CURRENT AFFAIRS IN BRIEF

MARCH WEEK ONE

Index
1. Supreme Court Verdict on ECI Appointments.
2. Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
3. Tapping the Helium Reserves in Earth.
4. India’s First DNA Based Dengue Vaccine.
5. NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer.
6. Successful Test of Cryogenic Engine of Chandrayaan 3.
7. World Wildlife Day.
8. SMART-PDS.
9. Porter Prize 2023.
10.World Bank contributes in PM Ayushman Bharat.
11.International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).
12.Muggers of Rapti
13.India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Afghanistan
14.The World Drug Report 2021: UNODC
15.INS Trikand
16.World’s First Bamboo Crash Barrier
17.Conference of Global Intelligence Chiefs
18.Bal Mitra Diwas

Supreme Court Verdict on ECI Appointments

• A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) unanimously ruled that the appointment of
the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners shall be made by the
President on the advice of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the
Opposition of the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• In case no leader of Opposition is available, the leader of the largest opposition Party in the
Lok Sabha in terms of numerical strength will be a part of such committee.

• On the question whether process of removal should be same for CEC and the ECs, SC stated
that it cannot be same as CEC has special position and article 324 becomes inoperable
without CEC.
• SC left the question of funding the EC, Permanent secretariat and need for expenditure to be
charged on Consolidated Fund of India for the government to decide.

The constitutional conundrum around it –

 • The government had argued that in the absence of such a law by parliament, the President
has the constitutional power and asked the SC to exhibit Judicial restraint.
• As the constitution places the power to make any law on appointment of ECI in the hands of
Parliament, SC ruling on this issue poses a question of Separation of Power.
• However, SC has stated that this ruling will be subject to any law made by parliament, which
means parliament can bring a law to undo it.
• Another view is that since there is no law made by parliament on this issue, the Court must
step in to fill the “constitutional vacuum.”

Constitutional Provision with respect to Election Commission of India:

i. Part XV (Article 324-329) of the Indian Constitution: It deals with elections and establishes a
commission for these matters.
ii. Originally the commission had only one EC but after the Election Commissioner Amendment
Act 1989, it was made a multi-member body (1 CEC & 2 other ECs.).
iii. According to Article 324, the Election Commission shall consist of the CEC and such number
of other election commissioners, if any, as the President may from time-to-time fix.

“We make it clear that this will be subject to any law to be made by Parliament,” the court added.

This means that Parliament can undo the effect of the SC verdict by bringing in a new law on the
issue.

• The golden thread: The verdict states that a “golden thread runs through” the proceedings
of the Constituent Assembly debates on the provision. “All the Members were of the clear
view that elections must be conducted by an independent Commission. It was a radical
departure from the regime prevailing under the Government of India Act, 1935,” the verdict
states.

What is the main issue?

• The ruling examined a number of provisions in the Constitution, including the ones relating
to the powers of the Supreme Court and High Court; establishing the SC, ST and Backward
Classes Commissions, etc. where the Constitution uses the phrase “subject to the provisions
of any law made by Parliament”.
• The Court finds that while a legislation has been supplemented for those provisions, there is
no law on appointment of the CEC even 70 years after independence.

What was the government’s stand?

• The government argued that “in the absence of such a law, the President has the
constitutional power.” The government has essentially asked the court to exhibit judicial
restraint.
• The court in its ruling discusses at length its intention to “maintain a delicate balance” on
separation of powers.
• The ruling cites past instances of the Court stepping into to fill a gap in the law, including the
Vishaka guidelines to curb sexual harassment at workplace, and the interpretation on the
process of appointment of judges.

Other findings of the court:

 • On the issue of whether the process of removal of Election Commissioners must be the same
as it is for the CEC, the Court ruled that it cannot be the same.
• The Constitution states that the CEC can be removed in a process similar to a judge —
through a majority in both houses of Parliament on grounds of proven incapacity or
misbehaviour.

Article 324 is inoperable without the Chief Election Commissioner –

• “It may be true that there is equality otherwise, which exists between the Chief Election
Commissioner and the Election Commissioners in various matters dealt with under the Act.
• However, we must bear in mind, in law, Article 324 is inoperable without the Chief Election
Commissioner,” the Court said.
• The President determines the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Election.
• They have a tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Removal of Election Commissioners and Chief Election Commissioner:

• They can resign anytime or can also be removed before the expiry of their term.
• The CEC can be removed from office only through a process of removal similar to that of a
SC judge by Parliament.
• Any other EC cannot be removed except on the recommendation of CEC.

Backdrop of the matter:

• In 2015, a public interest litigation was filed by Anoop Baranwal challenging the
constitutional validity of the practice of the Centre appointing members of the Election
Commission.
• In October 2018, a two-judge bench of the SC referred the case to a larger bench since it
would require a close examination of Article 324 of the Constitution, which deals with the
mandate of the Chief Election Commissioner.
• The SC had not debated this issue earlier. In September last year, a five-judge Constitution
bench headed by Justice KM Joseph began hearing the case and almost a month later, the
verdict was reserved.
• The Bench also comprised Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and C T
Ravikumar.

Question to Practice:

Q.1 Consider the following statements: (2017)

i. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.

ii. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections
and bye-elections.
iii. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

Q1 - Ans: (d)

Q.2 – Which among the following Articles of Indian Constitution talk about Appointment of Chief Election
Commissioner?

Q. 3 – Who has the power to remove the Chief Election Commissioner of India?

Q.4 – Who among the following are the members of the Empowered Committee formed for the appointment of
the Chief Election Commissioner?

Q.5 – Who among the following was the head of the Bench that gave the verdict on the appointment of the CEC?

Foreign Contribution Regulation Act

• Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of
the Centre for Policy Research (CPR).
• CPR (not-for-profit society), along with Oxfam India and the Independent and Public-Spirited Media
Foundation (IPSMF), was surveyed by the Income Tax department earlier.

What is the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act?

• FCRA was enacted during the Emergency in 1976 amid apprehensions that foreign powers were interfering
in India’s affairs by pumping money into the country through independent organisations.
• The law sought to regulate foreign donations to individuals and associations so that they functioned in a
manner consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic.

Amendments:

• An amended FCRA was enacted in 2010 to “consolidate the law” on utilisation of foreign funds, and “to
prohibit” their use for “any activities detrimental to national interest”.
• The law was amended again in 2020, giving the government tighter control and scrutiny over the receipt and
utilisation of foreign funds by NGOs.

Criteria:

The FCRA requires every person or NGO seeking to receive foreign donations to be:

• registered under the Act

• to open a bank account for the receipt of the foreign funds in State Bank of India, Delhi
• to utilize those funds only for the purpose for which they have been received and as stipulated in the Act.
• FCRA registrations are granted to individuals or associations that have definite cultural, economic,
educational, religious, and social programmes.

Exceptions:

• Under the FCRA, the applicant should not be fictitious and should not have been prosecuted or convicted
for indulging in activities aimed at conversion through inducement or force, either directly or indirectly, from
one religious faith to another.
• The applicant should also not have been prosecuted for or convicted of creating communal tension or
disharmony.
• Also, should not be engaged or likely to be engaged in the propagation of sedition.
 • The Act prohibits the receipt of foreign funds by candidates for elections, journalists or newspaper and
media broadcast companies, judges and government servants, members of legislature and political parties
or their office-bearers, and organisations of a political nature.

Validity:

• FCRA registration is valid for 5 years, and NGOs are expected to apply for renewal within six months of the
date of expiry of registration.
• The government can also cancel the FCRA registration of any NGO if it finds that the NGO is in violation of
the Act, if it has not been engaged in any reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of society for
two consecutive years, or if it has become defunct.
• Once the registration of an NGO is cancelled, it is not eligible for re-registration for three years.

FCRA 2022 Rules:

• In July 2022, the MHA effected changes to FCRA rules which increased the number of compoundable
offences under the Act from 7 to 12.
• The other key changes were exemption from intimation to the government for contributions less than Rs 10
lakh – the earlier limit was Rs 1 lakh — received from relatives abroad, and increase in time limit for
intimation of opening of bank accounts.

Tapping the Helium Reserves in Earth

• Researchers propose a new model to tap into helium reserves to address shortage issues and a recent new
study suggests that reservoirs of this gas, with no carbon footprint, likely exist in geological formations
beneath the Earth.
• The helium production process comes with a high carbon footprint as its production is related to drilled
natural gas or oil.

What is the Proposed Model to Tap Helium Reserve?

• The gas can be produced and stored in crystalline basement rocks, dense rocks that extend from the mantle
to the near-surface or surface.
• These rocks naturally contain uranium and thorium, both of which decay to form helium naturally.
• These rocks are 30-40 kilometre thick. They have also existed for millions or billions of years, allowing large
amounts of helium to be produced and stored.
• Also, these rocks could also be a source of hydrogen. The model showed that energy generated from the
radioactive decay of uranium and thorium could split water to form hydrogen.

What is the Significance of Helium Gas?

• Helium is a noble gas and has a closed-shell electronic configuration, making it stable and unreactive.
• It has the lowest boiling and melting points of any element and exists only as a gas, except under extreme
conditions.

Discovery of Helium:

• Helium was first discovered in 1868 by French astronomer Jules Janssen and English astronomer Joseph
Norman Lockyer, who observed a yellow spectral line in the light emitted by the sun during a solar eclipse.
• Helium gets its name from the Greek word "helios," which means sun.

Sources and Extraction of Helium:

• Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, after hydrogen. However, it is relatively rare
on Earth, with most of it being produced by the decay of radioactive elements in the Earth's crust.
• Natural gas is the primary source of helium on Earth.
 • Helium is extracted from natural gas using a process called cryogenic distillation.

Reserves and Production:

• As of 2022, the reserves of helium in the United States has the largest reserves of helium globally followed
by Algeria and Russia.
• India’s Rajmahal volcanic basin in Jharkhand is the storehouse of helium trapped for billions of years.

Uses of Helium:

• Balloons and airships (because it is lighter than air and does not react chemically with other elements).
• Industrial applications, including welding, cooling, and as a protective gas in the production of
semiconductors and fiber optic cables.
• In medical applications, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as a cooling agent for superconducting
magnets.
• It is also used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and as a carrier gas in gas
chromatography.

Shortage of Helium:

• There is currently a shortage of helium in the world, with demand outstripping supply.
• The shortage is due to a variety of factors, including the shutdown of some helium plants, the increasing
demand for helium in emerging economies, and the lack of new helium sources.
• The shortage of helium has led to concerns about its use in balloons and airships, as well as its use in medical
and industrial applications.

India’s First DNA Based Dengue Vaccine

• Researchers at India’s National Centre for Biological Sciences, in collaboration with nine other institutions in
India, Africa, and the US, have developed India’s first and only DNA vaccine candidate for dengue fever.
• In preliminary trials on mice, the candidate generated a robust immune response and improved survival
rates after exposure to the disease.

What is Dengue?

• Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus (Genus Flavivirus), transmitted by
several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally Aedes aegypti.
• This mosquito also transmits chikungunya and Zika infection.

Dengue Vaccine:

The dengue vaccine CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration in 2019, the first
dengue vaccine to get the regulatory nod in the US.

Dengvaxia is basically a live, attenuated dengue virus which has to be administered in people of ages 9 to 16 who
have laboratory-confirmed previous dengue infection and who live in endemic areas.

NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

• Recently, researchers studied a supernova explosion that occurred over 450 years ago using NASA's Imaging
X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE).
• The explosion, called Tycho, was visible to people on Earth in 1572, and the shock wave from the blast is still
propagating through the cosmos.

What is Tycho?

• Tycho is classified as a Type Ia supernova, which occurs when a white dwarf star shreds its companion star,
triggering a violent explosion and sending debris hurtling into space at tremendous speeds.
 • Tycho released as much energy as the Sun would emit over ten billion years and blasted particles out into
space near the speed of light.
• Researchers used IXPE to reveal the magnetic field geometry close to Tycho’s shock wave to investigate
further how particles are accelerated there and to study polarised X-rays from the supernova remnant.

What is Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer?

• IXPE Space Observatory is a joint effort of NASA and the Italian Space Agency.
• It studies “the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe – supernova remnants, supermassive
black holes, and dozens of other high-energy objects.”

Significance:

• It will help observe polarised X-rays from neutron stars and supermassive black holes.
• Measuring the polarization of X-rays traces the story of where the light came from, including the geometry
and inner workings of its source.
• It will help scientists understand how black holes spin and their location in the past and also unravel how
pulsars shine so brightly in X-rays.

Successful Test of Cryogenic Engine of Chandrayaan 3

• Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the flight acceptance
hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine that will power the cryogenic upper stage of the launch vehicle for the
Chandrayaan-3 mission.
• The test was successfully conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

What are the Highlights of the Test?

• The hot test was carried out for a planned duration at the High Altitude Test Facility.
• All the propulsion parameters during the test were found satisfactory and closely matched with predictions.
• The cryogenic engine will be further integrated with the propellant tanks, stage structures and associated
fluid lines to realise the fully integrated flight cryogenic stage.

What is the Chandrayaan-3 Mission?

• Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third moon mission and is a follow-up of Chandrayaan-2 of July 2019, which aimed
to land a rover on the lunar South Pole.
• The mission is scheduled to be launched later in 2023 by Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) from the Satish
Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
• The subsequent failure of the Vikram lander led to the pursuit of another mission to demonstrate the
landing capabilities needed for the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission proposed in partnership with Japan for
2024.
• The Mission will have three major modules- the Propulsion module, Lander module and Rover.
• The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit.
• The Lander will have the capability to soft land at a specified lunar site and deploy the Rover which will carry
out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility.

World Wildlife Day

World Wildlife Day has been celebrated every year on the 3rd of March since 2013.

• The theme of this year is ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation’ which expanded into the conservation of
marine life and oceans, and on collaborating with businesses and funding conservation activities.
• The date chosen coincides with the day of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), signed in 1973.

This day also marks the 50th anniversary of CITES’ establishment.

ABOUT CITES –

• CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in
specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species. Currently, there are 184
parties to the convention, including India.
• The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme) and is
located in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The Conference of the Parties to CITES is the supreme consensus-based decision-making body of the
Convention and comprises all its parties.

In India, apart from the Union Ministery of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the Wildlife Crime Control
Bureau is a statutory body under the Ministry that is especially meant to combat organised wildlife crime in the
country.

SMART-PDS
• As per the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, SMART-PDS is an important
technologically driven initiative, therefore, all states and union territories should make earnest efforts to
implement it at the earliest.
• SMART-PDS is a system where smart ration cards are issued to beneficiaries of the public distribution
system, and ration is given through fair price shops on the production of the smart ration card by any
member of the beneficiary family.
• Major initiatives are undertaken by the Government of India to strengthen the Public Distribution System
(PDS) in India which includes the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) implemented from
April 2020 to December 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic in coordination with States & UTs and One
Nation One Ration Card plan implemented to support migrant population, promoting millets in the PDS is
important for strengthening nutrition security in the country.

Porter Prize 2023

• Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has received the Porter Prize 2023.
• It recognized the government's strategy in managing COVID-19, also the approach, and involvement of
various stakeholders especially the involvement of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers.
• The country's contribution to developing and manufacturing vaccines was also lauded.
• India delivered more than 2.5 billion doses.
• Porter Prize is named after award-winning economist Michael E. Porter.
• He has brought economic theory and strategy concepts to bear on many of the most challenging problems
faced by corporations, economies and societies.
• India launched the ASHA programme in 2005-06 as part of the National Rural Health Mission.
• With the launch of the National Urban Health Mission in 2013, the programme was extended to urban
settings as well.
• The core of the ASHA programme has been an intention to build the capacity of community members in
taking care of their own health and being partners in health services.

World Bank contributes in PM Ayushman Bharat

• The World Bank has approved a loan of USD 1 billion to India to help the country prepare for future
pandemics and strengthen its healthcare infrastructure.
• The loan will be split into two loans of USD 500 million each.

What Are the Areas Where World Bank Loan will be Channelised?

• The loan will be used to support India's flagship Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health
Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), which was launched in October 2021, and will improve the public
healthcare infrastructure across the country.
• Both loans utilize the Program-for-Results financing instrument, which focuses on achieving results
rather than inputs. The loans have a final maturity of 18.5 years, including a grace period of five years.
• The Public Health Systems for Pandemic Preparedness Program (PHSPP) will provide USD 500 million to
support the government's efforts to prepare India's surveillance system to detect and report potential
international epidemics.
• One of the loans will also prioritize health service delivery in seven states: Andhra Pradesh, Kerala,
Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

Status of Health Sector in India as per World Bank.

• According to World Bank estimates, India's performance in health has improved over time.
• India's life expectancy has increased from 58 in 1990 to 70.19 in 2022.
• The under-five mortality rate, infant mortality rate, and maternal mortality ratio are all close to the
average for India's income level.
• Inadequate Medical Infrastructure: India has a shortage of hospitals, particularly in rural areas, and
many existing healthcare facilities lack basic equipment and resources.
• According to the National Health Profile, India has only 0.9 beds per 1000 population and out of
which only 30% are in rural areas.
• Gap in Doctor-Patient Ratio: One of the most critical concerns is the gap in the doctor-patient ratio.
According to the Indian Journal of Public Health, India needs 20 lakh doctors by 2030.
• However, currently a doctor in the government hospital attends to ~11000 patients, which is more
than the WHO recommendation of 1:1000.
• Lack of Adequate Mental Healthcare: India has one of the lowest numbers of mental health care
professionals per capita.
• Government's spending on mental health is also very low. This has resulted in poor mental health
outcomes and inadequate care for people suffering from mental illness.

Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction

UN Treaty on the High Seas
• India has urged the member nations to stay dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the
oceans and its biodiversity during the ongoing session (Feb-March 2023) Of Intergovernmental
Conference (IGC)i.e., IGC-5 of Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

• India supported the high ambition coalition for the early conclusion of the International Legally
Binding Instrument of BBNJ under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS ).

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• India has proposed to launch a mega global alliance under its leadership to protect big cats and assured
support over five years with guaranteed funding of USD 100 million (over Rs 800 crore).
• The proposed International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) will work towards the protection and conservation of
the seven major big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah.
• Membership to the alliance will be open to 97 “range” countries, which contain the natural habitat of
these big cats, as well as other interested nations, international organisations, etc.
• The alliance was inspired by the arrival of cheetahs in 2022 from Namibia.
• India is the only country in the world to have tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards and cheetahs in the
wild except for the pumas and jaguars. So, it is only befitting that India takes the lead to bring together
all big cat range countries under an UN-like organisation.
 • The IBCA’s governance structure will comprise a General Assembly consisting of all member countries, a
council of at least seven but not more than 15 member countries elected by the General Assembly for a
term of 5 years, and a Secretariat.
• Upon the recommendation of the Council, the General Assembly will appoint the IBCA Secretary General
for a specific term.

Joint Military Exercise FRINJEX-23

• The maiden Joint Military Exercise FRINJEX-23 between Indian Army and French Army will be conducted in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• It is for the first time that the armies of both nations are engaging in this format with each contingent
comprising of a Company Group each from the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Army troops and French
6th Light Armoured Brigade.
• The exercise is aimed at enhancing inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between both forces at
the tactical level. The Joint exercise will further enhance the defence cooperation with France which is a key
aspect of the overall Indo-France strategic partnership.
• Other military dialogues and regularly held joint exercises include Varuna (navy), Garuda (air force), and
Shakti (army).
Har Payment Digital Mission
• At the launch of the ‘Har Payment Digital’ mission during the Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW)
2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a programme to adopt 75 villages and convert them into
digital payment enabled villages in observance of 75 years of independence.
• The Har Payment Digital campaign by RBI aims at reinforcing the ease and convenience of digital payments
and facilitate onboarding of new consumers into the digital fold.

Muggers of Rapti
As per the recent study, anthropogenic threats like illegal fishing and sand mining pose a threat to the mugger
crocodiles (Crocodylus plaustris) of the Rapti river flowing along the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in south-central
Nepal, contiguous to the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar (only tiger reserve of the state).

CNP, established in 1973, was Nepal’s first National Park. One of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic
rhinoceros lives in the park. It is recommended to prioritise integrating local ethnic and river-dependent
communities of CNP into effective conservation and management programmes with livelihood opportunities.

The mugger or marsh crocodile is one of the 24 extant species of crocodilians found globally. It is found in India,
Pakistan, Nepal and Iran. The species is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in the International Union for Conservation (IUCN)
of Nature’s Red List. It has been enlisted in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora and included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Afghanistan

India will send its next consignment of wheat as aid to Afghanistan under the Taliban regime via Chabahar
port. The decision, that was announced at the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG)
on Afghanistan in Delhi.

• This comes after the agreement with Pakistan to extend for sending the wheat over the land route
expired and talks on extension have failed.
• The JWG meeting comes a year after the India-Central Asia summit in January 2022, where the decision
to hold a special contact group on Afghanistan was announced.
• The issues of drugs, the export of terrorism and radicalism, and refugees has been at the top of concerns
for neighbouring countries in Central Asia.
 • According to UNODC reports, opium production is up by nearly a third in the past year, after the Taliban
took control of Kabul.
• More than 80% of the world’s opium and heroin is smuggled out of Afghanistan, which is a part of
Golden crescent.
• An estimated 3 million people, or nearly one tenth of the population of Afghanistan is addicted to
opium.

The joint statement said that no terror organizations including UN designated terrorists should be provided
sanctuary or allowed to use the territory of Afghanistan.

India also agreed to offer:

Customised capacity building courses for UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) Officials and
stakeholders; and

Cooperation on initiatives to counter drug trafficking and rehabilitation efforts for Afghan drug users, especially
women.

What is India’s Previous Assistance Measures to Afghanistan?

Food Grains:

In 2022, India signed an agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for the distribution
of 50,000 MT of wheat that it has committed to sending to Afghanistan as part of a humanitarian assistance.

India committed to delivering 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan in 2020 to combat the global pandemic of
COVID-19 and related issues of food security.

India distributed 2000 tonnes of pulses to Afghanistan in 2018 to promote food security, particularly for children
during times of drought.

Medical Supplies:

India supplied 5 lakh tablets of Hydroxy-chloroquinine, 1 Lakh tablets of Paracetamol, and 50,000 pairs of
surgical gloves to the Government of Afghanistan in 2020.

India established a Medical Diagnostic Centre in Kabul in 2015, providing the latest diagnostic facilities to Afghan
children and generating goodwill for India.

Infrastructure:

Since 2001, India has committed USD 3 billion towards rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Q. What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?

(a) India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase. 

(b) India’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.

(c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. 

(d) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India. 

The World Drug Report 2021: UNODC

Recently, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in its World Drug Report 2021, has highlighted
that the lockdown restrictions during Covid-19 have accelerated drug trafficking using the Internet.

By drugs, the Report refers to substances controlled under international drug control conventions, and their
non-medical use.

Data Analysis:
 • Between 2010-2019, the number of people using drugs increased by 22%, owing in part to an increase in
the global population.
• Around 275 million people used drugs worldwide last year, while over 36 million people suffered from
drug use disorders.
• Opioids continue to account for the largest burden of disease attributed to drug use.
• A rise in the non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs was also observed during the coronavirus
pandemic.
• As per the report Magnitude of Substance Use in India released by All India Institute Of Medical Science
(AIIMS) in 2019:
• Around 5 crore Indians reported to have used cannabis and opioids at the time of the survey (conducted
in the year 2018).
• It has been estimated that there are about 8.5 lakh people who inject drugs.
• Of the total cases estimated by the report, more than half of them are contributed by states like Punjab,
Assam, Delhi, Haryana, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh.
• About 60 lakh people are estimated to need help for their opioid use problems.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

It was established in 1997 and was named as a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2002.

It acts as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug
Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division of the United Nations Office at
Vienna.

Relate International Initiatives

• International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is celebrated every year on 26th June.
• Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.
• The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971.
• The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances,
1988.

India is a signatory to all three and has enacted the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

• India is vulnerable to the trafficking of narcotics as it is sandwiched between the 'Golden Crescent' and
the 'Golden Triangle', the major opium production regions in the world.
• The Golden Crescent region of the South comprises Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. The Golden Triangle
is the area where the borders of Thailand, and meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers.

For this, the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism was set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in
2016 for effective drug law enforcement.
 • This NCORD system was restructured into a four-tier scheme up to district level in July 2019, for better
coordination.

SIMS (Seizure Information Management System) Portal:

• For digitisation of pan-India drug seizure data, the MHA launched an e-portal called ‘SIMS’ in 2019 for all
the drug law enforcement agencies under the mandate of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Act (NDPS).

Project Sunrise:

• It was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2016, to tackle the rising HIV prevalence
in north-eastern states in India, especially among people injecting drugs.

National Drug Abuse Survey:

• The government is also conducting the Survey to measure trends of drug abuse in India through the
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment with the help of National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre
of AIIMS.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, (NDPS) 1985:

• It prohibits a person from producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/or
consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
• The NDPS Act has since been amended thrice – in 1988, 2001 and 2014.
• The Act extends to the whole of India and it applies also to all Indian citizens outside India and to all
persons on ships and aircraft registered in India.

‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’, or Drug-Free India Campaign:

• It focuses on community outreach programs.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking | 26 June- By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987,
the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international
society free of drug abuse.

• Supported each year by individuals, communities, and various organizations all over the world, this
global observance aims to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society.
The campaign highlights data drawn from UNODC’s yearly World Drug Report. Thus, providing facts and
practical solutions to the current world drug problem, to attain a vision of health for all based on
science.
• World Drug Day is a day to share research findings, evidence-based data, and solutions, to continue
tapping into a shared spirit of solidarity. The theme for this year is Care in Crisis.

INS Trikand
• INS Trikand is participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23)
being held in the Gulf region from 26 Feb to 16 Mar 2023. Exercises will be held with participants from
over 50 nations and international maritime agencies with the common aim of enhancing maritime
security and keeping sea lanes in the region safe for maritime commerce.
• IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world. While this is the Indian
Navy’s maiden IMX participation, it also marks the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship is
participating in an exercise conducted by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). In November 22, INS
Trikand had participated in the CMF-led Operation Sea Sword 2 in the Northwest Arabian Sea.
 Bal Mitra Diwas
• Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) is conducting weeklong celebrations across
the nation on the occasion of 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas. One of the day’s events of Pradhan Mantri
Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) were dedicated to children which was celebrated as ‘Bal Mitra
Diwas’.
• India has celebrated the Jan Aushadhi Diwas on March 7 every year since 2019. The day is the
culmination of a week-long event that begins on March 1. The day is marked in order to promote
awareness about generic medicines and how they can be helpful for millions across the country.
• The aim of celebrating these events is to increase engagement of general public including women, senior
citizens, students and children so that benefits of the Pariyojana may reach each and every corner of the
country.
• PMBJP is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2008 under the name Jan
Aushadhi Campaign. The campaign was revamped as PMBJP in 2015-16.
• Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementation agency for PMBJP.
• The BPPI works under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers. BPPI has also developed the Janaushadhi
Sugam Application.

World’s First Bamboo Crash Barrier

• Recently, the world’s first 200-metre-long bamboo crash barrier has been installed on a Vani-Warora
Highway connecting Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts in Maharashtra.
• Named ‘Bahu Balli’, the bamboo crash barrier underwent rigorous testing at various government-run
institutions and was rated as Class 1 during the Fire Rating Test and it has also been accredited by the
Indian Road Congress (IRC). This crash barrier offers a perfect alternative to steel and addresses
environmental concerns.

Conference of Global Intelligence Chiefs

• On March 1, India held the second conference of intelligence and security chiefs from 26 countries
around the world.
• The conference was held for the first time in April 2022, a day before the start of the Raisina Dialogue. It
was addressed by the PM of India and National Security Advisor (NSA).
• What is the Highlight of the Conference?
• About: As part of Raisina Dialogue, the security conference is organised by the country’s external
intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the National Security Council
Secretariat (NSCS) that reports to NSA.
• Objective: To discuss the ongoing geopolitical tensions, provided an opportunity for participants to
exchange views on how to address this crisis and other geopolitical tensions. However, the meeting
focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Nature of Meeting: It is modelled on the lines of the Munich Security Conference and Singapore’s
Shangri-La Dialogue.
• It was coincided with the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting and the Raisina Dialogue. India chairs both G20
and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023.
• While the U.S. was absent, intelligence chiefs from the U.K., France, Japan and Bahrain were among
those present.

What is Raisina Dialogue?

• The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics committed to
addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community.
• The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of
External Affairs, Government of India.
 • In 2023, it seeks to capture the state of the world through its theme of "Provocation, Uncertainty,
Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest”

The Dialogue is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, involving heads of state, cabinet
ministers and local government officials, who are joined by thought leaders from the private sector, media and
academia.

What is Observer Research Foundation?

• It is an independent think tank based in New Delhi with three centres in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
• It seeks to lead and aid policy thinking towards building a strong and prosperous India in a fair and
equitable world and helps discover and inform India’s choices. It carries Indian voices and ideas to
forums shaping global debates.
• It provides non-partisan, independent, well-researched analyses and inputs to diverse decision-makers
in governments, business communities, and academia and civil society around the world.