of
the pandemic. (UPSC 2020)
Environmental Conservation
UN GROUNDWATER SUMMIT 2022
Direction:
The article highlights the groundwater situation across the
world and in India and efforts to conserve groundwater.
Context:
The importance of groundwater protection and techniques
for its sustainable use will be highlighted during the Unit-
ed Nations-Water Summit on Groundwater 2022 in Paris,
France.
Groundwater:
• Water seeps through rocks and soil and is stored be-
neath the ground. Aquifers are the rocks in which
groundwater is stored.
• This untapped resource accounts for only 0.62% of
the total water and 30% of freshwater accessible on
the planet.
• It is a vital resource that provides almost half of
drinking water, 40% of water for irrigation and a
third of water required for the industry worldwide.
• The role of groundwater in human development
becomes bigger in the face of water scarcity affect-
ing about 2.7 billion people around the world.
Background:
• Groundwater management is imperative to meet
the UN-mandated SDG 6 of providing clean water
and sanitation for all.
• The UN World Water Development Report (UN
WWDR 2022) titled ‘Groundwater: Making the in-
visible visible’ describes the challenges and oppor-
tunities associated with the development, manage-
ment and governance of groundwater across the
world.
About the United Nations-Water Summit on Ground-
water 2022:
• Organised by: UN-Water, UNESCO and the Interna-
tional Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre.
• Objective:
 To raise awareness on groundwater conser-
vation and to highlight the opportunities
and challenges of groundwater manage-
ment.
 To mark the completion of the “Groundwa-
ter: Making the invisible visible” campaign
run by UN-Water throughout 2022.
• Main themes of the discussions: The 5 pillars of the
SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework - data and
information, capacity development, innovation, fi-
nance and governance.
About the “Groundwater: Making the invisible visible”
campaign: It highlighted the role of groundwater in alleviat-
ing poverty, food and water insecurity and other socio-eco-
nomic development hurdles.
Groundwater situation in India:
• Groundwater is India’s most used water resource,
accounting for a quarter of total global groundwater
extraction.
• According to the 2021 CAG report, groundwater ex-
traction in India has exceeded the recharge rate,
threatening 80% of potable water over the next two
decades.
Legal/constitutional framework in India:
• The archaic Indian Easement Act, 1882: Does not
establish groundwater ownership and rights clearly.
• The fundamental right to water is recognised under
Article 21 (right to life) of the Indian constitution.
• Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is empow-
ered by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to
frame groundwater policies and programs.
• Supreme Court: ‘Public trust doctrine’ - Making
groundwater a matter of private ownership would
be unfair.
• Challenges ahead: Climate change impacts pose a
significant danger to equitable, healthy, and pollu-
tion-free groundwater access.
www.insightsonindia.com 107
Steps taken by the Indian government:
• Atal Bhujal Yojana is a groundwater management
scheme launched in 2019.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) (2019):  It was launched
in 256 water-stressed districts in the country to
improve water availability including groundwater
conditions in these areas.
• Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme
Extracts from the outcome document titled “Summary
of plastic pollution science”:
4 strategic goals that can guide the transition to a cir-
cular economy:
Insta Links: Making groundwater visible
Mains Links:
Q. Discuss the Status of Groundwater Depletion in the
country and account for the associated problems and
suggest measures on the lines of groundwater extraction
norms that have been notified recently. (250 words)
Plastic Waste in India:
INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETING TO
END PLASTIC POLLUTION
Direction:
The article highlights some of the effective ways to limit plas-
tic pollution and India’s efforts in this direction.
Context:
The first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Com-
mittee (INC-1) concluded in Uruguay.
Background:
• The INC-1 was convened and managed by the Unit-
ed Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• The INC-1 came after a landmark resolution was en-
dorsed at the United Nations Environment Assembly
(UNEA), calling for the international legally binding
108 www.insightsonindia.com
instrument to promote sustainable production and
consumption of plastics.
• According to the OECD, global plastic production was
460 million tonnes (Mt) in 2019 (234 Mt in 2000)
and during the same period, plastic waste doubled
to 353 Mt from 156 Mt.
• Recognised the links between plastic, human health
and environmental health.
• Endorsed the Centre for Science and Environment
(CSE)’s position that plastic pollution is rooted in
the material’s life cycle - an offshoot of the linear
take-make-dispose economy.
• Current trends need to be replaced by a circular
economy (CE) - a model of production and consump-
tion, which involves reusing, repairing, refurbishing
and recycling existing materials and products for as
long as possible.
• Reduce the size of the problem by eliminating and
substituting plastic items.
• Ensure that plastic products are designed to be cir-
cular.
• Close the loop of plastics in the economy.
• Manage plastics that cannot be reused or recycled in
an environmentally responsible manner.
• The majority of plastic used in India today is for
packaging and its production (the majority of which
is single-use) is increasing each year.
• According to the Union Minister of Environment,
over 34 lakh tonnes of plastic waste were generat-
ed in India in 2019-20, which has doubled in the last
5 years.
• As a result, the government has notified the Plastic
Waste Management Rules, 2016, which for the first
time provided for Extended Producer Responsibility
(EPR).
 Under this, producers, importers and brand
owners have been made responsible for col-
lecting waste generated by their products.
• What more needs to be done to tackle plastic pollu-
tion in the country?
 Strengthening India’s plastic waste produc-
tion, consumption and recycling inventory;
 Making brands disclose the number of plas-
tics produced, collected, recycled and burnt
each year;
  Integrating the informal sector into the for-
mal value chain for plastic management;
 Designing product packaging with the ‘end-
of-life’ stage in mind.
Insta Links:
Beating plastic pollution
Effects of plastics on the environment
Mains Links:
Q. We need to slow the flow of plastic at its source, but we
also need to improve the way we manage our plastic waste.
Examine.
ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING (ABS)
MECHANISMS
Context:
Access and benefit sharing, one of the three objectives of
the United Nations Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD),
is set to be discussed at its upcoming 15th Conference of
the Parties (COP15).
What is ABS?
• Access and benefit sharing refers to the way in
which genetic resources may be accessed, and how
users and providers reach an agreement on the fair
and equitable sharing of the benefits that might re-
sult from their use.
• Article 15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD) sets out rules, which govern access and ben-
efit sharing. Under these rules, the governments of
countries have two key responsibilities:
1. To put in place systems that facilitate ac-
cess to genetic resources for environmental-
ly sound purposes
2. To ensure that the benefits resulting from
their use are shared fairly and equitably be-
tween users and providers
Why are access and benefit sharing important?
• Access to genetic resources can lead to benefits for
both users and providers.
• Access and benefit sharing ensures that the way in
which genetic resources are accessed and used
 maximizes the benefits for users, providers,
and the ecology
 help communities where they are found.
• To deliver a range of benefits; from basic scientific
research, such as taxonomy, to developing commer-
cial products which contribute to human wellbeing.
Key agreements
• Prior informed consent (PIC): Permission given from
the CNAs (Competent National Authority) of a pro-
vider country to a user prior to accessing genetic
resources, in line with an appropriate legal and insti-
tutional framework.
• Mutually agreed terms (MAT): An agreement
reached between the providers of genetic resources
and users on the conditions of access and use of the
resources, and the benefits to be shared between
both parties.
About CBD: The CBD is a multilateral treaty aimed at con-
serving biodiversity, its sustainable use and ensuring “fair
and equitable sharing” of the benefits obtained through
bioresources.
www.insightsonindia.com 109
India’s participation:
• India became a signatory to the Convention on Bio-
logical Diversity (CBD) in 1994.   CITES is an  international agreement  be-
• In 2002, India became one of the first countries to
enact a law, the Biological Diversity Act, to imple-
ment the treaty within its borders. This Act is decen-
tralized for implementation.  the species.
Recent Issues:
Only 25 countries have provided 4,344 internationally rec-
ognized certificates of compliance (IRCC) to access resourc-
es in accordance with CBD guidelines as of November 15,
2022.
Insta Link: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Mains Link:
Q. Critically evaluate the implementation of the Biological
Diversity Act, 2002 which is meant to fulfil the objectives of
the Convention on Biological Diversity. 15M
Prelims Link:
• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Access and Benefit Sharing
• Nagoya Protocol
• Biological Diversity Act,2022
WILDLIFE (PROTECTION) AMENDMENT
BILL 2022
Context:
Rajya Sabha passed the  Wildlife (Protection) Amendment
Bill, 2022 which seeks to conserve and protect wildlife
through better management of protected areas and ra-
tionalise schedules which list out species under the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972.
110 www.insightsonindia.com
Features of the bill:
• Implement the provisions of the CITES
tween governments to ensure that interna-
tional trade in specimens of wild animals
and plants does not threaten the survival of
• Provides much more power at the hands of the
Central Government:
 The central government can designate a
Management Authority,  which grants  ex-
port or import permits for the trade of
specimens.
 Central Government can regulate or pro-
hibit the import, trade, possession or pro-
liferation of invasive alien species (plant or
animal species  which are not native to In-
dia  and whose introduction may adversely
impact wildlife or its habitat)
 The central government may also notify a
conservation reserve (typically act as buffer
zones to or connectors and migration cor-
ridors between established national parks,
and wildlife sanctuaries)
• Reduces the number of schedules from Six (cur-
rently) to Four now: Currently, there are six sched-
ules: protected plants (one), specially protected an-
imals (four), and vermin species (one). The new bill
removes the schedule for vermin species (Vermin re-
fers to small animals that carry diseases and destroy
food e.g., Monkeys, Nilgai)
Reduces the number of schedules to Four
Schedule Animal species that will enjoy the highest lev-
I el of protection
Schedule Animal species that will be subject to a lesser
II  degree of protection
Schedule Protected Plant species
III 
Schedule Specimens listed in the Appendices under
IV CITES (scheduled specimens)
• Control of Sanctuaries to Chief Wildlife warden:
The Chief Wildlife Warden is appointed by the state
government.
• Registration certificate for live specimens of sched-
uled animals: People possessing live specimens of
scheduled animals must obtain a registration certifi-
cate from the Management Authority. 
• Voluntary surrender of captive animals: The bill
provides for any person to voluntarily surrender
any captive animals, without any compensation and
consequent authority over the animal)
• Exception for ‘live elephant’: The Bill allows for
Commercial Trade In Live Elephants. The Bill, there-
fore, allows for commercial trade in elephants.
  This is contrary to the previous act (Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972) which  specifically
prohibits trade in Wild Animals including
captive and wild elephants.
• For sanctuaries falling under  Scheduled Areas
(where FRA 2006 is applicable and comes under
the 5th Schedule),  the management plan must be
prepared after due consultation with the  Gram
Sabha concerned
• States can declare areas adjacent to National parks
and Sanctuaries as Conservation Reserve, for pro-
tecting flora and fauna, and their habitat.
• Increases the Penalties: For General violation (in-
creases to Rs 1,00,000 from Rs25,000) and for spe-
cially protected animals (increases to 25,000 from Rs
10,000)
Issues with the Bill:
• The exemption given to ‘live elephant’ for commer-
cial trade: Parliamentary Standing Committee ob-
jected to the blanket exemption, recommending to
limit it only to temple elephants kept for religious
purposes
• Centre’s hold over ‘vermin’ declaration continues:
Last year, Kerala’s requests for declaring wild boars
as vermin have been turned down repeatedly by the
Environment ministry.
• The bill severely curtailed the ability to graze across
pastoral spaces esp. in the conservation areas
• Impact on tribal communities: The Van Gujjars are
a semi-nomadic pastoral community (Uttarakhand,
Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh) that may be
impacted.
Conclusion
The recent amendment has taken a progressive step to fos-
ter the participation of forest dwellers within national parks
while determining the management plan. However, there is
an imminent need to expand the definition of invasive alien
species to include invasive native species. Also, the amend-
ed bill should not disrupt the role of the State Board for
Wildlife.
Additional Information
Constitution of Various Bodies:
The WPA act provides for the constitution of bodies to be
established under this act such as  the National and State
Board for Wildlife, Central Zoo Authority and National Tiger
Conservation Authority.
 
Constitutional Provisions for Wildlife:
• The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, Forests and
Protection of Wild Animals and Birds was transferred
from State to Concurrent List .
• Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution states that it
shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen
to protect and improve the natural environment
including forests and Wildlife .
Insta Curious:
Did you know that, Given the highest legal protection in
1977, the elephant is the only animal in WLPA’s Schedule-I
that can still be owned legally — by means of inheritance or
gift.
Mains Links
Q. Critically analyse the features of the Wildlife (Protec-
tion) Amendment Bill 2022. (15M)
Prelims Links
Q. If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI
of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implica-
tion? (2020)
(a) A licence is required to cultivate that plant.
(b) Such a plant cannot be cultivated under any circumstances.
(c) It is a Genetically Modified crop plant.
(d) Such a plant is invasive and harmful to the ecosystem.
Ans: (a)
‘CLEAN GANGA’ – NOW TOWARDS CON-
SERVATION, TOURISM, LIVELIHOOD
Direction:
The article covers the flagship Namami Gange program and
the new focus areas of the program.
Context:
Namami Gange program was designed to enhance cleanli-
ness levels in Ganga River. It has now geared to shift its focus
to conservation, tourism and economic livelihoods.
About Namami Gange Programme:
• It is an Integrated Conservation Mission approved
as a ‘Flagship Programme’ of the Ministry of Jal
Shakti in 2014.
• It aims to accomplish the twin objectives of effec-
tive abatement of pollution, conservation and reju-
venation of the National River Ganga.
• It is being implemented by the National Mission for
Clean Ganga (NMCG) and State Program Manage-
ment Groups (SPMGs).
• Its implementation has been divided into Entry-Lev-
el Activities (for immediate visible impact), Medi-
um-Term Activities (to be implemented within 5
www.insightsonindia.com 111
 years of time frame) and Long-Term Activities (to be Prelims Links:
implemented within 10 years). Q3. Consider the following statements about Namami Gange
Programme:
1. It is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a
‘Flagship Programme’ in 2014.
2. It is being operated under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
3. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the imple-
mentation wing of the National Ganga Council and it is
headed by Prime Minister.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Key achievements under the Namami Gange Programme: Solution 3: A

Since 2014, close to ₹30,000 crores have been sanctioned Explanations:
for various projects, including building and improving sew- About Namami Gange Programme: It is an Integrated Con-
ers and river rejuvenation activities. servation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’ in
New focus areas to include: 2014 and being operated under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Tourism Ministry Tourist Circuits, Exhibitions,
Fairs along the towns. Implementation:
Agriculture Ministry Organic and Natural Farm- • The program is being implemented by the National
ing corridors Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state coun-
terpart organisations i.e., State Program Manage-
Urban Affairs Ministry Drains and Solid waste man-
ment Groups (SPMGs).
agement
• NMCG is the implementation wing of the National
Environment Ministry Afforestation, conservation
Ganga Council (set in 2016; which replaced the Na-
efforts hiked
tional Ganga River Basin Authority (NRGBA).
Arth Ganga Harnessing economic po-
• National Ganga Council (NGC) was Created in Octo-
tential from Ganga
ber 2016 under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Pro-
Power Ministry Wastewater treatment for tection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016.
thermal power It is headed by the Prime Minister.
Rural Development Ministry Rejuvenate small rivers and
protect traditional water
bodies. U.N. NATURE SUMMIT’S DIRECTIVE TO
INDUSTRIES
Way ahead:
• In States, the focus would be expeditiously com- Direction:
pleting projects. Also read related Links Niti Aayog proposes decarbonizing
• Every Ganga district is expected to develop health industrial emissions
cards for wetlands and adopt policies for the reuse
of treated water and other by-products.
Context:
Sectors such as mining, agriculture, oil, and fashion are un-
Insta Links: Namami Gange Programme der scrutiny at the COP15 talks, due to their heavy impact on
nature with activities that can contaminate soil, foul water-
Mains Links: ways, or pollute the air.
Q. The ‘Namami Gange’ programme’s holistic approach
brings together public policy, technology intervention and Status of biodiversity loss (see Infographic)
community participation. Elaborate. (250 words)

112 www.insightsonindia.com

How key sectors could be affected by the COP15 talks: sheds, some of them shared with Pakistan, between which
Fashion:
• Fashion and retail - facing pressure from consumers
and governments to reduce waste and emissions
throughout their operations.
• More than 330 companies came out in support of
a COP15 deal that includes mandatory disclosure of
companies’ environmental impacts by 2030.
• Smaller companies with limited resources for mon-
itoring and accounting could find the disclosure re-
quirement more challenging.
Mining:
• For companies mining metals and coal, an environ-
mental disclosure requirement could force them to
reveal the impacts from the logging and deforesta-
tion carried out in creating access roads (in addi-
tion to core operations).
• Setting aside 30% of Earth’s land and ocean areas
for conservation by 2030, is fearing the mining bar-
ons.
Agriculture:
• With new disclosure rules, the farming sector would
face an increased burden of reporting on activities
like land clearing and pesticide use.
Oil Exploration:
• Oil companies are expected to ramp up their inter-
nal resources for reporting on and disclosing how oil
drilling and exploration activities impact nature.
Insta Link:
Economic Growth and its Impact on the Environment
Mains Link:
Q. Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one
of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyse the im-
pact of sand mining along the Indian coasts, citing specific
examples. (UPSC – 2019)
WB REPORT ON CURBING AIR POLLU-
TION IN INDIA
Direction:
The article attempts to demonstrate that air pollution is a
regional problem that requires regional efforts to control.
Context:
According to a World Bank report, India has six large air-
air pollutants move.
Background:
• Persistently hazardous levels of air pollution have
caused public health crises in South Asia demanding
urgent action.
• Using a modelling approach over South Asia as a
whole, the WB report lays out multiple scenarios
and costs involved in reducing the region’s exposure
to particulate matter (PM).
Highlights of the report:
• Currently, over 60% of South Asians are exposed to an
average of 35 µg/m3 of PM2.5 annually.
• In some parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) it spiked
to as much as 100 µg/m3 - nearly 20 times the upper
limit of 5 µg/m3 recommended by the WHO.
• There are six major airsheds in South Asia.
• Airshed includes the entire area over which the
pollutants disperse due to meteorological and geo-
graphical factors.
• For example, the region of the Indo-Gangetic plain
may be considered as one airshed. The region ex-
tends from Rawalpindi in Pakistan to Rangpur in
northern Bangladesh.
• When the wind direction was predominantly north-
www.insightsonindia.com 113
 west to southeast, 30% of the air pollution in Indian
Punjab came from the Punjab Province in Pakistan.
• This means that even if Delhi NCT were to ful-
ly implement all air pollution control measures, it
wouldn’t keep pollution exposure below 35 µg/m3.
Impact: According to the ICIMOD (International Centre for
Integrated Mountain Development), PM pollution in the
mountains will come down when the glaciers melt and then
go into the oceans.
Significance of the report: It highlights the interdependence
in air quality within airsheds in South Asia, which is neces-
sary for pollution control.
Policy measures and cooperation among countries to re-
duce air pollution:
• Airshed approach: Coordination between airsheds,
would cut the average exposure of PM 2.5 and save
more than 7,50,000 lives annually.
• Best practice: In ASEAN, Nordic regions and across
China, air pollution is tackled in this way.
Indian efforts to curb air pollution
• The National Clean Air Campaign (NCAP) (2019)
aims to reduce (40% over 2017 levels by 2025-26)
air pollution in 131 of India’s most polluted cities.
• The government of India has set aside $1.7 billion to
fight air pollution over the next five years, as per the
recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission
• Parliament has approved to the establishment of
the Commission of Air Quality Management in the
National Capital Region and adjoining areas.
• The clean air action plan is implemented across the
states with guidelines from WB.
Way ahead:
Curbing air pollution requires not only tackling its specific
sources, but also close coordination across local and national
jurisdictional boundaries.
Conclusion:
Regional cooperation can help implement cost-effective
joint strategies that leverage the interdependent nature of
air quality.
114 www.insightsonindia.com
Related news:
According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (WEO),
2022, some of the major steps taken by India for reducing
carbon emissions and moving towards SDGs
● Permitting FDI up to 100% under the automatic
route for renewable energy projects
● Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase
Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2030
● Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks
● Launch of Schemes such as PM-KUSUM, Solar
Rooftop Phase II, etc.
● Adding capacity under the Green Energy Corridor
Scheme for evacuation of renewable power.
● The Net Zero target by 2030 by Indian Railways
alone will lead to a reduction of emissions by 60
million tonnes annually.
● Similarly, India’s massive LED bulb campaign is
reducing emissions by 40 million tonnes annually.
Insta Links: Health as the focus of air pollution policy
Mains Links:
Q. What are the key features of the National Clean Air
Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?
(UPSC 2020)
METHANE FROM LIVESTOCK BELCHES-
CAN BE REDUCED?
Context:
Scientists are experimenting with feed supplements that
can reduce a potent greenhouse gas belched out by stock
animals like cattle, goats and sheep.
Ruminants release methane, the second most abundant
greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO2), which is seen
as the biggest concern as well as the best opportunity for
tackling global warming.
Although the warming effect of methane is 30 times greater
than CO2, it is shorter-lived and lasts in the atmosphere for
about 12 years.
In 2021, over 100 countries signed the Global Methane
Pledge, where signatories agreed to take voluntary steps to
reduce global methane emissions by 30 per cent from 2020
levels by the end of the decade.
The science behind high methane release in rumi-
nants:
• Unlike other animals, ruminants have specialized
 digestive systems comprised of stomachs that have
four compartments instead of one.
• Plant material is initially taken to the rumen that is
inhabited by microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria,
protozoa and archaea.
• These microorganisms break down the otherwise
indigestible cellulose-rich plants to release protein
and energy for their host animal in exchange for nu-
trition and shelter.
• But during this process, which scientists call enteric
fermentation, one particular microbe, the archaea,
combines CO2 and hydrogen made by the cellu-
lose-digesting microbes to create methane. This
means the archaeal population and a diet rich in
roughage dictate the amount of methane released
by a ruminant.
Feed Supplement:
• The feed supplement prepared by scientists targets
the archaeal population while boosting the growth
of bacteria that are good at digesting feed.
• The supplement is a concoction of ingredients such
as Indian cherry and Indian elm leaves, garlic oil,
mustard oil, cottonseed oil, sodium nitrate and
magnesium sulphate.
• While tree leaves possess compounds like saponins
and tannins that are known to reduce archaeal pop-
ulation and cut off hydrogen supply to them, sodi-
um nitrate and magnesium sulphate stimulate the
growth of beneficial bacteria.
Examples from around the world:
• In 2021, the EU approved a feed supplement, Bo-
vaer, developed by the Dutch bioscience company
Royal DSM, saying it consistently reduces methane
emissions from dairy cows by 30-80 per cent.
• Bovaer is a fine granular powder containing 3-nitro-
oxypropanol, which inhibits an essential enzyme
responsible for methane production.
• Some experts are placing their bets on seaweed,
particularly  Asparagopsis taxiformis, a red alga
growing in tropical and subtropical waters.
Global Methane Initiative: (Not to be confused with Global
Methane Pledge, of which India is not a part)
• The Global Methane Initiative (GMI) is an interna-
tional public-private partnership focused on reduc-
ing barriers to the recovery and use of methane as a
valuable energy source.
• In 2004, 14 countries launched the original initiative.
As of 2015, 41 countries, including India and the Eu-
ropean Commission, are part of the initiative.
Insta Links: As a part of Facts for Prelims
Insta Prelims Links:
Q. With reference to two non-conventional energy sources
called ‘coalbed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the fol-
lowing statements: (UPSC 2014)
1. Coalbed methane is the pure methane gas extract-
ed from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of
propane and butane only that can be extracted from
fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
2. In India, abundant coalbed methane sources exist,
but so far, no shale gas sources have been found.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: D
WHAT ARE CARBON MARKETS AND
HOW DO THEY OPERATE?
Context:
The Parliament passed the Energy Conservation (Amend-
ment) Bill, 2022, declining the Opposition’s demands to send
it for scrutiny to a parliamentary committee amid concerns
expressed by members over carbon markets.
Background:
• The Bill amends the Energy Conservation Act, 2001,
to empower the Government to establish carbon
markets in India and specify a carbon credit trading
scheme.
• In order to keep global warming within 2°C, glob-
al greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions need to be re-
duced by 25 to 50% by 2030.
• Nearly 170 countries have submitted their nation-
ally determined contributions (NDCs are targeting
to achieve net-zero emissions) under the 2015 Paris
Agreement, which have to be updated every 5 years.
www.insightsonindia.com 115
 • The Paris Agreement provides for the use of interna-
tional carbon markets (yet to kick off) by countries to
fulfil their NDCs.
• In the past, developing countries, particularly India,
China and Brazil, gained significantly from a simi-
lar carbon market under the Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997.
What are carbon markets?
• They are a tool for putting a price on carbon emis-
sions and establishing trading systems where car-
bon credits or allowances can be bought and sold.
• A carbon credit is a kind of tradable permit that
equals (as per the UN) one tonne of carbon dioxide
removed, reduced or sequestered from the atmo-
sphere.
• Carbon allowances or caps are determined by coun-
tries or governments according to their emission re-
duction targets.
Types of carbon markets:
• Voluntary markets: These markets are those in which
emitters (corporations, private individuals, etc) buy car-
bon credits to offset the emission of one tonne of CO2
or equivalent GHGs.
 Such carbon credits are created by activities
which reduce CO2 from the air, such as af-
forestation.
• Compliance markets (cap and trade): These are set up
by policies at the national, regional, and/or interna-
tional levels.
 Entities are issued annual allowances or
permits by governments equal to the emis-
sions they can generate.
 If companies produce emissions beyond the
capped amount, they have to purchase ad-
ditional permits, either through official auc-
tions or from companies which emit below
the limit.
 Through this kind of carbon trading, com-
panies can decide if it is more cost-efficient
116 www.insightsonindia.com
to employ clean energy technologies or to
purchase additional allowances.
 Today, compliance markets are most popu-
lar in the EU and China launched the world’s
largest emission trading system (ETS) in
2021.
Significance of these markets: They may -
• Promote the reduction of energy use
• Encourage the shift to cleaner fuels
• Reduce the cost of implementing NDCs (WB - By
$250 billion by 2030)
Challenges to carbon markets:
• Double counting of GHG reductions
• Quality and authenticity of climate projects that
generate credits
• Poor market transparency
• There are also concerns about greenwashing - com-
panies may buy credits to offset their carbon foot-
prints rather than reducing overall emissions or in-
vesting in clean technologies.
Conclusion:
For carbon markets to be successful, emission reductions
and removals must be real and aligned with the country’s
NDCs and there must be transparency in the institutional
and financial infrastructure for carbon market transactions.
Insta Links: Bill to amend energy conservation act intro-
duced in RS
Mains Links:
Q. “Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern
energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Devel-
opment Goals (SDGs)”. Comment on the progress made in
India in this regard. (UPSC 2018)
EU’S CARBON BORDER TAX
Direction:
The article discusses carbon border tax, its stated goal, con-
cerns, possible impacts and way ahead.
Context:
• The European Union (EU) agreed on a preliminary
deal for an EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mecha-
nism (CBAM) on imported goods such as iron and
steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and
hydrogen.
• The CBAM/ a carbon border tax/ carbon leakage in-
 strument was proposed by the EU in 2021 and will
be applicable from October 1, 2023.
Background:
According to the standard economic theory of trade, impos-
ing carbon taxes on domestic producers without an adjust-
ment mechanism would certainly cause a shift of production
to places where those taxes can be avoided.
About Carbon Border Tax:
• A carbon border tax is an import duty based on the
amount of carbon emissions produced by the goods
in question.
• It discourages emissions as a carbon price, and it has
an impact on production and exports as a trade-re-
lated measure.
Stated goal of CBAM:
• To eliminate the difference in carbon price paid by
companies subject to the EU’s Emissions.
• Trading System (ETS) and the price paid by compa-
nies elsewhere.
• Levelling the playing field for EU firms.
• To implement stronger emission reduction efforts.
• Incentivises non-EU countries to increase their cli-
mate ambition.
• It will ensure that EU and global climate efforts are
not undermined due to the relocation of production
which is defined as ‘carbon leakage’.
Concerns:
• From an equity perspective, it increases costs in
poorer countries, due to the need to remit new tax-
es, etc.
• Such schemes are still rare in most of the world and
introducing them will be a major policy challenge
for lower-income countries.
• For countries reliant on one of the targeted indus-
tries - like Mozambique’s aluminium extraction, this
could be a major economic shock.
• If enacted unilaterally, it is likely to unfairly protect
domestic industries from international competition -
a practice known as ‘green protectionism.’
• BASIC countries have emphasised that carbon bor-
der taxes could promote market distortion and
worsen the trust deficit among countries.
The possible impact of the move:
Positive Negative
• From a longer-term • This move by the EU
perspective, this may could see other devel-
well be beneficial to oped economies follow
all if it encourages the suit.
more rapid application • In the short run, this
of renewable technol- will be harmful to in-
ogies. dustries in developing
countries.
Way ahead:
Coordinated application of carbon taxes and related climate
change avoidance measures would make it unnecessary to
apply a border adjustment mechanism.
Insta Links: Who should pay for climate damage?
Mains Links:
Q. Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean develop-
ment mechanisms set up under UNFCCC be maintained
even though there has been a massive slide in the value of
carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs
for economic growth. (UPSC 2014)
A NEW GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAME-
WORK
Direction:
The previous article discusses key areas agreed upon at
COP 15, concerns and India’s stance on the GBF. This arti-
cle highlights the importance of biodiversity and threats, the
Kunming-Montreal pact on agriculture and urban planning,
the roadmap of its implementation, challenges and the way
ahead.
Context:
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Na-
tions pact to protect and sustainably utilise the earth’s bio-
diversity, recently concluded (COP15) in Montreal, Canada.
Background:
• The CBD got a boost when 188 of 196 member gov-
ernments adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global
www.insightsonindia.com 117
 Biodiversity Framework (GBF). • By expanding the area and improving the quality
 Earlier, the CBD had launched the Aichi bio- and access to urban green and blue spaces.
diversity targets for 2020 - to safeguard all • Biodiversity-inclusive urban planning enhances na-
ecosystems that provide services for hu- tive biodiversity, ecological connectivity and integri-
manity’s survival, and the Nagoya Protocol ty, and improves human health and well-being.
(2014) - to ensure sharing of biodiversity ac-
cess and benefits.
• The GBF sets out four goals for 2050 and 23 targets Roadmap
for 2030, to save existing biodiversity and ensure
that 30% of degraded terrestrial, inland water, coast- Four GBF goals Im plem enta- Monitoring
al and marine ecosystems come under effective res- for 2050 tion strategy
toration. for 2030
• The GBF does not prohibit the use of biodiversity, • M a i n t a i n - The GBF is • Member nations
but calls for sustainable use, and a sharing of bene- ing ecosys- aligned with need to submit
fits from genetic resources. tem integ- UN SDGs, three a revised and
• That is why, the GBF emphasises respect for the rity and of which direct- updated nation-
rights of indigenous communities that traditionally health to ly deal with the al biodiversity
protect forests and biodiversity, and their involve- halt extinc- e nv i ro n m e n t strategy and ac-
ment in conservation efforts. It advocates similar tions. and thus with tion plan in 2024.
roles for women and local communities. • Measuring b i o d i v e rs i t y : • Countries would
and valuing Goal 13 on cli- have to review
ecosystem mate action, existing laws re-
Importance of biodiversity: services Goal 14 on life lating to not just
• Web of life: Biodiversity signifies the variety of spe- provided by below water the environment,
cies on earth, which are all connected and sustain biodiversi- and Goal 15 on but areas such
the balance of ecosystems, enabling humans to co- ty. life on land. as industry, agri-
exist. • S h a r i n g culture and land
 According to the CBD, only roughly 1.75 m o n e - use.
(one point seven five) million species have tary and • There are specif-
been identified so far, whereas there may be
non-mon- ic indicators for
up to 13 million.
etary gains countries to re-
• Interact with the environment to perform a host of from genet- port their prog-
functions: Some familiar ecosystem services include ic resources ress, as part of
providing humans with food, fuel, fibre, air and wa- and digital a transparency
ter purification, stabilisation of climate, etc. sequencing and reporting ar-
 When these are disrupted, severe conse- of genetic rangement.
quences such as failing agriculture, abnor- resources.
mal climatic patterns, and species losses
• R a i s i n g
occur, speeding up the Earth’s degradation.
resourc-
es for all
Threats to biodiversity: countries
• A quarter of the plants and animals assessed for the to close a
2019 Global Biodiversity Outlook were threatened. biodiversity
• The current model of economic growth would re- finance gap
quire 1.6 earths to maintain current lifestyles. of an esti-
mated $700
billion.
The Kunming-Montreal pact on:
• Agricultural practices:
 Adoption of biodiversity-supporting meth- The challenges to protecting biodiversity:
ods such as agroecology and sustainable • Use of GDP as the chief determinant of develop-
intensification. ment.
 It is significant, as growing Genetically Mod- • GDP calculations exclude the depreciation of assets
ified (GM) crops are not favoured by agro- like nature, degraded by the relentless extraction of
ecologists as they could harm biodiversity. resources.
• Turning cities into hosts of biodiversity: • According to the UN’s Inclusive Wealth (IW) re-

118 www.insightsonindia.com
 port, although 135 countries did better on inclusive
wealth in 2014 compared to 1990, the global GDP
growth rate considerably outpaced IW.
Way ahead:
There is a need for environmental appreciation and the
measurement of “inclusive wealth,” which considers not
only financial and produced capital but also human, social,
and natural capital.
PYQ- 2015
Which one of the following is the best description of the
term ‘ecosystem’?
(a) A community of organisms interacting with one another.
(b) That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living organ-
isms.
(c) A community of organisms together with the environ-
ment in which they live
(d) The flora and fauna of a geographical area
Ans: (c)
Insta Links:
• COP15 Montreal: 3 days of ministerial talks on Post-
2020 GBF end with limited success
• Biodiversity Amendment Bill, 2021
Pollution and Degradation
MOEF&CC TO HANDLE PLASTIC WASTE
FINDS CAG
Context:
As per the recent audit by CAG of MoEF&CC, it was found
that the ministry has a mechanism to assess the generation
of plastic waste, but none for its collection and safe disposal
Key findings of the CAG report:
• MoEF&CC has no action plan leading to ineffec-
tive implementation of Plastic Waste Management
(PWM) Rules, 2016.
• Effective coordination between several pollution
control boards (Central and State) and the ministry
is lacking
• Lack of uniform method of assessment of plastic
waste generation within a state
• The issue with the Rules: The Plastic Waste Man-
agement Rules framed by MoEF&CC lack compre-
hensiveness to give thrust to effective implementa-
tion and monitoring
Actions taken for plastic waste
Strategy by MoEF&CC for plastic waste control:
• Behavioural change
• Strengthening of the institutional system for the col-
lection
• Segregation and recycling of plastic waste
• Engagement with producers, importers and brand
owners through Extended Producer Responsibility
• Banning of SUP from July 1st this year (2022)
How are other countries dealing with single-use plas-
tic?
• Consensus on SUP in UN: This year, 124 countries,
parties to the United Nations Environment Assem-
bly, including India, signed a resolution to draw up
an agreement which will in the future make it legally
binding for the signatories to address the full life of
plastics from production to disposal, to end plastic
pollution.
 68 countries  have plastic bag bans with
varying degrees of enforcement
www.insightsonindia.com 119
 • Bangladesh: Bangladesh became the first country
to ban thin plastic bags in 2002.
• China: China issued a ban on plastic bags in 2020
with a phased implementation.
• EU: EU bans certain single-use plastics for which al-
ternatives are available.
CPCB is a statutory organisation  which was constituted in
September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• It was entrusted with the powers and functions un-
der  the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981.
• It serves as a field formation and also provides tech-
nical services to the Ministry of Environment and
Forests under the provisions of  the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986.
Important functions:
• to promote the cleanliness of streams and wells in
different areas of the States by prevention, control
and abatement of water pollution.
• to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control
or abate air pollution in the country.
Insta Links:
• For more about Single-Use Plastic (SUP): Visit this
link
• For issues with Pollution Control Boards: Visit this
link
• For more about CAG: Visit this link
Mains Link: Q. What is single-use plastic and what are the
concerns associated with it? How can it be successfully
phased out in the country? (15M)
Prelims Link:
Link it with how are plastic produced. Acts governing its
use.
Q. Bisphenol A (BPA), a cause of concern, is a structural/key
component in the manufacture of which of the following
kinds of plastics? (UPSC 2021)
(a) Low-density polyethylene
(b) Polycarbonate
(c) Polyethylene terephthalate
(d) Polyvinyl chloride
Answer: B
Q. Triclosan considered harmful when exposed to high lev-
els for a long time, is most likely present in which of the
following? (UPSC 2021)
(a) Food preservatives
(b) Fruit-ripening substances
120 www.insightsonindia.com
(c) Reused plastic containers
(d) Toiletries
Answer: D
DATA ON POLLUTED RIVERS
Context:
The number of polluted stretches in India’s rivers have fallen
from 351 in 2018 to 311 in 2022 though the number of most
polluted stretches is practically unchanged, according to a
report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
No change/ slight change in the Priority I & II category of
polluted river stretches indicates that further stringent ac-
tions are required for control of organic pollution from var-
ious point sources of pollution including the development
of infrastructure and its proper operation for treatment of
wastewater before discharge into recipient water bodies.
Reason for the high pollution level in India’s rivers
• Point source pollution: (pollution entering the river
through pipes, channels, etc., from a source such as
industry)
 Industrial Pollution
• Non-point source pollution: (pollution entering the
waterways is accumulative)
• Faulty planning:
 Lack of utilization of funds
 Delay in Projects
• Lack of proper maintenance
• Urbanization
• Minimum river flow has deteriorated over the years
• Sand Dredging
• Religious a​ nd Social P
​ ractices
Government Measures to clean Indian Rivers
• Namami Ganga Programme: Effective abatement of
pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of Nation-
al River Ganga.
• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is
a five-tier structure at the national, state, and dis-
trict levels for prevention, control, and abatement
of environmental pollution in river Ganga.
• National River Conservation Plan
• National Water Monitoring Programme (NWMP)
• Vision for 2030: clean rivers, with safe drinking wa-
ter to all Indians, sustaining and nourishing life, and
efficient use of water in irrigation using micro-irriga-
tion techniques.

Insta Links: Water Pollution
Mains Link:
Q. Examine the factors behind the high levels of pollution in
Indian rivers. What can be done to protect our rivers from
degradation and slow death? Discuss. (250 words)
Environmental impact assessment
ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT  gesting alternative safe project designs and meth-
Context:
The National Green Tribunal has extended the stay
on the Ministry of Environment notification mod-
ifying the Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) conditions for certain construction projects.
Previously, in the 2018 notification, the ministry had given
the powers to local bodies instead of State Environment Im-
pact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs) to do EIA of:
• Construction projects (built-up areas between
20,000 sqm to 50,000 sqm)
• Industrial sheds, educational institutions, hospitals
and hostels for educational institutions (built-up ar-
eas between 20,000 sqm and 1,50,000 sqm)
Issues:
• NGT has now given the decision that such
changes will result in diluting the mechanism
of EIA by SEIAA and thus cannot be sustained.
About EIA:
Significance of EIA for Developmental Projects in In-
dia:
• Make all the stakeholders aware of the environ-
mental and socio-economic impact of the project
• Facilitates a basis for policy decisions: EIA provides
the impact assessment well before the project is im-
plemented.
• Helps to eliminate or minimize the adverse im-
pact of developmental projects
• EIA encourages the  adaptation of mitiga-
tion strategies in the developmental plan
• Protects the biodiversity of the environment by sug-
ods.
• Simplifies the technical issues:  EIA  produces an
environmental management plan and summary for
the non-tech general public.
EIA is backed by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
EIA notification of 2006 made it mandatory to take EIA for
various projects such as mining, thermal power plants, riv-
er valley, infrastructure and industries. EIA was drastically
changed in the Ministry’s 2020 notification.
EIA notification 2020 and its impact:
• Public Consultation:  Reduced to max 40 days and
only 20 days (from 30 days) for submitting a response
 This will help speed up the process of EIA.
However, it may give very little time for Trib-
al and forest dwellers who are not aware of
technical details or have the means to ac-
cess them.
www.insightsonindia.com 121
 • More Discretionary power for Government: Power
to declare ‘economically sensitive areas’ without a
public hearing as well as give any project a ‘strategic
tag’ (so no EIA obligation)
 This is important for the clearance of strate-
gic projects related to defence and nation-
al security  as well as projects deemed too
important for the nation.
 However, there is fear of misuse of this
clause for political or economic reasons to
circumvent EIA
•   Post-Facto-project clearance:
 This will enable ease of doing business
and  reduce bureaucratic delays. But it is
a  violation  of the fundamental  principles
of environmental jurisprudence and is
contrary to both the  precautionary princi-
ple as well as the need for sustainable de-
velopment.
• An extended period of Environmental clear-
ance: From 30 years to 50 years
 However, it raises the risk of irreversible
environmental, health, and social conse-
quence.
• Common assessment for all the seasons by replac-
ing seasonal assessment: No need to cover all the
seasons in a year.
 This may make EIA  less reliable and not
reveal the full impact of EIA
• Report Issues: reduced from once every six months
to once every year.
 This will dilute the scrutiny and it may be
late before any mitigation measures could
be taken for highlighted project impact.
Security challenges
INDIA TO BECOME A HUB OF DRONE
TECHNOLOGY
Context:
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said that India
will become a hub of drone technology and will require at
least 1-lakh drone pilots by next year while addressing the
gathering after flagging of the ‘Drone Yatra 2.0’.
About Drones:
• A drone or UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is a re-
motely controlled flying device.
• Drones have been divided into five categories based
on their weight (existing rules) –
 Nano: Less than or equal to 250 grams,
 Micro: From 250 grams to 2kg, Small: From
2 kg to 25kg,
 Medium: From 25kg to 150kg,
 Large: Greater than 150kg.
Rules regulating drones in India:
• In India, the  Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) governs the use of all (manned or automat-
ed) aerial vehicles. 
• ‘The Drone Rules, 2021’, to regulate the use and op-
eration of Drones or Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Application of Drones:

Conclusion:
EIA needs to provide the  balance between ‘ease of doing
business and maintaining environmental sustainability. In
this context,  an Independent EIA Authority  can be set up
for fair and objective decisions. Also,  a centralized data
bank  for storing information and providing access to local
communities and the general public to all the aspects of
projects.

Insta Links:
EIA
Amendment of EIA rules

Practice Questions:
Q. Environmental Impact Assessment studies are increas-
ingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Govern-
ment. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired ther-
mal plants located at coal pitheads. (UPSC 2014)
Risks associated with drones:
• Drones can be misused as weapons of Mass De-
struction.
• Increased Risk of Armed Attacks.
• To smuggle arms, ammunition and drugs.

122 www.insightsonindia.com
Way Forward:
• Balancing security and benefits associated with
drones.
• Increase Investments in developing drones, which
are safer and cheaper.
Insta Links:Use of Drones
Mains Link:
Q. Elaborate upon the security threats emerging from
drones and suggest some measures to counter hostile
drones. (150Words)
ANTI-MARITIME PIRACY BILL
Context:
Lok Sabha passes Anti-maritime Piracy Bill to promote trade
security. The bill will bring the UN Convention on the Law of
the Sea into domestic law and enable Indian authorities to
take action against piracy on the high seas.
ters: Previously, pirates were prosecuted under the
Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC).
 However,  India’s sovereignty is delimit-
ed  by the outer boundary of its territorial
waters— 12 nautical miles from the coast.
Acts of piracy committed by a foreigner out-
side India’s territorial waters cannot be an
offence under the IPC, and those accused in
piracy cases have been acquitted due to the
lack of jurisdiction.
• Incidence of Piracy:  Gulf of Aden has been one of
the deadliest areas in the oceans due to a large
number of piracy incidents. Due to an increased
naval presence in the Gulf of Aden, it has been ob-
served that piracy operations are shifting towards
the east and south, which increases their proximity
to India’s west coast.
 E.g., 18 Indians aboard a crude oil carrier
were kidnapped off the coast of Nigeria last
year (2021).

Need for the bill:

• IPC is not valid for foreigners in international wa-

Provisions in the Bill:

Definition of Piracy: Piracy is defined as an act of violence or detention by the crew or passengers of a pri-
vate vessel or private aircraft on high seas, directed against another vessel or aircraft
and/or people or property on board.
Extra-territorial Juris- The Bill will apply to the sea beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), that is, beyond
dictions 200 nautical miles from India’s coastline.
Punishment For committing acts of piracy, the convicts shall be punished with imprisonment for life
or death in case the act of piracy itself causes the death or attempts to cause the death
of another person .
• Participating in or assisting acts of piracy will be punishable with up to 14 years
of imprisonment and a fine .
Extraditable offences This means that the accused can be transferred to any country for prosecution with
which India has signed an extradition treaty.
Designated Court The central government, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the concerned High
Court, may notify the Sessions Courts to be the Designated Courts under this Bill.
Presumption of guilt The presumption of guilt will be on the accused if:
(i) The accused is in possession of arms, explosives and other equipment which
were used or intended for use in committing the offence
(ii) There is evidence of the use of force against the ship’s crew or passengers,
and
(iii) There is evidence of the intended use of bombs and arms against the crew,
passengers or cargo of a ship.

Issues with the Bill:

• It is unclear how the overlap of the 14-year term and the life term will be determined since committing an act of
piracy will necessarily include participation as well.
• The issue with the death penalty: Supreme Court of India has advocated for the use of extreme punishment in
the “rarest of rare” According to the top court, the death penalty violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

www.insightsonindia.com 123

Insta Links
Anti-maritime Piracy Bill
Insta Prelims Links
Q. With reference to the United Nations Convention
on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:
(UPSC 2022)
A coastal state has the right to establish
1. The breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not ex-
ceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline
determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked,
enjoy the right of innocent passage through the ter-
ritorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend be-
yond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which
the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
124 www.insightsonindia.com
GS4
Ethics and Human Interface
ACADEMIC DISTRESS’ AND STUDENT
SUICIDES IN INDIA
Context:
Three students, who were preparing for entrance tests in
Kota Rajasthan, died allegedly by suicide in two separate
incidents.
More students died by suicide than farmers, while farmers’
suicides are widely recognised as a crisis in India, students’
suicides are increasingly swept under the rug.
Data on Student Suicides:
• India’s adolescent and youth population – people
below the age of 25 – account for 53.7% of the pop-
ulation. Yet, most of these youths are not employ-
able as they lack the requisite skills.
• According to the National Crime Record Bureau
(NCRB), in 2020, a student took their own life every
42 minutes; that is, every day,  more than 34 stu-
dents died by suicide.
Reasons for rising Students Suicide:
• Social Stigma: not enough discussion about depres-
sion and suicides
• Academic Pressure 
• Relationship breakdown.
• Lack of adequate support: the ‘Log Kya Kahenge’
attitude in Indian society is a permanent feature in
the lives of competitive exam aspirants.
• High expectations from Students.
• Mental Issues:  Anxiety disorder, depression, per-
sonality disorder.
Steps that can be taken:
• Mentorship programmes: There is no concept of
mentors in Kota and every single student in the city
is in a way a competitor despite being friends with
each other.
• Social Awareness.
• Academic Support Groups by College administra-
tion.
• Helplines by NGO and Civil Society Groups.
• Social media groups: Groups can be formed where
students can discuss the issues they face.

Ethics behind Suicides:
Suicide has been examined from various perspectives, most
broadly categorized as moralist, libertarian, and relativist
views.
• For moralists, protecting life and preventing suicide
is a moral obligation. Philosophers, such as Kant,
maintain that humanity is an end in itself, mean-
ing that the individual should be considered an
end, rather than a means to an end. Thus, a person
contemplating suicide is seen as using the self as a
means to an end (that is, with an expected conse-
quence), rather than as an end itself, which is un-
acceptable to Kantians. Plato emphasized peoples’
obligations to society, with suicide being inconsis-
tent with the greater good. The moral perspective
is evident in countries such as Singapore and India,
where attempted suicide is a punishable offence.
• From the libertarian perspective, suicide can be a
carefully contemplated decision, often rationalized
as a reasonable response to avoid pain or suffer-
ing. Libertarians value freedom of choice and the
decision to die by suicide is a right. This attitude is
reflected in countries where suicidal behaviour has
been decriminalized or euthanasia has been legal-
ized. Further to this philosophy, the right to suicide
includes the right of non-interference from others,
although this is not necessarily enforced in legal
statutes.
• From the relativist perspective, the obligation to
protect life varies, and the acceptability of suicide
depends on a cost-benefit analysis of variables,
including situational, cultural, and contemporary
factors. The acceptability of suicide will depend on
the needs of the individual, the family, and society
at that moment, meaning that the cost-benefit anal-
ysis is influenced by a desire to maximize the social
utility of suicide or not suicide.
Insta Links: Preventing Student Suicides
Mains Link:
Q. Discuss critically the causes behind rising suicides among
the youth in India.
Human Values – lessons and teachings of great leaders
AMBEDKAR’S IDEA OF A MORAL DE-
MOCRACY
Context:
There have been many studies on Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s con-
ceptualization of democracy, predominantly explained
through the lens of social, political, and economic philos-
ophies.
• Ambedkar’s last work, The Buddha and His Dham-
ma shed light on how he understood democracy as
a concept that affected every aspect of human life;
it was essentially a way of life.
• Ambedkar’s moral principles were rooted in Bud-
dhist philosophies, he was also critical of extreme
individualism that was a possible outcome of Bud-
dhism, as such characteristics failed to engage in
activism that challenged social order. Thus, he be-
lieved that there needed to be a balance between
individualism and fraternity for a harmonious so-
ciety.
• Ambedkar gave utmost importance to practicality.
For him, concepts and theories needed to be test-
ed as they were supposed to be practised in society.
He used rationality and critical reasoning to ana-
lyze any subject matter, because he believed that a
subject must first pass the test of rationality, failing
which, it must be rejected, altered, or modified.
Types of morality according to Ambedkar:
Ambedkar divides morality into social morality and consti-
tutional morality.
• Social morality was built through interaction and
such interaction was based on the mutual recogni-
tion of human beings.
• Social morality was based on equality among hu-
man beings and a recognition of respect.
• Constitutional morality for Ambedkar was a prereq-
uisite to maintaining a system of democracy in a
country. 
Ambedkar’s concept of moral democracy must also be stud-
ied through the lenses of particularism (a political theory
where one group promotes its own interests without regard
to the interests of larger groups) and universality (a theory
that some ideas have universal application or applicability).
www.insightsonindia.com 125

Ethics perspective of morality:
Humans tend to rate themselves more highly than other
people not just on factors like intelligence and friendliness,
but also ironically, on modesty.
This is the “self-enhancement effect”, and it holds true for
several parameters.
• Believing ourselves to be more moral than other
people is problematic for more than one reason —
the first, and most obvious, is that it is irrational to
believe so, and can cause us to look down upon
people who act differently than we do, either due
to circumstance or by choice.
• Second, and perhaps even more troubling, is that
believing oneself  to be morally superior leads to
a phenomenon known as moral licensing. This is
when somebody acts morally and then relaxes their
moral standards and allows themselves to act un-
ethically in other circumstances.
• This moral licensing plays out in our lives in small
ways every day. I might feel less guilty indulging in
a big serving of chocolate cake post-dinner if I ate
a salad for lunch. I might also feel justified liberal-
ly using environmentally unfriendly paper towels to
clean my kitchen simply because I drive an electric
126 www.insightsonindia.com
car.
Insta Links: Morality and Sources of Morality
Mains Link: UPSC 2019
Q. What is meant by the term ‘constitutional morality’?
How does one uphold constitutional morality?
ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE
Context:
It is worthwhile to note how former Prime Minister Atal Bi-
hari Vajpayee, whose 98th birth anniversary, was celebrated
recently (December 25), played an important role in the na-
tion’s development.
Values to learn
1. Respected leader: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru re-
spected young Vajpayee as a leader in the Opposition, and
sent him to represent India in UN General Assembly.
• Vajpayee respected the right to dissent or disagree,
as a part of polemics, and yet engaged with the dis-
senter, within and beyond his own party, which is so
important in current times.
2. Good Governance: Proposed training for newbie legisla-
tors, and proposed National Agenda of Governance includ-
ing the role of parliamentarians.
3. High moral values: His writing, ‘Andhiara fir hatega, ek
naya savera ayega’ and poem, ‘Geet Naya Gata Hoon’, bear
testimony to his spirit against adversity and acceptance of
the same to win another day.
• People rewarded him with a full majority in 1999
and he ruled full term as the first non-Congress PM
to have finished a full term.
• Nationalist: He advocated and practised positive
nationalism. He proudly took Hindi to the UN first
time and spoke it in the General Assembly. He rep-
resented the best of Indian ethos and culture.
4. Infrastructural Development: Vajpayee was the man who
ushered in an infrastructural revolution in India. His model
of development was inclusive.
• He initiated the Delhi Metro rail as a mass transit
system.
• He brought in National Highway Development Proj-
ect leading to East West North South Corridor or
the Golden Quadrilateral.
• He envisaged and executed the first round of Prad-
han Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana which connected
rural India greatly.
• The New Telecom Policy of 1999 brought in by him
was also a crucial part of the Indian telecom revolu-
tion.
5.Messenger of Peace: Against many odds, he himself rode
a bus to Lahore in 1999 for Indo-Pak peace.
6.Promote scientific temper:  He conducted the nuclear test
in Pokhran in 1998 and made the hero of this achievement,
Dr APJ Kalam the next President of India, who was later
named as the true People’s President.
• Vajpayee coined the slogan: ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,
Jai Vigyan’.
• Efforts to improve India-China ties
Role Model for social changes: He adopted Namita Bhat-
tacharya, the daughter of his long-time friend Rajkumari
Kaul. His adopted family lived with him and the daughter
only performed his last rituals.
He was honoured with Padamavibhushan in 1992 and
Bharat Ratna in 2015. He was elected to Lok Shaba 10 times
and twice to Rajya Sabha. Vajpayee’s birthday, 25th Decem-
ber is marked as Good Governance Day. He was a towering
personality without any enemies and was very well known
as Ajata Satru.
Insta Link: Good Governance Practices
Mains Link:
Q. Which moral philosopher’s teachings do you relate to
the most? Why?
Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from
India and world.
ETHICAL VALUES – PRANAB MUKHERJEE
Context:
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, paid floral
tributes to Shri Pranab Mukherjee, former President of In-
dia, on his Birth Anniversary.
About Pranab Mukherjee:
• He initiated his parliamentary journey through the
Rajya Sabha in 1969.
• He became India’s youngest finance minister of In-
dia in 1982 at the age of 47.
• From 2004, he went on to head three crucial min-
istries—external affairs, defence, and finance—and
became the first occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhavan
to have this distinction.
• He will also go down in the history as the only non-
prime minister who was the leader of the Lok Sabha
for eight years.
• Known for his political acumen and ability to form
consensus across party lines, Mukherjee was head-
ing 24 of 39 GOMs (groups of ministers) when he
became president in 2012.
Ethical values to be learnt from Pranab Mukherjee:
At the Individual level:
• Tolerance for pluralism, compassion for all, and love
for the motherland are core civilizational values of
India where hundreds of languages and all major re-
ligions live under one system.
• He made it easier for common people to visit the
Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• At the societal level:
• After the infamous Nirbhaya rape case, he cautioned
society to reset its “moral compass”.
• He also termed universities as “bastions of free
thinking” and “reasoned debate” in the backdrop of
the media onslaught on JNU and DU students. It was
never allowed to be centralized and there has exist-
ed a “Guru Shishya Parampara” or student-teacher
tradition.
Against terrorism:
• In contrast to the eye for eye and tooth for tooth
approach, Indian civilization gave humanity the mes-
sage of ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’ (May happiness
be to all).
Public Life:
• Media Ethics: Expressing concern over “aberrations”
like ‘paid news’ which have crept into the media, he
said: “Sensationalism should never become a sub-
stitute for objective assessment and truthful re-
porting. Gossip and speculation should not replace
facts. Every effort should be made to ensure that
political or commercial interests are not passed off
as legitimate and independent opinion.”
• Against ordinance: He cautioned the government
against using the ordinance route to bring in a law,
www.insightsonindia.com 127
 saying it should be used only in a compelling situ-
ation and not taken recourse to in monetary mat-
ters.
• Good Governance: According to him two basic ele-
ments of good governance are ‘transparency’ and
‘accountability’.
He defined transparency as:
• The availability of information to the general public
and clarity about the functioning of governmental
institutions.
• Transparency enhances predictability as it helps
government organizations to function more objec-
tively.
• It also enables and encourages the common man to
effectively participate in the governance process.
Insta Links: Pranab Mukherjee
Mains Link:
Q. Identify ten essential values that are needed to be an
effective public servant. Describe the /ways and means to
prevent non-ethical behaviour in public servants. (UPSC
2021)
LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF SARDAR
VALLABHBHAI PATEL
Direction:
Certain examples and instances from the life of Sardar Patel
can add value to your GS4 answers. Do note them down in
your notes.
Context:
On Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 72nd death anniversary, let
us understand his contribution towards nation-building and
certain ethical values from his personal life.
About Sardar Patel:
128 www.insightsonindia.com
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was an Indian
attorney and statesman.
• He was a dedicated patriot, a great administrator,
and a loyal servant of the nation.
• For his fearless approach to consolidating India’s po-
litical map, he has been dubbed the “Iron Man of
India.”
• For establishing contemporary All-India Services,
he is also known as the “Patron Saint” of India’s civ-
il services.
Ethical Values from the life of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Pa-
tel:
Political Views:
• As a fiery champion of fundamental rights and liber-
ty, he was convinced that these values were essen-
tial prerequisites for the development of an indi-
vidual and a nation.
• He always raised his voice on issues against ex-
ploitation and criticized the high-handedness of
authority, the exploitative revenue policy of the
Government, and maladministration in the Princely
states.
• He was attracted by Gandhian policies of non-vio-
lence, spirituality, discipline, and moral strength.
• He actively participated in the all-India freedom
struggle and in movements against the exploitative
policies of the British.
On Secularism:
• Patel was a firm believer in Hindu-Muslim harmo-
ny. He said in his presidential address in Karachi in
1931 that as a Hindu, he would give the Muslims
a Swadeshi fountain pen and invite them to write
down their requests, which he would accept with-
out condition or revision.
• According to him the only way to build Hindu-Mus-
lim unity is via trust and equality
Sardar Patel’s views on China:
• On November 7, 1950, Patel wrote a letter to Nehru
detailing his apprehensions about Chinese designs
on Tibet and on India itself.
• History has borne out that Patel’s estimate of China
was astute and prescient.
Sardar Patel’s vision for civil services:
This we had covered in detail earlier here.
 Sensitivity.
• Police officers are going to play the role of change
agents in India’s achieving greater prosperity while
ensuring sustainable development, especially inclu-
sion.
• Nari Shakti has to play a major role in achieving the
targets we have set for ourselves during the ‘Amrit
Kaal’. A truly ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, pre-supposes ‘At-
manirbhar Nari’.
Why Police Ethics are different?
• Life and liberty are fundamental moral values. While
making any moral decisions, the police have to con-
sider a complex array of conditions. For any action
taken by a person, they have to see the motivation
and intentions of the action and its consequences.
They have to do their jobs in accordance with the
laws that are in place at that time,
• Police may be required to face danger or hostility
in order to do their duty; police officers are likely
to experience a range of emotions including  fear,
Quotes by Sardar Patel: anger, suspicion, excitement, and boredom largely
Women in one way are extremely courageous. Men do not than people in other occupations. To act effective-
endure the miseries to the extent women do. So long as ly as police, they must be able to respond to these
women are not sufficiently educated and inculcated with emotions in the right way, which requires them to
national spirit, till then there will be no prosperity. be emotionally intelligent.

Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public adminis-

tration

PRESIDENT’S NOTE FOR IPS PROBA-

TIONERS

Context:
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu addressed the
probationers of the 74th Batch of the Indian Police Service
at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy,
Hyderabad.

Policing is essential for maintaining law and order and the

smooth functioning of society. The absence of a profession-
al code of ethics creates a scenario where it is easy to be a Insta Links: Indian Police and Ethics
moral opportunist and use unethical conduct as a means of
career advancement.
Mains Link:
President’s note: Q. Discuss some of the ethical issues surrounding a modern
• The police are the most visible organ of the gov- police job. (250 words)
ernment.
• The quality of their leadership would determine the
effectiveness and morale of the force led by them.
She advised them to keep in mind and demonstrate
through action, the five fundamental attributes of
Integrity, Impartiality, Courage, Competence and

www.insightsonindia.com 129
Corporate governance
ICICI VIDEOCON FRAUD – AN ISSUE OF
CORPORATE ETHICS
Context:
Just days after the  arrest of former MD and CEO of ICICI
bank, Chanda Kochhar, and her husband, Deepak Kochhar,
Videocon Group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot was arrested
by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged
involvement in the ICICI loan fraud case.
What was the case about?
According to the CBI, several companies of Videocon Group
promoted by Dhoot have been sanctioned loans to the tune
of Rs 3,250 crore by ICICI Bank in violation of the RBI guide-
lines, Banking Regulation Act, and credit policy of the bank.
As part of the quid pro quo, Dhoot allegedly invested Rs 64
crore in Nupower Renewables, a company owned by Deep-
ak Kochhar, through a circuitous route between 2010 and
2012.
Chanda Kochhar was a member of the committee that
cleared the loan to Dhoot, the CBI has alleged. According to
the agency, Chanda Kochhar abused her official position to
sanction the loan to Dhoot.
to have at least 1 independent woman director
• Transparency: More transparency on the appoint-
ment of independent directors
• The audit Committee must review the use of loans.
• Robust risk management policies
• Effective governance infrastructure
• Evaluation of the Board’s performance
• Communication: Facilitating shareholder communi-
cation with the board is key.
Good Examples by corporates in India: TATA Groups
Tata companies continually aspire to better ethics, just as
they are committed to better business practices.
Philanthropic trusts control over 66% of Tata holdings. While
the Tata family has a very small shareholding.
Four Stakeholders:
Owners, Employees, Customers, and Society
Gandhi’s seven sins also emphasize Corporate Governance:
• Commerce without morality
Insta Link: Corporate Governance
Mains Link:
Q. Explain the concept of corporate governance. Does it
have the potential to address the problems of conflict of
interest in the business sector? Give your view with recent
examples.

Corporate Governance:
Corporate governance essentially involves balancing the in-
terests of a company’s many stakeholders, such as share-
Facts for Prelims
holders, senior management executives, customers, suppli-
ers, financiers, the government, and the community.
GS1
Ethical issues with Corporate Governance in India:
• Conflict of Interest: The challenge of managers po- Indian Heritage and Culture
tentially enriching themselves at the cost of share-
holders
• Weak Board:  Lack of diversity of experience and KASHI TAMIL SANGAMAM
background represents a major area of weakness for
these boards.
Context:
• Separation of ownership and management: In the
IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is the venue
case of family-run companies, the separation of for the one-month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam
ownership and management remains a key chal-
lenge
• Independent directors

How to improve Corporate Governance in India?

Recommendations of Uday Kotak Panel:
• Diverse board members: Minimum 6 directors to
be on the board of listed entities; every listed entity

130 www.insightsonindia.com
 script and spoken by the majority of Manipuri pop-
ulation”.
• By an Amendment Act of 2021, the definition of
“Manipuri language” in the Official Language Act
was modified as “Meiteilon in Meetei Mayek and
spoken by the majority of the Manipur population”.

TRIPURA’S UNAKOTI (THE ‘ANGKOR WAT

Context:
Delhi celebrates Assam Day OF THE NORTH-EAST’)
• Chaolung Sukaphaa (Chao means Lord and Lung Context:
means Great). Tripura’s Unakoti, the ‘Angkor Wat of the North-East’ is seek-
• He was the founder of the Ahom kingdom estab- ing a UNESCO world heritage tag
lished in 1228.
• A Tai prince originally from Mong Mao.
• He is called “the Great Unifier” as he unified the var-
ious tribal and non-tribal peoples of the region.
• Since 1996, December 2 has been celebrated in As-
sam as the Sukaphaa Divox, or Axom Divox (Assam
Day), to commemorate the advent of the first king
of the Ahom kingdom in Assam.

THE STORY OF MEITEI SCRIPT

Context:
Newspapers in Manipur will be replacing the Bengali script
with the Meitei script by 15th Jan 2023.

About the Script:

• Patronised by Meitei rulers, the language fell into
disuse after the advent of Hinduism and eventually
disappeared, as Bengali script became popular.
• The earliest epigraphic record of the script - stone
inscription from Khoibu village, was erected on the
orders of Meidingu Kiyamba (1467-1508).
• A movement to revive the Meitei Mayek was started
in the the1930s and gathered strength in the 1950s.
• The Manipur Official Language Act, 1979, defined
Manipuri language as “Meiteilon written in Bengali
SANSKRIT PROBLEM IN PANINI’S
‘ASHTADHYAYI’
Context:
In his PhD thesis, Dr Rishi Rajpopat claims to have solved
Sanskrit’s biggest puzzle—a grammar problem found in the
‘Ashtadhyayi’, (an ancient text written by the scholar Panini

www.insightsonindia.com 131
in the 4th century BC)
• Significance: Experts are calling the discovery rev-
olutionary, as it may allow Panini’s grammar to be
taught to computers for the first time.
Procedure: The country sends the list to UNSECO. The UNE-
SCO then considers whether it should be added to the tenta-
tive list. After a year of adding to the tentative list, is sent to
World Heritage Centre (WHC) for consideration to be added
to the UNESCO World Heritage list
India has 52 sites on the Tentative list now.

UNESCO TENTATIVE LIST

Context:
India adds 3 more sites to @UNESCO’s Tentative List: 01
Vadnagar – A multi-layered historic town, Gujarat; 02 Sun
Temple, Modhera and its adjoining monuments; 03 Rock-cut
Sculptures and Reliefs of the Unakoti, Unakoti Range, Una-
koti District.

About Vadnagar:
• It is a municipality under the Mehsana district. It is a
multi-layered historic town (8th BCE).
• It has a large number of historic buildings and home-
town of PM Modi
Sun Temple (Modehera)
• Dedicated to the sun god, it has exquisite architec-
ture, and sculpture and has a unique position wrt
Sun.
• It is an example of the Maru-gurjara architectural
style (11th CE, under the Solanki dynasty)
About Unakoti (see Infographic)
About Tentative List
UNESCO tentative list is an “inventory of those properties”
which each state party intends to consider for nomination.
DOKRA METALCRAFT
It takes at least a year before it is considered for the final
nomination dossier (as per operational guidelines, 2019 of Context:
UNESCO). Lalbazar is becoming a hub for the famous dokra metalcraft.

132 www.insightsonindia.com
Two places are famous in West Bengal for dokra work — Bi-
kna in Bankura and Dariyapur in Bardhaman. 

About Dokra:
• Dokra is an ancient tradition; its documented histo-
ry is about 5,000 years old. 
• Dhokra (also spelt Dokra) is non–ferrous metal cast-
ing using the lost-wax casting technique. This sort
of metal casting has been in use in India for 4,000
years.
• The product of dhokra artisans is in great demand in
domestic and foreign markets because of its primi-
tive simplicity, enchanting folk motifs and forceful
form. 
• Dhokra horses, elephants, peacocks, owls, religious
images, measuring bowls, lamp caskets etc., are
highly appreciated.

Insta links: Recent GI Tags

RATNAGIRI ROCK CARVINGS

Context:
Experts and conservationists have raised concerns over the
proposed location for a mega oil refinery in Barsu village
of Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district might damage prehistoric
MOA MAKERS OF JOYNAGAR geoglyphs/Petroglyphs found in the Konkan region of Ma-
harashtra.

Context:
GI tag for Joynagar Moa has been extended for 10 years.
About Joynagar Moa:
• Said to date back to 1904, the  moa is made of
aromatic khoi — popped rice — that is mixed with
jaggery, sugar, cashew nuts and raisins.
• It has a short shelf life, lasting not more than five
days without refrigeration.
• The high perishability has prevented it from being
shipped abroad all these decades, and its export be-
gan, on a very small scale, only in 2020.
Basic definitions:
• Petroglyphs are made by scratching, rubbing, or chip-
ping at rock surfaces.
• Pictographs are painted rock surfaces.
• Geoglyphs are larger, ground markings made usually by
trenching or clearing away rocks and the top layer of soil,
in patterns or lines that stand out from the natural sur-
face.
o Geoglyphs are a form of prehistoric rock art, created on
the surface of laterite plateaus (Sada in Marathi). 

www.insightsonindia.com 133
 PRASAD scheme is ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual
Augmentation Drive’.
This scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrim-
age sites across India for enriching the religious tourism
experience. It aims to integrate pilgrimage destinations in
a prioritized, planned, and sustainable manner to provide
a complete religious tourism experience. The growth of do-
mestic tourism hugely depends on pilgrimage tourism. 

DHANU YATRA
‘PRASAD’ PROJECT - SRISAILAM IN
Context:
ANDHRA PRADESH The ‘Dhanu Yatra’ festival, considered to be the world’s larg-
est open-air theatre, has commenced recently in the West-
Context: ern Odisha town of Bargarh.
President of India Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the
‘PRASAD’ project at the tourism facilitation centre in the
About Dhanu Yatra:
pilgrim town of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh
The plays in the festival start with the dethroning of Emper-
or Ugrasen of Mathura by angry Kansa over the marriage of
About Srisailam temple: his sister Devaki with Vasudev.
• Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva and god- The festival will conclude with the death of demon king Kan-
dess Parvathi. sa and the restoration of the throne to Ugrasen
• It is referred to as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of With the commencement of the festival, Bargarh becomes
Lord Shiva and one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas King Kansa’s Mathura, and Amapali, located about eight km
of the Goddess, Parvati away, becomes Gopapura, where Lord Krishna is said to have
• Here Parvati is worshipped as “Mallika” and Shiva is spent his childhood. The Jeera River which flows between
worshipped as “Arjuna”, represented by the lingam the two places becomes the Yamuna River.
• There is inscriptional evidence from the  Satavaha-
na dynasty which places the temple to be existent
from the 2nd century
• Most modern additions were done during the time
of king Harihara I of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• The presiding deity of the place is Brahmaramba
Mallikarjuna Swamy in natural stone formations in
the shape of Lingam

Prize
DOMINIQUE LAPIERRE

Context:

134 www.insightsonindia.com
Acclaimed French author Dominique Lapierre dies at 91.
Dominique Lapierre’s deep India connection
• City of Joy was based on the slums near Howrah in
West Bengal.
o Lapierre set up the City of Joy Foundation
and donated a large share of his royalties to
it to support humanitarian projects in West
Bengal.
• Five Past Midnight in Bhopal: The Epic Story of the
World’s Deadliest Industrial Disaster, traced the
1984 Bhopal gas tragedy and the role of Union Car-
bide in it.
• Freedom at Midnight is the story of India’s struggle SAMMAKKA SARALAMMA JATARA
for independence and the great humanitarian trage-
dy of the Partition.
Context:
• Lapierre was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s
Sammakka Saralamma jatara (the biggest tribal festival in
third-highest civilian award, in 2008.
India and 2nd largest fair after Kumbh Mela) is the four-day
biennial Medaram jatara which was held in Mulugu district
in February (Telangana) this year.

Festival in News

LOSAR FESTIVAL

Context:
PM extended his greetings on the occasion of the Losar fes-
tival (the beginning of the Tibetan new year)
It consists of the offering of prayers, dances, and songs in
the honour of Ibex and the pilgrimage of Mount Kailash.
• Losar is the Tibetan word for ‘new year’
• Ladakhi Buddhists make a religious offering before History/Personality
their deities in the domestic shrines or in the Gom-
pas
JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE
History:
Context:
It was developed in the pre-Buddhist era, during the 4th
Ministry of Culture organized an “International conference
century AD. The Bon religion (indigenous religious tradition
on the contributions of J C Bose” on his 164th birth anniver-
of Tibet) practices the burning of incense. When Lord Bud-
sary (1858-1937).
dha arrived in Tibet, this ritual was combined with the har-
vest celebration, and the Losar festival was born.
His contribution to science:
• J C Bose discovered wireless communication and

www.insightsonindia.com 135
 was named the Father of Radio Science
• He invented Crescograph to measure plant growth
• He did pathbreaking work on the ‘Millimetre range
wavelength Microwaves’
• Bose Institute (1917) was established by him at
Cambridge University for modern research
His Contribution to India
• He was the teacher of S N Bose, Meghnad Saha, and
P C Mahalanobis
• He was responsible for the expansion of experimen-
tal science in India
• Freedom struggle: He opposed slavery and discrim-
ination by Britishers using Satyagrah
SRI AUROBINDO’S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY
Context:
PM to participate in a programme commemorating Sri Au-
robindo’s 150th birth anniversary on 13th Dec and release
commemorative postal stamp and coin.
Sri Aurobindo’s life and lessons:
• He was an Indian  philosopher,  yogi,  maharishi,
poet, and Indian nationalist
• He also edited newspapers such as Vande Mataram
• He joined the  Indian movement for indepen-
136 www.insightsonindia.com
dence from British colonial rule, until 1910 was one
of its influential leaders.
• He associated himself with Anushilan Samiti of Ben-
gal and was arrested under the Alipore Conspiracy
case.
• Upon being jailed, he became a spiritual reformer,
introducing his visions on human progress and spir-
itual evolution.
• In 1926, with the help of his spiritual collabora-
tor, Mirra Alfassa (referred to as «The Mother»), Sri
Aurobindo Ashram was founded in Puducherry.
Literary works:
• The Life Devine
• Synthesis of Yoga
• Savitri: A legend and a symbol
VEER BAL DIWAS (26TH DECEMBER)
Context:
As a tribute to Guru Gobind Singh’s martyred sons- Zorawar
(6 years) and Fateh Singh (9 years), the nation observed the
1st Veer Bal Diwas
• Also, the last week of December is observed as ‘Sha-
heedi Saptah’ (martyr’s week)
• Four sons of Guru Gobind Singh were martyred on
this day by the army of Aurangzeb (1704).
About Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh was born on 22nd December 1666 in Pat-
na (Bihar) (based on the Nanakshahi calendar). He became
a Sikh guru at age of 9 (the 10th and last Sikh guru) and was
assassinated in 1708. He created Khalsa Panth and fought of climate change on the Arctic Ocean, as past reports show
the battles of Anandpur (1700) and Chamkaur (1704). He us temperatures in the Arctic are rising four times as fast as
wrote Zafarnamah in 1705. in the rest of the world.  

REPOSITORY OF PALEOCLIMATIC RE-

CORDS OF HIMALAYAN TECTONICS &
GEOMORPHIC EVOLUTION IN KASHMIR
VALLEY

Context:
Researchers investigating sedimentary landforms present in
parts of the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh regions of the NW
Trans-Himalaya have found them to be a repository of pa-
laeoclimatic records of Himalayan tectonics and geomor-
phic evolution of the scenic landscape. 
Geography
What is Paleoclimatology?
ARCTIC LANDSCAPE Palaeoclimatology is the study of climates for which direct
measurements were not taken. It helps in the reconstruc-
tion of ancient climates and is important to understand nat-
Context: ural variation and the evolution of the current climate.
Two-million-year-old genetic material discovered in Green-
land’s Permafrost. Also, there is research regarding the
freeze and melt cycle of sea ice.

Scientists have found the oldest (at least 2 million years old)
known fragments of DNA, just 600 miles from the North
Pole that reveals that the region was once covered by a for-
est of poplar and birch trees inhabited by mastodons, cari-
bou and Arctic hares

Another new study on the freezing and melting cycles of the

Arctic Sea ice has found:
• Arctic Ice and Climate change:
 The Arctic Sea ice is seasonal
 It forms in the winter when seawater freez-
es into massive floating ice blocks and
thaws during the summer.
 When sea ice is present, it insulates the
ocean against heat loss
 The sea ice reflects sunlight into space,
regulating ocean and air temperature and
maintaining habitats above and below the
water.
 Understanding the timings of thawing and
freezing is crucial in knowing the heat bud-
get of the ‘Atmospheric-ice-ocean’ system
 The Arctic Sea ice extent or cover has been
on a decline, especially in late summer.
 The surface and bottom of the Arctic Sea ice
often do not melt and freeze simultaneously
• Beaufort Gyre – Ocean current in the Arctic Ocean Regions under threat:
Some of the Geosites of Kashmir valley & Ladakh sector (A)
Burzahama Section (B) Dilpur (C) Parigam (D) Palar (E) La-
Importance of the study: This is crucial to study the impact

www.insightsonindia.com 137
mayuru (F) Saspol (G) Spituk (H) Shey, being mined ruth- Reasons for landslides in Joshimath:
lessly, hence under threat • The town is situated in the old landslide zone and
is close to the tectonic discontinuities in the Hima-
layas
DEVELOPMENT OF PILGRIMAGE IN- • Anthropogenic pressures: Roads, heavy tourism,
FRASTRUCTURE AT BHADRACHALAM and buildings of dams, are more than the carrying
GROUP OF TEMPLES AND RAMAPPA capacity of the geology of the place.

TEMPLE
Context:
President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone for the
development of pilgrimage facilities at Bhadrachalam Group
of Temples under the PRASHAD scheme at Telangana’s
Bhadrachalam.
About the Bhadrachalam group of temples:
• Lord Sree Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple in
Bhadrachalam is a Hindu temple of Lord Rama lo-
cated in Telangana, India.
• The area is called Bhadrachalam and is the venue of
grand celebrations on Rama Navami day when the
wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and his consort
Sita takes place with much fanfare.
• Situated on the left bank of the Godavari River in
the state of Telangana. It has a Dravidian style of ar-
chitecture with an influence of Mughal Art.
• It was constructed in the 17th Century by Bhakta
Ramdasu (Popularly known as Bhakt Raamadaas)
About Joshimath:
• The town of Joshimath ( in Chamoli district) has
been a centre of faith, and a spiritual getaway in the
mighty Himalayas.
• Located on National Highway 7, at a height of 6,150
feet, it is the doorway to the holy shrines of Badri-
nath (part of Char Dhams) and Hemkund Saheb
(a holy Sikh Shrine), and the picturesque Valley of
Flowers (a UNESCO world heritage site), and Auli (a
popular tourist destination).
• Strategic significance: It is home to the Joshimath
Cantonment, the permanent station of the Garwhal
Scouts, close to the Indo-Tibetan Border.
What is land subsidence?
Land subsidence is a gradual settling or sudden sinking of
the Earth’s surface due to the removal or displacement of
subsurface earth materials. 

LAND SUBSIDENCE

Context:
The town of Joshimath (Uttrakhand) has been sinking for
decades (first highlighted by the 1976 state government-ap-
pointed Mishra Commission report)
• An expert panel (set up by the Uttarakhand govern-
ment) has now confirmed that structural defects in
Joshimath have been caused by Land subsidence.
• Impact: The increased Land subsidence in the past MANGO FLOWERING
two years has caused cracks in homes, rendering Context:
them unstable and prompting people to flee. Mango flowering has started since the third week of Decem-
ber in Telangana and Odisha, which is at least a month soon-

138 www.insightsonindia.com
er than the normal period of flowering. 
Reasons for early flowering:
• Unseasonal rainfall and a warmer-than-normal winter 
Mango shower:
• Mango showers is a colloquial term to describe the occurrence of pre-monsoon rainfall.
Significance:
• In India, mango showers occur as the result of thunderstorm development over the Bay of Bengal.
• They are also known as ‘Kaal Baisakhi’ in Bengal, as Bordoisila in Assam and as Cherry Blossom showers or Coffee
Showers in Karnataka.
• They help in the early ripening of mangoes and are hence often referred to as “Mango showers.”

Places in News

MAPPING

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Society and Social Justice • The commission considers inclusions and exclusions
from the lists of communities.
• The commission has the same powers as a Civil
SOCIAL HOSTILITIES INDEX (SHI) Court.

Context:
India tops the index on social hostilities relating to religion.
• The report was released by the Washington-based
think tank Pew Research Centre
• The SHI measures acts of religious hostility by private
individuals, organizations or groups. The index com-
prises 13 metrics, including religion-related armed
conflict or terrorism and mob or sectarian violence.
• At 9.4 out of a maximum possible score of 10, India’s
Social Hostilities Index (SHI) in 2020 was worse than
neighbouring Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• The study has recorded the targeting of minorities in
India during the pandemic.

GS2
Polity
RIGHT TO CONVERSION
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR BACK-
WARD CLASSES (NCBC) Context:
SC offers to find the solution to ‘deceitful conversions’
Context: The Supreme Court said it would examine veiled intentions
Hansraj Ahir assumes charge as NCBC chairperson. behind religious conversions through allurement by offering
Following the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018, food, medicines, treatment, etc.
NCBC became a constitutional body, established under Arti-
• Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profes-
cle 338B of the Indian Constitution.
sion, practice and propagation of religion.
• The commission was the outcome of the Indra Sawh- • The MHA has said that the right to freedom of reli-
ney case (1992) and was a statutory body. gion does not include a fundamental right to “con-
About NCBC vert people to a particular religion”.
• The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Mem- Insta Links: Karnataka’s draft anti-conversion Bill
bers of the Commission shall be appointed by the
President.
• The conditions of service and tenure of office shall
be decided by President.
• The Commission shall have the power to regulate its
own procedure.

148 www.insightsonindia.com

PRINT AND DIGITAL MEDIA ASSOCIA-
TION (PADMA)
Context:
Print, digital self-regulatory news association gets govt’s ap-
proval.
Print and Digital Media Association (PADMA) has been ap-
proved as a self-regulatory body for publishers of news and
current affairs across the country.
• It has been approved under rule 12 of the Informa-
tion Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digi-
tal Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
• The organization will look at grievances related to
digital media news content on its platforms.
• The organization will be headed by former HC Judge
Mool Chand Garg.
With Rule 12 of the IT Rules, 2021, the Ministry has ap-
proved nine self-regulatory bodies since May 2021. They in-
clude DIGIPUB News India Foundation, Confederation of On-
line Media (India), and NBF- Professional News Broadcasting
Standards Authority, among others.
CONJUGAL VISITS FOR PRISONERS
Conjugal rights refer to the concept of allowing a prisoner
to spend some time in privacy with his spouse within the
precincts of a jail.
Positive impacts:
• Psychological health benefits for prisoners
• Preservation of marital ties
• Reduction in the rates of homosexuality and sexual
aggression within prisons
Rights:
• Conjugal visits are considered a fundamental right
of the spouses of the prisoners
• Recognized as prisoner rights ( by UN and Interna-
tional Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)
• Part of a prisoner’s right to life and inherent dignity
• The right to maintain family and social relations for
prisoners
Different Interpretations:
• Supreme Court on Conjugal Visits: “Visit prisoners
by family and friends are solace in isolation”
• Madras HC (in Meharaj vs State (2022)): There have
to be differential standards in the enforcement of
Article 21 for law abiders and law violators.
• Punjab model: The State guidelines clarify that con-
jugal visits are a matter of privilege rather than a
right. As such, such rights will be restricted in time
and will be denied for high-risk prisoners.
WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A NATION-
AL PARTY IN INDIA?
Context:
With 12.9% seats, AAP is set to be recognised as the 9th na-
tional party by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
What is a National Party? (ECI Criteria)
• It is ‘recognised’ in at least four states; OR
• if its candidates polled at least 6% of valid votes in
any four or more states in the last Lok Sabha or As-
sembly elections and have at least four MPs in the
last LS polls; OR
• if it has won at least 2% of the total seats in LS from
not less than three states.
What is a State Party?
• At least 6% vote share in the last Assembly election
and at least 2 MLAs; OR
• 6% vote share in the last LS elections from that state
www.insightsonindia.com 149
 and at least one MP from that state; OR
• At least 3%of the total number of seats or three
seats, whichever is more, in the last Assembly elec-
tions; OR
• At least one MP for every 25 members or any frac-
tion allotted to the state in Lok Sabha; OR
• At least 8% of total valid votes in the last Assembly
election or LS election from the state.
Advantages of being a National Party
• Right to have reserved symbol for its candidates
contesting across the country
• Entitled to land or building for national headquar-
ters at Delhi.
• Candidates need only one proposer to file nomina-
tions (2 in case of other parties)
• Get dedicated broadcast slots on Doordarshan and
All India Radio during general elections.
• Can have up to 40 Star campaigners (20 for other
parties)
• Expenditure on campaigning and star campaigners
isn’t added to the candidate’s spending limit.
The Case of AAP-
• Delhi and Punjab – large vote share
• Goa – 6.77 % of the votes
• Himachal Pradesh – 1% of the votes
• Gujarat – 13% of the votes
150 www.insightsonindia.com
APPOINTMENT OF AD HOC JUDGES
Context:
The Supreme Court suggested a less cumbersome and even
“out-of-the-box” thinking, including roping in senior law-
yers to act as ad hoc judges in High Courts, to meet the ris-
ing tide of pendency.
Constitutional Provision – Article 224 A
• Under the Article, the Chief Justice of a High Court
for any State may at any time, with the previous con-
sent of the President, request any person who has
held the office of judge of that court or of any other
High Court to sit and act as a judge of the High Court
for that State.
• Such a judge is entitled to such allowances as the
president may determine. He will also enjoy all the
jurisdiction, powers and privileges of a judge of the
Supreme Court.
What the SC says?
• Retired judges willing to come back to the Bench will
bring their experience in dealing with arrears.
• Once a Chief Justice recommends, the appointment
should happen in a matter of days.
• Out-of-the-box thinking – roping in senior lawyers to
act as Ah Hoc judges in High Courts to meet the ris-
ing tide of pendency.
Additional and Acting Judges –
The President can appoint duly qualified persons as
additional judges of a high court for a temporary period not
exceeding two years when:
1. there is a temporary increase in the business of
the high court; or
2. there are arrears of work in the high court.
The President can also appoint a duly qualified per-
son as an acting judge of a high court when a judge of that
high court (other than the chief justice) is:
1. unable to perform the duties of his office due to
absence or any other reason; or
2. appointed to act temporarily as chief justice of
that high court.
An acting judge holds office until the permanent
judge resumes his office.
However, both the additional or acting judge cannot hold
office after attaining the age of 62 years.
TEXTBOOKS IN INDIAN LANGUAGES
Context:
UGC forms a panel to work on textbooks in Indian languag-
es for undergraduate and post-graduate courses in regional
languages
UGC held meetings with international publishers to publish
books in regional languages and help narrow the language
divide in the higher education
Initiatives to promote regional languages: NEP2020
(promoting mother tongue), AICTE books on engineer-
ing in regional languages, Madhya Pradesh: MBBS books
in Hindi, Bar Council: Translating legal books in region-
al languages, The National Translation Mission (NTM) is
being implemented through the Central Institute of Indian
Languages (CIIL).
A language is considered regional when it is mostly spoken
by people who reside largely in one particular area of a state
or country.
Article related to regional languages:
Article 343(1) (the official language of the Union shall be Hin-
di in Devanagiri Script); Article 345 (the legislature of a State
may by law adopt any one or more of the languages in use in
the State); Article 347 (President has the power to recognize
a language as an official language of a given state); Article
350A (instruction in mother-tongue at the primary stage);
Article 350B( Special Officer for linguistic minorities); Article
351 (power to the union government for the development of
the Hindi language)
JOB RESERVATION FOR WOMEN IN UT-
TARAKHAND
Context:
Uttarakhand has passed a bill giving 30% horizontal reser-
vation for women in public services and posts, in addition to
existing quotas applicable in the state.
What are ‘Horizontal Reservation’ and ‘Vertical Reser-
vation’?
• Vertical reservation - applies separately for each of
the groups specified under the law. Ex- SC, ST, OBC
• Horizontal reservation - applies separately to each
vertical category, and not across the board. Ex-
women, veterans, the transgender community, and
individuals with disabilities, cutting through the ver-
tical categories.
Why did the bill end up in court?
• In 2006 Uttarakhand issued a government order to
provide 30% horizontal reservation to women do-
miciled in the state, irrespective of their caste, creed,
place of birth, place of origin, and social status.
• It was challenged by women from outside the state
belonging to the unreserved category who had ap-
peared for the state civil examination.
• The Uttarakhand HC stayed the order and said the
quota should be interpreted as a horizontal reser-
vation for women irrespective of their domicile or
place of residence.
State government’s argument to justify ‘Quota based on
domicile’ at the Supreme Court: The state’s terrain and cli-
mate forced its youth to migrate elsewhere in search of live-
lihood, leaving the responsibility to run the household and
raise children to women. Hence, state made the initiative to
include such women under the quota system. SC accepted
this argument and lifted the stay by HC.
GOND TRIBES AND HATTEE COMMUNI-
TY
Context:
A motion has been initiated in Lok Sabha to include Hattee
community of Sirmaur district’s Trans-Giri region in the
Scheduled Tribes list of Himachal Pradesh. Also, a bill to
move in the Gond community from SC to the ST list in four
districts of UP has been approved by the Rajya Sabha.
About Gond Tribes:
Gond is one of the largest tribal groups speaking the Gon-
di language (a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group). They are
www.insightsonindia.com 151
spread over several states- MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra,
etc. They are generally peasants and worship nature.
• Bhil are the largest Tribe in India (consisting of 38%
of the ST population of India)
About Hattee community: See Infographics
About Motion in the house: A motion is any proposal made
for the purpose of eliciting a decision from the House. There
can be different types of motions such as Cut motion, Call-at-
tention motion etc.
UNDERUTILISATION OF FUND
Context:
As per the parliamentary committee, funds for schemes un-
der the SHREYAS scheme have remained underutilized. In
another News, the Union minister of Women and Child De-
velopment has told Lok Sabha that, 70% of the non-lapsable
corpus Nirbhaya fund remains unutilized.
About Nirbhaya fund:
• It is a non-lapsable corpus fund of Rs 1000 crores given
by the centre and utilized by states to ensure women’s
safety.
• Nodal Agency for the administration of funds: Depart-
ment of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance
• Nodal Agency for expenditure: Women and Child Devel-
opment (WCD) Ministry
• The schemes being implemented by WCD under this
fund are:- One Stop Centre; Universalisation of Women
Helpline; Mahila Police Volunteer
• The schemes being implemented by Home Ministry
under this fund are: Emergency Response Support Sys-
tem; Central Victim Compensation Fund
Implementation:
152 www.insightsonindia.com
• Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura and Daman & Diu
have not spent any money under the fund
• Only four states have used the Nirbhaya fund for the
Mahila Police volunteer Scheme
About Scholarship for Higher Education for Young Achiev-
ers Scheme (SHREYAS):
It is a central sector scheme under the Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) that provides financial
assistance to students from Scheduled Castes (SC) and oth-
er communities for pursuing education.
It is proposed to be implemented during 2021-22 to 2025-
26 and covers:
• Top-class education for SCs
• National Overseas Scholarship for SC students (NOS)
• National Fellowship for SCs (NFSC)
• Free coaching for SC and OBC students
RULE 267
Context:
Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook, which allows for the
suspension of a day’s business to debate the issue suggested
by a member, has become a bone of contention in the Upper
House. 
• Not a single notice under the rule moved by the Op-
position has been accepted in this Winter Session of
Parliament.
What is Rule 267?
The Rajya Sabha defines Rule 267, under ‘suspension of
rules’, as an instance where “any member, may, with the con-
sent of the Chairman, move that any rule may be suspend-
ed in its application to a motion related to the business listed
before the Council of that day and if the motion is carried,
the rule in question shall be suspended for the time being.”
• Therefore, it is simply the provision for a House
member to request the Chairman to suspend issues
listed out for discussion on a particular day in order
to deliberate a separate issue.
• The rule shall not apply where a specific provision
already exists for suspension of a rule under a par-
 ticular chapter of the Rules.
• Usually, such requests are not accepted by
the chairman, with 3 exceptions in 2015 and
2016. The last time the rule was used to re-
quest a discussion was in November 2016 –
the issue in question being ‘demonetisation’.
KARNATAKA: HIKE SC, ST QUOTA
Context:
The Karnataka government tabled a Bill in the Legislative As-
sembly to increase reservations for Scheduled Castes (from
15 per cent to 17 per cent) and Scheduled Tribes (from 3 per
cent to 7 per cent) in the state.
While the SCs make up 16 per cent of the state’s popula-
tion, the STs constitute 6.9 per cent (six point nine).
Concerns raised: The decision breaches the 50 per cent cap
on quotas and may be challenged in the judiciary.
Why the quota has been increased?
While the percentage of SC/STs in the state has increased but
the reservation percentage has not increased in line with it.
Related News:
Betta-Kuruba Community (from Karnataka) have been add-
ed to the ST category list. The community is involved in the
collection of forest produce and bamboo and follows ani-
mism (nature worship).
• They live in the hilly areas of Nilgiris
• They belong to the Hindu caste native to the Indian
states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and
Telangana.
• They are generally believed to be the descendants of
the Pallavas
• Consanguineous marriages like cross-cousin marriages
are preferred among the Kurumbas.
SHORT TRANSFERS OF CESS FUNDS
Context:
Scrutiny of cess and levies during 2020-21 by CAG in its fi-
nancial Audit of the Accounts of the Union Government, re-
vealed cases of short or non-transfer of collected amounts
A transfer involves the  movement of assets, monetary
funds, and/or ownership rights from one account to anoth-
er.
Examples of short-transfer (given by CAG)
• Madhyamik and Uchchatar Siksha Kosh (MUSK):
A 4% tax was levied as Health and Education Cess
(HEC) from Finance Act 2018.
 Despite the fund being approved in 2017,
it is yet to be operationalized due to the
non-finalization of its accounting proce-
dure.
• National Mineral trust levy: A % of royalty paid by
mining companies is passed on to this trust. A part
of this fund was also short-transferred.
• Universal Access Levy: A cess is charged to provide
quality and affordable mobile and digital services
across the rural and remote areas of the country
(under BharatNet Project)
Previously, the government has said that they have over-uti-
lized the funds e.g., Road and Infrastructure cess stood at
nearly 1.95 lakh cr but the amount utilized was over 2.51
Lakh crores.
Cess and surcharges accounted for 28.1% of gross tax reve-
nue in FY22, against 18.2% in FY20 (including GST compen-
sation cess)
Cess (see the difference between Cess, Surcharges and Tax
in the diagram below): Cess is not a permanent source of
revenue and is discontinued when the purpose is fulfilled.
• It can be levied both on direct and indirect taxes.
• Article 270 of the constitution allows the Central
government to exclude cess from divisible poot of
taxes, thus depriving the states of any cess revenue.
• Successive Finance Commissions have said they
should be brought under the divisible pool.
• Currently, all the cesses, except GST Compensation
Cess (100% transfer to states) are utilised by the cen-
tral government.
www.insightsonindia.com 153

MALNUTRITION, NCPCR, JJ ACT
Context:
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
(NCPCR) issued a directive to NGOs to not show vulnerable
children in representational pictures for their fundraising ac-
tivities.
Background:
• A 2013 campaign ‘Khushi’ - by U.K.-based NGO, Save
the Children, featured a 20-month-old baby lying on
a hospital bed inside a malnutrition treatment cen-
tre in Tonk, Rajasthan.
• Earlier, NCPCR asked the NGOs to refrain from such
depiction as it amounted to a violation of the Juve-
nile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015.
• According to the Ministry of Women and Child De-
velopment (MoWCD), such depictions are mislead-
ing as the issue of malnutrition is being vigorously
pursued through its Saksham Anganwadi and Posh-
an 2.0 scheme.
154 www.insightsonindia.com
Malnutrition:
● Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or
imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or
nutrients.
● It covers 2 broad groups of conditions -
○ Undernutrition: It includes stunting (low
height for age), wasting (low weight for
height), underweight (low weight for age)
and micronutrient deficiencies or insuffi-
ciencies (a lack of important vitamins and
minerals).
○ Overweight: It includes obesity and di-
et-related noncommunicable diseases
(such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes,
and cancer).
● Despite decades of investment to tackle this mal-
aise, India’s child malnutrition rates are still one
of the most alarming in the world.
● The Global Hunger Index (2022), which is calcu-
lated on the basis of total undernourishment of
the population, child stunting, wasting and child
mortality, places India at the 107th spot among
121 countries.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCP-
CR):
● It is an Indian statutory body established by an
Act of Parliament - the Commission for Protection
of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
● The Commission works under the aegis of the
Union Ministry of Women and Child Develop-
ment and became operational in 2007.
● It is mandated to ensure that all Laws, Policies,
Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are
in consonance with the Child Rights perspective
as enshrined in the Indian Constitution and the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
● As defined by the commission, a child includes a
person up to the age of 18 year.
JJ Act, 2015:
● The Ministry of Women and Child Development
introduced the Act to replace the Juvenile Delin-
quency Law and the Juvenile Justice (Care and
Insta Links: Malnutrition in India
Government Initiative and Policies
OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF ESPORTS
ESANJEEVANI
Context:
The President of India in the exercise of the powers “con- Context:
ferred by clause (3) of article 77 of the Constitution” amend- National Telemedicine Service of India achieves 8 crore con-
ed the rules governing Esports and asked the Ministry of sultations
Electronics and Information Technology and the Sports Min-
istry to include “e-Sports as part of multi-sports events”.
• IT Ministry (MeitY) will be the nodal agency for on- About eSanjeevani: e-health initiative of the Ministry of
line gaming-related matters Health and Family Welfare, it strives to provide an alternative
• Sports ministry will be responsible for including es- to conventional physical consultation via the digital platform.
ports in the curriculum. • It has garnered the distinction of being the world’s
largest government-owned telemedicine platform
What Is E-Sports?
ESports turns online gaming into a spectator sport. It mimics
the experience of watching a professional sporting event, ex- It consists of two verticals –
cept instead of watching a physical event, spectators watch • 1st vertical strives to bridge the rural-urban digital
video gamers compete against each other. health divide by providing assistance to Ayushman
Bharat (AB) scheme
• 2nd vertical is the eSanjeevani OPD which uses
Article 77 (Conduct of business of the Government of India)
technology via smartphones, tablets and laptops to
• Clause 1: All executive action will be taken in the
name of the President get doctor consultations in the comfort of the house.
• Clause 2: Authentication of orders and other instru- eSanjeevani is a part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health
ments made and executed in the name of the Pres- Mission. More than 45000 IDs have been generated via the
ident shall be done by the rules to be made by the eSanjeevani application.
President.
• Clause 3: The President shall make rules for the
more convenient transaction of the business of the
Government of India, and for the allocation among
Ministers of the said business

NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW SYSTEM

(NSWS)

Context:
NSWS to help realize the Prime Minister’s vision of trans-
forming red tape into the red carpet.

www.insightsonindia.com 155
 • The platform is built to serve as an advisory tool to schemes.
identify approvals based on user input and is to be
used for guidance purposes only.
• It is a digital platform to guide you in identifying and
applying for approvals according to your business
requirements.
• The system would lead to convergence of all Min-
istries/ Department and States/ UTs through the
“whole of Government approach”.

SHE STEM 2022

Context:
SHE STEM 2022 encourages students to ‘Unleash their imag-
ination’ as part of the Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week.
• SHE STEM is an annual event to celebrate women in
the fields of science, technology, engineering, math-
ematics, and sustainability.
• It is organized by the Embassy of Sweden in India in
partnership with the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI
Aayog and the German Centre of Innovation and Re-
search.
GHAR- GO HOME AND RE-UNITE
Context:
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR),
has developed and launched a portal namely  GHAR - GO
Home and Re-Unite (Portal for Restoration and Repatria-
tion of Child).

GHAR:
The GHAR portal has been developed to digitally monitor
and track the restoration and repatriation of children ac-
cording to the protocol.

NCPCR is a  statutory body (set up in 2007)  under the

administrative control of the  Ministry of Women &
Child Development, Government of India

Insta Links: Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act 2015,

MAULANA AZAD FELLOWSHIP
Context:
The Ministry of Minority Affairs has stopped the Maulana
Azad Fellowship — dedicated to pursuing higher education
— to minority students, from 2022-23.
About the Fellowship:
A 5-year fellowship provided by the Centre, in the form of
financial assistance to six notified minority communities –
Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Parsi and Sikhs to pur-
sue M Phils and PhDs
Why discontinued?
• Overlaps with other fellowship schemes for higher
education.
• Minority students are already covered under such
NCPCR
PRADHAN MANTRI ADI ADARSH GRAM
YOJANA
Context:
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has revamped the existing Scheme
of ‘Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to
TSS) with the nomenclature ‘Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh
Gram Yojana (PMAAGY)’.
The objective of the scheme:
• To achieve integrated socio-economic development
of selected villages through a convergence approach.
• It includes preparing Village Development Plan
based on the needs, potential, and aspirations.
• It includes maximizing the coverage of individual/

156 www.insightsonindia.com
 family benefit schemes of the Central / State Gov-
ernments and improving the infrastructure in vital
sectors like health, education, connectivity and live-
lihood.
• The scheme envisions mitigating gaps prominently
in 8 sectors of development viz. Road connectivity,
Telecom connectivity, School, Anganwadi Centres,
Health Sub-Centre, Drinking water facility, Drainage
and solid waste management.
Insta Link: PM Aadi Adarsh Gram Yojana
NATIONAL POLICY ON RARE DISEASES
Context:
RS member Fauzia Khan raised concerns over the benefits of
the National Policy on Rare Diseases not reaching patients
even after months since its introduction.
What are the allegations?
1. Unending delay and lack of urgency on part of cen-
tres of excellence have claimed several young lives.
2. Diseases include – Lysosomal storage disorders,
Gaucher disease, Pompe disease, MPS1 and 2, and
Fabry disease.
The Government launched National Policy for Rare Diseases
(NPRD), 2021 in March 2021 for the treatment of rare disease
patients. The salient features of NPRD, 2021 are as under:
The rare diseases have been identified and categorized into
3 groups namely Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3
Insta Links: A Start on Rare Diseases
INDIA INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM
(IGF) 2022
Context:
India Internet Governance Forum 2022 concludes.
India’s status:
• The government has said that 5G and the largest
rural broadband connectivity project at BharatNet
will constitute the single largest presence of the
global internet.
• India is the largest connected nation in the world
with more than 800 million broadband users
• Regulatory framework: Global Standard Cyber Law
Framework that we hope will catalyse the Indian in-
ternet and the economy.
About Internet Governance: Internet governance consists of
a system of laws, rules, policies and practices that dictate
how its board members manage and oversee the affairs of
any internet-related-regulatory body.
About India IGF: India IGF is an initiative associated with UN
Internet Governance Forum for policy discussion. India host-
ed it for 1st time last year (2021).
About Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
IGF is led by the United Nations (UN) and is a multi-stake-
holder forum which promotes conversation about policy and
the issues related to Internet governance.
OPERATIONALISING UNIFIED HEALTH
INTERFACE (UHI)
Context:
The National Health Authority (NHA) released a consultation
paper on ‘Operationalising Unified Health Interface (UHI)
in India’ that outlines market rules that will govern the UHI
Network.
UHI is envisioned as a foundational layer of the Ayushman
Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and aims to enable interop-
www.insightsonindia.com 157
erability in health services in India through open protocols.
BHARAT (BH) SERIES REGISTRATION
MARK
Context:
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has al-
lowed the conversion of regular vehicle registrations
into  Bharat Series (BH) numbers  as part of measures to
widen the scope of the BH series ecosystem.
• Earlier, only new vehicles could opt for the BH series
mark.
What is the BH number plate?
The Government of India introduced the BH Number Plate
or Bharat Series Registration Number for non-transport ve-
hicles in August 2021. The BH Series number plate removes
the obligation of transferring vehicle registration after mov-
ing from one state to the other.
158 www.insightsonindia.com
SOCIAL PROGRESS INDEX (SPI) FOR
STATES AND DISTRICTS
Context:
Social Progress Index (SPI): States and Districts of India pre-
pared by the Institute for Competitiveness and Social Prog-
ress Imperative was submitted to Economic Advisory Coun-
cil- Prime Minister.
About Social Progress Index:
• Assesses states and districts based on 12 compo-
nents across three critical dimensions of social prog-
ress - Basic Human Needs, Foundations of well-be-
ing, and Opportunity.
• Based on the SPI scores, states and districts have
been ranked under six tiers of social progress. The
tiers are Tier 1: Very High Social Progress; Tier 2:
High Social Progress; Tier 3: Upper Middle Social
Progress; Tier 4: Lower Middle Social Progress; Tier
5: Low Social Progress; and Tier 6: Very Low Social
Progress.
• The report also dwells on India’s performance based
on Global SPI. In the September 2022 report, India is
ranked 110th out of 169 nations.
Report findings:
• Puducherry has the highest SPI score of 65.99 in the
country, attributable to its remarkable performance
across components like Personal Freedom and
Choice, Shelter, and Water and Sanitation.
• Lakshadweep and Goa closely follow it with scores of
65.89 and 65.53, respectively. Jharkhand and Bihar
scored the lowest, 43.95 and 44.47, respectively.
 • Aizwal (Mizoram), Solan (HP) and Shimla (HP) – top
3 best performing districts.
FRONTIER HIGHWAY
Context:
India to build 1,748 km ‘frontier highway’ near the India-Ti-
bet-China- Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh by 2027
• The two-lane highway, NH-913, will aim to stop in-
filtration in the border areas and it will be built by
the transport ministry
NEW DELHI INTERNATIONAL ARBITRA-
TION CENTRE (NDIAC)
Context:
Centre has appointed Justice Hemant Gupta as Chairperson
of the NDIAC
NDIAC was set up through NDIAC Act 2019 and is a
7-member body:
• One Chairman + Two eminent persons + Three ex-of-
ficio members (CEO and a nominee from finance
ministry) + Part-time member ( from trade body)
• NDIAC has been declared an institution of national
importance
The recent amendment to NDIAC Act 2019:
• NDIAC renamed as India International Arbitration
Centre
• Will conduct International and domestic arbitration
and any other forms of alternate dispute resolution
CRIME AND CRIMINAL TRACKING NET-
WORK SYSTEM
Context:
Haryana Police was awarded the first rank among all major
state police in the implementation of the Crime and Criminal
Tracking Network System (CCTNS)
An Annual Conference on Good Practices in CCTNS/In-
ter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) was organized
by the National Crime Records Bureau under the Ministry
of Home Affairs to recognise the implementation of CCTNS
and ICJS projects.
www.insightsonindia.com 159

AYURSWASTHYA YOJANA
Context:
AYURSWASTHYA Yojana is run by the Ministry of AYUSH.
About Ayurswasthya Yojana:
• Ayurswasthya Yojana is an umbrella scheme that has
been developed to roll out authentic classical Ayush
interventions for promoting community health
care.
• It has two components: AYUSH and Public Health
(PHI) and Centre of Excellence (CoE)
• Under the CoE scheme, financial assistance is pro-
vided to eligible individual organizations/institutes
for establishing and upgrading their functions & fa-
cilities and/or for research & development activities
in AYUSH.
 The maximum admissible financial assis-
tance under the CoE component, to an or-
ganization/institute, is Rs.10.00 crores for a
maximum period of three years
The objectives of the Centre of Excellence component
of the AYURSWASTHYA Yojana are as under: -
• To support the establishment of advanced/ special-
ized AYUSH medical health units in reputed AYUSH
and Allopathic institutions both in Government and
Non-Government sectors.
• To support creative and innovative proposals for
the establishment and upgradation of functions
and facilities of reputed institutions to strengthen
competencies of AYUSH professionals in education
160 www.insightsonindia.com
technology, research & innovation and other fields
necessary for the promotion of AYUSH at national as
well as international levels.
• To support creative and innovative proposals for
prestigious organizations which have well-estab-
lished buildings and infrastructure, and wish to
work for AYUSH systems to the level of Centre of Ex-
cellence.
PORTALS IN NEWS
Context:
Examples of the portal that have been in the News recently.
Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry
• ‘Right to repair’ portal: Manufacturers would share
the manual of product details with customers so
that they could either repair by themselves, or by
third parties, rather than depend on the original
manufacturers.
 Initially, mobile phones, electronics, con-
sumer durables, automobiles and farming
equipment would be covered.
Ministry of Labour and Employment
• National Career Service Portal (2015): It is a job
platform for connecting qualified job seekers with
potential employers. It also enhances candidates’
personalities.
• E-Shram Portal (2021): It consists of a national data-
base of all unorganized workers (approx. 38 crores).
In 2022, the ministry linked both NCS and E-Shram
portal
Ministry of sports and youth affairs
 • Khelo India Dashboard: It provides updated re-
al-time statistical data related to Khelo India Scheme
and events. E-HRMS (ELECTRONIC HUMAN RE-
 Under the Khelo India programme, talented SOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) 2.0
players get a scholarship of Rs 5 lakh for 8 PORTAL
years.

Context:
Government (Department of Personnel and Training)
NATIONAL MOBILE MONITORING SYS- launched revamped probity portal and e-HRMS 2.0 portal
TEM (NMMS) for central government employees.

Context: Previously, employees could avail of limited Human Re-

Digitally capturing the attendance of workers employed un- sources Services and were not connected with other HR
der the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guar- applications. Now with the revamped portal, employees will
antee Scheme (MGREGS) through NMMS has been made get end-to-end HR services and save time and money on the
universal by the Centre from January 1, 2023.  management of human resources of the central government
• Any worksite having 20 or more workers under
MGREGS are to compulsorily mark the attendance Additional Information:
through NMMS Meaning of Probity: It means the quality of having strong
moral principles; honesty and decency
Difference between Integrity and Probity: Integrity implies
About NMMS: trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is
• The NMMS App was launched by the Minister of Ru- incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.
ral Development on May 21 2021. This app is aimed Probity implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.
at bringing more transparency and ensuring proper
monitoring of the schemes.
• It permits taking real-time attendance of workers
at Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worksites along with a
geo-tagged photograph.
• The app helps in increasing citizen oversight of the
programme.
• The App is applicable for the Mahatma Gandhi NRE-
GA workers for all the States/ Union Territories.

Fig: Sample of working of the e-HRMS portal

www.insightsonindia.com 161
International News and Organization
PARIS CLUB
Context:
The Paris Club is a group of officials from major creditor
countries whose role is to find coordinated and sustainable
solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor
countries.
• Founded in 1956 with headquarters in Paris (France).
• India is not a member of the club and acts as an ad-
hoc participants.
EAGLE ACT: BILL TO ELIMINATE
PER-COUNTRY QUOTA FOR GREEN
CARDS
Context:
This week, the House of Representatives in the US is sched-
uled to vote on the Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal
Employment (EAGLE) Act of 2022
What is the current system?
Under the current system, there is a cap of per-country
limit of 7% from a single country. As per the research, the
employment-based green card backlog for skilled Indians
reached 7.19 lakh in September 2021, with an expected wait
time of 90 years
162 www.insightsonindia.com
What will the EAGLE Act do?
• Eliminate a per-country cap on employment-based
green cards — a policy that disproportionately af-
fects Indian immigrants
 If passed, this legislation would phase out
the per-country caps over the course of
nine years to ensure that eligible immi-
grants from less populated countries are not
excluded
 It will allow individuals who have been wait-
ing in the immigrant visa backlog for two
years to file their Green Card applications
• Scrap the discriminatory system: The per-country
cap on Green Cards is a relic of a discriminatory sys-
tem that excluded Asian immigrants entirely in the
past
Benefits of eliminating such quotas:
• Will reduce the immigrant visa backlog
• Indian-Americans is set to benefit
• U.S. employers can focus on hiring people based on
merit, not their birthplace
• The bill would also keep families together by ensur-
ing that children of employment-based immigrants
do not age out of dependent status
What is a Green Card?
A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card,
is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence
that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing
permanently.
INDIA URGED TO ADOPT ASEAN CON-
SENSUS ON MYANMAR
Context:
Indonesian Foreign Minister urged the Indian counterpart to
adopt the ASEAN policy on Myanmar.
ASEAN’s 5- point consensus on Myanmar:
1. Calls for an immediate end to violence in the coun-
try.
2. Dialogue among all parties
3. The appointment of a special envoy
4. Humanitarian Assistance by ASEAN.
5. Special Envoy’s visit to Myanmar to meet with all
parties.
 “for their outstanding and multifaceted work”

Insta Links: ASEAN

GROUP OF FRIENDS

Context:
India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco and Nepal will co-chair
the ‘Group of Friends’ to promote accountability for crimes
against peacekeepers.
• India will soon launch a database that will record all
crimes against the Blue Helmets.
US’S NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA-
What is UN Peacekeeping? TION ACT (NDDA)
Peacekeeping by the United Nations is a role held by the De-
partment of Peace Operations as an “instrument developed
by the organization as a way to help countries torn by con- Context:
flict to create the conditions for lasting peace” US Senate passed an $858 billion defence bill (NDDA), with
a focus on the most vital national security priority for the US

Issues with UN Peacekeeping?

• Peace operations are also being conducted in an am-
biguous and complex environment
• Today’s peacekeeper is not mandated to keep the
peace but to take on robust mandates in extremely
hostile conflict zones.
• The involvement of armed groups, terrorists and
transnational organised crime has adversely im-
pacted their operations,
• There have been  scandals where the UN missions
appear to have not done enough on corruption.
• UN military peacekeepers have not acted to protect
civilians from violence, such as in South Sudan.
• two militaries.
UN Resolution 2589 calls upon the member states to take
all appropriate measures against perpetrators of violence
against UN personnel
Steps prioritized:
• Strengthen US engagement in the Indo-Pacific re-
gions
• Give service members a hefty pay raise
• Bolster support for Ukraine and Taiwan
• Revoke the US military’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate
• Blacklists 36 Chinese companies
India-US has cordial defence relations. US accorded India
‘Strategic Trade Authorization Tier 1 status’ in 2018 while
the India accorded US ‘Major Defence Partner’ status in
2016. It allows high-technology product sales between the
Other Agreements between the two nations: GSOMIA
(2002), LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), BECA (2020)

India has a long history of service in UN Peacekeeping, hav-

ing contributed more personnel than any other country. To
date, more than 2,53,000 Indians have served in 49 of the
71 UN Peacekeeping missions established around the world
since 1948.
In April this year, about 1,160 Indian peacekeepers currently
serving in Upper Nile State were honoured with UN medals

www.insightsonindia.com 163
 with it, India is hosting the International Lusophone Festival
in Goa.
• Portuguese ruled over Goa between 1510 till 1961.
• The Lusophone world is spread over nine coun-
tries across four continents, and Portuguese is the
most widely-spoken language in the Southern Hemi-
sphere.

UNSC RESOLUTION 2593

Context:
India joins other nations in criticising Taliban’s ban on Women
in universities.

What is the resolution 2593?

• United Nations  Security Council  Resolu-
tion 2593 was adopted on 30 August 2021, following
the Fall of Kabul and subsequent Taliban takeover in
Afghanistan.
• According to the resolution, the Security Council de-
mands that Afghan territory not be used to threat-
en or attack any other country or to shelter and
train terrorists.
• It reaffirms importance of upholding human rights
including those of women.
GS3
Economy
ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES
Context:
States to set up district-wise price monitoring centres for
essential items.
• Essential commodities are the products, the supply
of which, if obstructed due to hoarding or black mar-
keting, would affect the normal life of the people.
The Department of Consumer Affairs (under the Ministry of
Consumer Affairs, Food & Public distribution) has a system
of collecting prices of 22 essential food commodities in the
country. 
• All states should set up price monitoring centres for
critical goods in all districts.
• The Centre is providing financial support to create
750 price monitoring centres.

Essential commodities are regulated under the Essential

Commodities Act, of 1955
Insta Links: UNSC • It aims to regulate the production, supply and distribu-
tion of, and trade and commerce in, certain commodi-
ties, in the interest of the general public.
LUSOPHONE WORLD • The central government may add or remove an essential
Context: commodity from the list through a notification.
India is strategically engaging with a new geopolitical group-
ing: the Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking countries). In line Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): BIS is the National Stan-

164 www.insightsonindia.com
dard Body of India under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs,
Food & Public Distribution. It was established under the BIS
Act 2016.
• Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribu-
tion is the ex-officio President.
• The main activities are standardization, marking and
quality certification of goods.
• BIS is responsible for developing Indian Standards, im-
plementing voluntary and mandatory standards, such as
Quality Control Orders, and providing quality assurance
to consumers.
CALLING NAME PRESENTATION (CNP)
• Remembered for being a democratic and follower
of an inclusive approach to development.
• As the Chair of the Planning Commission Task Force,
he constructed a separate poverty line for rural and
urban areas for the first time, based on Nutritional
requirements (less than 2400 calories in rural areas
and 2100 calories in urban areas).
• As the head of the Agricultural Prices Commission,
he set up its econometrics cell which recommends
MSP for different crops.
• He chaired a High-powered committee whose report
paved way for setting up cooperative businesses as
“Producer Companies”.

Context:
TRAI has floated a consultation paper seeking comments on
the ‘Calling Name Presentation (CNP)’ feature.

What is the Calling Name Presentation feature?

Provides individual, information about the calling party (like
Truecaller), to ensure that subscribers can make an informed
choice about incoming calls, thus avoiding harassment by
unknown or spam callers.

Concerns:
• Regarding balancing the caller’s right to remain
anonymous (Right to Privacy under Articles 14,19
POWER FROM SEA WAVES
and 21 as per the Puttaswamy judgement)
• Threaten Whistle-blowers Context:
Researchers at the  Indian Institute of Technology  Madras
(IIT Madras) have invented an ‘Ocean Wave Energy Convert-
Way ahead: The feature has to be seen in parallel with Digi- er’ (OWEC) that can generate electricity from sea waves.
tal Personal Data Protection Bill 2022

Mechanism:
The device is called Sindhuja-I. It consists of a floating buoy,
a spar and an electric module. A vertically submerged float-
er absorbs wave energy (based on an Oscillating Water Col-
umn) which is converted by a piston or linear generator into
electricity. (See left diagram)

YK ALAGH

Context:
The former Minister and Economist passes away at 83

About Mr ALAGH:

www.insightsonindia.com 165
How will it benefit:
• It can help India’s coastal states and Islands such as
Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar produce
40-50 GW of wave energy.
 Seawater stores tidal, wave and ocean ther-
mal energy, making the harnessing of 40
GW wave energy possible in India
• The converter may help India achieve the climate
change-related goal of generating 500 GW of re-
newable energy by 2030
Other ways to harness energy from the ocean: Ocean ther-
mal energy conversion (OTEC) based on temperature differ-
ence (see image: right image); Tidal energy converter; Off-
shore Wind turbines etc.
EUROPEAN SECURITIES AND MARKETS
AUTHORITY (ESMA)
Context:
ESMA and UK derecognised 6 major Indian clearing houses
from 1st April 2023
What are Clearing Houses?
They are intermediaries between buyers and sellers of fi-
nancial instruments
Why derecognised?
Due to ‘No cooperation arrangements’ between ESMA and
Indian regulators (RBI, SEBI and IFSCA). Indian regulators
don’t allow ESMA to regulate Indian Clearing houses as they
feel the Indian regulatory system is robust enough
Impact of such derecognition: Indian clearing houses can’t
provide clearing services to European clients
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is
an independent European Union (EU) Authority that con-
tributes to safeguarding the stability of the EU’s financial sys-
tem by enhancing the protection of investors and promoting
stable and orderly financial markets.
166 www.insightsonindia.com
Razorpay - 1st payment gateway to support credit
cards on UPI
Source: Indian Express
Context: With the aim to further strengthen digital pay-
ments and boost India’s credit penetration, the platform an-
nounced its readiness to support Credit Card Transactions
on Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Present scenario
• UPI enables customers to make transactions through
their bank accounts.
• Linking credit cards with UPI will ensure that cus-
tomers will no longer have to carry their credit cards
with them at all times for payments.
• As per RBI’s data, despite growing steadily at the rate
of 30% over the last three years, remains primarily
underpenetrated with only 6% of Indians having ac-
cess to a credit card.
• On the other hand, UPI has recorded over 731 crore
transactions in Oct 2022 alone being used by more
than 40% of Indians.
• With RuPay credit cards being enabled on UPI, Ra-
zorpay merchants can begin accepting credit card
payments on UPI, with minimal changes to their ex-
isting setup.
What are Payment Gateways?
It is a technology used by merchants to accept debit/cred-
it card purchases from customers. It includes physical card
reading devices found in brick-and-mortar retail stores and
the payment processing portals found in online stores.
Districts as Export Hub (DEH) initiative
Source: PIB, PIB
Context: ODOP (One District One Product) initiative is op-
erationally merged with the ‘Districts as Export Hub (DEH)’
initiative of the DGFT, Department of Commerce, with DPIIT
as a major stakeholder.
ODOP focuses on identifying products in the districts that
have manufacturing and export potential. It comes under
the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Under DEH, a list of products and services with export po-
tential is regularly updated for all districts of the country. It
comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) are
to be constituted in each District, headed by a Col-
lector.
• The primary function of the DEPC is to prepare and
act on District Specific Export Action Plans in collab-
oration with all the relevant stakeholders from the
Centre, State and District.
Related news:
RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Prod-
ucts) Scheme has been now extended to chemical, Pharma,
Iron and Steel. RoDTEP replaces the previous MEIS scheme WHAT ARE THE FACTORS OF PRODUC-
which violated the provision of WTO. In RoDTEP (under the
ministry of Commerce and Industry), exporters get the re- TION?
fund of the embedded duties/taxes that are not rebated un-
der other schemes. Context:
While some consider land, labour, and capital to be building
blocks of the economy, others include time and entrepre-
neurship as well.

What are the factors of production?

• Factors of production are resources that are thought
to be the basic building blocks of production in any
economy.
• These are absolutely necessary for the production
of any good or service.

Heterodox economist views:

• Land, labour and time are the primary factors of
production.
• Capital and Entrepreneurship are secondary factors
CIRCULAR TRADING of production.

Context:
Ownership of factors of production:
The issue of circular trading could be taken up by the Goods
• Marxist economists – All factors of production need
and Services Tax (GST) Council in its upcoming meeting.  to be collectively owned by the state, to avoid ex-
ploitation of labour and mismanagement of scarce
resources.
There are different forms of Circular trading:
Form 1: Circular trading refers to fraudulently availing input • Free market economists – Private ownership of fac-
tax credit by traders by issuing invoices without availing any tors of production because of the incentives it offers
real goods or services.  to resource owners.
Form 2: Circular trading is a fraudulent scheme where sales
orders are entered by a broker who knows that offsetting
buy orders for the exact same number of shares at the same
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS
time and, at the same price, have either been or will be en-
tered. This artificially shows boosts up sales. Context:
Form 3: Please see attached image SEBI bars AIFs from raising capital from a non-compliant for-
eign investor.

As per SEBI, a foreign Investor (FI) must be a resident of a

country whose market regulator is a signatory of either the
international organization of Securities Commissions (IOS-
CO) or has an MoU with SEBI.

IOSCO is an international body for securities regulators and

standards. Sebi is a member of it.

www.insightsonindia.com 167

BANKS’ NPAS WRITTEN OFF
Context:
Banks have written off bad loans worth Rs 10, 09, 511 crores
in the last 5 fiscal years as told by the finance minister in the
parliament.
What are NPA/ Bad loans?
A non-performing asset (NPA) is a loan or advance for which
the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a
period of 90 days.
How are they classified?
1. Substandard assets: Assets which have remained
NPA for a period less than or equal to 12 months.
2. Doubtful assets: An asset would beclassified as doubtful if it has
remained in the substandard category for a period of 12 months.
3. Loss assets: As per RBI, “Loss asset is considered uncollect-
ible and of such little value that its continuance as a bank-
able asset is not warranted, although there may be some
salvage or recovery value.”
Writing off of Bad loans/NPA?
• Writing off a loan essentially means it will no longer
be counted as an asset.
• By writing off loans, a bank can reduce the level of
non-performing assets (NPAs) on its books.
168 www.insightsonindia.com
• An additional benefit is that the amount so written
off reduces the bank’s tax liability.
Why do banks write off?
• After the write-off, the lender moves the defaulted
loan, or NPA, out of the assets side and reports the
amount as a loss.
• After the write-off, banks are supposed to continue
their efforts to recover the loan using various op-
tions.
• They have to make provisioning as well.
• The tax liability will also come down as the writ-
ten-off amount is reduced from the profit.
CUSTOMS ACT 1962 COMPLETES 60
YEARS
Context:
CBIC celebrates the completion of 60 years of the Customs
act 1962.
Customs Act 1962:
1. To restrict the imports for conserving foreign ex-
change.
2. To protect the imports and exports of goods for
achieving the policy objectives of the Government.
3. To regulate export.
4. Coordinating legal provisions with other laws deal-
ing with foreign exchange such as the Foreign Trade
Act and the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act.
5. To safeguard domestic trade
6. To protect the industries in India from unfair com-
petition
7. To prevent the smuggling of goods and activities re-
lated to the same.
8. To prevent the dumping of goods.
Mascot Officer Hans released:
• This mascot (Officer Hans) is the majestic blue Swan
which symbolises purity and knowledge of Customs.
• The ability of the bird to extract milk from a mixture
of milk and water represents the ability of Customs
to differentiate between good and evil and to iden-
tify and prevent illicit activities of smuggling, narcot-
ics, duty evasion etc.

NATIONAL RAIL PLAN (NRP)
Context:
The National Rail Plan envisages that the share of freight
traffic by rail should go up from the current share of 27% to
45% by 2030
• The Government had come up with the National
Rail Plan last year.
Objectives of the plan:
• To create capacity ahead of demand by 2030, which
in turn would cater to growth in demand right up to
2050.
• To increase the modal share of Railways from 27%
currently to 45% in freight by 2030 as part of a na-
tional commitment to reduce Carbon emissions and
to continue to sustain it.
• To assess the actual demand in the freight and pas-
senger sectors
• Forecast growth of traffic in both freight and pas-
senger year on year up to 2030 and on a decadal
basis up to 2050.
• Reduce transit time of freight substantially by in-
creasing the average speed of freight trains from the
present 22Kmph to 50Kmph
• Reduce the overall cost of Rail transportation by
nearly 30% and pass on the benefits to the custom-
ers.
• The construction of Dedicated Freight Corridors
(DFCs) on the important high-density route
Benefits of DFC operation:
• Higher throughput per wagon and per train: Run
Heavy Haul trains with an overall load of 13000
tonnes.
• Lower Energy Consumption: Reduce Operation and
Maintenance Costs
• Reduction in Transit time: Reduce the logistic cost of
transportation and better utilization of Rolling stock 
Other programmes of Railways for freight:
• Tariff rationalization and Tariff/freight incentive
schemes
• Diversification of freight basket
• Automobile Freight Train Operator Scheme (AFTO)
• Introduction of Cube Container for two-wheeler
traffic
• A New ‘Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal
(GCT)’ policy
• As part of the National Rail Plan,  Vision 2030 has
been launched for accelerated implementation of
certain critical projects.
NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION
AWARD
Context:
On the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day (14th
December), President awarded the national energy conser-
vation award (NECA)
• NECA was initiated by the Bureau of energy efficien-
cy (BEE) under the Ministry of Power in 1991
President also launched the ‘EV-Yatra Portal’ (developed by
BEE) to facilitate in-vehicle navigation to the nearest public
Electric Vehicle charger.
About BEE:
BEE is a statutory body established in 2002 under the En-
ergy Conservation Act 2001 to promote the efficient use of
energy and its conservation
REGISTERED GI RISE TO 432
Context:
Adding to the present collection of GIs, 09 new items from
various states of India such as Gamosa of Assam, Tandur
Redgram of Telangana, Raktsey Karpo Apricot of Ladakh,
Alibag White Onion of Maharashtra etc. have been given
www.insightsonindia.com 169
the coveted GI Tags. Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) (by OECD and G20
The top five states holding maximum number of GIs are Kar- countries)
nataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra and Kerala.  
Aim: The landmark deal between nearly 140 countries aims
About GI Tag:
• A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manu- to stop governments racing to cut taxes in a bid to attract
factured product (handicraft and industrial goods) companies.
originating from a definite geographical territory.
• A GI tag conveys an assurance of quality and dis- Corporation tax is usually based on a company’s profits. But
tinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the often they might be able to pay less depending on where
place of its origin.
their offices are registered or how they invest in their busi-
• The  Geographical Indications of Goods (Registra-
tion and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for ness (known as BEPS)
the registration and better protection of geographical
indications relating to goods in India.
• It is governed and directed by the WTO Agreement
on  Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS).

Related News: Beypore Uru

The District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode has ap-

plied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the famous
Beypore Uru (boat).

It is a wooden dhow (ship/sailing boat/sailing vessel) hand-

crafted by skilled artisans and carpenters in Beypore, Kera-
la and is a symbol of Kerala’s trade relations and friendship
with the Gulf countries.

The Beypore Urus are purely made of premium wood, with-

out using any modern techniques. The wood used to build
the Uru is still sawed the traditional way which requires
immense expertise. It takes anywhere between 1-4 years to
build each Uru and the entire process is done manually.

INSURANCE REGULATIONS

Direction:
Details of the notification are a bit technical in nature. You
may skip finer details as the benefit-cost ratio is low.

Context:
The government has notified six insurance regulations de-
cisions of IRDAI, with the aim to boost Insurance penetra-
tion in the country from present around 4% (World average
around 6%)

Decisions Notified:
• Increase in tie-up limits for intermediaries: The maxi-
GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX mum number of tie-ups for Corporate Agents (CA) and
Insurance Marketing Firms (IMF) have been increased
Context: to enable last-mile insurance penetration and increase
The European Union has adopted a plan for a global mini- the choice of insurance
mum 15% tax on big business • The regulatory sandbox time period increased
• GMT was drawn up under the framework on Base for insurers/intermediaries from 6 months to 36

170 www.insightsonindia.com
 months:
• The Regulatory sandbox is a framework which provides
a testing environment to the companies to enable them
to test their innovative products, technologies, etc., in a
controlled regulatory setting.
• It promotes innovation and technological solutions in
the industry.
• Experience and qualification requirements of the Ap-
pointed Actuary (it values the reserve of insurers to pay
future policy benefits) have been made flexible.
• Registration of insurance companies made it simpler to
promote ease of doing business.

Other measures:
• Proposed amendments in the two insurance acts-In-
surance Act,1938 and IRDA Act, 1999 for overhaul-
ing the insurance sector have been put up for public
comment.

Related News:
Surety Bond Insurance: Surety Bond Insurance is a risk trans-
fer tool for the principal (here government agencies) and
shields the principal from the losses that may arise in case
the contractor fails to perform their contractual obligation.
• It has been started for 1st time in India by Bajaj Allianz
• E.g., If a government agency (e.g., NHAI) has awarded a
project to some contractor to finish and the contractor
leaves mid-way. Then NHAI can recover the losses from
the Surety bond and award the rest of the work to an-
other contractor.
PURSE SEINE FISHING
Context:
Certain coastal states (e.g., TN, Odisha, Kerala, etc.) had im-
posed a ban on purse seine fishing. But the central govern-
ment has criticized the move and said it is unjustified.
A purse seine is made of a long wall of netting framed with
floating and leadline and having purse rings hanging from
the lower edge of the gear, through which runs a purse line
made from steel wire or rope which allows the pursing of
the net.

Advantages:
• Purse-seine fishing in open water is generally con-
sidered to be an efficient form of fishing
• It has no contact with the seabed and can have low
levels of bycatch (accidental catch of unwanted spe-
cies)
• Purse seines can also be used to catch fish congre-
gating around fish aggregating devices
• Expert panel observation: This mode of fishing has
not resulted in any serious resource depletion so
far, given the available evidence”.

Recommendations of the expert panel:

• It recommended purse seiners fish in territorial wa-
ters and the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
subject to certain conditions.
• Framing of a “national management plan on purse
seine fisheries”

www.insightsonindia.com 171
 FREEING UP EEZ

Context:
Defence and Space agencies release 99% of EEZ (exclusive
economic zones) areas for Oil Exploration and Production
(E&P) in order to promote energy security in the country.
Significance of the move
• Will release over 40% of prohibited areas for explo-
ration
• Help boost up Oil production and reduce import de-
pendence

About EEZ: The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) comprises an

area which extends from the end of territorial water to 200
nautical miles (370 kilometres) off the coast.
• In all, India’s EEZ is about 2.36 million sq km, of which
1 million sq km, about 42%, was in the ‘no go’ zone.

SIDBI TO SUPPORT MICRO-LENDING

Context:
SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) provides
financial support to micro-finance companies which then mi-
cro-lends to other groups/institutions/ individuals.
• SIDBI provide funds for the fund
• It provides direct financing and indirect financing
• It focuses on the “Credit Plus Approach” for facilitat-
ing technology modernisation and upgradation etc.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Finance
• It is one of the four financial institutions regulated
and supervised by the RBI
QR CODE FOR LPG CYLINDERS

Context:
A pilot study for QR code tagging of cylinders has been un-
dertaken by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) at Madanpur
Khadar Bottling Plant, Delhi.

It will be launched by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited

(IOCL) to help prevent  gas theft from LPG gas cylinders,
solve issues of adulteration, unfair practices, pilferage, track-
ing, tracing and ensure better inventory management of the
cylinders. 

How will it work?

• QR Code will be posted on existing cylinders and
welded on new ones.
• QR code can be read by a digital device
• It is likely to work in the same way as the Aadhar
card.

172 www.insightsonindia.com
 • The LPG customers will be able to access informa-
tion about the purchased cylinder such as where it
was bottled, who is the dealer, when it was manu-
factured, refiling, safety tests, locating stolen cylin-
ders, among other details.
QR Code:
• A QR code consists of black square and dots.
• They store information in both vertical and hori-
zontal axes, which allows them to hold significantly
more data.
Insta Links: Ujjwala Yojana
STOCK EXCHANGE ROUTE TO BUYBACK
BANNED?
Context:
SEBI prefers repurchase of shares by companies from share-
holders on a proportionate basis through tender offer, and
ban the stock market mode.
What is share buyback/ share repurchase?
• When a listed company buys its own shares from ex-
isting shareholders.
• It reduces the number of outstanding shares in the
open market which can lead to better valuation and
earing per share (EPS).
• The maximum limit of any buyback - 25per cent or
less of the aggregate of paid-up capital and free re-
serves of a company.
What is Stock Exchange Route?
• A company can buy back shares only on the stock
exchanges having nationwide trading terminals.
• The buyback will be made only through the order
matching mechanism – the promoters, or persons in
control of a company, are not allowed to participate.
• The Keki Mistry committee setup by SEBI to found
that under the stock exchange route, there is the
possibility of one shareholder’s entire trade getting
matched with the purchase order placed by the com-
pany, thus depriving other shareholders from availing
the benefit of buyback (Against principle of equita-
ble treatment).
• Doesn’t benefit small shareholders.
What is the Tender Route?
• An offer is made by the company to buyback its own
shares through a letter of offer from the holders of
the share of the company.
• It is done on a proportionate basis as per buyback
ratio.
• It is similar to buying shares online through Demat
account.
• The price is fixed and is offered higher than market
price.
• 15% is reserved for small shareholders
• Democratises the process as all shareholders will get
to participate.
BIJLI UTSAV BY REC
Context:
‘Bijli Utsav’ was organised by REC Ltd in Gujarat as a part of
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
About Bijli Utsav:
• Speaker sessions by utility officials highlighting the
consumer rights of electricity, benefits of electrici-
ty and the challenges faced during electrification in
remote areas and how the quality of life improves
with access to power.
• Engaged villagers and children in quiz competitions
• Nukkad Nataks were performed
• Distribution of LED bulbs as gifts to winners.
www.insightsonindia.com 173
REC Ltd:
• It is an NBFC focusing on Power Sector Financing and
Development across India.
• It is a Maharatna company under Ministry of Power.
• Established in 1969, it provides financial assistance
to state electricity boards, state governments, cen-
tral/state power utilities, independent power pro-
ducers, rural electric cooperatives and private sector
utilities.
• It is a Nodal Agency for Government of India’s flag-
ship schemes viz.  Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har
Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGAYA), Deen Dayal Upadhaya
Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and National Electricity
Fund (NEF).
• REC’s funding illuminates every fourth bulb in India.
Insta Links: Schemes under ministry of Power
AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME
Context:
Railways plans to modernise 1,000 small stations under Am-
rit Bharat Station Scheme.  As per the SEBI:
• This is apart from the ambitious plan to revamp 200
big stations under a separate redevelopment pro-
gramme.
Aim: The aim is to identify developing cities with potential
and envisage railway stations as city centres that would link
not just various parts of the city but also between different
cities in the future.
By: According to need, the divisional railway managers will
take a call on modernisation works in a phased manner
Khurda model of redevelopment
• Khurda station in Odisha has been modernised for
Rs 4 crore with all contemporary amenities for pas-
sengers.
• The main structure was renovated, the facade was
redone and the number of railway tracks was also
increased.
174 www.insightsonindia.com
Modernisation of these stations would include improved
station approaches to ensure smooth access by widening
roads, removal of unwanted structures, properly designed
signages, dedicated pedestrian pathways, well-planned
parking areas, and improved lighting among others.
• Elements of landscaping, green patches and local art
and culture should be used to create a pleasant ex-
perience for the station users.
SOCIAL STOCK EXCHANGE (SSE)
Context:
SEBI has given nod to the National Stock exchange (NSE) for
the social stock exchange, to set up a Social Stock Exchange
(SSE) as a separate segment of the NSE.
• The government had in her Union Budget speech of
2019-20, proposed the creation of a Social Stock Ex-
change. It then issued a new security ‘Zero Coupon
Zero Principal (ZCZP)’. This year in July, SEBI notified
rules for SSE.
• Currently, the regulations have prescribed the mini-
mum issue size as ₹1 crore and the minimum appli-
cation size for subscription at ₹2 lakhs. Subscription
to the ZCZP would be like a philanthropic donation
• Social Stock Exchange may be constituted as a sep-
arate segment under the existing stock exchanges.
• A social enterprise may be eligible for onboarding on
SSE if it demonstrates that social intent and impact
are its primary goals and it reports such impact.
• This is irrespective of the legal structure of the en-
terprise.
• It allows For-Profit Social Enterprises (FPEs) and not-
for-profit organizations (NPO) with a social purpose,
to raise funds
Examples of SSEs are: Singapore (Impact Investment Ex-
change), Canada (Social Venture Connexion) and the UK (So-
cial Stock Exchange)
 several cases depend upon the source of imports (also see
infographic below)
• Each FTA has its own origin rules
• CAROTAR provisions were introduced by the Indian
government in 2020

What are the CAROTAR Rules?

• Importers have to prove that imported products
have undergone value addition of at least 35% in the
countries of origin.
• Earlier, merely a country-of-origin certificate, issued
by a notified agency in the country of export was suf-
ficient to avail the benefits of FTAs.

What is a Free Trade Agreement?

It is an  arrangement between two or more countries or
trading blocs that primarily agree to reduce or eliminate
customs tariffs and non-tariff barriers on substantial trade
between them.

India-Australia Trade
• India-Australia economic cooperation
and  trade  agreement (ECTA) will come into effect
from December 29.
• Australia is the 17th largest trading partner of India
and India is Australia’s 9th largest trading partner.
• India-Australia bilateral trade for both merchandise
and services is valued at $ 27.5 billion in 2021

Related News:
India’s ongoing FTA negotiations with the UK, EU and other
countries might face the issue from non-tariff barriers e.g.,
USA (Issue of carbon emission from steel); EU (EU proposed
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms from 2026).
A  nontariff barrier  is a way to restrict trade using trade
barriers in a form other than a tariff. Nontariff barriers include
quotas, embargoes, and sanctions on a range of issues such
as carbon emission, labour and gender balance standards,
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures etc.
India has FTAs with Australia, UAE, Mauritius, Japan, Singa-
pore etc.
RULES OF ORIGIN

Context:
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) notifies
Rules of Origin (RoO) for the India-Australia trade pact

What are the Rules of Origin?

As per the WTO, Rules of origin are the criteria needed to
determine the national source of a product. Their impor-
tance is derived from the fact that duties and restrictions in

www.insightsonindia.com 175
Q. The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partner-
ship’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs
of a group of countries known as (UPSC 2016)
(a)G20
(b)ASEAN
(c)SCO
(d) SAARC
Ans: (b)
ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS
Context:
Scientists at IIT Kanpur have developed organic solar cell de-
vices consisting of a blend of organic polymer (PTB7) as a
donor and (PCBM) organic semiconductor as an acceptor on
steel substrates.
• It can convert a steel roof into an energy-producing
device
• This is part of emerging 3rd generation photovoltaic
solar cells technologies
What are 3rd generation photovoltaic solar cells tech-
nologies?
Third-generation solar cells (SCs) are solution-processed SCs
based on semiconducting organic macromolecules, inor-
ganic nanoparticles or hybrids.
How do organic solar cells work?
A typical organic solar cell consists of two semiconducting
layers made of plastic polymers and other flexible materi-
als. The cell generates electricity by absorbing particles of
light, or photons.
• It is based on the photosynthesis process in Plants
176 www.insightsonindia.com
NATIONAL E-GOVERNANCE SERVICES
LIMITED (NESL)
Context:
Two years after the first completely digital loan document
agreement was executed, the government-backed National
E-Governance Services (NeSL) processed one million transac-
tions through its digital document execution (DDE) platform.
NeSL’s DDE platform digitalises loan documents from sub-
mission to payment of stamp duty, to digital e-stamping to
e-sign by the signatories to a completely secure digital stor-
age system.
• So far, more than 25 financial sector enti-
ties have already been onboarded on the NeSL
DDE platform and are undertaking transactions.
Significance:
• NeSL’s DDE system’s end-to-end electronic execu-
tion helps in preventing fraud, especially in small
ticket loans
• It helps in saving the time and cost of documenta-
tion
About NeSL
It is India’s 1st Information Utility, registered with the In-
solvency and Bankruptcy Board (IBBI) under the aegis of
the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. It holds a
repository of legal evidence and information pertaining to
any debt/claims.
‘STAY SAFE ONLINE’ CAMPAIGN AND
‘G20 DIGITAL INNOVATION ALLIANCE’
Context:
As part of India’s G20 presidency, the Minister for Electronics
& Information Technology, Communications and Railways,
has launched the “Stay Safe Online” campaign and the “G20
Digital Innovation Alliance” (G20-DIA).
About Stay Safe Online Campaign:
• To raise awareness among citizens to stay safe in
the online world due to the widespread use of so-
cial media platforms and the rapid adoption of dig-
ital payments. The campaign will be carried out in
English, Hindi and local languages to reach a wider
audience.
About G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (G20-DIA)
• The objective of the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance
(G20-DIA) is to identify, recognize, and enable the
adoption of innovative and impactful digital tech-
nologies developed by startups, from G20 nations
as well as the invited non-member nations, which
can address the needs of humanity in the critically
important sectors of Agri-tech, Health-tech, Ed-
tech, Fin-tech, Secured Digital Infrastructure, and
Circular Economy.
WAPCOS
Context: Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Lim-
ited, a government of India Enterprise (under Ministry of Jal
Shakti) has been ranked as a top consulting firm in water
and other infrastructure sectors by Asian Development Bank
(ADB).
• WAPCO (launched in 1969) has been given “Mini
Ratna” company
• WAPCOS is a leading technology-driven Consultan-
cy and Engineering, Procurement and Construction
(EPC) organization in the fields of Water Resources,
Power and Infrastructure Development.
• Apart from India, the Company has successfully
completed/ongoing consultancy assignments in
more than 51 Countries covering Asia, Africa, CIS,
Pacific Islands and South America.
COOPERATIVE SOCIETY
Context:
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah inau-
gurated Mega Dairy at Mandya, Karnataka
Key points highlighted:
• The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
and Ministry of Cooperation will establish primary
dairy in every panchayat of the country in the next
three years
• Amul and Nandini together will work towards set-
ting up a primary dairy in every village of Karnataka
and in three years there will not be a single village in
Karnataka without a primary dairy
• To bring transparency in cooperatives computeriza-
tion of 63,000 PACS is being done across the country
at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore
 Through PACS (Primary Agricultural Cred-
it Society) the cooperative covers 70% of the
farmers in the country
Cooperatives in Karnataka:
• Nearly 23 lakh farmers, mostly women, are paid Rs
28 crore per day under the Nandini brand in Karna-
taka which is making their life more prosperous
• The first cooperative society in the whole country
was established in Karnataka in 1905 and the coop-
erative movement started from there (Cooperative
in banking was 1st established in 1903 in Bengal)
• Today there are 15,210 village-level cooperative
dairies in Karnataka, in which about 26.22 lakh farm-
ers deliver their milk daily through 16 district-level
dairies and Rs 28 crore goes into the accounts of 26
lakh farmers every day
Cooperatives in India:
• Out of 30 lakh cooperatives in the whole world, 9
lakh cooperatives are in India
• 91% of the villages of the country’s population are
connected to the cooperative i
• Contributions: 19% of our agriculture finance is
through cooperative societies, 35% through fertil-
izer distribution, 30% through fertilizer production,
40% through sugar production, 13% wheat and 20%
paddy procurement is through cooperatives only
• Cooperative is Production for Masses, Production
by Masses
• Successful models: Amul, Kribhco, IFFCO, and Lizzat
Papad have set a successful example in front of the
world
• The White Revolution in Gujarat has changed the
fortunes of farmers and through Amul, 60,000 crore
rupees are deposited into the bank accounts of
about 36 lakh women annually
www.insightsonindia.com 177
Other Government Schemes:
• A separate  ‘Ministry of Co-operation’ with the vi-
sion of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’  (Prosperity through
Cooperation)
• Ksheer Bhagya scheme: Karnataka Government is
providing free milk to schools and Anganwadi 5 days
a week through cooperatives (KMF).
Constitutional provisions:
• The Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011 add-
ed a new Part IXB right after Part IXA (Municipals)
regarding the cooperatives working in India.
• Article 19(1)(c): The word “cooperatives” was add-
ed after “unions and associations” in  Article 19(1)
(c). This enables all the citizens to form cooperatives
by giving it the status of the fundamental right of
citizens
• Article 43B was added in the Directive Principles of
State Policy  (Part IV)  regarding the “promotion of
cooperative societies”
Agriculture
BLACK SOIL
Context:
As per the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) re-
port  “Global status of black soils”, black soils are under
threat, with most losing at least half of their soil organic car-
bon (SOC) stocks (the carbon stored in soil organic matter).
What does the report say?
178 www.insightsonindia.com
• Black soil is important for climate change mitiga-
tion: Soils remove carbon  from the atmosphere
and lock it up in soil organic matter (called carbon
sequestration). Soils have been proposed as an im-
portant solution to mitigate human-induced climate
change 
• However, black soils are quickly losing their SOC
stocks. They have lost 20 to 50 per cent of their orig-
inal SOC stock
Recommendation by the Report:
• Preserving natural vegetation on black soils such as
grasslands, forests and wetlands and adopting sus-
tainable soil management approaches on cropped
black soils were the two main goals highlighted by
the report.
KRISHI-DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM
(KRISHI-DSS)
Context:
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and
the Department of Space signed an MoU to develop the Kri-
shi-DSS using geospatial technologies {using RISAT-1 remote
sensing satellite and VEDAS (Visualization of Earth Observa-
tion Data and Archival System)}.

EASTERN RAJASTHAN CANAL PROJECT
(ERCP)
Context:
ERCP was in news recently. Also, at the meeting of the Spe-
cial Committee for Interlinking of Rivers, the modified Par-
bati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link project was integrated
with ERCP as part of the national perspective plan.
The ERCP aims to harvest surplus water available during the
rainy season in rivers in southern Rajasthan such as Chambal
and its tributaries including Kunnu, Parvati, and Kalisindh
and transfer to deficit basins in South-Eastern Rajasthan.
Related Canal:
Indira Gandhi Canal: It aims to irrigate Western Rajasthan
with Himalayas water. The origin of this 204km feeder canal
is from Harike barrage situated in Punjab.
ARECANUT
Context:
Farmers have been urging Centre to control import of areca-
nuts to check falling prices in the domestic market. 
About Arecanut/Areca Palm:
• Usually referred to as Areca palm, but has also been
called yellow palm, butterfly palm, yellow butterfly
palm, cane palm and golden feather palm.
• Stems are many clustered, slender, and sometimes
branching.
• May reach 30 feet tall.
• Leaves are ascending, curved at the apex with
sheaths and petioles yellow or orange tinged.
• Originated in Madagascar and is widely grown out-
doors in the tropics.
• In temperate zones they are popular as specimen
plants for indoor use because they can tolerate rela-
tively low light conditions.
• Arecanut is considered a horticulture crop in the
states, a commercial crop at the national level and a
dry fruit in international markets.
Growing Condition:
• Temperature range of 14ºC and 36ºC.
• Ideal rainfall – 750 mm to 4500 mm/ Irrigation
• Gravelly laterite soil
Issues faced by farmers:
• Import of cheaper varieties from Bhutan
• Massive crop damage due to excessive rainfall
• Financial loss due to plant disease like yellow leaf
disease, fruit rot disease and blast disease.
• 35 – 40 % of crop has been affected in 2022
www.insightsonindia.com 179
Sirsi Supari” Gets GI Tag
‘Sirsi Supari’ grown in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka
has received the Geographic Indication (GI) tag.
The arecanut has unique  features like a round and flat-
tened coin shape, particular texture, taste and has a hard
seed. These features are not seen in arecanut grown in any
other regions.

NATIONAL FARMERS DAY

Context:
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah
wished farmers across the country on the occasion of Farm-
er’s Day, on 23rd Dec.

Why is it celebrated?
• To commemorate and recognise the farmers as the
country’s backbone. BASMATI RICE
• The date was selected as it coincides with the birth
anniversary of India’s 5th Prime Minister Chaudry Context:
Charan Singh. The new authenticity rules aim to remove sub-standard vari-
• It is being celebrated since 2001. eties from the market

About Chaudry Charan Singh: What are the issues about?

• Popularly called as Kisan Leader
• His writings not only portrayed the difficulties faced
by the farmers, but also contained solutions to im-
prove their lives.
• Inspired by Lal Bahadur Shastri, Charan Singh saw
how the exploitation of farmers at the hands of za-
mindars impacted India’s rural economy.
• As Revenue Minister of UP, he designed land reform
laws which made the peasants of the nation look
upto him.
• His popular works include –
“Abolition of Zamindari”
“Joint Farming X-rayed”
“India’s Poverty and its Solution”
“Peasant Proprietorship
India produces nearly three-quarters of the world’s basma-
ti; however, a huge number of newly cultivated varieties lack
the unique popcorn-like fragrance that helps to make this
rice so sought after.
So, UK and EU rice associations have introduced new
rules that will come into effect at the beginning of 2023 that
aim to take lesser varieties (sub-standards) of basmati off
the market. 
Which rice qualifies as Basmati Rice?
To qualify as basmati, grains must meet certain standards
related to things like fragrance ( due to the BADH2  gene),
grain length and width, as well as cooked texture. They must
also have a mid-range level of amylose, a part of the starch
in the rice.

Since 2017, the Indian Patent Office has given GI tag for
Basmati rice, thereby protecting the exclusivity of the long-
grain fragrant rice across the world.

180 www.insightsonindia.com

Science
PROFESSOR SUMAN CHAKRABORTY
(FROM IIT, KHARAGPUR)
Context:
A slew of technologies by Professor Suman Chakraborty,
who recently received the Infosys prize, along with his group,
is helping community health workers deliver healthcare sup-
port to last-mile populations.
Affordable diagnostic technologies for remote, re-
source-constrained areas:
• COVIRAP: Nucleic-Acid Based Rapid Diagnostic Test
for infectious disease detection
• Diagnostics with Finger-Prick Blood on Paper Strip
for blood tests
• A low-cost portable hand-held imaging device for
early screening of oral cancer
• Folded paper kit for evaluating antibiotic resistance,
• A reagent-free anaemia detection technology
BIO-INSECTICIDE BY ICRISAT
Context:
A 17-year-old research intern at the International Crops Re-
search Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) won the
prize for developing a cost-effective bio-insecticide from
the leaves of bullock’s heart tree (Annona reticulata), pop-
ularly known as Ramphal
Extracts from different parts of this plant have traditionally
been used to cure conditions including dysentery and pe-
diculosis (louse infestation)
Extracts from its leaves may be useful against three destruc-
tive pests —  Pod borer, green peach aphid and fall army-
worm — with a mortality rate of 78-88 per cent, the research
claimed. All these pests are known for incurring crop losses
to farmers.
Annona reticulate:
• It is a small deciduous or semi-evergreen tree in the
plant family Annonaceae and part of the Annonas
group.
• It is best known for its fruit, called custard apple,
a common name shared with fruits of several oth-
er species in the same genus: A. cherimola and A.
squamosa.
About International Crops Research Insti-
tute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT):
ICRISAT is a non-profit agricultural research organization.
It was founded in 1972 by a consortium of organizations
convened by the Ford and the Rockefeller Foundations. Its
charter was signed by the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INDICA-
TORS
Context:
As per the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Science & En-
gineering Indicators 2022 report of the United States, India’s
position globally in scientific publications, has improved
from 7th position in 2010 to 3rd position in 2020. India’s
scholarly output increased from 60,555 papers in 2010 to
1,49,213 papers in 2020.
Key Highlights:
• The Centre accounts for 45.4 per cent of the total
spending on research in the country, according to
the National Science and Technology Management
Information System under the Department of Sci-
www.insightsonindia.com 181
 ence and Technology.
• Overall, the research contribution of centrally fund-
ed institutions increased from 62.46% in 2001–2006
to 72.7% in 2016–2020.
• The report reflects that the IITs, NITs, Indian Insti-
tutes of Science Education and Research and Indi-
an Institute of Management (IIMs) showed “rapid
growth” in their research output, with a two-fold
increase in the number of publications between
2011–2015 and 2016–2020.

“WORLD-FIRST” OPERATION USING

STEM CELLS

Context:
A heart surgeon in England has carried out a “world-first”
operation using stem cells from the placentas.
For details (see Infographic)

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are the body’s raw materials — cells from which
all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Un-
der the right conditions in the body or a laboratory, stem
cells divide to form more cells called daughter cells.
What is stem cell scaffolding?
Developing a stem cell scaffolding architecture (temporary
platform to build tissues) supports vascular cell ingrowth,
and promotes wound healing and regenerative medicine
that is effective in treating bone, cartilage, blood vessel, skin,
tendon, and nerve damage.
• Using a bio-printer, a stem cell scaffold is made to re-
pair abnormalities to valves in blood vessels and to
mend holes between the two main pumping cham-
bers of the heart.
Significance of the operation:
• It can help develop technology so children born
with congenital cardiac disease won’t need as many
operations.
What was done previously?
• Artificial tissue is normally used on babies for car-
diac repairs, but it can fail and it doesn’t grow with
the heart, so as the children grow, they require more
operations.
CRCONI ALLOY
Direction:
This news came a few weeks back in the online Hindu Edi-
tion. We are covering it now.
Context:
An alloy made from chromium, cobalt and nickel has been
found to be the toughest material ever recorded. And
CrCoNi only gets tougher as the temperature drops.
Usages: It can be used to build structures which can with-
stand extremely cold conditions, such as those in deep space.
What makes it so tough?
The secret of the alloy’s strength lies in its internal structure. 
When force is applied, a phenomenon called nanotwinning
occurs, where portions of the lattice create a mirror sym-
metry with a border between them. If more force is applied,
the CrCoNi atoms use this energy to rearrange the unit cells
from a face-centred cubic crystal to hexagonal close pack-
ing, thus making the structure very hard.

182 www.insightsonindia.com

What is an alloy?
An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which at least
one is a metal. Unlike chemical compounds with metallic
bases, an alloy will retain all the properties of metal in the
resulting material.
What are HEAs?
High-entropy alloys  (HEAs) are alloys that are formed by
mixing equal or relatively large proportions of (usually) five
or more elements.
• This equal mix makes the CrCoNi alloy exceptionally
strong and ductile when tested
• Other alloys are made with high amounts of
one element along with low amounts of others
Technology
RANSOMWARE
Context:
Investigators search for the source of a ransomware attack
on AIIMS servers
Ransomware is a malware designed to deny a user or orga-
nization access to files on their computer.
Process:
• The malware first gains access to the device.
• Depending on the type of ransomware, either the
entire operating system or individual files are en-
crypted.
• A ransom is then demanded from the victim.
Past attacks: WannaCry and Petya.
OPEN AI’S CHATGPT
Context:
The Artificial intelligence-powered chatbot has crossed one
million users in less than a week.
What is OpenAI’s ChatGPT?
• OpenAI’s ChatGPT is a conversational chatbot which
can talk back almost as another human being
would.
• GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transform-
er 3, a kind of computer language model that relies
on deep learning techniques to produce human-like
text-based inputs.
• Once a user signs up for ChatGPT, they can use the
chatbot to have a conversation, and it is expected to
give reasonably intelligent answers in the form of
an essay.
• It is also a neural network, as a large network of
computers can fine-tune its output of words based
on feedback.
• The chatbot can remember what the user said earli-
er in the conversation.
• It also allows users to follow up on corrections.
Advantage: seen as a replacement for basic emails, essays,
CVs etc.
Limitations:
• Could give incorrect or nonsensical answers
• Not powerful in specialized contexts
• Overuse of certain phrases due to training bias
• Racial and sexist biases reflected
• Incapable of writing fiction
FORABOT: THE FOSSIL SORTING ROBOT
Context:
This new technology can automate sorting, manipulating
and identifying microscopic marine fossils.
www.insightsonindia.com 183
Significance:
• Foraminifera (forams) are very simple microorgan-
isms that secrete a tiny shell.
• They have existed on the ocean floor for more than
100 million years.
• They leave behind their shells when they die.
• Examining these shells gives scientists an insight
into the characteristics of the oceans from a time
when the forams were alive.
• Different types of foram species thrive in the ocean
environment and physical inspection and sorting of
forams require human time and effort.
• With an accuracy rate of 67%, Forabot automates
this tedious process.
DNA FINGERPRINTING TO SOLVE THE
CRIME
Context:
Last month, Delhi Police recovered bones from the Mehrauli
forest area in connection with the Shraddha Walkar murder
investigation. DNA testing conducted on the bones — parts
of the jaw, pelvis and lower limb — has now confirmed a
positive match with Shraddha’s father.
The origin of DNA fingerprinting
It was first developed in 1984 by Alec Jeffreys in the UK after
Jeffreys discovered that no two people could have the same
DNA sequence.
How is DNA fingerprinting done?
DNA can be extracted from many sources, such as hair,
bone, teeth, saliva, and blood. As there is DNA in most cells
in the human body, even a minuscule amount of bodily fluid
or tissue can yield useful information. Samples may even
be extracted from used clothes, linen, combs, or other fre-
184 www.insightsonindia.com
quently used items.
DNA FINGERPRINTING IN INDIA
Lalji Singh, who had been in the UK from 1974 to 1987 on a
Commonwealth Fellowship, developed DNA fingerprinting
for crime investigations at the Centre for Cellular and Mo-
lecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. 
Some famous investigations where DNA fingerprinting was
used
• Shiney Ahuja rape case. 
• Establishing the identity of the suicide bomber who
killed Rajiv Gandhi.
• Sheena Bora murder case
DOXXING
Context:
Twitter has suspended the account of several journalists in
the United States, and according to its owner Elon Musk, this
was in continuation of the social media platform’s new an-
ti-doxxing policy.
What is doxxing and what is Twitter’s new policy
around it?
• Doxxing is the revealing of someone’s intimate
information with harassment as the intent. It is a
popular and controversial tactic used against those
with opposing political views. Even celebrities and
influencers have been doxxed with real-life conse-
quences.
• Twitter’s policy now includes sharing the live loca-
tion of any individual as a possible “serious safety
and security risk,” and this is not allowed (neglected
in the older version).
• According to the policy, violation of these can result
in the account getting locked and continued vio-
lations can result in a permanent suspension. But
sharing anyone’s live location without express per-
 mission will lead to an automatic suspension, which
is what happened with the journalists.
PROJECT VAANI
Context:
Google, the world’s most popular search engine, is work-
ing on making text and voice internet searches available in
over 100 Indian languages
Google’s support:
• Google was supporting small businesses and start-
ups, investing in cybersecurity, providing education
and skills training, and applying AI (Artificial Intelli-
gence) in sectors like agriculture and healthcare.
• Google is making search results pages bilingual in
India by tapping into its advanced ML (Machine
Learning)-based translation models and cross-lan-
guage search technology.
• Looking to the longer term, we’ve joined hands with
the Indian Institute of Science on ‘Project Vaani’ –
an initiative that aims at collecting and transcribing
open-source speech data from across all of India’s
773 districts, making it available through the Gov-
ernment of India’s Bhashini project.
PLATINUM ICON IN DIGITAL INDIA
AWARDS 2022
Context:
The Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing & Urban Af-
fairs won the Platinum Icon in the Digital India Awards 2022
for their initiative  “DataSmart Cities: Empowering Cities
through Data” under the ‘Data Sharing and Use for So-
cio-Economic Development’ category
The Digital India Awards (DIA) is a prestigious National com-
petition that seeks to encourage and honour innovative dig-
ital solutions by government entities in realising the Digital
India vision.
DataSmart Cities Initiative – Empowering cities through
Data
• A component of Smart Cities Mission.
• Aims to harness the power of data to address complex
urban challenges in smart cities.
• Based on a ‘People, Platform, Process’ strategy, this ini-
tiative is leading to the convergence of the Ministry’s
efforts for performance management, empowerment
of communities, and research, co-creation & open in-
novation.
• Enable peer-to-peer learning across cities over da-
ta-driven governance.
NOT EVERYTHING WE CALL AI IS ARTIFI-
CIAL INTELLIGENCE
Context:
Applications of AI have been prominent in the present world,
the most recent one being ChatGPT.
What does AI mean?
• A system to be called an AI should exhibit some level
of learning and adapting.
• Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) – A particular
system addressing a particular problem. Narrow AI
is effective only in an area in which it is trained. EX
– Fraud detection, facial recognition, social recom-
mendations etc.
• Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) – it mimics Hu-
man Intelligence. The system is developed using
neural networks. These neural networks work by
feeding each data point through an interconnect-
ed network, adjusting the parameters. As more and
more data are fed through the network, the param-
eters stabilise; the final outcome is the “trained”
neural network, which can then produce the desired
output on new data.
• Hence, it can be said that real AI i.e., AGI still is in the
formulation stage. The AI that we experience in daily
lives (including ChatGPT) are ANI.
What does AI need to work?
1. High quality, unbiased data
2. Computational Infrastructure
3. Improved models and algorithms
4. Symbolic AI
Schemes in India to boost AI:
1. National Strategy for AI - to develop an ecosystem for
the research and adoption of Artificial Intelligence i.e.,
#AIFOR ALL.
2. Visveswaraya PhD Scheme
3. National programme of responsible use of AI for Youth
4. A founding member of the Global Partnership on Artifi-
www.insightsonindia.com 185
 cial Intelligence (GPAI).
5. Government of India organized Responsible AI for So-
cial Empowerment (RAISE) – to draw a roadmap social
transformation, inclusion and empowerment through
responsible AI.

Digi Yatri:
• The Airports Authority of India launched the Di-
gi-Yatri service that will provide contactless entry to
passengers at airports by using facial recognition
technology.
Insta Links: Artificial intelligence and robotics • The facility is available on Delhi’s IGI Airport, Benga-
luru’s Kempegowda International Airport and Vara-
nasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY
Health
Context:
Information regarding data security of Facial recognition
technology was given by Minister of State for Electronics INVASIVE GROUP A STREP (IGAS)
and Information Technology, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in
a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. The tech-
Context:
nology was also in news with respect to Digi Yatri installed in
UK: Six children die of Strep A, a common bacterial infection.
3 airports.
• Group A streptococcal (GAS) infection is caused by
strains of the streptococcus pyogenes bacterium
What is Facial Recognition Technology? • The bacteria can live on hands or the throat for
• Facial  recognition is a way of recognizing a human long enough to allow easy spread between people
face through technology. through sneezing, kissing and skin contact
• It uses  biometrics  to map facial features from a • Most infections cause mild illnesses such as “strep
photograph or video. throat” or skin infections
• It compares the information with a database of • It can also cause scarlet fever and in the majority of
known faces to find a match. cases this clears up with antibiotics
• On rare occasions, the bacteria can get deeper into
the body - including infecting the lungs and blood-
How it works? stream. It is known as invasive GAS (iGAS) and
1. A picture of the face is captured from a photo or
needs urgent treatment as this can be serious and
video.
life-threatening.
2. Facial recognition software reads the geometry of
• It usually manifests as high fever, severe muscle
the face (Ex- the distance between eyes and the dis-
aches, pain in an area of the body and unexplained
tance from forehead to chin)
vomiting or diarrhoea. 
3. Facial signature — a mathematical formula — is
compared to a database of known faces.
4. A determination is made. The faceprint may match
that of an image in a facial recognition system da-
tabase.

186 www.insightsonindia.com

BRAIN FOG AFTER COVID-19
Context:
As per the new study changes in the gene activity in the
brain of people with severe COVID-19 were found to be sim-
ilar to that seen in old age neurological conditions such as
‘brain fog’.
What is Brain Fog?
Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a
lack of focus and mental clarity. This can be caused by Old
Age, overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too
much time on the computer.
What have been the reasons cited?
As per the research, Genes that are linked to inflammation
and stress were expressed more in the brains of people with
severe COVID-19 than in others. Conversely, genes linked to
cognition and the formation of connections between brain
cells were less active.
GLOBAL PANDEMIC TREATY
Context:
Pandemic treaty draft negotiations to begin in Feb 2023.
Background –
• In December 2021, the World Health Assembly
agreed to start a global process to draft the pandem-
ic treaty.
• The need for an updated set of rules was felt after
the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the shortcomings
of global health systems.
• The Health Assembly adopted a decision titled “The
World Together”
About the treaty-
• The document will help address global public health
challenges made conspicuous by the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic.
• These include equitable distribution of vaccines and
health services among and within countries, knowl-
edge and data sharing as well as realising capabili-
ty-based responsibilities of various economies. 
• It also includes data sharing and genome sequenc-
ing of emerging viruses.
Article 19 of WHO’s Constitution
• Article 19 of the WHO Constitution gives the World
Health Assembly the authority to adopt conven-
tions or agreements on matters of health.
• A two-thirds majority is needed to adopt such con-
ventions or agreements.
• The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Con-
trol was set up under Article 19 and it came into
force in 2005. 
International Health Regulations (IHR)
www.insightsonindia.com 187
 ANTI-BACTERIAL RESISTANCE PATHODETECT KIT

Context: Context:
Over 50% of life-threatening bacterial infections are becom- It is India’s 1st indigenous TB detection kit produced by
ing resistant to treatment: the Global Antimicrobial Resis- Pune-based Mylab
tance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) report of WHO. Using a single test, it can detect tuberculosis and multi-drug
resistance (against Isoniazid and Rifampicin). The test kit is
Concerns as per the recent report: low-cost and can be stored at room temperature.
• 8% of infections caused by  Klebsiella pneumo-
nia were resistant to carbapenems (the last resort
antibiotic).
• Over 60% of Neisseria gonorrhoea, a common sex-
ually transmitted disease, show resistance to cipro-
floxacin.
• 20% of E.coli isolates, common in urinary tract in-
fections were resistant to ampicillin and co-trimox-
azole.
• Bloodstream infections due to resistant E.coli, Sal-
monella and gonorrhoea infections, have jumped
by at least 15 per cent compared to 2017 rates. 

Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance Sys-

tem (GLASS):
• Provides a standardized approach to the collection,
analysis, interpretation and sharing of data by coun-
tries and seeks to actively support capacity building
and monitor the status of existing and new national
surveillance systems.
Insta Links: Antimicrobial Resistance: here’s what can be
done
STIFF-PERSON SYNDROME
Context:
French-Canadian singer Celine Dion has opened up about
being diagnosed with Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare
neurological condition that makes the muscles spasm uncon-
trollably. The disorder has left her with difficulties in walk-
ing and singing.

188 www.insightsonindia.com
 THE BATTLE AGAINST CANCER

Context:
Base editing technology has been used to clear the cancer
of a teenager, Alyssa.

Terms associated with cancer treatment-

• CAR -T Therapy: An individual’s own T-cells are re-
moved, which are then modified and reintroduced
to the individual. The problem with such an ap-
proach (besides the expense) is that when an indi-
vidual is sick, it is tough to obtain healthy T-cells to
create CAR-T cells.

• Base Editing: The billions of bases in the DNA spell

out the instruction manual for the body. Base ed-
iting is used to create a new type of T- cell from a
healthy donor that would not attack other cells, not
kill each other, survive chemotherapy, and finally
hunt down all other cancerous cells.

Three different Related News:

Cervical cancer vaccine rollout:
• India accounts for over a fifth of the global burden
of cervical cancer.
• The indigenously developed quadrivalent vaccine
called Cervavac, developed by the Serum Institute
of India (SII), offers protection against four strains of
HPV — 16, 18, 6, and 11.
• It is expected to be available by March 2023
• Sikkim has rolled out a programme vaccinating
nearly 97% of all girls aged between 9 to 14 years in
a campaign mode. It is provided as a part of routine
immunisation.
• Delhi government has also rolled out an HPV immu-
nisation programme.

Moderna, Merck see positive results from cancer vaccine:

• An experimental cancer vaccine from Moderna Inc (MR-
NA.O) based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has
been shown to work against melanoma.
• A combination of Moderna’s personalized cancer vac-
cine and Merck & Co’s (MRK.N) immunotherapy Keytru-
da cut the risk of recurrence or death of the deadliest
skin cancer by 44% compared with Keytruda alone.
• To build the vaccine, researchers took samples of pa-
tients’ tumours and healthy tissue.
• When injected into a patient, the patient’s cells act as
a manufacturing plant, producing perfect copies of the
mutations for the immune system to recognize and de-
stroy cancerous cells

www.insightsonindia.com 189
Carboplatin drug against breast cancer:
• The results of the study by the Tata Memorial Centre
show that a commonly available and inexpensive drug,
carboplatin, increased the cure rate and survival of a
very aggressive type of breast cancer, called triple-neg-
ative breast cancer (TNBC), especially among young
women.
• Carboplatin-based chemotherapy was well tolerated
without a high rate of toxicity.
• Carboplatin is the drug used to treat different types of
cancer
A newly found bimetallic highly potent antitumor agent
that inhibits new blood vessel development (antiangiogenic)
can help treat cancer cases that become resistant to plati-
num drugs commonly used for tackling the disease.
• Several platinum-based anticancer drugs, in-
cluding cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin,
nedaplatin, and lobaplatin, are the front-
line treatment options for various cancers.
Unfortunately, the acquired or intrinsic resistance
significantly limits the uses of platinum-based
treatment

HOW NASAL VACCINES WORK?

Context:
Though the existing vaccines have been working effectively,
researchers are developing alternative approaches to im-
prove effectiveness. 14 nasal vaccines are in the clinical trial
stage.

How do Immune System fight pathogens?

The immune system has two distinct components: mucosal
and circulatory.
• The  mucosal immune system  provides protection
at the mucosal surfaces of the body. (Specialised
antibody called IgA/SIgA)
• The  circulatory part of the immune sys-
tem generates antibodies and immune cells that are
delivered through the bloodstream to the internal
tissues and organs.
How nasal vaccines work? About the new agent:
• Administered via nose • Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI),
• The viral antigens intended to stimulate the im- Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department
mune system would be taken up by immune cells of Science and Technology, have discovered a Ru-
within the lining of the nose or tonsils. thenium−Ferrocene Bimetallic agent that shows a
• Antigens in the vaccine induce B cells in mucosal highly potent antitumor effect in platinum-resis-
sites to mature into plasma cells that secrete a form tant cancers.
of IgA. • The study shows the potential therapeutic implica-
• The IgA is then transported into mucosal secretions tions of Ruthenium−Ferrocene Bimetallic agents to
throughout the body, where it becomes SIgA. manage platinum-resistant cancers.
• If the SIgA antibodies in the nose, mouth or throat • Ru-Fc (Ruthenium–Ferrocene) hybrid binds to nuc-
target SARS-CoV-2, they could neutralize the virus leophilic biomolecules and produces reactive oxy-
before it can drop down into the lungs and establish gen species, that causes mitochondrial dysfunction
an infection. and induces stress on the Endoplasmic Reticulum
(ER) of cells, leading to poly (ADP–ribose) poly-
• Advantage: Block virus at the entry point.
merase-mediated cell death.
Insta Links: Covid 19 vaccines

BRAIN-EATING AMOEBA
BIMETALLIC ANTITUMOR TO MANAGE
PLATINUM-RESISTANT CANCERS Context:
South Korea on Monday reported its first case of infection
Context: from Naegleria fowleri or brain-eating amoeba.

190 www.insightsonindia.com
What is Naegleria fowleri? • Launched from NASA’s Orion spacecraft
Naegleria is an amoeba, a single-celled organism, and only The space mission will carry out a number of investigations,
one of its species, called Naegleria fowleri, can infect hu- including testing of the radiation environment to help deter-
mans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and mine what precautions future astronauts would have to take
Prevention (CDC). It was first discovered in Australia in 1965 out in the deep space location.
and is commonly found in warm freshwater bodies, such as Its planned orbital path will be the second Earth-Moon La-
hot springs, rivers and lakes. grange point (EML2).
How does it infect humans?
• The amoeba enters the human body through the
nose and then travels up to the brain. This can usu-
ally happen when someone goes for a swim, or dive
or even when they dip their head in a freshwater
body. In some cases, it was found that people got
infected when they cleaned their nostrils with con-
taminated water.
• It causes a dangerous infection known as primary
amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), according to
the CDC.

GNB1 ENCEPHALOPATHY

Context: SPACETECH INNOVATION NETWORK

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ma- (SPIN)
dras, Tel Aviv University and Columbia University are study-
ing a rare genetic brain disease called “GNB1 Encephalop- Context:
athy” and trying to develop a drug to treat it effectively. ISRO signed MoU with Social Alpha to establish SpIN

About GNB1 Encephalopathy:

What is SpIN?
GNB1 Encephalopathy is a kind of neurological dis-
• India’s first dedicated platform for innovation, cu-
order, which affects individuals in the foetus stage.
ration and venture development for the blooming
Scientists say delayed physical and mental development, in-
space entrepreneurial ecosystem.
tellectual disabilities, and frequent epileptic seizures, are
among the early symptoms of the disease • It is a one-of-a-kind PPP for start-ups and SMEs in
the space industry.
• Provide a level playing field for all stakeholders to
A single nucleotide mutation in the GNB1 gene that makes
contribute and collaborate.
one of the G-proteins, the “Gβ1 protein,” causes this disease.
• Also, the 1st SpIN innovation challenge was launched
Children born with GNB1 mutation experience mental and
to develop solutions in areas like urbanisation, map-
physical developmental delay, epilepsy (abnormal brain ac-
ping, natural resources management etc. Selected
tivity), and movement problems.
start-ups can access ISRO and Social Alpha’s infra-
structure and resources
Space

STEAM-PROPELLED SPACECRAFT

Context:
‘World’s first steam-propelled spacecraft heads to the moon
and beyond.
• EQUULEUS Spacecraft is a water-powered CubeSat
spacecraft.
It was developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
(JAXA)

www.insightsonindia.com 191
 KILONOVA

Context:
The flash of light or a gamma-ray burst (GRB) was witnessed
on December 11, 2021. The source was found to be an astro-
nomical event called a kilonova.

Kilonova explosions take place during the merger of two

neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole releasing
Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRB)

What are GRBs?

Gamma-ray bursts  (GRBs) are immensely energetic ex-
plosions that have been observed in distant  galaxies. They
are the most energetic and luminous  electromagnetic
events since the Big Bang. Bursts can last from ten millisec-
onds to several hours

GRBs can be divided into two classes:

• Long-duration (2 seconds to several minutes): main-
ly due to Supernova
• Short-duration (a few milliseconds to 2 seconds): INDIA’S SPACE HEADWAY
mainly due to Kilonova 
Context:
Stellar black holes are made when the centre of a very big ISRO successfully conducted the Hot test of Scramjet and the
star falls in upon itself or collapses. When this happens, it ‘Blowdown test’ of a new Trisonic Wind Tunnel at Vikram
causes a supernova — an exploding star that blasts part of Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram).
the star into space.

Why this event was first of its kind?

Both kilonova and supernova produce GRBs ( Kilonova –
short duration, and Supernova- long duration). However, this
new event (from a Kilonova), generated a GRB that lasted
roughly 50 seconds (long-duration), puzzling scientists.

This breaks the long-held traditional GRB paradigm that

massive star collapses produce long GRBs and supernovae
and neutron star mergers produce short GRBs and kilonovae.

NASA’S ARTEMIS 1 MISSION

Context:
NASA’s Orion capsule  splashed down back to Earth. This

192 www.insightsonindia.com
event marked the end of the inaugural Artemis 1 lunar mis- • Currently, Satellites operate on 2 frequencies – L5
sion exactly 50 years after Apollo’s final moon landing. and S

About Artemis 1: What is L1 Frequency?

• An experimental mission, to check if the capsule can Radio-frequency communication refers to wireless commu-
be trusted to ferry humans to the moon and back in nication through the air with electromagnetic wave frequen-
future missions. cies ranging from 3 kHz to 300 GHz. L1 frequency is the most
• It is the first in a series of missions planned to take commonly used frequency in GPS. (See frequency diagram)
humans back to the Moon.
• Explore the possibilities of an extended stay there Other Navigation Systems:
• To investigate the potential to use the Moon as a 1. USA - GPS
launch pad for deep space explorations. 2. Galileo – EU
3. GLONASS – Russia
4. Beidou – China
5. QZSS – Japan

Insta Links: Artemis Mission

ISRO’S NAVIC

Context:
With an aim to promote the civilian use of Navigation with
the Indian Constellation (NavIC), the space agency is intro-
ducing the L1 frequency in all its future satellites.

ISRO’s Plan:
• The new satellites, NVS-01 onwards, meant to re-
place these satellites, will have an L1 frequency.
• The L1 is the oldest and most established GPS sig-
nal, which even the less sophisticated, civilian-use
devices such as smartwatches are capable of receiv-
ing.
• Thus, with this band, the use of NavIC in civilian-use
gadgets can go up
• ISRO plans to set up ground stations in Japan and
France to better triangulate the entire area under Insta Links: NAVIC
NavIC coverage.

JAPANESE FIRM’S LUNAR LANDER

About NAVIC:
• NavIC is India’s homegrown alternative to GPS.
Context:
• Developed by ISRO, the navigation satellite system
It was carried by a Falcon 9 rocket (by SpaceX) from Cape
was first approved in 2006 but became operational
Canaveral, Florida.
only by 2018.
• At present, it consists of 7 satellites, covering the
whole of India and up to 1,500 km from its bound- About the Lunar lander:
aries. • It is known as M1, it is from a small Japanese com-

www.insightsonindia.com 193
 pany, Ispace.
• It could be the 1st cargo successfully carried to the
moon’s surface by a private company.

Other visitors to the moon:

• UAE: Rashid Rover (abord Japanese mission)
• NASA’s Artemis Mission
• CAPSTONE – a NASA-financed mission to explore an
orbit in which NASA plans to build a lunar outpost
where astronauts will stop over before going to the
moon.
• Dhanuri, a South Korean space probe.
• Luna 2 (USSR)

THE GEMINIDS METEOR SHOWER

Context:
The easiest-to-view meteor shower – Geminids will peak
around the 13th and 14th of December.
What are meteor showers?
• It is a celestial event in which a number of meteors
are observed to radiate or originate, from one point
in the night sky.
• Meteors are usually fragments of comets. As they
enter the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, they
burn up, creating a spectacular “shower”
AERONOMY
Context:
ISRO has taken initiatives for feasibility studies on missions
to Venus as well as Aeronomy studies
The term “aeronomy,” coined and introduced about 60 years
ago, refers to the scientific study of the upper atmospheric
regions of the Earth and other solar system bodies. It covers
the chemistry, dynamics and energy balance of both neutral
and charged particles.

The uniqueness of Geminids Shower: WATER WORLDS DETECTED

• The Geminids can produce approximately 100-150
meteors per hour for viewing (in clear weather and
new moon).
• Unlike most meteor showers, they originate not
from a comet, but from an asteroid, the 3200 Phae-
thon.
• The 3200 Phaethon was discovered on October 11,
1983. It is named after the Greek mythology charac-
ter Phaethon.
• As the 3200 Phaethon moves close to the Sun while
orbiting it, the rocks on its surface heat up and break
off.
• When the Earth passes through the trail of this de-
bris, the Geminids are caused.
Why are they called Geminids?
• They are named after the constellation Gemini,
from whose location in the sky meteor shower ap-
pears to originate.
Context:
According to a new study two alien planets, about 218
light years away from Earth have found a twin in the ocean
worlds of Europa and Enceladus — moons orbiting Jupiter
and Saturn.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration (NASA), these exoplanets were found in the constel-
lation Lyra. 
Key Findings:
• The exoplanets, Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 d, are
likely water worlds — a feature that scientists have
theorized for a long time.
• The volume of the two alien worlds was three times
that of Earth and mass twice as big.
• The Kepler- 138 c and d are made up of ingredi-
ents lighter than rock (rocky planets like Earth) but
heavier than hydrogen or helium (gas-giant planets
like Jupiter). 
• The new planet takes 38 days to complete an orbit.

194 www.insightsonindia.com
 It is in the habitable zone (meaning it is located in
an orbit that receives just the right amount of heat
from its star to allow water to exist in a liquid form).
FIRST GLOBAL WATER SURVEY SATEL-
LITE
Context:
NASA to conduct the first global survey of Earth’s surface
waters, shedding new light on the mechanics and conse-
quences of climate change.
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite, or
SWOT, incorporates advanced microwave radar technology
to collect high-definition measurements of oceans, lakes,
reservoirs and rivers over 90% of the globe.
The data, compiled from radar sweeps of the planet at least
twice every 21 days, will be used to enhance ocean-circula-
tion models, bolster weather and climate forecasts and aid
in managing scarce freshwater supplies in drought-stricken
regions,
ODD RADIO CIRCLES (ORC)
Context:
As per the new research from Indian scientists, ORC could
have come from Supernova Explosions or Massive Black
Holes.
Odd Radio Circle (ORC) is a very large, (Over 50 thousand
times the diameter of our very own Milky Way ~ 3 million
Light-years) unexplained astronomical object that, at radio
wavelengths, is highly circular and brighter along its edges.
They were 1st discovered in 2019 using Australian Square
KM Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). However, the ORCs have not
been found in visible, Infrared and X-ray telescopes.
THE UNCONTROLLED RE-ENTRIES OF
SATELLITES
Context:
Experts and dignitaries have signed an open letter published
by Outer Space Institute calling for efforts to restrict uncon-
trolled satellite re-entries.
What is uncontrolled Satellite re – entry?
• The phenomenon of rocket parts falling back to earth
in an unguided fashion, once their missions are com-
plete.
• It’s path down is determined by its shape, angle of
descent, air currents etc.
• Potential radius of impact increases on the ground.
• An impact on an airliner would prove fatal for all pas-
sengers if the debris is above 300 grams.
• Most rocket parts land in oceans (earth’s surface
has more water than land).
Why scientists are worried about re-entry?
• If re-entering stages still hold fuel, atmospheric and
terrestrial contamination is a risk.
• Countries in Global South face disproportionately
higher risk and casualties.
• No international binding agreement to ensure rock-
et stages always perform controlled re-entry.
• Liability Convention 1972: require country to pay
damages, but not prevent them.
What can make minimum damage?
• Future solutions should include re-entering satellites
as well
• Smaller satellites experience more atmospheric drag
and are likely to be burnt up in the process of re-en-
try.
• Best practice: RISAT- 2 was tracked by ISRO using
its system for safe and sustainable space operations
management from a month. It eventually fell into In-
dian Ocean.
Stages of rocket launch:
www.insightsonindia.com 195

Insta Links: Space Debris
MARS - LESS OXYGEN- RICH THAN AS-
SUMED
Context:
A study by Nature Geoscience has speculated that ancient
Mars was probably wetter and warmer, but wasn’t as oxy-
gen rich as expected.
What does the new study say?
• Extremophiles - Organisms that can live in extreme
environment may have been previously existed on
Mars.
• In 2016 – Manganese Oxide minerals were detect-
ed, which made scientists believe that the Red Plan-
et had more oxygen earlier than at present. Man-
ganese, water and high oxygen lead to manganese
oxide formation.
• However, the recent study claims that, Chlorine and
Bromine on mars converted manganese into man-
ganese oxide, faster than oxygen.
• Thus, the idea that mars was once oxygen rich and
supported life forms becomes questionable.
• Also, ancient mars is estimated to have 99.9% of
CO2 (earlier CO2 was assumed to be 96%), which
196 www.insightsonindia.com
makes water acidic.
• Mars was likely suitable for salt-loving organisms.
Q. Which one of the following conditions is most relevant
for the presence of life on Mars? [1997]
(a) Atmospheric composition
(b) Thermal conditions
(c) Occurrence of ice caps and frozen water
(d) Occurrence of ozone
Ans: c
Mars is the only planet with similar day time temperatures
and an atmosphere similar to earth. The most relevant
condition for presence of life on Mars is occurrence of ice
caps and frozen water
Insta Links: Mars Orbiter Mission, NASA’s Perseverance, In-
SIght, ExoMars
NASA’S PERSEVERANCE
Context:
Perseverance Rover Mission (Under NASA’s Mars Exploration
Program), has left a titanium tube containing a rock sample
on the surface of Mars.
• It will serve as a backup if Perseverance can’t deliver
its samples.
Perseverance is a car-sized Mars rover designed to explore
the Jezero crater on Mars as part of NASA’s Mars 2020 mis-
sion. It aims to look for signs of past microbial life, prepare
for future human exploration and collect samples of rock
for a possible return to Earth.
Other Missions on Mars:
• UAE: Hope
• China: Tianwen-1
• ESA: Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
 • Nasa: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey, thought to have formed early on in the Universe and can
MAVEN, Curiosity rover serve as perfect astrophysical laboratories for astronomers
• India: Mangalyaan to understand how stars evolve through various phases

What is Galaxy?
A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar
gas, dust, and dark matter, bound together by gravity. 
• Milky Way, is stuffed with between 100 billion and
400 billion other stars, many of them with planets
of their own. The Milky Way got its name from the
way it looks from the ground: like a streak of spilt
milk across the sky
• Galileo Galilei 1st resolved the band of light into indi-
vidual stars with his telescope in 1610

What is Omega Centauri?

OMEGA CENTAURI Omega Centauri is a globular cluster in the constellation
of Centaurus that was first identified as a non-stellar object
by Edmond Halley in 1677. Located at a distance of 17,090
Context: light-years, it is the largest-known globular cluster in the
A strange class of high-temperature stars detected in the Milky Way at a diameter of roughly 150 light-years.
globular cluster Omega Centauri, the largest-known globular
cluster in the Milky Way may provide clues to its formation.
• Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics de-
tected strange hot stars in the cluster using the Ultra
Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) images on AstroSat
(India’s first dedicated space observatory, which has
been operating since 2015).

What are Globular clusters?

Globular clusters are spherical aggregates of several thou-
sand to millions of stars bound by gravity. These systems are

FIVE SPACE EXPLORATION MISSIONS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2023

Context:
2023 is going to be an eventful year in the arena of space explorations.
Mission Agency Specifications
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer European Space Agency (ESA) • Europe’s first dedicated robotic mission to Ju-
piter.
• The is set to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons Ex-
plorer (Juice), to enter numerous flybys of its
large icy moons: Europa, Ganymede and Cal-
listo.
• After four years of moon flybys, Juice will then
enter into orbit around Ganymede, the larg-
est moon in the Solar System — becoming the
first spacecraft ever to reach orbit around the
moon of another planet.

www.insightsonindia.com 197
Starship SpaceX Starship will be the largest spacecraft capable of carry-
ing humans from Earth to destinations in space. It will
be the most powerful launch vehicle ever to fly, capa-
ble of lifting 100 tonnes of cargo to Low Earth orbit.

dearMoon SpaceX It will take public on a six-day trip around the Moon
and back.
It will be the first true deep space tourism launch.

Asteroid explorer returns to NASA Samples from Asteroid Bennu, will be ‘Parcel Dropped’
Earth - The Origins Spectral back to earth. It is believed to have broken off from a
Interpretation Resource Iden- much larger asteroid in the first 10 million years of the
tification Security — Regolith Solar System.
Explorer, mercifully more
commonly known as  OSIRIS-
REx,
India’s private space launch Skyroot Aerospace Skyroot’s first satellite launch is planned for 2023,
with a goal of undercutting the cost of private space
launch rivals by producing its 3D-printed rockets in a
matter of days.

TIDAL DISRUPTION EVENT

Context:
Telescopes operated by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) recently observed a massive  black
hole devouring a star. 

The astronomical phenomenon of the destruction of a

star by a black hole is formally called a  tidal disruption
event (TDE)

About TDE:
• A tidal force is a difference in the strength of gravity
between two points. If the tidal force exerted on a
body is greater than the intermolecular force that
keeps it together, the body will get disrupted.
• During a TDE, the tidal force of a black hole disrupts
the star in the vicinity. While about half of the star’s
debris continues on its original path, the other half
is attracted by the black hole’s gravitational pull.
The gradual growth of this material bound to the
black hole produces a short-lived flare of emission,
known as a tidal disruption event.
• The event is formally called AT2021ehb and took
place in a galaxy with a central black hole about 10
million times the mass of our sun.
• TDEs are attractive to astronomers because of their
observability and short duration, and the opportu-
nity to study the impact of black holes’ gravity on
materials around them.

198 www.insightsonindia.com
Environment
WORLD SOIL DAY 2022
Context:
World Soil Day (WSD) is observed every year on December
5, to highlight the value of healthy soil and to promote the
sustainable management of soil resources
Background:
UN designated December 5 2014, as the first official soil day
Solutions for soil degradation:
• Regenerative agriculture: It is a conservation and
rehabilitation approach to food and farming sys-
tems. It focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing
biodiversity and improving the water cycle
• Reversative agriculture (organic or natural farming)
— a low-cost approach to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
 Organic farming does not use chemicals,
but it does increase organic matter content,
microorganism population and plant avail-
ability of both micro- and macro-nutrients.  small carnivores have shorter lives and use smaller
SMALLER ANIMALS
Context:
Contrary to the popular belief that saving large animals such
as tigers, polar bears, wolves or lion means saving an entire
ecosystem, researchers have shown that small carnivores like
Weasels, skunks and foxes have equal or greater impacts on
the ecosystem they inhabit than larger species like wolves.
What is an Ecosystem?
• An ecosystem consists of all the organisms and the
physical environment with which they interact.
These biotic and abiotic components are linked to-
gether through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
Importance of large animals in an ecosystem:
• Large wide-roaming mammals, especially  carni-
vores, play a key role in maintaining a healthy eco-
system since these species often have large ranges
and may sit at the top of food chains. They keep the
populations of other animals in check and protect
important plant species, thereby facilitating carbon
sequestration and protection of water bodies
How are even small animals important in an ecosys-
tem?
• Small organisms play an important part in the food
chain and food web. For example, decomposers are
mostly microorganisms and they help in decompos-
ing dead and decaying matter.
• The extinction of one organism can lead to another
one related to the former for its survival.
• Ecosystem indicators: compared with larger species,
areas. This allows them to respond quickly to even
minor fluctuations in temperature, habitat change
and food availability.
United Nations biodiversity conference (COP15) will open in
Montreal today, with an aim to create a new global frame-
work for transforming humanity’s relationship with nature. 
GRI’S SELF-REPORTING OF ENVIRON-
MENTAL IMPACT APPROVED
Context:
The Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) has ap-
proved the exposure draft of the revised Global Reporting
Initiative (GRI) Biodiversity Standard which will allow organi-
sations to self-report their major impacts on biodiversity and
its management
What role will these standards play?
These standards will play a major role in the COP15 (currently
www.insightsonindia.com 199
being held in Montreal) in deciding collective commitments
for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
What is GRI?
The GRI is an independent global entity that helps business-
es take responsibility for their impacts on biodiversity. GRI
Standards (last revised in 2006) are designed to be used by
organisations to report on their impacts on the economy, the
environment and society.
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variabil-
ity of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at
the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
KOUNDINYA SANCTUARY SEES A MAS-
SIVE SHIFT
Context:
An 18-member herd of all female elephants from the forests
of Gudiyattam and Pernambattu of Tamil Nadu are current-
ly on the move in the Koundinya wildlife sanctuary zone in
Chittoor district, apparently “in search of mates”.
200 www.insightsonindia.com
NATURE POSITIVE FUND
Context:
More than 100 experts have rejected the idea of this fund
at the CoP15 on Convention on Biological Diversity in Mon-
treal, Canada.
Directions:
The concept might be important for prelims. But negatives
can be used as value addition in mains under climate fi-
nance.
What is Nature Positive?
Nature-positive is the term used to describe a world where
nature – species and ecosystems - is being restored and is
regenerating rather than declining
• It gives a Monetary valuation of nature’s ecological
functions.
• If the total monetary value remains constant, it
means that nature remains stable.
• Ex – Carbon Trading was introduced in Kyoto to
monetise carbon emissions, thus making efforts to
reduce them.
Countries have rejected this Nature positive fund:
• Misleading figures from the nature-positive fund
could lead to wrong policy decisions and thus result
in irreversible consequences.
• State companies and countries can’t destroy nature
in one place and restore it elsewhere.
• The money from the fund may lead to land-grab-
bing of indigenous land in poor countries, causing
human right abuse (Green Neo colonialism)
• Concerns about irrational changes in the financial
markets
Way forward:
Tighter environmental regulations
 ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION, AWARE-
NESS AND TRAINING (EEAT)
Context:
It is a Central Sector scheme implemented by the Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change  with the ob-
jective, to promote environmental awareness and mobilize
students’ participation in environment conservation.
About Bonn Challenge: The Bonn Challenge is a global effort
to restore 150 million hectares of the world’s degraded and
deforested lands by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.
About IUCN: IUCN is a membership union uniquely com-
posed of both government and civil society organisations.
Created in 1948 and headquartered in Switzerland, it is the
global authority on the status of the natural world and the
measures needed to safeguard it.

Features of the programme:

Grants-in-aid for:
• National Green Corps (NGC) Programme- formation
of more than 1 lakh eco-clubs
• National Nature Camping Programme (NNCP)- for
field visits/ nature camps in protected areas

UN RECOGNISES NAMAMI GANGE

Context:
The UN has recognised the Namami Gange initiative to reju-
venate river Ganga as one of the top 10 World Restoration
Flagships aimed at reviving the natural world during a func-
tion at the 15th COP15 to the Convention on Biodiversity
(CBD) in Montreal, Canada on World Restoration Day (14th
December).
• The entries were selected under the United Nations
Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) (co-
ordinated by the UNEP and FAO)

RESTORATION BAROMETER REPORT

2022
Context:
Released by IUCN, the report has highlighted the use of the
‘Restoration Barometer tool’ as the only tool currently used
by governments to track progress on the implementation of
restoration targets.
• The tool was 1st launched in 2016 as the Bonn Chal-
lenge Barometer
About the report:
• Restoration Barometer Report 2022 has highlighted
that the investments of $26 bn across 18 countries
have brought 14 million hectares of degraded land-
scapes – an area about the size of Greece – under
restoration.
About Restoration: Ecological restoration aims to recreate,
initiate, or accelerate the recovery of an ecosystem that has
been disturbed.

www.insightsonindia.com 201
Related News:
About Ganga Utsav
Source: PIB
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) celebrated the
sixth edition of ‘Ganga Utsav’. As part of this initiative,
the National-level event was organized in New Delhi and
over 75 special events were observed across 5 Ganga Ba-
sin States. Ganga Utsav shall be celebrated in Ganga Basin
States till August 2023 as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
ASOLA BHATTI SANCTUARY
Context:
The Delhi Forest Department is in the process of procuring
electric cycles and golf carts to enable visits to the Asola
Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.
About Asola Bhatti sanctuary:
• Located on the Southern Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli
hill range on the Delhi-Haryana border.
• An area of 1 km around the Asola Bhatti Wildlife
Sanctuary in Gurugram and Faridabad is an Eco-sen-
sitive zone.
WATER IMPACT SUMMIT
Context:
The 7th edition of the India Water Impact Summit concluded
on 17th December 2022 after 3 days of fruitful deliberations
on important aspects of water conservation and river
rejuvenation, with special emphasis on the revival of small
rivers for the protection of large basins. 
202 www.insightsonindia.com
Key outcomes:
• Need for forming a national river framework: The
framework will monitor the river health, process
and responsibility of organizations.
• Theme: Restoration and Conservation of Small Riv-
ers in a Large Basin with emphasis on the 5Ps’- Peo-
ple, Policy, Plan, Programme and Project.
Organized by: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
(a registered society) along with Centre for Ganga River Ba-
sin Management and Studies (c-Ganga) (established at IIT
Kanpur with excellence in data collection on the Ganga River
Basin)
In the Constitution, water is a matter included in Entry 17 of
List-II i.e., State List
ORAN LAND
Context:
Residents from around 40 villages of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
have walked 225 kilometres to protect  community-con-
served sacred spaces known as ‘orans’. 
Currently, the biodiversity hotspots are classified as waste-
lands.
The current categorization is causing a loss of biodiversity
and is affecting the livelihood of the locals in the area, as
huge chunks of land are being allotted for setting up solar
plants. Thus, need to recategorize the area as ‘oran land’.
About Orans
• The orans are among the last natural habitats of the
great Indian bustard
• The open stretch of land, which receives long hours
of sunlight and brisk winds, has become a hub of
green energy with windmills and solar photovoltaic
dotting it. 
• There are other orans like Mokla, Salkha, Kemde,
which also spread across several hectares but are
listed as wastelands
• These orans are hotspots of biodiversity with trees
and flowers like rohida, bordi, kumbhat, and desi ba-
bool in large numbers.
 PROJECT ICARUS
Context:
Recently US government has asked for further research on
the controversial idea of solar geo-engineering (similar to
one seen in science fiction work such as Neal Stephenson’s
Novel ‘Terminal Shock’)
It involves shooting reflective particles into the stratosphere
to deflect the rays of the Sun and help bring down territorial
temperature.
• However, last time in 1991, the eruption of Mount
Pinatubo (Phillippines) brought about a ‘volcanic
winter’, with global temperature cooling by 0.4 de-
grees Celcius, leading to the issue of food scarcity.
What is Solar Geo-engineering?
Solar geoengineering involves spraying substances into the
atmosphere that form reflective aerosols and bounce sun-
light back into space.
• This could stop global temperatures from increasing,
but temperatures locally or regionally might con-
tinue to increase over the following few years, new
research shows.
• The wider consequences of solar geoengineering
are still poorly understood, making it a potentially
risky approach to tackle global warming.
Note: Don’t confuse this with a similar project for nuclear
fusion. Project Icarus  is a theoretical engineering design
study aimed at designing a credible, mainly  nuclear fu-
sion-based, an unmanned interstellar space probe
Climate Change
MICROPLASTICS
Context:
As per the new study, with every breath, humans may be
inhaling substantial quantities of microplastics that eventu-
ally flow into blood and accumulate in the organs.
• Previously, it was reported that as much as 74 tonnes
of microplastics fell from the air and settled on roof-
tops, gardens and other surfaces in Auckland, New
Zealand in 2020, suggesting the possibility of micro-
plastic mists and clouds existing in the atmosphere
About Microplastics: These are tiny pieces of plastic that are
less than 5 millimetres in length.
Steps taken
Global Initiatives:
• Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) to de-
velop policies to control marine litter and pollution
• GloLitter Partnerships Project was launched by
the  IMO  and  FAO to prevent marine plastic litter
from shipping and fisheries
• London Convention, 1972: To control all sources of
marine pollution and prevent pollution of the sea
• Plastic Pact (2018) to transform the plastics packag-
ing value chain for all formats and products
• Beat plastic pollution
India-Specific Initiatives:
• Elimination of Single Use Plastic: Plastic Waste
Management (Amendment) Rules 2018 introduced
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
• Un-Plastic Collective (UPC) (a voluntary initiative
launched by the UNEP-India, CII and WWF-India) to
minimise the externalities of plastics on the ecologi-
cal and social health of our planet.
www.insightsonindia.com 203

WHY DID METHANE EMISSIONS SPIKE
IN 2020?
Context:
Global methane emissions reached roughly 15 parts per bil-
lion (ppb) in 2020 from 9.9 ppb in 2019, the study published
in the journal Nature noted.
Reasons for the spike:
• Nitrogen oxide (NOx) can impact methane levels. In
the troposphere, NOx combines with ozone to form
hydroxyl radicals. These radicals remove 85 per cent
of methane annually from the atmosphere.
• Nitrogen oxide enters the atmosphere from exhaust
gases of cars and trucks as well as electrical power
generation plants.  Thus, during the lockdown, Ni-
trogen oxide pollution was reduced drastically in-
creasing methane levels.
• Precipitation over global  wetlands showed a 2-11
per cent annual increase in 2020 relative to 2019.
Water‐logged soils make conditions ripe for soil
microorganisms, allowing them to produce more
methane.
About Methane:
• Methane is short-lived, compared to carbon diox-
ide.
• Methane has more than 80 times the warming
power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years of its
lifetime in the atmosphere.
• The common sources of methane are oil and nat-
204 www.insightsonindia.com
ural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining
and wastes.
PATHOGENS FROZEN IN PERMAFROST
RESURFACE AS EARTH HEATS UP
Context:
A new study finds that a warming planet is resulting in the
loss of the Earth’s cryosphere — parts of the planet where
water is permanently frozen such as glaciers and ice sheets,
and this could be resurrecting trapped pathogens, giving
rise to potential public health threats.
Instances of pathogen resurrection:
• A  300-year-old frozen mummy from Siberia was
found to contain the variola virus that causes smallpox
• Bodies exhumed from Alaska’s permafrost contrib-
uted to understanding the 1918 Spanish flu virus
genome
GREEN METHANOL PRODUCTION
Context:
India’s largest power producer NTPC signed an MoU with
Italy-based Maire Tecnimont to jointly develop a commer-
cial-scale green methanol production facility at the NTPC
project in India. 
What is Methanol?
Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a sol-
vent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source. It also occurs
naturally in humans, animals, and plants.
Benefits:
Compared to conventional fuels, renewable methanol cuts
carbon dioxide emissions by up to 95%, reduces nitrogen
oxide emissions by up to 80%, and completely eliminates
sulphur oxide and particulate matter emissions.
GREAT BARRIER REEF FROZEN FOR TRI-
AL
Context:
In the latest lab trial, the world’s first with Great Barrier Reef
coral, scientists used the cryomesh to freeze coral larvae at
the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS).
• The coral had been collected from the reef for the
trial, which coincided with the brief annual spawn-
ing window.
A new material called “cryomesh” is helping the scientists
in the effort.  Coral is frozen using a special method called
cryogenics. This permits the young animals to be stored until
they can be unfrozen and placed in the wild.
Cryogenically frozen coral reefs can be stored and later re-
introduced to the wild to protect them against rising ocean
temperatures
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef sys-
tem composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands
stretching for over 2,300 kilometres over an area of approxi-
mately 344,400 square kilometres.
Pollution and Waste
GREEN WALL/ BENGAL BARRIER
Directions:
Facts are important for prelims; can also be used as an ex-
ample in GS 3
Context:
Experts question plan to erect ‘Green Wall’ on West Bengal’s
western border to stop pollutants.
What is the plan?
• West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has
decided to set up 800 km Bio-Shield along its west-
ern fringe to stop pollutants from entering the State.
• Bio-Shield – A wall of Mega Plantations
• WBPCB says pollution from other states is responsi-
ble for close to half of West Bengal’s pollution load.
Why are experts against it?
• The execution may run into several crores, take
years to complete and may not serve its purpose.
• Researches show that transboundary air pollutants,
especially the most toxic PM 2.5, normally moves at
least 500 metres above the surface during winter,
thus going beyond the range of the shield.
• West Bengal receives less transboundary pollution
at a proportional scale, compared to many states,
research shows.
• No evidence that such an initiative will work.
The Great Green wall of Sahel Region
• It is an initiative to increase the amount of arable
land in the Sahel, the region bordering Africa’s Sa-
hara Desert.
www.insightsonindia.com 205
 • Eleven nations are investing in projects as varied as
agroforestry to sustainable development - Djibouti,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Mali,
Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Senegal.
• Organisations involved – GEF, WB, UNFCCD
• UNEP has declared it to be one of the pioneering
initiatives that are restoring the natural world.
International Cheetah Day is celebrated on December 4 to
raise awareness about the need for helping cheetahs fight
extinction.
Social media has significantly increased dealers’ ability to
expand their audiences.
• They also provide exotic pet owners with a platform
to showcase their illegal purchases.

Insta Links: Green wall of India, Measures to control air pol-

lution

Species in News
INTERNATIONAL CHEETAH DAY

Context:
Social media fuels illegal trade in the species

THREE HIMALAYAN MEDICINAL PLANTS ENTER IUCN RED LIST

Context:
Three medicinal plant species found in the Himalayas have made it to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• However, a recent assessment shows that deforestation, habitat loss, forest fires, illegal trade and climate change
pose a serious threat to the species.

Meizotropis pellita - ‘critically endangered’, known as

Patwa, a perineal shrub, endemic to Uttarakhand, rich
in antioxidants, and used in essential oils.

206 www.insightsonindia.com
 Fritilloria cirrhosa: ‘vulnerable’, perennial bulbous
herb, used in China for treatment of bronchial disor-
ders, pneumonia and cough suppressant.

Dactylorhiza hatagirea- ‘endangered’, a perennial

tuberous species endemic to the Hindu Kush and Hi-
malayan ranges of Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India,
Nepal, and Pakistan, extensively used in the Indian sys-
tem of medicine to cure dysentery chronic fever, stom-
ach ache etc.

CACTUS PLANTATION

Context:
The government is promoting Cactus plantation and its eco-
nomic usage.

About Cactus –
• It is a xerophytic plant which grows at a slower pace.
• It is adapted to grow in an arid and semi-arid cli-
mate

PYQ:
Economic advantages of promoting Cactus Cultivation
Q. The government of India encourages the cultivation of
–
‘sea buckthorn’. What is the importance of this plant? [
• Plantations of cacti will help in the restoration of de-
UPSC 2012]
graded land
1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and in preventing de-
• Cactus can be used as– biofuel, food, fodder and in
sertification.
bio fertiliser production
2. It is a rich source of biodiesel.
• Contributing to employment and income genera-
tion for poor farmers. 3. It has nutritional value and is well-adapted to live in cold
areas of high altitudes.
• Help in achieving Nationally Determined Contribu-
tions and Sustainable Development Goals 4. Its timber is of great commercial value.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
Other Facts – (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
• 30% of India’s land is categorised as ‘Degraded
(c) 1 and 3 only
Land’.
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
• The Watershed Development component of PM Kri-
shi Sinchayi Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) aims to restore
degraded land under the Department of Land Re- Ans: (c)
sources. Seabuckthorn is a medicinal plant which has health-pro-
moting properties. It can play a crucial role in preventing
soil erosion and help nitrogen fix options in cold and desert
areas.

www.insightsonindia.com 207
 COP 15 MONTREAL: ABALONE, DUGONG, PILLAR CORAL THREATENED WITH EX-
TINCTION

Context:
A list of threatened species is released which shows what overconsumption and unsustainable harvesting can do to plants
and animals around.

Abalone Shellfish • 54 abalone species threatened with ex-

tinction.
• Among the world’s most expensive sea-
food
• Threat - Agriculture and industrial run-
offs cause algal blooms, boat paint etc
leading to its decline.
• IUCN: “endangered” category

Dugong • Threat - Victim to unintentional capture

in fishing gear, Destruction of their food
(seagrass) due to chemical pollution, oil
and gas exploration, Production, bottom
trawling and unauthorized coastal de-
velopment
• IUCN - Vulnerable

Pillar Coral • Found throughout the Caribbean from

the Yucatan Peninsula and Florida to
Trinidad and Tobago.
• Threat - contagious Stony Coral Tissue
Loss Disease that can affect anywhere
between 90 and 100 metres of reef per
day.

208 www.insightsonindia.com
 INDIA’S DISAPPEARING DONKEYS

Context:  
A fall in demand as a beast of burden, and illegal meat and skin trade have caused a critical decline in donkey numbers.

About donkeys:
• Finds use in places untouched by mechanisation, like brick kilns, where its small size helps it move quickly through
narrow entrances.
• Used to carry goods across rough terrain
• Serve as a draught animal in farms.
• Donkey milk is more nutritious as it has a less fat content.
• IUCN: Near Threatened

Threat to donkeys:
• Donkeys are not part of the income-generating milk, meat and fibre production systems in livestock farming.
• Illegal export to China: In traditional Chinese medicine, boiling donkey skin produces gelatine called ejiao, which
can be consumed or mixed with cosmetic products to treat conditions such as insomnia, dry cough and poor blood
circulation.

Breed Native region; characteristics Use

  Kachchhi   Kutch region of Gujarat; grey, For weed removal in farms and as
white, brown or black in colour pack animal during pastoralist migra-
tion. It can carry 80-100 kg and pull
200-300 kg on carts.

  Halari   Saurashtra region of Gujarat; As a pack animal during pastoralist migration and pull carts.
white in colour, docile It can walk around 30-40 km in a day
temperament

  Sindhi Barmer and Jaisalmer districts of As pack animal to transport water, soil, earthenware, con-
Rajasthan; brown in colour struction material, and fodder and to pull carts and for
ploughing by small and marginal farmers. They can carry
1,000-1,500 kg.

  Spiti Cold desert areas of Himachal For immediate transport of highly perishable cash crops
Pradesh; dark brown, brown or and fruits, food grains and other items to far-flung areas;
black in colour to fetch wood, logs and other minor forest produce; and
to bring dung or manure from pastures to villages or fields.

Source: Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources

WREN BABBLERS About the Lisu community:

The Lisu are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group who inhab-
it  mountainous regions of Burma (Myanmar), southwest
Context: China, Thailand, and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
New species of songbird Wren Babblers found in Arunachal
Pradesh has been named Lisu Wren Babbler (after the Lisu
community of the state) About bird songs:
Wren Babbler: In bird biology, the word “birdsong” means  any sound de-
It is a small Asian bird of the babbler family chiefly found in livered in the nesting period, usually by a male bird for the
South Asia. purpose of territorial defence or the attraction of a mate.

www.insightsonindia.com 209
 • They have long life spans and are highly social
• Orcas are found across the world and are also known
as “killer whales”
 The word comes from the whale’s scientific
Latin name, Orcinus orca
 Technically, killer whales are the largest
member of the dolphin family. But because
of their size, they are referred to as whales.
 As the top ocean predator, they kill other
animals for survival.
• IUCN: Data deficient.

ORCAS

Context:
Two cities in the United States’ state of Washington have tak-
en steps to formally declare their support for legal rights for
a group of endangered orcas.

About Orcas:
• They are toothed whales and are generally found in
temperate and tropical waters (from the Arctic to
the Antarctic).

IUCN UPDATED RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES

Context:
White-cheeked Dancing Frog, Andaman Smooth hound shark and Yellow Himalayan Fritillary are among 29 new species as-
sessed in India that are under threat, as per the IUCN Red List unveiled during the COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal
(Canada)
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red
List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation
status of biological species.
• It has 9 categories e.g., Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) etc.

White-Cheeked Dancing Frog

Status: Endangered

It is Found only in the Western Ghats of Karnataka (endemic)

Threat: Areca Nut and Coffee plantation, Pollution, Invasive

species

210 www.insightsonindia.com
 Andaman Smooth hound Shark

Status: Vulnerable

Only found in the Andaman Sea (Endemic to India)

Threat: Fishing pressure

Yellow Himalayan Fritillary plant

Status - Vulnerable

It is a large group of mostly-spring flowering plants in the

lily family and occurs mostly in the Himalayas. It occurs in
Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.

Threats - It is harvested and traded in disguise with a new

trade name ‘Jangli lehsun’

SECRET BEHIND LONG LIFESPAN OF

BANYAN, PEEPLE TREES

Context:
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and
Research (IISER) Bhopal have carried out whole genome se-
quencing of banyan (Ficus benghalensis) and peepal (Ficus
religiosa) from leaf tissue samples

Reasons for long life:

• The work helped in identifying 17 genes in the case
of banyan and 19 genes of peepal with multiple
signs of adaptive evolution (MSA) that play a pivotal
role in the long-time survival of these two Ficus spe-
cies.  MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION

About Ficus religiosa: Context:

Ficus religiosa or sacred fig is a species of fig native to the In-
dian subcontinent and Indochina that belongs to the Mora-
ceae family.
• The lifespan of the banyan tree is expected to be
200 - 500 years. Peepal trees, on the other hand, can
survive up to 2500 years.
As per the study, Mammals may have evolved in Gondwana,
the southern landmass formed from the supercontinent
Pangaea millions of years, rather than its northern counter-
part Laurasia.
• The researchers studied the molars of fossils found
in Madagascar, South America and India to come to
this conclusion.
About Modern Mammals: Mammals are warm-blooded an-
imals with hairs and vertebrates consisting of three groups: -

www.insightsonindia.com 211
 Montremes are primitive mammals that
lay large eggs and have a common open-
ing for the urogenital and digestive sys-
tems.

Marsupials are mammals whose young

are born incompletely developed. They
develop inside a pouch on the mother’s
belly.

Placentals carry the foetus until a late

stage of development.

About Gondwana and Laurasia: When Pangaea broke up, the northern continents of North America and Eurasia became
separated from the southern continents of Antarctica, India, South America, Australia and Africa. The large northern conti-
nent is called Laurasia and the southern continent is called Gondwanaland.

212 www.insightsonindia.com
 HIPPOPOTAMUS
Context:
Deepening restrictions on Elephant ivory trafficking have
led to an increase in the trade in hippopotamus teeth.
• This could potentially have serious effects on a spe-
cies already listed as “vulnerable to extinction”
LION @ 47: VISION FOR ‘AMRUTKAL’
Context:  
Project Lion document titled “Lion @ 47: Vision for Amrut-
kal” has been prepared by Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change.
The Project is being implemented in the Gir landscape in Gu-
jarat which is the last home of the Asiatic lion. It envisages
landscape ecology-based conservation by integrating con-
servation and eco-development.
Objectives:
• To secure & restore lions’ habitats for managing its
growing population
• Scale up livelihood generation and participation of
local communities
• To make India a global hub of knowledge on big cat
disease diagnostics and treatment
• Create inclusive biodiversity conservation
State government of Gujarat also gets funding for conserva-
tion of wildlife under centrally sponsored scheme – Integrat-
ed development of Wildlife Habitats.
Asiatic Lions:
• Scientific name: Panthera leo persica
• IUCN Status: Endangered, CITES: Appendix I, Wild-
life Conservation Act: Schedule I
• Slightly smaller than African Lions
• The most striking morphological character, which is
always seen in Asiatic lions, and rarely in African li-
ons, is a longitudinal fold of skin running along its
belly.
• The fur ranges in colour from ruddy-tawny, heavily
speckled with black, to sandy or buff-grey, some-
times with a silvery sheen in certain lights.
• Males have only moderate mane growth at the top
of the head, so that their ears are always visible.
Insta Links: Asiatic Lion
ANTARCTICA’S EMPEROR PENGUINS
Context:
The emperor penguin, which relies on ice for breeding, is the
most vulnerable of Antarctica’s species.
Background:
• According to a recent study, greater efforts are need-
ed to conserve Antarctic ecosystems, and popula-
tions of up to 97% of land-based Antarctic species
may decline by 2100 if the negative consequences
of climate change are not addressed.
• The mitigation strategies include limiting global
warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius, managing
non-native species and diseases, and managing and
protecting species.
• In Antarctica, such conservation is surprisingly
cheap, as implementing all strategies together could
cost as little as USD 23 million per year until 2100 (or
about USD 2 billion in total).
About the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri): It is the
tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is en-
demic to Antarctica.
www.insightsonindia.com 213
 PROJECT NILGIRI TAHR

Context:
India’s first Nilgiri Tahr project to conserve the State animal
of Tamil Nadu will be taken up.

Components of the project:

The project will have nine components, including bi-annu-
al synchronised surveys across the division, diagnosis and
treatment for affected individuals and a Shola grassland res-
toration pilot in Upper Bhavani,

POLAR BEARS

Context:
According to a new government assessment, polar bears in
Canada’s Western Hudson Bay, an inland sea connected to
the Arctic Ocean, are dying at an alarming pace due to cli-
mate change.

Background:
According to the researchers, Western Hudson Bay (the re-
gion includes Churchill, the town that is known as ‘The Polar
Bear Capital of the World’) has witnessed a drop of around
50% in the population of polar bears since the 1980s.

Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus):

• About: It is a hyper-carnivorous (animals with over
70% meat diet) species whose native range lies
largely within the Arctic Circle. It is the largest ex-
tant bear species, as well as the largest extant land
carnivore.
• Impact of climate change on polar bears: The Arctic
Sea ice (which is melting due to rising global tem-
peratures) is crucial to polar bears’ survival as they
use it not only to hunt seals (chief food) but also for
travelling, mating and resting.
• Importance of polar bears: Polar bears are one of
the most significant predators in the Arctic region
and they keep biological populations in balance.
Defence
NEW INDIAN NAVY CREST
Context:
President of India has approved the introduction of a new
design for the President’s Standard and Color and Indian
Navy Crest for the Indian Navy on Navy Day on 04 Dec 2022.
The new design of the President’s Standard and Colour
comprises three main constituents –
• National Flag in the upper left canton adjacent to
the staff,
• State Emblem undescribed with ‘Satyamev Jayate’
in Golden Colour on the upper right canton on the
fly side, and
• Navy Blue - Gold Octagon below the Golden State
Emblem.

The new design of the President’s Standard and Colour high-

lights India’s glorious maritime heritage and also symbolises
a powerful, courageous, confident and proud Indian Navy.

214 www.insightsonindia.com
The Indian Navy Crest has been amended to replace the foul AGNI-V
anchor with a Clear Anchor
Context:
The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which operates the
Agni-5, carried out the test from A P J Abdul Kalam Island off
the coast of Odisha.
• Agni-5 was earlier tested last year in October by the
SFC independently for the first time, a few months
after China had tested its hypersonic missile
• Developed by DRDO under its Integrated Guided
Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
• Significance of the test: It supports India’s nuclear
doctrine and spearheads India’s nuclear triad.
WOMEN IN CAPF

Context:
A Parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs has
highlighted that women constitute only 3.68% (three point
six eight) of the total strength of CAPF
• Previously, the government decided in 2016 to re-
serve 33% of constable-level posts in CRPF and CISF
for women and 14-15% in BSF, SSB and ITBP.
• The committee further recommended a fast-track
recruitment drive for women and easier posting for
them near their home town to further incentivize
women to join the force.

About CAPF: Central Armed Police Forces is the collective

name of central police organizations in India under the Min-
istry of Home Affairs. These are technically paramilitary forc- • SFC is a tri-services formation (including Army, Navy
es  and Air Force) under Nuclear Command Authority
(NCA) that manages and administers all the strategic
assets in India
• NCA councils are headed by the PM (Political coun-
cil) and National Security advisor (executive council)

www.insightsonindia.com 215
 INS MORMUGAO
Context: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mormugao was commis-
sioned recently. It is the 2nd warship of the P15B class of
stealth guided-missile destroyers
• Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL)
• Named after: It has been named after a key port in
Goa which was commissioned a day before the Goa
Liberation Day celebrations
• A ship ‘class’ describes a group of vessels of similar
tonnage, usage, capabilities, and weaponry.
• Other upcoming ships of this class: Imphal, and Su-
rat

About Project 15A: Over the last decade, the Indian Navy
has commissioned three guided missile destroyers of the
Kolkata class — INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, and INS Chennai.

About Project 15B: This is the advanced version of Project

15A with four guided missile destroyers. Its lead ship INS Vi-
sakhapatnam  (Pennant D66) was commissioned into the
Navy in November 2021.
• A ship class is identified by its lead ship, in this case, INS
Visakhapatnam
• All these ships were built by MDSL (including Project
15A), one of the country’s most important Defence PSUs.

Goa Liberation Day: It is celebrated on 19 December every

year  as a reminder that the state of Goa got its freedom
from the Portuguese after a long time and it remained under
the control for 450 years.
On December 19, 1961, Jawaharlal Nehru sent armed forces
to the coastal state. The Portuguese surrendered and the
state was liberated. As a result, Goa, Daman, and Diu be-
came Union Territories of India.
VAGIR

Context:
Vagir is the 5th Scorpene class submarine which has been
built indigenously (under Project-75 by Mazagon Dock Ship-
builders Ltd. and France’s help) and has now been delivered
to the navy.

The other 5 submarines are: Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela

and Vagsheer (under construction)

About Vagir: It has been built to undertake multifarious mis-

sions like anti-surface, anti-submarine, intelligence gather-
ing, mine-laying etc.

About Project 75: Project – 75 (started in 1998) includes the

indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene de-
sign. The submarines are being constructed at MDL in Mum-
bai in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.

216 www.insightsonindia.com
 • This app will also connect them with the portal of
the Ministry of Home Affairs

About BSF:
The Border Security Force is India’s border guarding organi-
sation on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh founded
on 1st December 1965 by Khusro Faramurz Rustamji
The Border Security Force has been awarded numerous gal-
lantry awards including one Mahavir Chakra, 4 Kirti Chakras,
13 Vir Chakras and 13 Shaurya Chakras, BSF has fought so
many battles with valour that a book could be written on
each war

Internal Security

PRAHARI APP

Context:
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah
launched the Border Security Force (BSF) mobile app ‘Pra- VIBRANT VILLAGE PROGRAMME (VVP)
hari’.
‘Prahari’ in Hindi means ‘a guard’: A guard is someone such Context:
as a soldier or prison officer who is guarding a particular Union Home Minister asks border-guarding forces to
place or person. strengthen Vibrant Village Programme and ensure welfare
programmes are implemented
Importance of the app:
• Jawans can get personal and service-related infor- Key points highlighted by HM: Soldiers on the ground and
mation, housing, Ayushman-CAPF and leave related fencing were necessary but borders can be truly secured
information on their mobile phones. when “we create villages with people who are concerned for
• BSF Jawans can also get GPF, Bio Data or grievance the country”
redressal on the “Centralized Public Grievance Re-
dress and Monitoring System” (CP-GRAMS) or infor-
mation on various welfare schemes through the app.

www.insightsonindia.com 217
About the VVP:
• It was announced in the 2022-23 budget with an
aim to enhance the infrastructure in border villages
along India’s border with China.
• Activities include Housing, Tourism promotion,
Road Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, livelihood
generation etc.
• Promotes community knowledge in the border
management
Other similar initiatives: Border Area Development Pro-
gramme (BADP); Border Infrastructure and Management
Scheme etc.
on December 12 (founded in 2011). It will have on display
the works of over 90 artists from across the globe in varied
media.
About the Kochi-Muziris Biennale
Spread across multiple venues in Kochi, it is a four-month-
long celebration of art and is expected to attract \
What are art biennales?
• An international large-scale showcase of art that
takes place every two years at a particular site,
biennales are usually non-commercial enterpris-
es – unlike art fairs – that centre around a curatorial
theme. E.g., the Venice Biennale in Europe.
• In 2009, a global Biennale Foundation was estab-
lished.
• It lists a directory of over 200 biennales that are held
at present.

The significance of art biennales:

• Validation and recognition of an artist’s work
• Open opportunities for future museum exhibitions,
gallery representation and acquisitions.
• Biennales, often named after the host city, become
a reason for local pride, promoting cultural tourism
and generating revenue through visitors.
• Creates a new language of cosmopolitanism and
modernity rooted in old traditions: E.g., Kochi is
among the few cities in India where pre-colonial tra-
ditions of cultural pluralism continue to flourish.

Content for Mains

Enrichment (Eth- Society

ics/Essay): SCOTLAND’S NEW GENDER RECOGNI-

 
TION BILL
Culture
Context:
KOCHI-MUZIRIS BIENNALE In a landmark bill, Scotland has become the first part of the
UK to introduce a self-identification system for people who
want to change their gender.
Context: • Experts have called it “a historic day for equality”
The fifth edition of the  Kochi-Muziris Biennale  opened

218 www.insightsonindia.com
 Currently, for getting a gender recog- Under the new gender recognition law:
nition certificate:

• One needs to apply to a UK • Applications will be made to the Registrar General for Scotland instead
gender recognition panel of the UK panel

• Must present two medical re- • No need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria
ports- a psychiatric diagnosis
of gender dysphoria and an-
other procedure undergone
to change their sexual charac-
teristics.

• Applicants should also have • People to have lived in the acquired gender for at least three months be-
been permanently living in fore applying and six months for those who are under 18
their acquired gender for at
least two years before apply-
ing for the GRC.

• Lowers the age of application to 16 and 17-year-olds for the first time
• It provides a three-month reflection period to the applicant before a cer-
tificate is issued.

Issues with the law:
• Fear that violent men taking advantage of loop-
holes “to get into women’s spaces and have access
to women”.
 However, in the countries where gender
self-identification has been legalised, in-
cluding Norway, Malta and the Republic of
Ireland, no increase in attacks on women
and girls in single-gender spaces has been
reported since the law was introduced.
had ‘Bazigar’ attached to their names, mainly because they
are located in colonies inhabited by the population from the
Bazigar community. Bazigar is a notified Scheduled Caste
community in Punjab.
The Punjab government’s move to remove reference to
caste or community from school names assumes significance
in a state where casteism remains deep-rooted, especially in
rural areas where there still exists separate gurdwaras and
cremation grounds for people from Scheduled Castes.

The schools have now been renamed either after the village
they are located in, or after some local hero, martyr, or a
known personality. For instance, the Government Primary
School, Balmiki Mohalla in Block-3 of Samana (Patiala) has
been renamed as GPS Bhim Rao Ambedkar Mission. 

PUNJAB RENAMES 56 GOVT SCHOOLS

WITH CASTE TAG

Context:
The Punjab government has ordered to rename of 56 state-
run schools that had reference to any caste or community
in their existing name.

An analysis of the list shows that the majority of 28 schools

www.insightsonindia.com 219
Polity Context:
Sethrichem Sangtam, who helped triple the incomes of
MOTHER OF DEMOCRACY 1,200 marginalised farmers in Eastern Nagaland, was award-
ed the first Rohini Nayyar prize for outstanding contribution
Direction: to rural development.
The content can be creatively used in essays.
Initiatives taken:
Context: • His organisation ‘Better Life Foundation’ focuses on
ICHR has published a book titled – India: The Mother of De- rural livelihood security, environmental sustainabili-
mocracy. ty and education for change
• He encouraged farmers in the region to abandon
wasteful slash, burn cultivation and move to per-
About the book:
manent farming
• It aims to unveil the rice democratic ethos of India since
ancient times, by tracing the history of democratic insti- • He aided the farmers in marketing their products
tutions. and promoting cooperative societies for this pur-
pose. 
• The book has 6 parts:
• Begun training young boys and girls in folk dance to
1. Archaeology, literature, numismatics and epigraphy divert their attention from the rampant hunting that
2. Gana, Mahajanapada, Rajya: a legacy of ‘Loktan- plagues the locality.
tra’
3. Bhakti and sampraday: visualising democratic tra-
Previously, he had left his life in New York to come back to his
ditions
hometown in Nagaland and set up an NGO.
4. The blossoming of democratic ‘Ism’s: Jainism, Bud-
dhism and Sikhism
About the Prize: The prize is given out annually to an in-
5. The idea of ‘Loka’: Janjati and Khap
dividual 40 years or under age, by the Nayyar Foundation
6. Tracing the ethos of democracy: humanity and co- for Social and Economic Purpose, set up to contribute to the
lonialism social and economic development in India.

Dr Rohini Nayyar, an eminent scholar-administrator, econo-

mist and former adviser at the Planning commission, spent
much of her professional life working on issues related to ru-
ral development in India. She passed away in October 2021.

Economy

‘LOLLAPALOOZA EFFECT’ ON META

STOCK
Governance
Direction:
Such words can be used in an essay to show the drastic
GOVERNANCE: SETHRICHEM SANGTAM: changes esp. in finance/Market.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT The term ‘Lollapalooza Effect’ means  a confluence of fac-
tors acting together that can lead to either largely positive or
negative results.

220 www.insightsonindia.com
 • E.g., Meta has brands like Facebook, Instagram and
WhatsApp, which are used by about 3.7 billion peo-
ple on a monthly basis.
• It was one of the safest investment choices by scal-
ing revenues from $5 billion to more than $100
billion, and delivering 40% and above PAT growth.
However, its valuation has fallen by 70-75% (close
to a $700-billion decline) in a matter of 15 months,
indicating the ‘Lollapalooza Effect’

Guidelines for finance-based ranking of cities

• It will evaluate urban units on 15 key parameters,
including resource mobilisation, expenditure perfor-
mance and fiscal governance.
• Cities will be ranked as per the four population cat- PENSION SCHEME FOR GIG WORKERS
egories — above four million, between 1-4 million,
between 100,000 to 1 million, and less than 100,000.
o The top three cities in each population India’s pension fund regulator (PFRDA) has recommended
category will be recognised and rewarded the federal government introduce a UK-like pension scheme
at the national level as well as within each for the country’s gig workers, a move aimed at bringing
State or State cluster. about 90 per cent of the overall workforce into the pension
Objectives: fold under the National Pension Scheme (NPS)
• Motivate reforms: The rankings are aimed at moti- In a landmark UK Supreme Court ruling in February 2021,
vating city and State officials to implement munici- it declared that Uber’s tens of thousands of drivers were
pal financial reforms. “workers”, as defined in legislation, and not independent
• Inculcating Competition: A healthy sense of com- contractors. This meant they were entitled to employment
petition gives the best-performing cities a sense of rights, including minimum pay and a pension.
pride.
• Identifying reforms: The effort is also aimed at iden- Since then, the UK regulator has told that Employers are
tifying areas in the financial performance of the cit- obliged to automatically enrol those identified as eligi-
ies where they can make further improvements. ble workers into a pension and contribute a minimum of
• Enabling quality infrastructure: This will enable 3 per cent of their pensionable salary towards their retire-
them to deliver quality infrastructure and services, ment fund.
and hence a good quality of life to citizens.
Since the ruling, Uber and most other companies have
moved to reclassify their gig workers as workers, setting up a
A separate ranking: pension scheme as part of the process.
A ‘City Beauty Competition’ initiative: This was to encour-
age and recognise the transformational efforts made by cit-
ies and wards in India towards creating beautiful, innovative
and inclusive public spaces.
• Parameters: In this ranking, wards and public places
in cities will be judged against the five broad pillars
of accessibility, amenities, activities, aesthetics, and
ecology.

HOW INDIA CAN PRODUCE COMPANIES

LIKE APPLE, GOOGLE, PFIZER

Direction:
The suggestions given can be written as the way forward in
GS answers.

www.insightsonindia.com 221
Context:
Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu in a Twitter thread has explained
how can India produce globally competitive companies like
Apple, Google, Pfizer, Samsung, Honda, Boeing, Siemens,
TSMC or Huawei.
What should be the focus?
• The advanced know-how and R & D capabilities es-
sential for modern life and nationhood are under-
stood by these companies. Most critical R & D hap-
pens within such companies
• For India to build such companies, the Indian pri-
vate sector must invest in R & D heavily. Industrial
R&D is not the same as academic research.
• We should focus on building a supportive ecosystem
for producing world-class Hardware companies.
Environment
FLEATHER: THE VEGAN LEATHER
Context:
An Indian start-up has found an unusual use for the tonnes
of flowers which clog the Ganges: turning them into vegan
leather.
It’s called Fleather, and it’s a new material being developed
as a sustainable alternative to animal leather. It is delicate
and smooth to the touch, like soft lamb skin leather, and its
journey begins in an unexpected place – flowers.
Fleather, made by a Kanpur-based startup called Phool, is
part of an emerging trend of companies producing plant-
and fungi-based leather alternatives which aim to disrupt
the traditional leather industry and capitalise on the growing
interest in “vegan” fashion.
222 www.insightsonindia.com
Health
CURBING MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN
Context:
Initiative by the Delhi government
• School timetables will be restructured with a “mini
snack break” two-and-a-half hours before the lunch
break
• Keep track of children with low BMI by instructing
class teachers to maintain a regular record of the
height and weight of each child in their class.
• Schools have been instructed to create a weekly
planner of “cost-effective” health snacks
• Conduct class-wise counselling sessions of parents
by class teachers and recommend low-cost and
high-nutrition meals suggested by home science
teachers.
Education
REFORMS IN CONTENT AND DESIGN OF
SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS
Direction:
It can be used as an example for education reforms in India
and for making the education of younger children more in-
teresting and inclusive.
Context:
Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth,
and Sports Report recommendation on the ‘Reforms in Con-
tent and Design of School Textbooks’.
• Quality of textbooks:  To have more child-friendly
textbooks.   It recommended the use of pictures,
graphics, and audio-visual material.  
• Publication in all the languages: Also, efforts should
be made to develop textbooks in local languages
 (those not a part of the eighth schedule). 
• Updating syllabus: Explore the possibility to devel-
op a core class-wise common syllabus for various
subjects
• Representation of women in textbooks: 
o Make textbooks gender inclusive
o Portray women in the emerging profession
o Adequately represent the role of women in
the Indian freedom movement
• Depiction of history: 
o Updating history textbooks to include cer-
tain details (such as post-1947 history and
world history)
o Reviewing the depiction of freedom fight-
ers from various regions and communities
• Information on drug and internet addiction: 
o highlight the adverse effects of drug addic-
tion and internet addiction
• Reducing the number of textbooks:
o The initiative of the Maharashtra State Bu-
reau of Textbook Production and Curriculum
Research known as Ekatmik Pathya Pustak
(2018-19) created a single book for several
subjects for class one students in order to
lighten the school bag.  
o Such an initiative is in line with the School
Bag Policy by the Ministry of Education,
which suggested having long periods of one
or two subjects to reduce the number of
books students carry.

Ethics

MANAV MANDIR

Directions:
This case can be used as an example for values like ‘Compas-
sion’, ‘Ethics of Care’ in GS 4.
Context:
Manav Mandir is located in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The
centre is being run by Indian Association of Muscular Dys-
trophy.
• Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disease makes it dif-
ficult for the patients to do even small tasks of daily
life.
• The treatment and care of such patients require
great sense of service, which is what Manav Mandir
provides.
• The centre has 50 beds for patients, provides ODP
service along with Physiotherapy, Hydrotherapy,
Yoga etc.
• The centre also tries to bring a positive change in
the lives of the patients.
• The best part- management of the organisation is
mainly done by people suffering from this disease.
STAN LEE’S 100TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY
Stan Lee revolutionised the comic book world in the 1960s
which is relevant even today. A writer, editor, publisher, Hol-
lywood executive and tireless promoter, he played a critical
role in what comics fans call the medium’s silver age. Lee
passed away in 2018, aged 95.
His contributions:
• Lee was a central player in the creation of many be-
loved characters in Marvel Comics, from the X-Men
to Ironman and the Hulk.
• Humanising his heroes: The success of Lee’s heroes
was built on the interactions between the imper-
fections of their characters and their superhuman
abilities.
• Social awareness: For instance, with Black Panther,
he created an African superhero with the comics
often reflecting prevalent debates around race and
racism.

www.insightsonindia.com 223
Downsides:
Lee has often been faulted for not adequately acknowl-
edging the contributions of his illustrators, especially Jack
Kirby. Spider-Man became Marvel’s best-known property,
but Steve Ditko, its co-creator, quit Marvel in bitterness in
1966. Kirby, who visually designed countless characters, left
in 1969.

In September 2014, Marvel and the Kirby estate reached a

settlement. Lee and Kirby now both receive credit on numer-
ous screen productions based on their work.

IT’S TIME FOR AFRICA: MOROCCO

FOOTBALL TEAM BREAKS STEREOTYPES
In this World Cup, more than 50 Africa-origin players are
representing 11 non-African teams. Mass migration from
Africa to Europe has played a big role in refreshingly inclu-
sive teams like France carrying home the Cup.

Stereotypes about African Players:

Sports African players are generalized as having the physical
strength and the stamina to outlast their opponents but lack
the tactical nous, mental strength and discipline required to
PT USHA: ‘PAYYOLI EXPRESS’ win big games; they have skills but lack strategy.

Context: Morocco has shattered these stereotypes:

P.T. Usha becomes the first woman chief of the Indian Olym- • Morocco has become the 1st African nation in the
pic Association semi-final of the Football World Cup
• It is the first Arab nation to enter the last four
• It is the first team with an Arab coach, Walid Re-
Values from her life: gragui, at the helm to reach this far
• Dedication and hard work in sports: Won 23 med- • Morocco has beaten the title contenders Belgium,
als in the Asian track and field events and remained Spain and Portugal, and held fellow semi-finalists,
active as a coach post-retirement. She is also known Croatia.
as the “Queen of track and field”  Pele’s prophecy regarding an African side becoming champi-
• Breaking a glass ceiling: She rose at a time when not on may become a reality soon.
many women came forward in the world of sports.
• Overcoming defeat: Los Angeles Olympics of
1984: She missed out on the bronze medal by just
one-hundredth of a second. This game made her a
household name in India.
• The return: PT Usha is the first Indian sports icon
who returned to track and field after taking a hiatus
from the sport following her marriage in 1991.
• Leadership: She has now become the first Olympian
and the first international medallist to head the IOA
in its 95-year-old history
 Through her academy, Usha School of Ath-
letics located at Kinalur, Kerala, she contin-
ues to train athletes

224 www.insightsonindia.com
Geetanjali Shree (Indian Author)
Novelist and writer Geetanjali Shree made history this year
when she became the first Hindi writer to win the International
Booker Prize for Tomb of the Sand, the English translation of her
novel Ret Samadhi. The French translation of the book was also
shortlisted for the Emile Guimet Prize

Marked by the innovative use of language and structure, her

works have been translated into many Indian and foreign lan-
guages.

“Women have always negotiated their spaces. There has been

marked progress for them in all spheres of life, even if unevenly
across cultures and classes”- Geetanjali Shree

Sanjida Islam Choya (Bangladeshi Student)

Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the
world, but Sanjida Islam Choya is trying to change that. She and
her friends, teachers and collaborators call themselves Ghash-
foring (Grasshoppers) and report incidents of child marriage to
the police.

Now at university, she mentors new members of the group. They

have reportedly prevented 50 child marriages

Billie Eilish (US Singer and songwriter)

Grammy Award-winning and record-breaking superstar Billie
Eilish are known for pushing boundaries with her music - from
her single Your Power, which calls out abusers who exploit un-
derage girls, to All the Good Girls Go to Hell, a song about cli-
mate change.

She is protesting against the US Supreme Court’s decision to

end the constitutional right to abortion. She has spoken openly
about body image, her periods of depression and living with
Tourette’s syndrome.

www.insightsonindia.com 225
The link between ‘School dropout’ and ‘Period Poverty’
Period poverty refers to a lack of access to menstrual products,
sanitation facilities, and adequate education. 
As per the report by the NGO Dasra (2019), 23 million girls drop
out of school annually due to a lack of proper menstrual hy-
giene management facilities, which include the availability of
sanitary pads and information about menstruation.
The Centre must ensure schoolgirls are provided free sanitary
products as it has a direct bearing on the school dropout rate.
There is a direct link between school dropout rates and ‘period
poverty’.
Larger issues: The pink tax (now abolished) and how women
literally pay a higher price simply for existing in the world as non-
men. From girls’ toys to women’s personal care products, goods
for females cost more than their male counterparts.
Scotland (UK) has made history in the global efforts to end peri-
od poverty by offering tampons and other period products free
to anyone in need of them.

Sneha Jawale (Indian social worker)

When her parents couldn’t fulfil a demand for more dowry in
December 2000, Sneha Jawale’s husband set her on fire with
kerosene. After her husband left with their son, she became de-
termined to rebuild her life, as a tarot card reader and script-
writer – jobs where people didn’t have to see her face.

Jawale, now a social worker, was asked to star in a theatre play,

Nirbhaya, named after the 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim and
based on the experiences of survivors of violence. Performing
to audiences around the world helped her overcome her fears.

“I don’t consider myself any less than a Miss World or Miss Uni-
verse. I say I am beautiful, so I am” - Sneha Jawale

Zahra Joya (Afghani Journalist)

For six years under Taliban rule, Zahra Joya became ‘Moham-
mad’ and dressed as a boy to attend school. When US-led forces
toppled the Taliban in 2001 she returned to school as Zahra. She
started working as a journalist in 2011 and was often the only
female reporter in the newsroom.

She is the founder of Rukhshana Media, an online news agency

(working from exile in the UK) focused on covering issues that af-
fect women of Afghanistan, named after a 19-year-old who was
stoned to death by the Taliban. She won the Gates Foundation’s
2022 Changemaker Award

“I believe in the soft power of words and we must speak about

injustices against women”. -Zahra Joya

226 www.insightsonindia.com
World’s First Ban on Smoking for Next Generation

New Zealand passed into law a unique plan to phase out tobac-
co smoking by imposing a lifetime ban on young people buying
cigarettes (anybody born on or after Jan. 1, 2009), apart from
regulating the number of stores selling it and the amount of nic-
otine in the cigarette
• It means the minimum age for buying cigarettes will
keep going up and up.

Benefits:
• Help meet the stated goal of making New Zealand
smoke-free by 2025
• Help save on health costs due to smoking

Issues with the law:

• Many small corner stores, known in New Zealand as (Image source: Alamy.com)
dairies, would go out of business
• The gradual ban amounted to “nanny-state prohibition”
that would end up creating a large black market
• Prohibition doesn’t work and ends up with unintended
consequences (in certain cases).
• The law does not affect vaping, which has already be-
come more popular than smoking in New Zealand

Bangladesh Mangrove for the Future (Case Study):

In 2017, Bangladesh committed to restoring 0.75 million hect-

ares under the Bonn Challenge. To monitor the implementation,
the Mangroves for the Future (MFF) platform – a collaboration
between IUCN and UNDP – is used in Bangladesh.

To date, MFF has supported the rehabilitation of 125 hectares

of mangroves through its small and medium grants, which sup-
port initiatives that provide practical, hands-on demonstrations
of effective coastal management in action. This has helped pro-
vide shelter from storms for nearby villages, as well as habitat
and nursery functions for fish and birds.

Sirisha Bandla (Indian Aeronautical engineer)

Sirisha Bandla went to the edge of space as part of the historic
2021 Unity 22 mission, Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed sub-or-
bital spaceflight – making her the second woman born in India
to go to space

www.insightsonindia.com 227
Woman cutting her hair (Iran Protester)
Widespread protests erupted in Iran this year, following the
death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman arrested
by morality police (now abolished) in Tehran for allegedly violat-
ing Iran’s strict rules requiring women to cover their hair with a
hijab, or headscarf.
Haircutting has become one of the symbols of a movement that
has spread to celebrities, politicians and campaigners across the
world. It is seen by some communities in Iran as a traditional sign
of mourning

Use of sports to tackle the drug menace

The Excise department in Ernakulum (Kerala) has taken steps for
youths to be invested in sports so that they have little time and
space to be lured away by drugs.
• They can select schools in their preferred sports de-
pending on their strength
• Vimukthi clubs in Schools: Drug de-addiction drive

Other related projects

Project Venda (‘Say No’) by a Bangalore-based NGO was launched
focusing on the coastal areas of Ernakulam six years ago based on
a model developed in Iceland in the 1990s to fight drug menace
among youngsters by actively engaging them in sports and activ-
ities of interest to them.
Kerala, with a population of three crores, reported more than
one lakh drug abuse cases in a year, whereas Uttar Pradesh with
a population of 30 crores has only 12,000 cases reported
World’s 1st Carbon Border Tariff
EU has signed a world-first carbon border tariff known as the Carbon
Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) that will impose a tariff
on imports of polluting goods such as steel, Cement, fertilizers etc.

Currently, industries outside of the EU are required to buy per-

mits/certificates from the EU carbon market when they export
any polluting products. This will be applicable for imports within
EU countries as well.

What is a Carbon Border Tax?

A carbon border adjustment tax is a duty on imports based on
the number of carbon emissions resulting from the production
of the product in question. As a price on carbon, it discourages
emissions. Last month, India opposed CBT at COP27 in Egypt

228 www.insightsonindia.com
Salima Rhadia Mukansanga (Rwandan Football match Ref-
eree)

Salima Rhadia Mukansanga was picked by Fifa as one of the

first three women referees to officiate at a men’s World
Cup, in Qatar 2022 - the first time the tournament had
women in the role in its 92 years.

Last January, she became the first woman to referee a

match at the men’s Africa Cup of Nations, and she also of-
ficiated at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Before working in
sports, she trained as a midwife.
Ayesha Malik (Pakistani Supreme court Judge)

She has been appointed this year as the first female judge
of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. She has authored judge-
ments protecting the rights of women. This includes her
landmark judgement which banned the so-called two-finger
test of rape victims (also banned in India).

She has encouraged including the gender perspective in the

justice system (also very much in need in India).

PROJECT BOLD
Ministry of MSME, through Khadi and Village Industries
Commission (KVIC), had launched a unique pilot project
named “Project BOLD” (Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought)

Aim: To scientifically harness the environmental benefits

and economic potential of bamboo cultivation to protect
the environment and strengthen the rural economy through
various village industries.

Unique Features of the programme:

• Despite having no budgetary provision for this proj-
ect under KVIC, the programme has proved to be
important.
• Bamboo saplings have been donated by an NGO
that has been brought from Assam
• The plantation is done by KVIC under “Swacchh
Bharat Abhiyan”
• Maintenance of the plants is done by the local com-
munity and/or Border Security Force (BSF) and In-
do-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) 

www.insightsonindia.com 229
 IKKI JATHRE (OR THE FESTIVAL OF RICE)
Context: Wayanad rice festival promotes climate-resilient crops
Aim: The initiative aims to sensitise people to the significance of
conserving traditional crops that have the ability to withstand
harsh climatic conditions.
Example:
• A Kerala-based organisation named Thanal has em-
barked on a unique conservation experiment, planting
300 climate-resilient varieties of traditional rice on 1.5
acres of land at its agroecology centre in Panavally in
the Wayanad district.
o Thanal has been organising annual “rice field
weeks” since 2012
• Knowledge sharing and co-creation of knowledge
between tribal farmers and experts e.g. Rice Diversity
Block (RDB)  were launched (under the Save our Rice
campaign, 2009) to collect traditional varieties of rice.

India had nearly 1.5 lakh varieties of rice. But only 6,000 variet-
ies are currently being cultivated by the farmers in the country.

FREE BUS SERVICE

Context: US capital Washington DC has become the largest U.S.
city to announce plans for permanent free bus service along all
routes, citing a desire to increase ridership.
• The $2 bus fare will be waived starting July 1, 2023.

Other cities having implemented similar programmes: Kansas

City, Missouri, launched its  permanent  ZeroFare  program  in
March 2020; Worcester, Massachusetts, and Alexandria, Virgin-
ia, (a D.C. suburb) also top the list of cities that have waived bus
fees
Similar examples in India:
• TN: Smart Identity Cards to police personnel up to the rank
of Inspector of Police to enable free travel in State-owned
buses 
• Delhi: Women commuters in Delhi can choose to pay or
not pay for their rides on state buses. Women who avail of
the scheme will be handed specially designed tickets that
will be pink in colour.
Benefits:
• Offer affordable, green-friendly public travel
• A decrease in delays because riders can enter and exit bus-
es without stopping to pay
• Riders with the lowest incomes stand to benefit 

Downsides:
• High cost to taxpayers 
• Concerns about safety issues due to increased ridership

230 www.insightsonindia.com
 MISSION OLYMPICS

Context:
As a part of Mission Olympics, the Indian Army has recruited
4 meritorious sportswomen
• Mission Olympics was started in 2001 to identify
and train promising sportspersons in 11 disciplines
through its training nodes and Army Sports Institute.
Success: Neeraj Chopra (2020 Tokyo Olympics); Vijay Kumar
(2012 London Olympics); Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (2004
Athens Olympics)

Science and Technology

SHALINI KUMARI FROM BIHAR

Shalini Kumari from Bihar received the first prize for her
innovation ‘Modified Walker with Adjustable Legs’ at the
grassroots innovation competition at the 3rd ASEAN-India
Grassroots Innovation Forum.

The annual ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (GIF)

STORY: YOU LOSE BUT WIN
Direction:
This can be used as an example in an essay/ethics on the
importance of Fair play, ethical conduct in sports and being
a better person in life.
Kenyan runner Abel Mutai was only a few meters from the
finish line when he became confused with the signs and
stopped, thinking the cross-country race had ended. Span-
ish sprinter, Ivan Fernandez, who was behind him realized
what went wrong and started shouting to the Kenyan to
keep running. Mutai did not know Spanish and could not un-
derstand what Fernandez was saying.
Realizing what was going on, Fernandez pushed Mutai to vic-
tory, A report later asked Ivan, “But why did you let the Ken-
yan win?” Ivan replied, “I didn’t let him win, he was going to
win. The race was his.”
provides a platform to promote and strengthen the devel-
opment of grassroots innovation by enabling collaboration
between Students, academics, the local community and
government officials.
The annual ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (GIF)
is organized by DST (under India’s National Innovation Foun-
dation) and ASEAN’s committee on Science, Technology and
Innovation (COSTI).
The story behind the innovation:
She invented the adjustable walker to allow her grandfather
to visit the rooftop garden every day. The walker has an inno-
vative self-locking mechanism in the front section to allow
it to be used on stairs. She wasn’t an engineering student
nor had any exposure to such technology before. Her urge
to help her grandfather led to this need for hour innovation.
Learnings: Compassion, Innovation, Ingenuity etc.

The reporter said, “But you could have won!” Ivan replied,
“But what would be the merit of my victory? What would
be the honour of this medal? What would my mother think
of it?”

www.insightsonindia.com 231
 MISC.

I n d o - F r e n c h Measures taken for conservation

partnership in • Artificial Highlands where animals can escape
Kaziranga Na- during floods
tional Park as • Anti-poaching camps
part of Indo-Pa- • Alternative livelihood training for locals
cific Parks Part-
nership (I3P)

‘Goblin Mode’: 2022 was the year of “goblin mode,” defined by Oxford
Oxford’s Word of as “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-in-
the Year for 2022 dulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that
rejects social norms or expectations.”

• #goblinmode hashtag is often used as a con-

trast to the idealized manifestations of being
one’s best version.
• The dramatic rise of platforms like BeReal
where users share images of their unedited
selves, often capturing self-indulgent moments
in goblin mode. 
Google is • The initiative will use “prebunking” videos – de-
launching a new signed to counter false claims before they be-
anti-misinforma- come widespread – circulated on the company’s
tion project in YouTube platform and other social media sites.
India It is aimed at preventing misleading information
that has been blamed for inciting violence.

Ministry of • Shri Mahender Singh Tawar, IAS (Gaziabad):

Jal Shakti an- He organized Jan choupal among the people,
nounced ‘Water issues related to pond revival are discussed, and
Heroes: Share people were motivated for Shramdaan. As Mu-
nicipal Commissioner, Ghaziabad Green Bond
Your Stories’ was launched.
Winners
• Ehsas, NGO: It promotes the Rooftop Rain Wa-
ter Harvesting model.
• Ms Neha Kushwaha: She started a plantation
campaign titled “Planting trees in the memory
of ancestors”.

Swayam Shik- • Pune-based non-profit  Swayam Shikshan

shan Prayog Prayog was ecognized at the recently concluded
(Non-Profit or- COP27, for its efforts in helping women farmers
ganization) in the Marathwada region adopt climate-resil-
ient agricultural practices for over two decades.
• The non-profit bagged the Local Adaptation
Champions Award in the capacity and knowl-
edge category at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

232 www.insightsonindia.com
 GLOBAL NORTH AND SOUTH
India recently assumed the presidency of the G20 (for 2022
to 2023). It said that India would be the “voice of the Global
South, that is otherwise under-represented in such forums”.

The term global north and global south was developed by

Emmanuel Wallerstein to describe a global capitalist system
that separates countries into the core (the North), semipe-
riphery, and periphery (the South) based primarily on their
economic participation

• Global North: It encompasses rich and powerful re-

gions such as North America, Europe, and Australia.
• Global South refers to the countries of the rest of
the world, most of which are in the Southern Hemi-
sphere but also include countries from the Nothern
Hemisphere such as India.

The commonality between Global South countries:

• Measuring similarly in terms of wealth, indicators
of education and healthcare, etc.
• Most have a history of colonisation, largely at the
hands of European powers
• The region has been historically excluded from
prominent international organisations – such as
UNSC, IMF etc.

Other classifications:
• First World, Second World and Third World coun-
tries, referring to countries associated with the Cold
war-era alliances of the US, the USSR, and non-
aligned countries, respectively.

www.insightsonindia.com 233
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN WATER CONSER-
VATION AND HARVESTING INITIATIVES:
(CASE STUDIES)
Context: Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Envi-
ronment documented some success stories of participatory
resource management from two districts in Gujarat.

Rajkot and Amreli districts in Gujarat have semi-arid cli-

mates and low water availability.

Initiatives taken:
• Cement  Nala bund  (CNB) constructed to harvest
run-off water: This facilitated the percolation of
the run-off into the sub-surface zones, augmenting
groundwater levels and soil moisture
• The community took ownership right from plan-
ning and implementation to operation and main-
tenance: The villagers also regularly monitored the
progress
• All structures were constructed by Shram Daan (vol-
untary labour): Over the course of six months, sev-
eral households contributed daily for Shram Daan.

Impact:
• It improved agriculture by increasing cultivable
land
• Improved moisture-holding capacities and ground-
water levels
• Improved crop intensity

234 www.insightsonindia.com
Our founder & director, Vinay Sir, with 120 toppers of UPSC CSE-2021
at the Felicitation Ceremony conducted at Bengaluru.

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